Jaws Takes Canadian Masters
Posted on September 1st, 2010
COLIN LLOYD picked up his third tournament win of 2010 with a 6-1 defeat of Jamie Caven in the final of the Canadian Masters Players Championship.
The Essex star denied Caven back-to-back PDC ProTour titles to take the £5,000 first prize – continuing the form which saw him reach the European Championship semi-finals a month ago.
He showed his best form throughout the day, having missed double 12 for a nine-darter in his opening game, a 6-1 defeat of Jim Long, and then saw off Matt Clark by the same scoreline and Martin Tremblay 6-4 to reach the last eight.
There, he overcame Kevin Painter 6-4 and repeated that scoreline to see off in-form Wes Newton in the semi-finals, before sweeping past Caven in the decider.
Lloyd broke throw in the opening leg of the final before doubling his lead, and after Caven got off the mark in the third the former world number one took the fourth for a 3-1 cushion.
Another break gave him a 4-1 lead, and after Caven missed his chances in the next double 12 put him to the brink of victory, which was sealed in the seventh leg.
Caven followed up Saturday’s London Ontario Players Championship victory with a run to the final, as he took home £7,500 for his weekend’s work in Canada.
Tags: Canadian Master, Results, Review
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Canadian Joy For Caven
Posted on September 1st, 2010
JAMIE CAVEN took victory in Saturday’s London Ontario Players Championship in Canada to claim his third PDC ProTour title.
The Derby ace defeated Michael van Gerwen 6-4 in the final to round off a fine day of darts, which included a 6-2 semi-final win over Dennis Priestley – last week’s Australian Open Players Championship winner and the champion in Canada for the past two years.
Caven had overcome Dave Watson and John Morrison in the early rounds before seeing off Steve Evans 6-4 and Justin Pipe in a deciding leg to reach the last eight.
There he saw off Andy Hamilton 6-4 before overcoming Priestley in the semis and Dutch ace van Gerwen in the final.
Caven opened the final with a 130 finish, and took the next two legs before van Gerwen wired a 160 checkout as Caven took out 78 for a 4-0 cushion.
A 14-darter from van Gerwen saw him get off the mark in leg five, but Caven won the next and then missed four match darts as van Gerwen took the next and two more legs to reduce the gap to 5-4.
However, Caven was not to be denied and he took the tenth to seal victory and the £5,000 title.
Van Gerwen’s run was his best since last November as he reached the final and boosted his chances of qualifying for the World Grand Prix in October.
Tags: PDPA Players Championship, Results, Review
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Priestley Turns Up Down Under
Posted on August 22nd, 2010
DENNIS PRIESTLEY defeated Mark Hylton 6-3 to win the Australian Open Players Championship in Sydney.
Priestley, who turned 60 last month, took the £5,000 title at the Revesby Workers Club in Sydney on Sunday – a triumph which will secure him a place in October’s World Grand Prix and edge him back towards the world’s top 16.
The two-time World Champion opened his challenge in Sydney with a whitewash of David Clegg and a 6-3 win over Heath Daley before edging out Steve Hine in a deciding leg in the last 16.
He then overcame top Australian Simon Whitlock 6-3 in the quarter-finals and edged out Paul Nicholson – last year’s Australian Open Players Championship winner – in another 11-leg tussle at the semi-final stage.
Priestley secured victory in the final with a 6-3 win over Mark Hylton, the Rugeley-based left-hander who had won through to his first PDC ProTour decider.
Hylton opened with wins over Australian pair Pat Orreal and Peter Asmussen, and then battled through a tricky path to the final – picking up wins over Robert Thornton and Mark Walsh before edging out Sean Reed 6-5 in the semis.
Although he went down in the final, Hylton’s run will almost certainly win him a Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship debut as a Players Championship Order of Merit qualifier, as well as increasing his hopes of winning a World Grand Prix spot.
Tags: PDPA Players Championship, Results, Review
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Dominant Taylor Retains Euro Crown
Posted on August 2nd, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR claimed a third successive PartyPoker.net European Championship with a super 11-1 defeat of Wayne Jones at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken on Sunday night.
The world number one followed up his 11-10 win over Terry Jenkins in the semi-finals with a superb display to see off Jones by dropping just one leg in the final.
When Jones missed one dart to take the first leg on double top, Taylor pounced on double eight to break throw and set the tone for the final, with finishes of double seven, double four, double three and double seven putting him into a 5-0 lead at the first break.
Double six put him further ahead and he took advantage of a missed double 12 from the Wolverhampton man to lead 7-0 before a miss at double top allowed Jones to take out 116 on double 18 to get on the scoreboard in superb fashion.
Taylor replied in style, opening the next leg with a 180 and taking out 81 for a 12-darter, before finishing 121 for a 9-1 cushion.
