Leyland Paints Throwing Darts Fans Some Early Xmas Presents
Posted on December 15th, 2011
Leyland Paints is throwing darts fanatics some early Christmas presents to coincide with the World Championships, after stepping up to the social networking oche in style.
The popular paint brand, new sponsors of World Champion hopefuls Mark Webster and Simon Whitlock, is hoping to win friends and influence people by offering signed postcards of the stars, along with other themed memorabilia including darts flights and keyrings.
All fans have to do is follow @leylandpaints on twitter or like their specially created Facebook page, before leaving their score predictions for Mark and Simon before their respective matches.
Anyone successfully predicting either or both scorelines correctly will be entitled to a prize to be announced.
Leyland will also be launching a series of ‘glossy finish’ competitions on twitter, where supporters will be invited to tell the brand what their favourite finish of the evening was, on selected evenings of play. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Leyland Paints, Mark Webster, PDC Darts, Simon Whitlock, Twitter
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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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Webster & Whitlock Extend Winmau Sponsorship Deals
Posted on November 30th, 2011
Former World Champion Mark Webster and multiple tournament winner Simon Whitlock have agreed new 4 year sponsorship contracts with the world’s leading darts company Winmau. The agreements will see the hugely successful partnerships continue until 2015.
Mark Webster said “I’ve enjoyed many great years working with Winmau, which has included a World Championship and my best ever world ranking to date. With their passion for the sport and their constant desire to move forward, it’s no surprise why their products are the best in the world today”.
Simon Whitlock added “Winmau have done everything to help me play at my best. I’ve really enjoyed working with them and had a great time developing some new product ideas that are in the market and selling well. Their commitment in darts is second-to-none and they are great people to work with.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Mark Webster, PDC Darts, Simon Whitlock, Sponsorship, Winmau
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Longevity Not Victory The Key in Championship League?
Posted on October 27th, 2011
The Championship League Darts tournament is an interesting one and is another variation on a theme that Barry Hearn and the PDC have come up with to keep the sport entertaining, which is no bad thing.
On the face of it the format is a clever one, for those who don’t know, the top eight players in the rankings play each other in a group format, the top four going into semi-finals and producing a winner who goes on to compete in the big money winner’s group. The bottom two from the group are eliminated and the remaining five go into the next group to be joined by the next three highest ranked players and this repeats for eight groups. Slightly complicated but an innovative way of producing a winner’s group of eight men, after eight qualifying groups.
However, there is an issue with how the tournament is run and that is the benefit that comes from not progressing at the first time of asking. The prize money is dished out per leg, £50 per leg in the initial group stages, and £100 per leg in the semi-final and final in each group. Therefore, if you don’t qualify but also avoid relegation in early groups, your earning capacity is multiplied greatly every additional group you compete in.
Tags: Championship League Darts, Phil Haigh, Phil Taylor, Simon Whitlock
Filed under Darts Blog, Phil Haigh | 1 Comment »
Championship League Darts – Whitlock Wins Group Six
Posted on October 14th, 2011
SIMON WHITLOCK won through to the Championship League Darts Winners Group at the sixth time of asking when he defeated Vincent van der Voort in a deciding leg in the Group Six final on Thursday.
Whitlock, who had hit a nine-darter in Wednesday’s Group Five, extended his ever-present record in the play-offs by winning six of his seven league games in Group Six of the internet-streamed event.
He then defeated Andy Smith 6-4 in the semi-finals to reach a fourth final of the tournament, and finally took victory against van der Voort.
The Dutchman gave as good as he goes during a tense final, coming from 2-1 down to lead 4-3 with a 100 finish and a brace of double eight checkouts.
Whitlock took the next two to edge ahead before van der Voort won leg ten on double 12 to force a tense decider. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Championship League Darts Results, Crondon, PDC, Simon Whitlock, Steve Beaton
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Championship League Darts – King Reigns In Group Five
Posted on October 12th, 2011
MERVYN KING produced a resilient display to win Group Five of Championship League Darts, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-3 in Wednesday’s final.
King, appearing in his fourth successive day of the internet-streamed event, won six out of seven league matches to finish top of the table with some brilliant form, notably two ten-darters.
