New World Order – The Winners and Losers from the World Championships
Posted on January 5th, 2012
As the PDC board select the competitors for this year’s Premier League, the fallout from the sensational 2012 World Championships is complete and whilst some will still be celebrating, others will be looking back at the tournament with nothing but regret.
The Winners
Andy Hamilton
Coming into the competition as a 200/1 outsider may have been a little harsh on a player as consistent as the Hammer, but considering he was in the same quarter as Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld next to no one gave him a chance of improving on his previous best performance of the semi-finals. However, Hamilton proved all the doubters wrong and battled his way to the final of the competition. This is reward alone, but throw a cheque for £100,000 and a subsequent place in the Premier League into the equation and you are left with a very happy Hammer.
Dave Chisnall
Chizzy Rascal may not have reached the latter stages of the tournament, but he did something that has truly put him on the darting map – beat Phil Taylor. Chisnall’s debut in the PDC World Championships couldn’t have dealt him a tougher second round draw but he prevailed with a resounding 4-1 victory and became the first man to turn off the Power at such an early stage since Kevin Spiolek in 1993. Crucially, the £15,000 he picked up also took him into the coveted top 32 for the first time. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Adrian Lewis, Andy Hamilton, Kevin Painter, Paul Nicholson, PDC World Championship 2012, Phil Haigh, Premier League Darts 2012, Simon Whitlock
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The Class of 2010 Part 1, by Callum Harris
Posted on January 2nd, 2012
By Callum Harris
Part 1 – The Class of 2010
For some time now it has seemed to me that the 2010 intake of new PDPA members was something rather special. I can be accused of bias, due to one of that intake being my friend, Mark ‘Mile High’ Hylton, but a look at the tale behind the scenes will confirm that this was a special moment for professional darts.
As we come to the end of their second season it seems an appropriate time to review the story of `The Boys of 2010’.
In the Birmingham area in late 2009 a remarkable coincidence took place; in an area of the city a new darting venture under the banner `This is Darts’ was looking for players to support its effort to create a new darts brand.
The players selected were chosen by one of their number, Ian McFarlane, and included the strongest and most consistent local performers in what was a hotbed of quality amateur competition.
Recommended were Nigel Heydon, Tony Randall, Trevor Frost, Mark Hylton, and, a little later, Scott Rand. All except Mark Hylton were given the opportunity to play PDC darts that year by the `This is Darts’ initiative.
On the other side of the city an amateur player/enthusiast had been watching Mark Hylton for a year whilst also studying what it would take to succeed in the PDC. Following an initial discussion it was decided he would become Hylton’s manager rather than supporter.
And so, the Birmingham branch of the 2010 intake was formed, consisting of players based in Staffordshire and Leamington Spa as well as the second city itself.
Forty miles away another player was deciding to make the leap from rising BDO star to PDC newcomer. Telford’s Steve Farmer made the tough decision to leave his comfort zone and cross into what some describe as the shark pool of PDC organised tour events.
Despite being well known as a quality thrower Steve had not won a significant BDO event nor had consistent business end results. However showing great courage in backing himself Steve joined the class of 2010 with many people quietly thinking that he could do well.
Meanwhile in Stoke-on-Trent a forgotten man was weighing up a big move from BDO to PDC. Despite a couple of outstanding seasons in the BDO, with several tournament wins, as well as pairs triumphs, the frustration of an early exit from the Lakeside Championship had seen him start 2010 still a BDO player.
With the support of a number of illustrious PDC names, and a determination to make darts his living, Ian ‘Diamond’ White finally made the decision to join the PDC and attempt to become one of a select few to play both World Championships in a calendar year.
With three months of the season already gone, our final member of the Class of 2010 would be playing catch up from the start.
As the UK contingent of the class of 2010 prepared for their debut events in Gibraltar another equally remarkable assault was being planned on the holiday isle of Mallorca. 32 year old Antonio Alcinas, a relatively unknown Spaniard who’s best result was reaching the last 64 of the 2005 Winmau World Masters, was preparing for his entry into the fray.
