World Grand Prix Quarter Finals Review
Posted on October 9th, 2010
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PHIL TAYLOR powered home six straight legs to battle from behind and defeat Gary Anderson 4-3 in a sensational semi-final at the Bodog.com World Grand Prix on Friday night.
Taylor produced a sensational display in one of the double-start format’s greatest ever matches, missing the bullseye for a nine-dart finish – which would have been the first in this event – before coming from 3-2 down to claim the win.
Anderson played his part in a thriller, leading 2-1 and 3-2 only to see Taylor apply a late charge as the Scot lost his range on his trusted starting double top.
“It was a great game to be involved in,” said Taylor. “Gary was brilliant and hit some fantastic shots, and he pushed me all the way.
“This has set me up to hopefully go on and keep this title now because it was a really high standard.”
Taylor now takes on Adrian Lewis in the semis, after the Stoke ace won through to the last four in Dublin for the first time with a 4-1 win over Wayne Jones.
Lewis hit a 161 finish during the contest and sealed victory with a 140 checkout, but will need to defeat Taylor for the first time on television to reach the final.
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World Grand Prix Night Four Review
Posted on October 8th, 2010
ANDY HAMILTON knocked highly-fancied Simon Whitlock out of the Bodog.com World Grand Prix on Thursday night, as James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld and Barrie Bates booked quarter-final places.
Hamilton, a semi-finalist 12 months ago at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, saw off in-form Australian Whitlock in a five-set thriller to maintain his challenge for the £100,000 title.
The pair shared four sets in a high-scoring contest, with Whitlock twice winning a set without reply and Hamilton checking out 154 to win the third set.
The Derby-based star also hit a 130 finish in opening up a 2-0 lead in the decider, before sealing victory with a superb 11-dart finish.
“I’ve been playing well this year and I feel great,” said Hamilton, who now faces James Wade on Friday night. “I’m relaxed and my darts are going well.
“The 154 was a massive shot and it spurred me on. I was starting well on double 16 and am excited about playing in the quarter-finals on Friday.”
2007 champion Wade won through to the quarters with a 3-1 win over Colin Osborne, as he overcame a loss of concentration in the second set to hit four ton-plus finishes in taking the win.
Raymond van Barneveld, the runner-up to Phil Taylor for the past two years in Dublin, defeated Mark Walsh 3-1 to put himself into the last eight.
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World Grand Prix Night Three Review
Posted on October 7th, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR brutally dispatched Andy Smith in straight sets to remain on course for a tenth Bodog.com World Grand Prix title at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin on Wednesday night.
Taylor followed up Monday’s whitewash of Brendan Dolan with a outstanding display against Smith, who was limited to just two chances at a double in the game.
Taylor will now face Gary Anderson in Friday’s quarter-finals, as he looks to take a third successive Dublin title, and a tenth in the history of the event.
“I’m delighted to get through another round and I’m feeling good,” said Taylor. “My results so far show that everything I’ve been doing is coming right on stage.
“I’ll have a bit more killer instinct in the quarter-finals and the longer format always suits me, even though I’ve not played a lot of darts so far.”
Anderson, on the other hand, grabbed victory from the jaws of defeat for the second successive game as Kevin Painter missed three match darts in the fifth set of a dramatic contest.
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World Grand Prix Night Two Review
Posted on October 6th, 2010
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD and James Wade ended the hopes of crowd favourites John MaGowan and Mick McGowan with convincing wins in the first round of the Bodog.com World Grand Prix on Tuesday night.
Dutchman van Barneveld began his bid to reach a third successive final at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin with a straight sets defeat of 69-year-old MaGowan.
Van Barneveld dropped only one leg in his win as he made a steady return to action following a two-month break since the European Championship.
“I’m working hard but I’m not at my best yet and I’m just pleased to be through because there are a lot of players who played better than me in the first round, average-wise, and are out,” said the Dutchman. “I’d rather have a worse average and win my games.”
2007 champion Wade, meanwhile, won both sets against Balbriggan’s Mick McGowan to move into the second round and set up a clash with Colin Osborne on Thursday.
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Bodog.com World Grand Prix Preview
Posted on October 3rd, 2010
THE Bodog.com World Grand Prix begins on Monday night in Dublin, as 32 of the world’s greatest players gather at the Citywest Hotel Convention Centre for the unique double-start event.
The £350,000 tournament will be played from Monday October 4-Sunday October 10 and screened live on Sky Sports HD – as players battle to deny Phil Taylor a tenth victory in the event.
The World Grand Prix is unique in the darting calendar, with all legs having to both begin and end with a double – ensuring tension and drama throughout the event, especially in the best of three set first round.
Reigning champion Taylor opted not to play in the two Players Championships over the weekend, and has enjoyed a relaxed build-up as he bids to add to his nine wins in the double-start event.
However, his three defeats have all come in the first round – to Kevin Painter in 2001, Andy Callaby in 2004 and Adrian Gray in 2007 – and he admits he will have some nerves against Brendan Dolan on Monday night.
