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.
The Australian opened with a 177 and added two 140s to take the initiative, before finishing double 16 for a 12-darter to secure his place in next Thursday's big-money Winners Group alongside Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, Paul Nicholson, Mervyn King & Mark Walsh.
"It's brilliant to finally qualify!" said Whitlock. "It's been a good journey in these six groups and very hard at times but it shows that my persistence paid off.
"I've been consistent enough in the league games but not had the success in the play-offs, but I was desperate to win and pulled out a great final leg against Vincent.
"I can relax on Tuesday and Wednesday now knowing I don't have to play and can prepare for the Winners Group, and hopefully I'll be successful there."
Van der Voort had finished sixth twice so far this week, but edged into the play-offs before defeating league leader Steve Beaton 6-5 in their semi-final by taking out 118 in the deciding leg.
Alan Tabern and Kevin Painter missed out on a semi-final place on leg difference to van der Voort, while Denis Ovens and Colin Osborne were eliminated.
2009 champion Osborne lost all seven league games, although he could feel somewhat unfortunate after suffering 6-5 defeats in his opening three games.
Van der Voort, Beaton, Smith, Tabern and Painter will now return to Crondon Park GC in Essex next Tuesday to compete in Group Seven of Championship League Darts, alongside Co Stompe, Robert Thornton & Mark Dudbridge.
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 Six Fixtures
|
Time |
Board One |
Board Two |
|
10.30am |
||
|
Match One |
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Vincent van der Voort |
Alan Tabern 2-6 Steve Beaton |
|
Match Two |
Kevin Painter 0-6 Denis Ovens |
Andy Smith 6-5 Colin Osborne |
|
Match One |
Steve Beaton 3-6 Simon Whitlock |
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Alan Tabern |
|
Match Two |
Colin Osborne 5-6 Kevin Painter |
Denis Ovens 1-6 Andy Smith |
|
1.15pm |
|
|
|
Match One |
Steve Beaton 6-5 Andy Smith |
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Denis Ovens |
|
Match Two |
Colin Osborne 5-6 Alan Tabern |
Vincent van der Voort 3-6 Kevin Painter |
|
Match One |
Andy Smith 6-3 Simon Whitlock |
Steve Beaton 6-1 Denis Ovens |
|
Match Two |
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Colin Osborne |
Alan Tabern 6-2 Kevin Painter |
|
Match One |
Alan Tabern 3-6 Andy Smith |
Kevin Painter 3-6 Simon Whitlock |
|
Match Two |
Denis Ovens 2-6 Vincent van der Voort |
Colin Osborne 1-6 Steve Beaton |
|
4.15pm |
||
|
Match One |
Kevin Painter 4-6 Steve Beaton |
Vincent van der Voort 5-6 Andy Smith |
|
Match Two |
Denis Ovens 4-6 Alan Tabern |
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Colin Osborne |
|
Match One |
Alan Tabern 5-6 Simon Whitlock |
Steve Beaton 6-4 Vincent van der Voort |
|
Match Two |
Colin Osborne 4-6 Denis Ovens |
Andy Smith 4-6 Kevin Painter |
|
Semis - 6.45pm |
Steve Beaton 5-6 Vincent van der Voort |
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Andy Smith |
|
Final - 7.30pm |
Vincent van der Voort 5-6 Simon Whitlock |
League Table
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts | |
|
Steve Beaton |
7 |
6 |
1 |
39 |
23 |
+16 |
£1950 |
12 |
|
Simon Whitlock |
7 |
6 |
1 |
39 |
28 |
+11 |
£1950 |
12 |
|
Andy Smith |
7 |
5 |
2 |
39 |
29 |
+10 |
£1950 |
10 |
|
Vincent v d Voort |
7 |
3 |
4 |
35 |
34 |
+1 |
£1750 |
6 |
|
Alan Tabern |
7 |
3 |
4 |
33 |
35 |
-2 |
£1650 |
6 |
|
Kevin Painter |
7 |
3 |
4 |
27 |
36 |
-9 |
£1350 |
6 |
|
Denis Ovens |
7 |
2 |
5 |
22 |
34 |
-12 |
£1100 |
4 |
|
Colin Osborne |
7 |
0 |
7 |
27 |
42 |
-15 |
£1350 |
0 |
MATCH INFORMATION
First Set of Matches
Ever-present Simon Whitlock opened his account in Group Six, defeating Vincent van der Voort 6-5 in a nailbiter. The pair shared the first four legs, including a 120 finish from the Dutchman, before Whitlock finished 70, double top to break and double ten to lead 5-2. Van der Voort hit back to level and force a deciding leg, but Whitlock took out double eight for the points.
