Nathan Aspinall produced a sensational comeback from two sets down to dump out Grand Slam champion Gerwyn Price on another night of drama at the World Darts Championship, as 11th seed Ian White was also beaten by an inspired Devon Petersen on Friday evening. Continue reading “Aspinall stuns Price at the Ally Pally!”
Steve West recorded the biggest victory of his career to end Michael van Gerwen’s four-year reign as European Champion, as Peter Wright, Mensur Suljovic, Daryl Gurney, Michael Smith and Adrian Lewis were all dumped out on an astonishing day of darts in Dortmund. Continue reading “European Championship Day Two Report!”
Michael van Gerwen kicked off the defence of his European Championship title with an incredible performance to defeat Paul Nicholson, whilst Rob Cross, Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Simon Whitlock all progressed through to round-two on the opening night in Dortmund. Continue reading “European Championship Day One Report!”
Gerwyn Price clinched his maiden European Tour title after demolishing Simon Whitlock 8-3 to win the International Darts Open on a dramatic day of darts in Riesa on Sunday evening. Continue reading “Price thumps Whitlock to seal International Open glory!”
Michael van Gerwen secured his fifth European Tour title of the season as he dismantled Adrian Lewis 8-3 to win the Gibraltar Darts Trophy on an action-packed day at the Victoria Stadium on Sunday evening. Continue reading “Gibraltar Darts Trophy 2018 Report!”
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!”
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson clinched his maiden UK Open title with a brilliant 11-7 victory over Australian sensation Corey Cadby on a dramatic day of action at Butlin’s Minehead on Sunday evening. Continue reading “UK Open 2018: Finals Day Report!”
The two tournament favourites Gary Anderson and Rob Cross will clash in the UK Open quarter-finals, as three-time world champion John Part reached his first major TV quarter-final since 2012 on another dramatic day of action at Butlin’s Minehead on Saturday. Continue reading “UK Open 2018: Day Two 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!”
Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld stormed into the third-round of the William Hill World Darts Championship with comprehensive victories, as fourth seed Daryl Gurney was sent packing by the giant-killing John Henderson on a dramatic day of action at the Alexandra Palace. Continue reading “PDC World Championship 2018: Day Ten Report!”
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!”
James Wade’s hopes of qualifying for this month’s European Championship were dashed after he was dismantled by Nathan Aspinall on an eventful opening day at the European Darts Trophy in Gottingen on Friday evening. Continue reading “European Darts Trophy: Day One 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!”
Michael van Gerwen will begin the defence of his World Grand Prix title against John Henderson, whilst two-time world champion Gary Anderson will take on debutant Richard North, after the draw for next month’s tournament was made this morning. Continue reading “2017 World Grand Prix Draw!”
Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld have climbed back into the world’s top eight following the conclusion of the BetVictor World Matchplay, whilst James Wade has fallen to his worst ranking position in over a decade. Continue reading “PDC Order of Merit: Latest Update!”
Former champion James Wade and Scottish stars Gary Anderson and Peter Wright will open the BetVictor World Matchplay on Saturday July 22nd, whilst defending champion Michael van Gerwen will begin his title defence on Monday 24th July, after the schedule of play was confirmed last week. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay Schedule of Play!”
Michael van Gerwen will begin the defence of his BetVictor World Matchplay title against former Lakeside world champion Stephen Bunting, as Phil Taylor’s Blackpool farewell kicks off with a potential banana-skin against Gerwyn Price, after the draw for this month’s event at the Winter Gardens was made on Tuesday evening. Continue reading “2017 World Matchplay Draw!”
Last year’s finalists Michael van Gerwen and Peter Wright began their latest European Grand Prix campaigns with emphatic second-round victories, whist Mark Webster dumped out James Wade in a dramatic double-session of darts at the Glaspalast in Sindelfingen on Saturday. Continue reading “European Darts Grand Prix: Day Two Report!”
Adrian Lewis began his bid to win a second PDC European Tour title in Sindelfingen with a commanding 6-2 win over Stephen Bunting, whilst in-form Dutch star Jan Dekker produced the performance of the opening-round on a dramatic opening day at the HappyBet European Darts Grand Prix on Friday. Continue reading “European Darts Grand Prix: Day One Report!”
