In 2009 the first ever Players Championship finals are staged. The top 32 players from the Players Championship ranking during a year get an invitation. In 2009 these are the players who collected the most money during the 2008 campaign. The tournament is held at the "holy" ground of PDC darts; The Circus Tavern in Purfleet, London. The venue that hosted the World Championships for many years. During the first edition of the tournament 3 Dutch players take part. Vincent van der Voort, Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld. The latter lasts the longest and reaches the quarter finals. The first ever champion is the invinsible Phil Taylor. In 2010 Taylor gets beaten in the semi-final by Aussie Paul Nicholson. Nicholson goes on to win the tournament. In 2010 two Dutch players make their debut at the Players Championship Finals; Co Stompé and Jelle Klaasen. In 2011 Taylor wins again while the tournament is transferred to Doncaster. A year later it is Kevin Painter who claims his first ever major title, beating Mark Webster in the final