Issue 12 (March 18, 2016)

Friday 18 March 2016

Darts Weekly

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Practice pays off as Bunting ends trophy drought Page 4-5

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Friday 18 March 2016 Darts Weekly

Wade notches third win in a row to stay in the play-offs James Wade 7 Robert Thornton 4 James Wade defeated an improved Robert Thornton 7-4 to keep hold of his place in the Premier League play-offs at the end of week seven.

The Machine took out 124 in the opening leg but Thornton fought back as the pair traded legs to 3-3.

Wade then held his throw with a 71 checkout before hitting double

10 in the eighth leg to gain a crucial break of throw at 5-3 up.

The 2009 Premier League winner landed double nine to secure a point in the next leg, and despite a 95 checkout on the bull from Thornton in leg 10, the Machine hit tops to secure a 7-4 win.

“It was a good win but Robert didn’t get going and I made the most of my opportunities early on,” Wade said.

Taylor battles back to draw with MVG Michael van Gerwen 6 Phil Taylor 6 Phil Taylor produced an incredible comeback from 5-1 down to claim a share of the spoils against Michael van Gerwen last night.

The Premier League’s top two went head-to-head at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow for week seven of the tournament, with the duo in good form having won their last five Premier League games.

MVG made the most of four missed doubles from Taylor to win the opening leg, and after the Power levelled with a 114 checkout it was the Dutchman who took the next four legs to establish a commanding 5-1 lead.

There would be a further twist in the tale though as van Gerwen

missed a dart at tops to go 6-1 up and Taylor stepped in to win the first of three successive legs, which included a 120 finish in leg nine.

With the Power sat on 64, MVG took out a roof-raising 170 checkout to go 6-4 in front, but Taylor once again fought back.

Van Gerwen missed three darts at double 18 to win the match 7-4 as the Power hit double four to force a final leg, which the 16-time world champion won on double 13.

“I gave a point away today,” van Gerwen said. “I was the better player but I missed darts for the match and I can only blame myself, because I wasn’t focused enough for some reason.”

“I’m loving every minute of it at the moment,” Taylor said. “We’ll have a lot more battles.”

Double delight for Anderson Gary Anderson 7 Peter Wright 5 Gary Anderson enjoyed a memorable return to Glasgow as he picked up four points to climb into the Premier League play-offs.

The Flying Scotsman took on

Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright and extended his winning streak to five matches, and now finds himself in the top four for the first time this season.

Anderson took four of the last five legs to beat fellow Scot Wright in the final match of the night, as

the defending champion came back from 4-3 down to win 7-5.

The opening two legs went against the throw before the next break came in leg seven, as Wright took out 60 to go 4-3 ahead.

But Anderson broke straight away, finishing off a 12 dart leg

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Barney eases his elimination fears with Chisnall victory Raymond van Barneveld 7 Dave Chisnall 4 Raymond van Barneveld eased his fears of elimination on Judgement Night in two weeks after beating Dave Chisnall 7-4 last night.

Barney had lost his lost his last three Premier League games to slip perilously close to the bottom two, but continued his excellent record in Glasgow by beating Chisnall,

who only remains out of the bottom two on legs difference.

It was a back and forth clash between seventh and eighth in the Premier League table, as Barney went 2-0 up before Chizzy took the next leg three legs to 3-2 in front.

However, the 2014 Premier League champion reeled off four consecutive legs to storm into a 6-3 lead and then wrapped up the victory with a 152 finish in leg 11.

Taylor battles back to draw with MVG

as Lewis and Wright both lose with an 81 checkout. Both players then had chances to break their opponent’s throw over the next two legs, but heading into the final two legs they were locked at 5-5.

Anderson checked out 100 with two double tops to go 6-5 up and then missed three darts to win 7-5

in the next leg, only for Wright to also miss three at double four, and the Flying Scotsman stepped back in to claim the victory.

