DENNIS PRIESTLEY overcame Kevin Painter 6-5 to dramatically win Group Eight of Championship League Darts and take the final place in Thursday's Winners Group of the internet-streamed tournament.
The 61-year-old entered the tournament in Group Eight as eight stars battled a place in the big-money Winners Group, including his fellow former World Champions John Part and Jelle Klaasen.
Part and Painter topped the league table following the round-robin phase after picking up six wins from their seven matches, with Priestley picking up victory in his final three games to take fourth behind Vincent van der Voort.
2004 World Championship finalist Painter - Tuesday's Group Seven runner-up - defeated Dutchman van der Voort 6-4 in their semi-final, while Priestley came from 2-0 down to defeat Part 6-5 in a tight battle.
The Canadian did have a chance to take victory in the deciding leg, but missed double 13 for an 81 finish and Priestley returned to hit double ten for a spot in the final.
He led Painter 3-0 and 4-3, despite the Daventry-vased ace hitting a 121 finish for a 12-dart leg and a 13-darter, before a 104 checkout from the veteran put him a leg away from the win.
Priestley, though, missed five match darts as Painter hit double 16 to win the ninth leg and a pressure 81 finish to force a decider.
The two-time World Champion produced a 180 to move clear in the final leg, but missed two more match darts to give Painter a sniff, only for him to drop short of the bull on a 121 finish to give Priestley a second chance, which he took on double three.
"I made it hard for myself but it's wonderful to get through," said Priestley, who now lines up alongside the likes of Phil Taylor, Gary Anderson, Paul Nicholson and Simon Whitlock on Thursday.
"Just to finish in the top four was an achievement and I had to battle all the way, but to defeat John and Kevin is a great achievement. I might have dropped out of the top 32, but this shows that there's plenty of like left in me yet!"
Priestley will now compete for the £10,000 first prize in Thursday's Winners Group as the eight Group Winners return to Crondon Park GC in Essex for the event's final day.
Anderson, Taylor, Nicholson, Mark Walsh, Mervyn King, Whitlock and Steve Beaton were the other Group Winners from eight days of action in the internet-streamed event.
Prize money doubles to £100 per leg in the league phase and £200 per leg in the play-offs, with the overall champion pocketing £10,000, the runner-up earning £5,000 and the semi-finalists taking home £2,500.
The finalists will also receive invitations to the Grand Slam of Darts, giving an added incentive for Priestley and Walsh, who have yet to qualify for next month's event in Wolverhampton.
There was agony though for Painter, who suffered defeat in the final for a second successive day, although he pocketed £9,050 from four days competing in the event.
Van der Voort totalled £10,100 from competing in five successive groups, while Part won £4,900 from two days but fell short of qualifying for the Winners Group.
The Canadian had produced one of the best performances in Championship League Darts history during the day, averaging 114.20 in a 6-1 win over Vincent van der Voort as one of six straight wins he picked up before going down in the semis.
Mark Dudbridge missed out on the play-offs on leg difference to Priestley, with Alan Tabern winning three games, Jelle Klaasen picking up just one victory and Bristol's Steve Brown left without a victory but with £1,400 prize money from his debut in the tournament.
