MERVYN KING claimed victory in Group Three of Championship League Darts with a 6-2 defeat of Vincent van der Voort.
King bounced back from the disappointment of semi-final defeats on the opening two days of the tournament by booking his place in October's Winners Group in a strong finish to Group Three.
King finished second in the league table following the eight-player group stage, but defeated Colin Osborne 6-1 in the semi-finals and dropped just two legs against van der Voort in a high-quality final.
The Dutchman won the opening leg against the throw to lead, but missed four darts for the second leg, with King checking out double top to level and then producing an 11-dart finish, a 150 checkout and a bullseye to move 4-1 up.
Van der Voort hit seven perfect darts on his way to the sixth leg, which he won in 11 darts, but could do little as King won the next two to seal victory.
King earned £2,900 for the day, on top of £4,100 won in the first two days to take his earnings to £7,000 ahead of the big-money Winners Group next month.
"I'm really pleased to get through," said King. "It sounds daft but I'm really relieved I don't have to play again next week now because I struggled today.
"People this it's easy but it's mentally and physically draining. You're at the venue for 12 hours practising and playing and it's really hard for all the players.
"It was hard work on the first day because I was a little out of practice and my arm didn't feel quite right, then on day two I made the semi-finals again.
"After the third game today things clicked for me and it must have been right because I made it through, so I'm really happy.
"I'd lost to Colin Osborne in the league game earlier today but felt I threw that away and got my own back in the semis and did the business against Vincent."
Van der Voort picked up £2,500 on the day, having finished fourth overall before seeing off Mark Walsh 6-3 in the semis.
Walsh won six of his seven league games before running out of steam in the semis, while Colin Lloyd escaped elimination in the final round of matches for the second successive day.
Adrian Lewis also progressed to Group Four - to be held next Tuesday - in dramatic fashion, winning 6-5 against van der Voort in the final round to knock out Robert Thornton.
The Scot is joined by Alan Tabern in dropping out of the competition, with the left-hander victorious only once on Thursday but left to ponder two earlier 6-5 defeats where he had held 5-2 leads.
Championship League Darts continues with Group Four from 11am next Tuesday, with matches screened exclusively live on the internet through a series of ten bookmakers' websites.
World number five Terry Jenkins, Kevin Painter and Denis Ovens come in to join Walsh, Osborne, Van der Voort, Lloyd and Lewis in Group Four, with prize money of £50 per leg on offer in the league phase and £100 per leg in the play-offs.
|
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
Match One |
Mervyn King 3-6 Adrian Lewis |
Robert Thornton 4-6 Vincent vd Voort |
|
Match Two |
Colin Osborne 3-6 Mark Walsh |
Colin Lloyd 6-3 Alan Tabern |
|
Match One |
Vincent vd Voort 1-6 Mervyn King |
Mark Walsh 6-3 Colin Lloyd |
|
Match Two |
Alan Tabern 2-6 Colin Osborne |
Adrian Lewis 4-6 Robert Thornton |
|
Match One |
Vincent vd Voort 6-4 Colin Lloyd |
Mervyn King 2-6 Mark Walsh |
|
Match Two |
Alan Tabern 5-6 Robert Thornton |
Adrian Lewis 4-6 Colin Osborne |
|
From 2.30pm |
||
|
Match One |
Colin Lloyd 4-6 Mervyn King |
Vincent vd Voort 4-6 Mark Walsh |
|
Match Two |
Adrian Lewis 5-6 Alan Tabern |
Robert Thornton 3-6 Colin Osborne |
|
Match One |
Robert Thornton 6-3 Colin Lloyd |
Colin Osborne 6-5 Mervyn King |
|
Match Two |
Mark Walsh 2-6 Adrian Lewis |
Alan Tabern 5-6 Vincent vd Voort |
|
Not before 4.45pm |
||
|
Match One |
Colin Osborne 5-6 Vincent vd Voort |
Adrian Lewis 1-6 Colin Lloyd |
|
Match Two |
Mark Walsh 6-5 Robert Thornton |
Mervyn King 6-2 Alan Tabern |
|
Match One |
Robert Thornton 0-6 Mervyn King |
Colin Lloyd 6-1 Colin Osborne |
|
Match Two |
Alan Tabern 4-6 Mark Walsh |
Vincent vd Voort 5-6 Adrian Lewis |
|
7.15pm |
Semi-Final 1 |
Semi-Final 2 |
|
8.00pm |
Final |
Final Table
|
Group Three |
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
£Won |
Pts |
|
Mark Walsh |
7 |
6 |
1 |
38 |
27 |
£1900 |
12 |
|
Mervyn King |
7 |
4 |
3 |
34 |
25 |
£1700 |
8 |
|
Colin Osborne |
7 |
4 |
3 |
33 |
32 |
£1650 |
8 |
|
Vincent vd Voort |
7 |
4 |
3 |
34 |
36 |
£1700 |
8 |
|
Colin Lloyd |
7 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
29 |
£1600 |
6 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
3 |
4 |
32 |
34 |
£1600 |
6 |
|
Robert Thornton |
7 |
3 |
4 |
30 |
36 |
£1500 |
6 |
|
Alan Tabern |
7 |
1 |
6 |
27 |
41 |
£1350 |
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.
