STEVE BEATON booked his place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group on Thursday with a 6-4 victory over Kevin Painter in the Group Seven final at Crondon Park GC in Essex.
Beaton ensured that he will compete for the £10,000 first prize for the second successive year in the internet-streamed event with a fine performance in the seventh of eight groups.
The former World Champion won five of his seven league matches to finish joint top of the league table with Vincent van der Voort, before edging out John Part 6-5 in the semi-finals and then defeating Painter in the decider.
Beaton had trailed Part 4-2 before finishing 108 and 80 on the bullseye to level, and although the Canadian moved back ahead at 5-4, it was the world number 26 who took the next two legs to prevail.
In the final, Painter took out 96 to lead 2-1 before Beaton opened the fourth with back-to-back 180s, hitting treble 20 and treble 19 before wiring double 12 for a nine-dart finish.
He returned to win the leg in ten darts, and after Painter finished 76 for the fifth he hit further legs of 12 and 11 darts to move 4-3 up.
Painter finished 65 for a 14-darter in reply to win the eighth, but a missed double eight for a 96 finish in the ninth proved crucial, as Beaton stepped in to finish 90 on double five to lead 5-4 and then traded 180s with his opponent before sealing victory on double ten.
"I'm delighted with that," said Beaton. "I felt I played pretty well during the day, although a couple of times missing doubles cost me.
"To come through as a winner against John Part and Kevin Painter in the play-offs is a massive confidence boost for me and I can't wait to play in the Winners Group on Thursday now."
Painter will now return to compete for a fourth day in the tournament on Wednesday in Group Eight as he seeks to claim the final place in the Winners Group.
He will be joined by Vincent van der Voort, who saw a 3-0 lead against Painter slip as he went down 6-4 in their semi-final, with the Dutchman having finished top in the league stage alongside Beaton on five wins.
Part, Alan Tabern and Mark Dudbridge will also return to play in Group Eight, with Steve Brown, Dennis Priestley and Jelle Klaasen entering the event to complete the eight-played field.
There was disappointment, though, for Andy Smith and Robert Thornton, who were knocked out in a tight Group Seven, with both suffering defeats in their final league games to be eliminated from the tournament.
Championship League Darts is screened solely on the internet through LIVEPDC.TV and a series of 30 bookmakers' websites worldwide, and offers a potential total prize fund of over £200,000, plus places in the Grand Slam of Darts for the eventual finalists.
Played over nine days from September 27-29, October 11-13 and October 18-20, the event offers £50 per leg won prize money in the league phase and £100 per leg won in each group's Play-Offs, with prize money doubled in the Winners Group.
The Winners Group will feature Gary Anderson, Phil Taylor, Paul Nicholson, Mark Walsh, Mervyn King, Simon Whitlock, Steve Beaton and Wednesday's Group Eight winner.
CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE DARTS - GROUP SEVEN RESULTS
|
Board One |
Board Two |
|
Vincent van der Voort 6-5 Andy Smith |
Mark Dudbridge 6-4 John Part |
|
Steve Beaton 6-3 Robert Thornton |
Kevin Painter 6-3 Alan Tabern |
|
John Part 6-2 Vincent van der Voort |
Andy Smith 6-5 Mark Dudbridge |
|
Alan Tabern 6-4 Steve Beaton |
Robert Thornton 2-6 Kevin Painter |
|
John Part 6-4 Kevin Painter |
Vincent van der Voort 5-6 Robert Thornton |
|
Alan Tabern 5-6 Mark Dudbridge |
Andy Smith 3-6 Steve Beaton |
|
Kevin Painter 2-6 Vincent van der Voort |
John Part 6-1 Robert Thornton |
|
Andy Smith 6-5 Alan Tabern |
Mark Dudbridge 4-6 Steve Beaton |
|
Mark Dudbridge 3-6 Kevin Painter |
Steve Beaton 2-6 Vincent van der Voort |
|
Robert Thornton 6-5 Andy Smith |
Alan Tabern 6-4 John Part |
|
Steve Beaton 6-5 John Part |
Andy Smith 3-6 Kevin Painter |
|
Robert Thornton 5-6 Mark Dudbridge |