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CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE DARTS
GROUP EIGHT RESULTS
|
Board One |
Board Two |
|
Vincent van der Voort 5-6 Kevin Painter |
Dennis Priestley 6-5 Jelle Klaasen |
|
John Part 6-4 Steve Brown |
Alan Tabern 5-6 Mark Dudbridge |
|
Jelle Klaasen 2-6 Vincent van der Voort |
Kevin Painter 6-2 Dennis Priestley |
|
Mark Dudbridge 1-6 John Part |
Steve Brown 5-6 Alan Tabern |
|
Jelle Klaasen 2-6 Alan Tabern |
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Steve Brown |
|
Mark Dudbridge 6-5 Dennis Priestley |
Kevin Painter 4-6 John Part |
|
Alan Tabern 1-6 Vincent van der Voort |
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Steve Brown |
|
Kevin Painter 6-5 Mark Dudbridge |
Dennis Priestley 5-6 John Part |
|
Dennis Priestley 6-3 Alan Tabern |
John Part 6-1 Vincent van der Voort |
|
Steve Brown 4-6 Kevin Painter |
Mark Dudbridge 6-1 Jelle Klaasen |
|
John Part 6-1 Jelle Klaasen |
Kevin Painter 6-5 Alan Tabern |
|
Steve Brown 3-6 Dennis Priestley |
Vincent van der Voort 6-1 Mark Dudbridge |
|
Dennis Priestley 6-2 Vincent van der Voort |
Jelle Klaasen 1-6 Kevin Painter |
|
Mark Dudbridge 6-4 Steve Brown |
Alan Tabern 6-5 John Part |
|
Semi-Finals |
|
|
John Part 5-6 Dennis Priestley |
Kevin Painter 6-4 Vincent van der Voort |
|
Final |
|
|
Dennis Priestley 6-5 Kevin Painter |
FINAL LEAGUE TABLE
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts | |
|
John Part (Q) |
7 |
6 |
1 |
41 |
22 |
+19 |
£2050 |
12 |
|
Kevin Painter (Q) |
7 |
6 |
1 |
40 |
28 |
+12 |
£2000 |
12 |
|
Vincent v d Voort (Q) |
7 |
4 |
3 |
32 |
25 |
+7 |
£1600 |
8 |
|
Dennis Priestley (Q) |
7 |
4 |
3 |
36 |
31 |
+5 |
£1800 |
8 |
|
Mark Dudbridge |
7 |
4 |
3 |
31 |
33 |
-2 |
£1550 |
8 |
|
Alan Tabern |
7 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
36 |
-4 |
£1600 |
6 |
|
Jelle Klaasen |
7 |
1 |
6 |
18 |
41 |
-23 |
£900 |
2 |
|
Steve Brown |
7 |
0 |
7 |
28 |
42 |
-14 |
£1400 |
0 |
MATCH INFORMATION
First Set of Matches
Group Seven runner-up Kevin Painter edged a nail-biting 11-leg thriller with Vincent van der Voort to open with a win. Van der Voort moved into an early 3-0 lead before Painter, aided by a pair of 180s hit back to level with three successive legs of his own. The next two were shared before double ten put the Dutchman a leg away from the win. Painter hit double 19 with his third dart to force a decider, but van der Voort was first to a finish when he left 64 - only to hit single 16 and then single seven when another 16 would have left the double, with Painter stepping in to take out 108 for the points.
Dennis Priestley came from 3-1 down to defeat Jelle Klaasen 6-5 in the battle of the Championship League Darts newcomers. Klaasen broke in the opening leg on tops and also won two of the next three to lead 3-1, before Priestley hit a 180 and double nine to take the fifth. Double ten gave Klaasen a 4-2 cushion, but double ten gave Priestley his third leg and he then broke with a 120 checkout to level. The pair traded 180s in taking the next two as the game moved into a deciding leg, which Priestley took on double ten.
John Part kicked off his Group Eight challenge with a 6-4 win over Steve Brown. Brown, in his Championship League Darts debut, started well by finishing 81 to win the first leg and then break on double 16. Part hit back to level with finishes of 87 and double four, and then leg by edging a scrappy fifth. Brown broke back and then finished 72 to move 4-3 up, but double 16 saw the Canadian level, double 19 edged him in front and tops gave him the points.
Mark Dudbridge overcame a bout of double trouble to edge past Alan Tabern 6-5 in their opener. Tabern took an early 2-0 lead, finishing 101 against the throw in leg two, before Dudbridge levelled at two-all and moved 4-3 up. The Bristol ace also hit tops for a 5-3 cushion, but after Tabern took the ninth on double three he punished five missed match darts to hit double five and force a decider. Dudbridge hit a 180 but looked to have blown his chance when he burst his score needing 64, but when Tabern missed tops for a 75 finish he returned to take out double 16 for the win.
