Adams, the oldest man in the tournament at 53, delivered a master class, drawing on 17 appearances in the tournament to topple the his talented 29-year-old opponent to land his second world crown in four years to pocket the £100,000 first prize.

The England skipper from Peterborough hit a 31.67 average, four 180s and five 100 plus checkouts, including a 156 and the week’s top finish of 170.

Chisnall averaged slightly lower with 31.14, notching nine maximums to take his week’s tally to a remarkable 43. He also blasted out three 100 plus finishes.

Ironically it was Martin Adams’s debut performance in his first world final back in 1994, when he reached the last four, which had inspired the St Helen sharpshooter to take up the sport. He walked away with the consolation of the £30,000 runners-up prize and a lot of new supporters.

At the start of the final not even the bookies were able to select a winner with both players placed at 5/6 to win with their contrasting styles – Adams slow methodical and steady, while Chisnall has a faster more jerky throw.

Chisnall, sporting his now familiar bright yellow shirt made an eye-catching start, blasting out two 180s in the opening leg, easing into a 2-0 lead but Wolfie came screaming back to level . After pounding in 140 and 125 scores, it was Adams who – boosted with his first maximum – hit the double first after Chizzy uncharacteristically missed chances to defend his throw.

The Lancashireman had adopted a noticeably slower throwing style than previous matches and that seemed to affect his finishing, as Adams won the second against the throw winning the deciding fifth leg.

Despite a third 180 from Chisnall a 70 checkout finished on his favourite double 16 steered Adams into a surprise 33-minute 3-0 match lead.

Chisnall delighted his supporters – including Mum and Dad – in the opening leg of the fourth set with a 108 finish, topped off with double 16, against the throw, Adams immediately responding with 61 checked out on double 18. The following legs went with the throw, Adams wiring bull for a set-winning 161 finish, Chisnall pouncing to exit on 86, finished on double 16 to reduce his opponent’s lead.

The opening two legs of the next went with the throw Adams hitting a 12 dart finish, completed on 156. Wolfie then blasted in his second 180 of the match and 29th of the tournament to exit in 10 darts (140, 180, 145, 36 checkout) – the tournament’s best leg . Adams then missed three doubles for the set, Chisnall hitting double 10 to take them into the fifth leg, Wolfie missing double tops for an 80 finish, and the St Helens sharpshooter nipping in to hit double 20 to reduce the deficit to just one set.

Adams struck a psychological blow, annexing the opening leg against the advantage to exit on 170 – the tournament’s top finish – to put him in line for a £3000 prize for the week’s highest finish. But he failed to press home the advantage missing three for double tops. Chisnall missed double 18 for a 92 finish in the fourth leg and confident Adams stroked home 101, completed on double 18 for a 4-2 interval lead.

With the throwing advantage Chizzy, who was sporting a red streak in his hair to acknowledge his support for Liverpool, annexed the next set 3-2 coolly exited on 66 with double 18 to reduce the deficit again to one set.

The eighth set went the full distance after Chisnall blasted in his fifth 180 of the match and 37th of the week en-route to clinch the deciding leg to level the match at 4-4. And the Adams blazed through the next unchallenged, firing out a 119 finish, completed on bull, after the man from St Helens missed bull for a set-saving 92.

He then cracked off his sixth 180 of the game to clinch the leg on 111 with double tops and then held his throw to move 2-0 ahead. He hit another maximum in the next but Wolfie sent his fans into howls of delight as he hit double eight, following up with his fourth 180 of the game to level the set on double four. Adams withstood pressure in the fifth but Adams coolly hit double six with his second double attempt to increase his match lead to two sets.

The 11th set went to Chisnall with the throwing advantage 3-1 and included an 80 finish, clinched with double tops to reduce the lead to a single set for the fourth time in the match.

Chizzy charged into the 12th set with his ninth 180 and taking double 18 against the throw but then failing to hold his throw as he missed three double attempts, Wolfie roaring in for double 16 and then hitting his favourite double 16 in the next.

Chizzy hit double 18 to level the set, Adams with the advantage powered in two 140s and then missed three double tops for the title, Chisnall needing 126 missing the all-important treble 19 as cool hand Adams returned to fire home the winning double 20 for his second title.

The new champion admitted: “I guess I have learned a lot over the years and have learned from the final in 2007 not to relax too much and also I did not practice too much before the final.

“After you win the title once you do not expect to win again because the guys you are playing are good.

“It was lovely to have the name on the trophy once but then you want to get it on again. And now I want to win it a third time because I just love breaking records but that’s what sport is all about, breaking records,” declared delighted Wolfie.

“I love playing darts and it appears that like a good bottle of win, I am maturing with age,” said the 53-year-old.

The defeated finalist – Chisnall – who was completely drained and overwhelmed after his first final appearance declared: “I am happy. I missed a few double in the game but Martin’s 170 finish was great.”

Outsider Dave Chisnall cruised into the final toppling top seed Tony O’Shea in a thrilling 92-minute thriller.

Chisnall from St Helens, who has motored through his opponents this week in dramatic fashion moved up a gear for his all-northern clash with Stockport’s Silverback who finished runner up in the competition 12 months ago.

The Lancashire county player was in devastating form firing out 13 180s and four 100 plus checkouts including 164, the week’s highest finish, which puts him in line for a £3000 cash prize.

Despite a maximum and 95 finish for Chisnall, the opening set went with the throw, O’Shea narrowly missing double 18 for a blockbusting 156 finish, eventually going out with double four.

A 180 in the third leg of the second set steered O’Shea to double 12 for a 2-1 lead, against the throw and he then hit double four in the next to extend his lead.

Chizzy annexed the opening leg – against the throw – to lead the third. But he nervously missed five double attempts before hitting double four, both players hitting 180s before O’Shea hit double 16. Chisnall then wired double eight for a set-winning 140, Silverback swooping to level against the throw. Chisnall missed double tops for a 139 checkout and then a further three, O’Shea missing double tops for 80, Chisnall holding his nerve to clinch the set with his second bid for double 10.

Both players missed doubles before O’Shea hit double six to steal the initiative in the fourth, following up with the next. Chisnall hitting his fifth 180 and then two treble 18s and double 16 for the week’s highest checkout of 140, nicking the next on double eight after O’Shea missed a 101 finish. Chizzy held his nerve to take the deciding fifth after notching up his sixth 180.

Silverback raced through the fifth hitting finishes of 62 and 96 and his fourth maximum to steal a 3-2 interval lead.

Refreshed from the break, the 29-year-old swept unchallenged to a 3-0 success, finishing each leg on his favourite double 18, the winning leg on a 102 checkout to again level the match.

Growing in confidence, two 180s steered Chisnall into a 2-1 set lead against the throw, a further couple of 180s paving the way for the 29-year-old St Helens man to lead the match for the first time.

He then swept through the next unchallenged as the top seed faltered from the barrage of the exciting St Helens sharpshooter, as Chisnall opened up a 5-3 lead.

He took the opening leg of the ninth against the throw and then bettered his earlier checkout, his 164 (treble 19, treble 19 bull) putting him in line for the prize for the top checkout of the tournament.

Both players hit maximums in the next, Chisnall blasting in a bull finish for a match-winning 121 flourish.

Clearly overwhelmed by the importance of his victory. Chisnall remarked: “I’m over the moon, I just can’t believe it.

“It was great having my parents here in the crowd watching me. They have not been able to get down to the event because of the bad weather. It meant everything having them in the crowd.

“I am going to get drunk tonight because I have not had a good drink all week,” declared the St Helen’s sharpshooter, who was a 40/1 outsider at the beginning of the tournament.

Defeated O’Shea was not surprised by Chisnall’s victory: “He has brought the form to the tournament this week that we see week in week out.

“I felt really good early on in the match but then he came back at me. I expected him to do the 164 finish and turned away.

“But I did not play my best darts and that is no disrespect to Dave,” said Silverback.

Howls of excitement as Wolfie reaches his third final after humdinger with Phillips

England skipper and third seed Martin Adams scrambled into the final after a 91-minute thriller with Welsh captain Martin Phillips.

Adams had charged into a 4-0 lead and then after the break had moved to 5-1 – within one set of victory.

But then nightmare memories of how Phill Nixon blazed back in similar fashion in 2007 began to play on his mind as the battling Welsh ace pulled back to 5-4, Wolfie hanging on to clinch the deciding leg in the 10th set.

Adams admitted: “I lost it a bit. Martin started to relax. I looked at his face and saw he was enjoying himself and I knew then he was dangerous.

“When he started coming back, I thought to myself, we have been here before, how do we resolve that problem. I tried play as I did at the start of the match and it worked.