First Round of Games
Adrian Lewis made a fine start to Group Three, defeating Mervyn King 6-3. Lewis made a fine start to win the opening two legs, only for King to check out 98 and 120 to level. Finishes of 120 and 107, plus double eight to break throw, moved Lewis into a 5-2 lead, before double four kept King in the contest. However, he missed two darts to win a fourth leg before Lewis landed double two for the win.
Vincent van der Voort opened his Championship League Darts challenge with a 6-4 defeat of debutant Robert Thornton. The duo join the action in Group Three, and started well - with the opening eight legs all going with the throw. Van der Voort secured the crucial first break, landing double six to lead 5-4 before going on to hold his throw in sealing the two points.
Colin Lloyd kicked off Group Three in style with a 6-3 victory against Alan Tabern. Lloyd performed a miracle escape in Group Two to avoid elimination in the final round of matches, thanks to a 6-1 win over Dennis Priestley, and was in confident mood to kick off Thursday's play. While Tabern took the game's opening leg against the darts, Lloyd took the next four legs, including a 130 finish amongst two breaks of throw in taking a 4-1 cushion. Tabern won two of the next three to stay in the game, but a timely 180 aided Lloyd in the next and he took out double 12 for the points.
Mark Walsh saw off Colin Osborne 6-3 to open Group Three in winning fashion. Having lost to Phil Taylor in the Group Two final, Walsh made an ideal start to his second day of competition, taking out 124 on the bull to break throw in the opening leg and also win the next three to pull clear at 4-0. Double 16 got Osborne his first £50 of the day before a 96 checkout pushed Walsh to the brink of victory. Double 16 and double top kept Osborne in the match, but Walsh pulled clear in the next and double eight earned him the win.
Second Round of Games
Mervyn King picked up his first win of the day by seeing off Vincent van der Voort 6-1 in their second matches. Van der Voort took the game's opening leg, but seven missed doubles in the third - after King had levelled - proved costly as his opponent landed double eight to break. Double 14 put King 3-1 up and double 12 proved another break of throw, before a bullseye finish moved him to the brink of victory. The pair traded 180s in the next, but van der Voort failed to leave a double and King landed tops for the match.
Mark Walsh remains unbeaten in Group Three following a 6-3 win over Colin Lloyd. The game got off to an explosive start, with Lloyd hitting two 180s to set up a potential nine-darter in the opening leg, then landing a seventh treble 20 but missing treble 19 - although he left 32 after nine darts. Walsh then stepped up to the oche but missed double top for a 160 finish, allowing Lloyd to return and land double four for an immediate break of throw. The next three legs
Colin Osborne gained his first victory of Group Three with a 6-2 defeat of Alan Tabern. Osborne landed two 180s in taking the first leg, and double 14 saw him break in the next before Tabern landed a maximum in pulling back to 2-1. The Derby man took the next three to open up a 5-1 cushion before double 12 kept Tabern in the contest, but Osborne wrapped up the win in the next on the bullseye for a 129 finish.
Robert Thornton battled from behind to claim his first win of the tournament with a 6-4 defeat of Adrian Lewis. Lewis took the first two legs to lead 2-0, but 180s in the next two were not enough as the Scot levelled. The next four legs were shared to leave the pair locked at four-all, before a missed double top from Lewis allowed Thornton in on double 12 to lead for the first time - and he then wrapped up the win with an 86 checkout.
Third Round of Games
Vincent van der Voort held off Colin Lloyd's fightback to pick up his second win of the day with a 6-4 victory. Van der Voort landed a 180 in the opening leg and a 124 finish in taking a 3-0 lead, before Lloyd landed double eight to get off the mark. Van der Voort picked up the next two to lead 5-1 - but Lloyd then won three in a row to ensure a tense finish - twice stepping in following a missed match dart from the Dutchman at finishes of 148 and 146. However, van der Voort took out 157 in the next to finally seal victory.
Mark Walsh claimed a third successive Group Three win by seeing off Mervyn King 6-2. Walsh took the game's opening leg against the throw and doubled his advantage with a 125 checkout, before double ten got King off the mark. A 128 checkout from Walsh restored his advantage, and he also won the next two legs to lead 5-1. King hit a 180 in taking leg seven, but Walsh won the next to seal victory.
