GARY ANDERSON claimed victory in Group One of the 2011 Championship League Darts, defeating Wes Newton 6-1 in the final at Crondon Park after the Fleetwood ace picked up his first-ever win over Phil Taylor.
Anderson will now return for October's big-money Winners Group in the internet-streamed event, which sees players compete in eight-man groups in a round-robin league phase before the top four contest each day's Play-Offs.
Taylor - the 2008 Championship League Darts winner - had gone through the Group One league phase unbeaten but saw his hopes of early progression shattered by a brilliant Newton display in the semi-finals.
The Fleetwood ace, who has risen to seventh in the world this year and also reached June's UK Open final, finished fourth in the table and led 2-0 against Taylor early on in their clash.
The world number one hit back with finishes of 131 and 108 to level and also took out 121 to lead 5-4 - only to miss the bull for a 164 finish which would have secured victory.
Newton landed double three to force a deciding leg, and with Taylor waiting on 106 he took out a stunning 140 checkout for a 12-darter which gave him his first career victory over Taylor.
Newton's dream of following that win by claiming the Group One title, though, was shattered by Anderson as the Scot followed up an excellent 6-4 comeback defeat of Simon Whitlock in the semis with a 6-1 triumph.
He opened the final with a 98 finish and also added an 81 checkout in taking the first four legs without reply.
Newton hit double three to get off the mark in the sixth, but a showpiece 96 of single 20, double 18 and double top gave Anderson a 5-1 advantage before he secured victory on double 12.
"I'm really happy with that," said Anderson. "This is a very tough competition and today there were eight of the world's top ten players, so to get through that and into the Winners Group is a huge achievement.
"I was pleased with how I played all the way through and only Phil defeated me in the league games, but to finish like I did against Simon and Wes is great.
"I'm going to have a few days at home now to prepare for the World Grand Prix and it would be fantastic to take this form over to Dublin next week!"
Newton admitted: "I meant a lot to me to defeat Phil because I've been a professional for ten years and never done it before, but it was hard to stay focussed for the final after that.
"Gary deserved to win the final and it's up to me to knuckle down again on Wednesday and try to win Group Two."
Newton, Taylor and Whitlock will now return to Crondon Park on Wednesday for Group Three, which will also feature left-handers Mark Webster and James Wade, who missed out on Tuesday's semis.
However, World Champion Adrian Lewis and seven-time major finalist Terry Jenkins were eliminated from the event after finishing in the bottom two.
The pair both lost their opening six matches before Lewis whitewashed Jenkins in the final round of games to claim his only win of the day.
Wednesday's Group Two will also feature Paul Nicholson, Andy Hamilton and Mervyn King, who will join the survivors from Group One in competing for a Winners Group spot.
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.
Championship League Darts - Group One
|
Time |
Board One |
Board Two |
|
10.30am |
Phil Taylor 6-3 Adrian Lewis |
Mark Webster 6-1 Terry Jenkins |
|
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Wes Newton |
James Wade 2-6 Gary Anderson | |
|
Terry Jenkins 2-6 Phil Taylor |
Adrian Lewis 5-6 Mark Webster | |
|
Gary Anderson 6-5 Simon Whitlock |
Wes Newton 6-4 James Wade | |
|
Terry Jenkins 5-6 James Wade |
Phil Taylor 6-3 Wes Newton | |
|
Gary Anderson 6-5 Mark Webster |
Adrian Lewis 3-6 Simon Whitlock | |
|
Not before 2.00pm |
James Wade 2-6 Phil Taylor |
Terry Jenkins 5-6 Wes Newton |
|
Adrian Lewis 2-6 Gary Anderson |
Mark Webster 1-6 Simon Whitlock | |
|
Mark Webster 6-3 James Wade |
Simon Whitlock 3-6 Phil Taylor | |
|
Wes Newton 6-2 Adrian Lewis |
Gary Anderson 6-5 Terry Jenkins | |
|
Not before 4.15pm |
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Terry Jenkins |
Adrian Lewis 4-6 James Wade |
|
Wes Newton 6-4 Mark Webster |
Phil Taylor 6-2 Gary Anderson | |
