Issue 51 (December 23, 2016)

Friday 23 December 2016

Darts Weekly

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

“I’ve got a massive chance to win this”

Phil Taylor sends out a message to his title rivals as he cruises through to the second round Reports & preview pages 2-11

Hearn announces record prize money in PDC next year Pages 12-13

Players reveal love of Bon Jovi!

Page 14

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Friday 23 December 2016 Darts Weekly

Klaasen looking to make up for lost time as he eyes spot back in the Premier League Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Jelle Klaasen Jeffrey de Graaf

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Although the main aim for every player competing in the William Hill World Darts Championship will be to be crowned champion on January 2, there are still many subplots which run during the tournament.

The most intriguing of those is that immediately after this event the line-up for the next Premier League is announced, with the World Championship the last chance for hopefuls to stake a claim for a spot in the invitational tournament.

Jelle Klaasen can count himself very unfortunate that his run to the semi-finals at Alexandra Palace 12 months ago did not correlate with a recall to the Premier League this

Going through: Jelle Klaasen moved into the second round with a 3-1 win over his fellow Dutchman Jeffrey de Graaf year, but rather than curse his misfortune, the former BDO world champion has used it to fuel his burning ambition to return to the tournament in 2017.

“I think last year I deserved to be

“I’m feeling good and I should be in the Premier League this time next year” in the Premier League,” the 32year-old said. “(That’s because of) the way I played, even though they picked the top 10. I think they should always pick the top 10.

“I think I played better in every TV tournament than Michael Smith and Dave Chisnall (who were both chosen as wildcards).

“For me it was just a reason to

stores.ebay.co.uk/Mojo-DARTS

prove myself this year. Have I played brilliant? Not yet. “(It’s) to do with the birth of my daughter. The first six months my head was only thinking about my daughter and not darts.

“And that changed now and I’ve been practicing hard. I’m feeling good and I think I should be in it (the Premier League) this time next year.”

Klaasen got his latest World Championship bid underway last night when he took on Jeffrey de Graaf in an all-Dutch clash in the first round.

The Cobra was quick out of the blocks and fired in checkouts of 121 and 86 to take the first two legs, before de Graaf responded with back-to-back legs of his own, which included a 127 checkout for a 12 darter.

Klaasen hit his second 180 of the set and took out 66 to seal the first set, but back came his opponent.

Since switching from the BDO in January, de Graaf has had a steady rise up the PDC Order of Merit,

Darts Weekly Friday 23 December 2016

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FOLLOW THE ACTION WITH DARTS WEEKLY OUR WRITERS Alex Moss, Christopher Kempf, Richard Edwards, Dave South and Dave McNally will be bringing you the latest from the Alexandra Palace throughout the tournament, including match reports, interviews and expert analysis

IN THE MAGAZINE Our weekly magazine will once again be FREE for darts fans to read online from anywhere around the world. Make sure you log on to darts-weekly.com each Friday to read the latest issue, or join our growing subscribers list and get the magazine emailed to you for FREE. Simply send us an email to dartsweekly@gmail.com and he will start 2017 inside the top 64 for the first time.

The 26-year-old reeled off three legs on the bounce to win the second set in straight legs, but a slow start in the next set cost him.

Klaasen checked out 100 on his way to establishing a two-leg cushion and, after de Graaf had won successive legs again to force a decider, landed double 16 for a 2-1 lead in sets.

Another 100 checkout, this time with the aid of two double tops, saw Klaasen go in front in set four, with the former Premier League player winning the set 3-1 to secure his place in the second round.

“The first set I played well,” Klaasen said. “Jeffrey played well and I played a little bit better.

“The second set he slowed me down a little bit. He was taking his darts out the board slowly.

“He used my towel a couple of times. I was like ‘it was there, now it’s there’.

“Maybe it put me off my game. I was a little bit lucky to win the first

leg of the third set. He let me in and after that I think I played better.

“I feel good, I feel as good as last year. It’s not an excuse but I’ve got the flu now.

“So it was so hot on stage. My eyes are itchy, my nose is itchy, so I don’t feel that well.

“But the darts are going well so I’ve got a week rest now, prepare for the next game and be ready for next time.”

Next up for Klaasen is a clash with Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan in the second round, with both players producing similar averages in their opening games.

Dolan impressed in a 3-1 win over former BDO world champion Christian Kist, averaging 95.12, while Klaasen finished up with a 96.02 average in last night’s win against de Graaf. But you feel with Klaasen, the best is still yet to come.

Jelle Klaasen (96.02): 100+ 18; 140+ 10; 180 6; Checkout % 52.94%; HC 121.

Jeffrey de Graaf (89.79): 100+ 27; 140+ 5; 180 2; Checkout % 38.10%; HC 127.

