ANDY SMITH came from the brink of defeat to edge out Jelle Klaasen 6-5 and win Group Seven of Championship League Darts.
Smith did show some early nerves on the doubles, missing two darts for the opening leg as Klaasen held on double eight before the Dutchman landed a 180 but wasted five darts in leg two as Smith returned to level.
Double four for Klaasen saw him punish further misses from Smith in the third, only for Smith to level on double five and break on double ten for a 3-2 lead, which he extended thanks to double two after Klaasen missed double ten.
The Dutchman landed double 12 for the next two legs to level and then posted a 180 and double eight to move 5-4 up.
However, he missed double 11 for a 124 game shot in the tenth as Smith forced a decider, and - after opening with a 180 - saw two further match darts slip away as Smith hit double 16 to snatch the win.
Smith had also won his semi-final against Denis Ovens in a deciding leg, while four of his seven league matches also went the full 11-leg distance as he finished third in the league table.
Smith only returned to playing a fortnight ago after needing surgery on an infected leg wound in the summer, but will now compete in the Winners Group on Thursday.
"I kept hanging in there and got my rewards," said Smith, who won £3,100 on the day. "Jelle missed a few doubles to win it so I suppose I was a bit lucky but I'll gratefully take it.
"I can rest my leg now on Wednesday and come back for the Winners Group refreshed.
"I'd love to win this competition and there's the extra aim for me of getting into the Grand Slam of Darts but I know it will be tough against so many great players on Thursday.
"If I win the £20,000 first prize I'll get the rest of the treatment for my bad leg privately!"
Klaasen had finished top with five wins from his seven league games, ahead of Ovens on leg difference, and had won an all-Dutch semi-final with Co Stompe 6-2.
Klaasen, Stompe and Ovens will now return to Crondon Park GC in Essex on Wednesday to compete in Group Eight, which will be their final chance to win through to Thursday's big-money Winners Group.
Wayne Jones and Dennis Priestley also avoided elimination in Group Seven, with the latter defeating Smith 6-5 in the final round of matches to knock out Vincent van der Voort.
Mark Dudbridge was also eliminated, winning just one of his seven league games after entering the event in Group Seven.
Welshman Mark Webster will make his Championship League Darts debut on Wednesday when he comes in for Group Eight, alongside Canada's three-time World Champion John Part and Holland's Michael van Gerwen.
Championship League Darts is streamed exclusively live around the world through 16 bookmakers' websites, as well as to PDCtv subscribers at the PDC's official website, www.pdc.tv.
Score updates during Championship League Darts are also available at www.twitter.com/officialpdc
NB Andy Smith is pictured showing his support for the DEAFinitely Darts event to be staged on Thursday October 21 by the PDC's official charity, SignHealth. For more information, visit www.deafinitelydarts.org.uk
Championship League Darts - Group Seven
|
Board One |
Board Two |
|
Co Stompe 6-3 Dennis Priestley |
Mark Dudbridge 5-6 Andy Smith |
|
Denis Ovens 6-5 Jelle Klaasen |
Vincent vd Voort 6-3 Wayne Jones |
|
Andy Smith 6-5 Co Stompe |
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Vincent vd Voort |
|
Wayne Jones 4-6 Denis Ovens |
Dennis Priestley 6-1 Mark Dudbridge |
|
Andy Smith 4-6 Vincent vd Voort |
Co Stompe 4-6 Jelle Klaasen |
|
Wayne Jones 6-0 Mark Dudbridge |
Dennis Priestley 1-6 Denis Ovens |
|
Vincent vd Voort 5-6 Co Stompe |
