PDC News - Sep/Oct 2008
PDC News
The PDC North American Order of Merit
THE 2008 PDC North American Tour now has 7 events totaling a whopping £305,000 or nearly $710,000 in US dollars in prize money. These events include the $50,000 North American Darts Championship and the £125,000 US Open in May, the £20,000 Las Vegas PDPA Player’s Championship and the £125,000 Las Vegas Desert Classic VII in June and July, the £20,000 Kitchener PDPA Player’s Championship and the £20,000 Atlanta PDPA Player’s Championship in August, and the £20,000 Chicago PDPA Player’s Championship in September.
The opportunity for US and Canadian players to compete in professional dart tournaments with world class prize funds here in North America has been sweetened by the PDC for 2008. The PDC has also made it much more attractive for Canadians to compete for the four 2009 Las Vegas Wild Cards, equalizing the playing field for all North American players.
The North American Order Of Merit (NAOOM) came in to existence from the 2008 North American Dart Championship. The following events count towards qualification for the 2009 World Championship and seedings for the 2009 North American Darts Championship:
2008 North American Darts Championship
2008 US Open
2008 Las Vegas PDPA Players Championship
2008 Las Vegas Desert Classic VII
(best performance in the qualifiers or 20% of actual prize money won in main event)
2008 Kitchener PDPA Players Championship
2008 Atlanta PDPA Players Championship
2008 Chicago PDPA Players Championship
The following events count towards qualification for the 2009 Las Vegas Desert Classic 4 Wild Cards:
2008 Las Vegas PDPA Players Championship
2008 Las Vegas Desert Classic VII
(best performance in the qualifiers or 20% of actual prize money won in main event)
2008 Kitchener PDPA Players Championship
2008 Atlanta PDPA Players Championship
2008 Chicago PDPA Players Championship
2009 North American Darts Championship
2009 US Open
These event lists then continue on a 12 month cycle, taking in to consideration any new events the PDC stages in North America. The tables below show the current standings as of September 8, 2008.
PDC North American Order of Merit
As of September 8, 2008
Player Name Country Earnings
Darin Young USA £9,398.00
Bill Davis USA £5,655.00
David Fatum USA £5,400.00
Ray Carver USA £4,527.00
Roger Carter USA £3,800.00
Gary Mawson USA £3,750.00
Brad Wethington USA £3,633.00
Chris White USA £3,180.00
John Kuczynski USA £2,453.00
Dan Lauby * USA £2,202.00
Shawn Brenneman CAN £2,038.00
Buddy Lessig* USA £2,027.00
Stephen Panuncialman* USA £1,600.00
Brian Blake* USA £1,527.00
Larry Butler USA £1,452.00
Paul Bolduc* CAN £1,338.00
Isen Veljic USA £1,300.00
Robert Miske* USA £1,263.00
Donnie Strode III* USA £1,263.00
Jerry Hull* CAN £1,150.00
Pete Riehl * CAN £1,150.00
Joe Chaney * USA £1,128.00
Dave Brocksmith* USA £1,053.00
Dave Cameron* CAN £1,053.00
Robert Baecher* USA £1,000.00
Michael Brewer* USA £1,000.00
Brian Cyr* CAN £1,000.00
Richard Espinoza* USA £1,000.00
Garret French* USA £1,000.00
Garret Hammond* USA £1,000.00
James K Horan* USA £1,000.00
Paul Lim* USA £1,000.00
Davis Snider* USA £1,000.00
George Timpone* USA £1,000.00
Dan Olson CAN £ 977.00
Gerry Convery CAN £ 700.00
John Part CAN £ 625.00
Gordon Dixon * USA £ 602.00
Tim Grossman* USA £ 527.00
* Non PDPA members
PDC 2009 LVDC VIII Wild Card Race
As of September 8, 2008
Player Name Country Earnings
Chris White USA £ 1,600.00
Darin Young USA £ 1,500.00
Bill Davis USA £ 1,075.00
Larry Butler USA £ 925.00
Roger Carter USA £ 800.00
Shawn Brenneman CAN £ 775.00
Gary Mawson USA £ 750.00
Gerry Convery CAN £ 700.00
John Part CAN £ 625.00
Dan Olson CAN £ 450.00
David Fatum USA £ 400.00
John Kuczynski USA £ 400.00
Isen Veljic USA £ 300.00
John Verwey* CAN £ 300.00
Joe Slivan* USA £ 275.00
Scott Kirchner USA £ 250.00
Jayson Barlow * CAN £ 225.00
Brenda Roush * USA £ 225.00
Dan Lauby * USA £ 175.00
Scott Cummings * USA £ 175.00
Jerry Hull* CAN £ 150.00
Pete Riehl * CAN £ 150.00
Steve Brown* USA £ 150.00
Wayne Budgen* USA £ 150.00
Steve Davies* CAN £ 150.00
Marco Gonthier* CAN £ 150.00
Mark Nielsen* CAN £ 150.00
Neil Quenon * USA £ 150.00
Dave Switzer * CAN £ 150.00
Peter Toves* USA £ 150.00
Martin Tremblay* CAN £ 150.00
Stephen Panuncialman* USA £ 100.00
Ken McNeill* CAN £ 100.00
John Rutherford* USA £ 100.00
Paul Bolduc* CAN £ 75.00
Joe Chaney * USA £ 75.00
Gordon Dixon * USA £ 75.00
Ron Parent * USA £ 75.00
Rick Almost* CAN £ 75.00
* Non PDPA members
PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic VII £125,000
Las Vegas, NV June 30-July 6, 2008
Day One Qualifiers
Adrian Gray, Mervyn King, Co Stompe, Shawn Brenneman, Mark Walsh, Robert Thornton, Martin Burchell, Steve Maish
The PartyPoker.net Las vgs Desert Classic VII began on June 30th at the beautiful Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino with the first of two Qualifying events with just over 200 players competing for 16 places.
Co Stompe earned his debut in a PDC major tournament as one of the first eight qualifiers. The Dutchman moved onto the PDC circuit in mid-June, and has made an immediate impression to win a place in the first round of the Desert Classic. He defeated Roger Carter 5-2 in his deciding game. Carter hit a nine-darter in defeating Wes Newton in the last 32, only to fall at the final hurdle in his bid for a place in the main event.
Scotland’s Robert Thornton, another recent mover onto the PDC circuit, was pushed all the way by Joe Slivan before taking a 5-4 win in his deciding game, after the American missed darts for victory in the eighth leg. Mervyn King qualified for the main tournament for a second successive year, defeating Barrie Bates 5-3 in the decider. Adrian Gray, who is likely to claim the final qualifying place for the Stan James World Matchplay, overcame Kevin Dowling 5-3 to win his place in the main tournament.
Canadian Shawn Brenneman will make his debut on the televised stage later in the week after he sneaked past Bristol's Steve Brown 5-4, and also defeated Ireland's Mick McGowan and Australian Paul Nicholson during the opening day of qualifiers.
Mark Walsh knocked out Kevin Painter 5-3 to win his place in the first round draw, and Steve Maish celebrated his third wedding anniversary with a 5-3 win over Alan Tabern to qualify, while former World Championship qualifier Martin Burchell, from Crawley in West Sussex, produced a fine display to whitewash Kit Young and earn his first appearance on the Mandalay Bay stage.