In the first game of the night, Anderson saw off a below par Lewis 7-4, with those two wins moving him up to fourth place

heading into week eight in Liverpool next Thursday.

“I would have been happy just to pick up two points from the two games tonight so four’s a bonus,” Anderson said. “I played well and that’s what you want to do in front of your home crowd.”

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Friday 18 March 2016 Darts Weekly

Bunting determined to get back in the Premier League after ending trophy drought Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Stephen Bunting ended a long wait for his second PDC title at the weekend and is now targeting more success to boost his chances of a Premier League recall in 2017.

The Bullet came through a field of 128 players to win Sunday’s Players Championship event in Barnsley, thus ending a two year run without a tournament victory.

Bunting edged past world number one Michael van Gerwen 6-4 in the decider, but before that had seen off three other current Premier League players on his route to the final.

Deciding leg triumphs over Robert Thornton, Adrian Lewis and Peter Wright helped the St Helens-based thrower reach his first PDC final since the 2014 Sydney Masters, while his win against van Gerwen was his first victory in nine meetings with the in-form Dutchman.

“It’s an amazing achievement,” the former Lakeside champion said. “Obviously it was a long time coming.

“I think everyone knows now I’ve been putting in the hours over the last few months, so it definitely showed at the weekend.

“I’ve been putting four or five hours a day in with Devon Petersen and Anastasia (Dobromyslova). I’m just keeping myself locked away really and my form has been good.

“Every time you win a tournament you want to beat the likes of Michael van Gerwen and Phil Taylor, especially in the final.

“It makes the victory a lot more sweeter. My record against Michael has not been the best over the years, but hopefully I can rectify that now the next few times I play him.”

After being crowned BDO world champion at the start of 2014,

Bunting crossed the darting divide and moved over to the PDC, where he enjoyed success instantly.

The 30-year-old won a UK Open Qualifier during his first weekend on the PDC circuit back in February of 2014, and finished the year on a high with runs to the quarter-finals of the European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and World Championship.

It earned the Bullet a place in the Premier League in 2015, as well as selection for all of the World Series events, however a slump in form then saw him miss out on both competitions this year.

“I was disappointed not to be involved this year but I think I only had myself to blame to be honest,” Bunting admits.

“I think the Premier League sort of hindered me a bit last year, because I didn’t have the best Premier League and then my form suffered a bit on the back of that.

“The confidence wasn’t there

"My confidence is high so hopefully I can build on it and win more events” when I went into the events, but I think now I feel a lot more fresher.

“Everyone knows the Premier League is the place to be. I’d love to be back in the Premier League.

“I’ve just got to keep winning tournaments and putting myself in the frame for next year.

“The opponents don’t get any easier. Although I won on Sunday, no one knows what’s going to happen in the future.

“My form is really good, my confidence is high, so let’s hope I can build on that and win a few more tournaments.”

Bunting had a mixed start to his weekend in Barnsley, as after qualifying for the Gibraltar Darts Trophy, he then missed out on a place in the European Darts

Matchplay before losing to Mick McGowan in the last 128 of the first Players Championship event on Saturday afternoon.

The Bullet then turned on the style the following day though, picking up the £10,000 winner’s prize which moved him up to a career-high of 13th in the PDC Order of Merit.

“I think I’ll pick up a lot of confidence from that win on Sunday,” he said. “Beating Peter Wright, who I’ve lost to the last few times and Robert Thornton, who is another cracking player in the Premier League along the way.

“The massive turning point was in the last 16 when I was 5-0 down to Adrian Lewis and I got it back to 5-5. He missed three darts at a double and I checked out to win.

“You always need a bit of luck when you win a tournament and I think that was my bit of luck. Just

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darts firsts x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x

to show the bottle and grit to come back from 5-0 down obviously.

“Adie’s ranked fourth in the world. He’s an exceptional player and he was hitting me with I think it was a 156 finish to go 5-0 up.

“He’s been in really good form in the Premier League, so after beating him I thought I could definitely have a run on the day.”

