COLIN OSBORNE has set his sights on a place in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts after victory in Group Five of Championship League Darts.
Osborne defeated Adrian Lewis 7-5 to earn a spot in October's Winners Group of the Championship League Darts, a tournament screened exclusively via www.bet365.com and www.ladbrokes.com.
The overall champion of the tournament will earn a place in November's Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton - with Osborne now looking to repeat his success when he returns to Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex.
"I'm very happy to have won Group Five and there's a huge incentive for me in the Winners Group now," said Osborne, who had won £3,000 prize money on the day and £6,600 in total for his three days in the event.
"It's been a tough three days and it's a challenge for all us players, so to come through a hard final against Adrian is a big relief for me."
Osborne produced some superb darts in a tight final, including a 145 finish in response to earlier checkouts of 130 and 69 from Lewis.
Lewis bounced back from missing six darts to level the match at 4-4 to take successive legs and square matters at five-all, only for a double top finish to put Osborne a leg away from victory and a two-dart 80 checkout to seal the win.
Osborne finished second to Lewis following the seven-game league phase, and overcame Mark Dudbridge 6-3 in the semis, with table-topper Lewis defeating Peter Manley 6-2.
Dudbridge reached the semi-finals for a second successive day, with a victory over Chris Mason in the final league round earning him third place.
World Championship runner-up Kirk Shepherd narrowly missed out on a play-off spot on his debut in the tournament, being edged out of the semi-final places alongside Vincent van der Voort after the last league games.
A late surge from Chris Mason was not enough to save him from elimination from the tournament on his debut, alongside another newcomer, Andy Jenkins.
Thursday's Group Six welcomes Welshman Barrie Bates, former UK Open runner-up Mark Walsh and Andy Smith.
Watch highlights from the league phase and the semi-finals and final in full in DartsTV
|
Time |
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
11am |
Match One |
2 Adrian Lewis |
6 Kirk Shepherd |
|
Match Two |
6 Vincent v d Voort |
6 Colin Osborne | |
|
Match One |
0 Andy Jenkins |
4 Chris Mason | |
|
Match Two |
6 Mark Dudbridge |
5 Peter Manley | |
|
Match One |
1 Andy Jenkins |
6 Adrian Lewis | |
|
Match Two |
4 Mark Dudbridge |
3 Peter Manley | |
|
Match One |
2 Colin Osborne |
5 Andy Jenkins | |
|
Match Two |
3 Peter Manley |
4 Kirk Shepherd | |
|
Match One |
1 Kirk Shepherd |
2 Vincent v d Voort | |
|
Match Two |
6 Chris Mason |
6 Mark Dudbridge | |
|
Match One |
5 Vincent v d Voort |
6 Peter Manley | |
|
Match Two |
5 Chris Mason |
6 Adrian Lewis | |
|
Match One |
5 Kirk Shepherd |
6 Colin Osborne | |
|
Match Two |
6 Mark Dudbridge |
3 Andy Jenkins | |
|
Not before 7.30pm |
Semi-Finals |
6 Adrian Lewis |
6 Colin Osborne |
|
8.15pm |
Final |
7 Colin Osborne |
Latest League Table
|
Name |
P |
W |
D |
L |
Leg Diff |
Legs Won |
£ Won |
Pts | |
|
1 |
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
+17 |
37 |
£1850 |
11 |
|
2 |
Colin Osborne |
7 |
5 |
0 |
2 |
+10 |
34 |
£1700 |
10 |
|
3 |
Mark Dudbridge |
7 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
+4 |
33 |
£1650 |
8 |
|
4 |
Peter Manley |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
+3 |
33 |
£1650 |
7 |
|
5 |
Vincent vd Voort |
7 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
31 |
£1550 |
7 |
|
6 |
Kirk Shepherd |
7 |
2 |
3 |
2 |
-3 |
32 |
£1600 |
7 |
|
7 |
Chris Mason |
7 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
-9 |
29 |
£1450 |
4 |
|
8 |
Andy Jenkins |
7 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
-22 |
18 |
£900 |
2 |
News Updates
First Round of Games
Peter Manley makes an ideal start with a 6-2 defeat of Adrian Lewis. Manley produced a strong start to lead 3-1, and twice took legs despite opening maximums from Lewis.
KIrk Shepherd held off Andy Jenkins' fightback to begin his Championship league Darts campaign with a 6-4 win. Jenkins shared the opening two legs courtesy of a two-dart 68 finish, before Shepherd took three in a row to lead 4-1. Double 16 put Jenkins back in the game but Shepherd moved one leg away from the win before missing the bullseye for a 127 finish and victory - with the Portsmouth man landing double eight to stay in the game and double ten sent the match into a decider, But Shepherd wrapped up the win with a 115 finish to claim maximum points and prize money.