Day One Qualifier Results
Preliminary Round: Ron Colvard 5-0 Keith Luck, Martyn Graham 5-1 Roger Goswell, Steve Smith 5-2 Taro Yach, Kevin McDine 5-1 Tony Little, Kevin Dowling 5-1 Brian Jones, Paul Lim 5-2 Dave Essex, Scott Burnett 5-0 Danny Llanes, Mark Tiller 5-3 Wayne Atwood, Robbie Clear 5-4 Alan Codlin, Richie Burnett 5-0 Ron Peppers, Tom Wilson 5-0 Davey Harris, Brian Derbyshire 5-3 Jerry Hull, Sam Sawyer 5-0 Steve Randall, Tomokazu Onoda 5-3 Marcus Maraitis, Anton Pein 5-0 Niall Rooney, Dave Cameron 5-2 Robbie Newland, Dave Honey 5-0 Joe Formica, Eddie White 5-4 Cyril Pearce, Michael van Gerwen 5-1 John Worthington, Sam Rooney 5-0 Bobby Peters, Alan Matthews 5-2 Alan Wyatt, John Murray 5-1 John Hursey, Simon Whatley 5-0 Par Rihonen, Scott Kirchner 5-0 Darren Dixon, Gary Blades 5-4 Robert Heckman, Steve Mason 5-0 Steve Hogan, Donnie Strode 5-0 Marc Garcia, Sue Cusick Bye (Steven Harbert timed out), Roger Carter 5-1 Kenji Mayama, Steve Hine 5-0 Jason Smith, Nick Rivera 5-0 Takeyama Daisuke, Steve Beaton 5-0 James Stephenson, Geoff Daniels 5-4 Christopher Eberley, Steve Brown 5-2 Russell Stewart, Peter Walford 5-2 Scott Clifford, Michael Rosenauer 5-0 Dan Lauby, Chris White 5-0 Mark K Robinson , Shawn Brenneman 5-1 John Dawes, Steve Hills 5-1 Joseph Swick, Andy Mason 5-2 Dave Ansell, Robert Watson-Lang 5-3 Matt Clark, Mark Nielsen 5-1 David Uribe, Mark Frost 5-0 Jayson Barlow, Sean Palfrey 5-3 Dave Smith, Dan Olson 5-0 David Ley, Dale Arthur 5-3 Napoleon J MacPherson, Ben Hendon 5-1 Robert Race, Graham Warburton 5-0 Vasilios Gavrielatos, Keith Bedding 5-0 Gary Mawson, Robert Thornton 5-1 Isaac Julian, Stephen Panuncialman 5-3 Paul Nicholson, Ben Burton 5-1 Isen Veljic, Peter Wright 5-1 Thomas Jackowski, Steve Cusick Bye (Tarek Hamdy), Joe Slivan 5-4 Dale Masterman, Mark Card 5-2 Alexander Plachutin, Steve Grubb 5-4 Pete Riehl, John Quantock 5-1 Paul Cohen, Steve Farrow 5-0 Gilbert Llanes, Dennis Smith 5-3 Anthony Clark, Martin Burchell 5-2 Gregor Cruickshank, Mark Carter 5-0 Stephen Grant, Philip Smith 5-3 Gordon Dixon, Greg Lewis 5-4 John Kuczynski, Terry Stewart 5-2 Jim Withers, Andy Beardmore Bye (Victor DeWilde), Stacy Bromberg 5-3 Frederick Krueger, John Ferrell 5-1 Nigel Panton, Danny King 5-4 Bryan Willis, Mena Maximo 5-1 Brenda Roush, Mark Stephenson 5-4 Geoff Dyer, Stuart Holden 5-0 Karl Loiseau, Tony Ayres Bye (Martin Tremblay), Alan Caves Bye (Anthony Eugenia), Danny Pinhorne 5-1 Grant Firmager, Dan Zimmerman 5-2 Tony Thompson, Steve Maish 5-2 Rocco Maes.
First Round: Jelle Klaasen 5-4 Ronnie Baxter, Ron Colvard 5-4 Martyn Graham, Aaron Turner 5-4 Steve Smith, Kevin Dowling 5-4 Kevin McDine, Adrian Gray 5-1 Gary Broomhead, Paul Lim 5-1 Scott Burnett, Lee Holden 5-1 Steve Perkins, Mark Tiller 5-0 Robbie Clear, Mervyn King 5-2 Jimmy Williams, Tom Wilson 5-2 Richie Burnett, Brian Derbyshire 5-1 Peter Webb, Sam Sawyer 5-2 Tomokazu Onoda, Barrie Bates 5-2 Alan Warriner-Little, Anton Pein 5-2 Dave Cameron, Dave Honey 5-1 David Fatum, Michael van Gerwen 5-0 Eddie White, Denis Ovens 5-0 Mark Billing, Alan Matthews 5-4 Sam Rooney, Co Stompe 5-0 John Murray, Simon Whatley 5-1 Scott Kirchner, Wes Newton 5-4 Masahiko Sano, Steve Mason 5-2 Gary Blades, Donnie Strode 5-0 Chris Chadwick, Roger Carter 5-1 Sue Cusick, Colin Osborne 5-0 Phil Jones, Steve Hine 5-0 Nick Rivera, Steve Beaton 5-3 Terry Takacs, Steve Brown 5-0 Geoff Daniels, Mick McGowan 5-3 David Wilderman, Michael Rosenauer 5-3 Peter Walford, Tony Eccles 5-2 Chris White, Shawn Brenneman 5-4 Steve Hills, Kevin Painter 5-1 Richie Blake, Robert Watson-Lang 5-3 Andy Mason, Ken MacNeill 5-0 Mark Nielsen, Sean Palfrey 5-2 Mark Frost, Mark Walsh 5-0 Ian Frame, Dan Olson 5-0 Dale Arthur, Ian Jopling 5-1 Pat Breithaupt, Graham Warburton def Ben Hendon, Andy Jenkins 5-0 Andy Relf, Robert Thornton 5-1 Keith Bedding, Stephen Panuncialman 5-1 Kim Whiffen, Ben Burton 5-2 Peter Wright, Kirk Shepherd 5-3 Lee Williams, Joe Slivan 5-4 Steve Cusick, Darren Moulsley 5-1 Mark Card, John Quantock 5-1 Steve Grubb, Mark Dudbridge 5-2 Brian Cyr, Dennis Smith 5-0 Steve Farrow, Martin Burchell 5-0 Danny White, Mark Carter 5-4 Philip Smith, Alan Reynolds 5-4 Andy Smith, Greg Lewis 5-2 Terry Stewart, Kit Young 5-2 Dennis Sayre Jr, Andy Beardmore 5-3 Stacy Bromberg, Alan Tabern 5-0 Eddie Lawrence, Danny King 5-4 John Ferrell, John Rutherford 5-1 Mena Maximo, Stuart Holden 5-1 Mark Stephenson, Alex Roy 5-0 Scott Cummings, Tony Ayres 5-2 Alan Caves, Steve Evans 5-3 Danny Pinhorne, Steve Maish 5-1 Dan Zimmerman.
Second Round: Jelle Klaasen 5-1 Ron Colvard, Kevin Dowling 5-2 Aaron Turner, Adrian Gray 5-3 Paul Lim, Mark Tiller 5-2 Lee Holden, Mervyn King 5-4 Tom Wilson, Brian Derbyshire 5-1 Sam Sawyer, Barrie Bates 5-3 Anton Pein, Michael van Gerwen 5-2 Dave Honey, Denis Ovens 5-2 Alan Matthews, Co Stompe 5-1 Simon Whatley, Wes Newton 5-0 Steve Mason, Roger Carter 5-0 Donnie Strode, Steve Hine 5-4 Colin Osborne, Steve Brown 5-4 Steve Beaton, Mick McGowan 5-3 Michael Rosenauer, Shawn Brenneman 5-2 Tony Eccles, Kevin Painter 5-0 Robert Watson-Lang, Ken MacNeill 5-2 Sean Palfrey, Mark Walsh 5-0 Dan Olson, Ian Jopling 5-1 Graham Warburton, Robert Thornton 5-2 Andy Jenkins, Stephen Panuncialman 5-2 Ben Burton, Joe Slivan 5-2 Kirk Shepherd, John Quantock 5-2 Darren Moulsley, Dennis Smith 5-4 Mark Dudbridge, Martin Burchell 5-2 Mark Carter, Alan Reynolds 5-1 Greg Lewis, Kit Young 5-2 Andy Beardmore, Alan Tabern 5-0 Danny King, John Rutherford 5-4 Stuart Holden, Alex Roy 5-2 Tony Ayres, Steve Maish 5-1 Steve Evans.
