Daryl Gurney clinched his maiden PDC major title with a thrilling deciding-set victory over former world finalist Simon Whitlock in a thrilling World Grand Prix final at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday evening. Continue reading “2017 World Grand Prix: Finals Day!”
Former world finalist Simon Whitlock is eyeing a Premier League return after reaching his first major final for over four years at the World Grand Prix last night.
‘The Wizard’ edged out the recent Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic in a Grand Prix classic at the Citywest Hotel on Friday evening, to reach his first major final since July 2013. Continue reading “Whitlock: ‘I belong in the Premier League’”
Simon Whitlock edged out Mensur Suljovic in a World Grand Prix classic to set up an enthralling final against home favourite Daryl Gurney, who finally ended the run of giant-killing John Henderson on a captivating night of darts at the Citywest Hotel on Friday night. Continue reading “World Grand Prix: Semi-Finals Report!”
Mensur Suljovic produced an imperious display to dump out tournament favourite Peter Wright, as John Henderson continued his World Grand Prix fairy-tale by dumping out Raymond van Barneveld on a thrilling night of action at the Citywest Hotel on Thursday evening. Continue reading “World Grand Prix: Quarter-Finals Report!”
Tournament favourite Peter Wright produced a classy comeback to defeat Mervyn King and set up a quarter-final showdown against recent Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic at the Citywest Hotel on Wednesday evening. Continue reading “World Grand Prix: Day Four Report!”
Peter Wright survived two match darts to edge past Stephen Bunting in a nail-biting first-round tussle in Dublin, as Steve West dumped out two-time Grand Prix winner James Wade on another dramatic evening of darts at the Citywest Hotel on Monday evening. Continue reading “World Grand Prix: Day Two Report!”
John Henderson caused one of the biggest shocks in World Grand Prix history by dumping out reigning champion and world number one Michael van Gerwen on a dramatic opening night at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, on Sunday evening. Continue reading “World Grand Prix: Day One Report!”
Michael van Gerwen produced one of the greatest double-in performances of all time as he stormed past world champion Gary Anderson to win his third World Grand Prix title in a fantastic final at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday evening.
The world number one averaged 100.29, landed seven maximums and converted 43% of his attempts at double, to record an emphatic 5-2 victory to scoop the £100,000 winner’s cheque. Van Gerwen’s average was the highest ever in a World Grand Prix final, surpassing Phil Taylor’s previous best of 100.17, set in 2002.
Anderson battled valiantly, averaging 92.73 and firing in eight maximums, but ‘The Flying Scotsman’ was ultimately punished for a lacklustre start, as he suffered defeat in his maiden Grand Prix final.
‘The Green Machine’ lived up to his name as he breezed to the first set without reply, taking just 43 darts to take the lead. He fired in a maximum with just his second visit to the board, before clinching the set with a classy 14-darter.
The second set followed a similar pattern of Dutch domination. Van Gerwen missed the bull for a 161 checkout for a fourth consecutive leg, as Anderson opened his account on D5. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old from Boxtel fired back with clinical 101 checkout on D16. Continue reading “Record-breaking MvG brushes Anderson aside to clinch Grand Prix hat-trick!”
Michael van Gerwen remains on course for a third World Grand Prix title after he whitewashed former BDO number one James Wilson, as Simon Whitlock, Dave Chisnall and Daryl Gurney all sealed their spots in the quarter-finals at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin on Wednesday evening.
However, the performance of the night was delivered by world number one Michael van Gerwen, who averaged 97.17, landed three maximums and converted 56% of his finishing doubles to dismantle Wilson, who performed better than the scoreline indicates.
Wilson kicked off the contest in sumptuous style with a roof-raising 156 finish. He missed the bullseye to double his lead moments later, but van Gerwen fired back with a sensational 96 checkout, culminating with D18 and D20. This galvanised the Dutchman, who went to seal the first set with relative ease.
‘The Green Machine’ fired in scores of 180 and 177 in the opening leg of set two, but he almost lost the leg, as ‘Jammie Dodger’ missed tops for a 160 checkout. However, MvG pinned the same target to hold throw, before winning his fifth straight leg with a fine 14-darter.