ON OUR WEBSITE Check out our website for the latest results, order of play, reports from each session, as well as reaction from the players and the thoughts of our group of writers

BETTING TIPS Dave South will be posting on the website his top tips each day during the tournament, so if you fancy a flutter be sure to have a look at his recommended bets ahead of the day’s play

PREDICTION LEAGUE During the tournament we will be running our prediction league on Twitter. It is FREE to enter and all you have to do is reply to our pinned tweet each day with your predictions. The winner of the prediction league will win a set of darts from our friends at A180 Darts!

OUR WRITERS

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Friday 23 December 2016 Darts Weekly

Van der Voort concedes that retirement could be nearing as injury problems continue Injury woes: Vincent van der Voort lost out to Max Hopp in the first round last night

Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Vincent van der Voort Max Hopp

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Is this the last we see of Vincent van der Voort on the big stage?

The tall Dutchman was knocked out of the William Hill World Darts Championship in the first round by Germany’s Max Hopp last night, and shortly after the defeat revealed it could be his last appearance at Alexandra Palace.

Van der Voort’s career has been plagued by injuries, mainly in his back, which has prevented him from reaching the potential he has often shown in glimpses.

The 41-year-old was one of three Dutch players to switch from the BDO to the PDC at the start of 2007, with Michael van Gerwen and Jelle Klaasen also crossing the darting divide at the same time.

Van der Voort quickly established himself in the PDC, reaching the final of the UK Open that year to climb into the top 20, before three Players Championship titles and multiple TV quarterfinals followed.

But last night’s early exit from the World Championship looks like it could be the start of the end for van der Voort’s professional career, as he explains the pain barrier he is battling is a battle which he is losing.

“I’m playing against myself (on the stage), he said. “I’m not playing against my opponent.

“Everything is a struggle at the moment. It’s hard work when you’re not playing like you used to.

“I’ve got two hernias, in my neck and in my lower back, everything hurts.

“This is probably my last one (World Championship). The way I look at it now, I’m ready to give in.

“It’s just hurting so much. I’ve done everything I could.

“I’ve been through physiotherapy, I’ve been to many different therapists. It’s not getting any better and at one point you have to think about retiring.”

Ranked 20th on the PDC Order of Merit going into this year’s World Championship, van der Voort says he is planning on entering the UK Open Qualifiers in February next year.

The qualifiers, which take place over three days in Wigan on February 3-5, will be the first tournaments of the 2017 season, which gives van der Voort six weeks to try and work out a solution to his injury problems.

“I’m not looking back on my career,” he said. “I probably will be at the UK Open Qualifiers in February.

“What else are you going to do?

You have to do something in life, but I’m not going to look back on my career now.

“I’m just thinking about what’s next in my life. I want to quit definitely because it hurts so much and you lose to players you shouldn’t lose to, but at the other end I love the game as well.”

In nine previous PDC World Championship appearances van der Voort had never gone out at the first round, and he looked on course for a place in the last 32 when he won the first set 3-1 with an 11 darter.

But Hopp responded in the next set, winning three legs on the spin to level the match up, before claiming the third and fourth sets, both 3-1, to complete a comeback win and dump van der Voort out at the first hurdle.

Vincent van der Voort (88.79): 100+ 19; 140+ 9; 180 2; Checkout % 20%; HC 90.

Max Hopp (94.59): 100+ 25; 140+ 9; 180 6; Checkout % 58.82%; HC 102.

Huybrechts in fine form as he cruises past Wilson Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Kim Huybrechts James Wilson

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Kim Huybrechts breezed through to the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship with an impressive 3-0 win against James Wilson last night.

The Hurricane, who suffered a surprise first round exit at the Alexandra Palace 12 months ago, dropped just three legs as he recorded a straight sets win.

Having beaten the Belgian in his own back yard in the European

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Chizzy blows Rodriguez away with impressive last set burst Dave Chisnall Rowby-John Rodriguez

Championship in October, Wilson was looking to make his mark on his debut appearance on the Alexandra Palace stage.

But Huybrechts clearly had other ideas. After the opening four legs of the first set all went with throw, the 31-year-old won the decider with a 104 finish.

The former Players Championship Finals runner-up was in fine form as he hit three 180s in the second set, as well as completing checkouts of 81, 85 and

76 to take a two-set lead over the debutant. Huybrechts then took out 95 and 138 in the last two legs on his way to a whitewash third set, which booked his place in the second round of the tournament.

With wildcard picks for next year’s Premier League up for grabs, every win Huybrechts gets between now and January 2 is like gold dust.

Kim Huybrechts (98.66): 100+ 15; 140+ 8; 180 5; Checkout % 64.29%; HC 138.

James Wilson (94.69): 100+ 15; 140+ 12; 180 1; Checkout % 25%; HC 40.

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Dave Chisnall produced a stunning last set to shake off Rowby-John Rodriguez in a deciding set in the first round of the William Hill World Darts Championship last night.

The seventh seed came from a set down to lead his young Austrian opponent 2-1, before being pegged back and then powering to victory with a stunning display in the deciding set.