Andy Smith 6-1 Jelle Klaasen |
|
Dennis Priestley 3-6 Wayne Jones |
Mark Dudbridge 3-6 Denis Ovens |
|
Mark Dudbridge 6-5 Vincent vvd Voort |
Denis Ovens 6-5 Co Stompe |
|
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Dennis Priestley |
Wayne Jones 6-5 Andy Smith |
|
Denis Ovens 1-6 Andy Smith |
Dennis Priestley 6-0 Vincent vd Voort |
|
Jelle Klaasen 6-0 Mark Dudbridge |
Co Stompe 6-4 Wayne Jones |
|
Mark Dudbridge 4-6 Co Stompe |
Vincent vd Voort 6-5 Denis Ovens |
|
Wayne Jones 3-6 Jelle Klaasen |
Andy Smith 5-6 Dennis Priestley |
|
Semi-Finals |
|
|
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Co Stompe |
Denis Ovens 5-6 Andy Smith |
|
Final |
|
|
Jelle Klaasen 5-6 Andy Smith |
Final League Table
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts |
Total £ | |
|
Jelle Klaasen |
7 |
5 |
2 |
36 |
28 |
+8 |
£1800 |
10 |
£2900 |
|
Denis Ovens |
7 |
5 |
2 |
36 |
30 |
+6 |
£1800 |
10 |
£2300 |
|
Andy Smith |
7 |
4 |
3 |
38 |
30 |
+8 |
£1900 |
8 |
£3100 |
|
Co Stompe |
7 |
4 |
3 |
38 |
34 |
+4 |
£1900 |
8 |
£2100 |
|
Wayne Jones |
7 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
32 |
0 |
£1600 |
6 |
|
|
Dennis Priestley |
7 |
3 |
4 |
29 |
30 |
-1 |
£1450 |
6 |
|
|
V v d Voort |
7 |
3 |
4 |
33 |
36 |
-3 |
£1650 |
6 |
|
|
Mark Dudbridge |
7 |
1 |
6 |
19 |
41 |
-22 |
£950 |
2 |
First Round of Matches
Co Stompe made a fine start to Group Seven, defeating Dennis Priestley 6-3. Stompe made a superb start, punishing a missed double top from Priestley to take the first leg and then took the next four without reply to lead 5-0. Priestley hit double top in the sixth to get off the mark and also won the next two, before double top saw Stompe secure the win.
Andy Smith edged a tight battle with Mark Dudbridge 6-5 to open with a victory. Smith opened the game with a brilliant 146 finish, but Dudbridge levelled and then took out 121 on the bull to move 2-1 up. Neither player could break in the next seven as the game went into a decider. Smith missed double 19 for a 158, but Dudbridge - on 52 - failed to leave a double by bursting his score, and the Studley man returned to hit double eight for the win.
Denis Ovens took out a 127 finish to see off Jelle Klaasen in the deciding leg of a see-saw contest. While Klaasen took the opening leg, Ovens won the next five in a row to lead 5-1, punishing misses from the Dutchman in three legs. Klaasen replied with three to cut the gap to one leg before hitting a 180 and taking out 106 in the tenth to force a decider. Ovens, though, saved his best finish for last by checking out 127 on the bull to finally close out the win.
Vincent van der Voort held off Wayne Jones' fightback with a 6-3 win. The Dutchman, who was the Group Six runner-up, made a strong start to lead 3-0 before Jones fired in double top. Van der Voort hit the same bed in the next two for a 5-1 advantage, only for Jones to hit two 180s in taking the next two legs. The Wolverhampton ace also hit a maximum in leg nine, but van der Voort posted double 16 for the points.
Second Round of Matches
Andy Smith checked out 101 to win a thriller against Co Stompe and gain his second successive 6-5 victory. Smith, who had edged out Mark Dudbridge in his opener, took an early 3-0 lead against the Dutchman, including a 151 finish in leg two to break. Stompe finished 90 and double 14 to take two of the next three, but a double ten finish moved Smith 5-2 up. Stompe checked out 101 and 110 in pulling back to 5-4, and after Smith missed the bull for a 121 finish he forced a decider with double eight. Smith, though, replied with his second big finish of the game to take victory by finishing 101 on double 18.
