ANDY HAMILTON booked his place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group with victory in Group Four of the competition.
Hamilton had twice lost in the semi-finals and was the tournament's only ever-present going into the fourth day of competition in the new event, streamed live on the internet via www.bet365.com and www.ladbrokes.com.
However, he made amends with a superb Group Four showing on Tuesday, topping the league table after the round-robin fixtures, before whitewashing Mark Dudbridge 6-0 in the semi-finals and defeating Vincent van der Voort 7-3 in the final.
The Stoke man opened the final with a 105 finish, and punished missed doubles from the Dutchman in three successive legs as he moved 4-0 up.
That was extended to a five leg lead before van der Voort took three in a row, including an 11-darter, to reduce the arrears to 5-3.
Hamilton fired in three 140 scores in the next leg as he took a 6-3 lead, and a 126 finish for a 12-darter sealed the win.
"I'm very pleased with that," said Hamilton. "I've had a tough few days playing in the first three groups, and although I didn't win I enjoyed the format.
"Things went really well in Group Four and I'm looking forward to playing in the Winners Group next month."
Lewis followed up his run to the final of Group Three with a semi-final appearance to take his total winnings on the two days to £5,150, while van der Voort and Dudbridge qualified for the last four on their Championship League Darts debut.
However, Denis Ovens and Kevin Painter were eliminated from the tournament after finishing as the bottom two in Group Four, with Peter Manley's win over Kevin Painter in the final league round proving decisive.
World Championship runner-up Kirk Shepherd joins Chris Mason and Andy Jenkins in coming into the tournament for Group Five on Wednesday.
Watch highlights from the league phase and the semi-finals and final in full in DartsTV
Championship League Darts Group Four
|
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
Round One |
4 Adrian Lewis |
6 Mark Dudbridge |
|
5 Kevin Painter |
2 Peter Manley | |
|
Round Two |
5 Vincent van der Voort |
1 Denis Ovens |
|
6 Colin Osborne |
5 Andy Hamilton | |
|
Round Three |
6 Vincent van der Voort |
6 Adrian Lewis |
|
6 Colin Osborne |
6 Andy Hamilton | |
|
Round Four |
4 Peter Manley |
6 Vincent van der Voort |
|
6 Andy Hamilton |
6 Mark Dudbridge | |
|
Round Five |
6 Mark Dudbridge |
5 Kevin Painter |
|
2 Denis Ovens |
4 Colin Osborne | |
|
Round Six |
3 Kevin Painter |
3 Andy Hamilton |
|
3 Denis Ovens |
6 Adrian Lewis | |
|
Round Seven |
4 Mark Dudbridge |
6 Peter Manley |
|
6 Colin Osborne |
4 Vincent van der Voort | |
|
Semi-Finals |
6 Andy Hamilton |
6 Vincent van der Voort |
|
Final |
7 Andy Hamilton |
Final League Table
|
Name |
P |
W |
D |
L |
Leg Diff |
Legs Won |
£ Won |
Pts | |
|
1 |
Andy Hamilton |
7 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
+9 |
38 |
£1900 |
11 |
|
2 |
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
4 |
2 |
1 |
+11 |
38 |
£1900 |
10 |
|
3 |
Vincent van der Voort |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
+9 |
35 |
£1750 |
9 |
|
4 |
Mark Dudbridge |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
+6 |
34 |
£1700 |
9 |
|
5 |
Colin Osborne |
7 |
4 |
0 |
3 |
+9 |
34 |
£1700 |
8 |
|
6 |
Peter Manley |
7 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
-4 |
28 |
£1400 |
6 |
|
7 |
Kevin Painter |
7 |
0 |
2 |
5 |
-12 |
28 |
£1400 |
2 |
|
8 |
Denis Ovens |
7 |
0 |
1 |
6 |
-28 |
13 |
£650 |
1 |
Prize Money Won (Following Play-Offs)
|
Name |
Group Four £ Won |
Overall £ Won |
|
Andy Hamilton |
£3,200 |
£8,950 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
£2,200 |
£5,150 |
|
Vincent vd Voort |
£2,650 |
£2,650 |
|
Mark Dudbridge |
£1,700 |
£1,700 |
|
Colin Osborne |
£1,700 |
£3,600 |
|
Peter Manley |
£1,400 |
£1,400 |
|
Kevin Painter |
£1,400 |
£6,050 |
|
Denis Ovens |
£650 |
£2,600 |
News Updates
First Round of Games
Mark Dudbridge made a superb Championship League Darts debut with a 6-2 defeat of Vincent van der Voort. The Bristol man hit three 180s and produced some clinical finishing, pulling clear from 1-1 to 4-1 with three successive legs before holding off the Dutchman's challenge to take the win.