The former BDO World Championship finalist took out checkouts of 90, 117 and 96 in consecutive legs as he averaged 121.86 in the final set.

“I’m a very slow starter in darts,” Chisnall said. “If it was set play I might lose a set, if it’s leg play I might go one, two or three down and not play well.

“To be fair (the World Championship first round) is quite long. If it’s 3-2 it’s 15 legs or more, so I knew I could build on my bad performance and make it good.

“The last set was quite good. He made some errors to let me in for some of the sets and I took advantage.”

Chisnall has got to three TV finals this year, losing on all three occasions to world number one Michael van Gerwen, and believes he comes into this year’s World Championship in good form.

“I’m playing better,” he said. “I think it’s one of my best years, this year.

“It’s different when you’re up there (at Alexandra Palace). It’s not like any other tournament. If you’re not on, you’re not going to win it.

“If it’s not going right it’s a lonely place and today it didn’t go right, but I did enough and I won.”

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Friday 23 December 2016 Darts Weekly

Jenkins getting ready to bid farewell to the Ally Pally as he outlines retirement plans Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER This will be the last William Hill World Darts Championship that Terry Jenkins plays in.

That is the view from the man himself, with Jenkins revealing his latest talk of retiring from the PDC circuit is more than just talk.

The 53-year-old battled back from a set behind to beat Josh Payne, 30 years his junior, 3-1 in the first round on Saturday.

A second round clash with 15th seed Benito van de Pas awaits the eight-time major finalist this afternoon, with Jenkins admitting this is likely to be his last year competing at the Alexandra Palace.

“Yeah I think so,” said Jenkins, when asked if this will be his last World Championship campaign.

“If I qualify for these tournaments I’ll go in them, of course I will.

“But no, I’ve got to wind it down now. I’ve been saying for the last two or three years I’m going to pack it in and I can’t keep going just because I’m playing well.

“There’s got to be a sort of a line where I draw and I think this is it. “(If I carry on) I might be doing it in another 10 years when I’m on my Zimmer frame!

“I can’t keep doing it because I’m playing well. I’ve got to get my life back a little bit.

“We’ve got to go on holidays and I’ve got to enjoy that money that I’m earning at the moment.

“And that’s what it’s all about really. There’s no good earning all that money if you’re not going to enjoy it.”

Having joined the PDC in 2003, Jenkins has spent the last 13 years among the organisation’s elite players, with his current ranking of 18th the lowest he has been on the PDC Order of Merit going into a World Championship since 2005.

A five-year run in the Premier

Winding down: Terry Jenkins says he plans to drastically reduce his schedule on the PDC circuit in 2017 League, between 2007 and 2011, coincided with his ranking being well-established in the top eight.

Jenkins was a late bloomer in that he did not join the PDC circuit until he was about to turn 40, but he did previously play in the BDO before then, reaching the semifinals of the Welsh Open in 1993.

“You’ve got to draw the line somewhere,” Jenkins said.

“If it would have happened all for me when I was in my mid 20s I would have done a few more years.

“I didn’t start playing darts in the PDC until I was nearly 40 and I’ve got to pack it in sometime.

“I’ll just go in the TV tournaments I qualify for next

“I might be doing it in another 10 years when I’m on my Zimmer frame!” year. I won’t be doing the tour, I’ll leave that to the younger players.”

Jenkins’ second round opponent, van de Pas, will be the second 23year-old he has faced at Alexandra Palace this year, but his next foe will pose a tougher test.

Now up to 15th on the PDC Order of Merit, van de Pas is one of several outsiders to gain a place in the Premier League next year, with a strong run in this year’s World Championship likely to be a big factor in whether he gets in or not.

The previous two PDC World Championship campaigns for van de Pas have both ended in the third round, with 4-0 defeats to Robert Thornton and Michael Smith, but the Dutchman is hoping to get past Jenkins to then set up another crack at the last 16.

Reigning champion Gary Anderson could await the winner.

King to show no fear after coming through a thriller in the first round Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Mervyn King says he is not worried about playing anyone as he gets ready to renew his William Hill World Darts Championship campaign this afternoon.

The King came back from the brink of defeat to edge past his good friend Steve West 3-2 in the first round on Monday night, with a match-saving 136 checkout in the third set sparking a stunning comeback from the 22nd seed.

And ahead of taking on 11th seed Michael Smith in the second round today, King is hoping to produce an improved performance.

“I weren’t throwing the way I can

Darts Weekly Friday 23 December 2016

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY LOCKUP DAVE @LockupTipster

I’m tipping White to win by two or more sets against Clayton Dave South DARTS WRITER

year with The second round of the William World Youth Hill World Darts Championship gets underway with the first six of triumph

(in the first round),” the two-time BDO World Championship finalist said.

“At the end of the day I’ve won and I’m going to take that and hopefully it’s going to give me a little bit more confidence, and we’re going to take it to Michael.

