COLIN OSBORNE claimed his first major title with a 6-4 victory over Phil Taylor to win the 2009 Championship League Darts.
Osborne avenged his loss to Taylor in the final of June's UK Open with an accomplished performance to see off the world number one and claim the £10,000 first prize at Crondon Park GC in Essex.
Osborne finished second to unbeaten Taylor in the Winners Group table after the eight-played league phase, before seeing off Mervyn King 6-1 in the semi-finals and Taylor in the decider.
He made an ideal start to the final with a 129 finish, and also missed two darts at double eight for the second leg before Taylor landed double four to level.
A brace of double top finishes put him 3-1 up before Taylor posted an 11-darter to pull back the fifth.
Double top from Osborne gave him a 4-2 cushion, only for reigning champion Taylor to crank up the pressure with a pair of 11-dart finishes.
Taylor left himself 74 to break throw in the ninth leg, but Osborne produced a superb 142 checkout on double 11 to lead 5-4.
And a missed bullseye from Taylor in the next gave the Derby-based star his chance, taking out 68 on double four for the title.
"It's a great feeling," admitted Osborne, who totalled £24,800 prize money for the tournament after competing in four league groups and the Winners Group.
"It's hard enough to beat Phil anyway but always even harder in the final, so that's the icing on the cake for me.
"I thought I played well all day and kept it going in the final. I took out the 129 in the first leg and had chances to lead 2-0, and when I went 3-1 up I knew I could have been even further ahead.
"But it's not over until it's over and Phil came back at me well, but I managed to get over the finishing line."
Osborne has had a disappointing time since the UK Open, losing in the first round of the last three televised tournaments, but hopes to continue this form into the forthcoming European Championship and Grand Slam of Darts.
"I put myself under a lot of pressure after the UK Open but hopefully now I can kick on for the rest of the year," he added.
"I've proven to myself that if I play as well as I can do, I can beat anybody, and now I have to keep doing that."
Osborne suffered just two defeats in the league phase, to King and Taylor, but avenged those in claiming his victory.
Taylor won all seven of his league matches, dropping just 11 legs in the process and whitewashing Mervyn King.
"I'm obviously disappointed to lose in the final, but Colin was the better man and deserved the win," said Taylor. "He played really well and took some great finishes out.
"I've had a good run in this and hopefully it will stand me in good stead for the European Championship next weekend."
King - the 2008 Championship League Darts runner-up - finished third in the table, but failed to regain his best form in the semis and ended on £13,000 for the tournament.
James Wade bounced back from losing his first three games to edge out Adrian Lewis for fourth place in the table on leg difference.
Wade, who had defeated Taylor to win Group One last month, lost to the world number one 6-2 in the semis, but still takes home £9,550 prize money.
Lewis ends the 2009 Championship League Darts as the second highest money-earner, claiming £19,700 after playing in all nine days of the tournament, finally winning Group Eight on Wednesday to book a Winners Group spot.
Mark Walsh won just two games on the day, while Jelle Klaasen and Wayne Mardle picked up one win apiece.
Championship League Darts was streamed solely on the internet via a series of ten bookmakers' websites around the world. Prize money of £100 per leg was on offer in the Winners Group league phase and £200 per leg in the play-offs, with additional prize money of £10,000 to the champion, £5,000 to the runner-up and £2,500 each to the losing semi-finalists.
In total, £175,600 has been paid out across the nine days of the tournament, which featured 29 players in eight groups, with each group's champion progressing to Thursday's Winners Group.
