WAYNE MARDLE took Group Five glory in Championship League Darts with a 6-3 final victory over Colin Osborne.
Mardle lost out in the third group of last year's tournament, but ensured a spot in October's Winners Group of the internet-televised competition with a flourish on Wednesday.
He recovered from a loss to Osborne in the day's opening games to win five successive games in the league phase, finishing second in the table.
He then edged out Terry Jenkins 6-5 in the semi-finals, and came from 3-2 down to defeat Osborne in the decider.
Osborne had taken a 3-2 lead early on, but was punished for a tired display as Mardle levelled, took the next two legs to lead 5-3 and then sealed victory with a 94 finish of single 18, double 18 and double top.
"I'm absolutely delighted," said Mardle. "Last year I was massively disappointed to lose in the third group and my aim was to make it through at the first time of asking today.
"I've managed to do that, and it's a great confidence boost for me going into the Skybet World Grand Prix soon."
Osborne will now return to compete in a fourth day at Crondon Park GC in Essex on Thursday, as but took home £2,400 for his unsuccessful Group Five attempt.
He sneaked into the semi-finals ahead of Denis Ovens on leg difference, and came from 3-1 down to win 6-3 in the semis against Mark Dudbridge.
Dudbridge, making his entrance into this year's event, won the league phase after picking up six wins in his seven league games before running out of steam in the play-offs.
Jenkins, who topped the Group Four league on Tuesday, suffered a second successive semi-final loss but will be back on Thursday alongside Ovens and Adrian Lewis, who failed to qualify once again and will maintain an ever-present record in the tournament on day six.
Peter Manley suffered elimination in his first day in the tournament on Wednesday, alongside Kevin Painter, who failed to win a game after being the runner-up 24 hours earlier in Group Four.
Former Lakeside Champion Jelle Klaasen, Andy Smith and Wayne Jones enter the event in Group Six on Thursday.
Championship League Darts - Group Five
|
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
Match One |
Terry Jenkins 4-6 Adrian Lewis |
Peter Manley 2-6 Mark Dudbridge |
|
Match Two |
Kevin Painter 5-6 Denis Ovens |
Colin Osborne 6-2 Wayne Mardle |
|
Match One |
Mark Dudbridge 6-5 Terry Jenkins |
Denis Ovens 1-6 Colin Osborne |
|
Match Two |
Wayne Mardle 6-1 Kevin Painter |
Adrian Lewis 4-6 Peter Manley |
|
Match One |
Mark Dudbridge 6-2 Colin Osborne |
Terry Jenkins 6-5 Denis Ovens |
|
Match Two |
Wayne Mardle 6-5 Peter Manley |
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Kevin Painter |
|
Not before 2.30pm |
||
|
Match One |
Colin Osborne 1-6 Terry Jenkins |
Mark Dudbridge 6-3 Denis Ovens |
|
Match Two |
Adrian Lewis 5-6 Wayne Mardle |
Peter Manley 6-4 Kevin Painter |
|
Match One |
Peter Manley 2-6 Colin Osborne |
Kevin Painter 5-6 Terry Jenkins |
|
Match Two |
Denis Ovens 6-4 Adrian Lewis |
Wayne Mardle 6-5 Mark Dudbridge |
|
Not before 4.45pm |
||
|
Match One |
Kevin Painter 0-6 Mark Dudbridge |
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Colin Osborne |
|
Match Two |
Denis Ovens 6-3 Peter Manley |
Terry Jenkins 4-6 Wayne Mardle |
|
Match One |
Peter Manley 3-6 Terry Jenkins |
Colin Osborne 6-3 Kevin Painter |
|
Match Two |
Wayne Mardle 4-6 Denis Ovens |
Mark Dudbridge 6-5 Adrian Lewis |
|
7.15pm |
Semi-Final 1 |
Semi-Final 2 |
|
8.00pm |
Final |
Final League Table
|
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
£Won |
Pts |
|
Mark Dudbridge |
7 |
6 |
1 |
41 |
23 |
£2050 |
12 |
|
Wayne Mardle |
7 |
5 |
2 |
36 |
32 |
£1800 |
10 |
|
Terry Jenkins |
7 |
4 |
3 |
37 |
32 |
£1850 |
8 |
|
Colin Osborne |
7 |
4 |
3 |
30 |
26 |
£1500 |
8 |
|
Denis Ovens |
7 |
4 |
3 |
33 |
34 |
£1650 |
8 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
3 |
4 |
36 |
35 |
£1800 |
6 |
|
Peter Manley |
7 |
2 |
5 |
27 |
38 |
£1350 |
4 |
|
Kevin Painter |
7 |
0 |
7 |
22 |
42 |
£1100 |
0 |
Championship League Darts will be screened solely on the internet through the following bookmakers' websites:
Available Globally
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Available in UK/Ireland
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To view the Championship League Darts, users must be registered with the specific website but there is no commitment to placing bets. The stream will be available internationally, except in the United States of America, where for legal reasons it cannot be shown.
