JAMES WADE defeated Phil Taylor 6-4 to win Group One of the Championship League Darts - despite the reigning champion hitting a nine-darter on the 2009 event's opening day.
World number two Wade booked his place in the Winners Group of the internet-televised tournament in style at Crondon Park GC in Essex, claiming two wins in a highly profitable day.
Wade missed out on a place in last year's Winners Group but followed up victory over Taylor in the eight-player league phase on Tuesday with a high-quality win in the final.
Two 121 finishes on the bullseye helped Wade into an early 3-1 lead against Taylor, who cut the gap to 4-3 before the left-hander hit two 180s in setting up a potential nine-darter.
Although he missed out on that feat, he took leg eight to lead 5-3 and eventually sealed a 6-4 victory with a fifth maximum of the final and a 100 checkout.
He had earlier overcome Taylor 6-5 in the league phase and topped the table after the round-robin stage, before edging out Mervyn King 6-5 in the semi-finals.
With prize money of £50 per leg on offer in the league phase and £100 per leg in the play-offs, Wade pocketed £3,250 as well as a place in October's Winners Group.
"I'm delighted to get through," said Wade. "I was disappointed last year when I lost out in two groups and missed the Winners Group so it's a relief to qualify this time.
"Just winning the group today was tough because of the quality of players, but to then win the semi-finals and final too is brilliant."
Taylor had been unbeaten in last year's event - winning Group One and the Winners Group - but a defeat to Wade was later followed by a 6-4 loss to King in the group stage.
He did, though, hit a perfect nine-dart finish during a 6-1 win over John Part, his seventh in a televised competition during his illustrious career.
The World Champion finished second in the table, and then defeated Adrian Lewis 6-3 in the semis in pocketing £2,950 for his day's work - although he will be amongst the eight competitors in Wednesday's Group Two.
Lewis and King will join Taylor back at Crondon Park on Wednesday, alongside Colin Lloyd and Alan Tabern, who finished fifth and sixth respectively in Group One.
Canadian star John Part and Ronnie Baxter were eliminated on day one, having only picked up one win apiece in their seven league games.
Two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley comes into the event for Group Two, alongside two of the 2009 Group Winners, Andy Hamilton and Mark Walsh.
Championship League Darts is screened solely on the internet through a series of ten bookmakers' websites around the world.
2009 Championship League Darts
Group One Results
|
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
Match One |
Phil Taylor 5-6 James Wade |
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Alan Tabern |
|
Match Two |
Ronnie Baxter 3-6 Adrian Lewis |
John Part 5-6 Mervyn King |
|
Match One |
Alan Tabern 5-6 Phil Taylor |
Adrian Lewis 4-6 John Part |
|
Match Two |
Mervyn King 6-1 Ronnie Baxter |
James Wade 6-4 Colin Lloyd |
|
Match One |
Alan Tabern 6-4 John Part |
Phil Taylor 6-3 Adrian Lewis |
|
Match Two |
Mervyn King 6-2 Colin Lloyd |
James Wade 6-4 Ronnie Baxter |
|
Match One |
John Part 1-6 Phil Taylor |
Alan Tabern 2-6 Adrian Lewis |
|
Match Two |
James Wade 6-2 Mervyn King |
Colin Lloyd 6-1 Ronnie Baxter |
|
Match One |
Colin Lloyd 6-4 John Part |
Ronnie Baxter 1-6 Phil Taylor |
|
Match Two |
Adrian Lewis 6-5 James Wade |
Mervyn King 6-2 Alan Tabern |
|
Match One |
Ronnie Baxter 5-6 Alan Tabern |
James Wade 6-1 John Part |
|
Match Two |
Adrian Lewis 6-5 Colin Lloyd |