“It should be a great final because you always get great players in the final in a tournament of this stature,” declared Adams.

The England skipper used the benefit of experience of 17 years in the world championships to pressurise the fast-throwing Welsh skipper Phillips by slowing his naturally fast game.

After edging to the opening set 3-2 with the darts, he then took a 2-0 lead, wrapping up the second set 3-1 including a 12 darter after 18 minutes play.

Annexing the following two sets aided by an 11 and two 13 dart checkouts, the man from Peterborough, who was bidding to reach his third world final, took the opening leg of the fifth set with the throw but then went 2-1 down, levelling but losing the fifth leg, as left-hander Phillips blasted in a 78 checkout, finished on double tops to pull back a set.

The third seed blazed in his fourth 180 of the match to start the sixth set, finishing with 89 completed on double tops, notching another maximum in the next and firing in a 124 finish on double eight.

Phillips nipped in with double tops to take the third leg but rampant Adams hit his sixth maximum of the match and then took the set on double eight with his third attempt for a double.

The almost customary 180 came from Adams in the opening leg of the seventh set as he flashed in an 11-darter, finished with 81, finished on double 12.

There were agonising double misses by both players in the next leg, Phillips keeping his title hopes alive as he hit double four to hold his throw. Again in the next both missed doubles before Adams hit the required double 16 with his sixth attempt.

Phillips responded with a 12 darter, including a 180, finished on 81 to take the set to a deciding fifth leg.

The Welshman fired in his fourth 180 and then agonised as he missed bull for a match-saving 121, Adams then missing double 18 and double nine to win through, Phillips coolly exiting to rack up his second set, which was won against the throwing advantage.

And then as memories of the Phill Nixon comeback in the 2007 final came flooding back, Adams conceded the eighth set, Phillips firing in double 16.

An 11-darter, including a 180 and finished on double 16 gave Phillips a dream start to the ninth and he added the next with the same double, Adams blasting in his eighth 180 as he pulled back a leg in 12 darts finished on double 16.

Phillips missed three doubles for the set, Adams nipping in for double 16 to level the set, Adams racing down to a double but the Welsh skipper pounced with a blockbusting 116 finish on double tops.

The opening legs of the 10th set were traded, Philliips taking the third after Adams missed double 18 for a sensational 116 finish. Despite a shaking hand Adams levelled and then held his nerve to take the deciding fifth leg with double 12, ending the dramatic 91-minute gripper.

Trina Gulliver was crowned queen of darts for a record-breaking eighth time after toppling Welsh player Rhian Edwards 2-0.

Gulliver the giant in women’s darts needed just 18 minutes to pocket the title and £6000.

The Cheddar based player had the advantage of throwing first and drove home double 10 after missing two attempts for double tops.

Edwards had first throw for a double in the next but the consistency she had shown in previous matches was missing as she fluffed three chances, Gulliver narrowly missing double 18 for a 147 finish but finishing it with her next throw.

The Golden Girl powered in a 180 in the next, clinching the set with double two.

Edwards who has been throwing her husband’s darts after misplacing her own powered down to the double in the opening leg of the second set but missed another three attempts, Gulliver pouncing to finish 76 with double tops and break the advantage.

The 40-year-old second seed then followed up with a superb 117 finish, completed on double tops, racing ahead in the next leg but missing two darts for double eight.

On her return to the oche there was no mistake as she fired in double eight to land her eighth title.

Edwards in her first appearance in the championship did not disgrace herself and went home with £2000 but more importantly valuable experience which will stand her in good stead for the future.

“Wiping back tears of delight, Gulliver declared: “My house has been so empty without this trophy, it means so much to get it back.

“Rhian is a great player and I needed to put her under pressure straight away. It would have been good to have the final over five sets but I am delighted to win back the trophy,” said the eight times winner.

SEMI FINALS

Welsh wonder Rhian sweeps aside fourth seed Lawman

Rhian Edwards toppled fourth seed Karen Lawman 2-0 to set up a classic Wales v England women’s final.

The Llanelli debutant punished the experienced Yorkshire player for missing doubles to book her final showdown with seven times winner Trina Gulliver.

Edwards took the opening set 3-1 against the throwing advantage, repeatedly pouncing to hit doubles after the seed missed finishing opportunities.

Both players struggled to find the treble 20 bed in the second set, Edwards again hitting double 10 after Lawman had missed finishes of double tops and double 10.

The English player missed bull for a 130 finish, Edwards sweeping in to finish on 112, finished on double 16, the Doncaster sharpshooter hitting rare double four.

Edwards clinched victory on double 20 to become the first Welsh woman to reach the final of the championship.

Trina overcomes double trouble to topple former world number one Deta

Golden Girl Trina Gulliver eased into the final of the women’s championship fighting off comeback girl Deta Hedman 2-0.

It was an absorbing 28 minute encounter , which saw former world number one Hedman turn back the clock to challenge the sport’s current top women player.

And a bout of double trouble for seven times winner Gulliver almost threatened to upset her tilt for an eighth title.

The legs went with the throw in the first semi final with Hedman hitting a 73 checkout finished on double tops, hitting a 180 in the next but missing bull for an 88 finish. She held her composure in the next, a 177 paving the way for a 2-1 lead with double tops.

Gulliver collected the next with double eight and then powered down to a double in the deciding fifth, struggling to get the finish and requiring five double attempts before exiting on double five to annex the first set.

Power-scoring saw Gulliver race to the double in the opening leg of the second set but she then missed double 20 and two double 10s, Hedman missed the opportunity of double 20 and grateful Gulliver nipped in to pinch the leg.

Hedman defended her throw in the next, Gulliver blasting in her second 180 in the third leg, clinching it with an 80 finish, completed on her favourite double tops.

Both players hit 140s in the next but it was the Golden Girl who his double 12 with her second attempt who won through to the 10th final.

ROUND ONE

Karen wins all north of England clash to reach last four

Karen Lawman won an all North of England clash with Linda Ithurralde 2-0 following a hard fought 30-minute encounter.

Both players had to wrestle with big night nerves but still produced averages of 24 plus per dart.

The opening legs of the first set went with the darts, Lawman stealing the third on double five and then clinching the set with double four.

Ithy blazed into the opening leg of the second set with a maximum but cool Lawman – who reached the last eight in the championship four years ago – held her throw.

The 47-year-old Cumbrian, cheered on by Phill Nixon the former men’s championship runner-up, levelled and despite hitting her second maximum in the next saw the experienced Doncaster 44-year-old edge ominously 2-1 ahead.

Lawman hit her first 180 of the match in the next leg but missed double eight for a show-stopping match-winning 136 checkout.

Defending World Master Ithurralde, needing 100 hit treble 20 but then wired attempts for double 20 and double 10, Lawman stepping up to hit the game-winning double four.

Rhian melts top seed Julie “Ice Cube” Gore

Nursery nurse Rhian Edwards showed no mercy as she despatched fellow Welsh international and top seed Julie Gore 2-0.

It was cool clinical performance from 28-year-old Edwards who melted “The Ice Cube” in just 29 minutes.

Almost half the age of her opponent, Edwards showed no fear of the more experienced 51-year-old Gore as she grew in confidence during her debut appearance at Frimley Green.

Gore tried to stamp her authority on the match from the opening leg of the game when she hit a 90 checkout finished on double tops, Edwards replied on double one and then took the third leg against the throw completing the 68 finish on double tops.

Edwards annexed the first set, hitting double 20 with her second attempt.

The opening legs of the second set were traded and then Edwards squandered doubles before sneaking into a 2-1 set lead, Gore levelling with double four.

Both players struggling to find the big scores in the deciding fifth leg as Edwards, who had left herself 40, hit double five but recovered to clinch victory on double 15 with her next dart.

Deta has dream winning debut

Former world number one Deta Hedman’s dreams of winning debut in the women’s championship moved a step nearer as she swept aside third seed Irina Armstrong.

It was first class performance by the 50-year-old Jamaican-born postal worker from Witham.

It took “The Dark Destroyer” just 25 minutes to clinch an impressive victory over one of the sports brightest stars.

Hedman who dominated the women’s game back in the 90s has had a highly successful 12 months run which has seen her take a string of top titles.

And she brought her form to the Frimley Green venue. Twice she trailed in the opening set before levelling.

She then punished the East European, who required 80 and cheekily tried for two double tops but threw two darts out of the board. Cool Hedman stepped up to sneak the first set.

In the next she cruised into a 2-0 lead and then clinched victory with a brilliant 15-dart finish, completed with an eye-catching 101 checkout.