Gary Anderson defeated nine-dart hero Peter Wright to clinch his second Players Championship title of the year at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan on Sunday afternoon. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ defeated his fellow Scot in the final of Players Championship Two last month and replicated the feat in emphatic style. Continue reading “Anderson denies Nine-dart Wright in Wigan!”
Adrian Lewis will take on Daryl Gurney in the first-round of the German Darts Masters on Saturday, whilst five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld will face his fellow Dutchman Michael Plooy, after the draw and schedule for this weekend’s European Tour event in Jena were confirmed. Continue reading “German Darts Masters Draw!”
Daryl Gurney has leapfrogged world number one Michael van Gerwen to top the Players Championship Order of Merit, after enjoying the best weekend of his darting career in Barnsley. ‘Super-Chin’ won his maiden PDC title at Players Championship Seven on Saturday, before losing out in the final of Sunday’s event to Joe Cullen. Continue reading “Players Championship Order of Merit Update!”
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson remains top of the Players Championship Order of Merit after the second double-header which took place at the Barnsley Metrodome over the weekend. ‘The Flying Scotsman’ was knocked out in round-three by Daryl Gurney on Saturday, before succumbing to eventual winner Simon Whitlock on Sunday. Continue reading “Players Championship Order of Merit Update!”
Rob Cross won his maiden PDC Pro Tour title with a dramatic deciding-leg victory over Mervyn King in the final of Players Championship Three at the Barnsley Metrodome on Saturday afternoon. Continue reading “Players Championship Three: Report & Results!”
Two-time world champion Adrian Lewis kicked off his campaign with an emphatic straight sets triumph; Joe Cullen saw off Corey Cadby in the match of the tournament so far, whilst Mervyn King fought back from 2-0 down to edge out Steve West on an epic night of darts on day five at the Alexandra Palace on Monday evening.
Lewis began his assault for a third World Championship crown with an emphatic straight sets victory over veteran Swede Magnus Caris. The two-time world champion averaged 93.25, landed five maximums and converted 31% of his doubles, to maintain his record of having never lost a first-round tie at the World Championship.
Lewis won the opening set relatively comfortably. Caris claimed the opening leg on 56 after Lewis missed two darts at tops to break, but ‘Jackpot’ responded with a majestic 10-darter. The two-time world champion was experiencing difficulties on the double but completely outscored the Swede, pinning D5 in successive legs to seal the set.
Lewis continued his dominance to take out 65 and draw first blood in set two, but Caris somehow drew level after the Stoke-on-Trent star squandered a further five darts at double. ‘Jackpot’ regained the lead with a 13-darter, but Caris followed his first maximum with a 14-darter, only to miss one set dart at tops as the fourth seed doubled his lead. Continue reading “2017 PDC World Championship: Day Five Report!”
Peter Wright produced one of the finest European Tour performances in recent memory, averaging almost 114 on day-two at the German Darts Championship, as Michael van Gerwen overcame a battling Robbie Green in Hildesheim on Saturday evening.
Van Gerwen began his assault for a seventh European Tour title of the year with a hard-fought 6-4 victory over Robbie Green. The world number one averaged 99.83 and hit 46% of his double attempts to overcome ‘Kong’, who narrowly misses out on a qualification spot for the European Championships in Hasselt.
However, it was Peter Wright who produced the performance of the tournament thus far, averaging 113.77 as he recorded a comprehensive 6-1 victory over St Helens’ Eddie Dootson. Snakebite registered four maximums and hit six of his ten attempts at double, as Dootson claimed just the solitary leg, despite averaging a respectable 94.74.
International Darts Open winner Mensur Suljovic delivered a stunning performance as he swept aside Darren Johnson in round-two. The Austrian averaged a mightily impressive 106.22 and converted 55% of his attempts at double to set up a third-round clash with David Pallett.
Third seed Dave Chisnall breezed into the last 16 with a whitewash victory over ‘The Rock’ Peter Hudson. Chisnall averaged 102.48, landed three maximums and hit 43% of his doubles, as Hudson was afforded just the solitary dart at double in the entire contest. Continue reading “German Darts Championship: Day Two Report & Results!”