The third leg was an extremely high-quality affair. Both men kicked of the leg with flawless 160 starts, registering five perfect darts in the process. However, the advantage of throw proved decisive for Van Gerwen, who converted 64 for a stunning 12-darter to establish a commanding two-set cushion. Continue reading “World Grand Prix Day Four: Whitlock hits sixteen perfect darts to reach the last eight!”
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld produced the performance of the tournament thus far as he whitewashed Adrian Lewis in round-two of the World Grand Prix, as world champion Gary Anderson safely progressed to the last eight at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, on Tuesday evening.
However, the story of the night was Raymond van Barneveld, who reached his first Grand Prix quarter-final since 2010 after dismantling two-time world champion Adrian Lewis in straight sets. Van Barneveld was superb, hitting D16 with unrelenting precision, averaging 97.21 and converting 53% of his attempts at double.
The opening set was a topsy-turvy affair which went to a fifth and deciding leg after the pair traded breaks. Lewis had the advantage of throw but he squandered five set darts at D18 and D9 respectively, and Van Barneveld pinned D4 with his last dart in hand to steal the set, which sparked a passionate roar from the legendary Dutchman.
Barney then whitewashed Lewis in the opening leg of set two after Lewis failed to pin a starting double within 12 darts. Jackpot was badly affected by his missed doubles in the opening set and the 49-year-old Den Haag ace was in uncompromising mood, extending his lead to 2-0, winning the set without reply.
Lewis fired in a maximum in the opening leg of set three but Barney was unperturbed, converting 72 on tops for a precious break of throw. The Stoke ace landed his fifth maximum in the following leg but then spurned three darts at D18,and Van Barneveld pinned D10 to win his sixth straight leg and move within a leg of victory. Continue reading “World Grand Prix Day Three: Brilliant Barney whitewashes Lewis!”
Reigning champion Robert Thornton and former winner James Wade were both dumped out on the opening night of the World Grand Prix, as Gary Anderson, Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld all progressed to round-two at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin on Sunday evening.
Thornton’s hopes of defending his title were quashed by former world champion Stephen Bunting, who held his nerve to prevail in an exciting affair. ‘The Bullet’ won the opening leg, but Thornton rallied and clinched the opening set with successive finishes of 125, 62 and 67.
However Bunting responded strongly, breaking Thornton early in set two with a clinical 105 kill. The St Helen’s star doubled his lead moments later, and whilst the Scot fired back with a 12-darter, Bunting levelled up proceedings at one set apiece with a 12-darter of his own.
‘The Bullet’ hit tops to take the lead early in set three, but Thornton replied by pinning D10. Bunting then moved to within a leg of victory, following up his fourth maximum by hitting D8. Thornton kicked off the fourth leg with five perfect darts, but missed a multitude of darts at double to force a decider, as Bunting secured the win via D4.
World champion Gary Anderson kicked off his campaign with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Jamie Caven. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ breezed to the first set without reply as ‘Jabba’ struggled for consistency. The second set was a much more competitive affair, but finishes of 112, 124 and 86 sealed victory for the world number two. Continue reading “World Grand Prix- Day One Report!”
Simon Whitlock clinched his first PDC ranking title in over two years after surviving two-match darts against Ronny Huybrechts in a dramatic final at Players Championship 18 at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, on Saturday afternoon.
‘The Wizard’ performed superbly throughout the day, ending Michael van Gerwen’s 31 match winning streak in Players Championship events, as well as missing D18 for a 9-darter in the final.
This victory gives Whitlock his 12th PDC Pro Tour crown; his first since defeating James Wade in Coventry back in 2014. However, he also benefitted from some good fortune, after Huybrechts missed two darts at double to win his first ever PDC title.
Huybrechts broke Whitlock in the very first leg of the contest after the Australian spurned three clear darts at double, and the Belgian doubled his lead with a 15-dart hold, culminating with a 70 checkout.
