Peter Wright embraced his inner Grinch as he began the defence of his World Championship crown with victory over Steve West on the opening night of the sport’s showpiece event, as an emotional Diogo Portela defeated record-breaker Steve Beaton on Tuesday night at Alexandra Palace.
Continue reading “Wright the Grinch clinches opening night win at Ally Pally”
Niels Zonneveld secured his PDC Tour Card after defeating Christian Goedl 5-1 on the opening day of PDC European Qualifying School in Hildesheim on Thursday afternoon.
The 20-year-old Dutchman- who won his first Development Tour title in April last year- performed superbly throughout the afternoon to claim his Tour Card and seal a coveted place on the PDC Pro Tour in 2019. Continue reading “2019 PDC European Qualifying School – Day One Report!”
Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic will be the highest-profile absentee at next month’s Coral UK Open Finals in Minehead, after the 128-man field for the event was confirmed earlier this week. Continue reading “Several big names to miss the UK Open!”
The 2018 PDC Qualifying Schools came to a dramatic close in Wigan and Hildesheim on Sunday afternoon, after a gruelling four days of qualification. Nevertheless, whilst there was joy for many players, there were also a host of high-profile names who failed to secure coveted PDC Tour Cards. Continue reading “Several big names suffer Q-School disappointment!”
There will be a record field of over 600 players competing in the 2018 PDC Qualifying Schools, as players battle it out for coveted PDC Tour Cards in Wigan and Hildesheim from January 18th-21st. Continue reading “2018 PDC Qualifying Schools: Entries confirmed!”
The list of high-profile stars departing the BDO in order to compete at this week’s PDC Qualifying School continues, with Jamie Hughes and Darryl Fitton joining the likes of Danny Noppert, Jeff Smith and Tony O’Shea in switching allegiances. Continue reading “Hughes, Fitton & O’Shea join growing list of BDO departures!”
Former BDO World Championship finalists Danny Noppert and Jeff Smith have both confirmed that they will be attempting to secure PDC Tour Cards at Q-School later this month. Continue reading “Noppert & Jeff Smith to compete at PDC Q-School!”
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson stormed into the second-round of the World Championship with a comprehensive straight sets win over Lakeside finalist Jeff Smith, as four seeds were dumped out on a dramatic double-session of action at the Alexandra Palace on Saturday. Continue reading “PDC World Championship 2018: Day Three Report!”
Former Lakeside world finalist Jeff Smith has controversially had his wildcard for December’s Finder Darts Masters revoked, a week after it was revealed that the Canadian would be competing at the PDC’s World Championship later this year. Continue reading “Smith’s Finder Darts Masters wildcard revoked!”
The field of international qualifiers for the 2018 World Darts Championship has been confirmed, with a total of 24 set to compete at the biggest tournament in world darts at the Alexandra Palace from December 14th-January 1st. Continue reading “International Qualifiers confirmed for PDC World Championship!”
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!”
Last year’s finalist Jeff Smith will face three-time world champion Martin Adams in the second-round of the BDO World Championship after coming from behind to defeat Brian Dawson, as Geert de Vos, Paul Hogan and Lorraine Winstanley all tasted victory at the Lakeside Country Club on Monday evening.
Smith reeled off five consecutive legs to come from behind to dump out twelfth seed Brian Dawson in a topsy-turvy affair. Smith won four of the opening five legs, before Dawson stormed into a 2-1 lead after recording six straight legs. However, ‘The Silencer’ recovered to prevail with a 91.71 average and a 59% checkout success rate.
The 41-year-old defeated Dawson 4-1 in round-two twelve months ago, but he was made to sweat as he defeated the Yorkshireman at Lakeside for the second year in succession. In round-two, the Canadian will face three-time world champion Martin Adams in a repeat of their first-round clash in 2016, where Smith recorded a shock straight sets triumph.
Dawson started the contest sluggishly as Smith hit tops to win the opening two legs in 17 and 16 darts respectively. ‘Doggy’ opened his account on D16, but ‘The Silencer’ was unfazed and converted a regulation 53 checkout on D18 to wrap up the opening set. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship Day Three: Evening Report!”
Jim Williams defeated three-time world finalist Tony O’Shea in straight sets in the first-round of the BDO World Championship for the second year in succession, as Jeff Smith, Mark McGrath and Aileen de Graaf also triumphed at the Lakeside Country Club on Saturday evening.
