Former World Championship semi-finalist Jamie Lewis saw off current world champion Peter Wright to be crowned the inaugural winner on the PDC Home Tour as he secured victory in Group One on Friday night.
Continue reading “Lewis denies Wright to triumph on opening night of PDC Home Tour”
Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright all crashed out on a dramatic opening day of the Ladbrokes UK Open, while former champions Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld also bowed out as the 159-player tournament kicked off with a bang at Butlin’s Minehead Resort on Friday.
Continue reading “Van Gerwen, Anderson & Wright crash out of UK Open!”
Luke Humphries produced a sensational display to send reigning champion Rob Cross crashing out of the World Darts Championship, as ninth seed James Wade also bowed out on another day of shocks at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “PDC World Championship – Day 13 Report!”
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson overcame an impressive display from debutant Kevin Burness to book his spot in the third-round of the PDC World Championship, despite being plagued by a wasp on a dramatic day of action at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “Anderson through to round-three after overcoming Ally Pally wasp!”
Raymond van Barneveld rolled back the years to end Michael van Gerwen’s three-year reign at the World Series of Darts Finals, on a dramatic afternoon of quarter-final action in Vienna. Continue reading “Brilliant Barney stuns MvG in Vienna!”
Michael van Gerwen began his bid for a fourth successive World Series Finals title with a comprehensive whitewash victory over Australian qualifier Damon Heta, as Gary Anderson, Peter Wright, Rob Cross, Daryl Gurney and home favourite Mensur Suljovic were all sent packing on a dramatic night of action in Vienna. Continue reading “World Series of Darts Finals- Day Two Report!”
Mensur Suljovic defeated Dimitri van den Bergh 8-2 to clinch German Darts Masters glory in front of a record-breaking 20,000 fans at the Veltins Arena in Gelsenkirchen on Friday evening. Continue reading “German Darts Masters 2018 Report!”
Top seed Michael van Gerwen will take on home favourite Max Hopp in the first-round of the German Darts Masters this Friday, when the 2018 World Series season gets underway in Gelsenkirchen. Continue reading “German Darts Masters 2018: Draw & Schedule confirmed!”
Gary Anderson continued his magnificent form by whitewashing both Rob Cross and Peter Wright to secure the Players Championship Three title at the Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday afternoon. Continue reading “Players Championship Three Report!”
World Championship debutant Rob Cross defeated defending champion Michael van Gerwen in an unbelievable sudden-death leg to set up a final showdown with 16-time world champion Phil Taylor, after prevailing in one of the greatest games in darting history at the Alexandra Palace on Saturday evening. Continue reading “PDC World Championship 2018: Semi-Finals Report!”
Michael van Gerwen edged out his fellow countryman Raymond van Barneveld in a thrilling deciding-set tussle to set up a semi-final showdown against Rob Cross, whilst Phil Taylor dumped out Gary Anderson to continue his bid for a 17th World Championship title on an incredible day of quarter-final action at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “PDC World Championship 2018: Quarter-Finals Report!”
Phil Taylor whitewashed former World Youth champion Keegan Brown to reach his 25th World Championship quarter-final and set up a showdown against two-time world champion Gary Anderson on Friday evening, after another eventful day of action at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “PDC World Championship 2018: Day Twelve Report!”
Michael van Gerwen survived a scare to set up a World Championship quarter-final showdown against his old rival Raymond van Barneveld, whilst second seed Peter Wright suffered a shock second-round defeat to an inspired Jamie Lewis on a dramatic day of darts at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “PDC World Championship 2018: Day Eleven Report!”
Vincent van der Voort and Keegan Brown produced brilliant displays to dump out Premier League stars Dave Chisnall and James Wade on a night of shocks at the Alexandra Palace on Sunday evening. Continue reading “PDC World Championship 2018: Day Four Report!”
