MARK WALSH booked a place in the Winners Group of Championship League Darts with victory in Group Eight of the tournament.
Walsh was victorious in the last of the eight league days with a 7-4 victory over Dennis Priestley in the final of the tournament, shown live on the internet through www.bet365.com and www.ladbrokes.com, after ending the hopes of Adrian Lewis in the semis.
Walsh finished top of the Group Eight table following the round-robin league phase, winning six of his seven games and whitewashing Hertfordshire rival Alex Roy along the way.
He then defeated Lewis 6-3 in the semis, and came from 3-2 down to win five of the next six legs and take victory in the decider.
Walsh picked up £3,200 for his day's work and also moves into the big-money Winners Group at Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex on Thursday.
Prize money in the Winners Group doubles to £100 a leg in the league phase and £200 a leg in the play-offs, with the winner taking a place in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts as well as £10,000.
Walsh is one of four players in the Winners Group who have yet to qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts, alongside Alan Tabern, Colin Osborne and Mark Dudbridge, and they meet Phil Taylor, Mervyn King, Andy Hamilton and Vincent van der Voort on Thursday
Lewis' bid to win a place in the Winners Group failed at the sixth attempt, with the Stoke star having won £15,250 in the tournament, hit a nine-darter and lost in three finals but ultimately come up short.
He claimed a semi-final place in a dramatic final round of league games in Group Eight, with Dennis Priestley's win over Wes Newton in the last match seeing the veteran join Lewis in the top four and eliminate Wes Newton.
Wayne Jones reached the semi-finals by finishing second thanks to five wins in Group Eight, but lost 6-4 to Priestley in the play-offs.
Alex Roy, Andy Smith and Mick McGowan missed out on the play-offs on the day.
Championship League Darts - Group Eight Fixtures
|
11am |
Board One |
Board Two |
|
Match One |
5 Adrian Lewis |
3 Alex Roy |
|
Match Two |
6 Wayne Jones |
4 Andy Smith |
|
Match One |
1 Wes Newton |
1 Mick McGowan |
|
Match Two |
6 Mark Walsh |
4 Dennis Priestley |
|
Match One |
4 Wes Newton |
2 Adrian Lewis |
|
Match Two |
6 Mark Walsh |
2 Dennis Priestley |
|
Match One |
3 Andy Smith |
6 Wes Newton |
|
Match Two |
6 Dennis Priestley |
3 Alex Roy |
|
Match One |
6 Alex Roy |
6 Wayne Jones |
|
Match Two |
3 Mick McGowan |
6 Mark Walsh |
|
Match One |
0 Wayne Jones |
5 Dennis Priestley |
|
Match Two |
4 Mick McGowan |
2 Adrian Lewis |
|
Match One |
4 Alex Roy |
3 Andy Smith |
|
Match Two |
6 Mark Walsh |
2 Wes Newton |
|
Semi-Finals |
6 Mark Walsh |
6 Dennis Priestley |
|
Final |
7 Mark Walsh |
Final League Table
|
Name |
P |
W |
D |
L |
Leg Diff |
Legs Won |
£ Won |
Pts | |
|
1 |
Mark Walsh |
7 |
6 |
0 |
1 |
+17 |
38 |
£1900 |
12 |
|
2 |
Wayne Jones |
7 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
+8 |
34 |
£1700 |
10 |
|
3 |
Dennis Priestley |
7 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
+5 |
34 |
£1700 |
8 |
|
4 |
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
-1 |
30 |
£1500 |
7 |
|
5 |
Wes Newton |
7 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
-4 |
27 |
£1350 |
6 |
|
6 |
Alex Roy |
7 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
-6 |
28 |
£1400 |
6 |
|
7 |
Andy Smith |
7 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
-5 |
29 |
£1450 |
5 |
|
8 |
Mick McGowan |
7 |
1 |
0 |
6 |
-14 |
24 |
£1200 |
2 |
First Round of Games
Wes Newton made an ideal Championship League Darts debut with a clinical 6-3 win over Alex Roy. Newton claimed a place in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts in the ITV Wildcard Qualifier on Friday, and was in confident mood to see off in-form Roy - who won Saturday's Scottish Players Championship. Newton took advantage of a missed double 16 from Roy to break throw in the first leg, before winning the second to move 2-0 up. Double 16 got Roy off the mark, but two of the next three put the Fleetwood ace 4-2 up. A superb 161 finish from Roy pulled him back into the game, but Newton took the next two legs with his first dart at a double to take the win.
