Issue 61 (March 3, 2017)

Friday 3 March 2017

The ONLY weekly and FREE darts magazine!

Darts Weekly

Is this the Wright time?

LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

Peter Wright records 119.50 average last night to head into the UK Open today in scintillating form Pages 2-5 HAMMOND IS ON A HIGH ALL ABOUT SOFT TIP

ORESHKIN TRIUMPHS

DartsLive ambassador Adrian Lakeside runner-up chats to us about her rise to the top Pages 6-7 Gray on soft tip darts Page 8-9

Enigmatic Russian wins Pro Tour event on home soil Page 12

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Friday 3 March 2017 Darts Weekly

No UK Open hat-trick for van Gerwen as defending champ pulls out with back injury Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER

Missing out: Michael van Gerwen has withdrawn from the UK Open this weekend

The UK Open is one of those tournaments where you can always expect the unexpected, but few would have predicted that the defending champion Michael van Gerwen would not be among the field of players battling it out in Minehead this weekend.

The world number one, who has won the tournament, affectionately known as the ‘FA Cup of Darts’, for the last two years.

Amid all the shocks and surprises this event conjures up each year, the Dutchman lifting the trophy has been the one constant theme at Butlin’s Minehead over the last few years.

But this morning, in a statement released by the PDC, it was announced that van Gerwen will not be competing this weekend.

The statement reads: ‘Michael van Gerwen has withdrawn from the Coral UK Open due to his back injury.

‘The reigning UK Open champion had been forced to miss the Betway Premier League’s visit to Exeter on Thursday (last night) after failing to recover from the problem.

‘Following further treatment in the Netherlands, van Gerwen has been ruled out of this weekend’s UK Open, meaning that he misses out on the chance to challenge for a third consecutive triumph in the event at the Butlin’s Minehead Resort.

‘As a result of the withdrawal under Rule 3.7, no replacement will be made in the field for the Coral UK Open, and the third round draw on Friday (today) will feature 31 ties, with one player receiving a Bye through to the fourth round.’

The UK Open this weekend will mark the first televised ranking tournament which van Gerwen has missed since the 2011 World

Grand Prix, and since then he has claimed an incredible 16 televised ranking titles, including the UK Open in both 2015 and 2016.

Van Gerwen’s late withdrawal, coupled with the random draw after each round, leaves this year’s UK Open a lot more open than it would have been.

Former winners of the event, other than van Gerwen, include Adrian Lewis (2014), Robert Thornton (2012), James Wade (2008 and 2011) and Raymond van Barneveld (2006 and 2007).

But could there be a new name on the trophy this year?

Gary Anderson and Peter Wright, currently ranked second and third on the PDC Order of Merit, will

‘This will be the first televised ranking event he’s missed since 2011’ certainly fancy their chances of winning the tournament.

Especially Wright, a runner-up in the UK Open to van Gerwen for the last two years, who recorded the second highest ever average in a televised darts match in the Premier League last night.

Wright’s 7-2 demolition of Adrian Lewis saw the Scot finish with a three-dart average of 119.50, an average only eclipsed by van Gerwen’s 123.40 in the Premier League last year.

If Wright can produce anywhere near the form he produced last night, he must be the favourite to win and end his long wait for a first televised title.

While Wright has reached the final in the last two years, the UK Open has not been such a happy hunting ground for Anderson.

The two-time world champion

did get to the final, when the event was held at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton back in 2010, but since then his best run has been to the fifth round in 2014.

Last year, Anderson was knocked out by Riley’s Amateur Qualifier Barry Lynn, who enjoyed a memorable weekend, getting through to the final day, where he lost out to van Gerwen in the quarter-finals.

It was the best ever run by a Riley’s Amateur Qualifier, with Rob Cross, another player to come through those qualifiers, also playing van Gerwen on the main stage.

It took 18 perfect darts from the world number one to shake off the challenge of the then unknown Cross, but given how he has kicked on since that weekend twelve months ago, plenty of pundits will fancy him as a darkhorse this year.

Cross finished top of the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour Order of Merit at the end of last year, earning him a two-year tour card

Darts Weekly Friday 3 March 2017

3 LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE LOCKUP TIPSTER

O’Connor, de Graaf and Caven put in a treble pays well with Bwin Dave South DARTS WRITER

year with World Youth triumph

onto the main PDC circuit, and he has not looked back.

