JELLE KLAASEN defeated Kirk Shepherd 6-1 to win Group Seven of Championship League Darts.
In arguably the tournament's most dramatic day yet, Klaasen came from fourth in the league table following the eight-man group stage to claim victory with play-off wins over Adrian Lewis and Shepherd.
Klaasen was one of five players to finish the group phase on eight league points, with Lewis top, Shepherd second and Wayne Jones finishing third - while Tony Eccles missed out on a semi-final place on a count-back of Legs Won Against Throw to the Dutch ace.
Klaasen then overcame Lewis 6-5 in the semis, holding off a fightback as the Stoke star came from 3-1 and 5-2 down to send their game into a decider.
He then overcame some nervous early doubling in the final to power past Shepherd, who shared the opening two legs but was punished for his own misses as Klaasen took a 3-1 lead.
Shepherd, the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship runner-up, never recovered as Klaasen won the next three legs to claim his spot in Thursday's big-money winners group - where a place in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts next month is also on offer for the finalists.
"I'm very happy to have qualified," said Klaasen. "It was very close today but I'm pleased with how I played.
"I think I learned a lot from playing in Group Six last month and that showed today, and I can look forward to the Winners Group on Thursday.
"There's a lot of prize money on offer and I can also win a place in the Grand Slam of Darts, so it's a big day for me."
Shepherd earned £2,550 for his day's work on his debut in this year's event - his best pay-day since the 2009 World Championship - and returns on Wednesday to compete in Group Eight.
Lewis will also be back in action in Group Eight, giving him the distinction of having competed on all eight days of this year's tournament without yet having won a group, with his prize money now totalling £13,550.
Wolverhampton's Jones was a narrow 6-5 loser to Shepherd in the semi-final, allowing the youngster to come from 5-2 down to edge victory.
Jones had won a semi-final spot in a dramatic final round of matches - leaping from sixth to third with a 6-5 win over Shepherd.
Andy Smith was knocked out of the event on leg difference, with Terry Jenkins narrowly avoiding elimination, while wins in his final two games were not enough to save Co Stompe from being knocked out.
Dutch duo Roland Scholten and Michael van Gerwen come in for Group Eight, alongside Wales' Barrie Bates.
The Group Eight winner will join James Wade, Phil Taylor, Mervyn King, Mark Walsh, Wayne Mardle, Colin Osborne and Klaasen in Thursday's Winners Group.
Championship League Darts - Group Seven
|
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
Match One |
Terry Jenkins 1-6 Adrian Lewis |
Co Stompe 4-6 Tony Eccles |
|
Match Two |
Andy Smith 3-6 Kirk Shepherd |
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Wayne Jones |
|
Match One |
Tony Eccles 2-6 Terry Jenkins |
Kirk Shepherd 6-3 Jelle Klaasen |
|
Match Two |
Wayne Jones 6-4 Andy Smith |
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Co Stompe |
|
Match One |
Tony Eccles 3-6 Jelle Klaasen |
Terry Jenkins 5-6 Kirk Shepherd |
|
Match Two |
Wayne Jones 6-4 Co Stompe |
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Andy Smith |
|
Not before 2.30pm |
||
|
Match One |
Jelle Klaasen 2-6 Terry Jenkins |
Tony Eccles 6-3 Kirk Shepherd |
|
Match Two |
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Wayne Jones |
Co Stompe 1-6 Andy Smith |
|
Match One |
Co Stompe 5-6 Jelle Klaasen |
Andy Smith 6-5 Terry Jenkins |
|
Match Two |
Kirk Shepherd 6-4 Adrian Lewis |
Wayne Jones 6-4 Tony Eccles |
|
Not before 4.45pm |
||
|
Match One |
Andy Smith 5-6 Tony Eccles |
Adrian Lewis 5-6 Jelle Klaasen |
|
Match Two |
Kirk Shepherd 5-6 Co Stompe |
Terry Jenkins 6-2 Wayne Jones |
|
Match One |
Co Stompe 6-1 Terry Jenkins |
Jelle Klaasen 4-6 Andy Smith |
|
Match Two |
Wayne Jones 6-5 Kirk Shepherd |
Tony Eccles 6-5 Adrian Lewis |
|
7.15pm |
Semi-Final 1 |
Semi-Final 2 |
|
8pm |
Final |
Latest Table
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
LWAT |
£Won |
Pts | |
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
4 |
3 |
38 |
30 |
15 |
£1900 |
8 |
|
Kirk Shepherd |
7 |
4 |
3 |
37 |
33 |
10 |
£1850 |
8 |
|
Wayne Jones |
7 |
4 |
3 |
34 |
35 |
14 |
£1700 |
8 |
|
Jelle Klaasen |
7 |
4 |
3 |
33 |
35 |
13 |
£1650 |
8 |
|
Tony Eccles |
7 |
4 |
3 |
33 |
35 |
10 |
£1650 |
8 |
|
Terry Jenkins |
7 |
3 |
4 |
30 |
30 |
12 |
£1500 |
6 |
|
Andy Smith |
7 |
3 |
4 |
33 |
34 |
14 |
£1650 |
6 |
|
Co Stompe |
7 |
2 |
5 |
30 |
36 |
10 |
£1500 |
4 |
LWAT = Legs Won Against Throw
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First Round of Games
Adrian Lewis made a brilliant start to Group Seven with a 6-1 defeat of Terry Jenkins. Lewis, an ever-present in Championship League Darts this year, took the opening leg against the darts on double top, and landed a 180 in moving 2-0 up before Jenkins took out tops to get off the mark. Lewis landed another 180 in taking the fourth, and took advanrtage of missed doubles from Jenkins to move 4-1 up. He also took leg six, and landed double 16 for the match.