Championship League Darts - Winners Group Fixtures
|
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
Match One |
James Wade 1-6 Phil Taylor |
Jelle Klaasen 5-6 Adrian Lewis |
|
Match Two |
Wayne Mardle 1-6 Colin Osborne |
Mervyn King 6-4 Mark Walsh |
|
Match One |
Adrian Lewis 6-4 James Wade |
Colin Osborne 5-6 Mervyn King |
|
Match Two |
Mark Walsh 6-0 Wayne Mardle |
Phil Taylor 6-4 Jelle Klaasen |
|
Match One |
Adrian Lewis 1-6 Mervyn King |
James Wade 5-6 Colin Osborne |
|
Match Two |
Mark Walsh 6-4 Jelle Klaasen |
Phil Taylor 6-2 Wayne Mardle |
|
Not before 2.30pm |
||
|
Match One |
Mervyn King 5-6 James Wade |
Adrian Lewis 2-6 Colin Osborne |
|
Match Two |
Phil Taylor 6-1 Mark Walsh |
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Wayne Mardle |
|
Match One |
Jelle Klaasen 4-6 Mervyn King |
Wayne Mardle 4-6 James Wade |
|
Match Two |
Colin Osborne 2-6 Phil Taylor |
Mark Walsh 4-6 Adrian Lewis |
|
Not before 4.45pm |
||
|
Match One |
Wayne Mardle 2-6 Adrian Lewis |
Phil Taylor 6-0 Mervyn King |
|
Match Two |
Colin Osborne 6-2 Jelle Klaasen |
James Wade 6-5 Mark Walsh |
|
Match One |
Jelle Klaasen 3-6 James Wade |
Mervyn King 4-6 Wayne Mardle |
|
Match Two |
Mark Walsh 2-6 Colin Osborne |
Adrian Lewis 1-6 Phil Taylor |
|
7.15pm |
Semi-Final 1 |
Semi-Final 2 |
|
8pm |
Final |
Latest League Table
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
£Won |
Pts | |
|
Phil Taylor |
7 |
7 |
0 |
42 |
11 |
£4200 |
14 |
|
Colin Osborne |
7 |
5 |
2 |
37 |
24 |
£3700 |
10 |
|
Mervyn King |
7 |
4 |
3 |
33 |
32 |
£3300 |
8 |
|
James Wade |
7 |
4 |
3 |
34 |
35 |
£3400 |
8 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
4 |
3 |
28 |
33 |
£2800 |
8 |
|
Mark Walsh |
7 |
2 |
5 |
28 |
34 |
£2800 |
4 |
|
Jelle Klaasen |
7 |
1 |
6 |
28 |
41 |
£2800 |
2 |
|
Wayne Mardle |
7 |
1 |
6 |
20 |
40 |
£2000 |
2 |
Championship League Darts will be screened solely on the internet through the following bookmakers' websites:
Available Globally
Bet365 - www.bet365.com
Available in UK/Ireland
Ladbrokes - www.ladbrokes.com
Paddy Power - www.paddypower.com
Skybet - www.skybet.com
Betfair - www.betfair.com
Available in Europe (excluding UK)
Unibet - www.unibet.com
Sportingbet - www.sportingbet.com
Expekt - www.expekt.com
Betclick - www.betclick.com
Bet-at-home - www.bet-at-home.com
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.
Also follow the results on the PDC's official Twitter feed
First Round of Matches
Phil Taylor made a sensational start to the Winners Group with a 6-1 defeat of James Wade. Taylor opened superbly, hitting a 180 with his first three darts and winning the first three legs 13, 12 and 14 darts, before Wade landed his second 180 of the contest and double ten to get off the mark. Taylor set up a double eight finish with a 171 score in the fifth leg, and defied another maximum from Wade to take a 5-1 lead with a 124 checkout, before hitting a 12-darter to seal victory.
Adrian Lewis edged past Jelle Klaasen in the deciding leg of an exciting clash. Lewis, the Group Eight winner, made a fine start to lead 3-0, taking out 87 in the first leg, trading 180s with the Dutchman in the second and finishing double ten to treble his lead. Klaasen hit back to level with three successive legs, only for Lewis to power home a 139 finish. Klaasen bettered that with a 158 checkout to level, with Lewis then producing two 180s in edging 5-4 up. Double two from Klaasen forced a deciding leg, with Lewis hitting a 180 but both players wasting a host of chances to seal victory before Lewis posted double two for the win.
Colin Osborne swept past Wayne Mardle 6-1 to made an ideal start to the Winners Group. Osborne kicked off the match with a 180 in an 11-dart leg, and defied a maximum from Mardle to double his lead. Double 18 put Mardle on the scoreboard, but Osborne won the next two to take a 4-1 lead before punishing a missed double 12 from his opponent - for a 144 finish - to land double 16 and move a leg away from the win. Mardle was also first to a double in the next, but three misses allowed Osborne to follow up a 180 with double 13 for victory.