“If I produce my game I’m not worried about playing anybody and I can win any tournament, so hopefully it turns up.”

King’s second round opponent Smith also came from behind to win his opening game at this year’s tournament, overturning deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 to see off Ricky Evans in a deciding set.

The win against Evans ended a 10-match losing streak for the former World Youth champion, who admits his 5-4 defeat to Raymond van Barneveld in the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace 12 months ago still haunts him.

“Last year still haunts me,” the 26-year-old said. “I was 3-0 up against Raymond, as soon as I hit the 121 on the bull for three sets to

nil I thought ‘this is my year, I can win the World Championship’.

“I was playing lovely darts and I just took the foot off the gas.

“But last year I had Jeffrey de Zwaan in the first round, he pushed me all the way.

“Ricky’s just done it now so I’ve got that first game out the way, I’ve finally got that win.

“I’ve just proved that I can still play and I can still fight.

“I might have not done in the last few months but this is the biggest tournament in the world, everyone wants to be world champion, why can’t I?”

Emotional win: Mervyn King

16 games which will determine the line-up for the third round.

The afternoon session sees Ian White take on Jonny Clayton, Michael Smith battling against Mervyn King and Benito van de Pas taking on Terry Jenkins.

All three favourites to win are a smidgen under 3/1 with bookie Blacktype and under 5/2 with Bet365.

White and Clayton see the afternoon session in, with White at 8/15 and Clayton 15/8 in places.

White did not get tested too much against Kevin Simm in his opener which led to a mid 80 average performance, while Clayton battled nicely over Gerwyn Price to progress.

With the format now first to four sets, this will be a format Clayton is less used to, with the veteran White seemingly having the advantage.

The standout bet here has to be White to win the game by two or more sets at 13/14 with Marathonbet and a general 5/6 with other bookmakers.

White is 4/9 for the most maximums, which I like also.

Smith and King are second up and it could be an absolute classic if both turn up.

Smith goes off at 8/15 with King a shade under 2/1. Smith leads the more recent meetings between the two, winning three of the last four.

Van de Pas and Jenkins will be an epic in the final game of the session.

This really is a game where I find it difficult to call, but I do think heading down the checkout markets could be the way to go.

Prices correct at time of publication

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Friday 23 December 2016 Darts Weekly

CHRISTOPHER KEMPF MATCH OF THE WEEK - MERVYN KING 3-2 STEVE WEST (PDC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP)

West bears witness to the return of the King Mervyn King’s head looked as if it were about to explode.

After saving the match with a 136 checkout and a 12-dart leg, he threw down his fist and roared, making a facial expression which might have been described as Michael van Gerwen-esque, for the unintentional benefit of the TV cameras, had it not been so out of character for King.

This is a man who does all that he can to shut out external stimuli while he throws - wearing earplugs, ignoring the provocations of the crowd and maintaining a composed, serene demeanour throughout the match.

It took a huge finish and a bold comeback against one of his best friends to draw King out of the fortress of his head and even into tears.

It took a catastrophic start to put that emotional swing into motion.

King, a former semi-finalist on the Alexandra Palace stage, acquitted himself poorly in the first set, throwing 47 darts at scoring trebles and hitting only seven targets, averaging 73.6.

No other seeded player thus far in the tournament has botched a set so badly.

After Steve West won the set easily, King then appeared to have righted himself, dispatching West in back-to-back 14-dart legs.

But with two missed darts to take the second set, miniscule cracks began to show in the King emotional façade. Leaving a bogey number in the fourth leg, King gritted his teeth.

After more no-treble visits and a West 11-dart leg for the set, he

smirked, shook his head and walked off the stage.

This was, however, no preparation for the emotional bombshell dropped in the fourth leg of the third set, wherein West threw six perfect darts and set up a score of 36 after nine, only to be floored by King’s 136 finish under pressure.

It was one of the greatest legs of darts ever seen at the Alexandra Palace, and it set the stage for West’s disastrous collapse of form.

Perhaps West, unaccustomed to playing long-format matches on televised stages, grew tired; or perhaps seeing his good friend react so passionately astonished him and wore on his concentration.

All the same, West’s average plunged after that critical leg. A match dart in the final leg of the third set missed the mark by a wide margin, and where West had been reaching finishes in 10.25 darts up until King’s masterstroke, he needed 12.7 afterward.

King, now flooded with adrenaline and confidence, evened the score.

The advantage swung back and forth in the marathon fifth set, with West missing two more match darts along the way in a gruelling sixth leg that was a harbinger of his defeat.

Not until the final leg of a match that lasted 27 legs - akin to the length of a lateround World Matchplay contest - did King’s average finally LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

exceeded that of his friend. Still somewhat embarrassed by his first two sets, King vowed in a postmatch interview to perform to a higher standard in his upcoming second round match versus Michael Smith than he managed in his opening effort, which clocked in at an 86.85 average.