With an increased practice regime starting to pay off, Bunting is hopeful he will not have to wait as long between PDC titles two and three as he did for one and two.

Next up for the Bullet is a return to Munich for the German Darts Championship next weekend, a tournament which he reached the semi-finals in on his debut back in 2014 before failing to qualify for 12 months ago.

“I can’t wait to get onto the next tournament,” the former World Masters champion said. “My

x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x x x x xx

This year’s Lakeside runnerup, Jeff Smith, talks us through his darts memories First darts memory?

Winning the New Brunswick Provincial Youth title in 1990 at the first attempt at the age of 14.

First darts hero?

Dennis Priestley.

First set of darts?

A set of Tommy darts which cost $15.

First darts team?

It was a team called New Brunswick Youth.

xx x x x x

First game on TV? My first TV appearance was in 1996 on TSN in the Canada National Championships semi finals.

Fighting back: Stephen Bunting won his first PDC title for just over two years in Barnsley last weekend PICTURE: Lawrence Lustig/PDC

First nine darter?

My first nine darter was at a pub in a bowling alley. I was there to watch my mother bowl, but the pub had a board so I started practicing. A stranger asked if I’d play a game or two, so I hit the nine darter and turned around and he was walking away saying ‘you’re too good for me.’ He had no idea what a nine darter meant (laughs).

confidence will be booming. I can definitely see the improvement and it’s making me that much sharper as well.

“I don’t need to get into a venue four or five hours before now and get on the board, because I’ve been doing the groundwork in the midweek leading up to the tournament.

“My ranking is climbing all the time. When I first moved to the PDC I wanted to be in the top 32 in two years, and I’ve pushed into the top 16 and I’m 13th now.”

Keep up to date with Stephen via Twitter (@sbunting180) and on www.stephenbunting.co.uk

First professional tournament win?

My first win was the Saint John Port City Open in 2003. It was a NDFC ranked event which was held during our National Championships and that win started a long winning streak in the NDFC events for me! Since then I’ve won the Canada National Championships, Halifax Open, Port City Open, Witch City Open and the Las Vegas Open. To win the Las Vegas Open last year I beat Darin Young in the final.

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Friday 18 March 2016 Darts Weekly

Silverback conquers Isle of Man Open to end barren run Tony O’Shea won the PokerStars Isle of Man Open on Sunday to end his 14 month run without a BDO ranking title.

The popular Silverback defeated Ryan Joyce 6-4 in the final to lift his first big title since winning the Jersey Classic at the end of 2014.

O’Shea came through a field of hundreds of players at the Villa Marina Complex on the Douglas Promenade, including the BDO’s number one Glen Durrant in the semi-finals to take home the title and the £3,000 winner’s cheque.

The Stockport thrower had begun the weekend well with a quarterfinal appearance in the Isle of Man Classic, with Rhys Hayden edging out O’Shea 4-2 in the last eight.

Silverback would gain his revenge on the youngster though, as he beat the 21-year-old 4-3 in the last 16 of the Open.

O’Shea’s run to the Open title started with a 3-0 whitewash over Dean Sewell, with a 3-1 success against Gino Vos following on the streamed board in the last 128.

The whitewash victories continued for the 54-year-old, as after seeing off Alan Young 4-0, O’Shea defeated Conan Whitehead by the same scoreline to advance into the last 16 of the tournament.

After beating Hayden in a deciding leg to avenge his earlier defeat to Lightning, the three-time Lakeside finalist eased past Steven Robertson 4-1 in the last eight.

O’Shea squeezed past Durrant 5-4 in a high quality semi-final, which saw Duzza average over the 100 mark in bowing out of the competition he reached the final in 12 months ago.

Dennis Harbour was the winner of the Open in 2015 but saw his defence of the title end in the last 32 stage, as after recording comfortable wins against Warren Larkin, Adrian Rouke and Wouter Vaes, the holder was beaten 4-3 in a deciding leg by Jimmy Hendriks.

