SIMON WHITLOCK defeated Gary Anderson 6-2 to win Group Two of Championship League Darts in only his second day in the internet-streamed tournament.
The Australian star booked his place in October's big-money Winners Group following a solid day of darts at Crondon Park GC in Essex.
Having been a semi-finalist in Group One on his debut in the tournament, he improved further to take £3,100 prize money on Wednesday and remain in the hunt for the £10,000 first prize next month.
Whitlock finished second in the league table after winning five of his seven league games, a feat matched by both Anderson and Adrian Lewis.
Whitlock then defeated Lewis 6-2 in the semis before repeating that scoreline in the decider against Anderson.
He came from a leg down to take four in a row in assuming a 4-1 lead against Anderson, who hit a 180 and a two-dart 84 finish to win the sixth in his best leg of the final.
However, Whitlock matched him blow for blow in the seventh as they traded scores of 140 and 180 before the Australian finished 91 on the bull, before another maximum and double four secured the win.
Anderson, who topped the league table on leg difference after recording whitewash wins over Co Stompe and James Wade during the round-robin league phase, claimed £2,600 prize money on his debut in Championship League Darts.
The Scot defeated Ronnie Baxter 6-2 in the semis, taking a 3-0 lead before the Lancastrian pulled back to within a leg before Anderson, aided by a brace of 180s, won the next three for victory.
Baxter had secured a semi-final place with victory over Colin Lloyd in their final league game, as the Essex ace - Group One's runner-up - ended the day without a win to be eliminated.
Paul Nicholson was also eliminated on his debut in the competition, although only a 6-3 loss to Stompe in their winner-takes-all final league game saw him knocked out by virtue of a bottom-two finish.
Stompe had stepped in to compete on Wednesday morning after Mervyn King was forced to withdraw from the tournament with a heel injury, and the Dutchman lost his first four games.
However, wins over Lloyd, Lewis and Nicholson mean that he now progresses to compete in Group Three on Thursday, with Andy Hamilton, reigning champion Colin Osborne and Alan Tabern also joining the eight-player field.
Championship League Darts is screened solely on the internet via 16 bookmakers' websites and to PDCtv subscribers at the PDC's official website, www.pdc.tv.
The eight players compete for £50 per leg won in the group phase before prize money increases to £100 per leg in the play-offs, with a place in the Winners Group on offer for the day's champion.
Score updates are also available at www.twitter.com/officialpdc
Group Two Results
|
Board One |
Board Two |
|
James Wade 6-5 Co Stompe |
Gary Anderson 2-6 Paul Nicholson |
|
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Colin Lloyd |
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Ronnie Baxter |
|
Paul Nicholson 4-6 James Wade |
Colin Lloyd 5-6 Adrian Lewis |
|
Ronnie Baxter 3-6 Simon Whitlock |
Co Stompe 0-6 Gary Anderson |
|
Paul Nicholson 5-6 Adrian Lewis |
James Wade 6-5 Colin Lloyd |
|
Ronnie Baxter 1-6 Gary Anderson |
Co Stompe 3-6 Simon Whitlock |
|
Adrian Lewis 5-6 James Wade |
Paul Nicholson 6-4 Colin Lloyd |
|
Co Stompe 0-6 Ronnie Baxter |
Gary Anderson 6-5 Simon Whitlock |
|
Gary Anderson 4-6 Adrian Lewis |
Simon Whitlock 6-3 James Wade |
|
Colin Lloyd 1-6 Co Stompe |
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Paul Nicholson |
|
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Paul Nicholson |
Co Stompe 6-2 Adrian Lewis |
|
Colin Lloyd 1-6 Gary Anderson |
James Wade 4-6 Ronnie Baxter |
|
Gary Anderson 6-0 James Wade |
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Simon Whitlock |
|
Ronnie Baxter 6-1 Colin Lloyd |
Paul Nicholson 3-6 Co Stompe |
|
Semi-Finals |
|
|
Gary Anderson 6-2 Ronnie Baxter |