Mervyn King made a victorious start in the Winners Group, overcoming Mark Walsh 6-4 in their opener. King took the opener against the darts before two successive legs put Walsh in front. King levelled after two misses from Walsh, who then posted double six to lead once more only for a 104 checkout to square the game once more. King took the next two to move a leg away from the win, with Walsh taking the ninth and then hitting a 180 in the next, only to miss the bullseye for a 126 finish as King landed double eight for the win.
Second Round of Matches
Adrian Lewis maintained his winning start to the Winners Group with a fine 6-4 win over James Wade. Lewis opened the game with a 113 checkout and doubled his lead on tops, before Wade hit back, taking three successive legs - including a bullseye finish on 92 - to move 3-2 up. The left-hander missed tops to move clear, with Lewis landing double nine to level and a brace of double ten finishes to lead 5-3. Double ten from Wade pulled back the ninth leg, but Lewis sealed the win with a 13-darter.
Mervyn King made a brilliant comeback from 4-0 down to defeat Colin Osborne in a deciding leg thriller. Osborne kicked off the game with a 104 finish and took out 80 in two darts to double the lead, also winning the next two legs to move 4-0 up. King took the fifth to get off the mark and added two more to reduce the gap to 4-3, only for Osborne to hit a 180 and double five to edge a leg away from the win. King hit a 180 and double four for the ninth leg, and punished a missed bullseye from Osborne for the match to land double ten and force a decider. He then hit scores of 100, 100 and 180 to lead 121 in the final leg, before taking out the finish to claim a remarkable win.
Mark Walsh picked up his first win of the day with a 6-0 whitewash of Wayne Mardle. Mardle had lost his opening game 6-1 and was punished further for his slow start to the Winners Group by a strong Walsh display. Walsh won the opening leg and then took the second against the throw to double his cushion. He also won the next two to lead 4-0 before hitting a 180 and a 104 checkout to pull clear, before sealing victory in the next.
Phil Taylor remains unbeaten in the Winners Group following a 6-4 win over Jelle Klaasen. Taylor kicked off the game with an 11-darter, only for Klaasen to produce a 180 and double top to level. The youngster hit a 180 to leave 16 in the third, but missed doubles allowed Taylor back in to hit double 16 for a 2-1 cushion. Klaasen took the fourth in the same manner, but Taylor landed a 180 and double top for the fifth. Double eight saw Klaasen level and the pair shared the next two legs to leave the scores locked at four-all. Double four gave Taylor a 5-4 lead, and a bounce-out on the bullseye cost Klaasen in the next as Taylor hit double 12 for the win.
Third Round of Matches
Mervyn King maintained his unbeaten start with a 6-1 romp against Adrian Lewis. King had won his opening two games but produced his biggest victory of the day so far, sweeping Lewis aside. He hit a 180 in taking the first leg, with Lewis defying another maximum to take the second on double 16. King edged the third and then won a key fourth, taking out 132 on the bull with Lewis waiting on 40. It proved a hammer blow, with King winning the next two legs before landing three 140s in sealing victory in leg seven.
Colin Osborne produced a strong final leg to claim a 6-5 win over James Wade in a tight contest to leave the Group One winner without a victory in his first three games. Osborne held throw in double eight in the first leg, with Wade claiming the second on double 12 as the pair set the tone for a contest which would have no breaks of throw. Osborne missed chances to break in the sixth, and took out 81 on the bull to edge the ninth, while an 83 checkout from Wade ensured a decider. Osborne opened the deciding leg with a 180, and took out 96 in two darts to ensure two points.
Mark Walsh came from 3-1 down to claim a 6-4 win over Jelle Klaasen. Klaasen, seeking his first victory of the day, made a strong start to take three of the opening four legs, but paid the price in leg five after hitting a 180, with a string of missed doubles for a 4-1 lead being punished as Walsh took out double one. Double 12 saw Walsh level, and the next two were shared before three missed doubles from Klaasen allowed Walsh to edge the ninth, once more on double one. Walsh then wrapped up the win with a stylish 100 finish of 20 and two double tops.