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld enjoyed a successful return to the European Tour, as Daryl Gurney survived three match darts to dump out Adrian Lewis on a dramatic opening day at the German Darts Masters in Jena on Saturday. Continue reading “German Darts Masters: Day One Report!”
Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis were among the eighteen players to secure qualification for next month’s German Darts Masters on Friday evening. The former world champions both came through the 83-man field at the UK Qualifiers in Milton Keynes, to seal their spots in the second European Tour event of the season in Jena. Continue reading “Barney & Lewis among qualifiers for German Darts Masters!”
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld edged out Adrian Lewis in a seven-set thriller, whilst defending champion Gary Anderson defeated an inspired Benito van de Pas to book his place in the World Championship quarter-finals on a dramatic night of action at the Alexandra Palace on Wednesday evening.
Van Barneveld came from 3-2 down to defeat two-time world champion Adrian Lewis in a topsy-turvy clash to reach the last eight at Ally Pally once again. Neither player were at their vintage best, but Van Barneveld prevailed with a 95 average, three maximums and a 38% conversion rate on the doubles.
Lewis succumbed to a last 16 defeat against Van Barneveld for the second time in three years at Ally Pally despite averaging 98.05, firing in six maximums and converting an impressive 65% of his attempts at double, but ultimately the Dutch legend produced the goods at the crucial moments.
Nevertheless, ‘Jackpot’ made a blistering start to clinch the opening set without reply. The Stoke-on-Trent star landed identical 90 checkouts to round off respective 11-dart legs and also pinned D16 to seal first blood with a 114.55 average. Continue reading “2017 PDC World Championship: Day Eleven Report!”
Gary Anderson began his world title defence with an emphatic straight sets victory as Michael Smith, Kevin Painter and Jamie Lewis also tasted victory on the opening night of the 2017 PDC World Championships at the Alexandra Palace on Thursday evening.
Anderson began his title defence with a routine whitewash triumph against debutant Mark Frost. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ averaged 96.16, landed five maximums and converted 38% of his double attempts to record an emphatic victory over the PDPA qualifier, who entertained the Ally Pally crowd despite averaging a miserly 74.
Anderson clinched the first set without reply despite averaging a modest 79. He wired the bullseye for a majestic 170 finish in the first leg before eventually cleaning up on D4. The Scot hit the same target to extend his cushion after ‘Frosty’ missed three darts to break, before the world champion eventually hit D1 to secure a scrappy opener.
‘The Flying Scotsman’ kicked off the second set with his first maximum before pinning tops for a 13-darter and his fourth successive leg. Frost was floundering and Anderson clinically converted a 116 finish on tops to continue the procession, before registering back-to-back maximums and pinning D10 for a 12-darter and a two-set lead. Continue reading “2017 PDC World Championship- Day One Report!”
New-Look Simon Whitlock began his Dutch Darts Masters campaign with a comfortable 6-2 victory over exciting Belgian star Mike De Decker, as ‘The Wizard’ sported glasses on the big stage for the very first time in Venray.
Whitlock, who won this title back in 2012, averaged 90.55 as he took advantage of a nervous De Decker, to set up a thrilling second-round tie against world number 12 Ian White tomorrow.
Whitlock showed glimpses of real quality, but struggled to sustain a high-level throughout. However, the Australian grew in confidence as he closed in on victory and sealed his progression to round-two with a superb 12-darter, rounded off with a clinical 102 checkout.
De Decker struggled for fluency, averaging just 83 in a disappointing afternoon. His young compatriot Dimitri van den Bergh also endured a frustrating afternoon, as he missed four match darts to defeat John Henderson in a scrappy contest. van den Bergh led 3-0 at one stage, but missed darts at D20 and D10 in the decider, enabling the Scot to sneak through.
Continue reading “Dutch Darts Masters: Round One Report & Results”
Michael van Gerwen claimed glory in the second UK Open qualifier of 2016 after beating Alan Norris 6-4 in Saturday’s final at the Robin Park Tennis Centre, in Wigan. Van Gerwen was in scintillating form throughout the day, and guaranteed his spot in the third-round of the UK Open with victory over the former BDO World finalist.