Jones hit a second maximum of the game to leave a finish in the 11th leg, but Taylor clinically dispatched 84 for an 11-darter before sealing the win on double 14.
“I’m delighted to win another title, especially so soon after winning the World Matchplay last week,” said Taylor.
Tags: European Championship, Results, Review
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PartyPoker.net European Championship Quarter-Final Round-Up
Posted on August 1st, 2010
WAYNE JONES took arguably the biggest win of his career with a 10-8 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld as he reached the semi-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
The Wolverhampton man will now meet Colin Lloyd in the last four in Dinslaken, having held his nerve to knock out the five-time World Champion and number two seed.
The duo traded legs throughout a high-quality encounter, but it was Jones who made the crucial breakthough when he moved 8-6 and 9-7 up before sealing a famous win on the bullseye.
“It’s the first time I’ve ever beaten Raymond and it feels great,” said Jones. “It was a really good game to be involved in and win or lose I enjoyed it.
“But to win was very special. I’m really having fun at the moment, it was another good performance from me and I can’t wait for the semi-finals now.”
Lloyd had powered past Ronnie Baxter 10-7 to book his place in the last four with a second successive ton-plus average, hitting a 160 finish and ten of 14 darts at a double in an impressive display.
Reigning champion Phil Taylor and Terry Jenkins will meet in the other semi-final, having overcome Mark Walsh and Jamie Caven respectively in the last eight.
Tags: European Championship, Results, Review
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PartyPoker.net European Championship – Saturday Evening Round-Up
Posted on August 1st, 2010
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD came close to one of darts’ greatest ever upsets before defeating Germany’s Bernd Roith 10-7 in the PartyPoker.net European Championship second round on Saturday, while Phil Taylor remains in the hunt for a third successive title in Dinslaken.
Roith, a caterer from Tuebingen in Germany who overcame Denis Ovens in the first round on his televised debut, set up the prospect of an incredible victory over the world number two when finishes of 101 and 141 helped him into a 7-5 lead.
However, van Barneveld regained his composure to punished three misses from Roith to level in the 14th leg, before completing a run of five successive legs to set up a quarter-final with Wayne Jones on Sunday.
“This is one of the hardest battles I’ve had in my career,” said van Barneveld. “I didn’t underestimate him but he played superbly and I am very relieved to come through it.”
Reigning champion Taylor, meanwhile, progressed to the quarter-finals in more comfortable fashion with a 10-5 defeat of Andy Smith, who held the world number one for eight legs before succumbing to a typical charge from the Stoke great.
Taylor will now meet Mark Walsh in the quarters, after the number eight seed overcame Jelle Klaasen 10-6 earlier on Saturday.
Colin Lloyd produced a superb display to defeat Michael van Gerwen 10-6, hitting a 101 average in seeing off the Dutch youngster in a thriller.
Lloyd will take on Ronnie Baxter on Sunday afternoon, with the Blackpool man defeating local rival Wes Newton 10-9 earlier in the day.
Jamie Caven won through to his second televised quarter-final with a 10-6 defeat of Wales’ Barrie Bates, and he now faces world number five Terry Jenkins on Sunday.
Jenkins had earned his last eight place with a 10-8 defeat of Simon Whitlock, while Jones set up his clash with van Barneveld by seeing off Robert Thornton 10-4.
PartyPoker.net European Championship
Saturday July 31
Second Round
Mark Walsh 10-6 Jelle Klaasen
Terry Jenkins 10-8 Simon Whitlock
Ronnie Baxter 10-9 Wes Newton
Wayne Jones 10-4 Robert Thornton
Barrie Bates 6-10 Jamie Caven
Raymond van Barneveld 10-7 Bernd Roith
Phil Taylor 10-5 Andy Smith
Colin Lloyd 10-6 Michael van Gerwen
Sunday August 1
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Play commences 2pm German time (1pm UK time)
2.00pm Terry Jenkins v Jamie Caven
3.00pm Colin Lloyd v Ronnie Baxter
4.00pm Phil Taylor v Mark Walsh
5.00pm Raymond van Barneveld v Wayne Jones
Best of 19 legs
Evening Session
Play commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
Semi-Finals
8.00pm
9.15pm
Best of 21 legs
Final
11.00pm
Best of 21 legs
JAMIE CAVEN 10-6 BARRIE BATES
JAMIE CAVEN won through to his second major quarter-final, producing a high-quality display to defeat Barrie Bates 10-6 in the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
Caven’s previous best televised display came when he reached the last eight at the UK Open just over a year ago, and he could better that when he faces Terry Jenkins in Sunday’s quarter-finals.
While Bates made a brilliant start to lead 2-0 and 4-2, Caven landed six maximums and averaged almost 100 in powering through to secure victory.
Bates broke throw in the opening leg on double top, and a superb 136 checkout doubled his lead before Caven, fired up by a 180, got his first leg on the board in the third.