He then defeated Kevin Painter 6-2 in the semis before winning an exciting final 6-3 against Australian star Whitlock – who lost in a third group final of this year’s tournament.
Whitlock took out finishes of 72 and 102 to lead 2-1 in the final, only for King to hit finishes of 120, 111, 105 and 80 to move 5-2 up.
He also missed double seven for an 86 finish in leg eight as Whitlock hit tops to keep the game alive, but the Australian was unable to land double 18 in the next as King booked his place in next Thursday’s Winners Group on double 12. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Championship League darts 2011, Crondon, Group 5 results, Mervyn King, Simon Whitlock
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Championship League Darts Group Two – Taylor Powers Home
Posted on September 28th, 2011
PHIL TAYLOR booked his place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group next month with a 6-5 victory over Simon Whitlock in Wednesday’s Group Two final at Crondon Park GC in Essex.
Taylor bounced back from his semi-final defeat to Wes Newton in Group One by powering through the eight-player field on the second of nine days in the internet-streamed event.
The world number one took six victories from his seven league games during the day to total £2,000 prize money in finishing top of the league table for the second successive day.
After defeating Paul Nicholson 6-3 in the semi-finals – coming from 3-2 down to take four successive legs – he edged out Whitlock in a tense final.
Tags: Championship League Darts, Phil Taylor, Results, Review, Simon Whitlock
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European Championship Darts Quarter Final Results
Posted on July 31st, 2011
CLINICAL TAYLOR OUSTS NICHOLSON IN GERMANY
PHIL TAYLOR’S bid for a fourth European Championship title remains on track as he beat Paul Nicholson 10-8 in the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship in Dusseldorf on Sunday afternoon.
The hotly anticipated game swung both ways and looked likely to head to a final-leg shoot-out at 7-7, but the World number one moved away from Nicholson with a 129 checkout, a 13-dart leg and a 138 checkout to seal the win.
“Every time you play Paul it’s like a final, he gets the best out of you,” said Taylor. “It was a good atmosphere and a hard fought match, really nip and tuck and not the best scoring but very exciting – and it was great to finish on the 138.”
“There was massive tension out there, one of the best atmosphere’s I’ve ever played in and I felt tremendous,” said Nicholson – who led 3-0 after a fast start. “I played pretty well today but at times my first dart just wasn’t good enough and you cannot afford any slack darts against Phil. He was the better player today, no question.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: European Championship, Paul Nicholson, Phil Taylor, quarter final results, Raymond van Barneveld, Simon Whitlock
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European Championship Darts Day 3 Results
Posted on July 30th, 2011
TAYLOR AND NICHOLSON SET UP EURO CLASH AS WRIGHT STUNS ANDERSON
PHIL TAYLOR will meet Paul Nicholson in the quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship in Dusseldorf after both men completed convincing second round wins.
Defending champion Taylor defeated Mervyn King 10-3 to register his 17th straight European Championship win, to follow Nicholson’s 10-4 win over Terry Jenkins at the sold-out Maritim Hotel venue.
Nicholson has had some strong words to say about the World number one recently, and Taylor said that their match tomorrow will be compulsive viewing live on ITV4.
“Everyone wants to watch us play each other now, it’s something not to be missed,” said Taylor. “Paul played really well and was very calm, and I’m sure he’ll bring his best game. I moved through the gears nicely today and will be right up there tomorrow so it’ll be great to watch.”
“My life is really good right now,” said Nicholson. “I’m happy and I’m fit and you can’t ask for more than that. I’m living my dream – I know I can beat anybody and getting into the top ten in the world is already the biggest achievement of my career.”
Tags: Day 3, European championship darts, Paul Nicholson, Peter Wright, Phil Taylor, Results, Review, Round 2, Simon Whitlock
Filed under European Championship, News, PDC, Tournament News | 4 Comments »
Sky Bet World Matchplay Quarter Finals 1st Session Results
Posted on July 22nd, 2011
HAMILTON STUNS WHITLOCK AS LEWIS HITS BACK TO REACH QUARTERS
ANDY HAMILTON produced the most remarkable comeback in the history of the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay as he came from 15-8 down to defeat Simon Whitlock in the quarter-finals in Blackpool on Friday, and he was joined in the semis by World Champion Adrian Lewis.