In 2009 ‘El Dartador’ had discovered a renewed passion for the game and the belief that he could make an impact on the big stage. The vagaries of the PDC system meant that his European passport gave him the irresistible opportunity and winning the Spanish National title filled Alcinas with confidence.
This confidence was borne out later,with a run to the semi finals of the PDC World Cup that included a victory over Gary Anderson inspired Scotland and only ended at the hands of eventual winners, Holland. Antonio Alcinas had arrived.
So there we have it, the new intake that would play with intent over that year: Heydon, Hylton, Farmer, Rand and White, with Alcinas representing Europe. How would they fare?
Part 2 of Callum’s article will be published shortly……..
Tags: Antonio Alcinas, Ian White, Mark Hylton, Nigel Heydon, PDC Pro Tour, PDPA, Scott Rand, Steve Farmer, This is darts, Tony Randall, Trevor Frost
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Ally Pally Day 11 – Evening Session Round-up
Posted on December 29th, 2011
REIGNING Ladbrokes World Darts Champion Adrian Lewis and Terry Jenkins won through to the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship on Wednesday night.
Lewis followed up his previous wins over Nigel Heydon and Robert Thornton with a clinical display to see off Wayne Jones in straight sets at London’s Alexandra Palace.
The Stoke superstar hit 12 from 18 attempts at doubles during the win and dropped only four legs against Jones as he remains on course to become only the second player, after Phil Taylor, to retain the PDC World Championship title.
“I’m happy with that,” said Lewis. “Every time I was under the cosh I produced the goods and I can’t ask for any more than that.
“My finishing was brilliant and as long as that’s consistent I know I can pull out the scores when I have to. I’m really hungry to keep this title and I can keep improving.
“I’ve got a day off to regroup, have a practice and come back on Friday to push on towards the title. My mind’s strong, my throwing’s good, my finishing is excellent and I can go up there and just enjoy it now.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 2012, Adrian Lewis, Devon Petersen, Gary Anderson, Justin Pipe, PDC Darts Results, Terry Jenkins, Wayne Jones, World Championship
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Ally Pally Day 7 – The Conclusion of Round 1
Posted on December 22nd, 2011
SIMON WHITLOCK made a stunning return from a broken ankle by storming to a 3-0 win over Dennis Smith at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship on Wednesday – hitting a 105 average in an amazing display.
The Australian has not competed since the end of October, when he broke a bone in his left ankle, and was still limping as he took to the Alexandra Palace stage.
However, he hit seven 180s and dropped only one leg in defeating Swindon’s experienced Smith, who could only applaud Whitlock’s brilliant performance as he was knocked out of the £1 million tournament.
Whitlock, the 2010 runner-up, will now take on Steve Beaton in the second round after Christmas – with the English star also having undergone minor knee surgery this week – after firing a warning shot to the rest of the field in the World Championship.
“I’m shocked to be honest because my preparation for this has been awful,” said Whitlock. “A week ago I couldn’t hit three 20s in a row and I’ve only really had one week’s practice in the last seven. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Andy Smith, Dennis Smith, Devon Petersen, PDC Darts Results, Scott Rand, Simon Whitlock, steve brown, World Championship 2012
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Ally Pally Day 3 – Evening Session Results
Posted on December 18th, 2011
PAUL NICHOLSON overcame Austrian Mensur Suljovic 3-1 to win through to the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship, but veteran star Denis Ovens was forced to withdraw through injury.
Nicholson, the number nine seed at Alexandra Palace, had to show his class to see off a determined showing from Suljovic, who reached the last 16 a year ago.
Nicholson took out 110 in winning the first set before a 121 checkout saw Suljovic take the second 302, but Nicholson won the third before coming from 2-1 down in the fourth to secure progression.
“It was a real struggle and something didn’t click for me, but the main thing was that I won,” said Nicholson.
