MERVYN KING defeated Adrian Lewis 7-5 to win Group Three of Championship League Darts - but the Stoke youngster made history with the event's first nine-darter.
Lewis made his return from a two-month suspension with a highly successful debut in Championship League Darts, the tournament screened exclusively on the internet through www.bet365.com and www.ladbrokes.com from Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex.
The 23-year-old topped the league table after the eight players faced each other in a round-robin format, and included a perfect leg in a 6-1 rout of world number three James Wade.
Lewis hit 180 and 177 before finishing 144 with two treble 18s and double 18 to complete his first competitive nine-darter - his prize being the £50 for winning the leg.
Lewis earned top spot in the group with a final-game win over Colin Osborne, and then defeated Denis Ovens in the semi-finals.
King finished third in the league phase, and romped past Osborne 6-1 in the semis before overcoming Lewis 7-5 in the final.
King trailed 2-1 before three successive legs put him in command, only for finishes of 114 and 112 to see Lewis level.
A 102 checkout from King proved crucial, and he led 6-4 before Lewis hit back once more, only for King to produce scores of 180, 140 and 140 in a 12-darter to seal the triumph.
King, a semi-finalist in Group Two, walked away with £3,000 prize money on Monday and will return for the Winners Group in October, while Lewis is back in action on Tuesday in Group Four.
However, world number three James Wade and world number six Wayne Mardle - the two highest ranked players in Group Three - were eliminated from the tournament after claiming only one win between them on Monday.
Kevin Painter and Andy Hamilton missed out on the Group Three semi-finals but proceed to Tuesday's play, which will see the introduction of Peter Manley, Mark Dudbridge and Vincent van der Voort.
Watch highlights from the league phase and the semi-finals and final in full in DartsTV
Championship League Darts Group Three Results
|
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
Game 1 |
5 James Wade |
5 Mervyn King |
|
6 Colin Osborne |
6 Adrian Lewis 2 Andy Hamilton | |
|
Game 2 |
2 Denis Ovens 6 James Wade |
6 Kevin Painter 4 Adrian Lewis |
|
5 Andy Hamilton 5 Colin Osborne |
5 Wayne Mardle 5 Mervyn King | |
|
Game 3 |
1 Denis Ovens 6 Adrian Lewis |
2 James Wade 6 Kevin Painter |
|
4 Andy Hamilton 6 Mervyn King |
4 Wayne Mardle 6 Colin Osborne | |
|
Game 4 |
6 Adrian Lewis * Nine-Darter |
6 Denis Ovens 4 Kevin Painter |
|
4Wayne Mardle |
1 Mervyn King | |
|
Game 5 |
6 Mervyn King 4 Adrian Lewis |
6 Colin Osborne 2 James Wade |
|
6 Kevin Painter 1 Wayne Mardle |
3 Andy Hamilton 6 Denis Ovens | |
|
Game 6 |
3 Colin Osborne |
5 Wayne Mardle |
|
1 Kevin Painter 6 Mervyn King |
5 James Wade 5 Andy Hamilton | |
|
Game 7 |
4 Mervyn King |
6 Adrian Lewis 4 Colin Osborne |
|
6 Andy Hamilton 4 Kevin Painter |
6 Denis Ovens 1 Wayne Mardle | |
|
Semi-Finals |
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Denis Ovens |
Mervyn King 6-1 Colin Osborne |
|
Final |
Mervyn King 7-5 Adrian Lewis |
Latest Table
|
Name |
P |
W |
D |
L |
Leg Diff |
Legs Won |
£ Won |
Pts | |
|
1 |
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
+11 |
37 |
£1850 |
9 |
|
2 |
Colin Osborne |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
+9 |
36 |
£1800 |
9 |
|
3 |
Mervyn King |
7 |
3 |
3 |
1 |
+4 |
34 |
£1700 |
9 |
|
4 |
Denis Ovens |
7 |
4 |
1 |
2 |
+4 |
32 |
£1550 |
9 |
|
5 |
Kevin Painter |
7 |
3 |
0 |
4 |
-2 |
30 |
£1500 |
6 |
|
6 |
Andy Hamilton |
7 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
-5 |
31 |
£1550 |
6 |
|
7 |
James Wade |