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Adrian Lewis |
|
Final |
|
|
Gary Anderson 2-6 Simon Whitlock |
Final League Table
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts | |
|
Gary Anderson |
7 |
5 |
2 |
36 |
19 |
+17 |
£1800 |
10 |
|
Simon Whitlock |
7 |
5 |
2 |
38 |
26 |
+12 |
£1900 |
10 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
5 |
2 |
37 |
31 |
+6 |
£1850 |
10 |
|
Ronnie Baxter |
7 |
4 |
3 |
30 |
27 |
+3 |
£1500 |
8 |
|
James Wade |
7 |
4 |
3 |
31 |
37 |
-6 |
£1550 |
8 |
|
Co Stompe |
7 |
3 |
4 |
26 |
30 |
-4 |
£1300 |
6 |
|
Paul Nicholson |
7 |
2 |
5 |
32 |
36 |
-4 |
£1600 |
4 |
|
Colin Lloyd |
7 |
0 |
7 |
18 |
42 |
-24 |
£900 |
0 |
Group Two Prize Money
|
|
£Won |
|
Simon Whitlock |
£3100 |
|
Gary Anderson |
£2600 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
£2050 |
|
Ronnie Baxter |
£1700 |
|
Paul Nicholson |
£1600 |
|
James Wade |
£1550 |
|
Co Stompe |
£1300 |
|
Colin Lloyd |
£900 |
First Set of Matches
James Wade edged out Co Stompe 6-5 in their opening match. Wade, who had finished sixth in Group One on Tuesday, started well to lead 3-1 against the Dutchman, thanks in part to a break of throw in the third leg. Stompe landed double top in successive legs to hit back and level, but Wade won the seventh against the throw and landed a 180 and double ten to go 5-3 up. Stompe - a late replacement on Wednesday morning for injured Mervyn King - landed a pressure double ten to stay in the game in the ninth, and then punished a missed match dart from Wade to land double 18 and send the game into a decider. Wade, though, pushed clear and landed double top for the win, with Stompe back on 135.
Paul Nicholson defeated Gary Anderson 6-2 in the clash of the Championship League Darts debutants. Nicholson enjoyed a nerve-settling 110 finish in the opening leg before Anderson levelled on double ten for an 80 finish, while an edgy third was won by Nicholson after the Scot missed a host of doubles to break. Nicholson took the next two to move 4-1 up before Anderson, aided by a 180 and double five, took the seventh. A 78 finish from Nicholson edged him to the brink of victory, and after three misses at double 18 from the Scot he sealed victory in style with a brilliant 146 checkout.
Simon Whitlock completed a Championship League Darts double over Colin Lloyd with a 6-1 win to open Group Two. The Australian took a 6-2 win in their league meeting yesterday, and recovered from losing the first leg to take six in a row against the local star. Lloyd punished two misses from the World Championship finalist by landing double top in the first leg, with Whitlock hitting the same bed to level and then taking advantage of nine missed doubles to win the third. A brilliant 158 checkout put him 3-1, and after double five pushed him three legs clear further misses from Lloyd in the next two were punished in clinical fashion as he wrapped up the win.
Adrian Lewis made an ideal start to Group two with a strong 6-2 win over Ronnie Baxter. Lewis broke throw in the first leg and took out 74 to double his lead before Baxter checked out 142 to get off the mark. Finishes of double top and double 16 moved Lewis 4-1 up, while Baxter fired in a maximum in winning the sixth. Lewis' clinical finishing continued with double top for a 5-2 lead, and he took out 68 to end the game with a flawless finishing ratio.
Second Set of Matches
James Wade picked up a second successive victory in Group Two with a 6-4 defeat of Paul Nicholson. Nicholson made a fine start with checkouts of 105 and 120 in the opening two legs, but three missed doubles in the third allowed Wade to break throw before the left-hander took the next two on double top to lead 3-2. A 96 finish from Nicholson levelled and double four edged him 4-3 up, but Wade hit top gear to finish the stronger, levelling on double five, hitting a third-dart double ten for a 5-4 lead and then double top for the win.