Vincent van der Voort 6-1 Alan Tabern |
|
Mark Dudbridge 3-6 Vincent van der Voort |
John Part 6-5 Andy Smith |
|
Alan Tabern 6-2 Robert Thornton |
Kevin Painter 3-6 Steve Beaton |
|
Semi-Finals |
|
|
Vincent van der Voort 4-6 Kevin Painter |
Steve Beaton 6-5 John Part |
|
Final |
|
|
Kevin Painter 4-6 Steve Beaton |
FINAL LEAGUE TABLE
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts |
£Total | |
|
Vincent v d Voort |
7 |
5 |
2 |
37 |
25 |
+12 |
£1850 |
10 |
£2250 |
|
Steve Beaton |
7 |
5 |
2 |
36 |
30 |
+6 |
£1800 |
10 |
£3000 |
|
John Part |
7 |
4 |
3 |
37 |
30 |
+7 |
£1850 |
8 |
£2350 |
|
Kevin Painter |
7 |
4 |
3 |
33 |
29 |
+4 |
£1650 |
8 |
£2650 |
|
Alan Tabern |
7 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
34 |
-2 |
£1600 |
6 |
|
|
Mark Dudbridge |
7 |
3 |
4 |
33 |
38 |
-5 |
£1650 |
6 |
|
|
Andy Smith (E) |
7 |
2 |
5 |
33 |
40 |
-7 |
£1650 |
4 |
|
|
Robert Thornton (E) |
7 |
2 |
5 |
25 |
40 |
-15 |
£1250 |
4 |
MATCH INFORMATION
First Set of Matches
Vincent van der Voort edged out Andy Smith in a deciding leg to take victory in their opener. Smith took out 96 and 146 to win the opening two legs, and shared the next four to open up a 4-2 lead before van der Voort broke in the seventh and then finished 67 to level in the eighth. Double 16 gave the Dutchman the lead for the first time in leg nine, and he hit a 180 in the next to leave 121 - only to miss the bull for the match as Smith posted double eight to force a decider. Van der Voort, though, left 81 after nine darts and took out double 12 for a 13-darter to seal the win.
Mark Dudbridge made a winning start to Group Seven with a 6-4 defeat of John Part. The two newcomers enjoyed a tight tussle, sharing the first eight legs of the game as neither was able to break - with Dudbridge finishing 108 in leg seven after Part missed a chance to break. Double top gave Dudbridge the ninth, and when Part missed three darts at the same bed in the next the Bristol ace finally broke, with tops securing victory and two early points.
Steve Beaton held off Robert Thornton's fightback to take a 6-3 win from their Group Seven opener. Beaton made a brilliant start to win the first four legs, including a 139 checkout in leg two, to open a 4-0 lead. Thornton - who has recently recovered from a bout of pneumonia, got off the mark with a superb ten-darter in the fifth, and took out double ten in the next before matching a Beaton 180 with a maximum of his own to pull back to 4-3. Thornton also hit a maximum in the eighth, but double 16 moved Beaton to the brink of victory before he hit a 180 and double eight in the next to seal the win.
Kevin Painter won four successive legs to take a 6-3 win over Alan Tabern in their first game of the day. After sharing the game's opening two legs, Tabern broke in the third on tops before Painter replied in kind to win leg four. Tabern broke again with a 130 finish to lead 3-2, only to miss four darts to take the next as Painter stole in on double top, led thanks to double 16 and broke in the eighth before sealing a fourth successive leg and victory on double 16.
Second Set of Matches
John Part claimed his first win of Group Seven, defeating Vincent van der Voort 6-2 with a fine display. After sharing the game's opening four legs with van der Voort, Part pulled clear with some classy darts, breaking for the first time in leg six to lead 4-2, hitting double 16 in the next and then securing victory by hitting the same bed for a 12-darter as he secured four successive legs.
Andy Smith bounced back from his opening loss with a 6-5 win against Mark Dudbridge. Dudbbridge held an early 2-1 lead, but Smith won the next three legs - including a 180 and double 18 to break throw - as he took a 4-2 advantage. The next two were shared as Smith moved a leg away from the win, only to miss five match darts in the next as Dudbridge kept the match alive and then hit a 12-darter to force a decider. However, Smith was first to a finish and, with Dudbridge having left 32, he took out 116 on double 18 for the points.