Wins over James Wade, Dave Chisnall, Robert Thornton and Jelle Klaasen during the UK Open Qualifiers last month ensured he finished in the top 32 of the UK Open Order of Merit, meaning he will enter the tournament in the third round this evening.

Wright, Anderson, Chisnall, Wade, as well as Adrian Lewis, Simon Whitlock and van Barneveld all come into the hat for the third round draw later this afternoon.

But before then, 96 players, made up of 32 Riley’s Amateur Qualifiers and the players who finished 33-96 on the UK Open Order of Merit, will contest the first and second rounds.

Arguably the tie of those two opening rounds sees two former BDO world champions go head-tohead for a place in the third round.

2008 Lakeside winner Mark Webster, a quarter-finalist in the UK Open twelve months ago, takes

on 2013 BDO world champion Stephen Bunting.

The pressure will almost certainly be on the shoulders of Bunting who, after making an impressive start to life on the PDC circuit in 2014 and 2015, is now starting to slip down the rankings.

Bunting reached the semi-finals of the UK Open in 2015 and, with that £17,000 earnt from that run set to come off after this weekend, the Bullet needs to go deep into the tournament again this weekend in order to stay in the top 20 of the PDC. Away from the former world champions and household names of the PDC, several BDO regulars are among those in the list of Riley’s Amateur Qualifiers.

Dean Reynolds, who turned down his PDC tour card after finishing top of the Development Tour last year, Lakeside stalwart Paul Hogan and former England international Dave Parletti are in the draw. Can they spring a surprise or two?

The UK Open this year will be without Phil Taylor and we best get used to it.

Casting your eyes back to a previous column regarding Peter Wright, my opinion has not changed and Wright ratified this by topping the UK Open Order of Merit after the six qualifiers.

Before a back injury ruled Michael van Gerwen out of last night’s Premier League fixture in Exeter, and put his chances of playing in Minehead this weekend in doubt, MVG was short at 4/6 to retain his title.

Gary Anderson was at 7/1 and Peter Wright was at 14/1, with the rest of the field 25’s or bigger, but with some luck the open draw could be on our side and reap dividends.

Tasty ties dominate rounds one and two, including Stephen Bunting versus Mark Webster.

With both narrowly missing out on a bye to the third round, Webby has Bunting’s number in the headto-head winning all four meetings.

I am tempted on Bunting to turn this around and at evens is about right.

In addition, Paul Hogan to beat Keegan Brown is a shade of value at 42/41 with Bwin. It’s worth a go after seeing Hogan’s excellent run at Lakeside and also in this event in previous years.

Some short prices dominate the card and although other afternoon winners on my shortlist include Willie O’Connor, who loves this event, in addition, Jeffrey de Graaf to beat Barrie Bates and Jamie Caven to complete a treble pays as big as 11/5 with Bwin, but backers should be looking no shorter than 2/1.

I will enjoy this event, best of luck with all bets punters!

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Friday 3 March 2017 Darts Weekly

Wright masterclass shows he is more than capable of a first major title triumph this year Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER When the news broke on Wednesday afternoon that Michael van Gerwen would miss out on playing in the Betway Premier League this week due to a back injury, even the most ardent of darts fans would not have expected the world record televised average to be threatened at Exeter’s Westpoint Arena last night.

Peter Wright, the world number three, was not far away from breaking the record, finishing with a stunning average of 119.50 - the second highest televised average in history.

In the absence of reigning Premier League champion van Gerwen, Wright produced a display which was second-only to the Dutchman’s 123.40 record set last year in the same tournament.

Wright finished his seven winning legs in 12, 14, 12, 11, 12, 11 and 14 darts as he brushed aside

Top form: Peter Wright’s 119.50 average last night was the second highest average recorded on television two-time world champion Adrian Lewis 7-2 and moved joint-top of the Premier League table.

“I’m so happy just to get the two points but to play so well is brilliant,” Wright said.

“To play so well is brilliant but I think there’s loads more to come” “Adrian’s fantastic and he played brilliantly last week against Michael van Gerwen and hit a nine darter at the weekend so I knew it would be tough.

“Adrian started off brilliantly with the two 180s and I just felt like following him, and they were going in.

“That first leg set the pace and I got control of the match, but it felt

stores.ebay.co.uk/Mojo-DARTS

like a magnet was pulling the darts into the treble!