Third Round: Kevin Dowling 5-4 Jelle Klaasen, Adrian Gray 5-2 Mark Tiller, Mervyn King 5-2 Brian Derbyshire, Barrie Bates 5-3 Michael van Gerwen, Co Stompe 5-4 Denis Ovens, Roger Carter 5-3 Wes Newton ** Roger Carter hits nine-darter, Steve Brown 5-3 Steve Hine, Shawn Brenneman 5-2 Mick McGowan, Kevin Painter 5-4 Ken MacNeill, Mark Walsh 5-1 Ian Jopling, Robert Thornton 5-1 Stephen Panuncialman, Joe Slivan 5-3 John Quantock, Martin Burchell 5-4 Dennis Smith, Kit Young 5-2 Alan Reynolds, Alan Tabern 5-3 John Rutherford, Steve Maish 5-3 Alex Roy. (Losers £100)
Fourth Round: Adrian Gray 5-3 Kevin Dowling, Mervyn King 5-3 Barrie Bates, Co Stompe 5-2 Roger Carter, Shawn Brenneman 5-4 Steve Brown, Mark Walsh 5-3 Kevin Painter, Robert Thornton 5-4 Joe Slivan, Martin Burchell 5-0 Kit Young, Steve Maish 5-3 Alan Tabern. (Losers £200)
Day Two Qualifiers
Jelle Klaasen, Barrie Bates, Mick McGowan, Dennis Smith, Kevin Painter, Matt Clark, Sam Rooney, Alan Tabern
Kevin Painter, Alan Tabern and Barrie Bates bounced back to come through Tuesday’s final qualifier. The trio all lost in the deciding games of Monday's first qualifier, but took their second chance to earn a place in the main Desert Classic event.
Ronnie Baxter hit a nine-darter during a win over Simon Whatley during the event, but fell at the final hurdle when he was defeated 5-3 by Holland’s Jelle Klaasen.
Irishman Mick McGowan and England’s Matt Clark qualified for the second time in three years with their wins over Denis Ovens and Andy Jenkins respectively.
Dennis Smith, who reached the quarter-finals last year, won a place in the tournament, and Hampshire’s Sam Rooney, who has starred at the Blue Square UK Open as a Pub Qualifier in the past two years, won the final place in the tournament with a 5-3 win over top American player Chris White.
White had knocked out two-time Desert Classic semi-finalist Wes Newton in the first round, while Greg Lewis knocked out Alex Roy. Mark Dudbridge and Andy Smith were other big names to fall at the first hurdle, losing to David Fatum and Peter Wright respectively.
Day Two Qualifier Results
Preliminary Round: Stuart Holden 5-0 Eddie Lawrence, Brian Cyr Bye (David Wilderman), Simon Whatley 5-1 David Uribe, Paul Nicholson 5-1 Lee Williams, Gary Broomhead 5-0 James Stephenson, Scott Burnett 5-1 Donnie Strode, Wayne Atwood 5-0 Peter Walford, Jerry Hull 5-0 Robert Heckman, Jelle Klaasen 5-1 Ian Frame, Joe Slivan 5-1 Anthony Clark, John Dawes 5-3 Napoleon McPherson, Jim Withers 5-0 Kenji Mayama, Steve Mason 5-1 Bobby Peters, Peter Webb 5-2 Marcus Maraits, Ian Jopling 5-0 Niall Rooney, Brian Jones Bye (Tomokazu Onoda), Danny Pinhorne Bye (Keith Luck), Tony Ayres 5-2 Darren Moulsley, Danny King 5-1 Bryan Willis, Joseph Swick 5-4 Mena Maximo, Brian Derbyshire 5-0 Vasilios Gavrielatos, Dale Masterman 5-3 Dave Ley, Steve Cusick 5-2 Ron Peppers, Stephen Panuncialman Bye (Darren Dixon), Scott Kirchner Bye (John Murray), Dennis Smith 5-1 Roger Carter, Mark Tiller 5-4 Graham Warburton, Andy Mason 5-3 John Hursey, Tom Wilson 5-4 Sam Sawyer, Steve Evans 5-3 Stacy Bromberg, Andy Beardmore 5-2 Anton Pein, Andy Relf 5-0 Joe Formica, Alan Reynolds 5-0 Ben Hendon, Kit Young 5-4 Terry Takacs, Mark Billing 5-0 Chris Chadwick, Rocco Maes 5-4 Steve Hills, Tony Eccles 5-0 Steve Perkins, Cyril Pearce Bye (Mark Card), Karl Loiseau Bye (Alan Codlin), Richie Blake 5-0 Marc Garcia, Keith Bedding 5-2 Anthony Eugenia, Eddie White 5-2 Steve Grubb, Dave Cameron 5-1 Terry Stewart, Dave Ansell 5-4 Philip Smith, Mark Stephenson 5-4 Gordon Dixon, Sean Palfrey Bye (Danny White), Matt Clark 5-0 Sue Cusick, Kim Whiffen 5-4 Gary Blades, Takeyama Daisuke 5-2 Mark Nielsen, Dave Honey 5-0 Dave Essex, John Rutherford 5-0 Isaac Julian, Nick Rivera 5-2 John Ferrell, Sam Rooney 5-0 Dennis Sayre Jr, John Worthington 5-1 Alan Wyatt, Paul Cohen 5-3 Jimmy Williams, Aaron Turner 5-2 Jason Smith, Michael Rosenauer 5-1 Dan Olson, Isen Veljic 5-3 John Quantock, Lee Holden 5-3 Tony Thompson, Steve Hine 5-1 Jayson Barlow, Russell Stewart 5-2 Steve Farrow, Gregor Cruickshank 5-2 Steve Hogan, Kevin Dowling 5-0 Robbie Clear, Ken MacNeill 5-0 Roger Goswell, Dan Lauby 5-2 Steve Brown, Alan Matthews 5-0 Pete Reihl.
First Round: Ronnie Baxter 5-1 Lee Holden, Simon Whatley 5-4 Brian Cyr, Mark Carter 5-0 Brenda Roush, Paul Nicholson 5-0 Gary Broomhead, Alan Warriner-Little 5-4 Davey Harris, Wayne Atwood 5-4 Scott Burnett, Alan Caves 5-0 Stephen Grant, Jelle Klaasen 5-1 Jerry Hull, Barrie Bates 5-0 Phil Jones, Joe Slivan 5-2 John Dawes, John Kuczynski 5-2 Pat Breithaupt, Jim Withers 5-1 Steve Mason, Kirk Shepherd 5-0 Steve Randall, Ian Jopling 5-1 Peter Webb, Steven Harbert 5-0 Gilbert Llanes, Danny Pinhorne 5-1 Brian Jones, Denis Ovens 5-3 Ron Colvard, Tony Ayres 5-1 Danny King, Mark Frost 5-1 Dan Zimmerman, Brian Derbyshire 5-3 Joseph Swick,
Mick McGowan 5-2 Dave Smith, Steve Cusick 5-0 Dale Masterman, Robert Watson-Lang 5-1 Frederick Krueger, Scott Kirchner 5-4 Stephen Panuncialman, Colin Osborne 5-3 Taro Yachi, Dennis Smith 5-2 Mark Tiller, Ben Burton 5-4 Paul Lim, Tom Wilson 5-0 Andy Mason, Greg Lewis 5-3 Alex Roy, Andy Beardmore 5-3 Steve Evans, Scott Cummings 5-4 Martyn Graham, Alan Reynolds 5-1 Andy Relf, Kevin Painter 5-2 Kit Young, Rocco Maes 5-0 Mark Billing, Mark K Robinson 5-4 Thomas Jackowski, Tony Eccles 5-0 Cyril Pearce, Gary Mawson 5-3 Par Rihonen, Richie Blake 5-1 Karl Loiseau, Grant Firminger 5-3 Christopher Eberley, Eddie White 5-1 Keith Bedding, Andy Jenkins 5-0 Geoff Dyer, Dave Cameron 5-1 Dave Ansell, Robbie Newland 5-1 Alexander Plachutin, Mark Stephenson 5-3 Sean Palfrey, Peter Wright 5-1 Andy Smith, Matt Clark 5-3 Kim Whiffen, Nigel Panton 5-0 Scott Clifford, Dave Honey 5-2 Takeyama Daisuke, David Fatum 5-4 Mark Dudbridge, Nick Rivera 5-3 John Rutherford, Steve Smith 5-2 Masahiko Sano, Sam Rooney 5-1 John Worthington, Chris White 5-2 Wes Newton, Aaron Turner 5-0 Paul Cohen, Kevin McDine 5-0 Dale Arthur, Michael Rosenauer 5-0 Isen Veljic, Alan Tabern 5-0 Danny Llanes, Steve Hine 5-1 Lee Holden, Michael van Gerwen 5-0 Geoff Daniels, Russell Stewart 5-3 Gregor Cruickshank, Steve Beaton 5-0 Robert Race, Kevin Dowling 5-4 Ken MacNeill, Richie Burnett 5-0 Tony Little, Dan Lauby 5-2 Alan Matthews.