Double eight gave Bates a 3-1 lead, and while Caven matched that to win a second leg the Welshman posted double top in the sixth for a 4-2 cushion.
A 60 finish saw Caven cut the gap to one leg, before he opened the eighth with a maximum and took out a superb ten-darter to leg.
He also hit a maximum and double five in taking the ninth to lead for the first time in the match, and finished double eight to move 6-4 up.
Bates defied another 180 from Caven to win the next, but the Derby ace took out double 16 and then double two in taking an 8-5 advantage.
He then landed a sixth maximum of the game, only to be punished for a missed double top when Bates landed the same bed for a 66 finish.
However, a 127 finish from Caven pushed him to the brink of victory, and a stylish 96 finish of single 20, double 18 and double top put him through to the quarter-finals.
“Barrie made a brilliant start and I took a few legs to get going,” said Caven. “When I did I felt I played well and I’m really pleased with my scoring.
“It was nice to put in a decent performance and I’m over the moon.”
Caven takes on Terry Jenkins in Sunday’s quarter-finals, and he added: “Last year I beat Terry in the first round and we meet this time in the last eight, and hopefully I can win again.
“I was the underdog against Gary Anderson in the first round and probably will be again when I play Terry, but I’m looking forward to it.”
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 10-7 BERND ROITH
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD came close to one of darts’ greatest ever upsets before defeating Germany’s Bernd Roith 10-7 in a thrilling PartyPoker.net European Championship second round clash.
Roith, a caterer from Tuebingen in Germany who overcame Denis Ovens in the first round on his televised debut, set up the prospect of an incredible victory over the world number two when finishes of 101 and 141 helped him into a 7-5 lead.
However, van Barneveld regained his composure to punished three misses from Roith to level in the 14th leg, before completing a run of five successive legs to set up a quarter-final with Wayne Jones on Sunday.
The Dutchman made a confident start, hitting double six for the first leg and double 18 for a 2-0 lead, before the German hit double six to get off the mark.
The pair traded 180s in the next leg, but two missed doubles from van Barneveld allowed Roith in to level double nine.
Van Barneveld kicked off a second successive leg with a maximum, and was grateful of the breathing space after missing four more doubles before landing double one for a 3-2 lead.
He hit another 180 in leg six, only for Roith to post double nine to square the match, and the next two legs were also shared before van Barneveld took out 96 in the ninth leg and the home favourite posted a 101 finish to level at five-all.
He then punished misses at double 18 and double nine from van Barneveld with a sensational 141 checkout to move ahead for the first time, and then took out 80 on double top for an incredible 7-5 lead.
Van Barneveld won the next on double eight, and crucially levelled in the 14th leg as the tension reached boiling point in the Stadthalle, as Roith missed three darts for an eighth leg and the Dutchman squared the game.
Van Barneveld posted a 170 score in setting up a double ten finish to regain the lead, before hitting back-to-back 14-dart legs on double top to take victory.
“This is one of the hardest battles I’ve had in my career,” said van Barneveld. “Bernd was relaxed all the way through and he finished well to go 7-5 up.
“I didn’t underestimate him but he played superbly and I am very relieved to come through it.”
Roith admitted: This was my first time on television and I like playing on stage. It’s very calm up there and I can play my game because I was relaxed.”
PHIL TAYLOR 10-5 ANDY SMITH
PHIL TAYLOR secured his place in the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a 10-5 defeat of Andy Smith at Dinslaken’s Stadthalle on Saturday night.
Taylor’s bid for a third successive European Championship win seemed on rocky ground when Smith shared the opening eight legs, but a superb mid-game surge from the world number one saw him sweep to victory.
Taylor now faces Mark Walsh in Sunday’s quarter-finals, and he admitted: “I’m feeling great and hopefully I’ll be holding the trophy again on Sunday night.
“Andy’s a great bloke and it’s hard playing against him because I like him so much, but now I’ve got through that match I can get ready for a hard Sunday.”
Taylor hit a 177 score in the first leg, but two missed doubles allowed Smith in on double eight to sneak the opener.
Taylor broke back immediately and then landed a 180 and a 103 checkout to lead for the first time, while another maximum and double 12 for an 81 finish put him 3-1 up.
Smith hit a 180 in the fifth before punishing four missed doubles from Taylor on double top, and took out 52 to square the match at three-all.
Taylor posted another maximum in a 13-darter to edge back ahead, and though Smith levelled he continued his charge with legs of 14, 11, 13 and 14 darts to suddenly move from four-all to 8-4 up.
Double top from Smith saw him pull back a leg, but Taylor reasserted his dominance with an 11-darter and then sealed the win on double ten.
COLIN LLOYD 10-6 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
COLIN LLOYD produced a fine display to see off Michael van Gerwen 10-6 and reach the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship in Germany.
