PAUL NICHOLSON sealed his place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group next month with a 6-4 victory over Simon Whitlock in Thursday's Group Three final at Crondon Park GC in Essex.
Nicholson, who was defeated in Wednesday's semi-finals by Phil Taylor, powered through the eight player field by losing just one game in his seven group matches to top the table, before defeating Mark Walsh 6-4 in the semi-finals.
Nicholson opened the final against Whitlock superbly with a maximum and went on to win the opening leg by hitting double eight. Both players missed chances to win the second leg but it was Whitlock who won it to level.
Nicholson hit another 180 in the third leg and won it with just 13 darts to lead for a second time only, for Whitlock to hold throw by hitting double seven to win the fourth leg.
Whitlock had a chance to win the fifth leg against the darts but his attempt at tops for a 160 checkout was just high. That allowed Nicholson in to hit 87 and steal the leg for a 3-2 lead before breaking throw by hitting double 10 to move two legs clear.
Nicholson won the seventh leg to go within touching distance of victory but Whitlock kept fighting by taking the next by hitting double six with his last dart.
Nicholson missed three darts for the match in the tenth leg, and Whitlock stepped in to hit double 10 and reduce the gap to 5-4. Whitlock had a chance to force a deciding-leg but missed a dart at double top for a 120 finish and Nicholson hit the same double with his last dart to confirm victory.
Whitlock, who lost narrowly to Phil Taylor in the final of Group Two, will now return to Crondon Park after the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix in October to contest Group Four, which will see Ronnie Baxter, Vincent van der Voort and Jamie Caven enter the fray.
Mark Walsh and Colin Lloyd enjoyed good days, both finishing in the top four, before losing their semi-final matches to Nicholson and Whitlock respectively.
Wes Newton, suffered a dramatic exit from the competition having reached the semi-finals on Wednesday. Needing victory against Lloyd to progress, the UK Open finalist was edged in a final-leg thriller to the Essex man to confirm his elimination on legs difference, despite three victories.
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 27-29 September, 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-Off's, with prize money doubled in the Winners Group.
Championship League Darts - Group Three Fixtures
|
Board One |
Board Two |
|
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Wes Newton |
Mark Walsh 5-6 Colin Lloyd |
|
Mervyn King 3-6 Wayne Jones |
Paul Nicholson 6-4 Andy Hamilton |
|
Colin Lloyd 2-6 Simon Whitlock |
Wes Newton 1-6 Mark Walsh |
|
Andy Hamilton 3-6 Mervyn King |
Wayne Jones 5-6 Paul Nicholson |
|
Colin Lloyd 4-6 Paul Nicholson |
Simon Whitlock 3-6 Wayne Jones |
|
Andy Hamilton 4-6 Mark Walsh |
Wes Newton 6-2 Mervyn King |
|
Paul Nicholson 6-5 Simon Whitlock |
Colin Lloyd 6-4 Wayne Jones |
|
Wes Newton 6-5 Andy Hamilton |
Mark Walsh 2-6 Mervyn King |
|
Mark Walsh 3-6 Paul Nicholson |
Mervyn King 3-6 Simon Whitlock |
|
Wayne Jones 5-6 Wes Newton |
Andy Hamilton 3-6 Colin Lloyd |
|
Mervyn King 1-6 Colin Lloyd |
Wes Newton 4-6 Paul Nicholson |
|
Wayne Jones 4-6 Mark Walsh |
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Andy Hamilton |
|
Andy Hamilton 1-6 Wayne Jones |
Paul Nicholson 3-6 Mervyn King |
|
Mark Walsh 6-3 Simon Whitlock |
Colin Lloyd 6-5 Wes Newton |
|
Semi-Finals |
|
|
Paul Nicholson 6-4 Mark Walsh |
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Colin Lloyd |
|
Final |
|
|
Paul Nicholson 6-5 Simon Whitlock |
FINAL LEAGUE TABLE
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts |
Total £ | |
|
Paul Nicholson |
7 |
6 |
1 |
39 |
31 |
+8 |
£1950 |
12 |
£3150 |
|
Colin Lloyd |
7 |
5 |
2 |
36 |
30 |
+6 |
£1800 |
10 |
£2200 |
|
Simon Whitlock |
7 |
4 |
3 |
35 |
26 |
+9 |
£1750 |
8 |
£2750 |
|
Mark Walsh |
7 |
4 |
3 |
34 |
30 |
+4 |
£1700 |
8 |
£2100 |
|
Wayne Jones |
7 |
3 |
4 |
36 |
31 |
+5 |
£1800 |
6 |
|
|
Mervyn King |
7 |
3 |
4 |
27 |
32 |
-5 |
£1350 |
6 |
|
|
Wes Newton |
7 |
3 |
4 |
29 |
36 |
-7 |
£1450 |
6 |
|
|
Andy Hamilton |
7 |
0 |
7 |
22 |
42 |
-20 |
£1100 |
0 |
MATCH INFORMATION
First Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock made a blistering start to Group Three with a 6-1 win over Wes Newton. The Australian was the runner-up in Group Two, and showed his determination to go even better on Thursday with a sensational display. He took the first three legs without reply, opening the contest with a maximum and defying a 180 in reply from Newton to take the first leg on double ten, before breaking with a 90 finish and taking out double 15 for the third. Newton kicked off the fourth with back-to-back 180s, and although he missed out on a nine-darter he took the leg in 12 darts to get off the mark. Whitlock, though, finished 145 to restore his lead, broke again for a 5-1 cushion and then hit a 180 and double 16 to secure victory with a 13-darter.