“Something is about to happen with my game and I’m starting to find it. It was a gritty game and I was happy to get through.”
There was drama in the night’s final game, when UK Open semi-finalist Denis Ovens withdrew through injury a set into his game with German debutant Kevin Munch.
Ovens had suffered a trapped nerve in his back which caused shooting pains in his throwing arm, and after losing the opening three legs without earning a dart at a double the 54-year-old pulled out.
“I didn’t want to give up but there was too much pain when I was throwing,” admitted Ovens. “I was in bed for two days after injuring my back.
“It’s gone before because I work in building, and I thought it was getting better but on Saturday I had shooting pains down my right arm.”
Earlier, Steve Beaton came from two sets down to defeat Sweden’s Magnus Caris in a fifth-set tie-break to earn his spot in the second round.
The former Lakeside Champion won only two legs as Caris took the first two sets and moved 2-1 up in the third, only to miss three match darts in the set’s deciding leg.
Beaton won the set and then took the fourth without reply to level the game, only to see Caris move 2-1 up in the decider.
However, double 16 kept Beaton in the game and he took out 100 and 61 in the next two to complete a remarkable turnaround.
Holland’s Vincent van der Voort turned on the style by hitting 11 180s in a 3-2 defeat of Mark Hylton, the left-hander who twice hit back to level the game only to see last year’s quarter-finalist take the deciding set without reply.
The second round continues on Sunday evening with four further first round games and the preliminary round contest between Ireland’s Connie Finnan and New Zealand number one Warren French.
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld enters the fray when he takes on Northamptonshire-based debutant James Richardson, while Mark Dudbridge plays Dave Chisnall, World Grand Prix finalist Brendan Dolan meets Belgian Kim Huybrechts and Mark Walsh plays the preliminary round winner.
Ladbrokes World Darts Championship
Saturday December 17
Afternoon Session
Peter Wright 1-3 Jelle Klaasen
Dietmar Burger 0-4 Christian Perez (P)
Ronnie Baxter 2-3 Steve Farmer
Robert Thornton 3-1 Ian White
Alan Tabern 3-1 Christian Perez
Evening Session
Steve Beaton 3-2 Magnus Caris
Kevin Munch 4-2 Lee Choon Peng (P)
Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Mark Hylton
Paul Nicholson 3-1 Mensur Suljovic
Kevin Munch Bye (Denis Ovens withdrew through injury after first set)
Sunday December 18 (7pm)
Brendan Dolan v Kim Huybrechts
Connie Finnan v Warren French (P)
Mark Dudbridge v Dave Chisnall
Raymond van Barneveld v James Richardson
Mark Walsh v Finnan/French
STEVE BEATON 3-2 MAGNUS CARIS
(0-3, 1-3, 3-2, 3-0, 4-2)
STEVE BEATON came back from 2-0 down to claim a remarkable first round victory against Magnus Caris at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.
Beaton produced an under-par display in the first two sets and looked set for a first round exit at Alexandra Palace for a second consecutive year.
But Caris missed three darts to seal a straight sets victory and Beaton, with enthusiastic support from the Alexandra Palace crowd, won the next two with the aid of eight straight legs to force deciding set, which he won in a tie-breaker.
Caris made a good start to the match by holding throw on double 12 to win the first leg and hit double top after Beaton missed two darts at doubles.
The Swede, making his third successove appearance at Alexandra Palace, then won the set in the third leg with an excellent 107 checkout.
Caris also made a positive start to the second set by breaking throw to win the first leg before hitting double top for the second consecutive leg to put Beaton under immense pressure.
Caris was off-target with five attempts at doubles to win the set in the third leg and Beaton managed to hit double ten to take his first leg of the match.
Caris had the advantage of throw in the fourth leg and he hit double top for the third time in the set to double his lead.
The Swede began the third set with an accomplished 13-dart finish before Beaton landed double nine to win just his second leg of the match.