Results and latest league tables will be available throughout each day at www.pdc.tv, along with latest news from Crondon Park.
GROUP FIVE UPDATES
First Round of Matches
Adrian Lewis began his bid to finally secure qualification to the Winners Group with a 6-4 defeat of Terry Jenkins. Jenkins, who was unbeaten in the Group Four league only to lose in the semis, took the game's first two legs only for Lewis, aided by an 11-darter, to win the next three and edge in front. Jenkins levelled against the darts but then missed double top to lead, with Lewis posting a 180 to leave double 18. Lewis also landed a maximum in taking a 5-3 cushion before Jenkins took leg nine but then missed four darts to ensure a deciding leg, with Lewis taking out 56 for the win.
Mark Dudbridge made a fine start to Group Five, defeating Peter Manley 6-2. Dudbridge made a brilliant start, opening with a 180 in his first throw and taking the first leg against the darts with an 11-dart finish. He doubled the lead before Manley got off the mark, and then won three successive legs to open up a 5-1 cushion. Manley checked out 96 on double 18 to win a second leg, but Dudbridge sealed victory in style, hitting two 180s and a 96 finish of his own in an 11-darter.
Denis Ovens edged out Kevin Painter in a deciding leg to claim an opening victory in Group Five. Painter took two early breaks and a 114 finish in taking a 4-3 advantage, before Ovens hit back to win the next two and move to the brink of victory. Double ten from Painter sent the match into the 11th leg, but he allowed Ovens to pull clear in the decider, with the Hertfordshire player initially missing double 18 and double nine on two visits to the oche before sealing victory at the third time of asking.
Colin Osborne overcame Group Five debutant Wayne Mardle 6-2 to make an ideal start to Wednesday's play. Osborne did much of the damage early on, taking a 4-1 cushion with some clinical darts, with a ten-darter from Mardle, featuring seven perfect darts, getting him off the mark. Mardle also took out 65 to win the sixth leg, but missed double 18 for a 116 finish to pull back to 4-3 in the next, with double four edging Osborne away and double 16 in the next leg sealing the points.
Second Round of Matches
Mark Dudbridge battled from 3-0 and 4-2 down to edge out Terry Jenkins in a tight battle and claim his second win of the day. Jenkins took the game's first three legs, including a brace of double top finishes, to take charge only for Dudbridge to win the next two and reduce the gap to 3-2. Double top gave Jenkins a fourth leg, but Dudbridge landed back-to-back 11-dart finishes to lead 5-4. Two missed match darts allowed Jenkins to land double eight and force a decider, but he then wasted two chances to take victory as Dudbridge stepped in to take out 100 for the points.
Colin Osborne picked up a second successive Group Five win with a 6-1 defeat of Denis Ovens. Osborne followed up his opening victory over Wayne Mardle with another strong display, opening up a 4-0 lead thanks to a brace of breaks of throw, before trading 180s with Ovens in the next and taking out double four to move a leg away from the win. A 97 finish put Ovens on the board, but double four sealed Osborne's victory.
Wayne Mardle claimed a 6-1 victory over Kevin Painter to claim his first two points of the day. Mardle made a fine start to break throw in the opening leg, and he also took the next three to move 4-0 up before double ten gave Painter his first leg. Mardle won the sixth to move 5-1 up, and then sealed the win on double 16 after landing a timely 180 in the next.
Peter Manley fought back from 3-0 down to see off Adrian Lewis 6-4 in their battle. Lewis took the game's opening three legs, including a break in the second, before missing four darts for a second leg against the throw in leg four, with Manley stepping in on double top. He also took the next two to level and double ten against the throw put him in front for the first time. Another leg saw Manley move 5-3 up, before Lewis posted a 180 and double top to take the ninth. But Manley was stronger in the next and hit double ten for victory.
Third Round of Matches
Mark Dudbridge won the battle of the league's two unbeaten players, defeating Colin Osborne 6-2 with another strong display. Dudbridge included two 100 checkouts in taking a 3-1 lead early on, before Osborne took the fifth against the throw on double 16. But the Derby man wasted two chances to level, and Dudbridge took out double top for a 4-2 lead and hit the same bed in the next two legs to wrap up the win.