Second Set of Matches
Vincent van der Voort raced to a 6-2 win over Jelle Klaasen in the battle of the quick-throwing Dutchmen. Klaasen hit a 180 and double five in taking the first leg, which took just over 90 seconds as the pace for the game was set. Van der Voort replied with a 12-darter in the second as the pair traded 180s, and also hit two double eight finishes and double 16 to move 4-1 up. Double four gave him a fifth successive leg, but when he missed double nine for the match in the next Klaasen finished 123 on the bull to win a second leg. Van der Voort, though, hit scores of 140, 121 and 140 in the next before finishing 100 on tops for another 12-dart leg which secured victory in under 12-and-a-half minutes.
Kevin Painter won his second game of the day, defeating Dennis Priestley 6-2. Painter followed up his opening win over Vincent van der Voort with another strong display to see off the two-time World Champion. The game's first four legs all went against the throw before Painter broke again in the fifth to lead 3-2. He then held for the first time to move 4-2 up, punished a missed double top from Priestley to take the next on double eight and finished tops to complete the win.
John Part maintained a winning start to Group Eight, defeating Mark Dudbridge 6-1. Part raced away early on, hitting double eight in the first leg and finishes of 90 and 75 to follow 180s as he moved 3-0 up. Double eight and a 13-darter saw him move five legs clear before Dudbridge got off the mark in the sixth, but the Canadian posted another 180 and double 16 to complete a heavy triumph.
Alan Tabern went all the way to a deciding leg for the second successive game, this time emerging victorious in a tight tussle with Steve Brown. Brown led 2-0 before misses in the third allowed the left-hander to get off the mark, and the St Helens man then won the next two to lead 3-2. Brown levelled with a 76 finish and broke throw in the seventh, only to pay the price in the next when, after opting not to throw for the bullseye when needing 126, he hit 18 to leave double 16 but missed six darts at the bed, with Tabern stealing the leg on double ten. Tabern won the ninth to lead 5-4, but Brown forced a decider with a fine 12-darter, which included a 180 and a 96 finish. Brown held the edge in the decider when he stepped up for a 116 finish, but after hitting treble 19 he missed the single 19 to leave tops, and Tabern returned to take his chance on double 19.
Third Set of Matches
Alan Tabern picked up a second successive win, defeating Jelle Klaasen 6-2. After sharing the game's first two legs, Tabern took three in a row to take charge, including a 180 in breaking throw, before an 89 finish on the bull saw Klaasen pull back to 4-2. Double nine gave Tabern his fifth leg, and he went on to seal the win on double 18.
Vincent van der Voort won his second game of Group Eight with a 6-3 win over Steve Brown. Van der Voort pulled away after sharing the opening two legs, hitting double one to win the third and double 18 finishes for 121 and 96 checkouts in the next two as he took a 4-1 cushion. Double top gave Brown the sixth before the Dutchman moved 5-2 up with a 78 checkout. Brown battled back on double ten and had a shot at 116 in the next - only to burst his score by missing double one after hitting two treble 19s, allowing van der Voort back to secure the win.
Mark Dudbridge edged to his second 6-5 win of the day, seeing off Dennis Priestley in a deciding leg. In a game where every leg went with the throw, chances to break were at a premium in the first six legs, which inluded a 13-dart finish from Priestley. The two-time World Champion had a chance to nip ahead in the seventh, but missed four darts to break as Dudbridge hit double 16 to lead 4-3. The Bristol ace then hit scores of 177 and 180 in the next, but after a potential nine-darter went begging Priestley returned to finish 98 for a 14-darter to level at four-all. Finishes of double two and double top sent the match into a decider, and when Priestley suffered a bounce-out of two darts, Dudbridge swooped with a 180 which set up double 16 for the match.