|
Gary Anderson 6-5 Wes Newton |
James Wade 1-6 Simon Whitlock | |
|
Mark Webster 1-6 Phil Taylor |
Terry Jenkins 0-6 Adrian Lewis | |
|
Semi-Finals |
Phil Taylor 5-6 Wes Newton |
Gary Anderson 6-4 Simon Whitlock |
|
Final |
Wes Newton 1-6 Gary Anderson |
Final League Table + Prize Money including Play-Offs
|
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts |
Total £ | |
|
Phil Taylor (Q) |
7 |
7 |
0 |
42 |
16 |
+26 |
£2100 |
14 |
£2600 |
|
Gary Anderson (Q) |
7 |
6 |
1 |
38 |
30 |
+8 |
£1900 |
12 |
£3100 |
|
Simon Whitlock (Q) |
7 |
5 |
2 |
38 |
23 |
+15 |
£1900 |
10 |
£2300 |
|
Wes Newton (Q) |
7 |
4 |
3 |
37 |
33 |
+4 |
£1850 |
8 |
£2550 |
|
Mark Webster |
7 |
3 |
4 |
29 |
33 |
-4 |
£1450 |
6 |
|
|
James Wade |
7 |
2 |
5 |
24 |
39 |
-15 |
£1200 |
4 |
|
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
1 |
6 |
25 |
36 |
-11 |
£1250 |
2 |
|
|
Terry Jenkins |
7 |
0 |
7 |
19 |
42 |
-23 |
£950 |
0 |
MATCH INFORMATION
First Set of Matches
Phil Taylor opened his account in Group One with a 6-3 defeat of Adrian Lewis.Taylor began the match with a 180 and took the first leg in 13 darts, adding a 12-darter in the third after Lewis levelled on double 16. The World Champion took the fourth in 13 darts and finished 80 to break and lead 3-2 - only for Taylor to reel off the next four legs, including a 92 finish for a 5-3 lead and a brilliant 11-darter to seal victory, hitting scores of 135, 180 and 170 before hitting double eight.
Mark Webster came from a leg down to sweep past Terry Jenkins 6-1 in their opener. Jenkins broke in the opening leg with a 76 finish, but Webster hit double ten to win the next two and assume the lead, before double top gave him a second break and a 3-1 advantage. Jenkins opened the fifth with a maximum, but misses at double top and ten allowed Webster in on double 12. The left-hander took out double ten to lead 5-1 and secured the win with a stylish 11-darter, which began with a 180 and ended with a 91 finish.
Simon Whitlock edged out Wes Newton with a brilliant 11-dart deciding leg to take a 6-5 win from their first game. After the pair shared the opening four legs, Whitlock took the fifth on double eight, hit a 180 to break in the next and landed another double eight to lead 5-2. Newton, though, took out 116 and 107 amongst wining three successive legs to force a decider as the Australian faltered at the finishing line - but Whitlock won the crucial 11th leg with an 11-darter to claim the points.
Reigning champion James Wade suffered a 6-2 defeat in his Group One opener against Gary Anderson. Anderson made a blistering start, hitting 180s in the first two legs as he broke on double three in the opener and hit an 11-darter in the second. Wade defied a further maximum from Anderson to get off the mark with a 78 finish in the third, but Anderson hit a fourth 180 in winning leg four on tops, and double eight for a 4-1 lead. Anderson moved to the brink of victory with a 14-darter, finished on tops, and though Wade hit double ten to keep the game alive the Scot hit the same bed to complete a 12-darter in sealing the win.
Second Set of Matches
Phil Taylor picked up a second victory of the day, defeating Terry Jenkins 6-2. Taylor picked up where he left off against Adrian Lewis by breaking throw in the opening leg before producing back-to-back 13-darters to lead 3-0. He then finished 160 for a 12-dart leg in moving four clear before Jenkins took out double ten to get off the mark. Taylor hit a 180 and double eight to win his fifth leg, and although Jenkins replied in the same manner to earn a second leg of the match - after his opponent missed the bull for a 161 finish - Taylor took out 85 to secure the points.
Mark Webster remained unbeaten in Group One with a 6-5 defeat of World Champion Adrian Lewis. The duo shared the first four legs before Webster took out 100 in the next, only for Lewis to post a 78 finish and then break with a 68 checkout. Webster broke back on tops after a miss from Lewis, and then took out 130 to lead 5-4. Lewis levelled on double five after his opponent missed four match darts, but when Lewis missed tops for victory in the decider the Welshman struck with a 78 finish.