But it almost seems frivolous to concern oneself with averages after a match like this. It is not so often that a match, in spite of its mathematical mechanics, displays so vividly how much a player loves the game of darts.

King-West was emotionally overwhelming to experience for the audience, the commentators, especially the players.

It is the stuff of which legends are made.

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Darts Weekly Friday 23 December 2016

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Gilding has the belief to cause an upset at Alexandra Palace

Revenge on the mind for Whitlock ahead of rematch against Webster Simon Whitlock will be looking to get revenge on Darren Webster when the two meet in the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship tonight.

The former World Championship runner-up, then seeded seventh, suffered a surprise 3-1 defeat to Webster in the first round at Alexandra Palace two years ago.

The two will face off again, this time in the last 32, this evening, with Whitlock aiming to avenge that defeat.

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Andrew Gilding says this year’s William Hill World Darts Championship could be the time for him to produce his best darts on the big stage again.

Goldfinger looked to be heading for an early exit at Alexandra Palace after trailing John Henderson 2-0 in sets in the first round on Saturday.

But the Suffolk thrower pulled out a fine comeback to win in a sudden-death leg, with the reward a second round clash with the reigning champion Gary Anderson this evening.

Last year saw the 46-year-old reach the semi-finals of the UK Open, knocking out Jelle Klaasen, James Wade and Mensur Suljovic before being narrowly beaten 10-8 by eventual champion and world number one Michael van Gerwen.

Gilding averaged 108.37 and hit 10 180s during the semi-final defeat to van Gerwen, and he says that run at Minehead in 2015 has given him the belief that he can match it with the top players on the biggest stages again.

“At the UK Open that gave me a lot of belief,” he said, “just because I know I can do it now. I know I

can go through a tournament averaging over 100, so this could be another time for that, you never know.”

Gilding has faced second seed Anderson three times before, with all three meetings being played away from the cameras on the Pro Tour and all have ended 6-5 in the two-time world champion’s favour.

The Scot enjoyed a more simpler route through the first round, whitewashing Mark Frost 3-0, and says he is starting to adjust to playing with glasses on.

“I’ve went back to my old darts and I’ve got the specs on and I’m getting used to them,” he said.

“I just throw without thinking of them and that seems to work.”

“I want to beat him,” the Australian said.

“He beat me at Minehead just recently as well. I missed a couple of doubles and I let him in.

“He made the semis and fair play to him, he took out some big names and he nearly beat Michael (van Gerwen).

“He’s a very good player. He’s playing probably his best darts right now, so I’ve got to play my best darts to beat him.”

Whitlock, who is provisionally back in the top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit, avoided a hat-trick of first round exits at the World Championship by thrashing Dragutin Horvat 3-0 on Tuesday.

The Wizard has had somewhat of a renaissance in the last few

months, winning back-to-back Players Championship events and reaching the quarter-finals of both the World Grand Prix and World Series Finals.

The former Premier League star reached the final at Alexandra Palace in 2010 and believes he has what it takes to have another lengthy run in the PDC’s biggest tournament of the season.

“I am so ready this year,” he enthused. “That’s all I can say.

“I’ve been preparing for this tournament for four months, not just mentally, but physically, I’ve been working out.

“I feel strong in the mind, strong in the body, so I’m ready.

“I think I’m very close to where I was before.”

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Friday 23 December 2016 Darts Weekly

Taylor lays down the gauntlet to his title rivals as he looks to win a 17th world title Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Phil Taylor says he has a ‘massive chance’ of winning a 17th world title at the William Hill World Darts Championship this year.

The 16-time world champion takes on Kevin Painter, in a repeat of their thrilling 2004 World Championship final at the Circus Tavern, in the second round on Tuesday night.

And after coming through his opening game at Alexandra Palace unscathed, whitewashing David Platt 3-0 on Sunday, Taylor has said he believes he could go all the way and get his hands on the Sid Waddell Trophy on January 2.

“I’ve got a chance of winning this, trust me,” the 56-year-old said.

“I’ve got a 10/1 chance! Seriously, I’ve got a massive chance of winning this.

“I’m very solid and I’m going to get better, as each round goes on the longer the format is.

“I’m going to get better. I’m going to get more confident. I’ve been doing things, changing something which is working for me.

“I’m not going to lie to you, I’m not stupid. I know when I’ve got chance and when I haven’t got a chance.

“I haven’t had a chance for two or three years but I’ve got a chance this year of winning this.”

Taylor has talked about possibly retiring from the sport as early as 2018, but much like Terry Jenkins is going to scale back on his playing schedule next year.

“I’m going to carry on until my ranking tells me I can’t carry on,” he said.

“I’m going to semi retire, until my ranking says I can’t play anymore.

“I’m not going to chase points, I’m going to play in the World Championship, I’m going to play in

Determined: Phil Taylor believes he can add a 17th world title to his glittering list of achievements in darts Blackpool, Wolverhampton, whatever I qualify for I’m going to play.