Alan Tabern overcame Steve Beaton 6-4 to pick up his first win of Group Seven. Beaton led 2-1 early on, but Tabern levelled in the fourth and broke to lead in the fifth. Double ten saw Beaton break back, but the left-hander finished 86 on the bull to move 4-3 up after his opponent missed five darts for the leg. The next two were shared as Tabern edged towards the win at 5-4, but double ten gave the St Helens man the points.
Kevin Painter maintained his winning start to Group Seven, defeating Robert Thornton 6-2. Painter hit a 180 to open the game as he broke in the first leg, and led 2-0 before Thornton hit back to level. Painter, though, added another maximum and a 68 finish to break in the fifth, landed double four for a 4-2 cushion, tops to lead 5-2 and then sealed the win on double two after the Scot missed his chance to stay in the game with two attempts at a 90 finish.
Third Set of Matches
John Part won his second game of the day, defeating previously unbeaten Kevin Painter 6-4. Part took the game's first two legs before Painter got off the mark on tops in the third, but the Canadian hit two 177 scores in moving 3-1 up. The next four were shared as Part eded 5-3 up, with double six from Painter keeping the game alive before double eight sealed the win for the three-time World Champion.
Robert Thornton picked up his first victory of Group Seven, claiming a narrow 6-5 win against Holland's Vincent van der Voort. Thornton made a fine start by winning the game's first two legs before van der Voort finished double eight and 122 to level. Thornton hit double eight for the fifth, but van der Voort levelled and then broke for a 4-3 advantage, which he extended to 5-4 when the next two were shared. However, the Dutchman missed his chance to take victory in the next as double four kept Thornton alive, and the Scot finished 79 on tops in the decider to take the victory.
Mark Dudbridge took out 144 to win the deciding leg of his clash with Alan Tabern with a 12-dart finish and claim his second win of Group Seven. The pair enjoyed a tight battle throughout, with Tabern taking the game's first break to lead 2-1 only for Dudbridge to punish four misses in the next and hit back to level. The next four also went with throw before Dudbridge finished double 16 to move 5-4 up as Tabern waited on 36 - only for the Bristol ace to miss four match darts in the next before the left-hander - who had matched a 180 from his opponent earlier in the leg - forced a decider on double two. Dudbridge, with the advantage of throw, hit two ton-plus scores to take command, and finished 144 on double 18 to clinically wrap up the win.
Steve Beaton picked up his second victory of Group Seven, seeing off Andy Smith 6-3. Beaton finished 100 to win the opening leg, following missed doubles from Smith, before doubling his lead with a break of throw. Smith won the third leg, but finishes of 72 and double four saw Beaton take a 4-1 lead. Smith hit 180s in taking two of the next three, with an 82 finish from Beaton having won him a fifth leg before he took out 81 on double six for the win.
Fourth Set of Matches
Vincent van der Voort joined his rivals on two victories in Group Seven, defeating Kevin Painter 6-2. The Dutchman opened the game with a 134 checkout to break throw, with Painter waiting on a double, before moving 2-0 up on double ten. A 132 checkout gave Painter leg three, but he missed the bull in the next as van der Voort finished a 14-darter to lead 3-1. Painter finished double eight to win leg five, but when he missed the same bed in the next van der Voort capitalised to lead 4-2, broke in the next and then finished 78 in two darts for victory.
John Part moved onto six points at the head of the Group Seven table with a 6-1 win over Robert Thornton. The Canadian continued his impressive start to his 2011 Championship League Darts challenge with a third victory, opening up a 2-0 lead before Thornton took out 92 to get off the mark, but missed darts to win the next three as Part moved to the brink of victory, which was sealed on double five in the seventh leg.
Andy Smith edged to his second victory of the day, sneaking past Alan Tabern in a deciding leg. Smith edged the early legs to lead 3-1 before the left-hander took three legs in a row to move 4-3 up. Smith levelled on double six, but double ten put Tabern 5-4 up - only for Smith to hit a 180 in setting up an 85 finish to force a decider. Tabern landed a timely 180 to leave 57 for the match, but was denied a dart for victory when Smith took out 66 with two single 15s and his favourite double 18.
Steve Beaton picked up his third victory of Group Seven, seeing off Mark Dudbridge 6-4 in their clash. After Dudbridge broke in the opening leg, Beaton took out 110 to level and held in the third, before missing five darts to take the fourth as Dudbridge levelled on double four. Beaton took the fifth, while Dudbridge took out a 13-darter in the next to leave the scores locked a three-all. The next two were also shared before Beaton finished double 12 to lead 5-4 before he powered in a 108 checkout to take a break of throw and seal the win.