Australian ace Whitlock looked set to progress to his second successive semi-finals at the Winter Gardens when he took a 15-8 lead in their first-to-16 contest.
But Hamilton incredibly clawed his way back into the match, and as Whitlock missed five match darts at double top across three legs as the world number 17 won nine straight legs in an amazing fightback.
“At 15-8 I had nothing to lose and I started clawing it back, and that’s the greatest comeback of my career,” said Hamilton. “Simon kept missing and he gave me a glimmer, and I pounced on him.
“I was probably trying too hard early on and missed too many doubles, but I relaxed as the game went on and it paid off.”
Hamilton will now meet the winner of Friday night’s quarter-final between reigning champion Phil Taylor and Fleetwood’s Wes Newton in the semis on Saturday, while Lewis will take on Raymond van Barneveld or James Wade following his 16-12 defeat of Mark Webster.
Welshman Webster led 4-1 and 6-2 in his bid to claim a place in the semi-finals of a second successive major tournament, but Lewis hit finishes of 118 and 110 in hitting back to take the win.
“When I was 4-1 down at the first break against Mark I knew I had three or four more gears and I knew what I had to do,” said Lewis.
“He kept giving me chances and I didn’t take them early on, but I never felt under pressure. I’ll have to improve, though, and I will probably have to average 103 or 104 to win the semi-finals, but I’ve got the game to do it.”
The remaining two quarter-finals will be played on Friday evening, with 2007 champion Wade meeting last year’s runner-up Raymond van Barneveld, before Taylor seeks to complete a treble of victories for Stoke-born players when he plays Newton.
Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session
Simon Whitlock 15-17 Andy Hamilton
Adrian Lewis 16-12 Mark Webster
Evening Session (7pm)
Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Wes Newton
All matches the best of 31 legs. Matches must be won by two clear legs.
ANDY HAMILTON 17-15 SIMON WHITLOCK
ANDY HAMILTON produced the most remarkable comeback in the history of the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay, winning nine successive legs in coming from the brink of defeat to Simon Whitlock to win 17-15 in their classic quarter-final.
Hamilton, who only earned his spot in the event as the last of 16 Players Championship qualifiers a month ago, seemed set to see his Winter Gardens challenge end when Whitlock took a 15-8 lead.
However, the Australian’s accuracy on the doubles evaded him as he missed five match darts across three separate legs as Hamilton clawed his way back level and snatched the most dramatic of victories.
Whitlock made the stronger start, hitting a 174 and double eight to win the opening leg and recovering from allowing Hamilton in to level on tops in the second with some clinical finishing to win three successive legs.
The first came courtesy of a 116 checkout, the second saw him hit tops for an 80 finish and the third, for a 14-darter saw Whitlock follow a 180 with double 16.
Hamilton hit his first 180 of the match in the sixth leg, and swiftly added a second in posting a superb 11-dart leg to halt the run.
The next two were shared courtesy of double 16 finishes, before Whitlock took the ninth in spectacular fashion by following a 180 with a 105 checkout.
Hamilton landed another 11-darter to pull back to 6-4, but Whitlock again hit top gear, winning six out of the next seven legs to pull clear at 12-5, with only a third 11-dart finish of the game from the Englishman coming in reply.
Hamilton hit his fifth 180 of the game and double top to slow Whitlock’s progress, although the Australian replied with a 106 checkout and also shared the next four legs as he edged towards victory by moving 15-8 up.
Double 16 from Hamilton saw him begin the fightback, and when he broke throw for the first time in the match in the 24th leg with a 12-darter which featured two 180s, the gap was reduced to 15-10.
Whitlock was first to a finish in the next, but when he missed three match darts just above double top, Hamilton stepped in with an 86 finish to stay alive.
Another missed double top in the next, this time for a 120 finish, allowed Hamilton to finish double 16, and when he hit a pressure double five to reduce the gap to 15-13, the comeback was truly underway.