Steve Beaton made a winning start to the 2011 Championship League Darts, defeating fellow Group Six newcomer Alan Tabern 6-2. Beaton - a semi-finalist in last year's Winners Group - edged the early stages with Tabern to take the first break in moving 3-1 up with a 120 finish. The next two also went against the throw before Beaton hit tops for a 5-2 cushion and then punished six misses from the left-hander to seal the win on double eight.
Denis Ovens made a fine start to Group Six, whitewashing Kevin Painter 6-0. Ovens edged a scrappy opener, initially missing four darts to break but returning after Painter missed five doubles to land double ten for the first leg. He then finished 105 and broke in the third leg, before taking out 82 on the bull after Painter missed tops. A 96 finish moved him 5-0 up, and although Painter hit a 180 in the sixth he missed the bull to allow Ovens in to finish 64 in two darts to seal the win.
Andy Smith held off Colin Osborne's fightback to take a deciding-leg win from their Group Six opener. Osborne held the early advantage as the first six legs went with throw before Smith hit a 180 and double eight to break in the seventh and lead 4-3. He then took the eighth to move a leg away from the win before Osborne took out double six and a 140 checkout - after Smith wired the bull for a 167 game shot - to force a decider. Osborne set up 24 to snatch the win, but Smith posted double 16 at the first time of asking to take victory.
Second Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock won his second game of Group Six, defeating Steve Beaton 6-3. The pair shared the first four legs before Whitlock broke in the fifth with a 68 finish, and also won the sixth for a 4-2 lead. Double ten gave Beaton the seventh, but he missed two darts to level in the next as double 18 gave Whitlock a 5-3 lead before he finished double nine for the win.
Vincent van der Voort edged past Alan Tabern 6-5 to win his first game of Group Six. The Dutchman had lost his opening game in a decider but bounced back to take the points in a tight contest. He twice missed darts to break throw in the opening six legs, as both players found themselves unable to take advantage. Double 16 from Tabern in the ninth put him 5-4 up, but van der Voort hit a 180 and double top to level before securing the game's only break in the decider on tops.
Kevin Painter edged an 11-leg thriller with Colin Osborne 6-5. Painter responded well to his first-game whitewash by hitting a 180 and double 16 for the opening leg and a superb 161 checkout to break in the second. The pair traded double eight finishes before Osborne took out 124 on the bull to break back and a 90 finish to level. The next two legs were shared before Painter powered in a 117 checkout, with double eight from Osborne forcing a decider only for the Daventry-based ace to take out 98 for the win.
Andy Smith picked up win number two of the day, defeating Denis Ovens 6-1. Smith made an ideal start with a 180 in taking the opening leg, before Ovens replied on double ten. Smith, though, took out double 16 and a 66 finish to move 3-1 up, broke to win a fourth leg and then checked out double top for a 5-1 cushion after Ovens hit a 174 score to leave 16. Ovens landed two 180s in the next leg, but missed five darts to keep the game alive before Smith took out 66 on double eight for the win.