Golden Girl Trina on course for title number eight

In a repeat of last year’s final, Golden Girl Trina Gulliver scored a revenge victory over her great friend and adversary Francis Hoenselaar 2-0.

The two stars of the women’s game delivered a darting superclass, each hitting maximums in the gripping 23-minute clash.

Both players hit a maximum in the opening set which went to five legs. Boosted by a brace of 140s the Somerset-based Gulliver exited on double tops at her second attempt.

She roared into the second set, taking the opening leg against the throw with a morale-boosting 124 checkout, finished on the bull.

The Dutch player took the next on double five after Gulliver missed three doubles but the seven times champ recovered from further double trouble in the next leg to edge ahead after notching double one.

A 121 steered seven times winner Gulliver into a commanding lead in the fourth leg, clinching victory on her favourite double tops.

It was sweet revenge for the giant of women’s darts following her defeat at the hands of the Dutch Crown last year.

Top seed Tony O’Shea coasted into the penultimate stage of the championship dismissing “Magician” Robert Wagner 5 – 1.

Last year’s runner up delivered a polished and clinical performance to disrupt the fast-throwing style of the Norwegian showman in just 58 minutes.

The man standing in the way of the Stockport grandfather’s second final appearance is “new kid on the block” Dave Chisnall, the 29-year-old conqueror of defending champ Ted Hankey.

“Too be honest I would have preferred to have played Ted because of last year’s final. I did not give it my best shot last year and it would have been nice to have met him again.

“The first game between Ted and Chizzy was so good, I felt our match was really flat but I was really chuffed to get through,” declared O’Shea.

The top seed roared into the match, taking the opening set unchallenged and including a 13-dart finish, following up by winning the deciding leg in the next. The Norwegian won the low-scoring third set 3-1, O’Shea taking the next by the same margin.

He opened up a 2-0 lead in the fifth, Wagner taking the third and after both players hit a maximum in the following leg, the Cheshire player hit the set-winning double eight to rack up a 4-1 interval lead.

Refreshed from a six minute break the sixth set went the full distance – O’Shea hitting two 180s – before clinching victory on double eight.

Chizzy buries “The Count” after remarkable comeback

New kid on the block Dave Chisnall marched emphatically into the last four after producing an amazing comeback to bury Ted “The Count” Hankey 5-4 in a thrilling 90 minute match.

The quietly-spoken 29-year-old St Helens player just couldn’t believe his luck as he battled back to turn a 4-1 interval reversal into victory over the defending champ and fifth seed.

Hankey took the opening set against the throw including hitting a maximum. He fired out a further four 180s and a 12-darter as he brought the first session of darts, lasting 52 minutes to a conclusion, appearing to have one leg already in the semi final.

The defending champ took the opening leg of the sixth but determined Chisnall replied with an 11 darter finished on double tops against the throwing advantage, following up with a 12-darter in the next, including a maximum. The next leg went to the man from St Helens in 14 darts to reduce Hankey’s lead to 4-2.

Twice Chisnall led the seventh, both players hitting a maximum in the fourth leg as Hankey levelled, the title holder blasting in a 180, which was countered by Chizzy who then clinched victory with an unconventional 73 checkout – single three, treble 20, double five.

Hankey acknowledged the young players brave comeback touching knuckles.

The Lancashire county player then defied the odds taking the opening leg of the eighth against the throw to pressurise Dracula-lover Hankey and then countered a series of missed doubles from the Telford player to open up a 2-0 set lead. He then added the next with double three after Hankey missed double tops.

Both players hit 180 in the opening leg of the ninth set, Chisnall coolly checking out on double 12 but only after picking up the dart that he had dropped on the floor. He then swept home double 16 as Hankey faltered.

Chisnall fired in another 180 in the next but he then missed six doubles and Hankey seven to save the match before the St Helens man clinched victory with double two.

Afterwards an incredulous Chisnall declared: “I just did not give up. At the interval I thought I was finished but people told me not to give up. I missed a few doubles in the first half of the game but just kept plodding on and started to hit the trebles and doubles in the second half of the match.

“My family have not been able to make it down this week because of the weather but I will be making arrangements for them to be here for Saturday’s semi final,” declared Chizzy.

Bitterly disappointed Hankey said: “Without the break I would have won 5-1. I can’t believe what happened. After the break Dave came out as a different person, he was unbelievable.”

Magical Martin reaches the last four for the first time

Veteran Welsh skipper Martin Phillips charged into the last four for the first time, sweeping aside second seed Scott Waites of Yorkshire 5-4 in a 76 minute gripper.

The 49-year-old left-hander was is devastating form, blasting in 10 180s, a 12 darter and six 80 plus finishes including a 121.

Phillips, the 125/1 outsider at the start of the week was in blistering form, charging through the first set to blitz Yorkshireman Waites 3-0, including an 86 finish (bull, double 16). Maximums in the opening two legs saw Phillips move 2-0 ahead, Waites clinching the third after firing out a maximum but the left-hander sweeping back to clinch the set on 102, finished on his favourite double 16.

The veteran Welsh skipper took the opening leg against the throw and then hit back-to-back 180s prompting the possibility of a nine darter but his seventh dart drifted wide into the single five but the Welshman took the leg.

Waites took the third leg and then blasted in a 113 finish with double 18 checkout level, missing double 18 for the set as Phillips drove home double 16 for a 3-0 lead after 24 minutes play.

The Welsh skipper exited on 80 in the fourth set, Waites replying with a 96 finish and motored ahead after hitting his third 180 but then missed five finishing attempts, cool Phillips pouncing to notch 87, finished on double nine.

Waites broke the throw to annex the opening leg of the fifth but Phillips charged back with a 12-dart finish (180, 140, 99, 82 checkout), completed on double 16. Unusually the Welshman missed four doubles, Waite producing a pressure checkout of 116, finished on his favourite double 18.

But once again, the man from the Principality, hit back, notching his sixth 180 to level the set on 100 with double 10. Waites then took the deciding fifth leg against the throw to reduce the deficit to 4-1 at the interval.

The match resumed at a lower tempo as the opening legs went with the throw, Waites then snatching the fourth against the throw, despite a maximum from Phillips to further reduce the Welsh players match lead.

Despite two 180s from Phillips who had the throwing advantage, it was Waites who moved into a threatening 2-1 lead but the determined Welshman taking the fourth against the throw to level the set. Phillips missed one throw at double tops, Waites leaping in to finish with double 16 to take the score to 4-3 behind.

Phillips missed two double tops at the start of the eighth set before the second set charged back to level the match with a 3-0 success.

A 76 finish against the throw saw Phillips annex the first leg of the deciding fifth and after Waites missed two attempts for double 16, the Welsh veteran nipped in for a 99 checkout completed on double 16. Phillips maintained the momentum in the next as he produced a match-winning 86 finish, completed on double 16.

Afterwards delighted Phillip declared: “ I started well but I knew he was a heavy scorer and big finisher so I had to hit him hard and quickly. When we got to the break I thought it was going to be another Ted Hankey match. He kept coming back at me.

“During the break I had six darts, a drink of water, went to the toilet and had a sit down. I knew I just had to grind it out in the second half, just keep plodding on. The 99 finish was the killer,” said Phillips.

Adams dismantles engineer Thompson’s title hopes

Martin Adams swept into the last four of the championship toppling Yorkshireman Garry Thompson with a clinical 57-minute 5-2 display.

The third seed who is competing in a record 17th world championship dominated the quarter final never allowing the slow-throwing engineer from Silsden to build an assault.

The 53-year-old Adams – the tournament’s oldest player – had sailed through the opening session, never looking troubled but had to withstand a late rush of form from the Yorkshire skipper.

There were howls of delight as Martin Adams pounded in double 16 to clinch the first set 3-0, hitting a maximum in each leg against a nervous Thompson, who was making his first appearance in the quarter finals.

He added his fourth consecutive leg to open the second set, Thompson racing back to hit a maximum and level the set with a 12-dart finish. He won the third with the throw, clinching the set with a 79 checkout, finished on bull to level the game.

Adams’ fourth maximum steered him to the third set 3-0 on double 16 and he then added six of the next seven legs to take a 4-1 interval lead.

The England skipper fired in double tops to take the opening leg of the sixth set against the throw and then hit the same double to lead 2-0, Thompson’s power-scoring paving the way for a double 16 finish and then Adams missed both double tops and double 10 to clinch the match, The Cougar pouncing to exit on 86 with double 16. Poor scoring from the Peterborough player was punished by Thompson to take the deciding leg with double tops.

Wolfie took the opening leg with the throw, hitting double five and following it with his sixth 180 and easing to double four. Another 180 and a 140 steered him to a match-winning 81 checkout, finished on double 12.