Van Gerwen dropped just a solitary leg in progressing through to the last 16 stage. The world number one whitewashed both Matt Padgett and Joe Murnan, before thumping former World-Youth champion Arron Monk 6-1.
Van Gerwen then whitewashed his compatriot Benito van de Pas 6-0 to secure a quarter-final berth against yesterday’s winner Adrian Lewis. MvG continued his rampant form, dismantling ‘Jackpot’ 6-1 to reach the semi-finals, for the loss of only two legs throughout the entire day.
MvG edged past the improving Simon Whitlock 6-4 in the semi-finals, before defeating Norris by the same scoreline to secure his second title of 2016. After his opening night Premier League defeat to James Wade, coupled with his last 32 exit yesterday, van Gerwen will have been determined to bounce back, and he did so in typically emphatic fashion.
Continue reading “Van Gerwen edges out Norris to win second UK Open qualifier!”
This week I had the pleasure of talking with Welsh darting star Jamie Lewis, as he looks ahead to the World Championships and reflects on the best year of his PDC career.
Jamie reached his maiden PDC TV quarter-final at the World Grand-Prix, where his run was only ended by a certain Michael van Gerwen.
The Welshman has also recorded victory on the World Matchplay stage this year, whilst he reached the last 16 of the Players Championship Finals in Minehead last weekend, beating World Grand-Prix Champion Robert Thornton in Round One.
Here, Jamie discusses the catalyst for his improvement on the big TV stage, his proudest moment in Darts, and reveals his love of everything Bob Marley!
Benito van de Pas produced an extraordinary display of finishing as he thrashed eight-times major winner James Wade 10-3 to reach his first PDC major quarter-final at the Players Championship Finals, in Minehead.
van de Pas averaged 105.39 and hit 66% on his doubles en route to dismantling the Machine. Benito replicated the finishing he produced in yesterday’s win over Stephen Bunting, although his overall performance today, was far more impressive.
van de Pas stormed into a 1-0 lead by taking out 72 in just two-darts for an instant break of throw. The 22-year-old doubled his advantage moments later, taking out 79 in two-darts for another 14-dart leg.
Continue reading “Brilliant Benito dispatches Wade with phenomenal finishing!”
Phil Taylor’s hopes of winning his first ranking TV major in 2015 were halted prematurely, as he suffered an agonising 6-5 loss against Gary Anderson, in the first-round of the Players Championship finals in Minehead.
Anderson and Taylor, who are ranked 2nd and 3rd in the World respectively, were pitted against each-other due to their Pro Tour rankings. The Scot was seeded 12th, whilst Taylor was 21st, due to his sporadic participation on the floor in 2015.
The first three legs went with throw, before Taylor came agonisingly close to hitting a 9-darter in the fourth leg. ‘The Power’ posted successive maximums, hit a seventh T20, followed by a T19, but his ninth and decisive dart was pulled way below the D12.
Continue reading “Taylor sent packing on opening day in Minehead!”
Michael van Gerwen continued his quest for a third World Grand Prix title in Dublin, whilst Robert Thornton, Mensur Suljovic and Mark Webster all battled through to the semi-finals at the Citywest.
In the opening match of the evening, Gary Anderson’s conqueror Ian White faced Robert Thornton. With just one place separating the pair in the PDC World Rankings, this had all the prospects of being a very evenly-matched contest. This is exactly what transpired.
Continue reading “MvG Marches On as Suljovic Stuns van der Voort!”
The 2015 World Cup of Darts gets underway in Frankfurt tomorrow evening, as Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld aim to defend their title, to secure Holland’s 3rd World Cup title, in only the tournament’s fifth staging. England, Scotland and Holland are the clear favourites for the tournament, however there are a number of outsiders capable of shocking the bigger nations. Here’s my list of 5 potential dark-horses in this year’s tournament.