Thirteenth seed Williams condemned Lakeside legend Tony O’Shea to his fourth successive first-round exit at Frimley Green with a comprehensive 3-0 victory. Both men struggled for large periods, but Williams averaged 82.62 in dropping just two legs, as O’Shea was punished for converting just two of his 27 attempts at double.
Williams clinched the opening set to nil, despite the fact O’Shea was first to a double in each of the three legs. The Welshman escaped with a hold of throw in the first leg as ‘Silverback’ spurned four darts at tops to break.
The second leg followed a similar pattern. O’Shea squandered five darts at double as Williams again pinned D16 to double his tally. The three-time world finalist had a chance at 108 to stay alive in the set but he failed to pin D14, as the Welshman clinched the opener with a clinical 78 kill. Continue reading “2017 BDO World Championship: Day One Evening Report!”
BDO world number one and reigning champion Glen Durrant will begin the defence of his Winmau World Masters title against Malta’s Norbert Attard at the Lakeside tomorrow, after the final 16 qualifiers for this year’s event were confirmed earlier today.
Durrant will kick off the televised coverage of this year’s event on Premier Sports at noon tomorrow, when he faces Attard in the last 32. Current world champion Scott Waites is in action against David Copley, whilst three-time World Masters winner Martin Adams meets Irish qualifier John O’Shea.
Another former World Masters champion Martin Phillips faces Belgian Davy van Baelen, who also qualified for the 2017 BDO World Championships just 24 hours earlier, as BDO World Trophy winner Darryl Fitton meets Welsh Open semi-finalist Dave Parletti
Former world champion Scott Mitchell will contest the final game of the first-round when he takes on Swedish qualifier Oskar Lukasiak, who last appeared at the World Masters in 2009. Elsewhere, BDO number three and German Open winner Danny Noppert plays Canada’s Kiley Edmunds. Continue reading “2016 Winmau World Masters Draw!”
Former champions Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor remain on course to collide in the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts, whilst Peter Wright and Brendan Dolan also booked their quarter-final spots at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Wednesday evening.
The performance of the night was delivered by world number one Michael van Gerwen, who averaged 103.24 to defeat a tenacious Robert Thornton 10-5. ‘The Green Machine’ posted six maximums and converted 40% of his doubles, and although Thornton landed four maximums and two big ton-plus finishes, his lack of consistency cost him.
Van Gerwen kicked off proceedings in masterful fashion, registering his first maximum en route to an 11-dart opening salvo. However, Thornton was unperturbed and fired back instantly with a stunning 129 finish (T19, T16, D12).
The pair exchanged 14-darters as the high-quality contest continued, before Thornton squandered a wonderful opportunity to break. MvG missed four darts at D16 but ‘The Thorn’ then missed darts at D10 and D5 to complete an 80 kill and the Dutchman exploited this reprieve to hold throw on D8. Continue reading “Grand Slam of Darts Day Five Report!”
Raymond van Barneveld continued his magnificent form at the Grand Slam of Darts as the BDO trio of Jamie Hughes, Danny Noppert and Jeff Smith all booked their spots in the last 16 at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Tuesday night. This takes the tally of BDO representatives in the last 16 to five – the highest figure since the tournament began.
Former Grand Slam champion Raymond van Barneveld dumped out Mensur Suljovic to set up a tantalising tie against BDO world number one Glen Durrant in the last 16 of the Grand Slam of Darts. Van Barneveld registered his third successive ton-plus average to defeat Suljovic 5-3 and maintain his 100% record in Group F.
Van Barneveld averaged 100.29, landed four maximums and converted 55% of his doubles to win his third straight group game, which condemned the Austrian to a surprise group-stage exit. The seventh seed averaged 94.58, hit two maximums and converted 60% of his double attempts, but it wasn’t enough to defeat the five-time world champion.
Van Barneveld’s victory ensured that BDO world number three Danny Noppert also qualified from Group F, after the Dutchman reeled off five successive legs to defeat World Youth finalist Nathan Aspinall 5-2. Noppert’s reward for qualification is a showdown with PDC world champion Gary Anderson in the knockout stages. Continue reading “Grand Slam of Darts Day Four Report!”
Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, James Wade, Peter Wright & Benito van de Pas sealed their spots in the knockout phase of the Grand Slam of Darts, whilst Raymond van Barneveld continued his rampant form in an eventful double-session of action at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall on Sunday.
