2017 BDO World Championship: Finals Day!

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World number one Glen Durrant won the 40th staging of the BDO World Championship with a 7-3 victory over Dutch debutant, Danny Noppert,, on a memorable night of action at the Lakeside Country Club on Sunday evening.

Durrant had dominated the BDO circuit throughout 2016 and was under massive pressure to deliver this week after his previous World Championship heartbreak at the Lakeside. However, ‘Duzza’ held his nerve magnificently in Sunday’s final to clinch his maiden world title and the £100,000 winner’s cheque.

The 46-year-old Teessider averaged 93.48, landed thirteen maximums and posted 87 ton-plus scores to crown the greatest night of his darting life. Noppert battled valiantly and performed magnificently on his Lakeside debut, but he was convincingly beaten despite averaging 93.30 and also landing thirteen maximums.

The final began in blistering fashion, with Durrant registering seven perfect darts in the very first leg. The top seed then endured double-trouble but eventually pegged D1 with his eighth attempt at double to draw first blood. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship: Finals Day!” →

2017 BDO World Championship: Day Eight Report!

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Tournament favourite Glen Durrant will take on third seed and Lakeside debutant Danny Noppert in Sunday’s BDO World Championship Final after the pair defeated Jamie Hughes and Darryl Fitton respectively in the last four, whilst Lisa Ashton won the women’s world title for a third time at the Lakeside Country Club on Saturday.

Top seed Glen Durrant stormed into his maiden World Championship Final with a comprehensive 6-1 victory over Jamie Hughes on Saturday evening. After some nervous recent displays, ‘Duzza’ was back to his clinical best against the fourth seed, averaging 96.27, landing seven maximums and taking out a magical 170 to prevail.

Hughes enjoyed the perfect start; breaking Durrant’s throw with a confident 80 checkout. However, ‘Duzza’ pinned D8 to break straight back, before hitting D5 to lead. Hughes defied Durrant’s first maximum to hold throw with a 75 finish to round off a 14-darter, but the top seed held his nerve to clinch the opening set with a commanding 13-dart leg.

The second set was a case of missed opportunities for ‘Yozza’. He spurned four darts to hold in the opening leg, before missing D8 for a 136 kill as Durrant extended his cushion with a 14-darter on tops. Hughes landed his second maximum and registered a 13-darter to fightback, but ‘Duzza’ dispatched a clean 72 kill on tops to double his lead. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship: Day Eight Report!” →

January 14, 2017 0

2017 BDO World Championship Day Seven: Evening Report!

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Danny Noppert and Glen Durrant completed the men’s semi-final line up after dumping out Scott Waites and Darius Labanauskas respectively, as Corrine Hammond sprung a surprise to dump out three-time world champion Anastasia Dobromyslova in an intriguing night of action at the Lakeside Country Club on Friday evening.

Third seed Danny Noppert continued his dream Lakeside debut as he survived a valiant fightback from Scott Waites to dump out the reigning champion in an enthralling quarter-final tussle. The Dutchman averaged 95.58, landed eight maximums and produced some stunning finishes to set up a tasty semi-final clash against Darryl Fitton.

Noppert clinched an attritional opening set. The pair exchanged early breaks, before Waites defied Noppert’s first maximum to hold via D10. The Dutchman forced a set decider after hitting D2 with his eighth attempt at double, before drawing first blood with a clinical 104 outshot after the defending champion missed a set dart at D18.

This was a bitter pill for the Yorkshireman to swallow, but Waites responded strongly from this setback. ‘Scotty 2 Hotty’ claimed an instant break via D4, before completing his second straight 14-darter with a clinical 76 checkout to gain control. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship Day Seven: Evening Report!” →

January 14, 2017 0

2017 BDO World Championship Day Seven: Afternoon Report!

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Jamie Hughes and Darryl Fitton advanced to the World Championship semi-finals after thrilling deciding set victories against Martin Adams and Geert de Vos respectively, as Lisa Ashton stormed into the women’s final in a pulsating session of darts at the Lakeside Country Club on Friday afternoon.