Vincent van der Voort continued his impressive Championship League Darts form with a 6-1 romp against Chris Mason. The Dutchman reached the semi-finals in Group Four, and made a superb start to Wednesday's play, hitting a 180 in the opening leg and reeling off five in a row to seal the win, which included a two-dart 84 finish, a 106 checkout and a double 16 in the final leg, after another 180 left 32.
Colin Osborne made a winning start to Group Five with a 6-4 defeat of Mark Dudbridge, A see-saw game saw all ten legs won in pairs, with Osborne creating leads of 2-0 and 4-2 only to be pegged back. Dudbridge kicked off the ninth with a 180, but a key 150 from Osborne set up a double 16 finish before he landed a 180 in the decider to leave 41, which he duly checked out for the victory.
Second Round of Games
Adrian Lewis bounced back from his opening game defeat to whitewash Andy Jenkins 6-0. Lewis was in unstoppable form to power past Jenkins without dropping a leg, hitting two 180s and producing some superb finishing.
Colin Osborne made it two wins from as many games with a clinical finale to edge out Chris Mason 6-4. Little could separate the pair throughout, with neither able to break throw for the opening eight legs - with Osborne hitting seven perfect darts in one leg only to miss his chance to take a 3-1 lead. The Derby man held throw to win leg nine and ensure at least a point, and repeated his double top finish at the first time of asking in the decider, with Mason waiting on 60.
Kirk Shepherd grabbed a point from Peter Manley in a dramatic final-leg shoot-out. Shepherd hit back from 4-2 down to level, only for Manley to secure at least a point on double 12. But the Carlisle man, nicknamed "One Dart", lost his range on his favoured double top in the decider, missing the bed for a 120 finish to give Shepherd another chance, which he took with a two-dart 76 checkout.
Mark Dudbridge bagged his first win of Group Five with a 6-4 win over Vincent van der Voort, winning the final four legs to claim the points. The Dutchman included a 111 finish in sharing the first four legs before taking out double top to lead 4-2. Dudbridge levelled with a 13-darter, and four missed darts at double top allowed Dudbridge to hit the same bed to move 5-4 up, and he was too strong in the decider to land double 12.
Third Round of Games
Colin Osborne made it third wins from as many matches with a 6-1 win over Andy Jenkins, taking five successive legs to pull clear from 1-1 to take the win.
Chris Mason made a fine comeback against Adrian Lewis, but was just edged out 6-4 in their clash. Lewis took the game's opening five legs to secure a minimum of a point, but missed darts for the win in the next three legs allowed Mason to pull back, including a 106 checkout. He also took the ninth leg to send the game into a decider, but Lewis was too strong and snatched both points.
Vincent van der Voort claimed a second win of the day with a 6-3 victory over Peter Manley. The Dutchman led 2-0 and 4-2 after punishing missed doubles from Manley early in the piece, before Manley cut back to 4-3 by winning leg seven. But missed doubles again cost the former World Championship finalist dear, with van der Voort stepping in to take the eighth and then wrap up victory in the next.
Kirk Shepherd maintained his unbeaten debut in Championship League Darts with a 6-4 win over Mark Dudbridge. Shepherd led 2-1 before Dudbridge, buoyed by a crucial break of throw in leg five, took three in a row to lead 4-1. But Shepherd hit back to level and led 5-4, before punishing nine missed doubles from Dudbridge in the final leg to claim both points.
Fourth Round of Games
Adrian Lewis moved top of the league table following a brilliant comeback against Colin Osborne. Osborne, previously unbeaten, took the first two legs before Lewis reeled off six in a row to claim the win.
Andy Jenkins and Chris Mason both claimed their first point of the day with a stalemate. Jenkins looked on course for victory when he led 4-2, only for three legs in a row to give Mason a point. But Mason missed three darts at double 19 for victory, and Jenkins took out double top for a draw.
Vincent van der Voort edged out Kirk Shepherd to grab a third win of the day. The Dutchman took back-to-back legs to earn at least a point from 3-3, but Shepherd won the ninth to force a decider, before van der Voort claimed the win.
Mark Dudbridge picked up his second win of Group Five, defeating Peter Manley 6-3. The Bristol man took three of the first four legs to lead 3-1, and was also 5-2 up before hitting back-to-back 180s in the next. However, he fluffed a potential nine-darter and Manley hit back to win the leg with a 120 'Shanghai' finish, but Dudbridge took the next to claim the win.