Steve West produced one of the best performances ever seen on the European Tour as he whitewashed his brother Tony in round-one of the German Darts Championship, as Robbie Green, Mark Webster and Rowby-John Rodriguez also impressed on day one in Hildesheim.
Yet, it was Steve West who stole the show, producing an incredible display of scoring as he dismantled his brother in the opening match of Friday’s evening session. Steve defeated Phil Taylor in the World Grand Prix earlier this month, and continued his fine run of form with a sparkling display against the former World Masters winner.
Steve fired in SEVEN maximums and finished with an average of 109.98. Nevertheless, his first nine-dart average was an astonishing 400.33- the second highest recorded in PDC history. This keeps alive West’s hopes of qualifying for the European Championships, and he takes on former world champion Stephen Bunting on Saturday.
Former world champion Mark Webster enjoyed a welcome return to form after breezing past the veteran Mervyn King. The Welshman averaged 99.48, landed four maximums and hit 66% of his attempts at double to record a 6-2 victory, despite King averaging a very respectable 96.29.
Robbie Green produced the performance of the afternoon session as he stormed past former world champion Christian Kist 6-2. ‘Kong’ averaged 99.40 and fired in three maximums to set up a clash with Kist’s compatriot Michael van Gerwen; a clash which Green must win to remain on course to qualify for the European Championships. Continue reading “German Darts Championship: Day One Report & Results!”
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!”
Eleven-time champion Phil Taylor was sensationally dumped out in the opening round of the World Grand Prix by debutant Steve West, as world number one Michael van Gerwen survived a minor scare at the Citywest Hotel, Dublin on Monday evening.
The evening’s proceedings were interrupted early on by a power-failure, however the story of the night was the power-failure suffered by Phil Taylor. The Stoke-on-Trent ace, an 11-time champion in Dublin, lost six of the last nine legs against an inspired Steve West, to suffer his fifth first-round exit in the tournament’s history.
West broke Taylor’s throw in the very first leg after the 56-year-old missed three darts at D12. However, ‘The Power’ responded emphatically, breaking straight back with a clinical 111 checkout. Taylor then secured an easy hold of throw after West took 16 darts to pin a starting double, and the 16-time world champion went on to clinch the set after nailing D6.
West looked like a beaten man after the opening set, but he rallied superbly and restored parity at one apiece after producing a trio of top-class finishes. He won the opening leg of the set with an 86 finish, and sandwiched in between seven perfect darts from Taylor, West took out two clinical 101 finishes to force a third and final set.
Taylor had the throw in the deciding set, but he relinquished the initiative after missing one dart at double and West pounced, breaking throw on D10. The underdog then moved to the cusp of a shock victory after holding his nerve to complete a 62 checkout, but Taylor preserved his hopes by hitting D16 to hold throw. Continue reading “World Grand Prix Day Two: Taylor suffers shock first-round exit!”
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!”
Below is the Players Championship Order of Merit, following this week’s triple-header at the Barnsley Metrodome. World number one Michael van Gerwen stormed to an unprecedented hat-trick of titles, trousering £30,000 of prize money in the process.
The race is on to qualify for the Players Championship Finals in Minehead in November, with just four events left to secure qualification. The tournament field has been extended to 64 players this year, therefore the Top 64 on the Players Championship Order of Merit will qualify.
James Wilson has climbed up to 10th following his run to the final on Wednesday, whilst Thursday’s finalist Steve West is up to 18th, after the pair accrued £6,000 for finishing as runners-up.
Five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld made a successful return to the Pro Tour. Van Barneveld made his first Players Championship appearance since March in Barnsley and won £4,750 in prize money, having reached the last 16, the quarter-finals and the last 32 across the three days.
Barney was 118th on the Players Championship Order of Merit prior to this week, but he has now risen to 61st, and the legendary Dutchman will be competing in next week’s double-header in Dublin, therefore he has the opportunity to guarantee his spot if he matches this week’s performances. Continue reading “Players Championship Order of Merit Update!”
Michael van Gerwen completed an unprecedented hat-trick of Players Championship titles this week with a thrilling deciding leg victory over Steve West on an astonishing day of action which saw THREE nine-darters hit at the Barnsley Metrodome on Thursday afternoon.