Colin Lloyd made a winning start to Group Three with a narrow 6-5 win over fellow newcomer Mark Walsh in their opener. Lloyd hit a 180 in the game's opening leg but Walsh defied further maximums to take the next two and edge ahead, before hitting his favourite double top to lead 3-2. Lloyd replied with a brace of tops finishes and then hit a 180 and double four to lead 4-3. Walsh edged the eighth on double one, and tops gave him a 5-4 lead, only for Lloyd to check out double nine to force a decider, which he took on 96 to secure the points after the Hertfordshire ace missed double 15 for a 150 game shot.
Wayne Jones punished a slow start from Mervyn King to make a winning entrance to the 2011 Championship League Darts. The Wolverhampton ace took the first two legs on double eight, and also won the next two to lead 4-0 before King got off the mark, taking advantage of two misses from his opponent to finish double 16. He also won two of the next three to threaten a comeback, but Jones sealed victory in the ninth.
Paul Nicholson defeated Andy Hamilton 6-4 to win his first game of Group Three. Nicholson raced into an early 2-0 lead and, after Hamilton took the third after hitting a 180 and double top, the Geordie won the next three to lead 5-1. Hamilton hit back to win the seventh, and double eight for a break pulled him back to 5-3 before he hit a 180 in reducing the gap to one leg. Nicholson, though, secured victory in the next on double two to claim the points.
Second Set of Games
Simon Whitlock's tremendous start to Group Three continued with a 6-2 win over Colin Lloyd. Whitlock followed his 6-1 win over Wes Newton with a fine start, opening with a break of throw, and finishing double four and double six to lead 3-0 before trading 180s with Lloyd in the fourth, which he took on double ten. He then took out 65 to lead 5-0 before Lloyd got off the mark on double eight and finished 24 to win a second leg. A 180 from Whitlock stemmed the fightback, and the Australian sealed victory with a 52 finish.
Mark Walsh bounced back from his opening defeat with a 6-1 win over Wes Newton. Walsh led from the off, hitting double top for the first leg and a pair of double 12 finishes to lead 3-0 before Newton hit a 180 and double 16 to get off the mark. Walsh took the fifth to restore his cushion, and despite further maximums in the next two legs, a brace of tops finishes completed a heavy victory for Walsh.
Mervyn King won his first match of Group Three, defeating Andy Hamilton 6-3. After Hamilton took the opener on double two, King took the next two with the help of 180s to lead 2-1. The Stoke ace broke back and then finished 48 to move 3-2 up, but the lead changed hands again as King levelled and then finished double eight to regain the lead, before taking out the next two for victory with four striaght legs.
Paul Nicholson maintained his winning start to Group Three with a narrow 6-5 defeat of Wayne Jones. Jones hit back from 2-1 down early on to lead 3-2 and 4-3, before Nicholson posted a maximum in levelling in leg eight. Jones took the ninth, but Nicholson hit double eight to force a decider and double 12 to edge victory.
Third Set of Games
Paul Nicholson won his third successive Group Three game, defeating Colin Lloyd 6-4. Nicholson hit a 180 in taking the game's opening leg, but Lloyd took the next two to edge ahead. The next two were shared, but Nicholson took three in a row - including a break of throw which featured a 180 as he punished misses from Lloyd - to move 5-3 up. Lloyd hit an 11-darter to take the ninth, but Nicholson hit another maximum and tops for a 13-darter in sealing victory.
Wayne Jones ended Simon Whitlock's winning start to Group Three with a 6-3 victory over the Australian. Whitlock took the opener, but Jones took out double 16 and a 76 finish to lead 2-1. Whitlock levelled with double 12, but Jones took the next three, including a break on double 12, to lead 5-2, and although tops kept Whitlock in the game he finished 103 to wrap up the win.
Mark Walsh came back from 4-0 down against Andy Hamilton to reel off six successive legs and take his second win of Group Three. Hamilton hit 180s in winning the first two legs, and also won the next two to open up a 4-0 lead in his bid to win a first game of the day. Double two got Walsh off the mark, and after he hit tops in the sixth he edged a scrappy seventh on double one to reduce the arrears to 4-3. A 164 finish for Walsh levelled the game, and he took the ninth to lead for the first time before punishing further misses from Hamilton on tops to secure the points.
