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.
"I'm really pleased with that," said King, who has battled tennis elbow in his throwing arm throughout 2011. "I played some lovely darts during the day and I'm delighted with how I played in the final.
"I've had my injury problems this year but my elbow is getting better and it's great to be back playing somewhere like I know I can. I can look forward to the Winners Group now and I'll be trying my hardest to win the tournament next Thursday."
Whitlock will now return to compete in Group Six on Thursday, after his hopes of finally taking a group victory were dashed at the final hurdle.
The Australian, who lost in Tuesday's semi-finals to Mark Walsh, was defeated in his first three group games but won four in a row to finish third, before defeating Andy Smith 6-3 in the semis.
There was satisfaction for Whitlock as he hit the first nine-dart leg of this year's event earlier in the day to win a clash with Jamie Caven, hitting scores of 177, 180 and finishing 144 with two treble 18s and double eight.
Smith and Painter - who narrowly missed double 12 for a perfect leg - also made the play-offs, with 2009 Championship League Darts winner Colin Osborne missing out on the top four on leg difference despite four successive wins in the middle of the league phase.
Holland's Vincent van der Voort joins them in returning to compete in Group Five, but Colin Lloyd and Jamie Caven were eliminated, with the latter ending the day without a victory in his seven league games.
Denis Ovens, Alan Tabern and Steve Beaton join the action on Thursday for the sixth of eight groups, with play continuing on Tuesday and Wednesday next week before the Winners Group is contested on Thursday October 20.
Championship League Darts is screened solely on the internet through LIVEPDC.TV and a series of 30 bookmakers' websites worldwide, and offers a potential total prize fund of over £200,000, plus places in the Grand Slam of Darts for the eventual finalists.
Played over nine days from September 27-29, October 11-13 and October 18-20, the event offers £50 per leg won prize money in the league phase and £100 per leg won in each group's Play-Offs, with prize money doubled in the Winners Group.
Championship League Darts - Group Five Results
|
Board One |
Board Two |
|
Simon Whitlock 5-6 Mervyn King |
Colin Osborne 4-6 Kevin Painter |
|
Jamie Caven 0-6 Andy Smith |
Colin Lloyd 3-6 Vincent van der Voort |
|
Kevin Painter 6-2 Simon Whitlock |
Mervyn King 6-0 Colin Osborne |
|
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Jamie Caven |
Andy Smith 6-2 Colin Lloyd |
|
Kevin Painter 5-6 Colin Lloyd |
Simon Whitlock 4-6 Andy Smith |
|
Vincent van der Voort 2-6 Colin Osborne |
Mervyn King 6-3 Jamie Caven |
|
Colin Lloyd 4-6 Simon Whitlock |
Kevin Painter 4-6 Andy Smith |
|
Mervyn King 6-3 Vincent van der Voort |
Colin Osborne 6-2 Jamie Caven |
|
Colin Osborne 6-5 Colin Lloyd |
Jamie Caven 3-6 Simon Whitlock * |
|
Andy Smith 4-6 Mervyn King |
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Kevin Painter |
|
Jamie Caven 5-6 Kevin Painter |
Mervyn King 6-1 Colin Lloyd |
|
Andy Smith 5-6 Colin Osborne |
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Vincent van der Voort |
|
Colin Osborne 2-6 Simon Whitlock |
Kevin Painter 6-5 Mervyn King |
|
Vincent van der Voort 4-6 Andy Smith |
Colin Lloyd 6-3 Jamie Caven |
|
Semi-Finals |
|
|
Mervyn King 6-2 Kevin Painter |
Andy Smith 3-6 Simon Whitlock |
|
Final |
|
|
Mervyn King 6-3 Simon Whitlock |
|
Final League Table
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts |
£Total | |
|
Mervyn King |
7 |
6 |
1 |
41 |
22 |
+19 |
£2050 |
12 |
£3250 |
|
Andy Smith |
7 |
5 |
2 |
39 |
26 |
+13 |
£1950 |
10 |
£2250 |
|
Simon Whitlock |
7 |
4 |
3 |
35 |
31 |
+4 |
£1750 |
8 |
£2650 |
|
Kevin Painter |
7 |
4 |
3 |
37 |
34 |
+3 |
£1850 |
8 |
£2050 |
|
Colin Osborne |
7 |
4 |
3 |
30 |
32 |
-2 |
£1500 |
8 |
|
|
Vincent v d Voort |
7 |
3 |
4 |
31 |
36 |
-5 |
£1550 |
6 |
|
|
Colin Lloyd |
7 |
2 |
5 |
27 |
38 |
-11 |
£1350 |
4 |
|
|
Jamie Caven |
7 |
0 |
7 |
21 |
42 |
-21 |
£1050 |
0 |
MATCH INFORMATION
First Set of Matches
Mervyn King edged a tight battle with Simon Whitlock 6-5 to get his first two points of Group Five. Although King led 2-1 early on, Whitlock followed up a 106 checkout with three successive legs as he took out 64, double six and 118 to lead 4-2. King took his third leg on double ten, but double 16 edged Whitlock towards the win, only for King to win the next two and force a decider after Whitlock missed double 16 for the win in leg ten. Whitlock was first to a finish in the decider, but missed double top and ten as King returned to finish 64 on double eight.