Adams said afterwards: “Garry is a great player who was really nervous in the first few sets. I would love to have won the game without dropping a set or leg but that’s not going to be a reality at this level.

“I have not played Martin Phillips, my next opponent on the world stage before so will be quite interesting. I have the utmost respect for a player who has made 100 appearances for his country,” said the England skipper.

Top seed Tony O’Shea defied a battling performance from beefy Stephen Bunting to win through 4-0 and book a place in the last eight.

The strapping six foot giant from St Helens had blasted in eight 180s but was punished by his Cheshire county team mate for consistently missing doubles.

Afterwards the Stockport grandfather declared: “It was all down to experience and that is a word I have used a lot since finishing runner-up 12 months ago. The confidence and experience gained in last year’s final set me up for six or seven good tournaments afterwards.

“You just can’t buy experience. That match did not seem like 4-0, I was really chuffed because I scored well myself but Steve scored heavily on the 180s but it’s doubles that win games.”

Bunting has never fulfilled his early potential since making his debut in 2004 as a rookie 18-year-old but after his promising start to the match he must have sensed that it might be his day.

He blazed into the match blasting out four 180s and and 112 checkout finished on double tops but could not convert his good form into a winning double, twice missing double 18 and then fluffing his dart for double nine. O’Shea after initially missing double 18 recovered to steal the set against the throwing advantage with double nine.

Despite power-scoring from Bunting in the second – including three 180s – it was the experienced O’Shea who drilled his darts into the doubles, battling back from 1-0 down to take the set 3-1 and a 2-0 match lead.

The top seed turned the screw in the next after battling Bunting hit his eighth maximum to annex the opening leg, levelling and then taking the following two legs with double 18 and double 16 to establish a 3-0 lead after just 28 minutes of furious play.

After taking the opening leg of the fourth set, Bunting again fluffed his shot for double tops to lose the opportunity of taking the initiative, as cool O’Shea hit double 16 with their third dart to edge within a leg of victory. After Bunting missed a bid for a 170 match-saving finish, experienced O’Shea powered in a 81 victory flourish, completed with double 12.

Magical performance from Wagner topples Woods in 100 minute tie-breaker thriller

The Magician Robert Wagner produced a spellbinding 4-3 victory, climaxing a 100 minute tie-breaker encounter to reach the last eight for the first time.

As driving snow fell outside the venue, 44-year-old Wagner produced the game of his life in sky-high temperatures to battle back from 2-0 down to force the match into a thrilling tiebreaker.

The 43-year-old Woods, bidding to emulate his semi final placing two years ago sailed into a 2-0 lead but then the remarkable Wagner began conjuring up his comeback.

The Norwegian twice led the third set and when Woods missed double tops for a set-saving 77 checkout, showman Wagner produced a double 18 finish at the first attempt.

Twice Woods edged ahead in the fourth, Wagner unleashing two 180s as he levelled the set in 11 darts, smashing home a 96 checkout, completed on double 18. And then in the next narrowly missed double 12 for a thrilling 138 finish, clinching double six with his next dart.

Wagner won the battle of the nerves to take the opening leg of the fifth set to lead the match for the first time but Woods levelled and added the third after recovering from missing bull for a 161 finish. Wagner then missed his favourite double 18 for a set-saving 116, Woods nipping in to exit on double 10.

Wagner took the sixth set 3-1 on double 16 taking the match into a nail-biting tiebreaker which saw Woods blast in a 132 finish and Wagner 81 on bull as the match hurtled into a deciding 11th sudden death decider.

Woods remarkably hit 11, following up with 121, Wagner countering with a maximum and then clinching victory on double four with his second attempt.

Super slow Hankey stops van de Wiel

Defending champ and fifth seed Ted Hankey eased into the last eight, inflicting an emphatic 4-1 defeat on the fast-throwing Dutchman Willy de Wiel after dictating the pace of the match.

It took “The Count” 47 minutes playing at snail’s pace to move a step nearer to a record-equalling third world crown.

Afterwards the Shropshire-based defending champion admitted: “I did not play well, I slowed him down and that meant I was not playing my game but I did enough to win.

“I do not enjoy the shorter format of the opening round and the longer the format becomes the more the oche becomes my territory,” declared confident Hankey.

“I know just what I have to do and I know my opponents and what they are capable of this week,” he added.

It took the double champ just eight minutes to open his account and take the opening set 3-0. Adopting a slow and deliberate style to combat the fast-throwing Dutchman, he hit a barrage of 100 plus scores and a maximum as he hit his favourite double 18.

Both players missed doubles as the opening legs of the next set were shared, Hankey firing in his second 180 of the match to take the third leg and then hit double tops at the second attempt to move 2-0 ahead.

Twice Hankey trailed in the next, double four taking the set into a deciding fifth leg. Again Hankey powered down to the finish but in missing double 16 he allowed De Wiel to nip in and snatch the set with double four with his second dart.

In the fourth Hankey notched two 180s en-route to taking the set 3-0 after the Dutchman missed 12 doubles in the third leg.

The fifth seed took a 2-0 lead in the fifth set, the Dutchman taking the third on double eight, two tons and his sixth 180 lining up Hankey for the match-winning double one after De Wiel missed double 13 for a 103 match-saving finish.

Man in a hurry Dave Chisnall races into the last eight

Lancashire comet Dave Chisnall hurried into the last eight dismissing Dutch-based Tony West 4-2 in a fast-throwing clinical display.

The two speedy throwers served up some breathtaking high speed action over 37 minutes in a game which featured 11 180s and more than 60 ton plus scores but it was Chisnall who signalled his title intentions by posting the tournament’s highest average – 32.28 per dart.

“Chizzy” was very much a man on a mission, blazing through the opening two sets without dropping a leg as shell-shocked West – the 2003 World Master – watched on in disbelief.

Chisnall fired in a brace of maximums in the next set but West countered with three 180s, going on to lift the set 3-1.

But the comeback was short-lived as the St Helens sharpshooter raced through the fourth without dropping a leg.

Battling West replied by taking the fifth by the same margin, firing in a further two 180s en-route, Chisnall opening up a 2-0 lead in the next set after notching a bull finish for an eye-catching 121 checkout.

29-yearold “Chizzy” held his nerve in the next leg to exit on 64, clinched with double 16 to win through to the last eight for a showpiece quarter final clash with the defending champion Ted Hankey.

Scott wait(es) for quarter final clash after toppling Hendo

Second seed Scott Waites won a classic England versus Scotland encounter, toppling oil worker John Henderson 4-1.

Waites was in ruthless form in the 45-minute clash punishing the popular Scot for a string of missed doubles after Henderson had matched the English player’s high-scoring.

The Yorkshireman took the opening set with the throw 3-1 and twice he trailed in the next after Hendy fired in a maximum but Waites clinched the deciding fifth leg for a 2-0 match lead.

Henderson notched a 180 to open up the third set and had chances to reduce the match deficit but the powerfully built oil worker who was sweating profusely in the soaring temperatures repeatedly failed to convert his doubles as Waites swooped to punish him and move ominously 3-0 ahead.

He recovered in the next set hitting two doubles tops at the first attempt to take the advantage of the throw from the Halifax hotshot.

And then the Scot, fuelled by his good streak, fired in his third successive double tops to annex the third set.

But this jolted Waites into action and he sailed through the fifth set unchallenged, climaxing the set victory with a breathtaking 139 flourish finished with double 11.

Waites will now meet Welsh skipper Martin Phillips in the last eight. Having reached the last eight for the past two years he now hopes it will be a case of third time lucky and he will make it past the quarter finals this year.

Welsh skipper responds to “Get Carter” call from his fans…

Welsh skipper Martin Phillips surged into the quarter finals for only the second time after dismissing the brave challenge of local boy Paul Carter 4-2.

The 52-minute encounter could have gone either way as both players struggled to dominate but in the end it was the experience of the 49-year-old left-handed player from Dolgellau that proved decisive in his match with the man from the New Forest village of Bransgore.

The man from the Principality’s power-scoring of six 180s and 20 ton plus scores and 121 and 102 checkouts proved just too hot to handle for the Hampshire tournament debutant.

In an enthralling first set which saw left-hander Phillips blast in two 180s to twice lead, rookie world championship debutant hit a maximum in the deciding fifth set with 56, finished on double tops, after the experienced Phillips fluffed two bids for double 18.

Phillips blasted out another brace of 180s to charge into the second set to lead 2-0, Carter coolly despatching a 93 finish on double 18, Phillips responding by taking the fourth leg on double 20 to level the match.