Tony Eccles made a winning debut with a 6-4 win over Co Stompe in the battle of the Championship League Darts new-boys. Eccles took the opening two legs on double 18 before Stomp hit back to level with a brace of his own. The next four legs went with throw, including a sparking 13-darter from Stompe which featured two 180s, before double eight put Eccles 5-4 up, and he then sealed the win in leg ten.
Kirk Shepherd claimed two points in his first game of 2009 at the Championship League Darts with a 6-3 win over Andy Smith. The duo shared the first four legs,which featured a 120 finish from Smith and a bullseye checkout from Shepherd, before the youngster took out double top to lead and then broke to move 4-2 up. Missed doubles from Shepherd allowed Smith to hit back, but a 104 checkout from the former World Championship finalist put him 5-3 up, and he sealed two points on double four.
Jelle Klaasen came from 4-2 down to win four successive legs and defeat Wayne Jones. Jones made a fine start to lead 3-1, including a 108 checkout against the throw, before Klaasen took the fifth on double ten after hitting a 180. He also landed a maximum in the next, but missed double top to level as Jones moved 4-2 up. Double ten gave Klaasen the next, and a brilliant 156 checkout levelled, before he hit double four to lead and then the same double to seal victory.
Second Round of Games
Terry Jenkins picked up his first win of the day by seeing off Tony Eccles 6-2. Eccles won the opening leg, but three in a row for Jenkins, including a break of throw, saw him take a 3-1 cushion. Eccles took the fifth, but Jenkins took leg six and another break in the seven, before sealing victory.
Kirk Shepherd continued his fine start to Group Seven with a 6-3 win over Jelle Klaasen. Klaasen hit a 180 to open the contest but Shepherd took the opening leg, only for the Dutchman to land a maximum in levelling. Shepherd, though, stepped up a gear to reel off four successive legs and create a 5-1 cushion, before a pair of double five finishes saw Klaasen halve the deficit. However, Shepherd was stronger in the ninth and landed double top for the victory.
Wayne Jones won his first game of the day, defeating Andy Smith 6-4 in a high-quality encounter. Jones made an exceptional start, taking the first four legs without reply, including two breaks of throw and finishes of 102 and 141. Double eight got Smith off the mark, before a 121 finish on the bull saw Jones move a leg away from the win at 5-1. Smith remained in the game on double nine, took out 136 to win a third leg and landed a 180 in pulling back to 5-4. However, he could not level, with Jones pulling clear and landing double eight for the win.
Adrian Lewis maintained a winning start to Group Seven with a 6-4 win over Co Stompe. Lewis broke throw in the opening leg and took the second to double his lead, before trading the next four to hold a 4-2 advantage. Stompe landed a 180 for a second successive leg in the seventh, taking out a superb 132 finish of bull, bull and double 16 to pull back to 4-3. Lewis landed a maximum and double eight to move onto five legs, with Stompe landing double four to stay in the game only to see Lewis win leg ten for the match.
Third Round of Games
Jelle Klaasen claimed his second win of the day, defeating Tony Eccles 6-3. The Dutchman made a fine start, defying a 180 from Eccles in the opening leg to take out a 170 finish, with Eccles hitting another maximum in levelling before the duo traded 180s in the third, which Klaasen edged. A 96 finish gave Eccles the fourth, but Klaasen won the fifth against the throw and took out 120 for a 4-2 cushion. The duo shared the next two, with an 80 finish putting Klaasen a leg away from the win, which was sealed on double 16.
Kirk Shepherd battled back from 2-0 down to edge out Terry Jenkins in a decider and remain unbeaten in Group Seven. Jenkins took the game's first two legs before the youngster hit back to level, only for a 107 finish to put Jenkins 3-2 up. Shepherd punished misses from Jenkins to win the sixth leg, and landed two 180s in a 13-darter to lead for the first time at 4-3. After trading double 16 finishes, a two-dart 79 saw Jenkins send the match into a decider at five-all, but Shepherd proved stronger and eventually sealed the win on double five.