“I saw my average at 117 on the big screen and I wanted to get it higher but I think there’s loads of improvement to come.

“Michael van Gerwen’s the man to beat, he’s immense and it’s an honour to be chasing him at the moment.”

Wright’s career best performance put him joint-top of the table with Phil Taylor, who earlier in the night hit back from 6-4 down to maintain his unbeaten record with a draw against Gary Anderson.

Anderson took out 83 to move 64 up and secure a point, but missed tops for a 116 finish as Taylor scrambled home double five to force a deciding leg.

Taylor preceded his rival’s 180 with a 177 to set up double 16 as he snatched the draw.

The night in Exeter proved profitable for Dave Chisnall, who competed twice in the absence of van Gerwen and claimed victories over Raymond van Barneveld and

Darts Weekly Friday 3 March 2017

5 LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

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

James Wade. Chisnall firstly enjoyed a fine 7-2 win over van Barneveld, averaging over 101 as he claimed his second victory of the season.

He then returned to the stage in the night’s final game to inflict Wade’s first defeat of the season with a narrow 7-5 triumph as the left-hander missed tops for a 160 finish in the deciding leg to grab a draw.

“It’s nice to get two wins and it’s special,” Chisnall said. “Playing two games in a night is always going to be hard, but when I got told on Wednesday I made sure I got ready for it, and I’m happy to get the four points.”

Kim Huybrechts battled from 6-3 down to claim his third draw of the season with a stalemate against Jelle Klaasen, who remains locked on three points with the Belgian in the basement battle.

Klaasen punished missed doubles from his opponent to lead 6-3, before Huybrechts reeled off three legs of his own for a point.

Anderson and Norris clinch the titles in Barnsley Alan Norris and Gary Anderson won a title each on the opening weekend of this season’s Players Championship events in Barnsley.

Norris clinched his third PDC ranking title with a 6-1 victory over newcomer Peter Jacques in the final of Players Championship One on Saturday.

He picked up the £10,000 top prize in the first of the PDC’s 22 Players Championship events which will be held this year, as 128 players competed at the Barnsley Metrodome.

Norris’ previous PDC titles had come at a Players Championship in Dublin and a European Tour event in Germany, but he enjoyed success on UK soil for the first Hat-trick: Alan Norris won his third PDC title at the weekend

How they stand P W D L LD Pts P Taylor 5 2 3 0 +7 7 P Wright 5 3 1 1 +6 7 M van Gerwen 4 2 2 0 +7 6 J Wade 5 2 2 1 +3 6 D Chisnall 6 3 0 3 -3 6 G Anderson 5 1 3 1 +2 5 R van Barneveld 5 1 2 2 -6 4 A Lewis 5 1 1 3 -5 3 K Huybrechts 5 0 3 2 -5 3 J Klaasen 5 1 1 3 3 -6 4 4 4 4 Remaining fixtures Thursday, March 9 4 (The SSE Hydro, Glasgow); March 16 (Ahoy Rotterdam, Rotterdam); March 23 (Manchester Arena, Manchester); March 30 (Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff); April 6 (3Arena, Dublin); April 13 (Echo Arena Liverpool, Liverpool); April 20 (SSE Arena Belfast, Belfast); April 27 (Barclaycard Arena, Birmingham); May 4 (Sheffield Arena, Sheffield); May 11 (GE Oil and Gas Arena, Aberdeen); May 18 Play-Offs (The O2, London).

Tournament statistics Most 180s - D Chisnall (23) Highest tournament average - M van Gerwen (105.15) Legs won against the throw - P Taylor (12) Highest checkout percentage - G Anderson (44.12%)

time as he saw off Jacques in the decider.

Jacques, a 43-year-old postman from Huddersfield, tested himself on the PDC circuit by competing in five Challenge Tour events in 2016 before entering Qualifying School in January, and though he failed to win a tour card he put himself in a strong position to top up the field for Players Championship events.

He made his PDC Pro Tour debut in style by taking home £5,000 and came within one game of emulating 2015 Players Championship winner Joe Murnan by taking a title without holding a tour card.

On Sunday, Anderson won his first title of 2017 in brilliant fashion by defeating Peter Wright 6-1 in the final of Players Championship Two, where Adrian Lewis landed a nine-dart finish.

Anderson ended his wait for a victory in style with a 115 average in the final sealing him the £10,000 first prize.