Kevin Painter made a winning start to his 2011 Championship League Darts challenge, defeating 2009 champion Colin Osborne 6-4. Osborne hit a 180 in taking the game's first leg against the throw, but Painter hit back to win the next three and lead 3-1. A pair of double 16 checkouts saw Osborne level, and the next two were shared to leave the scores locked at four-all before Painter hit double 12 to lead 5-4. Osborne hit a 180 in the tenth, but missed three darts to keep the game alive and Painter finished 121 on the bull for victory.
Andy Smith made the perfect start to Group Five with a whitewash of Jamie Caven. Caven missed three darts to win the game's opening leg, with Smith hitting tops to break before finishing 96 in leg two. Double 16 and double four moved him 4-0 up, and after Caven missed two darts to get off in the mark in the fifth he hit double 12 before then finishing 80 to complete the rout.
Vincent van der Voort produced a heavy-scoring opening to Group Five, winning 6-3 in his clash with Colin Lloyd. Van der Voort hit a 180 in taking the opening leg and doubled his lead with a 32 finish before Lloyd hit back to win three successive legs and lead. However, the Essex ace missed tops in the sixth as the Dutchman took out double four, and he then finished 124 on the bull, 76 and a 144 checkout to take the points.
Second Set of Matches
Kevin Painter's unbeaten start to Group Five continued as he defeated Simon Whitlock 6-2. Painter punished a slow start from the Australian to win the first four legs without reply, breaking in the first leg and finishing 68 in the second to take command. Whitlock won the fifth and seventh, but Painter had hit a 177 in moving to the brink of victory, and took out 106 to seal the points.
Mervyn King powered to his second victory of Group Five, whitewashing Colin Osborne 6-0. King produced a fine performance, hitting a 180 and double four to break in the opening leg and another maximum in a 12-darter to double his lead with a 116 finish. Checkouts of 62 and 94 moved him four legs up before he landed a 180 and double two for a fifth leg, posting another maximum and double 16 to complete a heavy win.
Vincent van der Voort came from behind to win his second game of Group Five, defeating Jamie Caven 6-5. The Dutchman took the game's first two legs, but Caven won three of the next four to level before hitting a 130 finish to lead 4-3. Van der Voort levelled, and the next two were shared to ensure a decider - where Caven missed double five needing 90 and the Dutchman took out 63 in two darts for victory.
Andy Smith picked up win number two of the day, defeating Colin Lloyd 6-2. After sharing the first two legs, Smith took out 116 to punish two misses from Lloyd and also hit double three for a 3-1 lead. Lloyd hit back on tops, but Smith restored his cushion on double four and took advantage of four more misses from his opponent to land double ten to lead 5-2, and sealed the win on double five.
Third Set of Matches
Colin Lloyd came from 4-0 down to defeat Kevin Painter in a deciding leg and pick up his first win of Group Five. Painter followed up his two previous wins by taking charge of the clash between the Essex-born pair, hitting two 180s and a 174 score in taking the game's opening four legs. Lloyd, though, took out 130 on the bull to get off the mark, and produced a superb 12-darter to win a second leg, before three double top finishes moved him 5-4 up. He also hit a 180 in the tenth, but missed double five for the win as Painter posted double 18 to force a decider, only to see Lloyd brilliantly land another maximum and finish 81 for a 12-darter to pick up the points.
Andy Smith's flawless start to Group Five continued as he saw off Simon Whitlock 6-4. Whitlock opened the game with a 180 in taking the first leg, but Smith won the next four legs to lead 4-1, hitting key finishes of 61 and 81 as well as twice punishing misses from the Australian. Whitlock hit two 180s in taking leg six, and finished 120 to pull back to 4-3. Smith moved to the brink of victory in the next, but Whitlock posted a further 180 in reply in the ninth as he hit double 16 to keep the game alive, only for Smith to land the same bed in the next for the points.