Wayne Jones won his second game of Group Seven with a 6-4 defeat of winless Co Stompe. Stompe took the game's opener with a 130 checkout, only for Jones to hit back with a 68 finish and also win the next two legs to lead 3-1. Stompe hit back to level in a run of winning three out of the next four legs, with only a two-dart 100 finish from Jones seeing him stem the tide. Jones took the ninth, and landed a timely 180 on his way to sealing victory on double 18.
Adrian Lewis maintained an unbeaten start to Group Seven with a 6-3 win over Andy Smith. Lewis made a fine start to win the opening three legs before Smith landed 180s in taking the next two. Finishes of double 16 and double eight from Lewis put him 5-2 up, before Smith hit another maximum and double top for a third leg. However, Lewis took the next on double top to pick up a third successive victory.
Fourth Round of Games
Terry Jenkins won his second game of the day with a 6-2 defeat of Jelle Klaasen. The world number five boosted his play-off push with a strong display, opening the match with an 11-darter which featured scores of 180, 140, 145 and double 18 and also leading 3-1 thanks to a break of throw in leg four. Two missed doubles allowed Klaasen to take the fifth, but double ten moved him 4-2 up, a 110 checkout took him to the brink of victory and double top sealed both points.
Tony Eccles inflicted a first defeat of Group Seven upon Kirk Shepherd with a 6-3 victory in their clash. After the opening two legs were shared, Eccles took three in a row to open up a 4-1 cushion. He also opened leg six with a 180, only for Shepherd to take out double 16 to cut the gap. Eccles took the seventh, but missed the bullseye for victory and then burst his score on 25, with double five keeping the youngster in the game. But a timely 180 aided Eccles in the next, and he landed double 16 for the points.
Adrian Lewis picked up a fourth win from as many games, defeating Wayne Jones 6-4. Jones edged the early legs to lead 2-1, before Lewis took three in a row to put himself in the driving seat at 4-2. Jones hit back to level, but Lewis won a crucial ninth leg and then hit two 180s in the next - Jones landing one of his own - before taking out double ten for the win.
Andy Smith won the basement battle against Co Stompe 6-1, leaving the Dutchman effectively needing three wins from his final three games to stay in the event. The duo entered the game without a victory so far in Group Seven, and shared the opening two legs before Smith pulled clear. He hit a 180 and double 18 in taking the third in ten darts, the same double to lead 3-1 and a 12-darter to move three legs clear. He also took the sixth following misses from Stompe, and landed double top to ensure victory.
Fifth Round of Games
Jelle Klaasen edged a thrilling all-Dutch clash with Co Stompe 6-5 in a decider. Klaasen led 3-1 before winless Stompe battled back to take three in a row and lead. The duo traded double four finishes to leave Stompe 5-4 up, only for Klaasen to ensure a decider on double nine. Stompe powered home scores of 140, 180 and 145 in the final leg, matched by 140, 180, 140 from Klaasen - with Stompe missing five darts for the match and Klaasen three before returning to land double 16 to take the points.
Andy Smith picked up a second successive win with a narrow 6-5 comeback defeat of Terry Jenkins. Smith looked set for a fourth loss of the day when he trailed 4-1 to Jenkins, despite hitting three maximums in the early exchanges. A 101 checkout gave him a second leg, only for double ten to put Jenkins 5-2 up and one away from the win. Smith took the eighth and then stepped in to win the next two following missed match darts from Jenkins. Scores of 180 and 174 saw Smith pull clear in the decider, and double top snatched an unlikely win.
Kirk Shepherd moved a step closer to ensuring a play-off spot in Group Seven with a 6-4 win over previously unbeaten league leader Adrian Lewis. Shepherd made a fine start to lead 3-1 before Lewis cut the gap to 4-3 in the game. Double eight put Shepherd 5-3 up, but he missed the bullseye for victory in the next as Lewis took out double 16 to stay in the game. However, the Stoke ace missed double 11 for the next leg, and double 16 ensured a fourth win of the day for Shepherd.
Wayne Jones improved his play-off chances with a 6-4 win over Tony Eccles. Eccles led 1-0 before Jones took three successive legs to move in front. Eccles hit back to lead 4-3, only for Jones to win the eight and a key ninth on double nine to lead 5-4, before landing the same double to secure victory.
Sixth Round of Games
Tony Eccles won a tense 11-leg battle with Andy Smith to improve his play-off chances in a close contest. Eccles won the opening leg before Smith, inspired by a 120 finish in the second leg, took three in a row to lead 3-1. Eccles took three of the next four to level at four-all, with Smith landing a 180 and double top to move 5-4 up. However, he missed four darts for the game in leg ten, with Eccles taking out double 16 to force a decider. Eccles missed three match darts at double 14, but Smith - on 98 - missed double top for the game as the Hartlepool man returned to hit double 14 for his third win of the day.