Fifth Round of Games
Adrian Lewis leap-frogged Vincent van der Voort to top the league table following a 6-2 victory. Lewis set his stall out early, taking the first leg and then doubling his lead against the throw when van der Voort missed five darts at the double. The Dutchman took leg three, but three in a row put Lewis to the brink of victory, and a key 180 in leg eight helped him seal victory.
Colin Osborne joined Lewis on eight points in the table and with one foot in the semi-finals following a 6-1 win over Kirk Shepherd. Shepherd kicked off the match with a 180 and took the opening leg on double 16, but missed doubles in the third leg cost him dear, as Osborne took the lead and went on to make it six legs in a row for the win.
Mark Dudbridge produced a brilliant display to move a step closer to a second successive semi-final with a whitewash of Andy Jenkins, failing to drop a leg in his most impressive display yet in Group Five.
Chris Mason claimed his first win of the tournament with a late 6-4 win over Peter Manley. Mason took the game's first two legs before Manley got off the mark, and a 180 set up a brilliant 137 checkout as he moved 3-1 up. Manley battled back to 4-4 before Mason earned a minimum of a point at 5-4, and two missed double 15s from Manley in the decider allowed Mason to seal the win at double one.
Sixth Round of Games
Peter Manley's hopes of securing a play-off place were boosted with an impressive 6-2 win over Colin Osborne. Manley took three successive legs to move from 1-1 to 4-1, and went on to wrap up his second win of the day.
Andy Jenkins came from 4-1 down to grab a draw with Vincent van der Voort, who also led 5-2 but failed to close out the win as Jenkins claimed a second point of the day.
Adrian Lewis effectively ensured first place in the league table and a semi-final against player four with a 6-1 romp against Mark Dudbridge. The pair shared the first two legs, before Lewis, buoyed by a 180 in leg three, pulled clear.
Kirk Shepherd came from 4-0 down to grab a draw with Chris Mason and remain in the frame for a semi-final place. Mason included a 135 checkout in taking the opening four legs, only for Shepherd to hit back with three in a row, including a 116 checkout on the bullseye. Double eight earned Mason a point, but a two-dart 87 checkout sent the match into a decider, and an 83 finish, ending on double nine, gave the youngster a draw.
Final Round of Games
Colin Osborne ended the league campaign with a 6-2 win over Vincent van der Voort - leaving the Dutchman sweating on the final set of games to secure his last four place. Osborne opened the game with a 180 and took a 2-0 lead before being pegged back, but reeled off four successive legs for a fifth win of the day.
Kirh Shepherd came from 5-2 down to finish the league phase with a draw against table-topper Adrian Lewis. Lewis missed two darts for a 6-2 win in leg eight as Shepherd stayed in the contest, and the World Championship runner-up took the final two legs to grab a point - which moved him fourth and ensured he would avoid elimination.
Peter Manley's 6-3 win over Andy Jenkins earns him a semi-final spot at the expense of Kirk Shepherd. Manley took out finishes of 138, 76 and 91 in taking a 4-0 lead before Jenkins landed a 142 finish in cutting the gap to one leg. But a 180 from Manley left him a 61 finish in the eighth, and a 102 checkout saw the Carlisle man take both points.
Mark Dudbridge's 6-4 win over Chris Mason sees Dudbridge take third place in the table, sending Manley to fourth and knocking van der Voort out of the semi-final places. Mason produced the tournament's highest finish so far with a maximum 170 checkout in taking a 2-1 lead against Dudbridge, who responded with four in a row to lead 5-3, with a point guaranteeing Dudbridge a play-off place and eliminating Mason from the tournament. Mason took the ninth leg on double top, but Dudbridge landed the same bed to seal victory and take third place.
Semi-Finals
Adrian Lewis booked his place in a second Championship League Darts group final with a 6-2 win over Peter Manley. Lewis pulled clear from 1-1 to 4-1 in the blink of an eye in a fast-paced contest, with Manley taking the sixth leg but paying for a wired double 19 as Lewis moved 5-2 up, and the Stoke youngster sealed the win on double top.
Colin Osborne joined Lewis in the final with a 6-3 defeat of Mark Dudbridge. Osborne benefitted from a mid-game surge which took him from 2-2 to 5-2, giving battling Dudbridge too much to do. The Bristolian took leg eight, but a missed dart at double top allowed Osborne to seal victory on the same bed.
Watch highlights from the league phase and the semi-finals and final in full in DartsTV