“And if I pick points up or I pick money up I’ll play again. The only way to get rid of me is to beat me.”

Taylor’s 16th, and currently last, World Championship triumph came four years ago, which is the longest spell he has gone without winning the sport’s biggest prize.

Early exits to Michael Smith and Jelle Klaasen in 2014 and 2016, and a 7-6 defeat in the 2015 final to Gary Anderson, have ended Taylor’s previous attempts at becoming a 17-time world champion.

With former world champions

“Lewis, Barney, we’ve done them before, we can do them again” Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld both in his quarter of the draw, Taylor is going to have to be at his best if he is to progress into the final stages of the tournament.

“They’ve got a problem with me this year, trust me,” Taylor declared.

“Am I bothered (that Lewis and van Barneveld are in his quarter of the draw)? Not one iota.

“Lewis, Barney, we’ve done them all before, we can do them again.

Let’s have a go.”

Taylor came from 4-1 down in sets to beat Painter in a deciding set in their 2004 final epic, while last year’s clash between the two in the World Championship was not such a memorable affair.

It was Taylor who progressed into the third round with a 4-1 win, but Painter was left frustrated after

missing chances to get on top of his old rival early on.

“Phil’s obviously on better form than I am,” said Painter, who edged past Jamie Caven 3-1 in the opening game of the tournament on December 15.

“He knows that if he doesn’t play his proper game and I turn up he’s got a problem.

“I’ve had great games with him in

Darts Weekly Friday 23 December 2016 LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

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the past but I’ve got to just build on the win, not so much the performance, because I was obviously going to be nervous going into the game.

“I’d just got into the tournament and I just wanted to win a game.

“I’ve been off the scene for a bit. I nearly didn’t make this tournament so I’ve just got to take everything as a bonus.”

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Van Gerwen: The 25 tournaments I won this year don’t count anymore Michael van Gerwen says all his focus is now on winning a second world title He may not want to throw all the titles he’s won ‘in the bin’ but Michael van Gerwen admits all the success he has had in 2016 doesn’t count anymore as he bids to be crowned world champion for a second time.

The world number one is the outright favourite to win the William Hill World Darts Championship, for the first time since 2014, on January 2, and has dominated the PDC circuit this year, winning an unprecedented 25 tournaments.

But after cruising through his first round match at Alexandra Palace against Finland’s Kim Viljanen on Saturday night, the top seed admits he is even putting himself under pressure to be crowned world champion again.

“I put myself under pressure every day of the week, and every minute of the week, and every hour of the week,” he said.

“I want to win this world title.

The last 25 tournaments I won they don’t count anymore it’s now about this.

“I always look tournament to tournament. I don’t look too much

ahead, people asked me questions six months ago about this World Championship.

“But I wasn’t even thinking about it. It’s not the time of the year to think about it.

“The beginning of December when everything starts then you need to make sure you get ready for it.”

Van Gerwen has racked up 43 titles in the last two years, but the Sid Waddell Trophy has eluded him in that time, with Gary Anderson winning the 2015 and 2016 World Championships.

Spain’s Cristo Reyes is next up for MVG in the second round on Tuesday night, and beyond that it could be Simon Whitlock in the third round and Mensur Suljovic in the quarter-finals.

Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld are all battling away in the second quarter of the draw and are the likeliest contenders for van Gerwen in the semi-finals, should he progress that far.

“There’s always pressure on myself,” he said. “Everyone puts pressure on me because I did really well over the year.

“Outside that, I’m a winner. I don’t like losing. I hate losing, so I also put pressure on myself a lot.

“I always try to focus on perfection and that’s not easy.”

12

Friday 23 December 2016 Darts Weekly

Hearn now has eyes set on a £20 million tour in the PDC Barry Hearn is now dreaming of a £20m tour in the PDC after announcing the latest increase in prize money on the circuit in 2017.

The PDC chairman held a press conference at the Alexandra Palace on Monday evening, where he revealed prize money in PDC events will rise to £11.2 million next year.

The PDC’s growth over the last 10 years has seen prize money rise from around £2 million in 2006 to five times that amount during this year, and it is set to continue growing with another series of prize fund boosts in 2017.

The William Hill World Darts Championship, which this year boasts a record £1.65 million prize pot, will rise to £1.8 million for the 2017-18 tournament.

The winner of the event will pocket a record £400,000, a £50,000 increase from the £350,000 on offer this year.

The Betway Premier League, the 10-player invitational event which tours arenas in the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands, will also increase by £100,000 up to £825,000 in prize money.

The eventual champion next May will take home £250,000, while the winner of the World Matchplay is set to scoop £115,000 from an increased £500,000 prize fund.

Other televised tournaments, including the Coral UK Open, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals, will also benefit from increased prize funds next year.

While the 2017 European Tour, which will see a further two events being held next year, will now offer a £135,000 prize fund per tournament.

Elsewhere, two further Players Championship events will also take place, while the Unicorn Development Tour and Challenge Tour are expanding to 20 tournaments in 2017.