Phil Taylor 4-6 Mervyn King |
|
Match One |
Colin Lloyd 3-6 Phil Taylor |
John Part 1-6 Ronnie Baxter |
|
Match Two |
Mervyn King 2-6 Adrian Lewis |
Alan Tabern 5-6 James Wade |
|
Semi-Final 1 |
Semi-Final 2 | |
|
|
Final James Wade 6-4 Phil Taylor |
Final League Table
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
£Won |
Pts | |
|
James Wade |
7 |
6 |
1 |
41 |
27 |
£2050 |
12 |
|
Phil Taylor |
7 |
5 |
2 |
39 |
25 |
£1950 |
10 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
5 |
2 |
37 |
29 |
£1850 |
10 |
|
Mervyn King |
7 |
5 |
2 |
34 |
26 |
£1700 |
10 |
|
Colin Lloyd |
7 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
31 |
£1600 |
6 |
|
Alan Tabern |
7 |
2 |
5 |
28 |
39 |
£1400 |
4 |
|
Ronnie Baxter |
7 |
1 |
6 |
21 |
37 |
£1050 |
2 |
|
John Part |
7 |
1 |
6 |
22 |
40 |
£1100 |
2 |
Prize Money Table
|
Prize Money |
League |
Play-Offs |
Total |
|
James Wade |
£2050 |
£1200 |
£3250 |
|
Phil Taylor |
£1950 |
£1000 |
£2950 |
|
Mervyn King |
£1700 |
£500 |
£2200 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
£1850 |
£300 |
£2150 |
|
Colin Lloyd |
£1600 |
£1600 | |
|
Alan Tabern |
£1400 |
£1400 | |
|
John Part |
£1100 |
£1100 | |
|
Ronnie Baxter |
£1050 |
£1050 |
First Round of Matches
James Wade defeated reigning champion Phil Taylor in a final-leg shoot-out to open the 2009 Championship League Darts. Taylor - unbeaten in last year's tournament - took a 3-0 lead before Wade cut the gap to one leg, only for the Stoke ace to take the next two for a 5-2 cushion. But he paid for missed doubles for the match as Wade took the next three to force a deciding leg, with the left-hander then scoring 140 and 180 in leg 11 before taking out 82 on tops for the win.
Colin Lloyd overcame Alan Tabern 6-2 in the board two opener with a polished performance. Tabern took out 96 in leg two to level, but could do little as Lloyd won the next three legs to move 4-1 up, including a 72 checkout to break throw. Double 12 from Tabern cut the lead, but Lloyd hit five perfect darts and double top in taking a fifth leg and double eight sealed the victory and two league points.
Adrian Lewis began his bid in Group One with a fine 6-3 win over Ronnie Baxter. Baxter took out 156 for the opening leg, but Lewis won the next three to take command. A two-dart 79 finish saw Baxter win the fifth leg, but Lewis won the next two to lead 5-2. Another leg for Baxter gave him a third leg, but a 72 checkout saw Lewis claim the points.
Mervyn King came from 5-3 down to defeat John Part in a deciding leg in their opener. Part made a fine start to his Championship League debut, opening up an early 3-1 lead, only for King to post a 121 finish in hitting back to level. A 136 checkout put Part 4-3 up, and he also won the next leg but missed double 11 for a 6-3 win - with King crucially checking out 112 to take that leg. A 12-darter, featuring a 180 and an 81 finish, saw King send the match into a deciding leg, and he was too strong to post double eight.
Second Round of Matches
Phil Taylor grabbed his first victory of Group One by snatching a final-leg win over Alan Tabern. Tabern dominated much of the contest, opening up leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before a crucial fifth leg saw him miss one dart at double 16 before Taylor took out 132 on the bull. Tabern took two of the next three to lead 5-3, but missed one dart at double 18 for the game in leg nine. Taylor took that on double 16 and hit the same bed to send the game into a decider. A missed double 16 from Taylor gave Tabern a chance at 106, but he missed double top and the reigning champion returned to the oche to land double 16.
