Lewis Set to Defend World Championship Title
Posted on December 15th, 2011
ADRIAN LEWIS opens the defence of his Ladbrokes World Darts Championship title on Thursday night, when he faces Nigel Heydon as the £1 million tournament begins at London’s Alexandra Palace.
The 26-year-old from Stoke claimed the first major title of his career back in January, creating history by hitting the first nine-dart finish in a World Championship final during his 7-5 defeat of Gary Anderson.
Lewis returns to Alexandra Palace to open the World Championship amongst five games being played in Thursday’s opening session.
The world number two plays Nigel Heydon in his first round game, with the undertaker from Leamington Spa having taken a 6-5 victory in their most recent clash during a Players Championship in Dublin in October.
“It will be very tough and I think I’ve got one of the hardest first round draws,” said Lewis. “He’s had a fantastic year and beat Gary Anderson in the Grand Slam recently.
“Nigel’s a good player and he had a good result when we last played but it’s different up on the World Championship stage. I’ve been practising really hard and I’m going to be ready to come straight out of the blocks at him.
“I’m excited about getting back to Alexandra Palace and can’t wait to get back on stage.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Adrian Lewis, Ally Pally, Ladbrokes, Nigel Heydon, PDC Darts News, Preview, World Championship 2012
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World Grand Prix QF Preview and Tipster Update
Posted on October 7th, 2011
We’ve given up trying to predict this tournament, except to say that Phil Taylor will win it. So put you money elsewhere..!
Two of Brendan Dolan (250/1), John Henderson (125/1), Mark Hylton (125/1) and Richie Burnett (150/1) will definitely be in the semis and outside of that quartet did anybody else honestly predict that?
Only three seeds survive and two of those (Phil Taylor and Mark Webster) play each other. James Wade is the other and he tackles Andy Smith (100/1).
The unpredictability this week is highlighted by our Beat the Tipster competition where everybody is struggling to call it right. The average points per match is currently 1.5. Usually the average is close to or above 2. To put it into perspective the 2011 World Matchplay averaged 1.9 and three previous World Grands Prix have averaged 2.0, 2.3 & 2.5. Proof that this week has not gone as the majority expected. Only two players are averaging over 2 points per game so Craig Jackson & Petri Rasmus are rightly leading the way in the race for our fantastic Bulls prizes.
There are some odds and head to heads below for you to see if you can have a better go at working it all out than us. Good luck! Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Betting, Preview, World Grand Prix
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PartyPoker.net World Grand Prix Round Two Preview
Posted on October 5th, 2011
Three debutantes have made it through to round two but can they go any further? Vincent van der Voort finally won a match on the Dublin stage at the fifth attempt but can he win his second?
Mark Webster contained his debut nerves and overcame Andy Hamilton to set up a Last 16 meeting with Alan Tabern. The Saint hasn’t had a great 2011 so Webby (1/3) will be confident of reaching the quarter finals and a 4-1 head to head record in the Welshman’s favour would seem to back this up. You can get 11/4 on Tabern if you fancy the upset though.
Mark Hylton has had a fine year and has progressed well since going full time. He takes on Simon Whitlock on Thursday in what will be the first meeting between the two. Odds of 3/1 for Hylton are mightily tempting with Whitlock the rightful favourite but a measly 2/7.
Tags: Betting, Preview, World Grand Prix
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PartyPoker.net European Championship Preview
Posted on July 27th, 2011
THE fourth PartyPoker.net European Championship begins at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf on Thursday, with Phil Taylor aiming to retain his unbeaten record in the tournament.
Taylor has won the previous three stagings of the European Championship since the tournament was introduced in 2008, defeating Adrian Lewis, Steve Beaton and Wayne Jones in the respective finals.
The 50-year-old from Stoke has drawn debutant qualifier John Michael, a Greek player who will be making his first televised appearance, in Thursday’s first round, with the game over the best of 11 legs.
Taylor retained his World Matchplay title for a fourth successive year in Blackpool last week, defeating James Wade in the final, and is targeting a repeat of that success in the ITV4-televised event in Germany.
“I was delighted to win the World Matchplay and my target now is to keep hold of the European Championship title too,” said Taylor, who is unbeaten in 15 previous matches in the event.
“I’ve enjoyed this event for the last three years and it’s my plan to make it four in a row.
“I don’t know much about John but I’ve seen him a couple of times and he’s a good player. In a short format I know I’ll have to be on top of my game on Thursday and will have to start well.”
Tags: Draw, European Championship, Preview, schedule
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2011 Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay Preview
Posted on July 14th, 2011
Draw | Schedule | Roll of Honour | History & Related News | 2010 Results | PDC Preview
Changes are afoot in the PDC; the major tournaments are being sponsored by ever more obscure companies (what the Dickens are Speedy Hire doing sponsoring darts?) and the names no longer roll off the tongue, as the upcoming Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay demonstrates.