There were plenty of shocks in

the early rounds as reigning Lakeside champion Scott Waites, Jamie Hughes and Jim Williams all departed before the last 16.

Fifth seed Williams was the first big name to exit after the Welshman lost 3-1 to Paul Clark in the last 256, before third seed Waites was one of many giant scalps claimed by finalist Joyce.

The Lakeside champion was beaten 3-1 by Joyce in the last 128, while fourth seed Hughes lost out in a deciding leg to Hayden in the last 32 of the Open.

Darren Layden knocked out seventh seed Martin Phillips 4-1 in the same round, before Durrant saw off eighth seed Darryl Fitton in a thrilling quarter-final clash which went the distance.

Joyce then continued his memorable run as he took out another former world champion in the last eight, beating Scott Mitchell 4-2 to set up a semi-final meeting with Martin Adams.

Wolfie had looked in imperious form in the previous round after he averaged 111.33 in his 4-1 win over Mark McGeeney.

However, Joyce kept his hopes of a maiden BDO ranking title alive as he beat the three-time Lakeside

Pair of champions: Tony O’Shea and Lisa Ashton celebrate with their Isle of Man Open trophies PICTURE: England Darts Organisation winner 5-1 to progress. O’Shea drew upon his experience in the final, which was a scrappy game but one the Silverback came out on top in to pick up his first ranking title since November 2014.

Elsewhere at the Isle of Man Festival, Scott Mitchell won his first title of 2016 after beating Geert de Vos 6-2 in the Okells Men’s Classic final.

Lisa Ashton came through a decider to beat Deta Hedman 4-3 in the final of the PokerStars Lades Open, with Hedman having earlier edged past Rhian Griffiths by the same scoreline to win the IOM Events Services Ladies Classic.

The Men’s Pairs final was also decided in a last leg as Tony O’Shea and Darryl Fitton got the better of Michael Meaney and Stephen Lennon 3-2 in the final.

Rachel Brooks and Hedman enjoyed an easier path to victory in the Ladies Pairs final as they whitewashed Ashton and Trina Gulliver 3-0 to lift the trophy.

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Database PDC GIBRALTAR DARTS TROPHY (legs) (Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley) UK Qualifier final round - R Smith 6-4 P Taylor, N Fulwell 6-4 G Stone, J Pipe 6-2 C Hammond, S Bunting 6-3 R Baxter, G Price 6-4 K Thomas, D Gurney 6-3 B Claydon, A Norris 6-2 L Evans, J Lewis 6-3 R Campbell, J Henderson 6-5 M Clark, A Hamilton 6-4 S Griffiths, S Beaton 6-2 M Frost, M Walsh 6-1 N Derry, S West 6-3 J Lovett, J Murnan 6-4 J Walker, D Pallett 6-5 M Mansell, W Jones 6-4 J Worsley, K Anderson 6-3 J Wilson, K Painter 6-4 M Edgar, J Cullen 6-1 R Green, S Kellett 6-5 S Hine - Kellett hit a nine dart finish.

PDC EUROPEAN DARTS MATCHPLAY (legs) (Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley) UK Qualifier final round - P Taylor 6-0 L Palfreyman, R Corner 6-4 B Dolan, D Webster 6-0 R Meikle, J Payne 6-2 M Frost, J Robinson 6-4 N Fullwell, D Gurney 6-2 M McGowan, A Norris 6-5 A Monk, R Williams 6-5 J Lewis, J Henderson 6-5 R Green, M Webster 6-1 C Hammond, J Clayton 6-0 S Beaton, J Worsley 6-1 K Thomas, J Caven 6-2 A Hamilton, J Murnan 6-1 J Richardson, C Dobey 6-5 D Pallett, A Gilding 6-0 S Head, D Johnson 6-4 W Jones, K Painter 6-2 T Evetts, J Cullen 6-4 R Campbell, D Petersen 6-3 S Preston.