Fifth Set of Matches
Kevin Painter stepped up his semi-final push with a 6-3 win over Mark Dudbridge. Painter set the tone for a strong performance with a 12-darter to win the opening leg, and after Dudbridge hit a 180 in levelling the Daventry-based ace took the next three for a 4-1 lad, hitting 180s in two successive legs and a 100 finish in the process. Dudbridge finished tops to win two of the next three legs, but a 13-darter had nudged Painter a leg away from the win, which he took with a 91 checkout.
Vincent van der Voort punished Steve Beaton for missed doubles as he came from 2-0 down to win 6-2 in their contest. Beaton made a brilliant start, winning the opening leg with a 76 finish and hitting two 180s in an 11-darter to lead 2-0. But van der Voort got off the mark on double two in the third, hit tops to win the fourth and broke again to take the lead following two misses from Beaton. Beaton also missed doubles in the next two as his frustration grew, and the Dutchman hit double 16 in the next to complete victory with six straight legs.
Robert Thornton won his second game of the day, edging past Andy Smith in a deciding leg to join three other players on four points. Smith broke with a 49 finish in the opening leg and doubled his lead before Thornton took out finishes of 85 and 64 to square the game, before double top put him 3-2 up. The next two legs were shared before Thornton took out 112 to move a leg away from the win. Smith hit a 180 and double 16 to take the ninth before setting up a deciding leg, but the Scot was first to a finish and landed double ten to take the spoils.
Alan Tabern enjoyed his second win of Group Seven, hitting finishes of 161 and 156 in a 6-4 win over three-time World Champion John Part. The pair hit 180s in the opening leg, which Tabern won on double top, before Part levelled in the second. Tabern won the third and took out 161 in the fourth, before hitting a 180 and double five to take a 4-1 lead. Part took the next two to pull back to 4-3 and also landed a 180 in the eighth, but crucially missed five darts to level as double 11 put the left-hander 5-3 up. Part hit a 180 and double eight to take the next and was waiting on 50 to force a deciding leg, only to see Tabern brilliantly take out 156 and the win.
Sixth Set of Matches
Steve Beaton edged out John Part 6-5 to move closer to a semi-final place in Group Seven. Part took an early 2-0 lead, and after Beaton won leg three he took out 108 for a 3-1 cushion. That was extended to 4-2 before Beaton hit back to win three in a row and edge 5-4 up. Part finished double eight to force a decider and also hit a 180, but Beaton left 32 with a 137 score and took out double eight for the points.
Kevin Painter won his fourth game of the day, defeating Andy Smith 6-3 to keep up his play-off challenge. Painter made the brighter start by winning the opening three legs, which included double five to break in the second after smith missed three doubles. Smith finished tops to get off the mark and broke with an 81 checkout in the fifth, but Painter landed a 98 checkout for a 4-2 lead and double five to move to the brink of victory. Smith replied on double five, but missed two darts to stay in the game in the ninth as Painter hit double four to seal the points.
Mark Dudbridge fended off a superb fightback from Robert Thornton to edge a dramatic final-leg thriller in their clash. Dudbridge took the first five legs unopposed as he punished missed doubles from Thornton to sweep to the brink of victory - landing double top in the first three legs, an 11-darter i the fourth and double eight in the fifth. Thornton hit double nine to get off the mark in the sixth and finished 76 for a second leg before misses from Dudbridge allowed him to pull back to 5-3. A pair of double tops from the Scot forced a decider, in which he hit a 180 to leave 36. Dudbridge wired the bull for a 127, and both then saw chances to win the game go begging before the Bristol ace landed double two for the win.
Vincent van der Voort produced a fine display to see off Alan Tabern 6-1, leaving the left-hander facing a final-game battle to stay in Championship League Darts. Tabern was punished for missing seven doubles in each of the first and third legs as van der Voort took a 3-0 lead, and the Dutchman followed up an earlier 73 finish with double top in the fourth and a 76 checkout to lead 5-0. Tabern hit a 180 and double 12 to finally open his account in the sixth, but any hopes of a comeback were dashed by a 156 checkout as van der Voort sealed victory in style.