Gary Anderson came from 5-3 down to pick up victory in his clash with Simon Whitlock. The Australian dominated for much of the game, hitting a 180 in breaking throw with a 87 finish in the first leg and landing another maximum before doubling his lead. Anderson posted a 180 and tops to get off the mark in the third, and levelled on double 16 before Whitlock hit double 18 and double ten to move 4-2 up. Anderson finished 96 for his third leg, but double 16 gave the Australian a sniff of victory at 5-3. Anderson, though, hit a 180 and a 101 finish in a 12-darter to win leg nine, punished two missed match darts to take the tenth with a 68 finish and then landed tops to edge the decider.
Wes Newton took three successive legs to secure a 6-4 win against James Wade in their second game of Group One. Reigning champion Wade finished 97 in the first leg and punished Newton for misses in the second to lead 2-0 in their repeat of June's UK Open final. Newton hit a 177 to set up double 18 in getting off the mark, and took out 68 to level before Wade edged two of the next three for a 4-3 cushion. Newton, though, took out 116 and 78 to take the lead at 5-4, and then finished 110 to take victory.
Third Set of Matches
James Wade picked up his first victory of Group One with a narrow deciding leg defeat of Terry Jenkins, who has yet to taste victory. The left-hander took three of the first four legs to establish a 3-1 lead, only for Jenkins to post a pair of double tops to level. The next two were shared before a 70 finish pushed Wade 5-4 up, only for him to miss two match darts in the next as tops from Jenkins forced a decider. Wade, though, was first to a finish in the decider, missing tops but returning to hit the same bed and take the points.
Phil Taylor's unbeaten start to Group One continued with a 6-3 win over Wes Newton. Taylor took the first leg on double eight and finished 84 on the bull to break in leg two before Newton finished 88 in the same manner to win the third. Taylor hit 180s in the next two, which were won with checkouts of 98 and 62, as he led 4-1 although Newton took out 100 and double top to cut the gap to just one leg. However, he crucially missed darts at double 18 and nine to square the game as Taylor posted double 16 for a 5-3 lead before hitting the same bed to complete victory.
Gary Anderson claimed his third victory in as many games, edging out Mark Webster in a dramatic 11-leg contest. Webster finished tops in the first two legs to take the initial advantage, and also led 3-1 before Anderson won three in a row to lead 4-3. Webster hit a 180 and took out 85 on the bull to level, but the Scot took the ninth in style, with a 180 setting up a 121 finish. Anderson also hit a maximum in the tenth, but missed double eight for a 96 game shot, and Webster hit tops to force a decider. Anderson landed another maximum but could only watch as the left-hander lined up a 125 finish, but Webster wired the second bullseye and the Premier League champion hit double ten for the win.
Simon Whitlock won his second match of the day, overcoming winless Adrian Lewis 6-3. Whitlock made a stunning start, finishing 125 for the opening leg, double eight in the second and 90 on the bull to win the third with a second break of throw. He also took the fourth before Lewis traded 180s and hit double ten to get off the mark in the fifth. Three misses at double 16 from Lewis allowed Whitlock in on tops for a fifth leg, but the World Champion took the next two on double top and double ten to cut the gap to 5-3 - only for Aussie ace Whitlock to secure victory with a 105 checkout.
Fourth Set of Matches
Phil Taylor remains unbeaten following four matches after his 6-2 win over James Wade in a repeat of last year's Championship League Darts final. Taylor opened the match with scores of 177 and 180, and although he missed out on a nine-darter took the opening leg on double eight, and then won the next two to lead 3-0. Wade took out tops to win two of the next three as he cut the gap to 4-2, but Taylor landed a 12-darter to earn his fifth leg and finished 68 for victory.
Wes Newton edged past Terry Jenkins in a deciding leg to win his second game of the day and leave his opponent winless after four games. Jenkins started well by winning the opening two legs, but Newton hit back strongly to lead 3-2 - hitting a brilliant ten-darter along the way. Double 12 levelled for Jenkins, and he then hit a 180 and double ten to lead once more at 4-3, only to miss a host of doubles as Newton posted double three to square the game at four-all. Newton edged 5-4 up before Jenkins hit a 180 and double four to force a decider, but Newton opened with a 180 and took out 80 on double ten to take both points.