Andy Hamilton, the only player to have competed in all three previous groups, made a winning start to Group Four with a 6-4 defeat of Adrian Lewis. Little could separate the Stoke pair throughout, with the first nine legs going with the throw before Hamilton produced a strong deciding leg, pulling clear of Lewis to land double top for both points.
Colin Osborne made a winning start to Group Four with a 6-2 win over Peter Manley. Osborne led 3-0 and 3-1 before Manley took out 70 against the throw to reduce the arrears. But a key 110 finish from Osborne to break throw back in leg six - with Manley sat on 52 - proved crucial, with double eight putting him a leg away from the win and a bullseye finish for an 81 checkout sealed the points.
Kevin Painter produced the comeback of the tournament to snatch a draw with Denis Ovens. Ovens led 4-0 earlier on and a 101 checkout secured him a minimum of a point at 5-1. But Painter, who had taken out 91 to win his first leg, clawed back to 5-4 to send the game into a decider, and pulled clear in the final leg before landing double eight for a draw.
Second Round of Games
Adrian Lewis came from 4-1 down to snatch a late draw with Vincent van der Voort as the pair earned their first points of the day. The Dutchman was at his free-flowing best in opening up leads of 3-0 and 5-2 before Lewis landed a 180 on his way to the eighth leg, broke throw with an 11-darter in the ninth and then punished five missed doubles from van der Voort in the decider to eventually land double four for a point.
Peter Manley bounced back from his opening loss with a brilliant 6-1 win over Denis Ovens. Manley kicked off the game with a 180 and led 2-0 before Ovens got off the mark. A second break of throw from Manley restored his cushion, and he included a 113 finish in taking four straight legs to seal the win.
Andy Hamilton denied Mark Dudbridge a second victory in a topsy-turvy draw as the pair maintained their unbeaten starts. Hamilton opened up leads of 2-0 and 4-2, with Dudbridge taking out a 121 finish early on before taking three legs in a row to lead 5-4 - punishing missed doubles from Hamilton. But the Stoke man grabbed a point in the deciding leg, landing double top with Dudbridge waiting on 40 for a second win.
Colin Osborne made it two wins from as many games with a 6-3 defeat of Kevin Painter. Painter led 2-1 early on following an 81 bullseye finish, and edged a scrappy fifth leg to hold a 3-2 advantage before finished of 96 and 76 put Osborne ahead, double top put him further clear to allow him to seal the win in leg nine.
Third Round of Games
Vincent van der Voort claimed his first Championship League Darts victory with a stylish 6-2 defeat of Peter Manley. The Dutchman opened the match with back-to-back 180s in an 11-darter, and led 3-0 before Manley landed his trusty double top to get off the mark. The next two legs were shared, but finishes of double 16 and double eight gave the quick-throwing former UK Open runner-up both points.
Like van der Voort, Adrian Lewis grabbed his first win of the day with a 6-1 rout of Denis Ovens. Missed doubles cost Ovens in three of the first four legs as Lewis opened up a 4-0 lead, and double top ensured the Stoke youngster at least a point. Ovens took leg six to get off the mark, but a 104 finish from Lewis gave him both point.
Colin Osborne maintained his 100 percent start to Group Four with a 6-1 win over Mark Dudbridge. Osborne took the game's first two legs before Dudbridge got off the mark on double 16. Two double top finishes put Osborne 4-1 up, and a 110 finish saw the Derby man complete the win.
Andy Hamilton remains unbeaten and moved to second in the table with a narrow 6-4 defeat of Kevin Painter. Painter took a 3-1 lead, but Hamilton pulled level in clinical fashion, taking out the next two legs with his opponent waiting on 40. Double nine edged Hamilton 4-3 up, but three missed doubles in the next allowed Painter to level. But double top earned Hamilton at least a point, and missed darts at double top and double ten allowed the Stoke man to seal the win on double 16.
Fourth Round of Games
Vincent van der Voort claimed the first whitewash of Group Four against Denis Ovens. Ovens was condemned to a third defeat of the day, with van der Voort sweeping to victory with a comprehensive win, including a 100 checkout.
Adrian Lewis joined van der Voort on five points in the table with a 6-4 win over Peter Manley. Lewis led 4-2 and sealed a point at 5-3 before eight missed doubles allowed Manley to send the game into a decider, but the youngster produced a 13-darter to seal the win, landing three 140s and taking out double eight.
Kevin Painter was denied a first win of the day in a narrow 6-4 loss to Mark Dudbridge. Painter battled back from 2-0 down to level with finishes of 101 and 108, and a two-dart 68 finish saw him take the sixth to square matters again. Dudbridge went 4-3 up with a 96 finish and Painter again levelled, but a missed double top in the next cost Painter dear as Dudbridge ensured at least a draw. He then sealed both points on double top, after Painter missed the bullseye for a 109 finish.