PDC PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT ONE (legs) (Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley) Last 64 - M van Gerwen 6-3 S Griffiths, J Caven 6-1 M Mansell, P Nicholson 6-3 B van Peer, P Taylor 6-1 S Stevenson, A Lewis 6-3 R Williams, J Lewis 6-4 M De Decker, D Van den Bergh 6-3 J Klaasen, A Norris 6-5 J Wilson, K Huybrechts 6-2 J Part, D Petersen 6-1 C Kist, B van de Pas 6-1 M Edgar, G Price 6-5 V Kamphuis, J Wade 6-0 N Heydon, R van Barneveld 6-2 J De Graaf, G Anderson 6-1 D Smith, J Worsley 6-4 M McGowan, P Wright 6-4 C Reyes, K Brown 6-5 T Evetts, J Murnan 62 M Walsh, R Evans 6-4 B Dolan, I White 6-3 P Hudson, A Smith 6-4 T Temple, T Jenkins 6-3 R Smith, R Owen 6-3 N Aspinall, M Barilli 6-5 R Meulenkamp, K Anderson 6-5 M Webster, A Jenkins 6-3 A Hamilton, D Gurney 6-3 D Johnson, M Smith 6-2 J Artut, J Cullen 6-4 R Huybrechts, M Suljovic 6-3 D Webster, J Pipe 6-4 R Corner. Last 32 - M van Gerwen 6-2 J Caven, P Taylor 6-1 P Nicholson, A Lewis 6-1 J Lewis, A Norris 63 D Van den Bergh, K Huybrechts 6-4 D Petersen, G Price 6-5 B van de Pas, R van Barneveld 6-3 J Wade, G Anderson 6-2 J Worsley, P Wright 6-4 K Brown, J Murnan 6-3 R Evans, I White 6-5 A Smith, T Jenkins 6-0 R Owen, M Barilli 6-5 K Anderson, D Gurney 6-1 A Jenkins, J Cullen 6-1 M Smith, J Pipe 6-3 M Suljovic.

Last 16 - M van Gerwen 6-2 P Taylor, A Lewis 6-5 A Norris, G Price 6-5 K

Lewis 6-5 A Norris, G Price 6-5 K Huybrechts, G Anderson 6-5 R van Barneveld, P Wright 6-5 J Murnan, I White 6-1 T Jenkins, D Gurney 6-0 M Barilli, J Cullen 6-3 J Pipe. Quarter finals - A Lewis 6-4 M van Gerwen, G Anderson 6-0 G Price, P Wright 6-3 I White, J Cullen 6-3 D Gurney. Semi finals - A Lewis 6-3 G Anderson, P Wright 6-3 J Cullen.

Final - P Wright 6-5 A Lewis.

PDC PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT TWO (legs) (Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley) Last 64 - M van Gerwen 6-0 D Pallett, J Caven 6-4 A Hamilton, G Anderson 6-2 C Ryes, S West 6-3 M King, I White 6-3 D Petersen, J Wattimena 6-1 J Lewis, J Klaasen 6-4 D Johnson, A Norris 6-2 D Smith, M McGowan 6-2 J Wade, R Evans 6-3 R Smith, B van de Pas 6-2 D Brown, K Anderson 6-5 M Mansell, K Huybrechts 6-1 J Walker, W Newton 6-2 R van Barneveld, M Suljovic 6-1 M Walsh, G Price 6-4 R Meikle, P Wright 6-3 S Hine, D van Duijvenbode 6-2 N Heydon, S Whitlock 6-3 R Baxter, C Dobey 6-1 J Robinson, D Chisnall 6-2 R Meulenkamp, J Artut 6-3 R Owen, T Jenkins 6-5 M Zuydwijk, J Cullen 6-3 S Brown, A Lewis 6-2 D Webster, R Thornton 6-5 T Temple, S Bunting 6-3 R Green, M Smith 6-1 T Evetts, A Gilding 6-2 K Brown, P Taylor 6-0 R Huybrechts, M Clark 6-5 B Dolan.