Terry Jenkins came from 5-3 down to edge past Denis Ovens in a decider and pick up his first win of the day. The game's first seven legs went with the throw before Ovens took the first break, hitting a 180 and double four to lead 5-3. A two-dart 80 finish and a 101 checkout from Jenkins levelled, before he hit double top to win the decider.
Wayne Mardle picked up his second win of the day, edging past Peter Manley 6-5. The first six legs were shared before Manley took out 121 on the bull to break, only for Mardle to hit back against the darts with an 11-darter. A 71 finish edged Mardle in front before Manley took out 106 to force a decider - only for the Essex man to prove too strong and take out double 12 for the win.
Adrian Lewis battled from 3-1 down to defeat Kevin Painter 6-4 and leave the Daventry man bottom of the table. Painter edged the early exchanges, taking the first break of throw and a two-leg lead before Lewis landed double top in the fifth, a 160 to level and then an 87 finish to move 4-3 up. Painter replied with an 88 finish but the pair traded maximums in the next, Lewis moving 5-4 up and then sealing victory in the next.
Fourth Round of Matches
Terry Jenkins won his second successive game, powering past Colin Osborne 6-1. Jenkins took the first leg on double top, after Osborne had left a double with a 180, and the world number five immediately pulled clear, winning the next four for a 5-0 cushion. He also missed double 15 for a whitewash on a 150 checkout, with Osborne landing double eight to get off the mark - but the Derby man missed his chance in the next as tops earned Jenkins both points.
Mark Dudbridge maintained his unbeaten record with a 6-3 victory over Denis Ovens. Dudbridge punished early missed doubles from Ovens to lead 3-1, and took out 164 for a 4-2 gap as Ovens battled to stay in the game. Double nine gave Ovens a third leg, but he was left waiting on a double following a 180 in leg eight, as his opponent took out double eight for a 5-3 lead, and then sealed the win with a 120 finish.
Wayne Mardle earned a third successive victory by edging out Adrian Lewis 6-5. The first five legs went with the throw before Mardle edged the next to break and lead 4-2, only for Lewis to hit back and level. Mardle landed a 180 and double five to lead 5-4, only to miss the bullseye for victory in the next as Lewis forced a decider. Mardle hit another maximum in the 11th, meaning a 162 score of three treble 18s for Lewis was not enough as the Essex man took out 98 on double 19.
Peter Manley claimed a second win of the day to leave Kevin Painter rooted to the foot of the table following a 6-4 defeat. Manley picked up the game's first break in leg four to lead 3-1 with a 140 finish, and misses from Painter allowed him to take the next on double two to lead 4-1. Painter battled back to level, but Manley edged the ninth on tops and then stepped in after two misses from Painter to seal the win on double six.
Fifth Round of Matches
Colin Osborne bounced back from two successive defeats with a 6-2 win over Peter Manley. Manley took the opening leg, but Osborne took out 105 to level, double 11 to break throw and double eight to lead 3-1. Manley stepped in to win the fifth, but a missed double 13 for a 146 finish allowed Osborne to take out double 16 and move 4-2 up. The pair traded 177 scores in the next, but Manley was left waiting on 24 as Osborne hit double 16 to win a fifth leg and hit the same bed to seal the win.
Terry Jenkins earned a third victory of Group Five in a deciding leg against winless Kevin Painter. Painter matched Jenkins blow for blow early on, sharing the opening four legs before the world number five took the fifth and then finished 117 to break for a 4-2 lead. Painter landed two double 16 checkouts to level, but missed double 12 to lead as a bullseye finish from Jenkins put him 5-4 up. Painter levelled with an 85 checkout on double eight, but was left trailing in the decider as his opponent posted double top for the points.
Denis Ovens remains in the hunt for a semi-final place following a 6-4 win over Adrian Lewis. Ovens opened up an early 3-0 lead before Lewis took out 72 and 89 in cutting back to one leg behind. Ovens won the sixth to lead 4-2 before being pegged back level, but a crucial 74 from Ovens gave him a 5-4 lead and double 16 completed the win.
Wayne Mardle claimed his fourth win of the day, coming from 4-1 down to defeat Mark Dudbridge in a decider. Dudbridge, entering the match unbeaten on the day, opened up a 4-1 lead before Mardle hit two 180s in winning the sixth and a 92 finish to pull back to 4-3. Double five put Dudbridge a leg away from the win, but he missed two darts for the win in the next as Mardle battled back, winning the next two to force a decider and taking out tops for the win.
Sixth Round of Matches
Mark Dudbridge bounced back from his first defeat of the day to whitewash Kevin Painter in stunning fashion. After taking out double four to break in the opening leg, he landed finishes of 160 and 130 to lead 3-0, double top to move 4-0 up. A 120 finish earned him a fifth leg, and he hit scores of 100, 180 and 123 before taking out 98 for an 11-darter in wrapping up the win.