Robert Thornton edged out Alan Tabern in a deciding leg to leave the left-hander without a victory following three games. While Tabern is left propping up the table, he came mightily close to taking his first win of the day - having hit two 161 finishes and a 106 checkout in taking a 4-1 lead. Double 12 from Thornton gave him a second leg, but double six put Tabern 5-2 up and on the brin of victory. Thornton then won the next two to pull back to 5-4, and punished Tabern - who missed single 11 to leave the bull on a 121 finish - to hit double seven and square the game, before taking the decider on double eight.
Colin Osborne edged past Adrian Lewis 6-4 to pick up his second win of the day. Osborne took the opening leg after Lewis missed the bullseye, and took leads of 2-0 and 3-1 before Lewis began his comeback. The youngster included bullseye finishes of 87 and 130 in pulling back to four-all, only for Osborne to take a crucial ninth leg against the throw before sealing the win in the next.
Fourth Round of Games
Mervyn King won his second game of Group Three with a 6-4 defeat of Colin Lloyd. Lloyd led thanks to a superb 146 checkout, only for King to win the next three to lead 3-1, before extending the cushion to 4-2. A brace of double four finishes from Lloyd cut the gap to 5-4, but a missed bullseye in the next gave King his chance to seal the win, which he took on double 16.
Mark Walsh maintained his 100 percent start to Group Three with a 6-4 defeat of Vincent van der Voort. After Walsh edged out an early 2-1 lead, van der Voort took three successive legs - including a break of throw - to move 4-2 up. However, Walsh won the seventh and then broke back on double eight to level, before punishing a sloppy finish from the Dutchman to move 5-4 up, with van der Voort missing a single 20 which would have left tops. The Dutch ace then paid the penalty for four misses at double 16 in the next leg as Walsh wrapped up the win with a 100 checkout.
Alan Tabern won his first game of Group Three with a deciding-leg defeat of Adrian Lewis. Tabern opened up and early 3-1 lead and a 96 finish put him 4-2 up, before Lewis hit back to level. Double 13 saw Tabern break throw and move 5-4 up, only to see Lewis land double eight to send the game into the 11th leg - but Tabern erased the memories of his earlier losses with an 86 checkout for the two points.
Colin Osborne picked up his third victory of the day with a 6-3 defeat of Robert Thornton. Osborne opened up a 3-0 lead before the Scot got off the mark, taking out 76 in leg four and also winning two further legs to cut the gap to 4-3. Osborne, though, held his nerve to take the seventh and double top against the throw sealed the win.
Fifth Round of Games
Robert Thornton produced his best display of the day to defeat Colin Lloyd 6-3 and claim a third victory in Group Three. The Scot took the first five legs without reply in a blistering start to the match, including a 170 finish, three 180s and a 101 checkout. Lloyd took the next three to threaten a comeback, with Thornton twice missing darts for the match before landing double four in the ninth to claim victory.
Colin Osborne sneaked past Mervyn King in a dramatic deciding leg to pick up his fourth win of the day. The duo battled out a close game, with Osborne breaking throw to lead 3-2 before King then took three successive legs to put himself to the brink of victory at 5-3. Double 12 and double 16 from Osborne kept him in the game and forced a decider, but a 180 from King helped him set up a potential 13-dart finish - only to then miss five match darts and allow Osborne his chance, which he took on double ten.
Adrian Lewis ended Mark Walsh's winning streak and lifted his own semi-final hopes with a 6-2 victory in their clash. Lewis took out finishes of 124 and 96 to win the game's first two legs, before Walsh got off the mark with a 156 checkout and then took the fourth against the throw to level. Lewis landed a 180 and double 16 to ttake the fifth against the throw to edge back in front, and double top put him 4-2 up, before misses from Walsh gave the youngster a chance in the next, which he took on double eight. Lewis then landed another maximum and sealed the win with a 126 checkout.
Vincent van der Voort snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a remarkable clash with Alan Tabern, coming from 5-2 down to win a deciding leg battle. After the game's first four legs were shared, a 117 finish from the left-hander put him 3-2 up against the throw, and he also took out 118 on double 19 to move 5-2 ahead. But his scoring power deserted him as the Dutchman hit back, winning the next three legs to force a decider and then taking out double 16 for the victory.
Sixth Round of Games
Colin Lloyd took what could prove a crucial win with a quick-fire 6-1 victory over Adrian Lewis. Lloyd joined Lewis on two wins with the victory, laying the foundations by taking a 3-0 lead early on, including a 180 with his first three darts of the game and an 11-darter in leg three. Double top got Lewis his first chalk, but double top restored his advantage and he also took the next two legs for a comprehensive win.