Phil Taylor's fine start to the Winners Group continued with a 6-2 win over Wayne Mardle. Mardle, without a win in his first two games, held his own for the first half of the contest, sharing the opening four legs - including a 116 finish. But Taylor took the fifth with a brilliant 170 checkout and posted an 11-darter to lead 4-2. Mardle landed a 177 in the next, but a 180 from Taylor helped him set up a double top finish, before scores of 125, 177 and 159 set up double top for a ten-darter in wrapping up the win.
Fourth Round of Matches
James Wade edged out Mervyn King 6-5 to claim his first victory of the day. King took the opening two legs to lead 2-0, only for Wade to find top gear and almost effortlessly reel off three in a row. King took out 101 and 105 in the next two to edge 4-3, only for Wade to then take out double top and 126 on the bullseye to resume command. Double top from King saw him send the game into a decider, but Wade posted a maximum and then hit double ten to claim his first points of the day.
Colin Osborne won his third match of the Winners Group, seeing off Adrian Lewis 6-2. Lewis took the game's opener, but Osborne replied superbly, hitting a 180 in levelling in 11 darts and trading maximums with the youngster in leg three to lead 2-1. He also took the next two for a 4-1 cusion, and once more swapped 180s with Lewis to move a leg away from the win. Lewis took the seventh, but Osborne posted double top in the eighth to seal the win.
Phil Taylor ensured his status as the only unbeaten player following four rounds with a 6-1 win over Mark Walsh. Taylor punished a missed double top from Walsh to take the first leg, hitting a 180 and double 16 before moving 2-0 up on double five. Taylor also landed a maximum in the third, but two misses at double 16 let Walsh in on tops to hit back. Taylor won the fourth and then broke in the fifth, before taking out double eight for a 5-1 lead, with Walsh waiting on a double. Taylor then wrapped up a fourth straight win with a two-dart 100 checkout to move clear at the top of the table.
Jelle Klaasen came from 3-5 down to defeat Wayne Mardle and pick up his first win of the Winners Group. Mardle came from a leg down to lead 3-1, and shared the next four legs to move 5-3 up and a leg away from his opening victory of the day. Klaasen hit a 180 in taking the ninth, and punished four missed darts for the match from Mardle to take out 84 in two darts and force a decider. Klaasen had the throw in the 11th leg, and took out double eight to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Fifth Round of Matches
Mervyn King picked up a fourth win of the day, edging out Jelle Klaasen 6-4. King shared the opening two legs, with a 104 from King giving him the third and double top seeing him break in the fourth, following 180s in successive legs. The fifth went to Klaasen on double top, after King had hit two bullseyes when needing 125, before the Dutchman repeated the finish to level at three-all. The next two were shared, but King powered in six perfect darts of two 180s in the next, eventually landing double two to lead 5-4. He also hit another 180 in the next, and stepped in following three misses from Klaasen to seal the win on tops.
James Wade's 6-4 win over Wayne Mardle improved his play-off chances and ends Mardle's hopes of a top four finish in the Winners Group. Mardle took a 2-0 lead as he searched for a first win of the day, only for Wade to hit back with four successive legs, including a brace of double top finishes. Double nine and double top gave Mardle two of the next three, but he was left waiting on 78 following a 180 in leg ten as Wade took out 105 for victory.
Phil Taylor claimed a fifth straight victory in the Winners Group, overcoming Colin Osborne 6-2. Osborne edged the early stages 2-1, but failed to maintain the momentum as Taylor took out double ten to level, double two to break and then tops to lead 4-2. A bullseye finish put Taylor a leg away from victory, and he hit a 180 and double 16 to seal the victory.
Adrian Lewis' play-off push got back on track with a 6-4 win over Mark Walsh. Walsh held a 2-1 lead early on, before Lewis took three in a row to move 4-2 up. Walsh took two of the next three to remain in contention, but Lewis landed double top to ensure his third victory of the day.