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Friday 3 March 2017 Darts Weekly

Hammond overcomes travel and distance burdens to rise to the elite of the ladies’ game Dave McNally DARTS WRITER Recently described as “Aussie Superstar” by Showtime Darts, current BDO Women’s World Championship runner-up Corrine Hammond gave up her time to speak to me last week about all things darts.

In a meteoric rise from a virtual unknown to the biggest of stages, Hammond explained: “I’m not a newcomer to the game of darts but I am fairly new to the ‘tour’.

“Two years ago I had no idea how women qualified for the BDO World Championships.

“Living on the other side of the world and Australia not really being a darts ‘hot spot’, it’s not something that’s so much in the forefront of a players’ mind; particularly women.

“If you’d have said to me then that in two years’ time I would have played in two World Championships, the World Trophy and a number of tournaments within UK and Europe, having played against the likes of Deta (Hedman), Anastasia (Dobromyslova) and Lisa (Ashton) plus being a World Championship runner-up myself - I would never have believed it!”

Living on the other side of the world in darting terms, travelling to and from events is time consuming and problematic; a fact Hammond knows only too well.

“I don’t like that all the big events are a 24 hour plane trip away!” but it’s not all bad as she explains.

“I don’t really have to self-fund a lot - and when I say that, I mean self-fund doesn’t include what I pick up at tournaments I play in that pretty much keeps me going from one place to the next.

“I’m also very fortunate I have a great job that I love, one that both keeps paying the bills, and is supportive of my darts.”

Rising up: Australia’s Corrine Hammond got to the final of the BDO Women’s World Championship in January With a whirlwind twelve months behind her, including a massive rise through the rankings and a seeded place at the World Championships, one of her main goals, Hammond paused for reflection.

“Making the final of the World Championships has put me somewhat in the limelight, but really, there hasn’t been much difference in my game itself - and apart from a floor game here or there, I’ve yet to really play as well overseas as what I generally do at home - which is frustrating for me!”

Well aware of her new reputation does Hammond feel any added

“I’ve yet to really play as well overseas as what I generally do at home” pressures now that she’s a name to look out for on the circuit?

“I’m not one to feel pressured to live up to anyone else’s expectations apart from my own, so I’ll continue doing what feels comfortable for me,” she says.

So do you do any extra practice or prepare differently for televised events, knowing that the eyes of the world are on you? “(laughs) I may put a little extra effort in doing my hair, but apart from that, no - nothing is different!”

So what about nerves or psychological aspects?

“I believe the psychological component is an integral part of darts,” Hammond tells me.

“Everyone can hit trebles and doubles, but it’s about being able to put it all together at the right time consistently. Learning how to

overcome things such as nerves and adrenaline plays a big part in this; most players do have their own techniques for what works for them, and I’m no different.”

So who or what fired the starting pistol for Hammond, if darts is a pretty minor sport over in Australia? “(laughs) Well, my next door neighbour at the time had a dartboard in his garage, and we used to play games such as killer and cricket,” she says.

“He finally convinced me to head down to the local club one weekend with him for a social afternoon of drawn pairs.

“The look on the face of the man I was drawn with when I asked him how to play a game of darts was priceless - but up until that point, I had no idea how a ‘game’ was played.

“His advice to me was to ‘throw my darts at the board’! From that day, I was pretty much hooked, and as they say - the rest is history!”

Darts Weekly Friday 3 March 2017

7 DAVID GILL

It’s obvious today that the rest is history, but Hammond was quick to point out the naivety of a new darts player trying to make their way in a complicated system, and she had to learn fast.

“Two years ago I had no idea how women even qualified for the BDO World Championship, especially living on the other side of the world and Australia not really renowned as a darts ‘hot spot’.”

Hammond recognises that some of the top performing BDO ladies are producing averages that are often on a par with the men’s game, so has the time come for women to be allowed in the men’s events?

“I believe there’s room enough within the sport to continue with both men’s and women’s own competitions and see no reason why it would need to be combined,” she says.

“Just about every other sport affords women the opportunity to have their own place and identity within it, and I don’t believe darts

should be any different.”

What about in the commentary box then Corrine? Deta Hedman has been known to venture in and pick up the microphone on a few occasions.

“To be honest, I never really watch darts on TV, so I can’t make comment on the commentary box chatter,” she says.