Adrian Lewis came from 3-0 down to defeat Colin Lloyd in a deciding leg and pick up a second successive win. After edging a scrappy opening leg, Lloyd punished missed doubles from Lewis in the next two to lead 3-0, only for Lewis to land double top to break and a 180 in taking the fifth in cutting the gap to one. Lloyd won the sixth, but tops from the Stoke youngster gave him a third leg. Lloyd hit a 180 in the eighth, but missed four darts for th leg as Lewis posted double two to level, before winning the ninth to lead for the first time in the match. Double five from Lloyd - after Lewis missed a dart for victory at tops - saw him force a decider, but the former European Championship finalist finished 86 on double eight for the win.
Simon Whitlock maintained his winning start to Group Two with a 6-3 win over Ronnie Baxter. Whitlock opened well with a 150 finish to kick off the game, and after Baxter levelled he punished six misses from the Blackpool man to win steal the third against the throw, took out double top in the fourth and then finished 128 on the bull to lead 4-1. Baxter took the next two, but crucially missed double 16 for a 108 finish to level, and Whitlock took out double eight for a 5-3 cushion before landing double top for the win.
Gary Anderson made light work of Co Stompe with the first whitewash of Group Two. Anderson made an immediate statement with a 180 in a break of throw to open the match and took the second before landing the bull for a 3-0 lead. Double eight gave him the fourth leg, and he landed another maximum in a third break of throw before double ten sealed victory.
Third Set of Matches
Adrian Lewis remains unbeaten in Group Two after picking up a narrow 6-5 win over Paul Nicholson. Lewis landed double top in the opening two legs to lead before Nicholson finished 97 to break throw and double top to level. A 117 finish from Lewis saw him regain the lead, and finishes of double six and double top moved him into a 5-2 advantage. Nicholson won the next and hit two 180s in the ninth, before punishing two missed darts from Lewis with a 101 finish to force a decider. Lewis, though, hit scores of 180, 100 and 180 in the final leg, and had enough breathing space to miss six match darts before sealing the win on double one.
Colin Lloyd saw a 3-0 lead slip away for a second successive game as James Wade battled back for a 6-5 victory. Lloyd, without a win in Group Two so far, opened with a 118 finish and broke on double 16 in the second, before double four gave him a third leg. Wade landed a 180 and double top to win the fourth, and also hit a maximum in the sixth, although double eight had given Lloyd the leg in between as he held a 4-2 cushion. That lead became three legs thanks to double top, but Wade took the eighth and punished a string of missed match darts in the next, while double top forced a decider. Wade landed a 180 in the final leg against the throw, and hit double ten for the win with Lloyd having left 20 without having a dart for the match.
Gary Anderson picked up a second straight victory, following his whitewash of Co Stompe with a 6-1 defeat of Ronnie Baxter. After sharing the first two legs, Anderson found another gear to hit a brace of double top finishes, including the first break of the game, to lead 3-1. Baxter missed double top for a 116 checkout in the fifth, as double seven gave Anderson a reprieve, and the Scot took the sixth against the throw and checked out 120 for the win.
Simon Whitlock's 100% start to Wednesday's play continued as he saw off Co Stompe 6-3. The pair shared the opening four legs before Whitlock produced a 105 checkout to break for a 3-2 lead. Stompe levelled, but a 122 finish from the Australian put him 4-3 up, and he took the next two to seal a third straight victory.
Fourth Set of Matches
James Wade battled from 4-2 down to edge a deciding leg victory against Adrian Lewis in the battle of two unbeaten players. Lewis broke throw in the first leg and landed double eight to move 2-0 up, repeating the finish in the fourth leg after Wade had got himself off the mark. Lewis wasted a handful of chances to win the fifth as double ten brought Wade back to 3-2, although double top gave Lewis a two-leg cushion at 4-2. Wade, though, took out 120 for the seventh and then a brace of double top finishes put him 5-4 up. He missed tops for the game in the next as Lewis hit the bed to force a decider, but Wade pulled clear with the throw to hit tops for the win.