John Part picked up his first Championship League Darts win with a 6-4 defeat of Adrian Lewis. There was little between the pair throughout, with Lewis taking out 120 and 78 to lead 2-1 but missing two darts to break in the fourth as Part levelled. The next four legs also went with the throw, before Part claimed the first break in leg nine on double four to lead 5-4, before sealing the win on double 16.
Mervyn King maintained his winning start with a 6-1 win over Ronnie Baxter. King took a 3-0 lead, including an 80 finish against the darts to break throw in leg two after two misses from Baxter, who took the fourth leg to get off the mark. A 121 finish gave King a 4-1 lead, with double 12 and then double top giving him the game.
James Wade battled back from behind to defeat Colin Lloyd and pick up a second victory of the day. Lloyd led 2-0 thanks to double 13 and then a 114 checkout against the throw before misses allowed Wade to get off the mark and then level at 2-2. The next four legs were shared before a missed double top from Lloyd allowed Wade in on double 12 to break again and lead 5-4, before he sealed the win on double nine.
Third Round of Matches
Alan Tabern took his first win of the day with a 6-4 defeat of John Part, coming from 4-2 down to take four successive legs and both points. The first five legs went with the throw before Part stepped in to take the sixth on tops after two misses from Tabern. Tabern took out 65 to break back and then levelled after Part missed three darts for the leg. A missed double nine from the Canadian let Tabern move 5-4 up on double two, and further sloppy finishing cost the former World Champion dear, with double five giving the St Helens man the win.
Phil Taylor overcame Stoke rival Adrian Lewis 6-3 to pick up win number two of the day. Lewis started the game well with a 180, but missed doubles allowed Taylor to break, and the world number one also took the next two legs to lead 3-0. A 96 finish and double 16 saw Lewis reduce the gap to one leg, only for double ten to edge Taylor 4-2 up. A 124 checkout from Lewis gave him a third leg, but Taylor landed double ten to lead 5-3 and then a fine 119 checkout for victory.
Mervyn King mounted a remarkable comeback to defeat Colin Lloyd 6-2 and remain unbeaten. Lloyd took the game's first two legs to lead, but King never looked back after sneaking the third. He took the next to level, double three to lead and a two-dart 62 checkout to break throw and go 4-2 up. Double eight for a 64 checkout put King 5-2 up before he wrapped up the win in the next.
James Wade remains level with three wins at the top of the table after a 6-4 win over winless Ronnie Baxter. Wade looked on course for a comfortable win when he took a 3-0 lead, only for Baxter to pull back to 4-2 and 5-3. Missed darts for the match allowed Baxter to take the ninth on double 16, but he could not force a decider as Wade landed double top for both points.
Fourth Round of Matches
Phil Taylor hit's nine-dart finish in 6-1 victory over John Part. The first two legs of the game were shared, but Taylor took the third and then won leg four against the darts to move 3-1 up before hitting top gear. He opened the next with back-to-back 180s and then took out 141 on double 12 to hit the Championship League Darts' second nine-darter, emulating Adrian Lewis' feat last year. Taylor maintained his composure to then take the next two legs and seal a third win of the day.
Adrian Lewis won a second game of Group One with a 6-2 defeat of Alan Tabern. Lewis hit 180s in two of the first three legs as he took a 3-0 lead, before Tabern took out 32 to get off the mark. The next two were shared, but Lewis crucially took the seventh to go to the brink of victory and then landed a 180 and double top for the match.
James Wade won the battle of the two unbeaten players, defeating Mervyn King 6-2. King took out 68 to win the first leg against the throw and double four to double the lead - only for a missed double top in the next to let Wade in. The left-hander landed double five to level in the next, before reeling off four successive legs to take the win.
Ronnie Baxter remained without a victory on the day following a 6-1 reverse to Colin Lloyd. Lloyd took the opening leg against the throw to immediately take charge, and two further breaks of throw saw him move 5-0 up before Baxter got off the mark in the sixth. The end, though, was nigh as Lloyd took the seventh to secure his second win of the day.