Both players held throw in the next two legs before a dramatic decider saw Caris miss three darts to win the match and Beaton held his nerve to land double four to keep the match alive.
The start of the fourth set saw opportunities missed by both men to claim the leg before Beaton won it on double four.
The 1996 Lakeside Champion then won his fifth leg in a row by taking out 65 in two darts before hitting double 16 to set up a final-set decider.
Caris won his first leg in nine at the start of the set, with a two-dart 83 finish, before Beaton won the second by taking out 62.
Caris won the third leg to move one away from the match for a second time, after his opponent missed two chances at double 16.
Beaton hit double 16 to level at 2-2 and then took the fifth leg with an excellent 100 finish to break throw.
That proved to be vital as the former World Champion took out 61 to win the sixth leg and end an incredible match.
KEVIN MUNCH 4-2 LEE CHOON PENG
KEVIN MUNCH secured a 4-2 victory over Malaysia’s Lee Choon Peng to set up a first round clash against Denis Ovens later on Saturday evening.
Choon Peng hit double two to win the first leg before the 23-year-old produced a superb 12-dart leg, completed with a 155 checkout, to take the second.
Munch secured a break of throw by hitting double ten to win the third leg and hit the same double in the next to increase his lead to 3-1.
Choon Peng held throw to win the fifth leg before Munch landed double two in the sixth to end the contest.
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 3-2 MARK HYLTON
(3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0)
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT came through A five-set first round thriller at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with victory over Mark Hylton.
The Dutchman led the match on two occasions only to be pegged back by his opponent before taking the final set to end Hylton’s hopes of another good run at Alexandra Palace.
“I’ve been struggling for form in the last few events, but the crowd lifted me and I produced some good darts,” said van der Voort, who hit 11 180s in the match.
“The crowd were so supportive towards me and that was a major factor in me coming on top against Mark, who is a quality player.”
Van der Voort hit an 83 finish to win the opening leg of the match before both players registered maximums in the second.
Hylton won it on double top before the Dutchman, who enjoyed an excellent run to the last 16 a year ago, hit a superb 134 checkout to take the third.
The fourth leg saw Hylton guilty of missing three darts at doubles and van der Voort cashed in by landing double eight to win the first set.
Hylton started the second set well by breaking throw with the aid of a maximum and the second also fell the way of the man from Rugeley, after both players missed previous attempts at doubles.
In the third leg, Hylton missed three darts to win the set and van der Voort stepped in to hit double 14 and took the fourth by converting an 80 finish.
Hylton threw first in the deciding leg and managed to land a pressure double six with his last dart to level the match at one set apiece.
Van der Voort held throw at the start of the third set and then hit a 14-dart finish to win the second leg after both players had hit 180s.
Hylton hit double top to win the third, but missed two darts at the bed to take the fourth and that proved expensive as van der Voort took out 75 to win the set and lead for the second time.
Van der Voort hit his ninth maximum of the game at the start of the fourth set, but missed three darts at double top and Hylton hit the same bed to take the leg.
The second leg proved to be role reversal of the first as Hylton missed chances for a 2-0 lead, allowing Van der Voort to level.
Hylton won the third leg with a 13-darter but missed three chances to win the set in the next and Van der Voort took the leg by hitting tops.
The Dutchman hit another maximum in the deciding leg but Hylton won it with an excellent two-dart 72 finish to force a fifth set.
Van der Voort started the decider in confident fashion with a 12-dart finish followed by double eight to establish a 2-0 lead.
The third leg also fell the way of the Dutchman as he hit double top at the first time of asking to seal a place in the second round.
PAUL NICHOLSON 3-1 MENSUR SULJOVIC
(3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2)
PAUL NICHOLSON was made to work hard before seeing off Mensur Suljovic in four sets to seal a place in the last 32 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
Suljovic had chances to take the match the full distance, but five missed darts at doubles allowed Nicholson to close out the match and set up a clash against Alan Tabern on December 27.