Gary Anderson ensured he will keep pace with Phil Taylor at the top of the table by seeing off World Champion Adrian Lewis 6-2. The Scot's fine form during the day continued as he opened with a 97 finish to break throw and also took the next two legs to lead 3-0. He opened the fourth with a 180 but missed doubles allowed Lewis on on double eight to get off the mark. Anderson, though, finished 87 on the bull in the next and hit a 180 in the sixth to lead 5-1. Lewis finished 90 to stay in the game, but Anderson checked out 80 on the same double to wrap up the win.
Simon Whitlock produced his best performance of the day with a 6-1 win over Mark Webster. The Australian took the first five legs without reply, hitting two 180s along the way, before his opponent posted double ten to get off the mark. Webster also had a chance to continue the revival in the next, but misses cost him dearly as Whitlock landed a maximum and double top to seal victory.
Fifth Set of Matches
Mark Webster won his third game of the day, bouncing back from his defeat to Simon Whitlock by winning 6-3 against James Wade. Webster made a great start with a 118 checkout and doubled his lead on double ten before Wade hit a 180 on his way to the third leg. The UK Open champion missed three darts to win the next in a key leg, as Webster piled home a 140 checkout to lead 3-1. Wade again responded to win the next two and level, but missed four doubles to lead as Webster edged the seventh, won the eighth and then sealed victory on double six.
Phil Taylor claimed a fifth straight victory, hitting a 170 finish in a 6-3 defeat of Simon Whitlock. Whitlock kicked off the match with a 180 and took the opening leg before Taylor replied with a 12-darter before winning the next four - hitting a 116 finish along the way. Whitlock took out a 180 and double top for a second leg, and double eight saw him cut the gap to 5-3 - only for Taylor to secure the win in brilliant style with the first 170 checkout of the day.
Wes Newton moved closer to claiming a Play-Off place with a 6-2 win over Adrian Lewis - who is left needing to win his last two games to have a chance of surviving in Group One. The game's first four legs were shared before Newton took a key fifth with an 83 finish after Lewis missed the second bullseye for a 125 finish and then burst 25. Double top saw Newton move 4-2 up, and he then won the next and hit a 180 and double two to secure victory.
Gary Anderson won an 11-leg thriller with Terry Jenkins to put one foot into the semis with his fifth win of the day, leaving the Ledbury ace in the same situation as Adrian Lewis in the final two games. Winless Jenkins hit a 180 in the opening leg, only for Anderson to land a brace of maximums in moving 2-1 up. Jenkins levelled in the fourth and shared the next two, but missed three darts to take the seventh as Anderson hit tops and then double three to lead 5-3. Double five from Jenkins kept the game alive and he then took the tenth to force a decider, but Anderson was too strong and landed double top to remain unbeaten.
Sixth Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock moved a step closer to a semi-final appearance in Group One with a 6-1 victory which knocks Terry Jenkins out of the event. Whitlock broke immediately and also took the next two legs before Jenkins finished 119 to get off the mark. Whitlock replied with a 103 checkout, and hit double ten before a 100 finish sealed victory.
James Wade knocked World Champion Adrian Lewis out of Championship League Darts with a 6-4 victory which means that he will survive to compete in Group Two. Lewis, without a victory so far in the day, took out 107 as the pair shared the first four legs, but Wade found the extra gear to win the next three, including a 120 finish as he moved 5-2 up. Lewis bettered that with a 130 checkout in the eighth, and hit two 180s in winning the ninth to threaten a comeback at 5-4. Wade, though, opened the next with a 180 and sealed the win on double ten.
Wes Newton won his fourth game of the day with a 6-4 defeat of Mark Webster, which could prove crucial in the pair's battle to win semi-final berths. Newton made the early running, hitting a 117 checkout amongst winning the first three legs before Webster took out a 120 finish to get off the mark and double top and ten to level. Newton posted double two to regain the lear, and punished a missed bull frmo the left-hander to lead 5-3 by following a 180 with a 121 bullseye finish. Webster opened the ninth with back-to-back 180s as double ten kept him in the game, but Newton checked out 93 for victory.
Phil Taylor won the battle of the day's unbeaten players with a 6-2 defeat of Gary Anderson. The duo shared the opening two legs before Taylor took out 90, 65 and 64 to win the next three before the pair shared four 180s in the sixth, which Anderson won on tops. Taylor took the next to restore a three-leg lead, and hit a 180 and double two in wrapping up his sixth win of the day.