The Essex star had bounced back from his first round World Matchplay exit by knocking out world number three James Wade on Friday night, and progressed to the last eight with a high-quality defeat of van Gerwen.
The Dutch youngster played his part in an epic, matching Lloyd for much of the game but unable to live with some spells of magic from the former world number one.
Van Gerwen had kicked off the match with a 113 finish in taking the opening leg, and also hit a 171 score in the second leg, but a miss at double 16 allowed Lloyd in with a 70 finish to level before posting double 16 to break throw.
The Dutchman broke back with a fine 13-dart leg, which he kicked off with five perfect darts, and then landed double 16 to lead 3-2 at the first break.
Lloyd, though, returned with a brilliant spell to win four of the next five legs, hitting three 14-dart legs and an 11-dart finish – with only a 13-darter from van Gerwen, which featured his second maximum of the game, keeping him in the hunt at 6-4.
A 180 from Lloyd left him 68 in the 11th leg, but van Gerwen held his nerve to take out double top for another 13-darter, although Lloyd finished a fine 130 checkout on the bull for a 7-5 lead.
Another 180 from Lloyd left him on a finish in the next, with van Gerwen again showing his quality by taking out 70 in two darts to win the 13th leg and reduce the gap to one.
Double top from Lloyd saw him edge back in front, and when van Gerwen missed three darts to punish his first lapses at a double in the next the Englishman hit double one to move a leg away from the win.
Lloyd then completed a fine win by posting a bullseye-double top 90 checkout to ensure his quarter-final spot, where he will face Ronnie Baxter on Sunday afternoon.
“I’m delighted to be into the quarter-finals and to have won such a high-quality game,” said Lloyd. “I got stuck in tonight and I’ve proved to myself in the last two days that I’m good enough to compete at the top level, after the disappointment of Blackpool.
“It was always going to be tough playing Michael because he’s a quality player who is back in form, but I played my own game and it’s lovely to get through.
“It will be a hard day on Sunday with three games to play if I’m going to win the title, but I’ll be giving it my best shot.”
Tags: European Championship, Results, Review
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PartyPoker.net European Championship – Saturday Afternoon Round-Up
Posted on July 31st, 2010
RONNIE BAXTER progressed to the PartyPoker.net European Championship quarter-finals with a second successive deciding leg victory, as he defeated Wes Newton 10-9 in Dinslaken.
Baxter took out 126 in the 11th leg to edge past Alan Tabern in Friday’s first round, and was pushed all the way by local rival Newton in a thriller.
The Blackpool man led 7-4 and 9-6 before Newton – who hit a 170 earlier in the game – hit back to level, but both players struggled to find the treble in the decider before Baxter finished double ten for a last eight spot.
Number five seed Terry Jenkins was also pushed all the way before seeing off Australian star Simon Whitlock 10-8 in their second round clash.
The duo shared the game’s opening 14 legs before a double salvo from Jenkins put him into a crucial 9-7 lead before he closed out victory.
Mark Walsh held off a fightback from Jelle Klaasen before defeating the Dutch youngster 10-7.
Klaasen found himself 6-1 down following a slow start, but a change of darts sparked a comeback as he pulled back to 8-6 before Walsh found another gear to seal victory with a 128 checkout.
Wolverhampton’s Wayne Jones booked his place in a second successive major quarter-final, defeating Scotland’s Robert Thornton 10-4.
Saturday’s evening session will feature the remaining four second round games, including reigning champion Phil Taylor against Andy Smith and world number two Raymond van Barneveld facing Germany newcomer Bernd Roith.
Barrie Bates and Jamie Caven will kick off the night, while Lloyd and van Gerwen also do battle for a spot in the last eight.
PartyPoker.net European Championship
Saturday July 31
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Mark Walsh 10-6 Jelle Klaasen
Terry Jenkins 10-8 Simon Whitlock
Ronnie Baxter 10-9 Wes Newton
Wayne Jones 10-4 Robert Thornton
Evening Session
Play Commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
Barrie Bates v Jamie Caven
Raymond van Barneveld v Bernd Roith
Phil Taylor v Andy Smith
Colin Lloyd v Michael van Gerwen
MARK WALSH 10-7 JELLE KLAASEN
MARK WALSH held off a spirited fightback from Jelle Klaasen before sealing his place in the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a 10-7 victory.
Walsh romped into a 6-1 lead as he made Klaasen pay for a slow start, with the Dutchman changing his darts after failing to settle in the first five legs.
The number eight seed extended that lead to 8-2 before Klaasen took three in a row, but Walsh held his nerve to move into the last eight.
Walsh landed maximums in the first two legs in a confident start, although some edgy finishing meant he needed to finish double two and double four to move 2-0 up.
