Felix Hofer/PDC Europe

Dominik Gruellich posts tournament-best 108 average at Players Championship 27

Originally posted on Dartsnews.com | By Kieran Wood | Last updated Sep 11, 2025 1:53 PM ET

Players Championship 27 may have ended with Joe Cullen lifting the title in Hildesheim, edging Gerwyn Price 8–7 in a dramatic final, but it was a new wave of talent – and some familiar heavy scorers – who stole the headlines when it came to the day’s standout averages.

Dominik Gruellich produced the performance of the day, averaging a blistering 108.65 in a whitewash victory over Dave Chisnall in the last 64. At just 23, the German prospect continues to underline his potential on the ProTour, and while his run ended in the last 16 against Scott Williams, the numbers will give him encouragement that he can already mix it with the very best.

Nijman and Manby impress

Wessel Nijman registered the second-highest average of the tournament, posting 106.09 in a 6–0 demolition of Thibault Tricole. Like Gruellich, his surge ended in the last 16 – this time courtesy of Michael Unterbuchner – but his heavy scoring continues to suggest he is edging closer to a big breakthrough.

Charlie Manby, just 20 years old, also forced his way into the spotlight. The Englishman averaged 105.91 in sweeping aside Andrew Gilding 6–1 in the last 64, further evidence of his fearless scoring power. His run was cut short a round later by James Hurrell, but the performance against a seasoned campaigner like Gilding will not have gone unnoticed.

Familiar firepower

Elsewhere, established names also left their mark on the averages board. Ross Smith fired in 105.84, while Gerwyn Price – despite falling just short in the final – landed a 104.98 in one of his earlier wins.

Dutch duo Jitse van der Wal and Danny van Trijp also impressed, with averages of 104.73 and 104.52 respectively, while Phil Taylor’s namesake, Scott Taylor, clocked in at 103.11. Dutch youngster Gian van Veen (102.94) once again highlighted his consistency on the ProTour stage.

The strength in depth of the day was evident, with 14 players breaking the 100 average barrier. Steve Lennon (101.98), Scott Williams (101.94), and William O’Connor (101.52) all featured, while Germany’s Dragutin Horvat (101.33) and Martin Schindler – twice over the ton mark at 100.88 and 100.82 – ensured the host nation was well represented among the elite numbers.

While Cullen ultimately walked away with the trophy, the averages list tells its own story. The next generation – Gruellich, Nijman, Manby, Van Veen – are no longer just promising talents, they are producing world-class numbers against established names. With the Players Championship set to resume on 30 September, the ProTour looks primed for another round of breakouts and statements from darts’ rising stars.

108.65 Gruellich
106.09 Nijman
105.91 Manby
105.84 R. Smith
104.98 Price
104.73 Merkx
104.52 van Trijp
103.11 Taylor
102.94 van Veen
101.98 Lennon
101.94 Williams
101.52 O’Connor
101.33 Horvat
100.88 Schindler
100.82 Schindler
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