The match started with Nicholson missing six darts at doubles, but Suljovic missed five chances of his own to claim an early break of throw.
Nicholson won it on double one and then hit an excellent 110 checkout to win the second leg against the darts.
Suljovic won the third with a clinical two-dart 80 finish before Nicholson took the next in 14 darts to claim an early lead.
Nicholson made a winning start to set two by hitting double 16 before Suljovic hit-back to take the second with a two-dart 85 finish.
Nicholson regained the lead by hitting double four but the Austrian pegged back again by taking out 78 in two darts.
Suljovic produced some excellent darts in the deciding leg as he hit a 180, followed by a 121 checkout, completed on the bullseye, to win the set in superb fashion.
The Austrian, who defeated James Wade in last year’s tournament, dominated the opening leg of the third set, but three missed darts at doubles proved costly as Nicholson landed double 16 to break.
Nicholson hit double eight to take the second but missed two chances to wrap up the set in the third leg and Suljovic stepped in on double top.
The number nine seed made no mistake in the fourth leg to win the set and then won the first leg of set four against the darts with a two-dart 88 finish.
Suljovic took the second with an accomplished 108 checkout and then won the third on double ten after Nicholson missed a dart at double 18 for a 144 checkout.
Nicholson won the fourth leg against the throw with an excellent 13-dart finish and won the decider on double top with his third dart after Suljovic missed five darts to force a fifth set.
“It was a real struggle and something didn’t click for me, but the main thing was that I won,” said Nicholson.
“Something is about to happen with my game and I’m starting to find it. It was a gritty game and I was happy to get through.”
KEVIN MUNCH BYE – DENIS OVENS RETIRED THROUGH INJURY
(3-0, Ovens retired following first set)
KEVIN MUNCH received a bye into the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship after Denis Ovens was forced to retire from the match after the first set.
Ovens came into the contest complaining of a trapped nerve in his back and the problem forced him to concede.
The 23-year-old German, making his debut at the World Championship, beat Lee Choon Peng 4-2 in his Preliminary Round game earlier in the evening, to book a clash against Ovens.
He will now face Steve Farmer for a place in the last 16 of the competition after the Telford player defeated Ronnie Baxter earlier in the day.
“I didn’t want to give up but there was too much pain when I was throwing,” admitted Ovens. “I was in bed for two days after injuring my back.
“It’s gone before because I work in building, and I thought it was getting better but on Saturday I had shooting pains down my right arm.”
Source – PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Tags: 2012, Denis Ovens, Kevin Munch, Lee Choon Peng, Magnus Caris, Mark Hylton, Mensur Suljovic, Paul Nicholson, PDC Darts Results, Steve Beaton, Vincent Van Der Voort, World Championship
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Lewis Stung into Action – Ally Pally Night 1
Posted on December 16th, 2011
ADRIAN LEWIS was stung into action as he began the defence of his Ladbrokes World Darts Championship by coming from two sets down to defeat Nigel Heydon on Thursday night.
Reigning champion Lewis looked set to crash out on the opening night of the £1 million tournament when he fell 2-0 down to Leamington Spa-based undertaker Heydon.
The Stoke ace, though, was stung by a wasp on his left hand in the advert break after losing the second set – and although the injury failed to hamper his throwing arm he fought back to force a deciding set.
Heydon led 2-1 in the fifth set, but was denied a dart for the match as Lewis again fought back to win the decider 5-3 and progress to a second round clash with Robert Thornton or Ian White next Thursday.
“I thought it wasn’t going to be my night,” admitted Lewis. “To be 2-0 down and then get stung by a wasp is awful luck, but I kept fighting right to the end and never thought I was going out.
“Nigel played fantastic darts and put me under the cosh all the way through, and his finishing in the first two sets was phenomenal. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Adrian Lewis, Nigel Heydon, PDC Darts Results, Richie Burnett, World Championship
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Crowd Issues Provide Easy Excuse For Misfiring Players
Posted on December 15th, 2011
After what was a hugely entertaining Players Championship Finals, with big finishes a plenty and shock results generously sprinkled over the competition, there has been an issue that has left a bitter taste in the mouth of some of the bigger name players.