Klaasen finished 124 on the bull to get off the mark in the third, but missed double top to level in the next as Walsh posted double five with his third dart for a 3-1 cushion.
He also repeated the finish to move 4-1 up at the first break, which saw Klaasen change darts – with a 180 in the sixth leg suggesting an immediate improvement before four missed doubles allowed Walsh in on double top.
Another double top finish put Walsh 6-1 up, although misses in the next allowed Klaasen in to edge the eighth.
The next two were shared before Walsh hit a 180 and took out his trusted double top to move six legs clear at 8-2.
A maximum from Klaasen to open the 11th leg seemed to spur the youngster to life, and he posted scores of 140 and 165 in setting up a superb ten-dart finish on double eight.
He also hit a 180 in taking the next in 13 darts, and double top reduced the gap to 8-6 and ensured Walsh some nervy moments.
Double top in the next edged Walsh a leg from victory, and after Klaasen finished double five for a seventh leg the Englishman sealed the win on the bull for a 128 checkout.
“Jelle made a great comeback and it was getting edgy for a minute,” admitted Walsh. “He changed his darts and it worked for him, but I just concentrated on my game and got the job done.”
TERRY JENKINS 10-8 SIMON WHITLOCK
TERRY JENKINS edged out Simon Whitlock 10-8 to win his place in the last eight of the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
Jenkins followed up his hard-fought win over Andree Welge in the first round in Dinslaken with a gritty display to see off the Australian in a tight battle.
The pair were locked for 14 legs before Jenkins made the crucial breakthough to lead 9-7 before sealing victory and a quarter-final spot.
Whitlock took the game’s opening leg but missed double top to extend his lead as Jenkins finished 80 and then broke on tops for a 2-1 lead.
Whitlock hit the same finish to take the fourth, and after Jenkins won the next the Australian took out double eight and then 90 on the bull to take the lead at 4-3.
Jenkins levelled, and the next six went with the throw as the players searched for a break to move clear – with the number five seed being the man to win a leg against the darts, punishing two misses from Whitlock to win the 15th on double 14.
Double ten put him 9-7 up – the first time either player had been two legs clear, and though Whitlock took out double 16 for the next leg he missed two darts to keep the match alive as Jenkins hit double ten at the third time of asking for victory.
RONNIE BAXTER 10-9 WES NEWTON
RONNIE BAXTER progressed to the PartyPoker.net European Championship quarter-finals with a second successive deciding leg victory, as he defeated Wes Newton 10-9 in Dinslaken.
Baxter took out 126 in the 11th leg to edge past Alan Tabern in Friday’s first round, and was pushed all the way by local rival Newton in a thriller.
The Blackpool man led 7-4 and 9-6 before Newton hit back to level, but both players struggled to find the treble in the decider before Baxter finished double ten for a last eight spot.
Newton made a brilliant start to take out a 170 finish, the highest of the tournament so far, to take the lead, only for Baxter to reply with a 112 checkout and an 11-darter to lead 2-1.
Baxter missed the bull in the next two legs as Newton hit back to move 3-2 up, only for the Blackpool man to power in a 104 finish to level and win the next three to move clear at 6-3, twice punishing misses from his opponent.
Double three saw Newton pick up a fourth leg, but he missed four darts for the 11th leg as Baxter finished 76 to maintain his three-leg lead.
The duo traded double 16 finishes to leave Baxter 8-5 up, and Newton then produced an 11-darter to win himself a sixth leg, only for Baxter to post double ten and move a leg away from the win.
Newton kick-started his comeback with a 180 amongst two successive legs to pull back to 9-8, and a superb 11-darter saw him send the match into a deciding 19th leg.
Both players showed the pressure in the final leg, but Baxter regained his composure to be first to a finish, and had enough breathing space to return from two misses at double top to post double ten for the win.
“I got the better of him in the middle of the game and when I went 9-6 up the trebles didn’t want to go in,” said Baxter.
“At 9-6 I was playing really well but Wes came back brilliantly with those three legs. Wes was pounding the treble but in the last leg we were both probably as nervous as you can get, and fortunately I got the win.”
WAYNE JONES 10-4 ROBERT THORNTON
WAYNE JONES powered into his second successive major quarter-final with a 10-4 win over Robert Thornton in the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
Jones followed up last week’s run in the World Matchplay and an encouraging win over Adrian Lewis on Friday night with a confident display to see off Thornton.
The Wolverhampton ace never looked back after taking a 4-0 lead, and landed seven 180s in sealing a comprehensive win with an average of 96.
Jones opened the match with an 11-dart finish, and traded 180s with Thornton in the second before punishing three missed doubles frmo the Scot to double his lead.
Thornton missed four more darts at a double in the third leg and two in the fourth as Jones capitalised for a 4-0 cushion.