Andy Hamilton moved to the top of the table with a 6-4 win over Colin Osborne. Hamilton dominated the early legs to lead 3-1 before Osborne hit back with a 104 finish for a 12-darter, and cut the gap to 4-3. Hamilton took the next to ensure a minimum of a point, and though Osborne won leg nine to send the match into a decider, the Stoke man sealed the win.
FIfth Round of Games
Kevin Painter's hopes of claiming a semi-final berth remain alive after he grabbed a draw with Adrian Lewis. Lewis looked set for a comprehensive win when he stormed into a 4-1 lead against winless Painter, and ensured a minimum of a point at 5-3, before double eight from Painter sent the game into a decider. A missed double top from Painter for a 117 checkout looked set to cost him a draw, but misses at double 18 and double nine from Lewis allowed him in and he took out double ten with a tricky last dart to grab a point.
Mark Dudbridge's hopes of celebrating his Championship League Darts debut with a semi-final berth were boosted with a 6-2 defeat of Peter Manley. Manley edged the first three legs to lead 2-1, but Dudbridge levelled with an 82 finish, broke the throw on double one and then won three more legs in a row to take victory.
Vincent van der Voort jumped into the semi-final spots with a narrow 6-4 win over Colin Osborne. Van der Voort held the advantage throughout after taking a 2-0 lead, with Osborne levelling at 3-3 before falling 5-3 down. Osborne sent the game into a decider, but a missed bullseye allowed the Dutchman back in to take the win.
Andy Hamilton moved top of the table with a 6-2 win over Denis Ovens. Ovens led 1-0 but lost the next four legs as Hamilton took command before sealing a fourth win of the day.
Sixth Round of Games
Peter Manley picked up his second win of the day with a 6-3 defeat of Andy Hamilton, to keep alive his hopes of avoiding elimination. Manley strolled into a 3-0 lead before Hamilton pulled back to 4-2, but a missed double 16 for a 110 finish in leg seven allowed Manley back to take out double top. Hamilton won leg eight to stay in the game, but double ten in the next sealed Manley's win.
Vincent van der Voort maintained his strong challenge with a 6-3 win over Kevin Painter. The Dutchman included a superb 11-darter in taking a 3-1 lead, but Painter pulled back to 4-3 before going agonisingly close at double ten and double five to level - with van der Voort moving 5-3 up on double one before sealing the win.
Adrian Lewis put himself in pole position to claim a semi-final place ahead of Colin Osborne with a 6-2 win over the Derby man. Lewis sits two points clear of Osborne in fourth going into the final round of matches after condemning Osborne to a third straight loss.
Mark Dudbridge took four of the final legs to pull clear fro two-all with Denis Ovens to take a 6-3 win and secure his semi-final berth.
Seventh Round of Games
Peter Manley's 6-4 win over Kevin Painter eliminates the latter. A win for Painter would have put him through to Group Five, with neither able to reach the semis, but Manley battled back from 4-2 down to win the game's final four legs, including crucial finishes of 78 and 76 before punishing two missed darts from Painter in the decider to seal the win on double ten.
A 6-4 win for Adrian Lewis against Mark Dudbridge ensures the Stoke man will compete in the semi-finals - and possibly top the league table for a second successive day. Lewis led 3-1 before Dudbridge took out 107 and a 127 bullseye finish to pull back to 5-4 and send the game into a decider, where the Stoke youngster was too strong to land double top.
Andy Hamilton's 6-4 win over Vincent van der Voort sees him finish top of the league table and earn a semi-final with Mark Dudbridge. Hamilton led 3-1 before the pair traded 11-darters, but misses from van der Voort proved costly in leg seven as the Stoke man secured a point, and though the Dutchman took the next two to create a final-leg decider, it was Hamilton who took the win on double four.
Colin Osborne's 6-1 victory in the other final game left Denis Ovens without a win in Group Four. Osborne opened with finishes of 93 and 63 in moving 2-1 up, and added a 108 checkout in taking four successive legs for the win.
Semi-Finals
Andy Hamilton produced a scintillating display to whitewash Mark Dudbridge and book his place in the Group Four final with a 6-0 victory. Hamilton made a brilliant start, taking the opening leg on double top and the second with a 126 bullseye finish, and took three more legs to lead 5-0 without Dudbridge reaching a double. The Bristol man missed the bull for a 12-darter in the next, and Hamilton wrapped up the win in style with a 138 checkout.
Vincent van der Voort joined Hamilton in the final with a 6-3 defeat of Adrian Lewis. The Dutchman took out 85 on the bull in the opening leg and immediately broke Lewis' throw to lead 2-0 - a crucial advantage which he managed to hold throughout as Lewis, who struggled on double top, was unable to level. At 4-3 down, the Stoke youngster missed two darts to square matters, and another miss at tops allowed the Dutchman to seal victory.
Watch highlights from the league phase and the semi-finals and final in full in DartsTV