Second Round: Ronnie Baxter 5-2 Simon Whatley ** Ronnie Baxter hits nine-darter, Paul Nicholson 5-2 Mark Carter, Wayne Atwood 5-1 Alan Warriner-Little, Jelle Klaasen 5-0 Alan Caves, Barrie Bates 5-3 Joe Slivan, John Kuczynski 5-4 Jim Withers, Kirk Shepherd 5-1 Ian Jopling, Steven Harbert 5-4 Danny Pinhorne, Denis Ovens 5-3 Tony Ayres, Brian Derbyshire 5-2 Mark Frost, Mick McGowan 5-1 Steve Cusick, Scott Kirchner 5-4 Robert Watson-Lang, Dennis Smith 5-3 Colin Osborne, Ben Burton 5-4 Tom Wilson, Andy Beardmore 5-2 Greg Lewis, Scott Cummings 5-4 Alan Reynolds, Kevin Painter 5-3 Rocco Maes, Tony Eccles 5-1 Mark K Robinson, Richie Blake 5-4 Gary Mawson, Eddie White 5-1 Grant Firminger, Andy Jenkins 5-0 Dave Cameron, Robbie Newland 5-4 Mark Stephenson, Matt Clark 5-4 Peter Wright, Dave Honey 5-0 Nigel Panton, David Fatum 5-4 Nick Rivera, Sam Rooney 5-4 Steve Smith, Chris White 5-3 Aaron Turner, Kevn McDine 5-4 Michael Rosenauer, Alan Tabern 5-2 Steve Hine, Michael van Gerwen 5-4 Russell Stewart, Steve Beaton 5-3 Kevin Dowling, Dan Lauby 5-2 Richie Burnett.
Third Round: Ronnie Baxter 5-3 Paul Nicholson, Jelle Klaasen 5-1 Wayne Atwood, Barrie Bates 5-4 John Kuczynski, Kirk Shepherd 5-4 Steven Harbert, Denis Ovens 5-2 Brian Derbyshire, Mick McGowan 5-0 Scott Kirchner, Dennis Smith 5-2 Ben Burton, Andy Beardmore 5-1 Scott Cummings, Kevin Painter 5-1 Tony Eccles, Richie Blake 5-0 Eddie White, Andy Jenkins 5-1 Robbie Newland, Matt Clark 5-3 Dave Honey, Sam Rooney 5-4 David Fatum, Chris White 5-4 Kevin McDine, Alan Tabern 5-2 Michael van Gerwen, Steve Beaton 5-0 Dan Lauby.
(Losers £100)
Fourth Round: Jelle Klaasen 5-3 Ronnie Baxter, Barrie Bates 5-3 Kirk Shepherd, Mick McGowan 5-2 Denis Ovens, Dennis Smith 5-2 Andy Beardmore, Kevin Painter 5-1 Richie Blake, Matt Clark 5-4 Andy Jenkins, Sam Rooney 5-3 Chris White, Alan Tabern 5-2 Steve Beaton. (Losers £200)
PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic VII £125,000
With the Qualifiers completed and the draw done, it was on to the main event where the real money was to be won or lost. The prize money for the main event of the PartyPoker.com Las Vegas Desert Classic VII is shown below:
LVDC VIII Prize Fund
Winner: £20,000 ~$40,000
Finalist: £10,000 ~$20,000
Semi-Finalists: £ 7,000 ~$14,000
Quarter Finalists: £ 5,000 ~$10,000
Last Sixteen: £ 3,000 ~$ 6,000
Last Thirty-Two: £ 2,000 ~$ 4,000
Phil Taylor made a storming start to his bid for a fourth PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a 6-4 win over Kevin Painter, as John Part, Wayne Mardle and Colin Lloyd crashed out of the event. Painter battled through the qualifiers just to win a place in the main event, but was simply overpowered by Taylor, who averaged 108.8 in the win to his opponent's 104.
Taylor lost 6-5 to Mark Dudbridge in last year’s first round and admitted that memory helped him to victory this time around, with an early 3-0 lead proving crucial in the final outcome. “Last year’s gone, but you do think about it,” he said. “You can only do something about the future and I’m up for it this year. Kevin was superb and won some great legs, but I had to try and keep my throw. When he had his back against the wall he hit an 11 or 12-darter. At 5-4, I couldn’t let him get to five each, especially after what happened last year, and I kicked in. It was a cracking average, but I’ve got a toughie against Dennis Priestley next and I’ll have to average 110 or so to beat him.”
Priestley won the tournament’s opening game with a 6-2 demolition of Dutchman Co Stompe, but there was misery for three seeds who crashed out of the tournament on the opening day. World Champion John Part, the 2006 champion, lost 6-4 to Mervyn King, while 2004 and 2005 finalist Wayne Mardle went down by the same scoreline to qualifier Adrian Gray. Colin Lloyd suffered a first round exit in Las Vegas for a third successive year with a 6-5 defeat to Sam Rooney, a qualifier from Hampshire.
World number five Terry Jenkins, the 2007 runner-up, made a winning start to his challenge with a 6-4 win over Ireland’s Mick McGowan, and will meet Roland Scholten in round two, after the Dutchman came from 3-0 down to see off Barrie Bates. American Darin Young defeated Martin Burchell 6-4 in the final game of the day, setting up a clash with King in the second round on Friday.
Raymond van Barneveld began the defense of his PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a whitewash over Matt Clark at the Mandalay Bay Resort. The Dutchman claimed the title in Las Vegas 12 months ago, and never looked in trouble in seeing off the Manchester-based qualifier in straight sets. Van Barneveld included a 118 finish on his way to the win, and praised his finishing following the victory.
“Matt had chances to win two or three legs, but you have to hit your doubles and I did that,” said van Barneveld. “I can score better than this, but my doubles were great and I’m pleased with that. It’s a year since I’ve won a major tournament and hopefully this is the start of a good week.”
Van Barneveld now faces Alan Tabern for a place in the quarter-finals, after the emerging left-hander came from behind to win 6-4 against Larry Butler his opening game.
Stoke duo Andy Hamilton and Adrian Lewis both booked their places in round two earlier in the day, following contrasting games. Hamilton averaged over 100 in an excellent 6-1 victory over Canada’s Shawn Brenneman, while Lewis twice came from behind to level before edging out Robert Thornton 6-5. Lewis will now take on Peter Manley in the last 16, with the 2003 Desert Classic champion producing some brilliant finishing to defeat Steve Maish 6-3.
World number three James Wade made a strong start to his bid for back-to-back major titles, seeing off Dennis Smith 6-1, while Jelle Klaasen stormed past Canada’s Gerry Convery by the same scoreline. Mark Walsh set up a second round meeting with Wade thanks to his final-leg victory over Bill Davis.
First Round: Dennis Priestley 6-2 Co Stompe, Terry Jenkins 6-4 Mick McGowan, Wayne Mardle 4-6 Adrian Gray, John Part 4-6 Mervyn King, Phil Taylor 6-4 Kevin Painter, Colin Lloyd 5-6 Sam Rooney, Roland Scholten 6-4 Barrie Bates, Darin Young 6-4 Martin Burchell, Andy Hamilton 6-1 Shawn Brenneman, Mark Walsh 6-5 Bill Davis, Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Gerry Convery, Adrian Lewis 6-5 Robert Thornton, Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Matt Clark, James Wade 6-1 Dennis Smith, Peter Manley 6-3 Steve Maish, Alan Tabern 6-4 Larry Butler. (Losers £2,000)
Defending champion Raymond van Barneveld crashed out of the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic with an 8-4 defeat to Alan Tabern on Friday. The Dutchman had whitewashed Matt Clark in the first round at the Mandalay Bay Resort on Thursday, but failed to reproduce that form as the left-hander sent him packing. Tabern won the final four legs of the match to pull clear from 4-4 to take victory and move into the quarter-finals.
Photo Caption: Alan Tabern victory over defending champion Raymond van Barneveld in the second round was his biggest televised win of his young career.