Carter hit a maximum to open the third set but then missed an agonising 10 doubles attempts, gifting the leg to the Welshman against the throw. Further missed doubles saw Phillips add the next and the man from the valleys hit double eight to take the set 3-0.

Phillips fired out another 180 to level in the fourth set but then missed two double 16s, allowing Carter to pounce and level the match with his favourite double 20.

A 2-0 lead including a 121 checkout laid the foundation for a 3-1 success in the next set, finished on double tops.

Both players took two legs in the sixth set Phillips hitting the winning double eight with his seventh double attempt after the battling Bransgore ace missed two match-saving bids for his favourite double tops.

Afterwards Phillips complemented Carter on his performance: “I watched him play against Martin Atkins and the intention was to hit him hard right from off and take legs off him but in fact that is what he did to me!

“I am full of cold and was so hot up on stage and just wanted to get the match over as quickly as possible but Paul had other ideas.

“I’m pleased with my form this week and will just take each match as it comes,” said the Welsh skipper.

Garry engineers cunning 4-1 defeat of “The Fox”

Yorkshire’s Garry Thompson produced a clinical performance to eclipse Republic of Ireland’s Martin McCloskey 4-1.

The 44-year-old from Silsden was always in command during the 49-minute match.

Both players were testing each other in the opening set , the Yorkshire captain twice edging ahead before the man from County Donegal levelled and then snatched the set on double four.

Red-haired McCloskey, nicknamed The Fox then took out 72 with double 16 against the throw to steal the initiative and then cunningly fired out two 140s he smashed in a 121 finish completed on bull. But Thompson blazed back to hit double 18 and then double tops to level the set after McCloskey missed wired bull for a set-winning 124. Thompson grabbed the fifth leg to level the match.

And he followed up with double 16 – with a single dart – to win the opening leg of the third set against the throw and held his throw to edge further ahead. Thompson hammered home a maximum and 136 but then missed two attempts for double 20, allowing McCloskey to sneak in with double 16.

Thompson was punished again in the next after missing four set-winning attempts for double tops he nervously missed the same double twice before scrambling home with the third attempt for a 2-1 match lead.

The fourth set went the full distance after Thompson produced a 118 checkout, following up with 64 finished on double 16.

The match had been momentarily halted in the middle of the set as a constant heckler – who had been warned about shouting out while players were throwing – was ejected from the club.

Both players missed doubles before Thompson who had hit a maximum hit double four against the throw and then followed up with the third attempt for his favourite double 18 which he again hit first time to clinch victory in the next leg

Experienced Adams dashes title hopes of promising Gurney

Former champ Martin Adams swept into the last eight toppling young pretender Darryl Gurney in just 44 minutes.

Adams, the oldest man in the field at 53, who has played in more championships than other player proved experience counts as he plundered the plumber from Londonderry, firing out six 180s, two 121 checkouts and two 12-dart finishes.

Victorious Adams declared: “Darryl was a little bit unlucky in the first set and then he started to think about things. I think he was trying too hard. He is a great competitor and is a player who gets upbeat when he hits the scores.”

Adams sailed through the opening set unchallenged and turned the screw in the next battling back from losing the opening leg to clinch victory with a 180 and a superb 121 completed with double 14.

The 23-year-old Londonderry player bidding to become the first player from Northern Ireland to reach the last eight since popular Freddie McMullen swept back to lead the next set 2-1, Adams missing bull for a set-saving 161 before Gurney exited on double four.

“Wolfie” hit his second 121 checkout, finished on double 14 to take the opening leg of the fourth set against the throw and then missed double 14 for the same shot a leg later, firing out a 180 as he clinched the set 3-0 on double 16 after Gurney missed the same double.

Adams’ sixth 180 steered him into a fifth set 2-0 lead and Adams, who had never been pressurised clinched victory on double 20.

St Helens sharpshooter Stephen “The Bullet” Bunting shot down Ian White’s title hopes with an emphatic 3-0 whitewash.

Bunting, once tipped as a future world champion, produced his best performance on the Lakeside stage to dismiss the 16th seed White – the third seed to dip out on the opening days play.

“The Bullet” fired in a 30.54 average as he produced a mature performance for his youthful 24 years.

He set the scene in the opening set as he blasted in three 15 dart checkouts, finished on 77, 75 and 76 respectively.

The Cheshire ace took the opening leg of the second set, Bunting replying with a 13-darter, the following two legs exchanged before Bunting clinched the deciding fifth leg for a 2-0 match lead.

Despite White blasting in a 180 in the opening leg of the next set, the St Helens sharpshooter exited in 17 darts and then his second maximum of the match saw him take a 14-darter and move within one leg of victory.

The two players traded tons in the third leg but it was cool Bunting who clinched victory after White missed bull for a match-saving 170 checkout, which ironically would also have been the tournament’s highest finish and put him in line for a £3000 prize.

Top seed Tony wins all-Cheshire clash to book place in second round

Top seed Tony O’Shea survived a spirited display from debutant Robbie Green to win through 3-2 in the opening game of the 2010 championship.

The two Cheshire county team mates served up some tasty darts but it was the experienced O’Shea – runner-up 12 months ago – who held his nerve to edge into the second round with a 28.86 average

It took the man nicknamed Silverback 49 minutes to scramble through against “Kong” Green, in a match in which both players nervously missed doubles.

Forty eight-year-old O’Shea from Stockport held his throw to take the opening set 3-1, despite battling Green firing out two maximums.

In the second set World Masters runner-up Green took the opening leg and then capitalised on O’Shea missing double tops for a 80 finish.

But O’Shea levelled and then produced a brilliant 160 check-out (60,60,double tops) to snatch the second set. Battling Green replied, taking the third set – against the throwing advantage – unchallenged.

The opening four legs of the next set went with the throw and Green throwing first, levelled the match with double 20 in the deciding fifth leg, plunging the match into a deciding fifth set.

The Stockport sharpshooter annexed the opening leg on double 16 and then fired out his third 180 and a 118 finishing checkout to move ominously within a leg of victory.

With the throwing advantage, O’Shea raced down to a double and after missing double 16 planted the winning dart in double eight to start his title assault.

Wiping away sweat from his brow, O’Shea confessed: “I am dead chuffed. I would have been happy to have hit a 19 average and got through. It was a terrific game, Robbie is a mate and we play county darts together and it is always difficult to play against friends on stage.

“After winning the opening set, I then picked up the second with 160 but it is not like me to take out a big finish. Then Robbie kicked in and started to come back but I think experience counted. You cannot buy that experience, I just did not panic.

“I think my wife Gill, who is a darts player, feels the pressure more than me, so I am more than happy to let her do the worrying and hopefully she will have another four matches to worry about this week,” declared the confident top seed.

“Pecker” wraps it up with style

Cumbrian hot shot Brian Woods brushed aside Dutch decorator and ninth seed Joey ten Berge 3-2 to move into the second round.

It was a gutsy display from the man from Egremont who is looking to better his last four placing achieved in 2008.

But he was made to work hard for his 41-minute victory, having to battle back from 2-1 down.

“When I was 2-1 down I thought to myself that I had done nothing wrong and had to put my match head on. I put a little aggression into my game,” said Woods.

“There are no mugs here at Lakeside this week. Although Joey is only 24, he is captain of Holland and a great player. You cannot afford to have a bad game here. The adrenaline just kicked in during the match,” said the Cumbrian.

The man from The Hague battled back from 1-0 down, annexing six of the next seven legs to open a confidence-boosting 2-1 match lead.

Woods, an engineer, then began turning the screw, firing in a maximum to level the match with a fourth set 3-1 success.

In the decider, Woods, sporting his trademark striking Mohican hairstyle, surged into a 2-0 lead and then held his nerve to clinch victory on double 12 and eliminate the first seed from this year’s tournament.

Magical Robert conjures up spellbinding performance to topple eighth seed Norris

Robert “The Magician” Wagner conjured up a spellbinding performance to stun eighth seed Alan Norris into a 3-2 defeat.

The popular charismatic magic-loving keep fit addict produced one of his best displays at Frimley Green to dump out the highly fancied Norris after an absorbing 44-minute encounter.

“The Magician” produced some spellbinding darts to take the opening set 3-1 despite a maximum and 12-dart third leg from fast-throwing Norris.

The English player made the most of his throwing advantage in the next levelling the match with the same winning margin, despite a maximum from the eighth seed who is based in Scotland.

The tempo of the match increased in the next set as both players hit maximums and Wagner wiring a bull effort for a blockbusting 170 finish before the Norwegian clinched victory in the deciding fifth leg to edge into a 2-1 match lead.

