Michael van Gerwen survived a scare to kick off his William Hill World Championship title defence with victory over his compatriot Jelle Klaasen, on an evening which also saw wins for Kim Huybrechts and Luke Humphries at Alexandra Palace.
Continue reading “Van Gerwen survives scare against arch-nemesis Klaasen!”
Luke Humphries has opened up on his on-going battle with anxiety and revealed his future plans within the game.
Humphries recently revealed on social media that he had been suffering with frequent panic attacks due to an anxiety disorder, which plunged his future in the sport into doubt.
Continue reading “Humphries opens up on his anxiety battle”
World Championship quarter-finalist Luke Humphries has revealed that he will participate in this week’s Players Championship double-header in Barnsley, having bravely opened up on his struggles with mental health.
Continue reading “Humphries opens up on his mental health battle”
James Wade produced a typically clinical display to inflict Michael van Gerwen’s first Premier League defeat of the season on Night Four in Exeter, although ‘The Machine’ labelled it as his worst performance of the campaign thus far.
Continue reading “Wade: “Lots of players fold against Michael when they really shouldn’t””
Michael van Gerwen maintained his 100% start to this year’s Premier League with a thumping win over Rob Cross, whilst Raymond van Barneveld produced another stirring comeback from 5-1 down to salvage a point against Mensur Suljovic on a dramatic night of darts in Dublin. Continue reading “2019 Premier League Darts – Night Three Report!”
The entries for the opening two European Tour events of the year have been confirmed ahead of the two UK Qualifiers and two West & South Europe Tour Card Holder Qualifiers at the Barnsley Metrodome on Friday February 22. Continue reading “European Tour 1 & 2 Qualifier Entries!”
Nine new names will replace the injured Gary Anderson in the opening nine nights of the 2019 Unibet Premier League. Continue reading “NEWS: Nine ‘contenders’ replace injured Anderson in 2019 Premier League!”
World number one Michael van Gerwen was named as the PDC Player of the Year at the 2019 PDC Annual Awards Evening on Monday night, as Gary Anderson, Michael Smith and Daryl Gurney also scooped awards at The Dorchester in London. Continue reading “2019 PDC Annual Awards Evening!”
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!”
Michael van Gerwen produced a stunning display to defeat Adrian Lewis in a battle of the two-time world champions, whilst Gary Anderson sneaked past Chris Dobey in a seven-set epic on another thrilling day of darts at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “PDC World Championship – Day 12 Report!”
Mensur Suljovic became the latest big name to crash out of the William Hill World Darts Championship after losing 3-1 to debutant Ryan Searle, whilst two-time world champion Adrian Lewis eased through to round-three on a dramatic Thursday night at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “PDC World Championship – Day Eight Report!”
Third seed Peter Wright was sent crashing out of the William Hill World Darts Championship after suffering a shock 3-1 defeat against Spanish star Toni Alcinas on a dramatic double-session on Sunday at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “Santa Snakebite suffers shock Ally Pally exit!”
Ricky Evans and Vincent van der Voort fired in ton-topping averages on the opening day of the European Darts Trophy in Gottingen, as Steve Beaton edged out Kim Huybrechts in a dramatic last-leg decider on Friday evening.
Ricky Evans produced the performance of the opening-round at the Lokhalle to dismantle Andrew Gilding 6-1 and set up a meeting with Darren Webster on Saturday evening. ‘Rapid’ averaged 104.73, registered four maximums and converted 60% of his attempts at double to cap off a wonderful display against ‘Goldfinger’.
Vincent van der Voort also produced a vintage display to keep his slender hopes of European Championship qualification alive. The Dutchman averaged 103.96 and posted five maximums to defeat Simon Stevenson 6-3, kicking off the contest with legs of 13, 13 and 11 darts, which he’ll need to replicate in round-two against Michael van Gerwen.