The record £11.2 million total

also includes nine-dart finish bonuses at televised events as well as contributions which the PDC makes to affiliated tours worldwide to aid the global development of the sport.

Outlining his ambitions for the PDC on Monday, Hearn says he is now gunning for the £20 million mark on the circuit.

“I said a few years ago that my

“Next year’s World Championship the prize money will be £1.8 million” dream was to get to £10 million,” he said.

“I’m scrapping that dream, so now I’m going for £20 million and I will get there because everything is in our favour.

“I always say complacency is the biggest killer in life, but it’s difficult not to be complacent because things are going, frankly, so well.

“Our overseas TV income is off the scale. International TV

‘Eric has paid a big price for the silly comments he made’ Barry Hearn believes Eric Bristow has ‘paid a big price’ for the controversial comments he made on Twitter which led to him being sacked from his role at Sky. The five-time world champion was dumped by the broadcaster following tweets he posted on his account in relation to the football sex abuse scandal.

Hearn commented: “It was more than unfortunate. It was silly comments and he has paid a big price for it.

“But I always believe you should forgive and forget in time once you’ve paid the penalty, and he’s clearly paid that penalty.”

New plans: PDC chairman Barry Hearn speaking at Monday’s press conference contracts are being renegotiated currently at four, five times the previous contract.

“We are at the cusp of an amazing extravaganza of sporting excellence, which means the players who have delivered that excellence have every right to be rewarded at a level they’ve not seen before.

“So today we’re going to announce that our prize money in 2017 will rise to £11.2 million.

“Next year’s World Championship the prize money will be £1.8 million, with £400,000 to the winner.

“That’s going to continue to climb over the next couple of years to over £2 million with half a million pounds to the winner.”

Hearn also announced ticket prices for PDC televised events in the UK and Ireland will be frozen for a 12-month period, starting from the World Matchplay next summer.

Darts Weekly Friday 23 December 2016

13 LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

x

x

‘x x x x x

Lamb 4-0, as the visitors won four of the last five games to pull away to victory.

Elsewhere in Division One, Cleveland and Kent drew 18-18 and bottom side London beat County Durham 19-17.

Northamptonshire maintained top spot in Division Two with a 23-13 win at home against Staffordshire.

Surrey reduced the deficit at the

triumph over Berkshire, while Cumbria slipped to fourth after losing 21-15 to Worcestershire.

The other Division Two fixture saw Northumberland win the battle of the lowly sides against Suffolk, winning 21-15.

In Division Three, Gwynedd won the battle of the top two sides with a 21-15 triumph at home over Merseyside.

It was the visitors Merseyside who held a slender 10-8 overnight lead, but hosts Gwynedd fought back on the Sunday and took the Women’s A section 4-2 and the Men’s A section 9-3 to pull away to victory over their title rivals.

And finally, Norfolk opened up an 11 point lead at the top of Division Four after thrashing bottom of the table Isle of Wight 30-6.

Closest challengers Clwyd and Wiltshire also recorded wins at the weekend, beating Shropshire (26-10) and Bedfordshire (2016) respectively.

Database PDC WILLIAM HILL WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP (Alexandra Palace) Preliminary round - J Hendriks (86.63) bt W Parry (85.42) 2-0; T Shah (83.44) bt M Chino (80.18) 2-1; K Viljanen (83.57) bt R Snook (76.40) 2-0; K Simm (76.05) bt G Uang (73.00) 2-0; D Platt (86.92) bt J Bowles (88.96) 2-0; C Cadby (102.48) bt Q Sun (68.04) 2-0; D Horvat (75.58) bt B Koltsov (76.51) 2-1; Z Lerchbacher (90.35) bt S Stevenson (85.44) 2-1. First round - M van Gerwen (103.34) bt K Viljanen (81.50) 30; C Reyes (95.54) bt D van den Bergh (99.11) 3-2; D Webster (94.46) bt S Bunting (91.02) 3-2; S Whitlock (98.70) bt D Horvat (88.18) 3-0; M Suljovic (88.51) bt R Meulenkamp (88.56) 3-0; M Webster (87.78) bt J Murnan (88.84) 3-0; R Thornton (88.55) bt Z Lerchbacher (81.80) 3-0; D Gurney (96.85) bt J Wattimena (91.90) 3-1; A Lewis (93.25) bt M Caris (80.64) 3-0; J Cullen (100.88) bt C Cadby (98.62) 3-1; R van Barneveld (98.84) bt R Green (90.08) 3-0; A Norris (91.61) bt J Michael (86.05) 3-2; P Taylor (101.68) bt D Platt (86.94) 3-0; K Huybrechts (98.66) bt J Wilson (94.69) 3-0; M Hopp (94.59) bt V van der Voort (88.79) 3-1; A Gilding (90.94) bt J Henderson (88.19) 3-2;