Wagner produced another magical leg to open the fourth set as he blasted out a 112 checkout against the throw to steal a psychological advantage but Norris responded, hitting double tops to level and then holding his throw in the next as he blasted in his fourth maximum of the game.

“Chuck” levelled the match with a brilliant 85 checkout finished on double five to plunge the match into a deciding fifth set.

After taking the opening leg of the next set with the throw, Wagner hit his third 180 and then narrowly missed an eye-catching 144 finish after wiring double 12. Norris pounced to level the set with 72, finished on double 18.

The third leg went to Wagner with the throw, who then blasted in a 171 score en-route to clinching the match with a nail-biting third effort for double one, after Norris fired home another maximum but missed two darts at a match-saving double.

Willy bids “good night” to John Boy

Flying Dutchman Willy van de Wiel toppled 12th seed John Walton with 53-minute 3-2 demolition of the 2001 champion.

The Sheffield player never looked comfortable in the game as he lost the opening set against the throwing advantage.

The 27-year-old Dutchman who lost in the opening round in his debut in the competition last year displayed confidence and a maturity beyond his years as he coasted into the second round.

Carpenter van de Wiel nailed his title intentions on the match, turning the throwing advantage in the opening set to score a surprise 3-1 success.

The man from Rijen then levelled in the second set to force a deciding fifth leg but three missed attempts for double tops proved costly as the 2001 world champ levelled the match with an 80 finish (treble 20, double 10).

And it was a similar tale in the next set as the Dutchman who had taken a 2-0 lead missed double tops twice for a 3-1 set success, the gritty Sheffield sharpshooter displaying steely determination to level the set on double 10. He then held his throw in the fifth leg to open up a 2-1 match lead.

But the 48-year-old Sheffield player looked tense and uncomfortable as van de Wiel defended his throw in the opening leg of the next set and then moved 2-0 in front after John Boy nervously missed 10 doubles to level the set, the Dutchman taking the set 3-0.

Blasting in double tops to open the fifth set against the throw put the Dutch player in the driving seat, stepping up the pressure with a double one, double 17 finish.

Walton annexed the third leg but a superb maximum left the Dutchman with 36, Walton missing double 16 to save the match as van de Wiel returned to clinch victory on double nine and dash the hopes of a second seed.

Big Robbo is buried by “The Count” Ted Hankey

Ted “The Count” Hankey swept into the second round burying Gary Robson 3-0 in a clinical 30-minute performance.

The Telford-based fifth seed showed no mercy as he fired out four 180s and two 13 dart finished to topple the title aspirations of “Big Robbo.”

Afterwards “The Count” admitted: “That was a tough game for me but I felt good up on stage. The first few legs were a bit shaky but I was there to do a job tonight and knew what I had to do.”

Nerves featured strongly in the opening set, won by Hankey but only after he missed an agonising 11 efforts for the doubles. Twice he led in the set, his first maximum of the match paving the way for double five after Big Robbo wired bull for a 122 set-saving checkout in the fourth leg.

The opening four legs of the next set went with the throw, Hankey – who hit 42 180s 12 months ago on his title run – hitting his third of the match in the deciding fifth leg to move into a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Maximum number four followed in the opening leg of the third set, Robson – who has twice reached the last eight in the tournament – levelling but Hankey sweeping back to to take the third on his favourite double tops.

As Robson’s scoring faltered in the fourth leg, Hankey powered in a brace of 140s and with Big Robbo stranded in the 200s, fired in a 66 match-winning checkout, finished on double 20.

“Tornado” Tony storms into second round

Tony “The Tornado” West swept into the second round dumping out seeded Scot Mark Barilli 3-0 in 32 minutes.

He annexed six of the opening seven legs to open up a commanding 2-0 match lead as the shell-shocked 13th seed battled to get back into contention.

The Greenock man’s second 180 of the match in the second leg of the third set paved the way for him to pull back a set.

And then he opened up taking the first leg of the fourth set, West levelling but Barilli again moving ahead after clinching the third leg in 17 darts.

West, who lives in Holland, bounced back with his second 180 of the match to level the set and then held his nerve to clinch victory on double tops after the Scot missed double two and double one to save his title hopes.

For the Scot making his second appearance at Frimley Green it proved to be an unlucky 13th seeding.

West admitted afterwards: “I did not play well. I had trouble with dry hands and started to think about it during the match. Normally I use a paste which tennis and bowls players use to improve their grip. I have not used it for some time and thought I would be okay today but I think because we have had cold weather my hands were really dry. The lack of grip on the barrels meant my darts were slipping.

“I then started to think about it and it affected my game. I’m just glad to get that one over and will make sure I use the cream on my hands before my second round match,” said West.

The 37-year-old confirmed:“I am delighted to be back at Lakeside but I am still not back at my best.”

Second round is ‘one stop beyond’ for Madness fan Fitton

St Helen’s Dave Chisnall hurtled into the second round toppling fourth seed Darryl Fitton 3-1 in a 46-minute high-scoring encounter.

Chisnall’s five 180s and two 13-dart finishes helped to punish the lack-lustre performance of the Fitton – a losing semi finalist 12 months ago.

Stockport-based Fitton had high hopes of a good run in this year’s championship and started confidently, taking the opening set 3-1, despite the St Helens player blasting into the game with a maximum.

Chizzy raced into a 2-0 lead in the next but three missed attempts for double tops cost him the set as Fitton exited on double 10. Chisnall blazed in his fourth 180 as he produced a spectacular match-levelling 102 checkout finished on double eight in the fifth leg.

Twice the St Helens man trailed in the third set but after hitting 180 he wired double 16 for a set-winning 89 finish and then missed a further three doubles before recovering to exit on double four for a surprise 2-1 match lead.

Throwing first tense Fitton missed bull for a blockbusting 164 in the opening leg of the fourth, Chisnall stealing the advantage and following up with double 12 with the throw.

Fitton fired in 140 and 129, Chisnall replying with a ton and two 140s but Dazzler then missed three attempts for a match-saving double tops as Chisnall required just one dart at the same double to despatch the popular Stockport sharpshooter in 13 darts.

The quietly-spoken Chisnall smiling broadly after his win said: “It was very hot up on stage but I just played the board. I am on top of the world. The best part of this game was winning!”

Henderson wins David and Goliath encounter to dump out Mareno

Oil rigger John Henderson slipped into the second round, destroying the dreams of Dutchman Mareno “The Miracle” Michels 3-1.

But the 15th seed from Aberdeen was made to work hard for his victory after the battling slightly –built 25-year-old from the Rotterdam area refused to yield to the giant Scot in the little and large encounter.

Henderson, who reached the second round in his debut back in 2005, is keen for a good run this week and made a confident start scooping the opening set 3-1 and including a 12 dart leg.

But electrician Michels short-circuited his hopes of a 2-0 lead, snatching the deciding fifth leg to level the match.

Double tops gave Henderson the third set but with Michels leading the next 2-1 he missed countless doubles to once again level the match as Henderson, who also overcame “double trouble” levelled.

Setting himself up for victory with his favourite double tops, which he had already missed a remarkable 12 times during the match, Henderson swept in the winning double.

Sweating profusely after his 46-minute clash, “Hendo” declared: “I felt really uncomfortable up there on stage and gave him a few chances.

“Normally, double tops is my favourite double but it wasn’t tonight. I’m just planning to enjoy myself this week and play my real game,” said the Scot.

Cool-hand Waites deals tough hand to Scot Paul

Second seed Scott Waites surged into the second round with a ruthless 3-0 whitewash of Scot Paul Hanvidge.

Poker-loving Waites, the 7-2 second favourite showed no emotion as he clinically despatched the veteran Scot with a barrage of big scores and some precision-finishing.

The Scot struggled with dartitis – the nervous affliction which effectively brought five times world champ Eric Bristow’s run at the top of the sport to an end – which prevents players from releasing their darts cleanly.

The rout took just 24 minutes as Waites annexed six of the opening seven legs to open up a commanding two set lead. He hit a maximum in the first leg and then hit three faultless doubles to win the opening set with the throw.

A flurry of 140s followed in the next which he completed unchallenged once again in just six minutes. Uncharacteristic missed doubles gifted the opening leg of the third set to Hanvidge on double one but Waites swept back to take the next against the throwing advantage.

And then the Halifax carpenter turned the screw adding the next with double 10. The Scot pounced after Waites missed two double tops for the match to exit on 74 and take the set to a deciding fifth leg.

Waites said afterwards: “I was pleased with my performance but feel a bit for Paul. I didn’t realise that he was suffering from dartitis.