Dennis Priestley snatched a draw with Adrian Lewis in a tight opening game. The top two seeds from Group Eight fought out a close battle, with Lewis taking a 5-3 lead but unable to close out victory. Priestley led 2-1 thanks to a bullseye finish in the opener and a 97 checkout, and took advantage of two missed doubles from Lewis to lead 3-2. But Lewis won three successive legs to earn a minimum of a draw, only to waste three darts at double 12 for the win in the ninth leg, Priestley sending the game into a decider on double eight. The Yorkshireman then landed double top in the tenth leg - after Lewis failed to set up a double.
Wayne Jones came from 3-1 down to win 6-3 against Mick McGowan and get his challenge off to a winning start. Jones won the opening leg before Championship League Darts debutant McGowan took three in a row - including a 90 finish to break throw in leg three - and lead 3-1. But missed doubles from the Irishman cost him in the next two legs as Jones levelled, before double nine put him ahead. A 116 finish saw Jones move 5-3 up, and he sealed the win on double 18.
Mark Walsh matched Jones' comeback to take a 6-4 win over Andy Smith. In a game which almost the action on board one at the same time, Walsh led on double four before Smith took three in a row to lead 3-1, A missed double top gave Walsh a reprieve in leg five, before two double top finishes moved Walsh 4-3 up. Smith levelled, but Walsh won leg nine and then took the decider on double top for both points.
Second Round of Games
Adrian Lewis remains unbeaten following a heavy-scoring 6-1 win over Wes Newton. Lewis broke throw in the opening leg on double ten and took out 91 on double top to move 2-0 up before Newton got off the mark on double ten. But Newton missed double 11 in the next as Lewis landed double top for a 3-1 lead, and two more quick-fire legs took the Stoke youngster to the brink of victory and a brilliant ten-darter, finishing on double 18, wrapped up the win.
Andy Smith bounced back from his opening defeat with a fine 6-1 win over Mick McGowan. Smith took command early in the game with some strong finishing - particularly on double top - to take a 4-0 lead before the Irishman got off the mark. But Smith won the sixth leg and sealed the win on double top - inflicting a second successive defeat on McGowan.
Mark Walsh picked up a second successive win with a 6-4 defeat of Wayne Jones. Walsh followed up his final-leg win over Andy Smith with another tight victory, having held off Jones' fightback. After a tight opening, Walsh pulled out to 4-2 in front before a 122 finish on the bullseye and a double eight checkout saw Jones level. But the Wolverhampton man missed double 18 for a 141 finish in the next, with a previous 180 from Walsh proving crucial in setting up a double top finish, and he landed a tricky third-dart double 16 in the decider to claim both points.
Alex Roy grabbed his first win of Championship League Darts in a thrilling climax to his game with Dennis Priestley. Priestley held the early advantage when the first five legs went with the throw, only for double 16 to see Roy level in the sixth, double ten against the throw to put him 4-3 up and another double 16 finish see him earn at least a draw at 5-3. A missed bullseye for a 122 finish and victory allowed Priestley to hit double five and send the game into a decider - but Roy wrapped up the win in the deciding leg by hitting the centre of the board for an 86 finish.
Third Round of Games
Mick McGowan claimed his maiden victory in Championship League Darts with a 6-2 defeat of Adrian Lewis. Lewis took an early 2-1 lead, before McGowan hit his stride, levelling on double nine and then breaking throw on double four. He led 4-2 before securing another break of throw on double 18 after landing a maximum, and the Irish star then took out double top for victory.
