Taylor Takes UK Open Title
Posted on June 7th, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR won his fourth Rileys Darts Zones UK Open title with an 11-5 defeat of Gary Anderson at the Reebok Stadium.
Taylor followed up Saturday’s world record average for a televised game of 118.66 against Kevin Painter, with victories over Adrian Lewis, Denis Ovens and Anderson on Sunday to take the £40,000 title.
The Stoke legend opened the final with a 161 finish and led 5-1 before the Scot – appearing in his first major final with the PDC – took two of the next three to pull back to 6-3.
But Taylor put his foot on the accelerator to storm to victory, hitting a 167 finish amongst winning five of the next seven legs to take the title with a 121 checkout.
“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Taylor. “It’s a real challenge to win this event and I was up against a brilliant player in the final against Gary.
“I really enjoyed all the games, against Adrian, against Denis and then Gary today and in the final he did well. You could tell he was a bit tired and I hit him then, but he kept coming back at me.
“To follow up winning the Premier League trophy back with this is special for me and it’s an event I love.”
Tags: Final, Results, Review, UK Open
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UK Open Quarter Final Round Up
Posted on June 6th, 2010
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TONY AYRES’ dream run in the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open continued as he won through to the semi-finals in Bolton, where he is joined by Gary Anderson, Denis Ovens and Phil Taylor.
Ayres, the world number 62, had won through to his first ever ranking quarter-final at the Reebok Stadium with four victories since Thursday night.
The Billingshurst-based star then knocked out 2008 champion James Wade to reach the semis, prevailing 10-9 in a brilliant encounter.
Ayres led 3-0 and 7-4 before Wade hit back to lead for the first time at 9-8, only to then miss three match darts as the newcomer to the big stage held his nerve with a sensational 152 finish before winning the decider in 13 darts.
“I don’t know what to say!” admitted Ayres. “I’ve done brilliantly this weekend and enjoyed it, and I’ve thrown the darts I know I can play.
“When James has darts at double top for the match you expect to be out, but he missed and I took my chance. I’m not scared of anyone at the moment and I can’t wait for the semi-finals.”
Ayres’ chance to prove that will come against Gary Anderson in Sunday evening’s semi-finals, after the Scot superbly defeated Andy Hamilton 10-6 with a 106.49 average.
Tags: Results, Review, UK Open
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UK Open Saturday Evening Review
Posted on June 6th, 2010
KING NINE-DARTER NOT ENOUGH AGAINST ANDERSON!
MERVYN KING lit up the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open with a nine-darter in the fifth round on Saturday night – but was dumped from the tournament in a deciding leg by Gary Anderson.
King became only the second player, behind Phil Taylor, to achieve a nine-darter at the Reebok Stadium, hitting successive 180s and a 141 checkout in the 13th leg of his clash with the Scot.
The feat put him 7-6 up, and he also led 8-7 before Anderson forced a deciding leg and then landed double six to seal victory – the first time in the game he was ahead.
“The nine-darter was fanastic but it was only one leg and it didn’t win me the match,” said King, who had hit a nine-dart finish in the Virgin Atlantic South African Masters last September and received a £5,000 bonus.
Tags: Results, Review, UK Open
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UK Open Saturday Afternoon Review
Posted on June 6th, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR created a new world record average in a televised game, whitewashing Kevin Painter to set up a fifth round clash with Simon Whitlock in the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open.
Taylor’s record-breaking fortnight continued with a sensational 118.66 average in denying Painter a dart at a double in the nine legs.
Taylor launched a relentless barrage from the opening dart, when he kicked off the match with a 180, and ended the contest with six maximum scores, three 11-darters and a 126 checkout.
“Kevin’s a great player and I knew I had to perform to beat him,” said Taylor, who had hit two nine-darters in winning the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts final a week last Monday.
“It sends a message out to the other players for the next round, and I love the competition of darts at the moment.”
Taylor now faces in-form Australian Simon Whitlock in the last 16 in a repeat of their meeting in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship final in January.
Tags: Results, Review, UK Open
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UK Open Night 2 Review
Posted on June 5th, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR eased past Wayne Mardle 9-2 to open his bid for a fourth Rileys Darts Zones UK Open title at the Reebok Stadium.
Taylor, fresh from hitting two nine-darters in winning the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts 11 days ago, wasted little time in progressing to the last 32 of the UK Open.
He won the opening eight legs against Mardle without reply before the Essex star kept the game alive, albeit briefly, with back-to-back legs before Taylor completed the rout with an average of just over 100.
“I’m flying at the moment and enjoying my darts,” admitted Taylor. “I’ve got to really push for this over the next two days because I want to keep this title.”
Mardle has dropped to the edge of the world’s top 32 in the past six months and Taylor added: “It was a bit of a mismatch. Wayne was a bit flat at the beginning and didn’t play as well as he can do.
Tags: Results, Review, UK Open
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UK Open Night One Review
Posted on June 4th, 2010
WAYNE MARDLE will take on reigning Rileys Darts Zones UK Open champion Phil Taylor at the Reebok Stadium on Friday night, as the world’s top players enter the tournament at the third round stage.