“I started well and then eased off a bit. My darts are going really well and I am playing well at the minute. I am looking for the title this week but will take each game at a time,” said the confident Waites.

Atkins “The Assassin” gunned down by local boy Carter

Local boy Paul Carter produced the latest fairytale success story as he gunned down Martin “The Assassin” Atkins 3-1.

Spurred on by the partisan Lakeside crowd and members of his family, he fought back from losing the opening set to dash the hopes of the 10th seed from Horsforth in an enthralling 41-minute clash.

Remarkably Carter had packed away his darts five years ago after donating a kidney to his ill sister.

Clawing his way back, the New Forest thrower succeeded in qualifying for the world championship.

Remarkably he is one of two players in this week’s field who live in the village of Bransgore, which boasts a population of just 5000.

It was always going to be an uphill struggle for the 35-year-old Hampshire player but he rose to the challenge, battling back from losing the opening set to level and then move 2-1 in front.

He lost the opening leg of the fourth set, levelled and then moved 2-1 ahead, Atkins snatching the fourth leg after Carter missed double eight for a match-winning 64 finish.

Atkins missed further doubles in the next leg as Carter swept home 65 finished on 25 and double tops to win through.

Delighted Carter declared: “I can’t believe it. I am very emotional and so excited. Martin battered me a bit in the first set although I played okay.

“When I walked out on to the stage, I was high-fiving everyone because I wanted to enjoy myself. I knew it might be my only chance to play in the world championship and I wanted to enjoy myself.

“I will have to go into work tomorrow because I want to have Wednesday off when I play my second round game. I can’t afford to have two days off because I will use up my holiday and not be able to go on the circuit.

Carter works for a small manufacturing company in Totton and actually made the darts he plays with.

Martin of the “Prins”ipality slays seeded Dave

Championship debutant Dave Prins became the seventh seed to crash out in an opening two day of shocks at Frimley Green.

The 41-year-old from Peterlee in County Durham was thrashed 3-0 by experienced Welsh left-handed veteran Martin Phillips.

Dolgellau-based Phillips who made his tournament debut back in 1991 and reached the last eight 12 months later is Wales’ only representative in the championship.

He won through to the second round and a clash with Paul Carter – the conqueror of 10th seed Martin Atkins – with a breathtaking 106 checkout.

Phillips, the skipper of Wales and his country’s most capped player, produced a clinical performance notching a maximum and three 140s as he annexed the opening set unchallenged.

He followed up taking the next 3-1 and then fired in a 12-darter as he clinched the third set in the deciding fifth set.

Martin McCloskey outfoxes 11th seed West to win through to last 16

Republic of Ireland’s Martin McCloskey marched into the last 16, dumping out 11th seed Steve West 3-2 in 46 minutes

The emerald isle player’s never-say-die attitude saw him twice battle back to take the match into a deciding fifth set.

The experienced West blasted in two maximums as he annexed the first set in a speedy seven minutes, leaving the Republic of Ireland skipper a little shell-shocked.

Trailing in the opening leg of the next set West coolly despatched 138, finished on double nine and then followed up with two 60s and double tops to move into a menacing 2-0 lead.

But the red haired and bearded McCloskey, who is nicknamed “The Fox” and lives in County Donegal swept back to level with a 102 checkout finished on double 16, holding his nerve to clinch the set on double three.

The pencil-thin tall Irish player snatched the initiative in the next, taking the opening leg against the throw and taking the next but West roared back taking three successive legs, clinching the set on 65 finished on double tops.

With the throwing advantage, McCloskey raced through the fourth set unchallenged – despite West’s third maximum – to take the game into a fifth set.

Defying the odds the County Donegal player took the opening leg against the throw and then nipped in with double eight, West defending his throw in the next.

Hitting a ton and 135 scores McCloskey was first to the double but missed three double 20s for the match, West then squandered efforts on double two and double one, before the grateful Republic of Ireland skipper slammed home the winning double tops.

Gritty Garry topples sixth seed Ross

Gritty Yorkshireman Garry Thompson inflicted a surprise 3-2 defeat on Scot Ross Montgomery, the tournament’s sixth seed.

The Glaswegian – the ninth seed to fall in a week of shocks at the championship – was punished for constantly missing doubles and failing to match the Silsden man’s superior scoring in the 56-minute gripper.

The Scot struggled to settle in the opening set and missed doubles allowing the Silsden engineer – nicknamed the Cougar – to pounce for a 3-0 success.

He then moved up a gear edging into a 2-0 lead but faltered in the third leg after he missed a further three doubles as Thompson added the next with the throw.

Ross was given a further fright by the West Yorkshire player as he hit two single 20s and wired a set-winning bull finish, the Scot replying by hitting double 16 with his first dart to level the game but his shaking hand suggested that he was ill at ease on the Lakeside stage.

He remained vulnerable as he failed to hit the big scores, Thompson, a 100-1 outsider at the start of the week, sweeping to the third set 3-0.

The fourth set went to a deciding fifth leg, Ross scrambling to double 16 and then blazing into the next set with a show-stopping 125 checkout completed on double tops, against the throw.

But passive Thompson bounced back to level, Ross pinching the third after both missed doubles. Racing into a commanding lead in the next, Ross missed a further six doubles letting in the laid back Thompson to push the match into a tie-breaker.

Thompson chose the moment to fire in his first maximum of the game and despite missing six match-winning doubles he scrambled through on double eight to wreck the Scotsman’s title-hopes.

Daryl Gurney “in the pink” after toppling local boy Scott Mitchell

Hopes of a double tops success for the small village of Bransgore in Hampshire were thwarted by Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney who despatched 14th seed Scott Mitchell in a thrilling five set tie-breaker.

Mitchell, sporting a natty pink and black shirt emblazoned with Scotty dog motifs endeared himself to the capacity Lakeside crowd but always faced an uphill task against the Northern Ireland international.

Last night (Sunday)Paul Carter, who remarkably lives in the same village (population 5000) as Mitchell pulled off a surprise victory to gun down 10th seed Martin “The Assassin” Atkins.

Mitchell had hoped to emulate his neighbour’s success but he quickly found himself 2-0 down in sets.

But then the Hampshire landscape garden started sewing the seeds of a comeback, twice battling back to level in the third set after hitting a maximum, clinching the deciding fifth leg with double tops.

Three maximums and an 81 checkout steered him to the fourth set to level the match.

He fired in another 180 to blaze into the deciding set, following up with a 101 finished on double tops, Gurney annexing the third leg and then adding the next to take the match into a tense tie-break.

The plumber from Northern Ireland missed four doubles before grabbing the fifth leg on double 10, hitting a 180 in the next and holding his nerve to fire in double seven to edge into the last 16.

Wolfie crushes Aussie debutant Fleet in 28-minute blitz

Former champ Martin Adams cruised into the second round dismantling Aussie steelworker Tony Fleet in a speedy 28 minutes without dropping a leg.

Adams, the 2007 title winner booked his second round spot without dropping a leg as the Canberra man suffered an embarrassing debut on the Lakeside stage, producing a disappointing 21.78 average

Although he has dominated the darts scene in the southern hemisphere during the past 12 months – including victories in the Pacific Masters and the Australian Grand Masters – he failed to reproduce that form in his debut appearance.

It was a humiliating opening leg for Fleety as he dropped darts on the floor and despite throwing 27 darts still required 155.

Adams was also affected and failed to hammer home the advantage, requiring more than25 darts to claim the first leg.

The England skipper then settled into the scoring groove completing a first round rout.

Despite missing some doubles in the second he sailed through 3-0 including a 13 darter and then blasted in a 177 and a maximum to take the next set 3-0, which he completed on double 10.

Afterwards triumphant Adams admitted: “That first leg was a totally new experience for me, I just wondered what was going on. I have never seen nerves affect anyone like this before.

“I think the emotion that you go through when you walk up on stage here hit him like a brick wall. You have to learn quickly how to deal with this pressure. He is such a nice fella but I just had to ignore what was going on and play darts.

Bitterly disappointed Fleet declared : “I have waited 20 years to get here and I have embarrassed myself.”

This announcement of a woefully unbalanced prize fund is wrapped in a load of bluster trumpeting the fact that the winner receives £100k. Why bother? Why not just concentrate on making the best of what you have and ensuring your own members are looked after? Scratch below the first prize and the picture is alarming.

For the 2010 Lakeside Championships the total prize fund of £325k is an increase from 2009 of just £5k – all of it goes to the mens champion. There’s no increase for the rest of the men and no increase for the women. The ladies champion will receive a paltry £6k. That won’t even pay for a year on the tour. To put it in perspective, it’s only double what a male first round loser gets. It’s the same as a PDC first round loser at Ally Pally. Anastasia Dobromyslova can win almost as much just for being in the Grand Slam of Darts and not winning a game. Losing ladies quarter finalists at Lakeside get a piffling £500.