Vincent van der Voort reproduced his fighting qualities to come from 5-3 behind to win in a decider against Colin Osborne. While the Dutchman took an early 2-1 lead, Osborne finished 82 in two darts to level and double top to break throw, before opening up a 4-2 lead. Double eight for a 76 finish put Osborne 5-3 up, before a 113 finish and a two-dart 80 checkout saw van der Voort level without his opponent having a dart for the match. As in his last game, van der Voort then took the deciding leg - on double eight - to snatch the points.
Mervyn King boosted his semi-final hopes with a 6-2 win which leaves Alan Tabern all but eliminated in Group Three with one game remaining. King took the game's opening two legs to move 2-0 up before an 81 finish got Tabern off the mark, before the pair traded 180s in the next only for a 106 checkout from King to put him 3-1 ahead. Tabern finished 64 on double eight, only to pay two misses from the left-hander in leg six to prove costly as King followed up two 180s with double four. King took the seventh against the throw, before double 16 wrapped up a big win.
Mark Walsh edged past Robert Thornton 6-5 to claim win five of the day. The Scot began well to lead 3-1 before finishes of 109 and 105 saw Walsh pull level, before he hit a 177 and double top to hit the front. Double 12 and double eight put Thornton 5-4 up, only for Walsh to land another 177 and double top to send the game into a decider. The Scot landed a 180 to leave 116 for the match, but Walsh took out 80 on double top to take the win.
Seventh Round of Games
Mervyn King whitewashed Robert Thornton to secure a semi-final spot in their shoot-out for a top four place. King will compete in the play-offs for a third successive day in style, punishing misses from the Scot in the opening leg, taking out 81 and then 80 in the second, with a 102 finish putting him 3-0 up. Double 16 gave him a fourth leg, before three misses from Thornton were punished by King moving 5-0 up and then wrapping up the win in the next.
Colin Lloyd's 6-1 win over Colin Osborne means he avoids elimination and will compete in Group Four next week. Lloyd produced a 6-1 win over Dennis Priestley 24 hours earlier to stay in the tournament, and repeated the feat against Osborne. Osborne took the game's opening leg on double top, but that was as good as it got for the Derby man, with Lloyd taking the next two to lead 2-1 before punishing missed doubles to move 4-1 up. Double 17 saw him take a 5-1 cushion, and four misses at double 16 from Osborne allowed the local star to seal the win on tops.
Mark Walsh wrapped up a comprehensive league phase victory by seeing off Alan Tabern 6-4 in the final round of games. Walsh had won five of his six matches entering the final league match, but ensured a further £300 by edging out Tabern, who was condemned to finish bottom with just one victory. The game's first eight legs were shared with neither player able to break, before Walsh hit a fine 141 score to leave double top in moving 5-4 up. He then sealed the win with the only break of the match, checking out 94 for victory.
Adrian Lewis secured his place in Group Four next Tuesday in the most dramatic fashion, edging out Vincent van der Voort 6-5. Lewis had to win the game to knock out Thornton, but showed the tension with a string of missed doubles as the Dutchman took a 2-1 lead. Lewis levelled, but finishes of 161 and 137 helped van der Voort into a 4-3 cushion. The Stoke star levelled on double 12, but missed five darts to take leg nine as double top put van der Voort a leg away from the victory. However, he was unable to snatch victory in the next, missing four match darts as Lewis wasted some good early scoring with 12 missed darts at a double before finally landing double one to send the game all the way. Lewis hit scores of 140 and 135 to leave 36, and returned to the oche with van der Voort waiting on 40 to post the winning double 18.
The results mean Lewis leap-frogs Thornton to finish sixth, with Thornton and Tabern now eliminated from the 2009 Championship League Darts. Van der Voort's fourth-placed finish means he meets Mark Walsh in the semis, with Mervyn King taking on Colin Osborne.
Semi-Finals
Mervyn King won through to the Group Three final in Championship League Darts with a 6-1 win over Colin Osborne. King punished missed doubles from the Derby man to win the first two legs, and landed double ten for a 3-0 lead as Osborne waited on 40. Osborne got off the mark in leg four, but double six restored a three-leg lead for King, who then won the next two for victory.
Vincent van der Voort defeated Mark Walsh 6-3 to book his place in the Group Three final - knocking out the league leader in the process. Walsh had won six of his group games to top the table, but ran out of steam in the last four. Van der Voort took the first three legs to take command - including a double top to break throw in the second after four missed doubles from Walsh. He also opened up a 4-1 cushion before Walsh took out double ten and then double top to cut the gap to 4-3. However, a missed double top to level matters proved costly when van der Voort was give a reprieve from earlier misses on double two, and he went on to seal the win on double 16 after Walsh missed the bull for a 170 checkout.