Jelle Klaasen bounced back from his disappointment against Denis Ovens with a 6-5 win over Vincent van der Voort. A quick-fire game saw Klaasen hit a 180 in taking the first leg before van der Voort won three in a row to lead 3-1. Klaasen hit back to level at four-all, and double top saw him move 5-4 up. Double five saw van der Voort for a deciding leg, but Klaasen opened with scores of 140 and 180 before landing tops for the win.
Denis Ovens kept Wayne Jones winless after two games with a 6-4 victory. Ovens responded to losing the opener by taking the next three, including a break of throw in the second after three misses from Jones and an 85 finish in the fourth for a 3-1 lead. Finishes of double top and 61 gave Jones two of the next three before double 18 from Ovens put him a leg away from the win. Jones kept the game alive on double 12, but Ovens hit scores of 180, 140 and 137 before taking out 44 for an 11-darter in wrapping up the win.
Dennis Priestley picked up his first win of the day with a 6-1 romp over Mark Dudbridge. Having taken the opening two legs, Priestley finished 145 for a 3-0 lead before Dudbridge got off the mark on tops. The 60-year-old hit a 180 and double 18 for a 4-1 lead, before taking out 100 after a missed bull from Dudbridge, who missed a host of darts in the next before a double top finish sealed Priestley's win.
Third Round of Matches
Vincent van der Voort ended Andy Smith's unbeaten start to Group Seven with a 6-4 win over the Englishman. Van der Voort started the better to lead 2-0 before Smith hit back to level, but finishes of double top and double eight from the Dutchman moved him 4-2 up. Smith hit a 180 to win the seventh, the missed double eight to level in the next before van der Voort clinically finished 170 for a 5-3 lead. Although Smith took leg nine, the Dutchman pulled away in leg ten and sealed the win on tops.
Jelle Klaasen won a second game against his fellow Dutchmen, seeing off Co Stompe 6-4. Stompe hit back from a leg down to lead 2-1 and 3-2 before Klaasen hit tops and a 120 finish to regain the lead. Double eight saw Stompe level, but double 16 moved Klaasen back 5-4 up, and two missed doubles at tops in the next allowed the former Lakeside Champion to take out 68 in sealing the win.
Wayne Jones won his first game of Group Seven in style, whitewashing winless Mark Dudbridge. Jones hit double 18 to open the game, and punished misses from Dudbridge in two of the next three as he pulled clear at 4-0. Double 16 from Jones put him a leg away from the win, and he repeated the finish in the next to complete a faultless display.
Denis Ovens' winning start to Group Seven continued with a 6-1 defeat of Dennis Priestley. The pair traded maximum scores in the opener, but the two-time World Champion missed two darts for the lead as Ovens hit double ten to get off the mark. Ovens also took the next three before double ten gave Priestley the fifth, but he was left waiting on 48 in the next as Ovens finished 76 on double 18 for a 5-1 lead and checked out 101 for the victory.
Fourth Round of Matches
Co Stompe edged out Vincent van der Voort in a deciding leg to pick up his second win of the day. A tight game saw neither player break throw throughout, with van der Voort wasting an early chance on 105 when he hit treble 20 but missed the single 13 to lead 32, while Stompe saw two chances to break slip away in the sixth. The deciding leg saw the pair neck and neck, with Stompe missing two darts to take out 91 but van der Voort only able to leave 32 as Stompe returned to finish double ten.
Andy Smith claimed his third Group Seven win, seeing off Jelle Klaasen 6-1. Smith kicked off the game with a 180 and took out 110 for the opening leg, before landing double 12 to break and also taking leg three for a 3-0 lead. The pair opened the fourth with 180s, but double top saw Klaasen get off the mark before Smith took the next two and then completed a heavy win on double ten.
Wayne Jones took a second successive victory with a 6-3 defeat of Dennis Priestley. Jones started superbly, winning four of the opening five legs to take a 4-1 cushion. Priestley finished 116 and double eight to pull back to 5-3, but missed double 15 to stay in the game and Jones wrapped up the win on double ten.