Sixth Round of Matches
Adrian Lewis claimed his fourth victory of the Winners Group, inflicting a 6-2 loss on winless Wayne Mardle. Lewis took control of the game early on by assuming a 3-0 lead, only for Mardle to hit back well, taking out 81 on the bull and then 54 to cut the lead to 3-2. The Essex star landed a 180 in the next, but missed four darts to level as Lewis posted tops for a 4-2 cushion. A missed double 18 allowed Lewis in to land double five in the next, before the Stoke youngster won the eighth leg to seal victory,
Phil Taylor's perfect record in the Winners Group continued with a 6-0 whitewash of Mervyn King. Taylor landed double 12 in the opening leg for an immediate break of throw, and took the next two to lead 3-0 before hitting two 180s in an 11-darter. A 14-darter put him 5-0 up, before Taylor landed another maximum in a 12-darter to seal the faultless triumph.
Colin Osborne all but sealed a semi-final place with a 6-2 win over Jelle Klaasen in their penultimate contest. Klaasen took the opening leg, but Osborne produced some fine darts to win the next five without reply and move to the brink of victory. A lightning quick 121 finish from Klaasen saw him take a second leg, but a missed bullseye in the next allowed Osborne to seal victory on double nine.
James Wade ended Mark Walsh's play-off hopes and remains alive in his bid for a top four finish following a deciding leg win. Wade included finishes of 170 and 101 in holding throw as the opning four legs were shared, before missing three darts to lead as Walsh took out double one. Wade won the sixth, and then took out 121 to lead for the first time, before double five put him 5-3 up. Walsh edged the next two to ensure a decider, but Wade produced a sparkling 11-darter, begun with a 177, to take victory.
Final Round of Matches
James Wade defeated Jelle Klaasen 6-3 to complete the league phase with a fourth win - but needs Adrian Lewis to lose to Phil Taylor if he is to claim a semi-final spot. The pair shared the opening two legs before Wade hit 180s in the next two, taking out 86 to break throw for a 3-1 lead and double ten in the next. Klaasen punished a missed double top to win the sixth, but was waiting on 40 when Wade took out 123 on the bull for a 5-2 cushion. Double top gave Klaasen a third leg, but Wade took the ninth to wrap up the win.
Wayne Mardle claimed his only win of the Winners Group with a 6-4 win over Mervyn King, who qualifies for the play-offs despite the loss. Mardle took out 126 for the opening leg, with King replying with a 102 finish before the next two were shared. A 141 finish gave King the fifth, with Mardle levelling on double ten before King took the next for a 4-3 lead. Mardle took the next two to move to the brink of victory, and took out double ten to claim maximum prize money in his final game.
Colin Osborne ensured second place in the Winners Group table with a 6-2 win over Mark Walsh. Osborne took out 96 to win the first leg against the throw, and doubles his lead before Walsh posted double nine to get off the mark. Osborne took the next three for a 5-1 cushion and though Walsh won the seventh the Derby man took the next to seal victory.
Phil Taylor ended Adrian Lewis' semi-final challenge with a 6-1 win to end the league phase unbeaten. Lewis had to defeat the world number one to win a top-four spot, but was left with a fifth-placed finish following the loss. Taylor took the first leg against the throw to lead, before double 16 put him 2-0 up. Lewis won the third, but Taylor landed double 16 for a 3-1 lead and punished misses from the youngster to move three legs clear. A 136 checkout put Taylor 5-1 up, and double 16 ensured he finishes the league phase with maximum prize money from seven wins in as many games.
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor's challenge for a second successive Championship League Darts title continued with a 6-2 semi-final win over James Wade. Wade kicked off the game with a 180 and double ten to win the opening leg, only for Taylor to level with a 112 finish, break throw in 12 darts with two 180s and hit a 13-darter to lead 3-1. Wade hit a 180 and double top to pull back to 3-2, but double eight gave Taylor a fourth leg. He then hit three 140s in moving 5-2 up, and punished a missed double top from Wade to land double five for the win.
Colin Osborne powered past Mervyn King 6-1 to reach the Winners Group final. Osborne kicked off the match with a 13-darter, and landed double top to break King's throw immediately. Double 16 gave him a 3-0 lead, and he also took the next two for a 5-0 cushion, before King posted double 12 to earn a leg. He also had a chance to win a second leg, missing double 16 for a 142 finish before Osborne landed double eight for the win.