Last 32 - M van Gerwen 6-5 J Caven, S West 6-4 G Anderson, I White 6-1 J Wattimena, J Klaasen 6-3 A Norris, R Evans 6-4 M McGowan, K Anderson 6-2 K Huybrechts, M Suljovic 6-5 G Price, P Wright 6-3 D van Duijvenbode, C Dobey 6-3 S Whitlock, J Artut 6-5 D Chisnall, J Cullen 6-4 T Jenkins, A Lewis 6-3 J Murnan, S Bunting 6-5 R Thornton, A Gilding 6-5 M Smith, M Clark 6-5 P Taylor. Last 16 - M van Gerwen 6-3 S West, I White 6-2 J Klaasen, K Anderson 6-5 R Evans, M Suljovic 6-2 W Newton, P Wright 6-5 C Dobey, J Cullen 6-4 J Artut, S Bunting 6-5 A Lewis, A Gilding 6-3 M Clark. Quarter finals - M van Gerwen 6-1 I White - van Gerwen hit a nine dart finish, K Anderson 6-3 M Suljovic, P Wright 6-4 J Cullen, S Bunting 6-1 A Gilding. Semi finals - M van Gerwen 6-5 K Anderson, S Bunting 6-5 P Wright.

Final - S Bunting 6-4 M van Gerwen.

PDC BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE (legs) (The SSE Hydro, Glasgow) Week seven - G Anderson 7-4 A Lewis, J Wade 7-4 R Thornton, M van Gerwen 6-6 P Taylor, R van Barneveld 7-4 D Chisnall, G Anderson 7-5 P Wright.

BDO POKERSTARS ISLE OF MAN FESTIVAL (legs) (Villa Marina, Douglas Promenade) Men’s Classic last 16 - G Durrant 4-1 D

Harbour, D Prins 4-3, B Dawson, S Mitchell 4-0 S Stainton, T Hankey 4-3 M Meaney, M Atkins 1-4 T O’Shea, S Carroll 2-4 R Hayden, D Fitton 0-4 G De Vos, P Lynskey 2-4 S Waites. Quarter finals - G Durrant 3-4 D Prins, S Mitchell 4-0 T Hankey, T O’Shea 2-4 R Hayden, G De Vos 4-2 S Waites. Semi finals - D Prins 3-4 S Mitchell, R Hayden 1-4 G De Vos. Final - S Mitchell 6-2 G De Vos. Ladies Classic last 16 - L Ashton 4-0 M Sutton, C Brooklin 3-4 C Hammond, L Winstanley 2-4 E Powell, R Griffiths 4-1 F Sherrock, A De Graaf 4-1 P Jacklin, D Ljpelaar 3-4 S Cusick, T Gulliver 4-0 S Lowe, S Prins 0-4 D Hedman. Quarter finals - L Ashton 4-1 C Hammond, E Powell 2-4 R Griffiths, A De Graaf 4-0 S Cusick, T Gulliver 0-4 D Hedman. Semi finals - L Ashton 2-4 R Griffiths, A De Graaf 2-4 D Hedman.

Final - R Griffiths 3-4 D Hedman.

Men’s Open last 16 - G Durrant 4-0 L Pennell, B Kirk 2-4 D Fitton, S Robertson 4-2 D Reynolds, T O’Shea 4-3 R Hayden, R Joyce 4-3 D Ayres, S Verdonck 2-4 S Mitchel, D Layden 2-4 M McGeeney, J Hendriks 1-4 M Adams. Quarter finals G Durrant 4-3 D Fitton, S Robertson 1-4 T O’Shea, R Joyce 4-2 S Mitchell, M McGeeney 1-4 M Adams. Semi finals - G Durrant 4-5 T O’Shea, R Joyce 5-1 M Adams. Final - T O’Shea 6-4 R Joyce.