Andy Smith edged past Wes Newton in a deciding leg to claim his second win of Group Eight. Smith took breaks of throw in legs three and five in moving 4-2 up before Newton landed a maximum in taking the seventh on double eight. Smith hit double 16 to secure a minimum of a draw before Newton sent the game into a decider, but the Midlands man took out double top to ensure both points.
Mark Walsh secured the first whitewash of Group Eight with a 6-0 rout of Hertfordshire rival Alex Roy. Walsh took the game's opening leg, before a fantastic ten-darter doubled the lead. A 100 finish including two double tops put him 3-0 up, and four missed doubles from Roy allwed Walsh to further extend his advantage. Walsh also took the fifth leg to move to the brink of victory, with double top sealing both points.
Wayne Jones picked up his second win of Group Eight with a 6-2 defeat of Dennis Priestley. Priestley took the opening leg but Jones, aided by two maximums, won the next four to lead 4-1. Priestley took leg six to reduce the arrears, but Jones won the next two to move onto four points in the table.
Fourth Round of Games
Adrian Lewis picked up a second win of Group Eight with a 6-3 defeat of Andy Smith - and also came close to a second nine-darter in Championship League Darts. Lewis trailed 2-0 after a slow start, but took the third leg with a tricky but confidence-boosting double 19 in the third, and burst to life in the fourth. He followed up back-to-back 180s with a seventh treble 20 and treble 19, before missing double 12 for a nine-darter to match his achivement in Group Three - only to hit the same bed for a ten-darter. He also landed a maximum on his way to leg five and two more leg put him 5-2 up. Smith opened the eighth with two 180s of his own, missing the seventh dart of a possible nine-darter, and took the leg to stay in the game before Lewis won the next to seal victory.
Wes Newton held off Mick McGowan to claim his second win of Group Eight with a 6-4 triumph. Newton took an early 3-1 lead and took out 101 to move 4-2 up. McGowan took leg seven, but Newton won the next to go a leg away from victory - only for the Irishman to take out 145 to stay in the game. But Newton claimed the deciding leg, taking out 107 for both points.
Dennis Priestley claimed his first victory of Group Eight with a 6-2 win over previously unbeaten Mark Walsh. Walsh hit two maximums in a 12-darter to take the game's second leg and level, but three successive double top checkouts from Priestley - including two 100 finishes - put him 4-1 up, and double eight earned a minimum of a draw. A 121 checkout on the bullseye pulled Walsh back into the game, but a 70 checkout earned Priestley victory.
Wayne Jones jumped above Walsh to the top of the table with a 6-3 win over Alex Roy, who hit three maximums in the contest but was unable to claim the victory. Roy held his own for the first four legs before two in a row from Jones, including a double eight finish to break, pushed Jones two legs clear. The next two also went against the throw, but a 100 finish saw Jones seal the win.
Fifth Round of Games
Alex Roy jumped off the bottom of the league table with a 6-2 win over Andy Smith to put himself back into play-off contention. Smith opened the game with a two-dart 78 finish, but Roy won three in a row, including finishes of 138 and 90 on the bullseye, to lead 3-1. Smith landed tops to take leg five, but Roy won the next three to claim his second win of the day.
Wayne Jones put one foot into the semi-finals with a 6-3 win over Adrian Lewis to move onto eight league points. Lewis led 2-0, but Jones battled back level with a bullseye finish for an 81 checkout, and took his run to five successive legs in moving 5-2 up. Lewis took the eight leg to maintain his hopes, but double eight earned Jones the win.
Mark Walsh bounced back from his defeat to Dennis Priestley with a 6-2 win over Wes Newton to maintain his challenge at the top of the table. Newton made a superb start with a 161 finish in the first leg, but Walsh took the next four to pull clear before the Blackpool ace landed double 12 to reduce the arrears to 4-2. But Newton was off-target on the bull in the next before Walsh took out double two and then finished 108 to complete victory.
Dennis Priestley claimed a second successive win to boost his chances of a semi-final spot with a 6-3 defeat of Mick McGowan. Priestley won the game's first four legs to put nhimself in a commanding position, only for a missed double 11 in the fifth leg to let McGowan in on double 16. The Irishman took the next two to pull back to 4-3, only for Priestley to regain his range and take the next two for victory.