In fact several of the majors do not currently have a sponsor (the World Grand Prix, Grand Slam of Darts, Players Championship, World Cup) which reflects the global economy and must be a continual struggle for Barry Hearn and his team to find backers. Watch out for the ‘Domino’s Pizza UK & Ireland Championship League Darts’ coming soon to a laptop near you.
That is all away from the board and regardless of any suspected financial struggles darts is reported to be booming so prize money continues to rise. £400,000 is up for grabs in Blackpool next week, with a quarter of it going to the winner.
The World Matchplay is generally considered to be second only to the World Championship and a favourite of many fans. The ornate majesty of the Winter Gardens is an unlikely darts venue but is a sight to behold and a pilgrimage that all darts fans should experience.
In keeping with the sea change away from the oche there is a strong whiff of change on it. Phil Taylor is no longer the domineering force we have gotten used to and although he still goes off 11/8 favourite with tournament sponsors, Sky Bet, now is the time to take him on in the tournament he loves.
Tags: Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson, James Wade, Phil Taylor, Preview, Raymond van Barneveld, Simon Whitlock, Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay 2011, Winter Gardens
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Bolton Goes Darts Mad – Thursday at the UK Open
Posted on June 3rd, 2011
A fan’s eye view of the FA Cup of Darts
Setting the scene
Bolton Wanderers FC have bittersweet memories of the FA Cup this year having reached the semi final stage before being thumped 5-0 by Stoke.
With the nets taken down for the summer Bolton’s home, The Reebok Stadium, opens its doors to 172 players and a legion of noisy darts fans as the tournament known as the FA Cup of Darts rolls into town.
The UK Open descends on Bolton every June and the open draw format makes it the most unpredictable, and hence, most exciting major on the PDC calendar.
For an indication of the unpredictability of this event a look at Phil Taylor’s record and the finalists of recent years is telling. Played eight, won four makes it Taylor’s worst major PDC event in terms of success; although he’s hit a few 9-darters at The Reebok.
The eight losing finalists since the first staging in 2003 are an unlikely roll call – Shayne Burgess, John Part, Mark Walsh, Barrie Bates, Vincent van der Voort, Gary Mawson, Colin Osborne and (still finding his PDC feet at the time) Gary Anderson. For most it was their first and, to date last, major final.
The nature of the open draw can be cruel or kind; sometimes giving players a comfortable route through the field, and often pairing together a couple of guys who would much rather not meet so early. The round one clash between Jelle Klaasen and Colin Lloyd is this year’s best example.
Tags: Betting, Preview, Review, UK Open
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Premier League Darts Night 14 Preview
Posted on May 11th, 2011
ADRIAN LEWIS aims to edge out Simon Whitlock to claim the final 888.com Premier League Darts Play-Off place on Thursday night, as the league season comes to a close at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.
Stoke ace Lewis needs only to avoid defeat in his World Championship final rematch with Gary Anderson to join the Scot, Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld in next week’s semi-finals at the Wembley Arena.
Lewis sits two points clear of Whitlock in the league table, with the Australian facing reigning champion Taylor in Newcastle as the players complete the 14-week league season.
Whitlock would need Lewis to lose against Anderson and then to defeat Taylor – who is unbeaten since the opening league night back in February – by enough legs to overcome his leg difference with the World Champion.
“It’s mine to lose and I’m confident of getting a result against Gary,” said Lewis. “I enjoy playing him and we’ve had some great games recently.
“I think I’ve done enough to reach the top four, especially with Simon playing Phil, but I want to win against Gary to make sure I’m in the semi-finals.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: darts, Phil Taylor, Premier League, Preview, Week 14
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Premier League Darts Night 11 Preview
Posted on April 20th, 2011
TAYLOR CHASES REVENGE AS RIVALS CHASE TOP FOUR PLACES
PHIL TAYLOR is hoping celebrate his 100th 888.com Premier League Darts game with a revenge win over Adrian Lewis when they meet at the NIA in Birmingham on Thursday night.
Taylor suffered his heaviest – and only sixth – loss since the Premier League began in 2005 when he went down 8-2 to current World Champion Lewis at The O2 in London on the opening night of this season in February.
The reigning champion has won all nine games since to be the first player assured of a play-off place at Wembley on May 19.
After dropping just eight legs in his last four matches, 15-time World Champion Taylor is now looking to make Stoke rival Lewis pay for his heavy February triumph.
“I’m out for revenge,” said Taylor. “I wasn’t too well the last time we played but Adrian played really well that night and deserved to win.
“In theory I can relax a little bit now because I’ve qualified, but I won’t be doing that. I’m after eight nine-darters against Adrian, and I know he’s capable of hitting them too.
“I want to go out there and batter him. As much as I love him like my own son I’m going to go out there to prove a point; he’s the World Champion, I’m not.”
Lewis has slipped to fifth in the Premier League Darts table with defeats in his last two matches, and admits: “It’s a big match for me if I want to get into the play-offs.