John Part remains unbeaten following three games after his 6-4 defeat of Kevin Painter. The Canadian continued his fine start to Group Eight by winning the first five legs without reply, breaking throw three times as he pulled to the brink of victory. Painter hit double 18 to win the sixth leg and punished two missed match darts in the next, and finishes of 69 and double top pulled him back to within a leg. But Part hit a 180 in the tenth, and finished double 16 to secure the points.
Fourth Set of Matches
Vincent van der Voort swept past Alan Tabern 6-1 to record his third win of the day. Despite Tabern opening the game with a 180, he went 2-0 down as van der Voort hit two maximums in the first leg and another in the second, which he took with a 74 finish. Tabern took out 24 for the third leg, but van der Voort replied with a 177 in an 11-darter and punished misses from the left-hander to win the next on double eight for a 4-1 lead. Double 12 gave van der Voort his fifth leg, and when Tabern missed his chance to keep the match alive in the next the Dutchman followed up another maximum with double 12 for victory.
Jelle Klaasen came from 5-3 down to pick up a 6-5 win over Steve Brown in the clash of the league's bottom two. Brown hit a 180 and 81 in the opening leg and shared the first six to leave the scores tied at three-all. Double one gave Brown a scrappy seventh and when the Dutchman missed three doubles in the next he landed tops to break and lead 5-3. Klaasen hit a 180 to set up an 87 finish in winning the ninth, and when Brown missed double 18 and nine for the match Klaasen set up a deciding leg, which he came through to win on double ten.
Kevin Painter maintained his play-off challenge with a 6-5 defeat of Mark Dudbridge. Neither player was able to break during a tight opening eight legs, although each spurned three doubles against the darts as the game was left tied at four-all. DUdbridge broke in the ninth on double 16, but Painter hit back with a 106 finish to save the game and force a decider, which Painter took on double eight for a 15-darter.
John Part's winning start to Group Eight continued with a fourth straight win, although he needed a 12-darter in the deciding leg to see off Dennis Priestley. The clash of the two former World Champions lived up to its billing, with Priestley taking an early 3-1 lead, thanks in part to an 11-darter, while Part finished 97 in leg two to get off the mark. Part hit back following misses from Priestley to win the next two and level and opened the seventh with a 180, only to miss three doubles to lead as the veteran posted double ten to move 4-3 up. Part levelled and the pair shared the next two to send the game into a decider, which the Canadian opened with a 180 and finished with 87 for a 12-darter.
Fifth Set of Matches
Dennis Priestley saw off Alan Tabern 6-3 to claim his second win of Group Eight and add to the battle for play-off places. After Tabern hit tops to win the opening leg, Priestley hit the same bed to win the next two before finishing 90 and 120 to lead 4-1. Double five gave the left-hander the sixth leg before Priestley hit a 180 and a 124 finish for a 5-2 cushion. He also hit a 180 in the next but missed tops for the match as Tabern finished 92 on double eight to stay in the game, only to miss double 19 for a 101 finish in the ninth as Priestley returned to follow up another maximum with double ten for the win.
John Part sealed a semi-final place by powering to a brilliant 6-1 win over Vincent van der Voort, averaging an amazing 114 in the process The Dutchman actually led in the game with a superb 135 checkout to win the opening leg in 12 darts, but could do little as Part raced away, hitting a 180 in levelling, double 18 to break in the third leg with a second successive 13-dart finish and double five to lead 3-1 with a 14-dart leg. He then completed victory in style by winning the next three legs in just 37 darts - with legs of 12, 13 and 12 darts which included finishes of 82 and 81 to leave van der Voort shell-shocked as Part recorded a superb three-dart average of 114.20
Kevin Painter put one foot into the Group Eight semi-finals with his fourth victory of the day, defeating Steve Brown 6-4. Brown's search for a first win of the day started well as he held throw in the early stages to lead 3-2, but Painter levelled in the sixth and broke for the first time on tops to move 4-3 up. Double ten put him a leg away from victory, and although double 12 kept Brown in the game it was brief respite as Painter finished 113 to take the points.