7 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
-7 |
28 |
£1400 |
5 |
|
8 |
Wayne Mardle |
7 |
0 |
3 |
4 |
-14 |
25 |
£1250 |
3 |
Prize Money
|
Group Three |
Championship League Total | |
|
Andy Hamilton |
£1,550 |
£5,750 |
|
Mervyn King |
£3,000 |
£5,400 |
|
Alan Tabern |
£5,300 | |
|
James Wade |
£1,400 |
£4,750 |
|
Kevin Painter |
£1,500 |
£4,600 |
|
Wayne Mardle |
£1,250 |
£4,200 |
|
Colin Lloyd |
£3,450 | |
|
Phil Taylor |
£3,350 | |
|
Adrian Lewis |
£2,950 |
£2,950 |
|
Denis Ovens |
£2,000 |
£2,000 |
|
Colin Osborne |
£1,900 |
£1,900 |
|
Ronnie Baxter |
£1,400 | |
|
Terry Jenkins |
£950 | |
|
Roland Scholten |
£900 |
News Updates
First Round of Games
James Wade maintained his reputation as a draw specialist with a 5-5 stalemate against Wayne Mardle in their opener. Wade drew five times in Group One and twice in Group Two, and came from 4-2 down to grab a point against Mardle, who led 2-0 and also edged two legs clear once more after the world number three levelled. Successive legs from Wade saw him square matters at four-all, before Mardle sealed a point and Wade won the final led at ease on double ten.
Mervyn King came from 3-0 down to grab a draw with Denis Ovens in the other opening game. Ovens made a great start, but two missed darts to open up a 4-0 lead proved costly, as King got off the mark and then took two successive legs to level. King wasted three darts to move in front, with Ovens taking out double four to take leg seven and then the next leg to earn at least a point. King won the ninth to send the game into a decider, and took out 122 on the bullseye for a draw.
Adrian Lewis made a winning debut in Championship League Darts with a 6-2 win over Andy Hamilton. Hamilton opened with a 72 finish, but Lewis levelled with a 122 checkout and an 11-darter saw him break throw to lead 2-1. He took the next three to move 5-1 up, and sealed the win in leg eight.
Colin Osborne also got off to a winning start, coming from 2-0 down to defeat Group Two runner-up Kevin Painter 6-3. Painter included a 117 finish in taking the game's first two legs, but four in a row from Osborne, three times punishing misses from the Daventry man, saw him push ahead. A two-dart 86 finish pulled Painter back to 4-3, but double five saw Osborne regain his cushion and double 12 sealed the win.
Second Round of Games
Adrian Lewis missed three darts to grab a point as Kevin Painter gained his first win of Group Three with a 6-4 victory. Lewis led 3-2 before Painter took three successive legs, including a 95 finish for a break of throw, to lead 5-3. Double ten saw Lewis send the game into a decider, but he missed the bull for a 161 finish and then two darts at double eight before Painter nailed double 16 at the first attempt.
James Wade bounced back to form with a 6-2 defeat of Denis Ovens. Wade included two breaks of throw and a 121 finish in moving 4-0 and 5-1 up.Ovens took leg seven, but two missed doubles in the next gave Wade the chance to wrap up victory on his favourite double top.
Mervyn King gained a second successive draw with a stalemate against Wayne Mardle. King led 2-0 before Mardle took three in a row to edge ahead. King levelled on double eight, but the remaining four legs all went with the throw to see the points shared.
Andy Hamilton also snatched a point, coming from 5-2 down to claim a draw with Colin Osborne. Hamilton broke throw on double eight in the first leg, but Osborne won five of the next six, including a 106 checkout, to earn at least a draw at 5-2. But Hamilton won the next two to send the match into a decider, and landed a maximum before hitting double 16, with Osborne waiting on 41, to take a point.