The two highest ranked, and widely recognised men in the tournament, Phil Taylor and James Wade both went out of the competition surprisingly early, and both have put their premature exits down to issues with the crowd and with their opponents over-celebrating.
These issues, especially that of crowd noise, could potentially be genuine reasons for poor performance, but in this case it just seems that the toys are being thrown out of the pram more than anything else. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Crowds, James Wade, Justin Pipe, Mark Webster, PDC Darts, Phil Haigh, Phil Taylor, Players Championship Finals, Scott Rand, World Championship
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Leyland Paint Sponsors Webster & Whitlock
Posted on December 12th, 2011
Leyland Paints will be throwing its name into the eyes of millions of sports fans across the UK, after unveiling a high profile darts sponsorship with two of the world’s best players.
Leyland has stepped up to the oche by agreeing to sponsor 2008 BDO world champion Mark Webster and 2010 PDC world championship runner-up Simon Whitlock for the whole of the 2012 season, as the pair bid to cement their statuses as household names in the sport.
With more than 200,000 sports fans inside the arenas along with a television audience of 12.5 million viewers in 2010 alone, the brand believes that the time has never been better to target the tungsten for a sustained period.
Marketing manager Sharon Hendry said: “The potential of our darts sponsorship is absolutely huge and we are thrilled to be involved with the sport.
“Aside from Premier League football, the darts world championship drew the biggest audience on Sky Sports last year, which underlines how powerful the sport is. Simon and Mark are firm crowd favourites already and we are thrilled to be working with from now on.”
Before turning professional, Simon was a builder by trade, while Mark Webster is a professional plumber and still likes to keep busy working in between tournaments.
Simon, known as The Wizard, said: “I am delighted to receive the support from Leyland. I have come across their product from my time as a builder, so it is great to be working even closer with brand from now on.
“I’ll be doing all I can to gain maximum exposure by winning as many tournaments as possible!”
Mark Webster, from Denbigh, Wales, said: “I have been in the Professional Darts Corporation for over two years now, and even in that time I have seen the sport grow so much.”
The current world number six added: “For me to be able to receive the backing of Leyland is the best news I could wish for. They are a huge paint brand and one I will be wearing on my shirt with pride.”
Aside from the sponsorship itself, both Simon and Mark will be making a number of personal appearances for Leyland, while incentives throughout the year mean customers will get the chance to see the pair play at future televised tournaments.
Sharon concluded: “More than 20 per cent of the UK’s population were exposed to darts in 2010 and it is now regarded as the second most popular sport on Sky behind football.
“With all this in mind, we couldn’t be more excited to be involved with Simon and Mark, who we will be cheering on from now on!”
Leyland’s sponsorship of the two players will officially kick-off at the World Championships in December at the Alexandra Palace, London.
However, Mark Webster will be wearing the Leyland branding on his shirt even sooner than that, at the Players’ Championship from December 8.
Tags: Leyland Paints, Mark Webster, PDC Darts, Simon Whitlock
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Mike Gregory Interview – Part 2
Posted on December 9th, 2011
Part one of our interview with Mike Gregory can be found here.
…..continued
DM: Lets talk about your best or favourite moment in your darting career, we may have covered it already with the News of The World?
MG: Well I won it the first time in ’87, that Christmas my Mum died and then when I was preparing for the next one a few months later my Dad died, it gave me some inspiration and I decided I was going to try and win it again for him, and I did….
DM: Under the circumstances that was a good win, and nice to do it in your Dad’s memory, obviously with the highs come the lows, is there a worst or unluckiest darting moment you can recall.