The Scot then posted the bullseye for an 86 finish in getting off the mark, although double 16 for a 13-darter and double nine from Jones put him 6-1 up.
Thornton won the next two legs to pull back to 6-3, and after Jones took the tenth he took out 80 for a 14-dart finish in reducing the arrears to 7-4.
Jones replied with a 14-darter of his own, and that was bettered when he hit a 180 and double 16 to take the next in 13 darts for a 9-4 cushion.
He then hit two maximums to set up a chance to seal victory, which he took on double four to move into the last eight.
Tags: European Championship, Results, Review
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PartyPoker.net European Championship – Night Two Round-Up
Posted on July 31st, 2010
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD edged out Andy Hamilton in an 11-leg thriller at the PartyPoker.net European Championship on Friday night, but seeds James Wade and Adrian Lewis crashed out of the event in Dinslaken, Germany.
Dutch star van Barneveld followed up last week’s run to the final of the World Matchplay in Blackpool with a gritty display in his opener in Dinslaken.
Van Barneveld took the opening two legs before Hamilton won four in a row to lead 4-2, only to see the five-time World Champion produce some superb darts in taking four of the final five for victory.
“I had a tough week in the World Matchplay but this is another big tournament for all of us and this is a good start,” said van Barneveld. “I had a tough draw and it’s great to get through it.”
Van Barneveld will meet Germany’s Bernd Roith in the second round on Saturday, after the newcomer celebrated his TV debut with a 6-4 defeat of Denis Ovens.
Another German, Tomas Seyler, suffered defeat in his clash with Michael van Gerwen, who returned from a month on the sidelines with a broken collarbone to take a 6-4 win.
Two seeded players joined Seyler, Hamilton and Ovens in exiting the tournament on Friday, with James Wade going down to Colin Lloyd and Adrian Lewis slumping to a 6-3 loss against Wayne Jones.
Lewis produced one of his most disappointing televised displays in his loss to in-form Jones, while Wade was defeated 6-4 by Colin Lloyd, who held his nerve after the world number three came from 4-2 down to level.
Scotland’s Robert Thornton bounced back from his whitewash in the World Matchplay’s first round with a 6-4 win over Mark Dudbridge, and he now faces Jones in the second round.
Wins for Fleetwood’s Wes Newton and Blackpool’s Ronnie Baxter over Colin Osborne and Alan Tabern saw them set up a local derby in the last 16, with Baxter taking out 126 on the bullseye in a deciding leg to progress.
PartyPoker.net European Championship
First Round
Friday July 30
Bernd Roith 6-4 Denis Ovens
Mark Dudbridge 4-6 Robert Thornton
Adrian Lewis 3-6 Wayne Jones
Tomas Seyler 4-6 Michael van Gerwen
James Wade 4-6 Colin Lloyd
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Andy Hamilton
Colin Osborne 4-6 Wes Newton
Ronnie Baxter 6-5 Alan Tabern
Saturday July 31
Second Round
Afternoon Session (2pm local time)
Mark Walsh v Jelle Klaasen
Terry Jenkins v Simon Whitlock
Ronnie Baxter v Wes Newton
Wayne Jones v Robert Thornton
Evening Session (8pm local time)
Barrie Bates v Jamie Caven
Raymond van Barneveld v Bernd Roith
Phil Taylor v Andy Smith
Colin Lloyd v Michael van Gerwen
Best of 19 legs
BERND ROITH 6-4 DENIS OVENS
GERMANY’S Bernd Roith made a winning televised debut, knocking out Denis Ovens 6-4 in the first round of the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
The 50-year-old from Tuebingen in Germany qualified to play in Dinslaken through his performances in European-based Players Championship events this year, and showed his quality to move into the last 16.
Roith took the game’s first two legs, punishing misses from Ovens in both to land double four and then double 18 to take command.
Ovens broke throw in the third, hitting a 180 and double eight, and then was given a reprieve from further misses when Roith landed two darts just outside the double top wire before the Englishman hit the bed to level.
Ovens had a chance to lead in the fifth, but one miss at tops was punished by a crowd-pleasing 152 finish from Roith, although Ovens won the next one double nine to level at three-all.
Roith edged the seventh on double eight and, after Ovens hit a 180 and an 84 checkout, then finished 101 on double 16 to lead 5-4.
Ovens battled to send the game into a decider, but Roith was first to a finish and took out 80 on double five for victory.
“It was my first TV appearance and it’s a dream to win against a player like Denis,” said Roith. “I finished well and the support from the crowd was brilliant.”
ROBERT THORNTON 6-4 MARK DUDBRIDGE
ROBERT THORNTON made a superb recovery from his World Matchplay disappointment to defeat Mark Dudbridge 6-4 in the PartyPoker.net European Championship first round.
Thornton was whitewashed 10-0 by fellow Scot Gary Anderson at the World Matchplay, but made a winning return to action at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken.