Sixth Round of Games
Wes Newton's hopes of winning a semi-final place in Group Eight were boosted by a brilliant 6-0 win over Wayne Jones. Newton picked up his third win of the day and improved his leg difference with a stylish defeat of Jones, who topped the table after five games. Newton took out 121 in the opening leg and picked up two legs against the throw in opening up a 4-0 lead. Jones missed double top in the fifth and Newton then wrapped up the win with a 122 checkout, finishing on double seven.
Dennis Priestley claimed what could prove to be a crucial point when he came from 5-3 down to draw with Andy Smith. The first four legs were shared before Smith broke throw in the fifth and landed double eight to win the sixth and go 4-2 up. Priestley hit back on double four, but Smith landed a 180 on his way to leg eight for a 5-3 cushion. A superb 160 checkout from Priestley sent the match into a decider, and he took out double top to grab a draw.
Mark Walsh all but ensured a first placed finish in Group Eight with a 6-2 win over Adrian Lewis - leaving the Stoke star needing to win his final game to qualify for the semi-finals. Walsh roared into a 5-0 lead before Lewis got off the mark with two successive legs, But Walsh was in no mood to let the lead slip further, taking the eighth leg to confirm his standing on ten points in the table.
Alex Roy boosted his play-off chances with a 6-4 win over Mick McGowan. Roy took leads of 2-0 and 5-2 before McGowan included a 102 finish in hitting back to 5-4, but Roy checked out 104 on double 16 in the decider to claim both points.
Going into the final round of games, Mark Walsh and Wayne Jones are assured of a top-four finish, while Mick McGowan is the only player who could not finish in the semi-final places.
Seventh Round of Games
Adrian Lewis' 6-4 win over Alex Roy means he needs Dennis Priestley and Wes Newton not to draw if he is to claim a semi-final spot. Lewis came from 3-1 down with some inspired darts, opening with scores of 140 and 180 in the fifth and sixth legs in levelling and moving 4-3 and 5-4 up on double ten. But he was too strong in the decider, and landed double ten for a third time to seal victory.
Wayne Jones; 6-3 win over Andy Smith ended the Studley man's semi-final hopes. Smith held throw for the first five legs before Jones broke in the seventh to lead 4-3, and took the next two to claim victory.
A win for Dennis Priestley or Wes Newton in the final games puts the winner through along with Lewis, while a draw will see Priestley and Lewis qualify for the semis, at the expense of the Stoke youngster.
Mark Walsh ensured that he would finish top of the table and condemned Mick McGowan to bottom spot with a 6-3 victory. Walsh included a 148 checkout in taking a 3-0 lead, before McGowan included finishes of 97 and 91 in pulling back to 5-3. But a missed dart at double top in the ninth leg allowed Walsh to secure a sixth win of the day with double eight.
Dennis Priestley's win over Wes Newton books his semi-final place and eliminates Wes Newton - meaning Adrian Lewis finishes fourth. Newton took the first leg, before Priestley hit a 12-darter and then won the next four legs to move 5-1 up. Double ten kept Newton in the game, but a missed double top gave Priestley his chance for victory on double ten.
Semi-Finals
Mark Walsh booked his place in the final and ended Adrian Lewis' Championship League Darts hopes with a 6-3 semi-final win. Lewis took a 3-1 lead, but missed doubles cost the Stoke youngster dear. Walsh pulled back level and double top put him 4-3 up before a missed double top from Lewis allowed the Hertfordshire star to move clear at 5-3, before sealing the win with an 84 checkout on the bullseye.
Dennis Priestley joined Walsh in the final with a 6-4 win over Wayne Jones. Priestley made a key move in the game by winning leg three against the throw, thanks to a 180 and a double four finish, before moving 3-1 up with a 76 checkout. A 121 finish pulled Jones back into the game, and he battled back to 5-4, but double top earned Priestley a place in the decider.