Denis Ovens remains unbeaten on Tuesday following his 6-3 win over winless Mark Dudbridge. Dudbridge started well, leading 2-1 only for missed doubles to cost him as Ovens levelled. Ovens missed four darts to break in the fifth as tops put Dudbridge 3-2 up, only for Ovens to land double 16 for the next and double eight to break for a 4-3 advantage. A 100 finish of single 20 and two double tops put him 5-3 up, and a 96 finish completed the win.
Fifth Round of Matches
Mark Dudbridge took his first win of Group Seven, defeating Vincent van der Voort with a 14-darter in the deciding leg. After sharing the first two legs, Dudbridge hit two 180s in taking the thid and another in leg four before double top put him 4-1 up. A brace of tops finishes helped van der Voort cut the gap to 4-3 before four misses from Dudbridge were punished on double ten. Dudbridge landed a 116 finish for a 5-4 cushion, but van der Voort hit a 180 and double top to force a decider, only for the Bristol man to power in an earlier 180 and take out double eight to seal the win.
Denis Ovens hit back from 4-2 down to edge out Co Stompe 6-5 and pick up a fifth victory in as many games in Group Seven. Stompe took out 88 on the bull for the opening leg and doubled his lead before missing darts to win the next two as Ovens levelled. A brace of double six finishes gave Stompe two more legs, only for Ovens to punish further misses in the next on double two and take out 90 to square at four-all. Stompe edged in front with a 94 finish, but Ovens checked out 82 to force a decider and landed double four to remain unbeaten.
Jelle Klaasen won his third game of the day with a 6-4 defeat of Dennis Priestley. The pair shared the opening four legs before Priestley broke on double two in the fifth and landed double top for a 4-2 lead. Double eight gave Klaasen the seventh, and he landed a 180 in levelling before double 16 put him 5-4 up. Priestley then missed two darts to save the game in the next, and Klaasen sealed the win on double eight.
Wayne Jones sneaked past Andy Smith in a deciding leg to continue his play-off push in Group Seven. Jones started brightly to lead 2-0 before Smith broke in leg three and levelled on double 18. A 102 from Jones was followed by a 108 from Smith before he then landed double 18 for a 4-3 lead. Jones levelled and hit a 180 to set up a 61 finish in leading 5-4, and after Smith finished 101 to take the tenth the Wolverhampton ace landed a 180 and double 12 to claim the win.
Sixth Round of Matches
Andy Smith won his fourth game of the day, seeing off Denis Ovens 6-1. Ovens had won his opening five matches but produced a tired display against Smith, who led 3-0 early on, having punished missed doubles from the Hertfordshire man in the second leg to break. Ovens took the fourth on tops, but double eight gave Smith the fifth and he then posted double one for a 5-1 lead after Ovens failed to land double 12 for a 101 finish. Smith then completed the win in the seventh by finishing 74 to secure the points.
Dennis Priestley claimed what could prove a key win, whitewashing Vincent van der Voort for his second victory of the day. Priestle opened the match with scores of 140 and 180 before taking out 76 to break in the first leg, and hit double 16 and double 12 to lead 3-0. A 97 finish put him four legs up, double ten broke for a third time before he sealed the win with double 16 after trading 180s with the Dutchman.
Mark Dudbridge suffered his second whitewash of Group Seven, losing 6-0 to red-hot Jelle Klaasen. Klaasen landed double five to take the opening leg before breaking on double eight, and in the blink of an eye found himself 3-0. He hit 180s in taking the next two before Dudbridge left 130 with a 171 score, only to fail to leave a double with his next six darts as Klaasen returned to finish 66 on double 16 for the win, which eliminates Dudbridge from the event.
Co Stompe maintained his semi-final hopes with a 6-4 win over Wayne Jones, coming from 3-0 down to take an impressive victory. Stompe took the first three legs without reply before Jones got off the mark on double six in the fourth and landed a 180 in breaking throw in leg five. He finished 66 to level, although Jones took the next on 64 to edge 4-3 up. However, Stompe applied two killer bullseye finishes, firstly on 86 to level and then with a 170 checkout to lead for the first time, before taking the next on double two to secure the win.