Mark Dudbridge produced a superb display to win his third game of the day, seeing off Jelle Klaasen 6-1. Dudbridge capitalised on three missed doubles to win the first leg on double eight, and took the second in 14 darts despite bursting 41 on his fourth visit to the oche - having hit 140, 140 and 180 to leave 41, which he took out at the second time of asking. Two more double eight finishes gave him a 4-0 lead before Klaasen took out double seven to get off the mark. The Dutchman also hit a 180 in the sixth, but Dudbridge hit one of his own in a 12-darter before landing a 177 in a 13-darter to secure the spoils - averaging 105.06 per three darts in the process.
Sixth Set of Matches
John Part continued his flawless march towards the semis, powering past Jelle Klaasen 6-1 to maintain his unbeaten run. Part won his second successive game by five legs, with another display of power scoring and clinical finishing. He finished 67 to win the game's first leg and hit three 140s in breaking on double four to lead 2-0. He also missed two darts to take the third before Klaasen got off the mark with a 70 finish, but the Dutchman missed tops to level as Part landed the same bed for a 3-1 cushion. He hit double 18 in the next to move 4-1 up, and landed timely 180s in the next two as he completed heavy win.
Kevin Painter clinched his semi-final place with a deciding-leg win over Alan Tabern in a dramatic contest. After Painter had taken the opening leg, Tabern levelled with a 12-darter and capitalised on Painter's misses by winning the next three to lead 4-1. Painter replied with a 144 checkout in the sixth, and won the next two to level before missing six doubles to lead, as double six put Tabern 5-4 up. The left-hander then missed tops for a 118 checkout for victory as Painter hit double ten to force a decider, and when the St Helens man missed two darts at double 19 for a 98 finish Painter returned to finish 64 in two darts for the win.
Dennis Priestley jumped into fourth place with a 6-3 win over Steve Brown which leaves the Bristol debutant without a victory after six games. Part hit two bull finishes, of 84 and 72, to share the opening four legs, and finished double 19 to win the sixth as the pair were tied at three-all. Priestley hit double four to lead 4-3, and then broke with a fine 111 finish before sealing his third win of the day with an 87 checkout.
Vincent van der Voort sealed his play-off place, defeating Mark Dudbridge 6-1 in their clash. The Dutchman won the first four legs withour reply, including two breaks of throw, before Dudbridge hit back to win the ffith. Van der Voort won the next, and finished 88 on the bull to complete a heavy win.
Final Set of Matches
Dennis Priestley sealed a semi-final place with a 6-2 comeback win over Vincent van der Voort. The Dutchman made a strong start, hitting a 130 bullseye finish in the first leg and hitting a 180 and tops in the second to lead 2-0. Priestley hit a 180 in a 13-darter to win the third, and hit another maximum to level before hitting double ten to lead 3-2. Van der Voort missed double 16 in the sixth as double five from Priestley broke again, before he hit a 12-darter for a 5-2 lead and a 14-dart finish to seal the win.
Kevin Painter swept into the semi-finals with his sixth victory of the league phase, condemning Jelle Klaasen to a third successive 6-1 defeat. Klaasen missed chances to take the first two legs as Painter hit double five and double seven to lead 2-0 before finishing 112 to win the third. Painter added a 180 in taking the fourth and tops gave him a 5-0 lead before Klaasen landed a maximum and an 85 bullseye finish in reply. Painter, though, was swift to kill off the game by hitting tops in the next for a big win.