And it’s not just the disparity between men and women; the mens prize money breakdown is far too top heavy. In their desperation to reward their winner and be able to declare him a £100k world champion, they have forgotten about the rest. The winner will get more than three times the £30k awarded to the beaten finalist and nearly ten times the £11k awarded to losing semi finalists. All the men’s prize money pales against the PDC pot but so what? Cut your own cloth accordingly.

The BDO can’t compete with the PDC’s £1million prize fund (£200k to the winner), so they shouldn’t try. By doing so it is now at the expense of their very own BDO family. The rumblings of discontent are becoming more audible with every decision the maroon blazers make and this just seems like another shot in the foot. If only both sides could grow up and get on.

Here’s the press release in full, judge for yourself…

£100,000 FOR 2010 BDO LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL MEN’S DARTS CHAMPION

LAKESIDE COUNTRY CLUB, FRIMLEY GREEN, SURREY | SATURDAY, JANUARY 2 to SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, 2010

The 2010 Lakeside World Professional Men’s Champion will receive a cheque for £100,000, and the total prize fund for the Championships will be £325,000 – making it the richest ever in the history of the most prestigious Championships in World Darts.

It’s a fitting reward for the players from over thirty countries around the globe who have competed for the right to be in the final field of 32 men and 8 women in the BBC televised Championships from January 2nd to 10th, 2010.

“What a fantastic way to celebrate the 25th year that the BDO has staged the World Pro at Lakeside!”, says Olly Croft, Managing Director of BDO Enterprises Ltd, “We are delighted that Bob Potter’s commitment and support of these great Championships remains as strong as ever.

“We first came to Lakeside in 1986 and 2010 marks the twenty-fifth consecutive year that Bob has made Lakeside Country Club the undisputed home of world darts. But more than that, since Lakeside became main title sponsor in 2004, the winning cheque for the Men’s Champion has doubled to a life changing six-figure sum. It represents a marvellous commitment to BDO darts and coincides with the wonderful news that BBC TV Sport is extending its exclusive contract with the BDO to broadcast the World Pro until 2013.

“In addition, John Smith’s and Jackpotjoy.com continue as official Lakeside and BDO shirt patch sponsors respectively, and the World Pro continues to maintain the history of darts at the highest possible participation levels. It is a true world event seen by the biggest TV audiences for darts anywhere in the world.

.“We are proud that the World Pro offers not only a wonderful mix of well-known players and emerging talent on an annual basis, but also the finest officials in world darts, the world’s premier broadcaster and the No.1 venue in World Darts.

“What a winning combination!”

Played at Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, Surrey – ‘the home of World Darts’ – from Saturday, January 2nd to Sunday, January 10th, 2010, the Men’s World Professional Championship will celebrate thirty-three years of continuous coverage on BBC (1978 to 2010), while the Women’s World Professional Championship will be staged for the tenth consecutive year (2001 to 2010).

“Of course, I am delighted that Lakeside is continuing as main title sponsor of these great Championships for the sixth consecutive year”, says Bob Potter, OBE, proprietor of the Lakeside Complex.

“The atmosphere is truly unique, and we are privileged to play host to some of the world’s top players – men and women – who produce ever-increasing standards of darts excellence year after year.

“The increase in prize money reflects our ongoing commitment not only to the Championships, but also to the BDO and its players and officials, together with BBC TV Sport, who combine to provide us with top-of-the-bill darts year after year”.

The extensive TV coverage by BBC Sport is complemented by Red Button and online coverage of every dart thrown for digital TV viewers. In addition, thanks to deals signed by the BDO’s international TV distribution partner BBC Worldwide, coverage of the event will be seen throughout Europe on Eurosport, and throughout Asia on Eurosport Asia. Coverage of the whole tournament will also appear on SBS-6 in Holland.

This provides the most diverse TV exposure for any darts Championship anywhere in the world, and collectively produces the biggest global TV audiences for darts.

2010 PRIZE MONEY – MEN: WOMEN:
CHAMPION: £100,000 CHAMPION: £6,000
Runner-up £30,000 Runner-Up £2,000
Semi-Finalist £11,000 x 2 Joint 3rd £1,000 x 2
Q/Finalists £6,000 x 4 Joint 5th: £500 x 4
2nd Round £4,250 x 8
1st Round £3,000 x 16 TOTAL: £12,000

TOTAL: £258,000

Highest Checkout: Men & Women: £3,000
9-Dart 501 Men & Women: £52,000

TOTAL AVAILABLE PRIZE FUND: £325,000

The tournament takes place at The Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green from 2nd to 10th January 2010.

MEN’S DRAW
Saturday 2nd January Seed
Ian White England 16 v Stephen Bunting England
Tony O’Shea England 1 v Robbie Green England
Joey ten Berge Netherlands 9 v Brian Woods England
Alan Norris Sweden 8 v Robert Wagner Norway
John Walton England 12 v Willy van de Wiel Netherlands
Ted Hankey England 5 v Gary Robson England

Sunday 3rd January
Mark Barilli Scotland 13 v Tony West England
Darryl Fitton England 4 v Dave Chisnall England
John Henderson Scotland 15 v Mareno Michels Netherlands
Scott Waites England 2 v Paul Hanvidge Scotland
Martin Atkins England 10 v Paul Carter England
Dave Prins England 7 v Martin Phillips Wales

Monday 4th January
Steve West England 11 v Martin McCloskey Rep. Ireland
Ross Montgomery Scotland 6 v Garry Thompson England
Scott Mitchell England 14 v Daryl Gurney N. Ireland
Martin Adams England 3 v Anthony Fleet Australia

WOMEN’S DRAW
Saturday 2nd January
Karen Lawman England 4 v Linda Ithurralde England
Julie Gore Wales 1 v Rhian Edwards Wales

Sunday 3rd January
Irina Armstrong Russia 3 v Deta Hedman England
Trina Gulliver England 2 v Fran Hoenselaar Netherlands

Players from thirty-two countries around the globe have competed to reach the BBC televised finals of the 2010 Lakeside World Professional Darts Championships – with representation from nine countries, and eleven players making their Lakeside debuts.

The 32 players who have qualified for invitation into the First Round Proper of the Men’s Singles are:

SEEDS:

No.1 TONY O’SHEA England
No.2 SCOTT WAITES England
No.3 MARTIN ADAMS England
No.4 DARRYL FITTON England
No.5 TED HANKEY England
No.6 ROSS MONTGOMERY Scotland
No.7 DAVE PRINS England *
No.8 ALAN NORRIS Sweden
No.9 JOEY TEN BERGE Netherlands
No.10 MARTIN ATKINS England
No.11 STEVE WEST England
No.12 JOHN WALTON England
No.13 MARK BARILLI Scotland
No.14 SCOTT MITCHELL England *
No.15 JOHN HENDERSON Scotland
No.16 IAN WHITE England *

* Denotes debutants
QUALIFIERS:

WILLY VAN DE WIEL Netherlands
STEPHEN BUNTING England
BRIAN WOODS England
MARENO MICHELLS Netherlands
ROBERT WAGNER Norway
DARYL GURNEY N.Ireland
GARY ROBSON England
MARTIN PHILLIPS Wales
PAUL HANVIDGE Scotland
DAVE CHISNALL England
GARRY THOMPSON England
MARTIN McCLOSKEY Rep of Ireland *
ROBBIE GREEN England *
TONY WEST England
PAUL CARTER England *
ANTHONY FLEET Australia *

* Denotes debutants

The 8 Women Players qualified for invitation are:

SEEDS:

No.1 JULIE GORE Wales
No.2 TRINA GULLIVER England
No.3 IRINA ARMSTRONG Russia*
No.4 KAREN LAWMAN England

QUALIFIERS:

FRANCIS HOENSELAAR Netherlands
LINDA ITHURRALDE England *
DETA HEDMAN England *
RHIAN EDWARDS Wales *

* Denotes debutants

The official Draw for the 2010 LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS will be made by Bob Potter and Barbara Leitch at Lakeside Country Club on Thursday, October 22nd at 11AM.

MEN

MARTIN PHILLIPS (Wales)
BRIAN WOODS (Eng)
JOHN HENDERSON (Scot)
MARTIN McCLOSKEY (Ire)

Standby Player: WILLY VAN DE WIEL (Neth)

WOMEN

DETA HEDMAN (Eng)
RHIAN EDWARDS (Wal)

Standby Player: FRANCES LAWSON (Scot)