Ladies Open last 16 - L Ashton 4-1 A Zijlstra, A-M Swindells 0-4 C Hammond, L Winstanley 4-0 R Griffiths, J Paterson 1-4 S Prins, A De Graaf 4-0 S Lowe, R Brooks 2-4 A Dobromyslova, T Gulliver 1-4 M Sutton, T Wright 1-4 D Hedman.

Quarter finals - L Ashton 4-2 C Hammond, L Winstanley 3-4 S Prins, A De Graaf 4-0 A Dobromyslova, M Sutton 0-4 D Hedman. Semi finals - L Ashton 4-0 S Prins, A De Graaf 3-4 D Hedman.

Final - L Ashton 4-3 D Hedman.

Men’s Pairs final - M Meaney and S Lennon 2-3 T O’Shea and D Fitton.

Ladies Pairs final - L Ashton and T Gulliver 0-3 R Brooks and D Hedman.

Youth final - D Birks 0-3 L Durham.

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Friday 18 March 2016 Darts Weekly

RICKY WILLIAMS A DARTER’S DIARY

Confidence is boosted after winning ET4 qualifier Getting through the UK Qualifiers for the European Darts Matchplay was a massive confidence boost.

I played some good darts in the UK Open Qualifiers last month but didn’t manage to qualify, so you try and put the doubts out of your head and to qualify for a European Tour event was a big achievement.

My weekend began on Friday night with the qualifiers for the Gibraltar Darts Trophy where I lost 6-1 to Joe Murnan in the first round.

I didn’t really do a lot wrong and before I knew it the game was over.

I was a bit deflated but you try and get yourself back up for the next tournament, which luckily enough was starting in a few hours’ time.

It was a relief to get past Jason Marriott 6-5 in the first hurdle of the European Matchplay qualifiers and then I probably played the best I did all weekend against Andy Boulton in the next round.

I hit a lot of 180s and 12 dart legs to go 5-1 up, then Andy came back at me well to make it 5-3 and I had to take out a 12 darter in the next leg to hold my throw and win.

In the final game against Jamie Lewis I was 5-1 down but I shouldn’t have been that far behind to be honest.

I kept plugging away and before I knew it I was back to 5-5 and throwing for the match.

Coming back from that far behind is the difference in me now from a couple of years ago.

Years ago if I was 5-1 down I would have folded and I’d have given up, but I just took it one leg at a time really.

I managed to break him a couple

of times and I could see he was getting a bit nervy.

I thought to myself ‘just keep going and you might pull it off’ and luckily enough he had a bad last leg and it allowed me in.

Phil Taylor was playing in both of the qualifiers and funnily enough he played Ross Smith twice.

Ross beat him on the first one and that just goes to show the standard of players now. Taylor

"Lewis took out 140 when I was on 42 and that was really the difference” only qualified for one of the two events, but years back it was a foregone conclusion that these big players qualified for everything.

It’s crucial to get up in the rankings so you are in everything because everyone is good enough now to stop the top players from qualifying for these events.

On Saturday the Players Championship events began and after winning my first game I took On Saturday the Players

on the two-time world champion Adrian Lewis in the last 64.

I went 1-0 up and missed a dart to break him for 2-0, before later on he took out a 140 when I was sat on I think it was 42. That was really the difference in the match.

I got it back to 4-3 but the trebles deserted me at the wrong time and the 140s became 60s.

I went out in the first round on the Sunday so I just fell short of the target I had set for the weekend, which was to try and win £1,000 in the Players Championships and qualify for one of the European Tour events.

I was a little bit disappointed on Sunday but I’ve got a minimum of £1,500 from the weekend and I can hopefully earn more in Germany.

There’s a bit of a wait now before the next Players Championship weekend but luckily I’ve got 10 days working away in the day job.

I haven’t really worked a lot since the start of the year because there’s been so much darts, so it will be nice to get away from everything, have a break and come home refreshed and ready to go again.