Fifth Round of Matches
Phil Taylor claimed his fourth win of the day, with a 6-1 victory another proving another blow for Ronnie Baxter. The duo shared the first two legs, with Baxter producing a brilliant 137 checkout of treble 19 and two double tops to level. But Taylor landed double 16 for the third leg and a two-dart 64 to break and lead 3-1. Double ten put him three legs clear and he had enough breathing space to miss a host of doubles in the sixth before double two pushed him 5-1 up. The win was then sealed in style, as Taylor hit a 180 and then a bullseye finish on 84.
Colin Lloyd overcame John Part 6-4 to win a third game of the day. Part took out 112 for the opening leg, only for Lloyd to win the next three to pull clear. Lloyd hit a 180 to leave 44 in the next, but the Canadian took out double four and then won the next two legs himself to lead 4-3. But Lloyd hit a 180 and double 16 to take the eighth leg and square the match again, won the ninth and then took out double top for the win.
Mervyn King bounced back to winning ways with a 6-2 win over Alan Tabern - reeling off six successive legs to take the victory. Tabern started superbly, hitting a 180 to open the match and a 170 finish for the first leg, as well as taking the second leg before King won the third on double 16. He then levelled with a sensational 167 checkout, and took the next two to lead 4-2 before a missed double top from the left-hander was punished. King then sealed the win with a bullseye finish on 90 to pick up his fourth victory of the day.
Adrian Lewis remains locked in the battle for play-off places following a deciding-leg win over James Wade, who suffered his first defeat of the day. Wade led 3-0 following a fine start, but Lewis took the next two legs to pull back into the game. A 180, in a second successive leg, helped Wade into a 4-2 lead only for Lewis to take the next two and then the ninth, hitting double top with the left-hander sat on 24. Wade won leg ten to force a decider, but Lewis was stronger with the throw and landed tops for the win.
Sixth Round of Matches
Alan Tabern picked up what could prove a crucial victory by edging out Ronnie Baxter 6-5. While a sixth successive defeat means Baxter will be eliminated in Group One, Tabern moves above John Part in the table to keep alive his chances of progressing to Group Two on Wednesday. Tabern included a 130 finish in taking a 2-0 lead, before Baxter took out 100 and then double 16 to level. The next four legs went with the throw to leave the scores locked at four-all, before Baxter took advantage of misses from Tabern to go 5-4 up. The left-hander took out a pressure 96, with Baxter waiting on 40, in sending the game into a decider, and landed tops for the win after his opponent missed one dart at double six to take the win with a 126 checkout.
James Wade ensured his semi-final place with a 6-1 win over John Part, who drops into the bottom two following a fifth loss of the day. Wade led 2-0 before Part got off the mark, but missed doubles from the Canadian were punished as the left-hander took the next three to move 5-1 up. He was then punished for two further missed doubles in the next as Wade landed double two for victory.
Adrian Lewis put one foot into the semi-finals with a narrow 6-5 win over Colin Lloyd. Lloyd took the opening leg before Lewis won the next two to edge in front, and held leads of 3-2 and 4-3 before Lloyd levelled with a 76 finish and posted double ten to lead. A 180 left Lloyd 161 in the next, but Lewis landed two maximums in the leg and double 18 to send the game into a decider. The Stoke youngster then edged the decider with a fine two-dart 82 to move two points clear of Lloyd in fourth place - with one game remaining.
Mervyn King inflicted a second loss of the day upon Phil Taylor with a spectacular comeback to win 6-4 in their clash. Taylor made a fine start to lead 3-0, only to see King hit back strongly in a repeat of last October's Championship League final. A tricky double ten, after his first two darts had blocked the bed, got King off the mark, before a 121 checkout gave him a second leg and he traded 180s with Taylor before landing double eight to square the game. He then hit a 177 to leave 24 in moving 4-3 up, on double six, before double 16 gave him a 5-3 cushion against the world number one. Taylor took leg nine, but another King 180 pushed him clear in the next and he returned after wiring the bull for a 164 finish to seal the win on double eight.