“I do believe there is a gap in the

“Two years ago I had no idea how women qualified for Lakeside” media for women’s darts and feel that they are missing some great opportunities in highlighting achievements being made by players within the women’s game.”

So are you now recognised in the street in the UK and Australia? “(laughs) I only get recognised if it’s someone I know! Australia is nothing like the UK when it comes to darts,” Hammond tells me.

“Don’t get me wrong, the players love the game just the same, but we don’t have the number of players, the history, or the passion of the punters that you find in the UK and Europe, and we’re definitely lacking in the type of media exposure you find overseas.

“As for coverage I’ve had, I’ve had some air time on the local news channel, but that’s about it and that’s just the way I like it!”

Hammond, burdened with the travel and distance involved, suggests that she’d like to see some of the big darts events come to Australia so that everyone else can have a turn at travelling 24 plus hours and then having to get up to play.

But, come on Corrine, you must have some stories to tell from your travels?

She says: “As the saying goes; what happens on tour, stays on tour!

“But I will say, yes - I have had plenty of laughs and jokes along the way! (laughs)”

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Friday 3 March 2017 Darts Weekly

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

“Over the last week we have just installed a soft tip machine at Phil Taylor’s house!”

Official DartsLive player Adrian Gray chats to Richard Edwards about all things soft tip

his week I have been chatting to official DartsLive player Adrian Gray. Like a lot of players, especially back in the UK, Gray started playing steel tip long before venturing into the world of soft tip darts.

Having caused quite a stir in the PDC (readers will remember Gray’s defeat of Phil Taylor in 2007), it wasn’t until years later he started dedicating so much to soft tip darts.

I had the pleasure of meeting Gray last year when he travelled to Korea for a DartsLive tournament and it was easy to see how passionate he is about promoting soft tip darts in the UK and beyond.

This week he told me about his role and his plans for the future.

He explained how, in 2013 he watched his fellow PDC compatriots Mark Webster and Colin Lloyd in the DartsLive Super Darts tournament, it was a streamed event so the next opportunity he got, he spoke to the pair about how he can get involved and it did not take long for him to make an impact.

“They told me about the World Stage in France, so a few of us went,” he said.

“I made the top 16 in my first soft tip event and it is fair to say, after that I was hooked.”

Gray is an official DartsLive player, which may not seem much in the UK (yet), but when he racks up the air miles and jets across the globe he is a household name, an

“I really like playing soft tip, it’s so much fun to play and there are so many games”

T

honour that he recognises.

“I think being an official player is a great feeling because only a few are selected to be an official player,” he said.

“It makes me feel proud that I am one. The main tournaments I go to are the DartsLive World Stages.

“I also go to a few smaller events in France.”

I think it is fair to say Gray is an ambassador for soft tip darts, he is the guy who is trying to get all you darts fans, who may be sceptical about soft tip, to give it a go.

“I’m also an operator for DartsLive in the UK, so people in the UK can start playing on the machines now,” Gray said.

“We have around 25 machines in the UK. Also over the last week a machine has just been installed at Phil Taylor’s house.

“We have plans to make the UK see how fun and enjoyable soft tip darts is.

“This time next year we are looking to double the amount of machines and start to have a few tournaments.”

Gray’s next big tournament will be the 2017 edition of the tournament that first triggered the soft tip bug: Super Darts.

Like most big soft tip tournaments, this will be streamed online if you want to see how he fares.

“Next for me is Super Darts in Japan on the 22nd and 23rd of March,” he said.

“I really like playing soft tip, it’s so much fun and there are so many games to play.”

Darts Weekly Friday 3 March 2017

9 LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

x

x

x x x

“x x x x” I totally agree with Gray on how fun playing on these machines is.

They have come a long way since they were first introduced.

I think people used to be put off by throwing a very light dart, but these boards are advanced.

The DartsLive boards now accept a dart (fully dressed) that is 25g.

I am sure Gray has got a great product he is working with and he will do a great job overseeing the growth of soft tip in the UK. Anyone who follows Robbie Green on Twitter will know that he has recently got the bug for it.

He told me: “I love it, the fact that you can play people from the other side of the planet is brilliant.

“I’ve had Winmau make me a set of soft tip darts, that is how much I have enjoyed it.”

A personal plea: yes, there are not many soft tip boards in the UK, but

but if you do live near a board, give it a go!