Mark Dudbridge ended the Group Eight league phase with a 6-4 win over Steve Brown in their Bristol derby, but the victory was not enough to earn him a semi-final spot. Brown held an early 2-1 lead, but Dudbridge followed a 90 finish by taking out 107 to level in the fourth and the next two legs to lead 4-2. Brown produced a brilliant 11-darter to pull back to 4-3, but Dudbridge hit a 180 and a 148 checkout to take the eighth and move a leg away from the win. Brown, chasing his first victory of the day in his Championship League Darts debut, hit double ten to win the ninth and landed a 180 in the next, but double ten from Dudbridge sealed his win.
Alan Tabern edged out league leader John Part 6-5 to pick up a consolation win as he misses out on the top four. After Tabern took the opening leg, Part finished 124 to level and won the next two to lead 3-1. Tabern won three in a row to edge 4-3 up, only for Part to take out 128 and square the match. The Canadian missed a dart at tops in the ninth as Tabern followed up a 180 with double eight, and though an 11-darter from Part gave him the tenth it was the left-hander who hit double five in the decider to take the victory - although he misses out on the play-offs despite condemning Part to his first loss of the day.
Semi-Finals
Dennis Priestley edged out John Part to win through to the Group Eight final with a 6-5 triumph. Part had won six of his seven league games and looked on course to reach the play-off final when he led 2-0, finishing double eight and 97 for the first two legs. Priestley hit a 180 and double 16 to get off the mark and a 171 in setting up double nine to level, before posting another maximum in taking the fifth to lead. Part levelled on double four and traded the next two before double ten gave Priestley a 5-4 cushion. He hit another 180 in the tenth, but Part scrambled in double six to force a deciding leg. The Canadian hit a 180 to leave 81 after nine darts, but after Priestley missed tops for a 160 checkout he missed double 13 for the match and the 61-year-old returned to land double ten.
Kevin Painter won through to his second successive Championship League Darts final, defeating Vincent van der Voort 6-4 in the semis in a repeat of their Group Seven last four scoreline. Van der Voort held the edge as the early legs went with the throw, although Painter missed darts to break in the first and third legs, before double 16 gave him the sixth to square the game at three-all. Van der Voort hit a 180 to set up double nine in the seventh, while Painter tied the mark on tops in the next before finally breaking in leg nine, with the Dutchman missing the bull for a 126 finish to allow him in on double six for an 81 finish. Painter missed double top in the next, but when van der Voort was off-target on the bull for an 89 checkout he returned to hit double ten.
Final
Dennis Priestley took a dramatic Group Eight victory with a 6-5 defeat of Kevin Painter to claim the final place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group.
The 61-year-old had seen off John Part in a deciding leg in the semis and was pushed all the way in a classic decider by Painter, who hit back from 3-0 and 5-3 down to force a decider.
Painter missed darts at double top in the first two legs as Priestley capitalised, and a second double four of the game gave Priestley the third leg.
He also wired double six for a 126 checkout in the fourth as Painter finished 64 to get off the mark and then hit a 177 to leave double 12 in a 13-darter to take the fifth.
Finishes of 67 and 104 gave Priestley two of the next three as he moved 5-3 up, with Painter replying with a 121 finish in leg seven.
Priestley then had a chance to secure the win, only to miss five match darts as Painter hit double 16 to stay alive and then hit a 180 and a pressure 81 finish on double 13 to force a deciding leg.
Priestley, with the advantage of throw, posted a 180 to be first to a finish, but missed darts at double 12 and six to allow the 2004 World Championship finalist in for a 121 checkout.
Painter, though, pulled his dart for the bull to take victory low into single 19, and Priestley returned to post double three for a victory which puts him into the Winners Group.
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Event Information
Championship League Darts sees players compete in eight-man groups, with prize money awarded per leg won.
Each day sees the players meet each other once during the league phase, before the top four contest the semi-finals and final to determine a group winner.
The runner-up, semi-finalists and the players who finish fifth and sixth in the league table progress to the next group, and are joined by the next three players from the PDC Order of Merit. The players who finish seventh and eighth in each group are eliminated.
The process is repeated through to Group Eight before the eight individual champions return to compete in the big-money Winners Group on Thursday October 20.