Toni Alcinas defied EIGHT maximums from Danny Noppert to close out a gripping deciding-leg win in the last match of Friday’s marathon double-session. ‘Noppie’ produced a blistering display of scoring but it wasn’t enough to defeat the spirited Spaniard, who averaged 97.51 and converted 41% of his darts at double to prevail.
Steve Beaton fended off an inspired fightback from Kim Huybrechts in a battle of the former European Tour winners. Beaton stormed into a 5-1 lead but the Belgian fought back to force a decider- only to miss one dart at the bull for victory, and ‘The Bronzed Adonis’ held his nerve to complete a clinical 78 kill and triumph with a 93.91 average.
Krzysztof Ratajski also survived one match dart in his first-round tussle against Steve West. ‘The Polish Eagle’ averaged 93.94 and hit 35% of his double attempts, but West missed one dart at D12 in the decider to snatch victory, which enabled Ratajski to convert D8 and set up a second-round meeting with home favourite Max Hopp.
Jeffrey de Zwaan will lock horns with world champion Rob Cross in an intriguing second-round tussle after seeing off host-nation qualifier Stefan Siepmann in his opener. De Zwaan wasn’t at his brilliant best but his combination finishing proved decisive, as he converted finishes of 73, 76, 88 and 120 to stave off any threat of an upset.
Martin Schindler delighted the home crowd with a hard-fought 6-3 win over Luke Woodhouse. ‘The Wall’ spurned ten darts at a double during the contest, but averaged 91.44 and registered four maximums to seal his place in the last 32, where he’ll take on the veteran Mervyn King.
Jelle Klaasen celebrated the birth of his second child this week, and he had more reasons to be cheerful after seeing off Maik Langendorf 6-4. Both players were below-par but Klaasen resisted a late fightback from the host-nation qualifier to prevail with an 88.51 average, two maximums and a 35% checkout conversion rate.
John Henderson came through a last-leg shootout against Mark Wilson to secure his spot in round-two, where he’ll take on Dutch Darts Champion Ian White. ‘The Highlander’ averaged 94.48 to Wilson’s 85.79, but the Scot was forced to conjure up a 14-dart leg in the decider to seal his progression.
2017 Development Tour winner Luke Humphries continued his bid to qualify for this month’s European Championship with a 6-4 win over Keegan Brown in the tournament’s curtain-raiser. Humphries averaged ten points more than the former World-Youth champion; prevailing with a 96.56 average, two 180’s and a 50% conversion rate.
Ryan Joyce maintained his 100% success rate in the first-round of European Tour events in 2018 with a comprehensive 6-1 win over Jermaine Wattimena. ‘Relentless’ wasn’t anywhere his best, but still breezed to victory against the off-colour Dutchman with an 88.37 average and a 46% checkout success rate.
Mickey Mansell set up a second-round clash with former Lakeside champion Stephen Bunting, after recording an emphatic 6-2 win over George Killington. Killington opened up an early 2-1 lead, but then was afforded just one more dart at a double, with Mansell reeling off five consecutive legs to triumph with an 87.76 average.
However, Mansell’s compatriot Brendan Dolan fell to a first-round defeat against host-nation qualifier Gabriel Clemens. The German averaged 92.30, crashed in three maximums and took out a fine 118 finish en route to victory over the former World Grand Prix finalist.
Matthew Edgar secured his first European Tour victory for three years with an impressive 6-3 win over Dutchman Jeffrey de Graaf. ‘Prime Time’ averaged 89.62, fired in four maximums and boasted a 50% checkout conversion rate to set up a second-round showdown against Joe Cullen.
Marko Kantele will play Premier League finalist Michael Smith for a place in the last 16, after seeing off qualifier Robert Marijanovic in round-one. The Finland World Cup veteran fired in five maximums in a powerful display of scoring; before rounding-off a 6-3 win with an 88.16 average and a 43% checkout success rate.