Wes Newton picked up his first victory of the day, taking a 6-2 victory over Mervyn King. Newton opened by taking the first leg and broke in the second with a brilliant 11-darter, which included seven perfect darts to start the leg. However, King capitalised on misses from the Fleetwood ace to hit back with a double 18 finish and a 72 checkout as he levelled, only for Newton to step in with a 180 and double four in the next to lead 3-2. Double 16 gave Newton a two-leg cushion once more, and he took the seventh to move to the brink of a victory which was sealed on double top.
Fourth Set of Games
Paul Nicholson edged out Simon Whitlock 6-5 to continue his winning streak in Group Three. Nicholson led 2-0 after breaking in the second leg with a 12-darter, before Whitlock hit back by hitting a pair of maximums in winning three in a row to lead. Nicholson added two more legs before Whitlock edged ahead once more with a 104 finish to lead 5-4, but was unable to take his chance to seal the win in the next as Nicholson finished 25 to force a decider and 90 to take the win.
Colin Lloyd won his second game of the day, defeating Wayne Jones 6-4. After Jones had taken the opening leg, he then hit a 180 and finished 141 for a 12-darter before Lloyd won fourth straight legs to lead 4-2. Jones won two of the next three, but a timely 180 from Lloyd pushed him clear to win the tenth and seal the points.
Wes Newton picked up a second successive victory, with his 6-5 comeback defeat of Andy Hamilton leaving the Stoke ace stranded without a win at the foot of the table. Hamilton made the brighter start, winning the first three legs before Newton took the fourth and then checked out 100 and 88 to level. Newton then hit back-to-back 180s to open th seventh, and although he missed out again on a nine-darter he took the leg in 11 darts to lead for the first time. Hamilton levelled and, after Newton took the ninth, scrambled in a tricky double 16 to force a decider, but Newton left 28 with a 140 and took out the double to secure the points.
Mervyn King defeated Mark Walsh 6-2 to join five other players on four points in the league table. Walsh left after King missed the bull in the first leg, but the former Premier League Darts finalist levelled on double eight and finished 90 to lead 2-1. Walsh levelled with an 80 finish, but King hit a 180 and double 16 to restore his lead, before punishing a miss from his opponent to lead 4-2. King also took the seventh, and three further misses from Walsh proved costly again when King hit double 16 for the win.
Fifth Set of Games
Paul Nicholson won his fifth straight game in Group Three, defeating Mark Walsh 6-3 despite trailing 2-0 early on. Walsh hit a 180 and finished 64 to break in the first leg, and double two moved him 2-0 up before Nicholson edged the third. Walsh stepped in to win the fourth on double two after missed doubles from Nicholson, who recovered to hit double 16 twice in the next three legs as he edged 4-3 up. A 76 finish on double 18 moved Nicholson a leg away from the win, which was sealed on double 16.
Simon Wihtlock picked up his third win of the day, defeating Mervyn King 6-3. King opened the game with a 112 finish and hit a 174 in taking the second, before Whitlock took the third in style, following a 180 with a 130 bullseye finish. He then won the next two legs to lead 3-2 before King levelled, but after the Australian took the seventh he found an extra gear, hitting a 177 and a 180 in a 12-darter to take the eighth and a 5-3 lead before securing the win in the next.
Wes Newton improved his hopes of a semi-final appearance in Group Three with a fine deciding leg victory against Wayne Jones. In a game which saw both players hold throw throughout, Jones' accuracy on double 16 kept him in touch early on, while Newton took out 105 in the third leg. Newton landed a 180 in the ninth before double 18 from Jones forced a decider, which the Fleetwood ace kicked off with back-to-back 180s, and he finished double four for a 12-darter in taking the points.
Colin Lloyd won his third game of the day, seeing off winless Andy Hamilton 6-3. Hamilton hit a 180 in breaking in the opening leg, but he missed tops in the second as Lloyd levelled on double five. The next four were shared, before Hamilton missed double 16 to break and Lloyd finished double four to take the seventh. Lloyd then punished six missed doubles from Hamilton by finishing 104 for a 5-3 cushion, before securing the victory on double four.
Sixth Set of Games
Colin Lloyd put one foot into the Group Three Play-Offs with a 6-1 win ovrer Mervyn King. Lloyd took the first three legs before King finished double 16 to win the fourth. The Essex ace replied with a maximum and double five to win a key fifth, and broke in the sixth before sealing victory following another 180.