Third Set of Matches
Steve Beaton sneaked past Andy Smith 6-5 in a see-saw contest to pick up his second win of Group Six. The lead changed hands three times during the match, with Beaton bettering Smith's early 74 finish with a 76 checkout to lead 2-1, only for the Studley ace to hit double eight in the fourth and then break with a 12-darter. Smith moved 4-2 thanks to double 16 in the next, with Beaton missing the bull for a 12-darter for the second successive leg before winning the seventh in 14 darts. Four missed doubles from Smith allowed Beaton to level in the eighth before he hit a 180 and tops to lead 5-4. Smith finished 96 to force a decider, which he opened with scores of 180 and 140 only to miss three match darts at tops before Beaton took out double 16.
Simon Whitlock's winning start to Thursday's event continued as he defeated Denis Ovens 6-2. The pair shared the opening four legs, despite three 180s from Whitlock, who took the fifth on double eight and broke in the sixth on double five after Ovens missed three darts to level. Double three put the Australian 5-2 up, and he hit a 180 and double ten to seal the win.
Colin Osborne suffered a third successive 6-5 loss as he went down in a deciding leg to Alan Tabern, who wins his first game of the day. Neither player was able to break throughout the course of the 11 legs, with Osborne finishing 116 in the fourth leg but missing six darts to break in the ninth, as the left-hander hit tops to steal and lead 5-4. Tops from Osborne forced a decider, but he could not match Tabern's scoring as the St Helens ace posted double 16 for the win.
Kevin Painter picked up his second win of Group Six, defeating Vincent van der Voort 6-3. Painter took the first leg on double four, broke in the second and hit a 180 in a 14-darter to lead 3-0. The Dutchman won the next two to cut the gap to 3-2, but Painter finished 119 and double ten to lead 5-2 and move to the brink of victory. He missed the bull for a 121 game shot as van der Voort won the eighth, but when the Dutchman missed two doubles in the next he sealed the win on double eight.
Fourth Set of Matches
Andy Smith inflicted Simon Whitlock's first loss of Group Six with a fine 6-3 victory. After Smith took out 101 in the first leg, Whitlock hit a 180 in the second and broke in the third, only for the English ace to hit back strongly with four successive legs, capped by a 121 checkout. Double eight won Whitlock a third leg, but Smith sealed the win with a 66 finish.
Steve Beaton turned on the style with a classy 6-1 win over Denis Ovens. Beaton kicked off the game with back-to-back 180s before taking the leg against the throw in 11 darts, and hit scores of 180, 140 and 135 in winning the second in 14 darts. He finished 135 on the bull to win the third, as Ovens waited on 20, and also took the next two to lead 5-0 before Ovens got off the mark with a 72 finish. Beaton, though, took out a superb 161 checkout in the next to pick up the points and condemn Ovens to a third straight loss.
Vincent van der Voort subjected Colin Osborne to his fourth straight defeat, picking up a 6-3 victory. The pair shared the first four legs before van der Voort won the fifth, broke in the sixth after Osborne missed double 16 and then finished double ten for a 5-2 lead. Osborne took out double four to hit back, but the Dutchman sealed the points by winning the next.
Alan Tabern leapfrogged Kevin Painter in the league table with a 6-2 victory. Tabern took the game's opening leg and finished 106 to break and double his lead before the next two were shared. The left-hander then won the fifth and sneaked the sixth for a 5-1 cushion. Painter hit back with a 180 and double 16, but was unable to land four darts to keep the game alive in the eighth as Tabern sealed the win on double ten.
Fifth Set of Matches
Andy Smith maintained his impressive run of form with a 6-3 win over Alan Tabern. Tabern took the early lead at 2-1 before Smith levelled and then took out 72 to break, and he then landed double ten for a 4-2 lead. Double nine gave Tabern the seventh following misses from Smith, who recovered to win the eighth leg after the left-hander missed the bull for a 161 finish. Smith then posted a 180 in the ninth, before finishing 76 to secure the win.