Whitlock was scoring strongly, but was looking increasingly fragile on the doubles. The former world finalist incredibly missed EIGHT darts at double to open his account in leg three, and Huybrechts eventually pinned D2 at the sixth time of asking to establish a three-leg cushion. Continue reading “Whitlock ends Van Gerwen’s dominance to win his first title in over two years!”
Michael van Gerwen clinched his fourth consecutive Players Championship title with victory over his compatriot Christian Kist at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin on Friday afternoon.
‘The Green Machine’ claimed an unprecedented hat-trick at last week’s triple-header in Barnsley and continued his magnificent form on Irish soil, dropping just 11 legs over the course of the entire day at Players Championship 17, to once again scoop the £10,000 winner’s cheque.
The world number one breezed into the third-round with emphatic wins against Terry Temple and Robert Owen, to set up a last 32 clash with a resurgent Mick McGowan.
McGowan, who qualified for the World Grand Prix by virtue of reaching a semi-final in Barnsley last week, edged out Wes Newton and Grand Prix champion Robert Thornton to book his third-round spot, but Van Gerwen was an obstacle too far, with the Dutchman recording a 6-3 triumph.
In round-four MvG faced Berry van Peer, who had already seen off Raymond van Barneveld and Simon Whitlock en course to the last 16, although ‘Mighty-Mike’ sealed a comprehensive 6-1 win against his compatriot, to ease into the quarter-finals. Continue reading “Van Gerwen secures fourth consecutive Players Championship crown with victory over giant-killing Kist!”
Robert Thornton will begin the defence of his World Grand Prix title against former world champion Stephen Bunting on the tournament’s opening night, whilst world champion Gary Anderson and two-time Grand Prix winner James Wade will also headline Sunday’s line-up at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin.
Gary Anderson will begin his assault for a maiden Dublin title when he takes on seven-time ranking winner Jamie Caven, whilst Wade takes on nine-time major finalist Terry Jenkins, in a repeat of the 2007 final. The tournament’s opening match will be contested between two debutants, as Kyle Anderson meets Spanish star Cristo Reyes.
Ian White will take on Kim Huybrechts in a tasty encounter, before Gerwyn Price and Benito van de Pas both go in search of their first wins on the Citywest stage when they lock horns.
Elsewhere, third seed Adrian Lewis will take on Jelle Klaasen in the tie of the round, before the final tie of Sunday night sees 2012 finalist Mervyn King takes on five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld, twice a finalist at the Grand Prix.
World number one Michael van Gerwen will begin his bid for a third World Grand Prix title against the veteran Steve Beaton, whilst 11-time champion Phil Taylor hopes to continue to build upon his Champions League of Darts triumph when he clashes with Steve West. Continue reading “World Grand Prix Schedule Confirmed!”
World number one Michael van Gerwen will face the legendary Steve Beaton in the first-round of the World Grand-Prix, whilst reigning champion Robert Thornton will begin the defence of his title against Stephen Bunting at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin, next week.
The draw for the 2016 World Grand-Prix, which begins on Sunday October 2nd, was made live on the PDC’s official Facebook page, ahead of the final day of Champions League of Darts action.
Van Gerwen will take on 1996 Lakeside world champion Steve Beaton in round-one. Beaton has enjoyed a mini-resurgence this year, reaching the quarter-finals of the recent World Matchplay. However, ‘The Green Machine’ will be hoping to clinch a third World Grand-Prix title.
Robert Thornton, who defeated Van Gerwen in a thrilling final last year, takes on another former Lakeside champion Stephen Bunting. ‘The Thorn’ has endured a slump in form since winning his second major title last year, but he’ll be hoping that a return to Irish soil will have a galvanising effect on his fortunes.
Phil Taylor will go in search of an unprecedented twelfth World Grand-Prix crown against debutant Steve West. West secured his spot for this event by virtue of reaching the final of Players Championship 16 in Barnsley last week, which saw Vincent van der Voort miss out on qualification. Continue reading “2016 World Grand Prix Draw!”