Seventh Round of Games
Phil Taylor ended Colin Lloyd's play-off hopes with a 6-3 victory that also gave him a fifth win of the league phase. After the pair shared a high-quality first two legs, Taylor won the next three to pull clear at 4-1 - hitting two 180s in the process. Taylor also kicked off the sixth leg with back-to-back maximums, but his bid for a second nine-darter of the day failed on the eighth dart, at treble 19. Lloyd actually hit back to win the leg on double 16, and also won leg eight to pull back to 5-3. But Taylor ensured the win in the next, taking out 121 on the bull.
Ronnie Baxter picked up his first win of the day in his final group game - and condemned John Part to bottom spot in the process with a 6-1 triumph. Baxter raced into a 3-0 lead early on, finding his range on double top, and punished misses from Part to take the fourth. The Canadian landed a 180 and a 107 finish in getting off the mark, but a 106 finish from Baxter and another double top checkout gave him two points in his final game of the day.
Adrian Lewis ensured a third placed finish, above Mervyn King on legs won, with a 6-2 victory in their final league game. Lewis went into the game knowing he would make the play-offs following Lloyd's defeat to Taylor, and took a 3-0 lead under little pressure. Double ten got King off the mark, but Lewis won the next and then took out 118 to go 5-1 up. King landed scores of 180 and 140 in winning the seventh leg, but Lewis replied in kind in the next and took out tops for the win - with both players finishing on +8 leg difference but with Lewis having won 37 legs to 34.
James Wade snatched top spot in the Group One table in a dramatic final-leg shoot-out with Alan Tabern. A tight game saw the first ten legs all go with the throw as neither of the left-handers found a break - meaning a deciding leg would decide whether Wade finished top of the table or second. Wade landed a key 180 in the 11th, but missed the bullseye for a 121 finish - only for Tabern to fail to set up a double on 116 and allow Wade back in on double two for the win.
Semi-Finals
James Wade edged out Mervyn King in a deciding leg to win through to the Group One final with a 6-5 victory. King took the first two legs, but Wade hit back strongly to win three in a row and edge in front, with a 180 leaving a 78 finish in the third, which was followed by successive double top checkouts. King levelled on double 13, but Wade took the next two to move to the brink of victory at 5-3. Double 16 kept King alive, and he also took the tenth on double eight after Wade missed tops for a 120 finish and victory. But Wade was stronger in the decider and landed double ten to move into the final
Phil Taylor swept past Stoke rival Adrian Lewis 6-3 to book his place in the final. Taylor hit two 180s in taking the game's opening leg, but Lewis replied with a 117 finish to level. Taylor stepped up a gear to win the next three and lead 4-1, only for a superb 138 checkout to see Lewis hit back. Taylor won the next to lead 5-2 before Lewis took out 100 to stay in the contest - but a missed double seven in the next allowed the reigning champion to seal victory on double two.
Final
James Wade won Championship League Darts Group One with a 6-4 defeat of Phil Taylor at Crondon Park GC. Wade overcame the reigning champion in the league phase on the 2009 event's opening day, and then also saw off Taylor in a high-quality final to reach October's Winners Group. Wade took out 121 on the bullseye to win two of the opening three legs, with Taylor posting a 180 and double top in the second to get off the mark. Double 12 put Wade 3-1 up, only for Taylor to win two of the next three in reducing the gap to 4-3. Wade landed back-to-back 180s in opening the eighth leg, missing out on a potential nine-darter but landing double ten to go a leg away from victory. Taylor responded with double 14 for an 88 finish, but a fifth 180 of the game pushed Wade clear in the next, and he sealed victory with a tidy 100 finish.