Simon Whitlock won his fourth game of Group Six, defeating Kevin Painter 6-3. The game's first three legs went with throw before Whitlock punished three misses from his opponent by taking out 122 on the bull to break and then double ten to lead 4-1. Whitlock hit a 177 to leave 36 in the sixth, but missed three darts for the leg as Painter followed an earlier maximum of his own by landing double five. However, the 2004 World Championship finalist landed a 177 in the next to leave 12 in his bid to hit back further, only for Whitlock to finish 80 on double ten. The Australian missed three match darts in the eighth as Painter hit back on double 16, only to miss two darts at the same bed in the ninth as Whitlock sealed the win on double eight.
Vincent van der Voort subjected Denis Ovens to a fourth straight loss as he took a 6-2 win from their clash. The opening two legs were shared before van der Voort won five in a row, including two breaks of throw and a two-dart 82 finish of bullseye and double 16. Ovens finished 138 to take a second leg, but van der Voort led in the eighth leg and sealed the win on tops.
Steve Beaton joined Whitlock and Smith on four wins for the day with a 6-1 defeat of winless Colin Osborne. Beaton made the early running by winning the first three legs, hitting a 180 in breaking throw. Osborne took the fourth, but double four restored Beaton's cushion at 4-1, a 65 finish put him a leg away from the win and double eight sealed the points.
Sixth Set of Matches
Steve Beaton ensured his play-off place in Group Six with a 6-4 win over Kevin Painter. Painter led 2-1 early on before Beaton hit two 180s in levelling on tops in the fourth. Beaton also hit a 180 in the fifth leg, but Painter finished double nine for a 12-darter before missing the bull for a 121 checkout in the next as Beaton levelled on double four. Beaton tok a 4-3 advantage on double eight, only for Painter to level with a superb 152 checkout. Another double eight gave Beaton a 5-4 lead, and he completed the win on double 16.
A narrow 6-5 win for Andy Smith over Vincent van der Voort means that he will compete in the Championship League Darts play-offs for a second successive day. A tight game saw the first ten legs alll go with the throw, including a 126 finish from the Dutchman and a 121 shot from Smith as the pair slugged out a high-quality contest. Van der Voort had the advantage of throw in the decider and hit a 180, but missed four darts at tops to take the win before Smith finished double six to snatch the points.
Alan Tabern kept alive his hopes of a Group Six play-off place with a 6-4 win over Denis Ovens - who must win his final game and hope that Kevin Painter loses if he is to avoid elimination. After sharing the opening two legs, Tabern finished 81 on the bull to break in the third, double 16 in the next and double nine to lead 4-1. Ovens won the next two before Tabern won the eighth to lead 5-3. A 106 finish from Ovens kept him in the game, but when he miscounted on a 114 finish in the next Tabern made him pay on double ten.
2009 Championship League Darts winner Colin Osborne was knocked out of this year's event with a 6-4 loss to Simon Whitlock. Winless Osborne took a 3-1 lead early on before Whitlock finished 70 and 76 in successive legs to level before hitting a 180 and double four to lead. Osborne leveled, but a pair of double 18 finishes from Whitlock saw him complete the win.
Final Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock won his sixth game of the day to end Alan Tabern's play-off hopes with a deciding leg triumph. Tabern made a stunning start, hitting finishes of 118 and 105 to take the first two legs and opening the third with back-to-back 180s to set up a potential nine-darter. He hit a seventh treble 20, but missed the treble 19 for a perfect leg only to return and move 3-0 up in 12 darts. Whitlock opened his account with a 14-darter and hit double 16 to take the fifth before a 13-darter put him 4-2 ahead. The next two were shared as Tabern moved a leg away from the win, only to miss darts at double top and ten in leg nine as Whitlock hit double eight to keep the match alive. Whitlock hit a 180 and double top to force a decider, and although Tabern landed a 180 the Australian was first to the double and landed double 16 to win.