Jelle Klaasen edged out Adrian Lewis 6-5 to win an electric contest. The two could never be separated throughout a tight game, with Klaasen missing early chances to break while also taking out 127 for a 12-darter in leg six to level at three-all. He missed doubles to win the seventh and ninth as Lewis edged 5-4 up, but a 120 finish saw the Dutchman ensure a decider. He pulled clear in the 11th leg, and landed double 12 for a 14-darter for the game's only break of throw in taking victory.
Co Stompe battled back from 5-4 down to pick up his first Championship League Darts victory with a 6-5 defeat of Kirk Shepherd. Shepherd took the opening leg, but three in a row saw Stompe lead 3-1, before a 92 finish saw the Englishman halve the deficit. Double five put Stompe 4-2 up, but double ten and a 114 finish saw Shepherd level, before he won leg nine to lead. Stompe took the tenth to force a decider, and missed the bull and double four for victory, but three missed chances from Shepherd allowed him back to land the winning double for a first two points.
Terry Jenkins picked up what could prove to be a crucial victory in his bid for a play-off spot with a 6-2 defeat of Wayne Jones. The duo shared the opening two legs, but Jenkins' accuracy on double top helped him win the next three to lead 4-1. Jones took the sixth, but tops put Jenkins 5-2 in front before double five sealed the victory.
Seventh Round of Games
Co Stompe produced his best display of the day to defeat Terry Jenkins 6-1 in a sensational performance. Stompe already knew he would be eliminated on the day after winning only one of six matches, but finished with a flourish. The duo shared the opening two legs, and double four put Stompe 2-1 up before he produced a stunning run of legs. He hit a 171 to leave 94 in the next, which he took out on double six to break throw. He then took out 156 and 90 to move 5-1 up, and kicked off the next leg with two 180s to set up a potential nine-darter. He landed treble 20 and treble 19 but missed double 12 for a third nine-darter of this year's event, although he did land it at the fourth attempt to seal a convincing win.
Andy Smith edged out Jelle Klaasen 6-4 in their final game - with both left waiting for the results of the final games before knowing their Group Seven fate. Smith made a brilliant start to lead 3-0, taking advantage of early missed doubles from the Dutchman. Klaasen won three of the next four to pull back to 4-3, only for Smith to land double top and move to the brink of victory. Missed darts at the bull and double eight for the match allowed Klaasen to hit double four and stay in the game, but Smith posted double nine to seal victory.
Wayne Jones' 6-5 win over Kirk Shepherd saw him snatch a play-off spot and finish third in the final league table. Jones made a fine start to lead 4-1, only for Shepherd to hit back and win four of the next five to level and force a decider. A 180 from Shepherd left him 27 in the final leg, only for Jones to check out 76 on double 18 for the victory.
Tony Eccles overcame Adrian Lewis in a deciding leg to win a fourth game of the day - only to miss out on a place in the semi-finals on Legs Won Against Throw, having finished level on leg difference with Jelle Klaasen, who takes fourth place. Eccles made a stunning start with finishes of 158 and 121 in the opening two legs, and landed double 18 for a third before Lewis hit back with a treble of his own to level. The next two were shared before Lewis edged 5-4 up, only to miss five match darts in the next as double four forced a decider. Eccles, though, landed double top in the 11th leg to snatch the win, ensuring he returns in Group Eight despite missing out on Tuesday's semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
Jelle Klaasen booked his place in the Group Seven final with a 6-5 win over Adrian Lewis. Klaasen stormed into a 3-0 lead, opening with a 12-darter, hitting a 180 and double five to break throw in leg two and a 110 finish in the third. Double top got Lewis off the mark, but Klaasen landed another maximum and double 16 to lead 4-1. He then hit seven perfect darts in opening the sixth leg - only to see a nine-darter go begging on treble 19 and then miss five darts for the leg as Lewis took out double top. Double 16 put Klaasen a leg away from the win, but Lewis landed double nine, then punished three missed match darts to take out double top, and finished 130 in leg ten to force a decider. But Klaasen, with the throw, was stronger and hit a 180 before landing double 16 for a 13-darter to earn his spot in the decider for a second successive group - and condemn Lewis to playing in an eight successive group on Wednesday.
Kirk Shepherd battled from 5-2 down to overcome Wayne Jones in a decider and win a spot in the Group Seven final. Jones punished early missed doubles to lead 3-0, including a 106 finish against the throw in the second. Shepherd shared the next four, although Jones' double ten pushed him to five legs and on the brink of victory. Shepherd won the eighth and then took out 100 to break throw, with a 65 checkout ensure a decider - which he went on to win on double 16.