Paul Nicholson inflicted a fourth straight defeat upon Colin Lloyd, taking a 6-4 win to boost his own play-off hopes. In a tight match, the only break of throw came as Nicholson took the tenth leg to claim victory. Lloyd had few chances in the early legs to break, with Nicholson hitting 180s on his own throw twice and a two-dart 76 finish in leading 3-2 before Lloyd levelled with a 66 checkout. Another maximum from Nicholson was followed by a 60 finish before Lloyd posted tops in the eighth to level mattters. But Nicholson hit double five for a 5-4 cushon and made the decisive move in the next, stepping in after a missed bullseye from Lloyd for a 164 finish to post double eight for the points.
Ronnie Baxter picked up his first win of Group Two, and also extended Co Stompe's losing run to four games, with a 6-0 whitewash of the Dutchman. Stompe was given little chance after missing the bull to win the first leg, with a 64 finish from Baxter seeing him break, while a 124 bullseye finish in the third put the Blackpool man 3-0 up. He also took the fourth before a double ten finish saw him break for a third time for a 5-0 lead, before he landed a 177 and a two-dart 77 finish to complete a superb display.
Gary Anderson came from 4-2 behind to inflict Simon Whitlock's first loss of the day in a deciding leg. The game's opening three legs went with the throw before Whitlock broke on double nine in the fourth for a 3-1 lead, Anderson having missed the bull for a 161 finish. Anderson took out 108 to hit back, but Whitlock won the sixth with a 124 finish. Double top and then an 85 checkout from the Scot saw him level, before Whitlock won the ninth and Anderson took the tenth to force a decider, where he hit a 180 and took out 84 on double 11 for the win.
Fifth Set of Matches
Adrian Lewis picked up his fourth win of Group Two with a 6-4 defeat of Gary Anderson. Lewis made a strong start with an 11-darter to break throw before hitting double 12 for a 2-0 lead. The Scot traded 180s with Lewis before taking the third, and after the Stoke youngster won the fourth Anderson then won two in a row to level, thanks to double two and double top. The next two went against the throw before Lewis won the ninth with a 125 finish - after Anderson missed double top - and then sealed victory on double eight.
Simon Whitlock bounced back to winning ways with a 6-3 defeat of James Wade. Wade held his own for the first four legs, hitting a 124 finish in the fourth, before a brace of double 18 finishes moved him 4-2 up and a 98 finish edged him to the brink of victory. Wade hit a 180 and double top to take the eighth, but Whitlock sealed the win in the next.
Co Stompe picked up his first win of Group Two and continued Colin Lloyd's miserable day with a 6-1 win over the Group One runner-up. Stompe, who had stepped in on Wednesday morning for the injured Mervyn King, finally hit top form to see off Lloyd in style. A 96 finish gave him the opening leg before he hit a 180 and a 142 finish to take the second. Double 16 put him 3-0 up before another break of throw won Stompe a fourth leg, and he also won the ffith to move a leg away from a whitewash. Lloyd avoided that prospect by taking the sixth on double two, but Stompe hit another 180 in opening the next, and double ten sealed a comprehensive win.
Ronnie Baxter claimed his second victory of the day, seeing off Paul Nicholson 6-4 to maintain a chance of a semi-final berth. The pair shared the opening six legs before Baxter secured a key break in seventh on double top - after three misses from Nicholson - to lead 4-3. He also took the eighth before a 116 finish from Nicholson kept him in the game, but the respite was brief as Baxter hit double ten in the next for the two points.
Sixth Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock produced a hammer blow to Paul Nicholson's semi-final hopes with a 6-4 victory. Whitlock hit a 180 in the opening leg and double top for the first leg before Nicholson replied with a 104 finish. The next three also went with the throw before double two in the sixth saw Whitlock break for a 4-2 lead. Nicholson landed a 180 in hitting back, but the Australian star responded with a 180 and a 92 finish for a 5-3 lead. Double 16 kept Nicholson in the game, but a bullseye finish from Whitlock, on 88, secured victory.