Steve Beaton defeated Vincent van der Voort 6-4 to end the league phase with a sixth victory of Group Six. Beaton took the game's first two legs before van der Voort levelled, and the next two were shared to leave the scores tied at three-all. Beaton hit a 12-darter to win the seventh, but after hitting a 180 in the next he missed the bull for a 124 finish and the Dutchman hit double 12 to level. Beaton took leg nine to move 5-4 up, and took advantage of three misses from van der Voort to secure the points on double 16.
Denis Ovens ended his Group Six involvement with a 6-4 defeat of Colin Osborne, who exits the tournament without a victory on Thursday. The pair shared the opening six legs before Ovens took the next two to lead 5-3. Osborne finished 80 to keep the match alive, but missed three darts to stay in the game in the tenth as Ovens finished 76 for a consolation triumph.
Kevin Painter avoided elimination from Championship League Darts with a 6-4 win over Andy Smith in their final Group Six game. Under-pressure Painter made the early running to lead 3-1 and 4-2 before Smith took the seventh to cut back to 4-3. Painter finished 76 in the next to edge towards victory, but Smith defied a 180 from his opponent to finish 121 in the ninth and cut the gap to 5-4. He left the same finish in the next, but missed the bull to force a decider, and Painter sealed the win with an 81 finish on double 13 - ensuring he will compete in Group Seven next Tuesday.
Semi-Finals
Vincent van der Voort took out 118 in the deciding leg of his semi-final with Steve Beaton to edge into the Group Six final. The duo shared a tight game, with Beaton breaking in the first leg before van der Voort levelled and then took out 132. Beaton won the next two to lead 3-2, but again the Dutchman hit back, finishing 100 and double 16 to edge 4-3 up. Double 16 gave Beaton the eighth, but van der Voort finished 71 to move a leg away from the win. Beaton took the tenth to force a decider, but was left waiting on 16 when the Dutchman finished 118 for the win.
Simon Whitlock won through to his fourth final in six groups with a 6-4 win over Andy Smith. Whitlock kicked off the match with a 180 and took the first two legs to lead before Smith hit back to level. Whitlock finished 80 in the fifth and landed a 180 on his way to the sixth, but Smith again took two legs in reply to square the match at four-all. Whitlock hit a 180 and double eight in the ninth, and finished 28 to complete the victory.
Final
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.
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.
The Australian opened with a 177 and added two 140s to take the initiative, before finishing double 16 for a 12-darter to secure his place in next Thursday's big-money Winners Group
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.
| Name | Territory | Website Link |
| LIVEPDC.TV | Worldwide | Click Here |
| 12bet | Asia | Click Here |
| 188 Bet | Asia | Click Here |
| The Bet Arena | Southern Europe | Click Here |
| Bet24 | Nordics | Click Here |
| Bet365 | Worldwide | Click Here |
| Betathome | Central and Eastern Europe | Click Here |
| Betboo | South America | Click Here |
| Betclic | Southern Europe * France | Click Here |
| Betfair | UK, Ireland & Southern Europe | Click Here |
| Bets10 | Southern Europe | Click Here |
| Bwin | Germany, Austria, Switzerland | Click Here |
| Danskespil | Denmark | Click Here |
| Digibet | Germany, Austria, Switzerland | Click Here |
| Expekt | Nordics | Click Here |
| Favoritbet | Central and Eastern Europe | Click Here |
| FDJ | France | Click Here |
| Fortuna | Central and Eastern Europe | Click Here |
| Fonbet | Russia | Click Here |
| Forvetbet | Turkey | Click Here |
| Goldbet | Italy | Click Here |
| Hititbet | Southern Europe | Click Here |
| NordicBet | Nordics | Click Here |
| Paddy Power | UK & Ireland | Click Here |
| Paris Mutual Urbain | France | Click Here |
| Sportingbet | Mainland Europe | Click Here |
| Stan James | UK & Ireland | Click Here |
| TrioBet | CEE | Click Here |
| Unibet | Europe | Click Here |
| VivaroBet | CEE | Click Here |
| William Hill | UK, Ireland & Australia | Click Here |