B van de Pas (91.18) bt T Shah (87.86) 3-1; T Jenkins (93.66) bt J Payne (88.94) 3-1; D Chisnall (98.72) bt R-J Rodriguez (94.90) 32; C Dobey (90.70) bt J Pipe (85.94) 3-1; J Klaasen (96.02) bt J de Graaf (89.79) 3-1; B Dolan (95.12) bt C Kist (88.67) 3-1; J Wade (93.83) bt R Huybrechts (87.72) 3-0; S Beaton (88.55) bt D Petersen (79.29) 3-1; M King (86.85) bt S West (86.66) 3-2; P Wright (101.06) bt J Hendriks (86.55) 3-0; I White (87.20) bt K Simm (82.16) 3-0; J Clayton (89.98) bt G Price (86.89) 3-1.

FIXTURES PDC WILLIAM HILL WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP (Alexandra Palace) TODAY - I White v J Clayton; M Smith v M King; B van de Pas v T Jenkins; D Webster v S Whitlock; G Anderson v A Gilding; A Lewis v J Cullen.

TUESDAY - M Suljovic v M Webster; R Thornton v D Gurney; D Chisnall v C Dobey; R van Barneveld v A Norris; P Taylor v K Painter; M van Gerwen v C Reyes.

WEDNESDAY - K Huybrechts v M Hopp; J Wade v S Beaton; J Klaasen v B Dolan; P Wright v J Lewis.

DARTS WEEKLY DOZEN (22/12/2016) Data compiled by Christopher Kempf Player M van Gerwen P Taylor M Suljovic J Klaasen S Whitlock D Gurney V van der Voort J Cullen A Norris B van de Pas S Beaton M King

LLE 15.623 16.029 17.133 17.437 17.546 17.914 18.311 18.312 18.314 18.441 18.568 18.762

Change 0.131 -0.020 -0.006 -0.297 0.119 0.110 -0.267 0.190 -0.006 -0.060 0.039 -0.349

◊ The Darts Weekly Dozen is a statistical index tracking 12 top PDC players according to leg length estimates for their most recent 180 televised and streamed legs. ◊ Massive scoring improvements for Joe Cullen in his shootout against Corey Cadby ◊ Vincent van der Voort’s missed doubles, back pain, responsible for significant decline in finishing estimates from 2.728 to 2.859 ◊ Jelle Klaasen’s estimate plunges as stellar European Trophy performances drop out of his last 180 legs

14

Friday 23 December 2016 Darts Weekly

DAVE McNALLY DARTS WRITER

Bon Jovi a particular favourite for the players Over the last few months I have had the fortune of interviewing different players from across both codes, so just for a bit of festive fun (and the fact that the rest of the magazine will be concentrating on the William Hill World Darts Championship) I have compiled some of the lesser known maybe daft facts about a handful of the players.

Stuff you don’t really want to know or don’t care about, but what the hell, it’s Christmas!

So just like in true 1980s style football programmes, you’ll see that your favourite dartists have appalling tastes, here we go: Robbie Green Favourite band - UB40 or Oasis Favourite food and drink - Roast dinner/Jack Daniels and Coke Favourite crisps - Tayto Bacon flavour, the ones you get in Ireland!

Football team - Liverpool Wayne Mardle Favourite band - Culture Club Favourite food and drink - Lamb or chicken roast dinner/Vodka and tonic Favourite crisps - McCoys Cheddar Cheese Football team - Tottenham Hotspur Wesley Harms Favourite band - Bon Jovi Favourite food and drink - Lasagne (laughs) and water Favourite crisps - Bacon Football team - There is no team in particular for me, I just like football

x Scott Mitchell Favourite band - Bon Jovi Favourite food and drink - Cheese, lettuce and salad cream sandwich Favourite crisps - Prawn Cocktail, although I don’t like prawns!

Football team - Bournemouth Dave Chisnall Favourite band - Nobody really but I’ll say The Wonderstuff Favourite food and drink - Curry and Coke Favourite crisps - I don’t eat crisps, they’re no good for you!

Football team - Liverpool Just like most footballers, you can see some of the poor taste that the professionals have!

Robbie Green also let me know that he liked beans on his breakfast as he wasn’t a fan of mushrooms.

Nice to see Scott Mitchell being particularly specific about what he likes to eat, but one of the most disturbing aspects of all this is the

fact that the players are fans of Bon Jovi.

This is a crime and they should be made accountable, couple this with the support for Liverpool and you feel it couldn’t get any worse, except maybe an article written about it all?

Anyway, for the record, here are my answers: Favourite band - Echo & the Bunnymen, Pale Saints, The Edsel Auctioneer or The Wedding Present Favourite food and drink - Chicken Tikka Pathia and Guinness, or a nice single malt whisky Favourite crisps - Brannigans Roast Beef and Mustard Football team - There’s only one team, Everton… oh and Staylbridge Celtic Finally, I would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas. I hope you all have a great festive period!