MG: If I lose I lose, if have darts to win a game and I miss them, then I blame myself….I don’t think I’ve ever had a worst moment in darts no, and that includes the split. At that time it wasn’t just my decision. I sat down with my wife at the time and we thought about it and we decided that I couldn’t afford to gamble the roof over our kid’s heads.
DM: Yes, when you did switch back to the BDO was it at the same time as Chris Johns?
MG: No Chris actually went back before I did, and one day during one of my exhibitions my manager at the time turned up out the blue, and suggested I take legal advise about the writ. And not being disrespectful to the people I was with in the WDC at the time I wanted to find out for myself, so I went and met Olly Croft and his solicitors, the outcome being when I asked them to put it in plain English, was if we lost the court case I could have lost everything. At the end of the day I wasn’t in the same position as some of the others like John and Eric, who could afford to take the big bump. I had not been playing as long, and you obviously you have to live and I had a big mortgage.
DM: That year (1994), you were unable to play in either World Championship event, did that affect you at the time?
MG: No, I could understand it, I went over then I went back, even though I did qualify for the BDO one, they had already made the draw. There was nothing I could do about it….
DM: Obviously the big news in the BDO this year was the departure of Olly Croft, was this long overdue in your mind?
MG: Personally I think the PDC is doing very well and I would have liked to have seen a deal between the two, it would have lifted the BDO. There are a lot of old thoughts within the BDO and they need to bring it up to the standard of the PDC. I think they missed out by not doing a deal with Barry Hearn.
DM: Perhaps the BDO should concentrate on the amateur game and leave professional darts to the PDC?
MG: Martin Adams wouldn’t thank you for saying that…..
DM: Well it’s interesting that you mention Wolfie, his situation is obviously very different from yours, but do you subscribe to the theory that by staying in the BDO he has taken the soft option?
MG: I think he has been very clever being a big fish in a little pool with not so strong players, I’m not going to run him down because he has played well to win his World Championships, and it was inevitable that he was going to win it somewhere along the line, at the end of the day fair play to the bloke. I don’t think he could have done it in the PDC, the depth in the PDC is tremendous and not taking anything away from the other players, but unless Phil is having a bad day the rest of the field are playing for runner up spot.
DM: Prior to switching back to the BDO you had won and retained the first ever WDC event the Lada UK Masters, what did you think to the format of that tournament?
MG: I did enjoy that tournament actually, it was equal darts and it wasn’t necessarily the best player that won it was the bloke who hit the double at the end of the day, early. You could share or draw the leg whatever, I did like the format yeah, it was good.
DM: There’s a pattern to your career of winning things twice which proves it was no fluke!
MG: That’s right, I also won the bronze Bully twice!, and hold the highest score of 380 with 9 darts.
DM: We recently went to the Bullseye theatre tour in Derby which was a laugh, but there are calls to bring Bullseye back to prime time terrestrial TV, what are your thoughts on that?
MG: Well after I came back to the BDO we started doing the Embassy roadshow where I would travel round playing the county players, and after a couple of years Tony had the idea that we should bring in Bullseye. We did that for about 9 years which was really a Bullseye Roadshow. They were good shows and I was really busy I would do 250 nights for Bass, and 40 nights for the Embassy roadshow. It would be good to see it back on TV, they have tried it before but they really need Jim (Bowen), of course everyone has there own style of presenting but Jim was so good.
DM: Yes he’s a one off, and unfortunately not been well following a couple of strokes earlier this year, although I believe he is recovering well now, and obviously Tony (Green) has had health problems to….
MG: Oh dear, I hadn’t heard about Jim, but funnily enough Tony has just been in touch about me doing an exhibition in Westminster in December.
DM: So you obviously watch the PDC tournaments then, who do you like the look of in terms of the rest of the field as it were?
MG: I used to play at The Lamb in Clandown which is Steve Grubb’s pub, Gary used to come in and I have seen him play, and practised with him and he’s unreal. If he could sustain that he would be right on Phil’s heels. But he seems to go bang, bang, bang and then he goes to sleep and cant wake up. James (Wade) he’s up and down like a yo-yo, and again if he could keep a nice consistency he would be winning more, if he asked Phil nicely!