Fourth seed Jamie Hughes came from 2-0 and 3-1 down to edge out three-time world champion Martin Adams in a thrilling nine-set tussle. Adams made a blistering start to the match, but his doubling let him down in the latter stages of the contest, as Hughes prevailed with a 91.89 average, eight maximums and 50% on the doubles.

After a turbulent year, due to his health issues, ‘Wolfie’ performed magnificently throughout the tournament and it was fantastic to see him enjoying his darts and performing so well. He fired in nine maximums and averaged 92.55, but it wasn’t enough for him to secure a spot in his eleventh World Championship semi-final.

The first set was a real high-quality affair. Adams started superbly and posted successive 15-darters after converting checkouts of 72 and 97 respectively. Hughes opened his account after landing his first maximum and rounding off a 12-dart hold, but ‘Wolfie’ wrapped up the opening set with a clinical two-dart 68 outshot. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship Day Seven: Afternoon Report!” →

January 13, 2017 1

2017 BDO World Championship Day Six: Evening Report!

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Third seed Danny Noppert produced one of the performances of the second-round to cruise into the quarter-finals and set up a clash with defending champion Scott Waites, as Darius Labanauskas, Anastasia Dobromyslova and Corrine Hammond all triumphed on an entertaining night of darts at the Lakeside Country Club on Thursday evening.

Noppert’s dream Lakeside debut continues as he stormed into the last eight after whitewashing his Dutch compatriot Richard Veenstra in round-two. ‘Noppie’ averaged 91.02, landed the solitary maximum and converted an impressive 48% of his double attempts to triumph comprehensively against last year’s semi-finalist.

Noppert opened up proceedings with a confident 15-dart hold. Veenstra seemed destined to level but squandered seven darts at double as ‘Noppie’ doubled his tally via D9. ‘Flyers’ continued to be plagued by double trouble after missing a further three darts to break back and the third seed clinched the first set with a ruthless 77 kill on the bullseye.

The scrappy start continued as Noppert broke throw on D1 after Veenstra failed to open his account with a 107 checkout; his eleventh missed dart at double in the match. The Lakeside debutant won his fifth straight leg after recording a 16-dart hold on tops, before he landed his first maximum and converted a sublime 11-darter to double his lead. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship Day Six: Evening Report!” →

January 12, 2017 0

2017 BDO World Championship Day Six: Afternoon Report!

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Defending champion Scott Waites produced a fine comeback to keep his title defence alive, Lisa Ashton and Aileen de Graaf set up a semi-final clash after recording straight set victories, whilst 16-year-old sensation Justin van Tergouw clinched the BDO World Youth Championship title on a packed session at the Lakeside on Thursday afternoon.

Scott Waites recovered from losing the opening six legs to defeat recent World Masters finalist Mark McGeeney in a scrappy second-round tussle. The two-time Lakeside champion endured a torrid start, but rallied to win twelve of the final sixteen legs to book his quarter-final spot with an 88.14 average.

Waites endured a nightmare start as McGeeney breezed to the opening two sets without reply. ‘The Gladiator’ punished Waites’ lacklustre start by breaking on tops, before extending his cushion on D16 for a 16-dart hold. The defending champion missed two darts for a 76 kill to prolong the set, as McGeeney wrapped up the opener on tops.

The Coventry ace continued his dominant start by pinning D8 for his fourth straight leg. Waites had the chance to open his account, but spurned a further three darts at double, as McGeeney followed up his first maximum with a confident 44 outshot. ‘Scotty 2 Hotty’ was feeling the heat and McGeeney converted D14 for a 17-dart hold to double his lead. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship Day Six: Afternoon Report!” →

January 12, 2017 0

2017 BDO World Championship Day Five: Evening Report!

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Glen Durrant survived four match darts as he produced an inspired comeback from 3-0 down to defeat the veteran Paul Hogan in an absorbing clash, as Jamie Hughes and Darryl Fitton also booked their spots in the World Championship quarter-finals on a dramatic night of darts at the Lakeside Country Club on Wednesday evening.