Third Round of Games
Adrian Lewis claimed his second win of the day with a 6-1 romp against Denis Ovens. Lewis was at his classy best in opening up a 5-0 lead, including a superb 100 finish which featured two double tops. Ovens got off the mark in leg six, but double ten saw Lewis wrap up the points.
Kevin Painter also picked up a second win of the day, defeating James Wade 6-3. Painter took a 3-0 lead before Wade took three of the next four to pull back to 4-3, before Painter hit seven perfect darts in the next leg. His hopes of a nine-darter were ended when he missed treble 15 with his eighth dart, but he took the leg in 12 darts and then sealed the win on double 16.
Mervyn King grabbed his first win of the day with a superb finish to edge out Andy Hamilton 6-4. King led 3-1 before a 121 bullseye finish saw Hamilton take leg five. The Stoke man pulled back to four-all before King sealed a point in leg nine. He then ensured a win in the decider, hitting a 180 to leave 41 and then taking out double 16 for the victory.
Colin Osborne moved top of the league table with a second win of Group Three, claiming a 6-4 victory against Wayne Mardle. Mardle led 2-0 and 4-3 before Osborne finished strongly, stepping in after a host of missed doubles in the ninth leg to earn at least a draw, before sealing both points on double top.
Fourth Round of Games
Adrian Lewis hit the first Championship League Darts nine-darter in opening leg of his 6-2 win over James Wade. Lewis opened the game with a 180 and then hit a 177 before taking out 144 with two treble 18s and a double 18. He also took the next three legs to lead 4-0 before Wade took two to pull himself back into the game. Scores of 180 and 137 from Wade left him 24 in the next, but a two-dart 100 checkout put Lewis 5-2 up and two missed doubles from the world number three allowed the Stoke man to seal the win on double eight.
Denis Ovens punished missed doubles from Kevin Painter to take a 6-4 victory. Painter took three legs out of four to come from 2-1 down to lead 4-3, hitting maximums in three successive legs. A key double 16 from Ovens, with Painter waiting on 32, to level. Ovens then punished missed doubles from Painter to win a scrappy ninth, and four missed darts at double 12 from Painter allowed Ovens to seal the win with a tricky final-dart double 16.
Colin Osborne remains unbeaten in Group Three following a brilliant 6-1 demolition of Mervyn King. Osborne took command early on to lead 3-0, and though King won leg four the Derby man powered on to seal the win in style.
Andy Hamilton claimed his first win of Group Three with a narrow 6-4 win over Wayne Mardle. Mardle battled back from 2-0 down to lead 4-3, but a missed double eight in the eighth leg allowed Hamilton to level, and a brilliant 161 finish put the Stoke man 5-4 ahead. He then sealed the win on double 11 to move off the foot of the table.
Fifth Round of Games
Colin Osborne's brilliant Championship League Darts debut continued with a 6-2 win over James Wade - ensuring him a play-off place. Osborne broke throw in the opening leg and doubled his lead before Wade got off the mark, and a superb 137 checkout in leg seven, to see him move 5-2 up, was a hammer blow for Wade, with the Derby man taking the next to wrap up the win.
Mervyn King grabbed his second win of the day with a 6-4 defeat of Adrian Lewis. Lewis edged a tight contest 4-3 after the opening seven legs went with the throw, before King took the eighth, landed double 16 to break in leg nine and then took out double eight in the decider to earn both points.
Kevin Painter's charge continued with a comprehensive 6-1 defeat of bottom-placed Wayne Mardle. Painter broke throw on double ten in the opening leg and also won the third against the darts with a 110 finish in taking a 4-0 lead. Mardle took the fifth, but two more in succession from Painter earned him a third win of the day.