DM: We’ve seen Taylor experiment with glasses and other players having laser eye treatment, how has the eyesight held up over the years.
MG: Actually I was struggling a bit in dark venues to see the trebles, and about 4 or 5 months ago I went to SpecSavers, drew a dot on the wall, measured out at 7″9′ 1/4 etc and said I want some glasses so I can see that distance. And they made me some glasses, which I found a bit difficult at the beginning, all it is is just the lenses with no rim and a bit of wire on the side and an ear piece, and it doesn’t look like you have any on. And it is a hell of an improvement, I can see what I’m throwing at! I’m quite happy with them now.
DM: Where you much of a drinker when you played professionally and did you have a strict practise routine?
MG: Believe it or not I hardly ever practised doubles, when I did I played like a wally! What I used to do was bang the treble twenty, and I got so consistent at it. And when you reach a certain level if you look at a double you should be able to hit it. With the drinking, I used to like to get to a certain point yes, but not go over it….and I did go up onto the Embassy stage once with two shandies, I’m glad I didn’t wear white trousers! that wasnt too good. But you have to try these things dont you, I’ve cut down quite a bit now though.
DM: Mike, it’s been a pleasure talking to you, could you end our interview by taking the DartsMad double 5?
MG: No problem.
Darts used? - 25g nickel tungsten
Favourite Double or Out shot? – Double top or 10′s
Favourite venue? – Lakeside
Favourite player past or present? – Leighton Rees
Who would your ideal partner be in a pro/celebrity tournament? – Engelbert Humperdinck (I’ve played against him in Vegas)
Favourite band/singer – Meatloaf/Queen
Favourite food – Indian/Chinese
Favourite drink – Soda Water
Jeremy Clarkson, perceptive or prat? – Perceptive
Favourite comedian – Jethro
For further information, more images/press cuttings and news on Mike’s exhibitions see the Paulton League website: http://www.paultondarts.co.uk/mike-gregory.php
Tags: 1992 Embassy World Championship, BDO, Lada Classic, Mike Gregory interview, WDC
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The Seeds of Doubt – Tough Draws for World Championship
Posted on November 29th, 2011
With 32 players seeded for the biggest event of the PDC year, there are fewer draws than usual that the big boys on the circuit would be worried about, but there is still a lot of quality outside of the elite double sixteen and there are some seeds that got it really tough, here are my picks. (Full draw details can be found here)
Mark Dudbridge v Dave Chisnall
Probably the man that every seeded player wanted to avoid was Dave Chisnall and if the non-seeded dartists were hand-picking their draw, I think they would have gone for Mark Dudbridge, and here they are together.
There is no doubt that Chizzy is a top 32 in the making and that he has risen to just one place away from that group in under a year on the PDC circuit proves that. He is 11th in the Players Championship order of merit, reached the last eight of the UK Open and appeared at the Grand Prix and Matchplay.
The same can’t be said about Flash though. Although still only 38, it seems his best years (’02-’05) are behind him and it seems very unlikely that the Bristolian will be seeded for the 2013 World Champs. Compared to Chisnall he is 48th in the Players Championship order of merit, went out in the third round of the UK Open to Joe Murnan and didn’t make it to either the Matchplay or Grand Prix. Who is the seeded player again? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Ally Pally, Dave Chisnall, John Part, Ladbrokes 2012, PDC World Championship, Phil Haigh
Filed under Darts Blog, News, PDC, Phil Haigh, Uncategorized, World Championship | No Comments »
Both poker and darts are highly popular pursuits. The games are available online, in fact, that there are organizations dedicated to making sure the rules of video poker and online darts are conformed. Similar to darts having the World Darts Federation, among others, and poker has the Tournament Directors Association. These rules are put into place in highly competitive tournaments, in which as many as hundreds or even thousands of people compete for cash prizes as well as prestige.