Final Round of Matches
Co Stompe secured a semi-final place in Group Seven with a 6-4 win over Mark Dudbridge, who finishes bottom of the table. While Dudbridge took the opening leg, Stompe won three in a row to lead 3-1 before Dudbridge landed double ten for the fifth. The next two were shared as Dudbridge pulled back to 4-3, but he was left waiting on 55 as Stompe followed an earlier 180 with double five to take a key eighth leg for a 5-3 lead. Dudbridge won the ninth, but Stompe kicked off the next with back-to-back 180s, and although a nine-darter went begging he went on to secure the win.
Vincent van der Voort ended the league phase with a 6-5 win over leader Denis Ovens, but the Dutchman could still be eliminated if Dennis Priestley wins his final game. Van der Voort landed tops for the opening leg, but Ovens took the next three for a 3-1 advantage. Van der Voort then won three of his own to regain the lead, twice punishing Ovens' misses before the Hertfordshire man levelled on double 18 and then took a scrappy ninth. Van der Voort levelled to force a decider, and edged home double five for victory.
Jelle Klaasen sealed a semi-final place and also denied Wayne Jones a top-four finish with a 6-3 win over the Wolverhampton man in their decisive clash. Jones led 2-1 early on before the Dutchman, aided by a break in the fifth leg with an 82 finish, took three in a row for a 4-2 lead. Double 16 saw Jones reply, but after trading 180s with Klaasen the Dutch ace took out 58 for a 5-3 lead and 84 on double 11 for the match.
Dennis Priestley avoided elimination from Championship League Darts with a narrow 6-5 win over Andy Smith, meaning Vincent van der Voort joins Mark Dudbridge in dropping out of the event. Smith went into the game knowing that a win would see him finish top, and he led 2-0 before Priestley hit back to level. Van der Voort took the fifth leg and then finished 96 in two darts to lead 4-2, and after sharing the next two moved 5-3 up. Priestley hit back with double 18 and double top to force a decider, which he began with six perfect darts in back-to-back 180s, before landing double ten for a fine comeback win which puts him into Group Eight.
Semi-Finals
Jelle Klaasen swept past Co Stompe 6-2 with a clinical display to book his place in the final. Klaasen took out finishes of 142 and 107 in breaking throw twice in the first three legs, before Stompe hit double top to stop that run and a 110 finish to take the fifth. Klaasen hit double top to take a 4-2 lead, and targeted the same bed in the next two to ensure his place in the final.
Andy Smith came from 4-0 down to snatch a 6-5 win over Denis Ovens in their semi-final. Ovens made a superb start, winning the opening four legs without reply, including a 124 finish and checkouts of double nine, double top and double six. He missed two darts to take the fifth as Smith posted double two to get off the mark. The Studley man then finished 64 and 71 before a 122 bullseye finish levelled the game, and incredibly he took out double four to lead. He missed four match darts at double 18 in the next as Ovens forced a deciding leg with double 16 at the third time of asking, but Smith out-scored him in the final leg and landed double top to book a place in the final.
Final
Andy Smith came from the brink of defeat to edge out Jelle Klaasen 6-5 and win Group Seven of Championship League Darts. Smith did show some early nerves on the doubles, missing two darts for the opening leg as Klaasen held on double eight before the Dutchman landed a 180 but wasted five darts in leg two as Smith returned to level. Double four for Klaasen saw him punish further misses from Smith in the third, only for Smith to level on double five and break on double ten for a 3-2 lead, which he extended thanks to double two after Klaasen missed double ten. The Dutchman landed double 12 for the next two legs to level and then posted a 180 and double eight to move 5-4 up. However, he missed double 11 for a 124 game shot in the tenth as Smith forced a decider, and - after opening with a 180 - saw two further match darts slip away as Smith hit double 16 to snatch the win.