Teenager Wins Oceanic Masters - And Purfleet Place

TEENAGE wonderkid Mitchell Clegg, a 15-year-old from New South Wales, has won the 2006 Oceanic Masters and will play in the 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Clegg, who turns 16 next month, will become the youngest ever player in a major PDC tournament when he appears at the Circus Tavern in December.

That will be his reward for battling through arguably the toughest event on the Australasian circuit this weekend.

Clegg started the Oceanic Masters in Saturday's qualifiers alongside 42 other hopefuls, with 12 players joining the top 16 Australians and four Kiwis in the main event.

After winning a place in Sunday's knockout phase, Clegg won 3-0 against Jerry Weyman in first round proper before gaining revenge over brother David - who inflicted his only defeat in Saturday's round robin stage - in round two.

He then overcame number four and five seeds Peter Corcoran and Russell Stewart, with a 30.54 average in a 6-4 win against the latter, to reach the final.

Clegg found himself 3-1 down early in the final, before taking four successive legs to storm ahead.

After missing his doubles, Clegg allowed Sinclair to cut the deficit in the ninth before breaking back to take the tenth and go 6-4 up.

The youngster then showed tremendous nerve to take out a 144 finish for the championship.

He succeeds Warren Parry as Oceanic Masters champion and will join AGP winner Anthony Fleet and New Zealand national singles champion Warren French in appearing in the World Championship.

"This is a tremendous achievement," said DPA Representative Kevin Berlyn. "He was superb throughout the weekend and finished the entire event with an average above 28.

"To do that at his age and under the pressure of this event is amazing. I'm sure he will enjoy the experience of playing in the World Championship."

Clegg, a DFA Australian Junior Champion, hails from Newcastle, NSW and turns 16 in November.

"I'd like to congratulate Mitchell on his win," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.

"Ability is the only barrier with the PDC, and even at this age he has shown he has the talent to perform on the world stage.

"I look forward to seeing Mitchell in action representing his country in the 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship."

Clegg defeated veteran Australian Russell Stewart 6-5 in the semi-finals, with Sinclair winning 6-3 in the other last four clash against Brian Roach.

Roach - the 2005 AGP winner - knocked out double Oceanic Masters champion Barry Jouannet in the last 32.

John Sinclair defeated fellow Kiwi Warren French - the National Singles champion - 6-4 in the final of Saturday's $1,000AU AGP Masters event.

AGP Champion Anthony Fleet and Dave Harrington reached the semi-finals.

Sunday saw an APDP tournament take place for players not involved in the last 32 of the Oceanic Masters, with Shane Haddy winning 3-1 against Preston Ridd in the final.