Keep an open mind and you will enjoy it!

In fact, if you are reading this from anywhere in the world, download the DartsLive app which can help you find your nearest machine.

“I made the top 16 in my first soft tip event and after that I was hooked” Who knows, you might end up facing Adrian Gray, Robbie Green, Paul Lim or another darting star from around the world.

Or you can even have a go at giving a certain Phil Taylor a beating on the dartboard in his own living room!

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Friday 3 March 2017 Darts Weekly

Gates pips Cameron 5-4 in the successfully retain Port City Leonard Gates retained the Port City Open title at the weekend after edging past Dave Cameron 5-4 in the final.

The American came through a field of more than 100 players, which included former BDO World Championship finalist Jeff Smith (pictured second right).

Smith’s bid for the title, which he won back in 2012, came to end in the last 16, with Gates continuing his title defence with a 3-2 win in the last 16.

Gates then saw off Mark Asselin (3-0) and Mike Foster (4-1) to reach the final, where he took on Canada’s Cameron.

It was Cameron who got off to the better start in the decider, with a 13-darter helping him break the Gates throw for an early 2-0 lead.

Gates fought back with a 12darter to break straight back, before holding throw to level.

Cameron then took the next two legs to go 4-2 up, but Gates had other ideas, winning three legs on the spin to seal a 5-4 victory.

‘x x x x

‘x x x x

x

x

bt P Hudson 6-3; K Brown bt K Huybrechts 6-4; A Norris bt M De Decker 6-2; S Whitlock bt D Webster 6-3; D Gurney bt R Meikle 6-1; D Chisnall bt J Dekker 6-1; S West bt Z Lerchbacher 6-4; M Suljovic bt A Kirk 6-1; C Reyes bt S Beaton 6-4; J Wade bt C Quantock 6-4; M King bt D Pallett 6-4; B Dolan bt S Burton 6-5; M Smith bt A Lewis 6-3; P Jacques bt W O’Connor 6-5; G Anderson bt C Dobey 6-0. Last 16 - K Anderson bt P Wright 6-3; A Norris bt K Brown 6-1; S Whitlock bt D Gurney 6-5; S West bt D Chisnall 6-1; C Reyes bt M Suljovic 6-5; J Wade bt M King 6-2; M Smith bt B Dolan 65; P Jacques bt G Anderson 6-3. Quarterfinals - A Norris bt K Anderson 6-1; S Whitlock bt S West 6-2; J Wade bt C Reyes 65; P Jacques bt M Smith 6-4. Semi-finals A Norris bt S Whitlock 6-4; P Jacques bt J Wade 6-4. Final - A Norris bt P Jacques 6-1.

Huybrechts bt D Brown 6-0; D Petersen bt J Cullen 6-3; D Gurney bt R North 6-2; S Kellett bt A Alcinas 6-4; D van Duijvenbode bt J Richardson 6-4; R Owen bt P Jacques 63; R Cross bt M Dennant 6-3; T Evetts bt J Murnan 6-2; J Dekker bt H Robinson 6-3; R van Barneveld bt K Anderson 6-3; C Dobey bt M Schindler 6-3; A Norris bt R Searle 6-3; T Temple bt D Portela 6-4; J Klaasen bt M Clark 6-3; M Todd bt M King 6-5; D Pallett bt S Hine 6-4; K Painter bt M McGowan 6-2; M Smith bt D Smith 6-4; J Henderson bt J Hendriks 6-5; B van de Pas bt R Meikle 6-5; R Corner bt M Langendorf 6-5; G Anderson bt B van Peer 6-2; S West bt M Webster 6-1.

Last 32 - P Wright bt J Caven 6-1; C Reyes bt W Jones 6-4; J Wade bt P Nicholson 6-2; Z Lerchbacher bt S Stevenson 6-4; R Huybrechts bt D Johnson 6-1; D Gurney bt D Petersen 6-3; S Kellett bt D van Duijvenbode 6-5; R Owen bt R Cross 6-4; T Evetts bt J Dekker 6-0; R van Barneveld bt C Dobey 6-5; T Temple bt A Norris 6-3; J Klaasen bt M Todd 6-3; D Pallett bt K Painter 6-5; M Smith bt J Henderson 6-3; B van de Pas bt R Corner 6-4; G Anderson bt S West 6-2. Last 16 - P Wright bt C Reyes 6-5; J Wade bt Z Lerchbacher 6-3; D Gurney bt R Huybrechts 6-4; R Owen bt S Kellett 6-4; R van

Database WDF PORT CITY OPEN (South Portland, USA) Men’s final - L Gates bt D Cameron 5-4.