Paul Nicholson won the last four legs without reply to win his sixth straight Group Three contest, defeating Wes Newton 6-4. Newton hit back from losing the opening leg to take the next two before finishing 164 to lead 3-1. Nicholson won the fifth before the Fleetwood ace moved 4-2 up, only to see his opponent hit back. Nicholson finished 40 for the seventh leg, 64 to level and then took the ninth to lead 5-4, before sealing the win with a 116 finish.
Mark Walsh kept his hopes alive of a place in the Group Three Play-Offs with a 6-4 victory over Wayne Jones. Walsh took the first two legs of the contest before Jones hit-back to win the next two which included a 120 finish. The next four legs were shared before Walsh won the ninth with a 97 finish and hit double top to win match.
Simon Whitlock continued Andy Hamilton's woes with a 6-2 triumph to continue his impressive display in the Group. Hamilton had a good start winning two of the first three legs. But Whitlock won the next five legs in succession to win his fourth game of the day.
Seventh Set of Games
Wayne Jones kept his place in the competition thanks to a 6-1 triumph over Andy Hamilton, who was condemned to his seventh straight defeat of the day. Jones won the opening two legs before Hamilton stopped the rot to win the third. But Jones stepped on the gas again to win four consecutive legs and closed the match out with a 68 finish.
Mervyn King put together an excellent display to beat Paul Nicholson 6-3. King established a 3-1 advantage and then won the fifth leg to move three clear. Nicholson won the next leg before King restored his three leg advantage. Nicholson hit a 64 finish to reduce the gap to 5-3 but King wrapped up the game in the ninth leg to win the match and keep his place in the competition.
Mark Walsh confirmed his place in the semi-finals with victory over Simon Whitlock. Whitlock started the better winning the first two legs before Walsh hit-back to win the next two. Walsh kept the winning run going, taking the next two legs courtesy of successful attempts at double four and double top. Whitlock hit double nine to keep himself in it at 4-3 but Walsh pounced on missed doubles on his opponent to take the next three legs and win the match.
Colin Lloyd won a dramatic contest against Wes Newton with a deciding-leg victory. The defeat for Newton means that he is now out of the competition on an inferior legs difference to Mervyn King. The match was a nip-and-tuck affair with no more than a one leg margin between the two players. With matters finely balanced at 4-4 Lloyd hit tops to win leg nine before Newton hit the same double to level. However, Lloyd held throw by hitting double 18 in the final leg to edge out the Fleetwood man.
Semi-Finals
Paul Nicholson set up an all-Aussie final at Crondon Park thanks to a 6-4 semi-final triumph against Mark Walsh.
Nicholson, who topped the group in the league phase with six victories, hit double 12 to win the first leg but missed four chances to break in the second allowing Walsh to level by hitting double four.
The next two legs were shared before Nicholson won the fifth with a 62 finish after Walsh missed an attempt at double 19. Nicholson then broke throw by hitting double 16 only for Walsh to hit-back and win the next two legs to level at four apiece.
Nicholson won the ninth leg to move ahead again and crucially broke Walsh's throw in the next to win the contest a seal a place in the final.
Simon Whitlock reached the final for the second day in succession with a 6-4 triumph over Colin Lloyd in the semi-finals. Whitlock hit tops to win the first leg and then broke throw with a 13-darter, and then won the third leg to go 3-0 up.
The Australian then hit an 11-dart-finish to win the fourth leg and then won the fifth by hitting double 14. Whitlock missed two darts at tops for a 6-0 win allowing Lloyd to step in and hit double one to get of the board.
Lloyd hit a 15-darter to win his second leg and hit double three to reduce the deficit to 5-3. The local man then hit a superb 170 checkout with his opponent waiting on double 12 for the match, to keep the comeback alive. But Whitlock held his nerve by taking out an excellent 121 finish on the bullseye to end Lloyd's hopes and book his place in the final.
Final
Paul Nicholson won the final of Group Three to seal a spot in the Winners Group on 20 October courtesy of a 6-4 victory over Simon Whitlock.
Nicholson recorded a maximum and went on to win the opening leg by hitting double eight. Both players missed chances to win the second leg but it was Whitlock who won it to level.
Nicholson hit another 180 in the third leg and won it with just 13-darts to lead for a second time only for Whitlock to hold throw by hitting double seven to win the fourth leg.
Whitlock had a chance to win the fifth leg against the darts but his attempt at tops for a 160 checkout was just high. That allowed Nicholson in to hit 87 and steal the leg for a 3-2 lead before breaking throw by hitting double 10 to move two legs clear.
Nicholson won the seventh leg to go within touching distance of victory but Whitlock kept fighting by taking the next leg by hitting double six with his last dart.
Nicholson missed three darts for the match in the tenth leg, and Whitlock stepped in to hit double 10 and reduce the gap to 5-4. Whitlock had a chance to force a deciding-leg but missed a dart at double top for a 120 finish and Nicholson hit the same double with his last dart to confirm victory.
WATCH LIVE
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