“It’s the biggest win of my career on TV, without a doubt,” said Tabern. “I feel I got what I deserved today, I didn’t throw away any legs and was pretty solid.” Tabern now meets Peter Manley in the last eight, after the 2003 champion knocked out Adrian Lewis 8-6 in a thrilling contest, which featured 11 maximums and saw Manley come from 4-1 down to win.
Three-time Desert Classic champion and world number one Phil Taylor cruised past Dennis Priestley 8-4, and now takes on Adrian Gray on Saturday. Gray defeated Hampshire qualifier Sam Rooney 8-3, including a 160 finish to set up a repeat of his meeting with Taylor in the 2007 World Grand Prix, which the Sussex-based carpet-fitter won.
World number three James Wade moved into the quarter-finals with an 8-5 defeat of Mark Walsh, and faces Andy Hamilton, with the Stoke player seeing off Jelle Klaasen in a deciding leg after overcoming a 6-3 deficit.
The other quarter-final will see Roland Scholten, who overcame Terry Jenkins 8-6, take on Mervyn King. King landed six 180s and three ton-plus finishes in his 8-6 victory over Darin Young to end American hopes at the tournament.
Second Round: James Wade 8-5 Mark Walsh, Peter Manley 8-6 Adrian Lewis, Andy Hamilton 8-7 Jelle Klaasen, Roland Scholten 8-6 Terry Jenkins, Phil Taylor 8-4 Dennis Priestley, Alan Tabern 8-4 Raymond van Barneveld, Adrian Gray 8-3 Sam Rooney, Mervyn King 8-6 Darin Young. (Losers £3,000)
Phil Taylor survived a scare from Adrian Gray before booking his place in the semi-finals of the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic. Taylor was knocked out of last year's SkyBet World Grand Prix by Gray, and the youngster threatened another upset when he took a 3-1 lead. However, Taylor found an extra gear to reel off ten of the next 11 legs and move into the semis. “I didn’t kick into gear early on and wasn't hitting my doubles,” said Taylor. “I was a bit on edge, but I relaxed and got through.”
Taylor meets Roland Scholten on Sunday in his bid for a fourth Desert Classic title, with the Dutchman booking his semi-final place with an 11-2 win over under-par Mervyn King. World number three James Wade included a 170 checkout in his 11-7 win over Andy Hamilton, and will meet Peter Manley - who overcame Alan Tabern 11-8 - in the last four. Wade was bidding for a fourth major title and a second successive televised victory, following last month’s Blue Square UK Open win.
Quarter-Finals: Roland Scholten 11-2 Mervyn King, Phil Taylor 11-4 Adrian Gray, James Wade 11-7 Andy Hamilton, Peter Manley 11-8 Alan Tabern. (Losers £5,000)
Phil Taylor stormed into the final of the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic with a ruthless 11-2 demolition of Roland Scholten. The three-time Desert Classic champion remains on course for a fourth title in Las Vegas following a brilliant display of finishing to end Scholten's hopes. Taylor hit 11 of 13 attempts at a double to book his place in the decider, leaving Scholten unable to claw back into the contest.
Scholten had chances early on, missing the bullseye in the opening leg for a 161 finish and two darts at double 12 in the fourth as Taylor took an early 3-1 cushion. A second 106 finish of the game saw Taylor move further ahead, and a missed double nine from Scholten allowed him to move 5-1 up on double top. Taylor then hit the double at the first attempt in taking the next five legs to move to the brink of victory, before Scholten took out double top to stay in the game. But a missed bullseye in the next allowed Taylor in, and he made no mistake on double 12 to march into the final.
“I hope Peter Manley was watching in the practice room - I might steal his One Dart nickname,” said Taylor. “Roland didn’t find his distance today and was moving around the oche, but even at 10-1 he was trying to come back at me.”
James Wade set up a final against Phil Taylor at the PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic with an 11-8 victory over Peter Manley. Wade reached his first Desert Classic decider in clinical fashion, coming from 8-6 down with five successive legs to edge a thriller. Manley, the 2003 champion, played his part in a superb contest, leading 2-0, 4-3 and 8-6 only for some crucial doubles to cost him dear late on.
Manley had won through to the semi-finals with some superb finishing during the event, living up to his One Dart nickname, and took out double 18 and double top to lead 2-0 against Wade. The world number three replied well, taking out double 14, then a 12-darter to break Manley’s throw and double 12 to lead 3-2. He kicked off leg six with a third maximum in as many legs, only for Manley to level on double ten and edge himself back in front at 4-3 after Wade missed double top. Wade took the next two to move 5-4 up, but Manley won four of the next five to leave the youngster rattled.
He regained his composure to break Manley’s throw in leg 15, and levelled on double 12 before a key break put him back in front, with Manley missing his doubles before Wade landed double two. Manley’s range on double top deserted him at a key moment, though, with Wade moving to the brink of victory on double ten and then sealing his place in the final after further misses from Manley.
“Peter’s a great player, he has been around for years and done everything in the game so it’s a lovely feeling to beat him,” said Wade. “He played good darts, but I played better than him at the end.”
Semi-Finals: Phil Taylor 11-2 Roland Scholten, James Wade 11-8 Peter Manley. (Losers £7,000)
Phil Taylor claimed his fourth PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a 13-7 win over James Wade at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino. The 13-time World Champion took the £20,000 title with a clinical display to defeat the world number three.
Taylor kicked off the tournament by averaging almost 109 against Kevin Painter, and romped to an 11-2 semi-final win over Roland Scholten earlier on Sunday, hitting 11 of 13 attempts at a double in a ruthless display. He then despatched Wade 13-7, taking a 4-0 lead early in the game before Wade pulled back to 5-3, including a 101 finish and a 14-darter to break Taylor’s throw.
Photo Caption: Phil Taylor claimed his 4th PartyPoker.com Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a win over James Wade in the final.
Taylor, though, took five of the next six to punish a sloppy mid-game display from Wade, who sparked back into life with a 126 checkout, finishing on the bullseye, to reduce the arrears to 10-5. Legs of 14 and 13 darts from Taylor, including a 100 checkout, put him to the brink of victory before Wade fired in two maximums in an 11-darter just to stay in the game. Wade also took the next leg to pull back to 12-7, but Taylor was in no mood to allow a further comeback, firing in a maximum in an 11-darter to take the victory.
“It’s very special for me,” said Taylor, who previously won the title in 2002, 2004 and 2005. “I’m delighted with how I’ve played this week. I’ve worked hard and my form is reflecting that. I was hitting my doubles early in the final but then I started missing and he came back. I think James’ semi-final against Peter Manley took a lot of him and I had to put him under pressure as soon as I could.”
Taylor’s win was his third over Wade in a major final, following his victories in the 2006 Stan James World Matchplay and May’s Whyte & Mackay Premier League decider. “James is a cracking young player and he’ll keep getting better and better,” added Taylor. “He has a big future ahead of himself, he’s a fantastic player and he’ll do a lot in this game - after I’ve retired!”
Wade came up a game short in his bid for a fourth major title inside 12 months, but the 25-year-old admitted, “The last year has been a massive learning curve for me. After a tough semi-final against Peter Manley I had nothing left to give in the final and I was gassed out. I made the most of a few misses from to stay in the game but it wasn’t enough for me. Phil again showed why he’s the best player in the world and I’ve finished in second place to him again, so I’ve got to try harder.”
FINAL: Phil Taylor 13-7 James Wade. (Winner £20,000, Finalist £10,000)
Atlanta PDPA Players Championship £20,000
Atlanta, GA August 24, 2008
Alan Tabern’s win in Sunday’s Atlanta PDPA Player’s Championship capped a remarkable weekend in his career. The St Helens-based star picked up his second win of the year on the PDC Pro Tour in Atlanta - despite him arriving in the USA on Friday to find his suitcase, which contained his darts and clothes, had gone missing.
The suitcase eventually arrived on Saturday evening, meaning he had a darts shirt and, more importantly, his darts for Sunday’s Players Championship event.
“I was absolutely over the moon to win on Sunday and it rounded off a great weekend,” said Tabern. “It started badly when I arrived and my bag was missing, but I borrowed a set of darts from Steve (Cusick) for the Cricket and the Pairs events on the Saturday and it was weird. I was playing Darin Young in the Cricket, and to be honest he was giving me advice on how to play the game while we were playing, and I beat him. Then I beat Steve Brown, who apparently is very good at Cricket, and kept on winning. By the time I beat Roland Scholten, Kevin Painter and then Andy Jenkins in the final it was a running joke - and then Andy and myself reached the final of the Pairs event!”
Tabern only turned professional in 2005, but his win in Atlanta took him above Peter Manley to 12th in the PDC Order of Merit.
ALAN TABERN claimed his second PDC Pro Tour win of 2008 with victory over Andy Hamilton in the final of Sunday’s Atlanta PDPA Player’s Championship.
The world number 13 was a winner in the North-West Players Championship in Wigan in March, and took victory in Atlanta with some impressive form. He was taken to five sets by Holland’s Co Stompe, Kevin Painter and American duo Roger Carter and Chris White, before taking a 3-1 win over Hamilton in the final.
Photo Caption: Alan Tabern (left) bested Andy Hamilton in the Atlanta PDPA Player’s Championship final 3 sets to 1.
Tabern edged the final’s first two sets before Hamilton took the third in a decider, but the St Helens man was not to be denied, winning the fourth without reply to seal the £5,000 title.
California-based White knocked out established PDC stars Dave Honey, Peter Manley, Denis Ovens and Gary Mawson on his way to the semis, while Mawson, Young and Carter completing a quartet of Americans in the last eight.
Picture courtesy FM Harris/Bulls-Eye News
Atlanta PDPA Players Championship Results
Preliminary Round: Wayne Budgen 3-0 William Penn, Bobby Peters 3-0 John Jacko, Steve Beaton 3-0 Lee Blair, Carlton Baker 3-2 Dan Zimmerman, Tim Bagley 3-0 Roger Jolliff, Robert Heckman 3-1 Steve Cusick, John Beard 3-0 Stacey Bromberg, Scott Kirchner 3-0 Schad Scott, Christopher Russano 3-2 Lloyd Bugg, Pete Riehl 3-1 Mark Nielsen, William C Bell Jnr 3-0 Cary Locke, Dan Lauby 3-0 Ron Colvard, Dave Switzer 3-1 Jerry Hilbourn, Scott Cummings 3-2 Dennis Sayre Jr, Daniel Baggish 3-2 Alan Matthews, Barrie Bates 3-0 Mat Malone, Shawn Brenneman 3-1 Robert Race, Steve Brown 3-0 Lee White, Isen Veljic 3-0 Brian Staney, Neil Quenon 3-2 Brian Blake, Wes Newton 3-0 Michael Brewer, Adrian W Lewis 3-0 Jared Gurman, Steve Hills 3-0 Chuck Pankow, Dieter Schutsch 3-0 Jacques McMillan, Co Stompe 3-1 Brad Wethington, Ron Parent 3-1 David Schuyler, Frederick Krueger 3-1 Greg Evans, Gordon Dixon 3-1 Don Yates, Chris White 3-0 Tim O'Gorman, Denis Ovens 3-0 Mark Venable, Robert Phillips 3-1 Tomas Taylor, Peter Toves 3-0 Michael Griffin, Terry Hayhurst 3-0 Robert Gargan, Brenda Roush 3-2 Pat Templeton, Jayson Barlow 3-1 Greg Christian, Joe Chaney 3-0 Jason Watt, Adrian Gray 3-0 Ryan van der Weit.
First Round: Wayne Budgen Bye (Wayne Mardle withdrawn), Larry Butler 3-0 Bobby Peters, Steve Beaton 3-0 Carlton Baker, Matt Clark 3-0 Tim Bagley, Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Robert Heckman, Robert Thornton 3-0 John Beard, Colin Osborne 3-1 Scott Kirchner, Bill Davis 3-2 Christopher Russano, Roland Scholten 3-0 Pete Riehl, Darin Young 3-1 Bill Bell, Andy Jenkins 3-2 Dan Lauby, Steve Maish 3-0 Dave Switzer, Andy Hamilton 3-0 Scott Cummings, David Fatum 3-1 Daniel Baggish, Barrie Bates 3-1 Shawn Brenneman, Steve Brown 3-1 Kevin McDine, Isen Veljic Bye (John Part withdrawn), Roger Carter 3-2 Neil Quenon, Wes Newton 3-0 Adrian W Lewis, Tony Eccles 3-0 Steve Hills, Alan Tabern 3-0 Deiter Schutsch, Co Stompe 3-0 John Kuczynski, Kevin Painter 3-0 Ron Parent, Lionel Sams 3-0 Frederick Krueger, Peter Manley 3-1 Gordon Dixon, Chris White 3-2 Dave Honey, Denis Ovens 3-0 Robert Phillips, Peter Toves Bye (Steve Brown withdrawn), Terry Jenkins 3-0 Terry Hayhurst, Dan Olson 3-0 Brenda Roush, Adrian Gray 3-0 Jayson Barlow, Gary Mawson 3-0 Joe Chaney
(Losers £75).
Second Round: Larry Butler 3-0 Wayne Budgen, Steve Beaton 3-0 Matt Clark, Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Robert Thornton, Bill Davis 3-1 Colin Osborne, Darin Young 3-2 Roland Scholten, Steve Maish 3-0 Andy Jenkins, Andy Hamilton 3-1 David Fatum, Barrie Bates 3-2 Steve Brown, Roger Carter 3-2 Isen Veljic, Wes Newton 3-1 Tony Eccles, Alan Tabern 3-2 Co Stompe, Kevin Painter 3-2 Lionel Sams, Chris White 3-1Peter Manley, Denis Ovens 3-1 Peter Toves, Dan Olson 3-1 Terry Jenkins, Gary Mawson 3-0 Adrian Gray (Losers £150).
Third Round: Steve Beaton 3-1 Larry Butler, Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Bill Davis, Darin Young 3-1 Steve Maish, Andy Hamilton 3-1 Barrie Bates, Roger Carter 3-2 Wes Newton, Alan Tabern 3-2 Kevin Painter, Chris White 3-2 Denis Ovens, Gary Mawson 3-0 Dan Olson (Losers £300).
Quarter-Finals: Steve Beaton 3-1 Ronnie Baxter (0-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-0), Andy Hamilton 3-2 Darin Young (0-2, 2-0, 0-2, 2-1, 2-0), Alan Tabern 3-2 Roger Carter (2-0, 2-0, 0-2, 1-2, 2-1), Chris White 3-2 Gary Mawson (2-1, 0-2, 2-0, 0-2, 2-0) (Losers £600).
Semi-Finals: Andy Hamilton 3-2 Steve Beaton (1-2, 2-0, 0-2, 2-1, 2-0), Alan Tabern 3-2 Chris White (2-1, 1-2, 0-2, 2-0, 2-0)
(Losers £1,250).
Final: Alan Tabern 3-1 Andy Hamilton (2-1, 2-1, 1-2, 2-0)
(Winner £5,000, Runner-Up £2,500).
Kitchener PDPA Players Championship £20,000
Kitchener, ON August 17, 2008
DENNIS PRIESTLEY claimed his second PDC Pro Tour victory of the year with a 3-1 win over Lionel Sams in the Kitchener PDPA Player’s Championship. The veteran Yorkshireman won a Player’s Championship in Bristol, and his tremendous recent form continued in Canada as he claimed the £5,000 first prize. He saw off Sams 3-1 in the final of the event, having overcome Robert Thornton in straight sets in the semis.
Photo Caption: Dennis Priestley defeated Lionel Sams in the final of the Kitchener PDPA Player’s Championship.
Travelling PDC stars Andy Jenkins and Dave Honey were also defeated, along with Steve Davies and Bruce Davey, earlier in the event as Priestley swept to victory.
Sams’s run saw him reach the final of a PDC Pro Tour event for the first time and was his best run since reaching the semi-finals at the 2006 Sheppey Classic. He took full advantage of the defeat of World Champion John Part, the number one seed, to Jayson Barlow in round one to reach the decider. Sams overcame North Americans Kory Nicholls, Dave Switzer, Martin Tremblay, John Verwey before seeing off Adrian Gray in straight sets in the quarter-finals, before a semi-final win over Denis Ovens.
Thornton followed up his win in last week’s Australian PDPA Player’s Championship by reaching the semi-finals in Canada. The Scot included Wes Newton and Co Stompe among his victims before losing to Priestley.
Ovens, who reached the last 16 in Australia, was the other semi-final loser, going down 3-2 to Sams after earlier seeing off Kevin McDine and Ronnie Baxter.
America’s Bill Davis was another seed to fall at the first hurdle, losing to Quebec’s Martin Tremblay, while number two seed Terry Jenkins was a second round loser to Steve Cusick. Manchester’s Cusick enjoyed his best-ever run in a PDC Pro Tour event, also defeating top Canadian Gerry Convery on his way to the quarter-finals, where he went down to Thornton.
Kitchener PDPA Players Championship Results
Preliminary Round: Jayson Barlow 3-1 Nick McCoy, John Verwey 3-0 Paul Cockings, Lionel Sams 3-0 Kory Nicholls, Dave Switzer 3-0 Brian Ross, Martin Tremblay 3-0 Peter Hallett, Sylvain Bourque 3-0 Graham Waite, Robert Melanson 3-0 Joanne Johnston, Adrian Gray 3-1 Dave Richardson, Stephane Rousseau 3-0 Tony Chippett, Mike Lapierre 3-0 Victor De Wilde, Wilf Lockyer 3-1 Yancy Patey, Marco Gonthier 3-0 Norm Wylie, Kevin McDine 3-0 Neil Stewart, Brenda Roush 3-1 Stuart Brown, Mark Neilsen 3-0 Dan English, Jeff Noble 3-0 Yvonne Martin-Cowig, Al Moskyn 3-2 Mike Demers, Gary Mawson 3-0 Aaron Talbot, Daniel Thibaudeau 3-0 Alex Stamper, Chris Greenwood 3-0 Dave Lapierre, Neil Quenon 3-0 Mark Almeroth, Gordon Mills 3-0 Sylvain Guerin, Gerry Convery 3-2 Gary Robinson, Andrew Wilson 3-0 Eric Ashton, Andre Carman Bye (Kilman Snow), Doug Scanlon 3-2 Bill Nicoll, Rick Almost 3-2 Glenn Fraser, Wes Newton 3-0 Mark Cassel, Joe Slivan 3-0 William Penn, Bernie Miller 3-2 Ross Snook, Danny de Rosa 3-1 Chris Arsenault, Dave Paterak 3-1 Junior Mootrey, Matt Clark 3-0 Doorman Warford, Mike Mainville 3-2 Mark Metero, David Batterton 3-1 Chris Simmons, Bruce Davey 3-2 Bill Gooder, Steve Davies 3-0 Goby Logan, Steve Maish 3-1 Terry Hayhurst, James Graton 3-2 John Henderson, Brent Closs 3-2 Wayne Fick (Fick forfeited at 2-2).
First Round: Jayson Barlow 3-1 John Part, John Verwey 3-1 Lee White, Lionel Sams 3-0 Dave Switzer, Martin Tremblay 3-0 Bill Davis, Mark Walsh 3-0 Sylvain Bourque, Shawn Brenneman 3-1 Robert Melanson, Adrian Gray 3-0 Stephane Rousseau, Larry Butler 3-0 Mike Lapierre, Denis Ovens 3-0 Wilf Lockyer, Marco Gonthier 3-1 Paul Bolduc, Kevin McDine 3-0 Brenda Roush, Mark Nielsen 3-1 David Fatum, Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Jeff Noble, Jerry Hull 3-0 Al Moskyn, Gary Mawson 3-0 Daniel Thibaudeau, Darin Young 3-0 Chris Greenwood, Terry Jenkins 3-1 Neil Quenon, Steve Cusick 3-1 Gordon Mills, Gerry Convery 3-0 Andrew Wilson, John Kuczynski 3-2 Andre Carman, Barrie Bates 3-2 Doug Scanlon, Co Stompe 3-0 Rick Almost, Wes Newton 3-1 Joe Slivan, Robert Thornton 3-1 Bernie Miller, Andy Jenkins 3-0 Danny de Rosa, Isen Veljic 3-1 Dave Paterak, Matt Clark 3-0 Mike Mainville, Dan Olson 3-2 David Batterton, Dennis Priestley 3-0 Bruce Davey, Steve Davies 3-2 Pete Riehl, Steve Maish 3-1 James Graton, Dave Honey 3-0 Brent Closs (Losers £75).
Second Round: John Verwey 3-1 Jayson Barlow, Lionel Sams 3-1 Martin Tremblay, Shawn Brenneman 3-2 Mark Walsh, Adrian Gray 3-0 Larry Butler, Denis Ovens 3-2 Marco Gonthier, Kevin McDine 3-0 Mark Nielsen, Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Jerry Hull, Darin Young 3-1 Gary Mawson, Steve Cusick 3-2 Terry Jenkins, Gerry Convery 3-2 John Kuczynski, Co Stompe 3-1 Barrie Bates, Robert Thornton 3-1 Wes Newton, Andy Jenkins 3-1 Isen Velic, Matt Clark 3-1 Dan Olson, Dennis Priestley 3-0 Steve Davies, Dave Honey 3-0 Steve Maish (Losers £150).
Third Round: Lionel Sams 3-1 John Verwey, Adrian Gray 3-2 Shawn Brenneman, Denis Ovens 3-1 Kevin McDine, Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Darin Young, Steve Cusick 3-2 Gerry Convery, Robert Thornton 3-0 Co Stompe, Andy Jenkins 3-1 Matt Clark, Dennis Priestley 3-2 Dave Honey (Losers £300).
Quarter-Finals: Lionel Sams 3-0 Adrian Gray, Denis Ovens 3-1 Ronnie Baxter, Robert Thornton 3-1 Steve Cusick, Dennis Priestley 3-1 Andy Jenkins (Losers £600).
Semi-Finals: Lionel Sams 3-2 Denis Ovens, Dennis Priestley 3-0 Robert Thornton (Losers £1,250).
Final: Dennis Priestley 3-1 Lionel Sams (Winner £5,000, Runner-Up £2,500).
Blue Square UK Open Final
Bolton, England June, 2008
American Gary Mawson breathed a sigh of relief after almost being denied entry to the UK on Tuesday, having left his passport in an airport lounge in New York. Mawson played the tournament of his life reaching the finals to meet James Wade.
2008 Blue Square UK Open Results
Preliminary Round (Best of 11 legs): Johnny Haines 6-5 John Kuczynski, Scott Waites 6-0 Scott Mitton, Paul Whitworth 6-2 Mark Jodrill, Nigel Birch 6-2 Paul Knighton, Nicky Turner 6-3 Gordon Fitzpatrick, Alan Casey 6-1 Alan Green, Paul Cooper 6-2 Michael Barnard, Chris Hornby 6-4 Steve Hillier.
First Round (Best of 11 legs): Jamie Harvey 6-1 Richie Burnett, Robert Thornton 6-5 Anastasia Dobromyslova, Dennis Priestley 6-1 Danny King, Dave Honey 6-1 Nicky Turner, Michael Smith 6-2 Alan Caves, Gary Mawson 6-5 Darren Johnson, Dave Johnston 6-3 Stuart Pickles, Ian Jopling 6-5 Ken Dobson, Joey Palfreyman 6-1 Mel Davies, Martin Burchell 6-3 Darren Sutton, Dave Harris 6-3 Mick Savvery, Alan Casey 6-4 Lee Palfreyman, John Quantock 6-4 Gary Noonan, Dan Timmins 6-0 Andrew Callary, Tony Ayres 6-3 David Howells, Darren Webster 6-1 Chris Hornby, Martyn Turner 6-5 Alan Reynolds, Bob Crawley 6-1 Harry Anderson, Adrian Welsh 6-5 Dave Woodwards, Paul Whitworth 6-5 Dave Ladley, Tony Mitchell 6-1 Geoff Harkup, Eddie Lovely 6-4 Paul Cook, Johnny Haines Bye (Darren Williams withdrawn), Scott Waites 6-3 Aaron Turner, Shane Passey 6-3 Joe Bata, Sean Palfrey 6-5 Jamie Robinson, Lee White 6-5 Ryan Francis, Nigel Birch 6-1 Dale Pinch, Joe Cullen 6-0 Mark Stapleton, Sam Rooney 6-1 Richie Corner, Justin Pipe 6-4 Geoff Wylie, Paul Cooper 6-4 Paul McDine.
Second Round (Best of 11 legs): Terry Jenkins 6-0 Joey Palfreyman, Wayne Mardle 6-3 Gary Welding, Kevin Painter 6-2 Tony Eccles, Matt Clark 6-4 Steve Beaton, Kirk Shepherd 6-4 Jan van der Rassel, Robert Thornton 6-2 Bob Crawley, Joe Cullen 6-2 Dennis Smith, Paul Cooper 6-1 Carlos Rodriguez, John MaGowan Bye (Jimmy Mann withdrawn), Sam Rooney 6-3 Eddie Lovely, Dave Askew 6-4 Steve Hine, Nigel Birch 6-5 Shayne Passey, Andy Jenkins 6-4 Michael Smith, Gary Mawson 6-0 Mark Frost, Dave Honey 6-2 Kevin Dowling, Dennis Priestley 6-4 Mick McGowan, Steve Evans 6-4 Owen Caffrey, David Platt 6-4 Martin Burchell, Tony Ayres 6-5 Paul Whitworth, Jason Clark 6-0 Johnny Haines, Steve Smith 6-4 Jamie Caven, Martyn Turner 6-1 John Quantock, Scott Waites 6-0 Lee White, Steve Maish 6-1 Ian Jopling, Alan Warriner-Little 6-2 Tony Mitchell, Jason Barry 6-5 Adrian Welsh, Mark Lawrence 6-5 Darren Webster, Justin Pipe 6-2 Lionel Sams, John Ferrell 6-3 Dan Timmins, Simon Whatley 6-2 Sean Palfrey, Jamie Harvey 6-4 Dave Harris, Alan Casey 6-2 Dave Johnston.
Third Round (Best of 17 legs): Main Stage: Robert Thornton 9-7 Michael van Gerwen, Vincent van der Voort 9-4 Colin Lloyd, Phil Taylor 9-3 John Ferrell, Adrian Lewis 9-8 Wayne Mardle. Board 2: John Part 9-2 Colin Monk, Wes Newton 9-8 Mervyn King, Raymond van Barneveld 9-0 Tony Ayres, Colin Osborne 9-3 Kevin Painter. Board 3: James Wade 9-3 Justin Pipe, Terry Jenkins 9-1 Andy Smith, Wayne Jones 9-3 Kirk Shepherd, Alan Tabern 9-7 Paul Cooper. Board 4: Jelle Klaasen 9-6 Dave Askew, Jamie Harvey 9-6 Martyn Turner, Mark Dudbridge 9-8 Alan Warriner-Little, Barrie Bates 9-4 Jason Clark. Board 5: Peter Manley 9-3 Dave Honey, Simon Whatley 9-8 Steve Evans, Nigel Birch 9-8 Dennis Priestley, Mark Walsh 9-4 Roland Scholten. Board 6: Jason Barry 9-2 Alan Casey, Steve Brown 9-5 Kevin McDine, Andy Hamilton 9-2 Matt Clark, Steve Smith 9-7 Andy Jenkins. Board 7: Scott Waites 9-4 Wayne Atwood, Gary Mawson 9-7 Alex Roy, Mark Lawrence 9-4 David Platt, Ronnie Baxter 9-1 Sam Rooney. Board 8: Brendan Dolan 9-5 John MaGowan, Steve Maish 9-6 Denis Ovens, Chris Mason 9-5 Joe Cullen, Chris Thompson 9-4 Adrian Gray.
Photo Caption: Phil Taylor’s fourth Blue Square UK Open televised nine-darter came in the 4th round against Jamie Harvey. Taylor acheived the feat with a 180 followed by a 177 and 144 checkout.Taylor’s nine-darter, the sixth in a televised competition during his unparalleled career, also cost tournament sponsors Blue Square a £50,000 payout, having offered to refund all losing Outright Tournament bets should the achievement be landed in Bolton.
Phil Taylor’s Televised Nine-Darters
2002 Stan James World Matchplay v Chris Mason
2004 Budweiser UK Open v Matt Chapman
2005 Budweiser UK Open v Roland Scholten
2007 International Darts League v Ray van Barneveld
2007 Blue Square UK Open v Wes Newton
2008 Blue Square UK Open v Jamie Harvey
Fourth Round (Best of 17 legs): Main Stage: Phil Taylor 9-1 Jamie Harvey, Ronnie Baxter 9-6 Scott Waites, Raymond van Barneveld 9-7 Jason Barry, Mark Dudbridge 9-7 Peter Manley. Board 2: Vincent van der Voort 9-8 Colin Osborne, John Part 9-6 Terry Jenkins, James Wade 9-5 Steve Brown, Andy Hamilton 9-6 Chris Mason. Board 3: Jelle Klaasen 9-3 Nigel Birch, Alan Tabern 9-6 Robert Thornton, Wes Newton 9-7 Mark Walsh, Gary Mawson 9-4 Mark Lawrence. Board 4: Wayne Jones 9-2 Barrie Bates, Brendan Dolan 9-8 Adrian Lewis, Chris Thompson 9-5 Steve Maish, Simon Whatley 9-6 Steve Smith (Losers £1,250).
Fifth Round (Best of 17 legs): Main Stage: James Wade 9-2 Ronnie Baxter, Raymond van Barneveld 9-4 Andy Hamilton, Vincent van der Voort 9-6 Jelle Klaasen, Wayne Jones 9-6 John Part. Board 2: Phil Taylor 9-3 Wes Newton, Chris Thompson 9-1 Brendan Dolan, Alan Tabern 9-8 Simon Whatley, Gary Mawson 9-8 Mark Dudbridge (Losers £2,500).
Quarter-Finals (Best of 19 legs): Gary Mawson 10-6 Wayne Jones, Vincent van der Voort 10-5 Chris Thompson, Raymond van Barneveld 10-9 Phil Taylor, James Wade 10-6 (Losers £5,000).
SEMI-FINALS
JAMES WADE 10-4 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
Photo Caption: James Wade was brilliant against Vincent van der Voort in his Semi-final match.
GARY MAWSON 10-8 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
GARY MAWSON sensationally ended Raymond van Barneveld’s reign as the Blue Square UK Open champion with a 10-8 semi-final victory in Bolton. The American star produced the performance of his life to send van Barneveld back to Holland without the title for the first time since his switch to the PDC in 2006.
The win repeated his victory over van Barneveld in last month’s PDC US Open, and also secured himself a place in the Grand Slam of Darts in November and moves him into the world’s top 50. “I feel fantastic to be in the final,” said Mawson. “I beat Raymond last month and that warmed me up for this. He didn’t play to his best, but I showed how good I can be and it's great.”
Semi-Finals (Best of 19 legs): James Wade 10-4 Vincent van der Voort, Gary Mawson 10-8 Raymond van Barneveld (Losers £10,000).
THE FINAL
James Wade 11-7 Gary Mawson
James Wade claimed the third major title of his flourishing career with an 11-7 win over America’s Gary Mawson in the final of the Blue Square UK Open. Wade added the £35,000 UK Open title to the World Matchplay and World Grand Prix victories he took in 2007 with a classy display of darts at the Reebok Stadium.
Mawson held his own for much of the final, leading 3-1 and 6-5, but Wade pulled clear in the second half of the match to take victory. “It’s a special title for me,” said Wade. “I’ve never done well at Bolton in previous years so it feels good. It’s my third big title and to be honest I’m lost for words. Gary let me off at times in the final and I made the most of it, but I was pretty consistent over the whole weekend.”
Photo Caption: James Wade kisses the trophy he didn’t believe he could win. Now he knows he can!
“I’m a player who is best preparing for one game a day and this tournament doesn’t suit me,” admitted Wade. “But I showed some experience and belief to hang in and that helped me through.” Mawson had begun his challenge in the second round on Thursday, and claimed £15,000 as runner-up to break into the world’s top 50. “I’ve had a fantastic weekend,” he said. “I wish I could have gone one game further but James was great in the final.”
Final (Best of 21 legs): James Wade 11-7 Gary Mawson (Winner £35,000; Runner-Up £15,000)