“I’ve been disappointed with the last couple of weeks but I love playing against Phil and hopefully it will bring the best out in me.”
Gary Anderson, who is currently second in the league table, could secure his play-off place on Thursday with a victory over Simon Whitlock, and is in confident mood after defeating Taylor in the final of a Speedy Hire UK Open Qualifier last Saturday.
“Although I’m in second place, there’s still four games left and it can still turn around,” said Anderson. “I’ve got to make sure I win every game and that’s what I wanted to do, whether it’s Simon, Phil Taylor or Raymond van Barneveld.
“I was delighted with how I played at the weekend, especially on Saturday, and beating Phil Taylor – the top dog – is a big boost for me.”
Van Barneveld ground out a victory against Lewis in Sheffield last week, and has a three point gap over the fifth-placed World Champion going into Thursday’s clash with Terry Jenkins.
“Last week I didn’t play at the top of my game and I still got the win, which is important in the Premier League,” said van Barneveld, who celebrated his 44th birthday on Wednesday.
“I’m the number six in the world but I’ve beaten the World Champion twice in the Premier League, 8-5 the first time and 8-3 last week, so I’m really happy.
“There’s a gap of three points between me and him in fifth place but these are all top class darts players and anything can happen each week, we all know what Adrian can do and James Wade is still fighting for a top four place too.”
Wade, the 2009 champion, has defeated Lewis and Whitlock in the past fortnight to move two points away from the top four, and plays Mark Webster in Birmingham.
Webster defeated Wade 8-3 on the opening night in London, but has lost his last three games 8-1 in slumping to the foot of the table.
“I’ve taken advantage of some players who have underperformed in the last few weeks and I’m in the running still,” said Wade. “I’m getting better slowly and in patches I’m playing well.
“It’s been frustrating for me because it’s so close to happening, and when it all comes together a lot of people will be in trouble.”
A limited number of tickets are still available for Thursday’s 888.com Premier League Darts at the NIA in Birmingham, priced at £20 plus booking fee, by calling 0844 338 8000 or visitingwww.theticketfactory.com.
Source PDC/Lawrence Lustig
888.com Premier League Darts
Week 11 – N.I.A., Birmingham
James Wade v Mark Webster
Terry Jenkins v Raymond van Barneveld
Simon Whitlock v Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Tickets: 0844 338 8000 or www.theticketfactory.com
888sport.com Match Odds
James Wade 8/11, Draw 15/4, Mark Webster 9/4
Terry Jenkins 9/4, Draw 4/1, Raymond van Barneveld 4/6
Simon Whitlock 2/1, Draw 15/4, Gary Anderson 4/5
Phil Taylor 1/3, Draw 5/1, Adrian Lewis 9/2
Latest League Table
| P | W | D | L | +/- | Pts | |
| Phil Taylor | 10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | +38 | 18 |
| Gary Anderson | 10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | +23 | 14 |
| R v Barneveld | 10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | +10 | 12 |
| Simon Whitlock | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | +4 | 10 |
| Adrian Lewis | 10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | +4 | 9 |
| James Wade | 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | -16 | 8 |
| Terry Jenkins | 10 | 2 | 1 | 7 | -29 | 5 |
| Mark Webster | 10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | -34 | 4
|
Tags: 888.com, Birmingham, Premier League Darts, Preview
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Premier League Night 3 Preview
Posted on February 23rd, 2011
GARY ANDERSON is looking to retain his advantage at the top of the 888.com Premier League Darts table when he faces fellow newcomer Mark Webster at a sold-out Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Thursday.
Scottish ace Anderson is the only unbeaten player following the opening two weeks of the Premier League Darts season, after defeating Simon Whitlock and Terry Jenkins in his first two matches.
He plays Welsh Webster in Belfast on Thursday, and believes he must retain his ruthless streak to see off the left-hander, who hit finishes of 170 and 160 in a defeat to Phil Taylor last week.
Tags: Gary Anderson, Mark Webster, Premier League Darts, Preview
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Premier League Night 2 Preview
Posted on February 16th, 2011
REIGNING champion Phil Taylor faces Welsh newcomer Mark Webster as the second week of the 888.com Premier League Darts sees the tournament visit Nottingham’s Capital FM Arena on Thursday.
Five-time Premier League Darts champion Taylor suffered his heaviest ever defeat in the competition when he lost 8-2 to Adrian Lewis at The O2 a week ago.
That loss came on the back of a quarter-final exit loss to Thursday’s opponent Webster in the World Championship on New Year’s Day, giving Taylor a double incentive to bounce back in Nottingham.
“It was a really disappointing way to start the season and I’m working hard to put it right,” said Taylor.
“I know I’ll have to improve against Mark because he’s been playing brilliantly recently.
“He’s a great young player who’s talented and dedicated to the game and he deserved to beat me in the World Championship. That’s behind me now and it’s a new game on Thursday.”
Tags: Premier League Darts, Preview
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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.