Final Set of Matches
Gary Anderson edged out Wes Newton in a deciding leg to win a sixth game of the group stage and secure second place in the league table. Anderson opened with a 13-darter, which featured a 180 and also landed a maximum in the second which Newton took on double 16. Newton then opened the third with two 180s to set up a potential nine-darter, but after failing to hit a seventh treble 20 and subsequently missing doubles to win the leg, Anderson followed up a maximum of his own with double five to lead 2-1. Newton took three of the next four to lead 5-3, but Anderson traded 180s with the UK Open runner-up and finished double eight to win the ninth, hit tops to level and then took the decider in the same fashion for the two points.
Simon Whitlock secured his semi-final place with a comprehensive 6-1 defeat of James Wade. Whitlock raced into an early 2-0 lead before double ten got Wade off the mark in the third. Whitlock, though, took the next by hitting 180s and double 16 finishes to lead 4-1, won the sixth and then sealed victory on double eight.
Phil Taylor completed the league phase of Group One unbeaten with a 6-1 win over Mark Webster, ending the Welshman's Play-Off hopes. Webster had to defeat Taylor by three or more legs to jump above Wes Newton in the table, and shared the opening two legs with Taylor. But the world number one pulled clear with five successive legs to ensure that he will move into the semis on the back of seven straight victories.
Adrian Lewis picked up the only whitewash of Group One in his battle with fellow cellar-dweller Terry Jenkins. The pair entered the game without a win so far in Group One, and it was the World Champion who saved his best display for his final game as he swept past the Ledbury ace. After winning the opener on double ten, he punished two misses from Jenkins to double his lead before winning the next two to lead 4-0. He then took out a party-piece 96 finish with single 20, double 18 and double top to win a fifth leg, and almost sealed the win with a 160 finish, just missing tops but returning to complete the whitewash on double ten.
Semi-Finals
Wes Newton claimed his first career victory over Phil Taylor with a superb 6-5 victory in their Group One semi-final.
Taylor had come through the league phase unbeaten, but trailed early on to Newton and, although he got back ahead the Fleetwood ace held his nerve to brilliantly take the decider with a 12-darter, sealing victory in style with a 140 finish.
Newton took the final's opening leg with double eight to break, after Taylor had missed double 16 for a 149 checkout, and he moved 2-0 on double ten. He also hit a 180 in setting up 56 in the third, only for Taylor to finish 131 to get off the mark, before taking out 108 to level and double six to lead 3-2. Newton took the next on double two and then wrestled back the lead on double ten - only for the world number one to punish two missed doubles by finishing tops for a 74 checkout to level at four-all.
Newton hit a 180 to open the ninth, but Taylor finished 121 on the bull for a 12-darter to move 5-4 up - only to then miss the bull for a 164 game shot, as Newton followed another maximum by holding his nerve to land double three and force a decider.
Newton was stronger against the throw, opening with a 140 and adding scores of 96 and 125 to leave 140, which he took out to claim a notable triumph.
Gary Anderson progressed to the Group One final with a 6-4 comeback victory over Simon Whitlock.
Whitlock took the game's first two legs before Anderson landed a 180 in taking the third. The pair traded double ten finishes in the next two, before Whitlock hit the same bed in the sixth to punish Anderson for missed doubles to level the game. Anderson, thought, hit double four to win the seventh and then broke with an 81 finish before hitting a 180 and double ten for a 5-4 lead and then wrapping up victory with another maximum and double ten.
Final
GARY ANDERSON won Group One of the 2011 Championship League Darts with a 6-1 defeat of Wes Newton in Tuesday's final.
Newton had won through to the decider with his first-ever victory over Phil Taylor, but could not repeat the magic as Premier League Darts champion Anderson produced a thrilling display.
He took the opening leg with a 98 finish and led 2-0 after landing a 180 and double top, before an 81 finish gave him a three-leg cushion.
Newton missed four darts at a double in the fourth as Anderson pounced on double four, before the Fleetwood ace landed double three to get off the mark.
Anderson, though, swiftly ended any hopes of a comeback by finishing 96 in style with single 20, double 18 and double top before securing victory on double 12 - meaning he now progresses to October's big-money Winners Group.
WATCH LIVE
Championship League Darts is being shown live online through LIVEPDC.TV as well as through a total of 30 bookmakers' websites worldwide, as detailed below.
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