Women’s final - P Walz bt B Buzzell 5-4.

PDC PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 1 (Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley) Last 64 - P Wright bt V Kamphuis 6-0; J Murnan bt T Temple 6-0; K Anderson bt M McGowan 6-2; P Hudson bt J Wilson 6-3; K Huybrechts bt R Burnett 6-5; K Brown bt J Pipe 6-5; A Norris bt R Searle 6-1; M De Decker bt R Thornton 6-5; S Whitlock bt A Boulton 6-3; D Webster bt M Langendorf 6-4; R Meikle bt S Hine 6-4; D Gurney bt W Jones 6-4; D Chisnall bt J Hendriks 6-3; J Dekker bt J Wattimena 6-4; Z Lerchbacher bt W Newton 6-1; S West bt J Bowles 6-2; M Suljovic bt M Dennant 6-3; A Kirk bt C Kist 6-3; S Beaton bt M Mansell 64; C Reyes bt R Owen 6-4; J Wade bt A Hunt 6-2; C Quantock bt R Twell 6-3; D Pallett bt J Klaasen 6-2; M King bt R North 6-2; B Dolan bt I White 6-2; S Burton bt R Green 6-5; M Smith bt D Smith 6-3; A Lewis bt R Baxter 64; W O’Connor bt B van de Pas 6-5; P Jacques bt J Payne 6-3; G Anderson bt A Alcinas 6-0; C Dobey bt S Taylor 6-3. Last 32 - P Wright bt J Murnan 6-5; K Anderson

PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2 (Barnsley Metrodome, Barnsley) Last 64 - P Wright bt V van der Voort 6-5; J Caven bt S Griffiths 62; C Reyes bt A Kirk 6-4; W Jones bt S Beaton 6-4; J Wade bt Y Meeuwisse 6-3; P Nicholson bt W O’Connor 6-2; S Stevenson bt K Huybrechts 6-5; Z Lerchbacher bt P Rowley 6-5; D Johnson bt R Baxter 6-1; R

Darts Weekly Friday 3 March 2017

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decider to Open title ‘x x x x x

‘

Barneveld bt T Evetts 6-2; J Klaasen bt T Temple 6-1; M Smith bt D Pallett 6-5; G Anderson bt B van de Pas 6-4. Quarterfinals - P Wright bt J Wade 6-5; D Gurney bt R Owen 6-5; J Klaasen bt R van Barneveld 64; G Anderson bt M Smith 6-1. Semi-finals - P Wright bt D Gurney 6-1; G Anderson bt J Klaasen 6-2. Final - G Anderson bt P Wright 6-1.

BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE (Westpoint Arena, Exeter) Week Five - D Chisnall (101.13) bt R van Barneveld (96.83) 7-2; J Klaasen (87.57) drew with K Huybrechts (93.96) 6-6; G Anderson (105.31) drew with P Taylor (103.98) 6-6; P Wright (119.50) bt A Lewis (109.15) 7-2; D Chisnall (92.58) bt J Wade (89.35) 7-5. Highest checkout - P Wright 125.

PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ORDER OF MERIT (after two of 22 events)

FIXTURES

1. G Anderson 2. A Norris 3. P Wright 4. P Jacques 5. J Wade 6. D Gurney = M Smith 8. C Reyes 9. J Klaasen 10. S West 11. S Whitlock 12. K Anderson = R Owen 14. Z Lerchbacher = D Pallett 16. R van Barneveld

TODAY - SUNDAY CORAL UK OPEN (Butlin’s Minehead) HALIFAX OPEN (Canada) TOMORROW - SUNDAY BRITISH INTER-COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS (Various venues) Premier Division - Cambridgeshire v Essex; Cheshire v Yorkshire; Glamorgan v Warwickshire; Lancashire v Devon; Lincolnshire v Nottinghamshire.