“It’s a short format and Brendan’s in good form so I know I’ll have to be on top of my game from the start,” said Taylor. “I’m always a bit apprehensive in the first round here but if you get through that then you can relax as the format gets longer.
“I’m feeling good through. I’ve had a great year so far and prepared well for this, so I’m looking forward to it. Hopefully I can get past Brendan and have another successful week.”
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World Grand Prix Draw
Posted on September 21st, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR will begin the defence of his Bodog.com World Grand Prix against Brendan Dolan, while Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade also face ‘home’ opposition in John MaGowan and Mick McGowan at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin next month.
Taylor’s bid to win a tenth World Grand Prix title will kick off on the opening night of the £350,000 tournament when he faces Fermanagh’s Dolan in a repeat of their meeting in the first round last year.
The draw pits the winner of Taylor’s meeting with Dolan against Andy Smith or Jamie Caven in the second round on Wednesday October 6.
Number two seed Raymond van Barneveld, who has been the runner-up to Taylor for the past two years in Dublin, has drawn Northern Irish veteran John MaGowan in the first round.
World number three James Wade, the 2007 World Grand Prix champion, will face Balbriggan’s Mick McGowan, while debutant Irishman William O’Connor – from Cappamore in Limerick – drew Wales’ Barrie Bates.
Steve Farmer, who won Sunday’s Players Championship in Holland to dramatically claim a qualifying spot, will meet another World Grand Prix debutant in the first round after being drawn with Bristol’s Steve Brown.
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Bodog.com World Grand Prix Preview
Posted on September 15th, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR set his sights on a tenth Bodog.com World Grand Prix title next month as the event was launched at a packed Dublin Press conference on Tuesday.
The world number one will defend his title in the double-start tournament at the Citywest Hotel from October 4-10, with the tournament being shown live on Sky Sports HD.
Having won 15 World Championships and 11 World Matchplay titles, another World Grand Prix win would see him reach double figures in victories in a third major tournament – a feat unrivalled in the sport’s history.
“I try not to think too much about records but to win a tenth World Grand Prix would be very special,” said Taylor, who turned 50 last month.
“I’ve had a lot of success in the tournament, as well as some bad memories with three first round defeats!
“The double-start format is a great challenge and you have to be on your game all the time because the format’s short early on and if I’m honest I’m always nervous going into the first round.”
Taylor will find out his first round opponent when the draw takes place next Tuesday, with the final two qualifying events taking place in Holland this weekend.
The world’s top 16 qualify by right, and are joined by the leading four Irish or Northern Irish players and 12 other qualifiers for the £350,000 tournament.
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Bodog To Sponsor World Grand Prix
Posted on September 2nd, 2010
BODOG, the largest online betting brand in the world*, have been confirmed as the new title sponsors of the Bodog.com World Grand Prix darts championship.
The poker, casino and online betting website are the new sponsor for the £350,000 event, which will be held from October 4-10 at the Citywest Hotel Convention Centre in Dublin, Ireland.
Screened live on Sky Sports in the UK and also around the world, the Bodog.com World Grand Prix is one of the sport’s most exciting events, with the unique double-start format meaning that players have to begin and end every leg with a double.
Reigning champion Phil Taylor will be bidding to win the event for an incredible tenth time in October, with the 32-player field of competitors being confirmed in mid-September.
As part of their online gaming, darts fans will be able to place bets on the World Grand Prix via the Bodog.com website, as well as at the Citywest Hotel’s on-site betting facility.
Patrik Selin, CEO of Bodog Europe, the licensee of the Bodog brand in the UK, commented: “We have made some giant strides in establishing the Bodog brand here in the UK recently with our sponsorship with Fulham Football Club and this is another important landmark for us.
“Darts and Bodog are a perfect fit on every level.”
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Sky Poker World Grand Prix – Taylor Claims Eighth Title
Posted on October 13th, 2008
PHIL TAYLOR 6-2 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
(2-3, 3-2, 3-0, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
PHIL TAYLOR claimed his eighth Sky Poker World Grand Prix title with a 6-2 demolition of Raymond van Barneveld at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin.
Taylor bounced back from his first round exit in the double-start event a year ago to claim the title and pick up a fourth major ranking victory of 2008 in style.
He hit 13 180s and averaged 97.81 in claiming the £50,000 title.
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Sky Poker World Grand Prix – Semi-Final Round-Up
Posted on October 13th, 2008
PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld will clash in the final of the Sky Poker World Grand Prix on Sunday after convincing wins in the tournament’s semi-finals.
The world’s top two players dropped just seven legs between them in 5-0 semi-final romps over Mervyn King and Terry Jenkins to set up a high-profile decider.
Van Barneveld produced a powerful display to see off King 5-0, winning eight of the last nine legs of their semi-final to reach his first final in the double-start format.
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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.