Final Set of Matches
Vincent van der Voort defeated Mark Dudbridge 6-3 to secure his own semi-final place with a fifth victory of the league phase. Van der Voort opened with finishes of 74 and 62 to lead 2-0 before Dudbridge punished misses from the Dutchman in the next two to level. Van der Voort hit double 16, double eight and tops to move 5-2 up before a 132 finish from Dudbridge kept the game alive, only for the Dutchman to take the ninth for the win.
John Part came from 3-0 down to defeat Andy Smith 6-5 - knocking the Studley ace out of Championship League Darts. Smith made a fine start to lead 3-0, only for Part to hit back with double top and double 16 before finishing 127, 81 and 105 in the next three to lead 5-4. Smith took out 98 and double 16 to force a decider as he fought for his Championship League life, but Part had the advantage of throw in the decider - and the Canadian made it pay with back-to-back 180s to open the leg. Although a possible nine-darter went begging, double eight gave him the victory.
Alan Tabern won his decisive clash with Robert Thornton 6-2 to keep himself alive in Championship League Darts and eliminate the Scot. The pair entered the game knowing that the loser would drop out of the event alongside Andy Smith, and shared a tense first four legs. Thornton hit a 180 in the fifth, but missed four darts to take the leg as Tabern stole in on double 18. Tabern then hit double ten and to move 4-2 up, and hit a 180 in a 13-darter to win his fifth leg before double eight secured victory and progression to compete in Group Eight.
Steve Beaton ensured a second-placed finish in Group Seven with his fifth victory of the day, defeating Kevin Painter 6-3 in their final league game. Painter finished 96 for the first leg before Beaton took the next two to lead 2-1. Painter levelled as Beaton missed four darts to win the fourth leg, only for the former World Champion to repay the favour in the fifth with a 70 finish. Double top gave Beaton a 4-2 lead, but Painter stormed back with two successive 180s to open the seventh, missing out on a nine-darter but still reducing the gap to one leg. Double 16 for Beaton gave him the eighth, and he then sealed the win with double eight.
Semi-Finals
Vincent van der Voort 4-6 Kevin Painter
Steve Beaton 6-5 John Part
Kevin Painter roared back from 3-0 down to win his place in the Group Seven final, defeating Vincent van der Voort 6-4. The Dutchman had finished at the top of the league table and took the game's first three legs, with finishes of 82 and 108 coming either side of double eight to break throw. Van der Voort could also have won the the fourth leg, but missed six darts at a double as Painter followed a 180 with double 16 to get off the mark. He broke in the fifth leg, and finished 56 to level, double four to break and double 16 to move 5-3 up. Van der Voort won the ninth with a two-dart 64 finish, but any hope of a comeback was snuffed out by Painter.
Steve Beaton overcame John Part in a deciding leg to win his place in the Group Seven final. Beaton had won the opener before Part levelled with a 118 finish and took the third to lead 2-1. Double eight saw Beaton level before the three-time World Champion hit two 180s in taking the next two legs to lead 4-2. Finishes of 108 and 80 on the bull saw Beaton level, only to miss two darts to lead as tops gave Part a 5-4 cushion. Beaton hit double 16 to force a decider, in which he was first to a finish only to miss three match darts at double top and ten. Part, though, missed double 16 for a 104 checkout and Beaton returned to hit double five to secure a place in the final.
Final
Steve Beaton took Group Seven victory in Championship League Darts with a 6-4 victory over Kevin Painter.
The former World Champion showed his class in a brilliant final, missing double 12 for a nine-darter in one leg, which he later took in ten darts and followed with an 11-dart finish.
Painter battled all the way in sharing the opening eight legs, but the game turned when he missed double eight for a 96 finish in the ninth, with Beaton finishing 90 on double five and then taking out double ten for the game after the pair traded 180s in the tenth.
Finishes of double four and 96 had given Painter an early 2-1 lead before Beaton opened the fourth with two successive 180s. He hit treble 20 and treble 19 before wiring double 12 for the nine-dart finish - as Painter had done last week - although he returned to win the leg in ten.
Painter finished 76 for the sixth before Beaton hit legs of 12 and 11 darts with finishes of 82 and 81, only for Painter to level with a 65 finish for a 14-darter in leg eight.
The game looked set to go all the way when Painter left another 96 finish in the ninth, but he missed his chance to regain the lead and Beaton swooped to triumph.
WATCH LIVE
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