THURSDAY BETWAY PREMIER LEAGUE WEEK SIX (The SSE Hydro, Glasgow) - A Lewis v P Taylor; J Wade v P Wright; K Huybrechts v M van Gerwen; J Klaasen v R van Barneveld; D Chisnall v G Anderson. (best of 12 legs)

£11,500 £11,000 £7,500 £6,500 £5,250 £4,500 £4,500 £3,750 £3,500 £3,250 £3,000 £2,750 £2,750 £2,500 £2,500 £2,250

DARTS WEEKLY DOZEN (23/02/2017) Data compiled by Christopher Kempf Player M van Gerwen P Taylor R van Barneveld M Suljovic D Gurney S Whitlock J Klaasen B van de Pas S Beaton A Norris M King J Cullen

LLE 15.016 16.777 16.794 17.302 17.696 17.724 17.889 17.966 18.216 18.232 18.728 18.844

Change 0.066 0.106 -0.016 N/C N/C N/C 0.074 N/C N/C N/C N/C N/C

◊ The Darts Weekly Dozen estimates and compares the length of the average leg over players’ last 180 stage legs. ◊ Klaasen rights the ship with authoritative finishing vs Chisnall: now finishing legs in 0.19 fewer darts from first double att. ◊ Heavy scoring from MVG puts him back within .02 darts of his all-time record 14.996 dart leg estimate. ◊ Taylor rebounds in the DW12 thanks to above-average scoring and setups in Huybrechts draw.

12

Friday 3 March 2017 Darts Weekly

CHRISTOPHER KEMPF MATCH OF THE WEEK - ALEKSANDR ORESHKIN 6-5 MAXIM ALDOSHIN (EADC TOUR) PDC

Oreshkin endures an exhausting match Watching Gary Anderson throw a 115 average in the final of the second PDC Players Championship this past weekend gives one the impression that the elite dart players - especially van Gerwen and Anderson - are playing at an unattainably high level for mere mortals such as ourselves.

It’s hard to relate to players who can throw half a dozen 180s in a match of ten minutes’ duration if you haven’t hit that many in your life, after all.

Watching less skilled darters throw more pedestrian averages can serve as a much-needed tonic for amateur players from countries at the frontiers of professional darts.

Take, for instance, the following Pro Tour match from Moscow, video courtesy of the Euroasian Darts Corporation, as an example of the sort of intriguing yet accessible matches popping up all over the globe.

The 55-year-old Aleksandr Oreshkin, Russia’s unlikely representative at the 2016 PDC World Championship, found himself on Sunday in a gruelling 11 leg semi-final that lasted almost an hour in part due to his peculiar and very slow - throwing style, and in part due to the tough fight put up by an opponent nearly one third his age, top Russian youth player Maxim Aldoshin.

Through the first three legs, however, it seemed as though Aldoshin would not be putting up much of a fight at all.

The young man did not attempt a finish in the first two legs and missed two darts at tops to win the

third, surrendering a 3-0 lead as Oreshkin checked out in 18, 15 and 20 darts.

As Aldoshin held throw in the fourth leg, cleaning up a bogey 163 in the minimum possible four darts, the small crowd watching the match, dominated by Aldoshin’s partisans, began to encourage their man more vocally.

Suddenly Oreshkin was watching his throw being broken by a 15darter and a 111 finish, and then in the very next leg Aldoshin piled on

‘Eric Bristow called him “the best Russian we’ve seen at Ally Pally”’ a 117 finish for good measure.

Oreshkin, not to be outdone, replied with a 13-dart leg thanks to two tightly-grouped 140s.

The erratic, mercurial thrower, as watchers of the 2016 World Championship can attest, belies his low averages with excellent visits and legs produced at unpredictable moments.

But then, thanks to an abysmal fifth visit of 13, Oreshkin missed an excellent chance to break throw and never had a dart at double to challenge Aldoshin’s 24-dart hold.

Another weak showing in the

tenth leg allowed Aldoshin to hit a crucial double 10 with his last dart in hand, forcing a last-leg decider as his fans erupted in cheers.

The pressure on both players showed in the tense final leg, as two visits from 40 failed to see Oreshkin clear to the final.

Having been gifted four darts from double 18, however, Aldoshin struck to the inside of double nine, forfeiting a dart that could have won him the semi-final.

Finally, with his 23rd dart, Oreshkin pinned double two and unleashed a mighty shout of relief, much to the chagrin of Aldoshin’s crestfallen fans.

Upon reaching the final and dispatching a significantly below par performance from Russia’s number one ranked player, