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Slivan Takes Final Chance
PDC / Bull’s-Eye News Official Event Report
March 19, 2006
FLORIDA'S Joe Slivan won the Houston Qualifier to earn a place in the World Series of Darts, winning 4-2 in Sunday's final against Chris Yates.
Slivan was playing in his third and final qualifier, with players able to enter only three knockout events ahead of the World Series, as well as the Friday Night Madness.
He finally got the desired result with a hard-fought win over Yates, who came back from losing the opening leg of the final with a 12-darter before moving 2-1 up.
Slivan, though, responded with back-to-back legs to edge in front and landed double 15 to seal the victory.
"I'm ecstatic," said Slivan, who lost in the final of the Chicago Qualifier.
"I certainly feel justified buying my plane tickets and driving this distance playing in three qualifiers.
"It was a let down in Chicago. I just didn't stay focused in the final in Chicago, but I stayed with it here in Houston.
"I thought it was going to be another second place here when Chris went up 2-1, but I came back strong winning two straight and then cleaned it up."
He will now come up against the likes of Phil Taylor and Colin Lloyd at the Mohegan Sun in May, and added: "I'm absolutely looking forward to it.
"Qualifying for me was an arduous process, but I'm excited to be there to compete against the top guys in the world."
Slivan had to come from behind in his semi-final against Davis Snider, who took three straight legs to overturn an early 2-0 deficit.
Snider missed a dart at the bullseye for the game, with Slivan landing double top before hitting a 15-darter in the deciding leg to progress.
Yates edged out Monty Broadway 4-3 in the semi-final, with the latter missing a number of darts to book his place in the last two.
Qualifier Nine - Houston, TX: Results
Winner: Joe Slivan (Winterpark, FL)
Runner-Up: Chris Yates (Midland, TX)
Semi-Finalists: Davis Snider (Arlington, TX), Monty Broadway (Cibolo, TX)
Quarter-Finalists: Frank Wolfe (Freeport, FL), Maximo Mena (Monte Alto, TX), George Walls (Beechgrove, TN), Chris Helms (San Antonio, TX)
Last 16: Bruce Mills (San Antonio, TX), Nathan J Brock (Vicksburg, MS), Pat D Cook (Pasadena, TX), Donnie Ramcharan (Houston, TX), Darryl Gabriel (South Milwaukee, WI), Ron Howard (Houston, TX), Paul Reese (Vicksburg, MS), William Burt (Midland, TX)
BEN Pro Ranked Top Seeds In Attendance:
1st seed - Davis Snider - Arlington, TX
2nd seed - George Walls - Beechgrove, TN
3rd seed - Chris Helms - San Antonio, TX
4th seed - Daryl Montgomery -
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