Colin Osborne won his first game of Group Five with a 6-2 defeat of Vincent van der Voort. Osborne hit a 180 in taking the first leg, and won the second before punishing misses from the Dutch ace to lead 4-0. Van der Voort took out double five and double two to hit back, but missed tops in the seventh as Osborne hit double 18 to lead 5-2 and hit another 180 and a 64 finish for the points.
Mervyn King produced a superb display to come from 2-0 down and defeat Jamie Caven 6-3. Derby's Caven took out 147 in the opening leg to break and doubles his lead before King finished 92 for the third leg. King also took the fourth following a 180,m and double 16 put him ahead for the first time at 3-2. Caven finished 76 to level, but King won the seventh, broke on double eight in the next and landed a 180 and a 123 finish to seal the win.
Fourth Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock won his first game of Group Five, defeating Colin Lloyd 6-4. Lloyd opened with a 13-darter, but Whitlock hit a brace of double tops and double 16 to lead 3-1. Lloyd finished 116 and 122 in taking two of the next three legs to pull back to 4-3, before Whitlock finished double two to move a leg away from the win. Lloyd finished double 12 to stay alive, but missed the bull in the next as Whitlock returned to hit double 16.
Andy Smith maintained his unbeaten record in Group Five, overcoming Kevin Painter 6-4 as the Daventry ace missed double 12 for a nine-darter. The pair shared the first four legs before Smith broke on double four in the fifth to edge 3-2 up. Painter replied brilliantly to open the sixth with back-to-back 180s, and hit treble 20 and treble 19 to set up a nine-dart attempt, only to wire the double 12. He returned to win the leg, but Smith hit a brace of 180s in moving 5-3 up, with Painter hitting a 180 to set up an 85 finish in the ninth before Smith took out 64 for the win.
Mervyn King's fine day continued with a fourth successive victory, as he saw off Vincent van der Voort 6-3. King led 2-0 before the Dutch ace levelled with finishes of double 18 - set up by a 171 - and 70. King hit a 121 finish and a superb ten-darter to lead 4-2, and after sharing the next two legs punished missed doubles from van der Voort to seal victory on double 16.
2009 champion Colin Osborne won his second game of Group Five, defeating Jamie Caven 6-2. After sharing the first two legs, Osborne pulled away with three in a row to lead 4-2 as Caven was punished for his missed doubles. The next two were shared before Caven hit a 180 in the eighth, but more misses cost him as Osborne hit double 12 for the win.
Fifth Set of Matches
Colin Osborne moved a step closer to a semi-final place with a narrow 6-5 win over Colin Lloyd. Lloyd hit a 180 and an 84 finish to win the first leg before Osborne took three in a row. Lloyd then hit three successive double tops and double 16 to take a 5-3 lead, only to miss the bull for a 130 finish in the next - as Osborne hit the same finish to stay in the game. Double 16 forced a decider, and Osborne took out 86 to edge the win.
Simon Whitlock hit a nine-dart finish to win his clash with Jamie Caven 6-3! Whitlock finished a 180 in the first leg and shared the first four before hitting double 16 in the fifth and breaking with a 134 checkout in the sixth. The pair traded double 16 finishes as Whitlock moved 5-3 up before the Australian hit 177, 180 and finished 144 on double 18 for a brilliant nine-darter.
Mervyn King took a 6-4 victory against Andy Smith in the battle between the day's unbeaten players. King followed up finishes of 80 and 81 in sharing the first four legs by breaking in the fifth with a superb ten-dart finish - his second of the day - before double two put him 4-2 up. SMith took out 58 and 16 to level, but King hit double 16 for a 5-4 advantage before punishing two misses from his opponent to seal the win on double eight.
Vincent van der Voort won his thrid game of the day to continue his semi-final push, defeating Kevin Painter 6-4. Painter raced into an early 3-1 lead before the Dutchman landed a 180 and double 16 for the fifth leg. Double top gave Painter a fourth leg, but he missed doubles in the next two as van der Voort hit back to level with a 96 finish and double top, before he took the next two to snatch victory.
Sixth Set of Matches
Kevin Painter took a step towards a semi-final place with the narrowest of victories, as he denied Jamie Caven a first victory with a 6-5 triumph. Painter took an early 3-0 lead, including a 112 checkout in the first leg, before Caven finished 128 and 120 to take two of the next three and pull back to 4-2. The Derby ace then won three in a row to lead for the first time at 5-4, only for Painter to force a decider with a 180 and double top. Caven was first to a finish in the final leg, but missed double 16 just inside double eight before Painter nailed tops for the points.