Whitlock posted a 180 in the next, and when Hamilton missed double 16 for a 142 finish he was handed another chance to take the win – but again was off-target on double top, and his opponent returned to pull to within a leg.
Hamilton then finished 68 to level the match, and landed his ninth 180 and a 68 finish to incredible lead for the first time at 16-15 after Whitlock missed five darts to regain his advantage.
Whitlock replied with a maximum in the next as he battled to keep the game alive, but Hamilton secured the victory in style, finishing 94 on the bullseye with a superb dart to complete the most remarkable of fightbacks.
“I can’t believe it,” said Hamilton. “At 15-8 I had nothing to lose and I started clawing it back, and that’s the greatest comeback of my career.
“Simon kept missing and he gave me a glimmer, and I pounced on him. I got back in the game and at 15-13 I was on a roll.
“I was probably trying too hard early on and missed too many doubles, but I relaxed as the game went on and it paid off.”
Hamilton’s win followed up defeats of number four seed Gary Anderson and a second Scot, John Henderson, and ensures that he will return to the world’s top 16.
“I’m growing in confidence and I’ve nothing to lose in the semi-finals,” said Hamilton. “Because I beat Gary it’s given me more self-belief and I’ve nothing to lose.
“I’m the underdog but I could go all the way, and I’m shutting the doubters up about my game. People said I was gone and that I’d never come back but this will shut them up.”
ADRIAN LEWIS 16-12 MARK WEBSTER
ADRIAN LEWIS overcame a slow start before defeating Mark Webster 16-12 to reach the Sky Bet Mobile World Matchplay semi-finals at the Winter Gardens on Friday.
The World Champion trailed 4-1 and 6-2 as Webster made a swift start in his bid to reach the semis in a second successive major, following his run in the Speedy Hire UK Open last month.
However, Lewis won seven out of eight legs in mid-game to edge into a 9-7 lead, and he eventually proved too strong as he booked his place in Saturday’s semi-finals.
Webster made an ideal opening to the game, taking the first leg and then breaking to win the second after Lewis suffered some early double trouble.
A makeshift finish of double 11, double three from Webster saw him move into a 3-0 lead, and although Lewis got off the mark by hitting a 180 and tops in the fourth a 13-darter from Webster saw him take a 4-1 advantage at the first break.
A 70 finish from Lewis saw him win the sixth, but Webster edged the next two to take a 6-2 advantage, only to miss two chances in the next as Lewis posted double five to break.
He followed that with a 14-dart leg and checkouts of 110 and 118 for four successive legs in levelling the contest, before Webster took out 72 on double 12 to 7-6 up.
A two-dart 85 finish from Lewis saw him level once more, and he took the lead for the first time with a 13-dart leg, which was followed by double top as he moved clear at 9-7.
Webster finished 104 to win the 17th leg, but Lewis moved three legs ahead with a brace of double tops as he edged towards the winning line.
Webster replied with two double ten checkouts to pull back to 11-10, and hit a 180 in the next only to see Lewis finish 72 on double 18 to five himself breathing space.
After the Welshman took the next, Lewis held his cool to hit a 180 and a 90 finish to lead 13-11 and then moved two legs away from the semis by winning the 25th leg.
Webster produced a brilliant ten-darter to keep his hopes alive at 14-12, but Lewis replied with back-to-back 180s in winning the next before sealing victory on double 11.
Having stared defeat in the face against Kevin Painter in the first round, as his opponent missed six darts to knock him out, Lewis now sits two victories away from claiming his second major title in the space of seven months following defeats of Vincent van der Voort and Webster.
“In the first match Kevin played well and I was lucky to get through, but you have to take your chances and I’ve shown a lot of bottle,” said Lewis. “That’s part of why I’m World Champion and I think I can go on to win this tournament now.
“When I was 4-1 down at the first break against Mark I knew I had three or four more gears and I knew what I had to do.
“He kept giving me chances and I didn’t take them early on, but I never felt under pressure. I’ll have to improve, though, and I will probably have to average 103 or 104 to win the semi-finals, but I’ve got the game to do it.”
Source – PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Tags: Andy Hamilton, Blackpool, Results, Simon Whitlock, 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.