Mardle overcame Mick McGowan 6-3 as the £200,000 event kicked off on Thursday night, with the Essex man holding off the challenge of both the Irishman and his own nerves to progress to the last 64 in Bolton.
The game was Mardle’s first appearance on television since he slumped to Germany’s then-unknown Jyhan Artut in the first round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in December, but he admits he will enter Friday’s clash with Taylor in confident mood.
Tags: Results, Review, UK Open
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UK Open Preview
Posted on June 3rd, 2010
THE Rileys Darts Zones UK Open begins on Thursday night, as amateur stars from around the country get their chance to take on the sport’s top names at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.
The four-day tournament, screened live on Sky Sports HD, pits the leading 96 professional players against 42 amateur qualifiers, with play in the unique event being held on eight stages simultaneously in the early rounds.
While the likes of reigning champion Phil Taylor, James Wade, Simon Whitlock and Mervyn King enter in the third round, Thursday’s opening rounds see unknown amateurs pitted against nervous professionals at the Reebok Stadium.
The £200,000 event will kick off when Gary Mawson, the American who reached the UK Open final two years ago, takes on 26-year-old Ashley Whisker, a tractor driver from Essex who won through the Rileys Amateur Qualifiers to earn a spot in Bolton.
Tags: Preview, UK Open
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Rileys Sponsor Rileys Darts Zones UK Open
Posted on May 29th, 2010
Rileys – the pool and snooker operator fast-becoming a leading player in the world of darts – are the new main sponsors of the Professional Darts Corporation’s UK Open.
The event – now officially called the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open – takes place at the Reebok Stadium, home of Bolton Wanderers Football Club, from Thursday June 3 to Sunday June 6.
The tournament’s prize fund is £200,000, with £40,000 to the winner. All sessions will be screened live on Sky Sports in High Definition.
Rileys Chief Executive Maurice Kelly said: “Rileys are proud to become the official main sponsor such a great tournament.
“We’re committed to investing in darts at grass roots and the professional level. The Rileys Darts Zones UK Open sponsorship gives us the perfect opportunity to do both.
“Rileys are opening Darts Zones, with up to eight throws, top quality boards, electronic scoring and focussed lighting, at the majority of our 120 clubs across the country. We aim to have over 100 operational by the end of this year.”
PDC Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We’re delighted that Rileys are to sponsor the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open.
“They have recently become a valued partner of the PDC. Their successful staging of the Amateur Qualifiers for the UK Open in their Rileys Darts Zones shows what a great innovation they are for grass roots darts players.
“We look forward to working with them at the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open for what will be a memorable tournament.”
The Rileys Darts Zones UK Open is affectionately known as ‘the FA Cup of Darts’. The free draw format puts 32 Rileys qualifiers and ten BDO County qualifiers up against the top 96 PDC professionals, with play being held on eight stages simultaneously at the Reebok Stadium.
The Rileys qualifiers came through nationwide regional heats played in the Darts Zones at Rileys clubs.
To find your nearest Darts Zone please visit www.rileys.co.uk
Tickets for the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open are available on 0844 871 2932 or in person from the Reebok Stadium Box Office.
For more information on the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open, visit www.pdc.tv.
Tags: Rileys, UK Open
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UK Open Schedule Of Play
Posted on May 17th, 2010
FORMER finalist Gary Mawson will kick off the 2010 UK Open when he takes on Rileys Amateur Qualifier Ashley Whisker on the main stage at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton on Thursday June 3.
American ace Mawson, whose family hail from Bolton, enjoyed the finest weekend of his darts career two years ago when he battled through to the final of the UK Open, defeating reigning champion Raymond van Barneveld along the way, before losing out to James Wade.
Mawson is one of 106 players who will take part in the Preliminary, First and Second Rounds at the Reebok Stadium when the four-day UK Open – nicknamed “The FA Cup of Darts” due to the free draw format for each round – begins on June 3, screened live on Sky Sports.
The Preliminary and First Rounds feature the players placed from 65-96 in the UK Open Order of Merit, following eight qualifying events, along with the 32 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers and ten BDO County Qualifiers.
Mawson has drawn Basildon-based Ashley Whisker – a 26-year-old tractor driver – in the Preliminary Round, with their match opening the tournament on the Main Stage, which is one of eight stages which will host simultanous action around the Reebok Stadium’s Premier Suite.
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Tags: Draw, schedule, UK Open
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UK Open Update
Posted on May 11th, 2010
THE countdown is on to darts’ UK Open at the Reebok Stadium next month after the 138-player field for the tournament was finalised on Sunday.
The £200,000 UK Open sees the world’s top darts players battling it out from June 3-6 in front of the Sky Sports cameras for one of the sport’s most prestigious titles.
Nicknamed ‘The FA Cup of Darts’ because of the free draw format after each round, the UK Open features play on eight boards simultaneously in the early rounds in Bolton before play focuses on the main stage for the quarter-finals onwards.
Reigning UK Open champion Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor will enter the event alongside many of the other top names on Friday June 4 at the third round stage, mirroring football’s FA Cup.
However, stars such as Wayne Mardle, Peter Manley, former World Champions Steve Beaton and Richie Burnett and the 2004 UK Open winner Roland Scholten will all be in action on the opening night on Thursday June 3.
Tags: UK Open
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