Co Stompe won a second successive match, defeating Adrian Lewis 6-2 to continue his revival. Stompe picked up his maiden win of the day in round five, and continued that form to see off the semi-final challenger. He opened the game with a 78 finish, which was followed by a 96 finish and double 15 as he took the opening three legs without reply. Lewis finished 38 for the fourth leg, but double five restored Stompe's lead, and a 107 finish moved him 5-1 up. Lewis broke back for a second leg, but double 12 sealed a second two-pointer for the Dutchman.
Gary Anderson put one foot into the semi-finals on his Championship League Darts debut with a crushing 6-1 defeat of winless Colin Lloyd. Lloyd could do little as Anderson romped into a 3-0 lead, before taking out a superb 155 to briefly stem the tide. However, double top gave Anderson a fourth leg, a 92 finish put him 5-1 up and double ten secured the win.
Ronnie Baxter took his challenge for a semi-final place to the final match with a 6-4 defeat of James Wade, who remains in the top four entering the final round of matches. Wade broke throw to lead only for Baxter, aided by back-to-back double top finishes and a break of throw on double 16, to win four in a row for a 4-1 lead. Wade took the next three to level, but Baxter took the ninth and then landed double nine for a 66 finish to seal victory.
Final Set of Matches
Gary Anderson secured top spot in Group Two's league table with a whitewash over James Wade - who could now miss out on the top four should Ronnie Baxter defeat Colin Lloyd. Anderson took out double top for the first and third legs and broke throw on double 19 in the second, before punishing a Wade miss to take out double nine in the fourth. Wade also missed double top in the fifth as Anderson moved to the brink of a win which was sealed in the next, as he took out 83 in two darts for a second whitewash of the day.
Adrian Lewis' 6-3 win over Simon Whitlock sealed his semi-final place - where he will meet the Australian again after they both ended on five wins. Lewis made an ideal start to break throw in the opening leg, and also took the second before Whitlock fired in a 180 and double eight to get off the mark. The next four were shared to leave Lewis 4-3 up before he took out double top for the eighth leg and then sealed the win on double ten.
Ronnie Baxter sneaked a play-off spot with a 6-1 win over Colin Lloyd, who ended a disappointing Group Two without a victory. Lloyd took the game's opening leg, but Baxter checked out 124 in the second to break back, and reeled off the next five without reply to jump into fourth place, setting up a semi-final against Gary Anderson by jumping above Wade in the final league table.
Co Stompe completed a miracle escape with a 6-3 victory over Paul Nicholson - ensuring his own progression to Group Three and eliminating the debutant in the process. Stompe lost his first four games after stepping in on Wednesday morning when Mervyn King was ruled out through injury, but won his final three to stay alive in the tournament. Nicholson made the brighter start in the winner-takes-all encounter, taking the opening leg against the darts and also hitting a 120 finish in establishing an early 3-1 lead. A brace of double top finishes saw Stompe level, before he punished one missed double from Nicholson in the next two to lead - hitting a 127 in taking a 5-3 lead, with double top in the next ensuring he knocked out January's Players Championship winner.
Semi-Finals
Gary Anderson won through to a debut final in Championship League Darts with a 6-2 defeat of Ronnie Baxter. Anderson followed up topping the league table with a strong performance to see off fourth-placed Baxter, with two double ten finishes to break throw in taking a 3-0 lead giving him command early on. Baxter took out 78 to win the fourth and added a second leg before being denied the chance to level on double ten for a 4-2 lead. He kicked off the next with a 180 and landed double four to move a leg away from the win, and added another maximum and double ten to seal the win.
Simon Whitlock secured a spot in his first Championship League Darts final with a 6-2 win over Adrian Lewis. The Australian took out 120 to win the opening leg, and added double two for a 2-0 lead before Lewis got off the mark on double six. The pair shared the next two, but Whitlock followed double top with a break in the seventh, and completed the win with a 180 and double four.
Final
Simon Whitlock claimed the Group Two title with a 6-2 win over Gary Anderson. The Australian came from a leg down to take four in a row in assuming a 4-1 lead against Anderson, who hit a 180 and a two-dart 84 finish to win the sixth in his best leg of the final. However, Whitlock matched him blow for blow in the seventh as they traded scores of 140 and 180 before the Australian finished 91 on the bull, before another maximum and double four secured the win.