He will now face either Adrian Lewis or Wayne Jones in the second round, where he will hope to continue his return to form.
Much of the opening stages saw the pair trade legs, with the first five going with throw before Thornton took the first break to lead 4-2.
Thornton had actually missed darts to win the second and fourth legs, on Dudbridge’s throw, before finishing 88 on the bull to finally break in the sixth.
Dudbridge had also missed four darts at double 19 to win the fifth – darts which would later come back to haunt him, especially as Thornton landed double top for a 5-2 lead.
The Bristol man produced his best darts of the match to win the next two legs, firstly hitting double top himself to break, before trading 180s with Thornton and landing double 12 for the ninth to pull back to 5-4.
However, he missed four darts to level the game and send the match into a decider, and Thornton punished him on double ten for victory.
WAYNE JONES 6-3 ADRIAN LEWIS
WAYNE JONES’ run of good form continued with a 6-3 win over number seven seed Adrian Lewis at the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
Jones followed up last week’s quarter-final run in the World Matchplay with a solid performance to see off a below-par Lewis, who followed up last week’s first round loss in Blackpool by slumping to another early exit in Germany.
The opening two legs were shared as Jones opened with an 88 finish and Lewis replied on double top, after the Wolverhampton man had missed two darts at a double.
Double three, though, saw Jones take the third and he then punished missed doubles from Lewis to land double 18 for a 3-1 lead.
Double five gave Lewis the fifth, and the next two were shared before Jones kicked off leg eight with a maximum and landed double eight to move a leg away from the win, before finishing 104 for victory.
“It was a scrappy game and I felt a bit nervous, which isn’t like me, but I got through it,” said Jones. “I was pleased to win but know there’s a lot more to come from me.”
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN 6-4 TOMAS SEYLER
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN made a winning return from injury with a 6-4 win over Germany’s Tomas Seyler in the first round of the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
The Dutch youngster has been sidelined for over a month after breaking the collarbone in his left shoulder, but showed no ill-effects in seeing off the home favourite.
He opened with a nerve-settling 13-darter in the first leg, ended on double top, and he was waiting on a double in the next as Seyler took out 65 on double 12.
The next two legs were also traded before van Gerwen stepped up a gear, landing double 16 for a 70 finish in the fifth and powering a 174 to leave double 16 in the next for the first break of throw to lead 4-2.
Two missed doubles allowed Seyler back in to take the seventh with a 63 finish, although he paid for a missed bullseye in the next as van Gerwen hit double eight to move a leg away from victory.
A 96 finish from Seyler kept him in the game, but van Gerwen posted his first maximum of the game in leg ten before hitting double 16 to seal a second round place.
“It was a hard game because there was a lot of pressure on me but I’m very happy to have won,” said van Gerwen. “I started well but Tomas played well and made me work all the way through the match.”
COLIN LLOYD 6-4 JAMES WADE
COLIN LLOYD sent world number three James Wade packing in the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a 6-4 victory at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken.
Lloyd put his World Matchplay nightmare, where Kevin Painter came from 8-2 down to defeat him 11-9 ten days ago in Blackpool, behind him with a gritty display against Wade.
Left-hander Wade had battled back from 4-2 down to level as Lloyd’s doubles deserted him, but he regained his cool to win the next two and set up a tasty second round clash with Michael van Gerwen.
Wade hit a 180 in the opening leg, which he won on double top, but Lloyd posted double five to level and double 18 to break throw in the third leg.
A 100 finish saw the Essex man move 3-1 up, although Wade replied in 11 darts with a superb fifth leg, which featured two 180s amongst seven perfect darts to open the leg.
Double 16 saw Lloyd edge 4-2 ahead, and he hit scores of 140 and 180 to leave 42 in the seventh, only to miss eight darts for the leg as Wade took out double two to pull back into the game.
Two further misses from Lloyd, at double top and double ten, gave Wade the chance to level in the eighth, and he took out 61 on double ten to square the game.
Lloyd, though, kicked off the ninth with a maximum, and he regained his range on double top to move a leg away from the win before posting another 180 and double 14 – at the fourth time of asking – to ensure progression.
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 6-5 ANDY HAMILTON
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD edged out Andy Hamilton 6-5 in a final-leg thriller at the PartyPoker.net European Championship to kick off his challenge in Dinslaken with a strong win.
The Dutchman continued the form which saw him reach last week’s World Matchplay win against gritty Hamilton, who led 4-2 but could not handle a superb surge from the number two seed.
Hamilton opened the match with a 180, but it was van Barneveld who posted double top to win the first leg and he also repeated the finish to double his lead, after the Englishman missed three darts for the second leg.
Hamilton hit two 180s in a 12-darter to get himself off the mark, before double two levelled and then double 16 gave him a 3-2 lead.