However, the biggest story of the night saw number one seed Glen Durrant produce a dramatic comeback from 3-0 down to defeat Paul Hogan and secure his spot in the quarter-finals. Hogan stormed into a three set lead but spurned four darts for a whitewash victory, as the Teessider showed admirable resolve to complete an unlikely turnaround.

Durrant was shell-shocked after losing nine of the opening eleven legs but he maintained his composure to reel off four successive sets to keep alive his hopes of winning a maiden world title. The 46-year-old averaged 89.85 and landed five maximums en route to victory, as Hogan was dumped out after averaging 92.01 and hitting 72 ton-plus scores.

Hogan made a blistering start to seal the opening set without reply. ‘Crocodile Dundee’ opened his account with a regulation 52 checkout, before Durrant responded with his first maximum. However, ‘Duzza’ missed three darts to hold and Hogan broke with a sensational 140 outshot, before clinching the set with a clinical two-dart 70 kill. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship Day Five: Evening Report!” →

January 12, 2017 0

2017 BDO World Championship Day Five: Afternoon Report!

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Martin Adams stormed into the World Championship quarter-finals with an emphatic 4-1 victory over 2016 finalist Jeff Smith, as former BDO World Trophy winner Geert de Vos dumped out second seed Scott Mitchell to reach the last eight for the first time, in a cracking session of darts at the Lakeside Country Club on Wednesday afternoon.

Three-time world champion Adams secured his place in this year’s quarter-finals with an impressive 4-1 victory over last year’s finalist Jeff Smith. ‘The Silencer’ defeated Adams in straight sets in the opening round twelve months ago, but ‘Wolfie’ gained retribution for that defeat, averaging 89.94 and landing seven maximums to prevail emphatically.

Adams was averaging in excess of 97 for the vast majority of the contest, but his average dipped as a consequence of a scrappy fifth set. Smith recorded some clinical finishes but he simply couldn’t match Wolfie’s relentless scoring power, as the Canadian’s hopes of replicating last year’s run to the final were quashed at the last 16 stage.

Adams made a strong start to clinch the opening set convincingly. The pair exchanged 17-dart holds to kick off proceedings, before ‘Wolfie’ completed a regulation 57 checkout for the third successive hold. The 60-year-old was dominating the scoring stakes, and landed two maximums in the fourth leg to secure the set with a fabulous 11-darter. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship Day Five: Afternoon Report!” →

January 11, 2017 0

2017 BDO World Championship Day Four: Evening Report!

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Defending champion Scott Waites kicked off his title defence with a hard-fought victory over Cambridgeshire veteran Dennis Harbour, as Darius Labanauskas, Mark McGeeney and three-time women’s world champion Anastasia Dobromyslova also recorded first-round wins on an entertaining night at the Lakeside Country Club on Tuesday evening.

The sixth seed and reigning champion Waites came through a tough first-round tussle against Dennis Harbour to keep his title defence alive. ‘Scotty 2 Hotty’ averaged 90.54, landed two maximums and took out a pivotal 142 checkout en route to victory, as Harbour was dumped out after averaging 89.28 and landing four maximums.

Harbour made an accomplished start; landing his first maximum and taking out 80 to lead. Waites responded with a 13-dart leveller, but ‘The Harbour Master’ converted a two-dart 96 finish to regain the initiative. However, the defending champion tied the set on D16, before conjuring up a magical 142 finish to steal the set; with Harbour poised on D12.

Harbour responded strongly by registering a 13-dart break early in set two. He couldn’t cement this break however, as Waites levelled on D4 having earlier missed the bullseye for a 161 outshot. ‘Scotty 2 Hotty’ wasn’t scoring at his proficient best but his finishing was clinical and this pattern continued, as he posted 60 and 76 kills to double his lead. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship Day Four: Evening Report!” →

January 10, 2017 0