Richard North kept his hopes of European Championship qualification alive with a scrappy 6-3 win over host-nation qualifier Christian Bunse. The German outscored North for large periods, but missed 13 darts at double, as North limped to victory with a 79.04 average.
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig/PDC
2018 European Darts Trophy (ET13)
Schedule of Play
Friday October 12
First Round
Afternoon Session (1pm local time, 12pm BST)
Luke Humphries 6-4 Keegan Brown
Matthew Edgar 6-3 Jeffrey de Graaf
Mickey Mansell 6-2 George Killington
John Henderson 6-5 Mark Wilson
Gabriel Clemens 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Marko Kantele 6-3 Robert Marijanovic
Ryan Joyce 6-1 Jermaine Wattimena
Krzysztof Ratajski 6-5 Steve West
Evening Session (7.15pm local time, 6.15pm BST)
Richard North 6-3 Christian Bunse
Ricky Evans 6-1 Andrew Gilding
Martin Schindler 6-3 Luke Woodhouse
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Simon Stevenson
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Maik Langendorf
Steve Beaton 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-3 Steffen Siepmann
Toni Alcinas 6-5 Danny Noppert
Saturday October 13
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1pm local time, 12pm BST)
Joe Cullen v Matthew Edgar
Michael Smith v Marko Kantele
Dave Chisnall v Ryan Joyce
Stephen Bunting v Mickey Mansell
Daryl Gurney v Luke Humphries
Simon Whitlock v Richard North
Ian White v John Henderson
Jonny Clayton v Gabriel Clemens
Evening Session (7.15pm local time, 6.15pm BST)
Mervyn King v Martin Schindler
Gerwyn Price v Steve Beaton
Darren Webster v Ricky Evans
Michael van Gerwen v Vincent van der Voort
Peter Wright v Jelle Klaasen
James Wade v Toni Alcinas
Max Hopp v Krzysztof Ratajski
Rob Cross v Jeffrey de Zwaan
Michael Smith and Rob Cross produced sensational performances on a dramatic day of second-round action at the German Darts Grand Prix, as seven seeds were sent packing in Munich, with world number one Michael van Gerwen almost becoming the eighth on Sunday evening. Continue reading “German Darts Grand Prix: Day Two Report!”
Adrian Lewis, James Wade, Jonny Clayton, Luke Humphries, Chris Dobey and Ryan Meikle secured qualification for the opening two European Tour events of 2018, as Raymond van Barneveld endured a disappointing night on a dramatic evening at the Barnsley Metrodome on Friday. Continue reading “2018 European Tour 1-2 UK Qualifiers!”
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!”
Newcastle ace Adam Hunt tops the Development Tour Order of Merit after reaching three of the four finals hosted on the second weekend of Development Tour action at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan. Continue reading “2017 PDC Development Tour: Order of Merit Update!”
Luke Humphries tops the PDC Development Tour Order of Merit after winning two of the four events which took place across the weekend at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan. The 22-year-old won the first event of the year with victory over Canada’s Dawson Murschell in the final.
Humphries then triumphed in Sunday’s fourth and final event of the weekend; defeating Kenny Neyens in the final. The Newbury ace has accrued £4,000 in prize money and sits directly above Neyens, who enjoyed a fine weekend himself. The young Belgian hit a nine-darter in Saturday’s action, before going on to reach two finals.
Ryan Meikle sits in third place after securing his maiden Development Tour title on Sunday afternoon. The 20-year-old Suffolk ace has enjoyed a strong start to 2017; having already sealed his qualification for next month’s Coral UK Open Finals, and he continued his fine form to defeat 19-year-old Harry Ward to win event three.
Dimitri van den Bergh is in fourth place after winning Saturday’s second event. ‘The Dream-Maker’ defeated Humphries to kick off his campaign, before defeating his compatriot Neyens to scoop the £2,000 prize and secure his seventh Development Tour title of his career. Continue reading “2017 PDC Development Tour Order of Merit!”