He then posted double eight to move two legs clear, only for the Dutchman to land a 177 and double ten to take leg seven and a 180 and double eight to break to level the game.
Van Barneveld then posted another maximum plus double top to edge 5-4 up, only for Hamilton to post a 180 and double 18 to send the game into a decider.
However, van Barneveld – who held the advantage of throw – pulled clear in the final leg and posted double 16 for an 11-darter to book a second round date with Bernd Roith.
“I had a tough week in the World Matchplay but this is another big tournament for all of us and this is a good start,” said van Barneveld. “I had a tough draw and it’s great to get through it.
“Andy was 4-2 up and deserved to be because he played some good darts and I struggled to settle in early on, but I hit my form and had a good 11-dart finish to win it.”
WES NEWTON 6-4 COLIN OSBORNE
WES NEWTON held off Colin Osborne’s fightback to win a topsy-turvy encounter and progress to the second round of the PartyPoker.net European Darts Championship in Dinslaken.
Newton looked set to romp to victory when he took a 3-0 lead, only for Osborne to win the next four to edge in front.
However, the in-form Fleetwood manbatlled back and on the next three to secure his spot in the second round on Saturday.
Double 16 gave Newton the opening leg, and he took out 94 on double top to extend his advantage before landing a 171 to set up double eight as he won the third – after Osborne missed the same bed for a 127 checkout.
Osborne kicked off the fourth with a maximum, and double top got him off the mark before he finished 68 on double four in the next to pull back to 3-2.
Another maximum and double eight saw Osborne level, and he then hit two 180s in securing the seventh leg and a 4-3 advantage on double four.
However, he missed the bull for a 124 finish in the next, and Newton stopped the Derby man’s run by following up a 180 with double 15 for the leg to level.
Osborne then missed double five for a 130 checkout in leg nine, with double six edging Newton back in front before a 68 finish gave Newton the win.
RONNIE BAXTER 6-5 ALAN TABERN
RONNIE BAXTER took out 126 on the bull to edge an 11-leg battle with Alan Tabern and win his place in the second round of the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
Blackpool ace Baxter had to fight back from 4-1 down to send his clash with Tabern into a deciding leg, but prevailed to set up a second round clash with local rival Wes Newton on Saturday.
Tabern took the opening leg of the match with a double top finish and extended his lead in style, punishing Baxter’s missed bullseye for a 167 checkout by taking out 141 himself.
The pair traded 180s in the next before double nine got Baxter off the mark, but Tabern landed further maximums in winning both of the next two legs as he moved 4-1 up.
Double ten gave Baxter a second leg, and he then finished double 16 and double top to square the match – only to squander three darts to lead for the first time before a 100 finish put Tabern 5-4 up.
However, Baxter clinically checked out 79 to take the tenth leg on double 11, and won the decider with a brilliant 126 bullseye finish to snatch victory.
Tags: European Championship, Results, Review
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European Championships Night 1 Review
Posted on July 30th, 2010
REIGNING PartyPoker.net European Championship winner Phil Taylor made a winning start to the defence of his title with a 6-2 win over Co Stompe on Thursday night.
Taylor has won the previous two stagings of the European Championship and was in clinical mood at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken as he bids to claim Sunday’s £50,000 first prize.
Stompe gave Taylor some edgy moments in the opening five legs, but three missed darts to level the game in the sixth allowed the Stoke legend to put daylight between the duo before winning the next two without reply to seal victory.
“It was a difficult game but a very good game too,” he said. “I kept putting him under pressure and it worked for me.
“Co played well but I picked up on him missing doubles and under pressure he was doing that.
“The Dutch players are very competitive and Co epitomises that. He works hard at his game and it showed because he made me work very hard.”
Taylor will now face Andy Smith in the second round on Saturday, after the Studley-based thrower knocked out Paul Nicholson 6-3 in Germany.
Tags: European Championship, Results, Review
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11th World Matchplay Title For Taylor
Posted on July 25th, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR claimed his 11th StanJames.com World Matchplay title with an 18-12 win over Raymond van Barneveld at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday night.
Taylor picked up his third successive Blackpool win and a £100,000 cheque with a thrilling performance to see off the Dutchman, who played his part in a superb final.
Van Barneveld stayed with Taylor for much of the game, but Taylor crucially pulled from 11-9 to lead by four legs – and held that advantage to close out victory.
“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” said Taylor. “I love this tournament and no matter how many times I win it it’s a tremendous feeling to get hold of this trophy.
“The final had a bit of everything. I was a brilliant game and there were times when I had to dig in and times when I was cruising.
“Barney gave me a great game but I’ve worked really hard to prepare for this. I love it when Barney challenges me and his career is back on track, so he’s got to see this week as a positive.
Tags: Results, Review, World Matchplay
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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.