Adrian Lewis claimed what could prove a key victory by seeing off Colin Osborne 6-3. After losing the opening leg, he took the next three to lead 3-1, before Osborne hit back to 4-3. However, a fine 12-darter from Lewis saw him take the eighth leg, and he then punished three Osborne misses to seal the win on double 16.
Wayne Mardle ensured his semi-final place with a 6-4 win over Terry Jenkins. Mardle trailed 3-2 before taking out a superb 143 to level, and then won the next two to lead 5-3. Jenkins edged the ninth, but double ten saw Mardle pick up his fifth win of the day.
Denis Ovens remains in the play-off frame following a 6-2 win over Peter Manley, whose hopes of survival were dented in the process. The duo shared the first four legs, before Ovens took out 96 in the fifth, broke Manley's throw in the next and moved 5-2 up on double four. Manley then missed double top to stay in the contest in leg eight, and double eight gave Ovens the win.
Seventh Round of Matches
Terry Jenkins knocked Peter Manley out of the 2009 Championship League Darts and earned himself a Group Five semi-final spot with a 6-3 win. Jenkins opened the game seven perfect darts, missing treble 19 whilst on a nine-darter but taking the opening leg and then the second to lead 2-0. Manley won the third, but a 112 finish and double 17 saw Jenkins into a 4-1 lead. Manley took two of the next three, with Jenkins earning a fifth leg with a 92 finish before landing double 16 for the game.
Colin Osborne completed a nightmare day for Kevin Painter with a 6-3 victory, leaving Painter without a victory in Group Five and leaving himself waiting nervously for the results of the final round - with Adrian Lewis able to take fourth place ahead of Osborne if he defeats Mark Dudbridge. Osborne opened up a 3-1 lead before Painter hit back to 4-3, but Osborne traded 180s in a key eighth leg before taking out double eight, and then won the next to take the victory, his fourth in the day's league phase.
Denis Ovens defeated Wayne Mardle 6-4 in their final league match - but missed out on a semi-final place on leg difference. Mardle took out 92 and 106 to win the opening two legs, but wasted his chances in the third as Ovens nipped in on double five, and then took the next two to lead. Mardle landed scores of 180 and 140 as well as double top to level, but another maximum was not enough in the seventh as Ovens edged in front and then landed tops for a 5-3 cushion. A two-dart 72 finish kept Mardle in the game, but Ovens landed a 180 and double 16 for a 12-darter in sealing the win.
Mark Dudbridge completed the league phase with a 6-5 win over Adrian Lewis, meaning he picked up six victories from his seven matches to top the table. Dudbridge opened the match superbly with legs of 12, 12 and 14 darts in moving 3-0 up, opening with a 136 finish. Lewis took out 118 to win the fourth and then won the next three to lead, but was sat on a double in the eighth as Dudbridge landed tops following a 180 to level at four-all. Double eight edged Dudbridge 5-4 up - meaning Lewis could not win a semi-final spot after needing to win 6-4 or better, although a 100 finish sent the game into a decider, which the Bristolian took on tops.
The final league table saw Dudbridge finish two points ahead of Mardle following six wins, with three players then on eight points. Adrian Lewis will progress to compete in a sixth successive day on Thursday, with Peter Manley and Kevin Painter eliminated.
Semi-Finals
Colin Osborne won through to the Group Five final with a 6-3 win over league leader Mark Dudbridge. Dudbridge had won six of his seven league games, and looked on course to reach the decider after taking a 3-1 lead in the semis, including a 91 finish in the opening leg and a 124 checkout. Osborne won the fifth with a 70 finish and then levelled before being given a reprieve in the seventh as he hit the front. Double 12, with Dudbridge waiting on the same finish, saw him move 5-3 up, and a place in the final was secured with a 105 checkout.
Wayne Mardle edged out Terry Jenkins in a deciding leg to earn his place in the Group Five final. Mardle earned an early 3-1 lead, only for Jenkins to take the fifth leg, punish six missed doubles to level and then take out double five with his third dart to lead 4-3. Mardle landed a 180 - for a third successive leg - in levelling matters only for double 12 to put Jenkins 5-4 up. Mardle took out double six to ensure a decider, and punished two missed match darts by landing double 18 for the win.
Final
Wayne Mardle took Group Five glory in Championship League Darts with a 6-3 win over Colin Osborne in the final. Mardle trailed 3-2 but punished Osborne as he tired, taking the final four legs without reply to book his place in October's Winners Group.