Van Gerwen, who defeated Mensur Suljovic and James Wilson on the previous two days of Pro Tour action, continued to break new ground on Thursday. For the second day in succession, ‘The Green Machine’ fired in a 9-darter, before edging out West to clinch his 19th ranking title of the year, already surpassing last year’s tally.
However, whilst Van Gerwen will deservedly receive the plaudits, it was a magnificent day for West, who by virtue of reaching his first ever PDC final, secured a spot at next month’s World Grand-Prix in Dublin at the expense of Vincent van der Voort.
West made a strong start to Thursday’s final by holding throw on tops, before Van Gerwen levelled up with a regulation 67 kill after the pair had traded maximums. However, the Dutchman secured a precious break in leg three, converting a brutal 164 checkout on the bullseye, after West had spurned two darts at double to hold throw.
The next two legs also went against the throw as both players were guilty of profligacy on the doubles, before Van Gerwen secured a two-leg lead at 4-2 after pinning D10.In the seventh leg, the Boxtel ace spurned two darts at tops to move within a leg of victory, and West exploited this by reducing the arrears to 4-3. Continue reading “Van Gerwen completes historic Players Championship hat-trick, whilst THREE nine-darters are hit in Barnsley!”
James Richardson, Kyle Anderson, Jamie Caven, Wes Newton, Jonny Clayton, Steve West and Mark Frost all secured qualification for both the Austrian Darts Open and European Darts Open at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on Friday evening. However, it was Richardson who stole the show, hitting a 9-darter in qualification for European Tour event six.
Richardson qualified for the Austrian Darts Open after thrashing Mickey Mansell 6-1, before edging past Jay Foreman and Joe Murnan.’Ruthless’ then recorded a magnificent 9-darter against Justin Pipe in the first-round of qualifying for European Tour six, beating ‘The Force’ 6-3, before easing past Arron Monk to secure a qualification double.
Kyle Anderson also enjoyed a fine qualification double in Coventry. Kyle qualified for the fifth European Tour event of 2016 with successive 6-4 victories against Ryan Palmer and Darren Johnson respectively.
‘The Original’ then confirmed his spot in July’s European Darts Open in Dusseldorf with comprehensive wins over Steve McNally and Mark Barilli, dropping just three legs over both encounters.
Continue reading “European Tour 5/6 Qualifiers: 9-dart Richardson steals the show!”
Martin Adams maintained his 100% record at this year’s Grand Slam of Darts, beating his old adversary Steve Beaton 5-4 in a high-quality contest, to set up a last 16 clash against Kim Huybrechts.
Adams led 4-1, but Beaton produced a valiant fightback to secure his last 16 spot and force a last-leg decider. ‘Wolfie’ won the opening leg with a clinical two-dart 80 finish, but Beaton responded impressively with a classy 117 finish. Adams usurped this in the following leg, with a 118 checkout.
Andy Fordham’s Grand-Slam fairy-tale continued, as he beat local-favourite Wayne Jones to keep his hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive, whilst Dave Chisnall hit a perfect 9-darter in his incredible victory against Peter Wright!
Fordham, who averaged 99 in losing 5-2 to Adrian Lewis on Saturday evening, didn’t produce the same level of performance against Jones, but he held his nerve in crucial moments to secure an extremely poignant 5-3 victory.
Jones missed 6 darts at double in an error-strewn opening leg of the contest, allowing Fordham to capitalise, by hitting D10 with his last-dart to break throw. ‘The Viking’ then extended his lead on the same target in the following leg.
There were a number of surprise qualifiers for the Grand Slam of Darts in Coventry today, as Winmau trio Mark Webster, Mervyn King and Steve Beaton were the most high-profile names to secure qualification.
Beaton whitewashed Prakash Jiwa and Matt Clark 5-0 to seal qualification, whilst Mark Webster was an emphatic 5-1 victor over James Richardson in the final round of qualifying.
They will be joined in Wolverhampton by Wayne Jones, who beat Devon Petersen in the final round of qualifying, to secure a place in his hometown event.
Former BDO man Robbie Green, who reached the last 16 of last year’s Grand Slam, performed superbly well to qualify, thrashing both Andy Hamilton and Vincent van der Voort 5-1 to seal his spot.
Continue reading “Beaton, King and Webster Qualify for the Grand Slam, as other Big Names Tumble!”