MARK WALSH warmed up for the John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic Players Championship with victory in the Ladbrokes.com Irish Masters on Saturday.
Walsh defeated Paul Nicholson 6-4 in the non-ranked event, which is being held as part of the Killarney Darts Festival at the Killarney Events Centre.
Walsh defeated Northampton's James Richardson in a deciding leg in a tight semi-final, as well as seeing off returning Robert Thornton and Holland's Vincent van der Voort in the latter stages of the event.
Nicholson was also pushed all the way in the semis before defeating Wayne Jones 5-4, while Thornton made his return from a bout of pneumonia by reaching the last eight alongside Mark Webster, Steve Brown and Steve Beaton.
Sunday sees play focused on the PDC-ranked John McEvoy Gold Dart Classic Players Championship, which will begin at 12pm local time.
Ladbrokes.com Irish Masters
Saturday October 15 - Killarney
Last 16
Steve Brown 4-3 Scott Rand
Wayne Jones 4-3 Mark Hylton
Paul Nicholson 4-3 Joe Cullen
Mark Webster 4-3 Denis Ovens
Robert Thornton 4-3 John Henderson
Mark Walsh 4-2 Vincent van der Voort
James Richardson 4-1 Andy Hamilton
Steve Beaton 4-0 Steve Maish
Quarter-Finals
Wayne Jones 5-3 Steve Brown
Paul Nicholson 5-1 Mark Webster
Mark Walsh 5-3 Robert Thornton
James Richardson 5-2 Steve Beaton
Semi-Finals
Paul Nicholson 5-4 Wayne Jones
Mark Walsh 5-4 James Richardson
Final
Mark Walsh 6 4 Paul Nicholson