Denis Ovens improved his chances of securing a play-off place with a 6-3 defeat of Andy Hamilton. Ovens took the first four legs to lead 4-0 before Hamilton took two in a row to cut the deficit. The next two were shared, including a fine 12-darter from Hamilton to stay in the game, before a 63 finish from Ovens sealed his victory on double 16.
Sixth Round of Games
Adrian Lewis denied Wayne Mardle a first win of the day to snatch a draw in a final-leg decider. Mardle hit two maximums in winning the first leg, and also landed two 180s in another leg, but paid for five missed doubles as Lewis - who had hit a nine-darter earlier in the day and had six perfect darts on one occasion in this game - took a 4-2 lead. Mardle hit back to level and then produced a fine 121 checkout on the bullseye to earn a point at 5-4, but Lewis denied him both with double eight.
Denis Ovens moved himself into the play-off positions with a 6-3 win over Colin Osborne. Ovens led 5-1, with Osborne needing a ten-darter just to get off the mark as the Stevenage man continued his good form. Osborne took out a 112 finish in reducing the deficit to 5-2, but a missed bullseye for a 121 checkout allowed Ovens to seal the win.
Mervyn King put himself in prime position for a second successive play-off spot with a 6-1 romp against Kevin Painter. King moved 3-0 up before Painter got off the mark, and included finishes of 78 and 93 in wrapping up a comprehensive win to jump above Painter in the table.
Andy Hamilton produced a superb final leg to grab a point from James Wade - which could be crucial for both players in the battle to avoid elimination. Wade took a 3-1 lead before Hamilton pegged him back, but two more legs from Wade ensured at least a draw. However, Hamilton won leg nine, and a 174 score left 36 in the decider, with missed doubles from Wade allowing him to return and land double 18 at the first time of asking.
Seventh Round of Games
Adrian Lewis moves top of the table with a superb comeback to defeat Colin Osborne 6-4. Osborne opened up a 4-1 lead, with only a 112 finish from Lewis stemming the tide as the in-form Derby man pulled clear. But Lewis hauled himself back into the game with two successive legs, then hit back-to-back 180s in levelling and a further maximum in taking a 5-4 cushion, before sealing a remarkable comeback on double top.
James Wade maintained his hopes of avoiding elimination with a draw against Mervyn King, who will compete in a second successive semi-final. Wade led 2-0 and 3-2 before two missed doubles allowed King to level at three-all. A double one finish edged Wade in front, and he also took leg nine to secure at least a draw, but the win which may have pushed him into Group Four was denied when King landed double top for the win.
Denis Ovens secured a semi-final place, against Adrian Lewis, with a crushing 6-1 win to end Wayne Mardle's Championship League Darts challenge. Ovens pulled clear after the first two legs were shared, punishing misses from Mardle in the fourth to lead 3-1 and then hitting 180s in three successive legs to seal the win.
Andy Hamilton's 6-4 win over Kevin Painter eliminates James Wade from the tournament and puts the Stoke man through to Group Four. Crucially, Hamilton secured the only break of throw in the game's deciding leg, Painter missing the bullseye for a 167 finish before the Stoke man took out double 14.
Semi-Finals
Mervyn King reached the Group Three final with a 6-1 romp against Colin Osborne. Osborne topped the table for much of the league phase, but dropped to second with a loss to Adrian Lewis in the final games, and then suffered semi-final heartbreak. He took out 84 on double 11 for his share of the first two legs, but missed doubles in the fourth allowed King to lead 3-1. He was also punished for misses in the sixth as King moved a leg away from the win, before the Norfolk man sealed his place in the final.
Adrian Lewis celebrated his first day in the Championship League with progression to the final with a 6-4 defeat of Denis Ovens. Lewis led 3-1 and 5-2 before Ovens took back-to-back legs to stay in the game. But the Stevenage man failed to pressure Lewis in the next, and he returned after three missed match darts to seal the win on double four.
Watch highlights from the league phase and the semi-finals and final in full in DartsTV