Defending champion Michael van Gerwen is all but through to the second round after easing past Brendan Dolan 5-1 on Sunday evening. ‘The Green Machine’ was in sparkling form and averaged 104.5 to dismantle ‘The Historymaker’, and MvG requires just one leg against Max Hopp to confirm his place in the knockout phase.
Six-time Grand Slam winner Phil Taylor secured his place in the knockout phase with an emphatic 5-1 victory over an off-colour Ian White. Taylor was far from his best, averaging a miserly 92.94 by his incredibly high standards. Yet White was extremely poor, averaging just 84 and converting 20% of his double attempts.
World champion Gary Anderson is through to the last 16 of the Grand Slam after whitewashing Nathan Derry on Sunday evening. Derry was unable to replicate the performance that saw him defeat Alan Norris, as Anderson eased to a 5-0 victory despite averaging just 89.5 and hitting 23% of his double attempts. Continue reading “Grand Slam of Darts Day Two: Wright, Hughes & Barney impress!”
Michael van Gerwen will begin the defence of his Grand Slam of Darts title against legendary three-time Lakeside world champion Martin Adams, after the draw for this year’s event at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall was made on Monday afternoon.
Van Gerwen, who produced a staggering comeback to defeat Phil Taylor and win his maiden Grand Slam title twelve months ago, will face a stern test against the 60-year-old Adams, who thrived on his debut in Wolverhampton last year.
‘Wolfie’ won all three of his group games against Jelle Klaasen, Ian White & Steve Beaton respectively, before succumbing to Kim Huybrechts in a last-leg shootout in the last 16. MvG and Adams will also be joined in Group A by former World Grand Prix finalist Brendan Dolan, and World-Youth champion Max Hopp.
Six-time Grand Slam winner Phil Taylor has been handed a relatively kind draw. ‘The Power’ has been pitted with his fellow Stokie Ian White, Darren Webster and BDO veteran Darryl Fitton, who qualified for this year’s event by virtue of winning the 2016 World Trophy back in May. Continue reading “2016 Grand Slam of Darts Draw confirmed!”
Three-time Lakeside world champion Martin Adams will make a highly-anticipated return to the Grand Slam of Darts in 2016, whilst Glen Durrant, Jeff Smith, Jamie Hughes and Danny Noppert will all make their Wolves Civic debuts after being confirmed as BDO qualifiers for the cross-code event in November.
The Grand Slam of Darts, televised live on Sky Sports, features eight BDO representatives competing against 24 of the PDC’s biggest stars, from November 12-20.
However, the biggest story is the return of Martin Adams. ‘Wolfie’ lit up the Civic Hall on his debut last year, winning his three group games against Ian White, Jelle Klaasen and Steve Beaton respectively, before losing to Kim Huybrechts in a thrilling last-leg decider in the last 16.
Nevertheless, it wasn’t just Adams’ performances which were memorable. There were question-marks about how he’d combat the more boisterous PDC crowds but he relished the atmosphere and played with a refreshing exuberance.
There were doubts about whether he would compete in this year’s competition after it was revealed last week that he was undergoing treatment for prostrate cancer, but the 60-year-old has been cleared to compete. Continue reading “BDO participants for the Grand Slam of Darts revealed!”
Former champion Scott Waites, will make his Singha Beer Grand Slam of Darts return at Wolverhampton in November, as he heads the BDO’s list of eight representatives. BDO world number one Glen Durrant is also set to make his Wolverhampton debut, alongside World Championship runner-up Jeff Smith.
The Grand Slam of Darts is the most unique tournament on the darting calendar, as the cross-code format sees representatives from the PDC and BDO lock horns. The 24 PDC representatives will include major tournament finalists from the past 12 months and eight PDC Qualifiers, with a further eight players coming from the BDO system.
Two-time Lakeside champion Waites will make his return to the Grand Slam in 2016, hoping to replicate his memorable 2010 triumph, when he produced an astonishing comeback from 8-0 down to defeat eight-time major winner James Wade 16-12 in the final.
Waites will be joined by Canada’s Jeff Smith, who was runner up in January’s Lakeside world championship. The 2015 World Masters winner, Glen Durrant, will be making his bow at the Civic Hall, whilst 2008 quarter-finalist Darryl Fitton will return to Wolverhampton, having claimed victory in May’s BDO World Trophy.