Mervyn King dealt a hammer blow to Colin Lloyd's hopes of survival in Group Five with a 6-1 victory which maintains his own unbeaten record. King opened the game with a 180 as he broke in leg one on double 16, before finishing 129 and an 11-darter to lead 3-0. Lloyd hit a maximum in the fourth, but missed four darts to hit back as King won another leg on double four. Tops gave Lloyd the fifth, but King took out 110 for a 5-1 lead before finishing the contest by hitting a 180 and double 12.
Colin Osborne put one foot into the semi-finals with a narrow 6-5 win over Andy Smith, taking out 126 on the bull in the deciding leg of their clash. A tight game saw the lead change hands three times, as Smith hit a 180 in taking the opening leg before Osborne took out double 16 and 88 on the bull to move 2-1 up. Double five and tops gave Smith the advantage, only for Osborne to win the next two, hitting a 177 and double two before a 100 finish put him 4-3 ahead. Smith levelled on double 18 before missing eight darts to steal the ninth, as Osborne eventually won the leg with double one at his 14th attempt to move 5-4 up. Smith finished 78 in two darts to force a decider, but Osborne took out 126 for a 12-darter for the win.
Simon Whitlock continued his winning streak with a 6-4 defeat of Vincent van der Voort as he maintained a late semi-final push with a third straight win. The Australian lost his first three games, but showed flashes of his best to see off the Dutchman. Van der Voort took the opening leg, but Whitlock hit back with the next two and a 157 checkout to lead 3-1. The next four were shared as Whitlock edged towards victory, which he sealed in leg ten.
Whitlock's win means that both Colin Lloyd and Jamie Caven will be eliminated in Group Five.
Final Round of Matches
Simon Whitlock booked his semi-final spot with a 6-2 defeat of Colin Osborne in their final Group Five league game, as he overhauled Osborne in the table. Whitlock finished 84 and 64 in the first two legs before Osborne took the next two to level. Whitlock took charge with finishes of 122, on the bull, and 101 - where he hit treble seven and two double tops - before punishing two misses from Osborne to lead 5-2, then sealing the win on double ten.
Kevin Painter won a deciding-leg battle with Mervyn King to edge into the semi-finals. Previously unbeaten King led 2-0 and 3-1 before Painter took three in a row to lead 4-3, finishing 90 to put himself ahead for the first time. King took the next two to move 5-4 up, but Painter finished tops to force a decider. King hit two 180s but missed double 16 and Painter returned to finish 81 for the win - edging into fourth place.
Andy Smith finished his league games in Group Five with a 6-4 defeat of Vincent van der Voort, who will survive to compete in Thursday's Group Six. Smith took the first three legs before van der Voort won four in row to lead. He hit scores of 180 and 125 with five perfect darts in the next, but double top gave Smith the eighth to level, double six put him 5-4 up and tops secured the points.
Colin Lloyd gained a consolation victory as he defeated winless Jamie Caven 6-3 to finish their Championship League Darts challenge. Both players entered the game knowing that they had been eliminated, and shared the first four legs before Lloyd pulled clear, hitting a brace of double five finishes and double 12 to lead 5-2. A 116 finish kept Caven in the game, but Lloyd had the advantage in the next and sealed his second win of the day on double eight.
Semi-Finals
Mervyn King won his place in a second successive final, defeating Kevin Painter 6-2. Painter shared the first four legs of the game, but King won the fifth and then broke throw with a 92 bullseye finish to lead 4-2. Painter missed two darts at double 16 to break back as King hit double eight to move 5-2 up before hitting the same bed in the next leg after Painter missed five darts to keep the game alive.
Simon Whitlock's bid to finally progress through to the Winners Group saw him defeat Andy Smith 6-3 and reach the Group Five semis. The Australian has appeared in every group so far this year, and recovered from losing his first three league games to reach the semis. There, he finished 96 to win the opening leg against Smith, broke in the second and hit double ten to lead 3-0. Smith took two of the next three to pull back to 4-2, but missed tops to win the seventh as Whitlock finished double ten to move 5-2 up. Smith kept the game alive by winning leg eight, but Whitlock sealed victory in the next on tops.
Final
Mervyn King defeated Simon Whitlock 6-3 to win Group Five of Championship League Darts, condemning the Australian to a third loss in the decider. 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.
WATCH LIVE
Championship League Darts is being shown live online through LIVEPDC.TV as well as through a total of 30 bookmakers' websites worldwide, as detailed below.
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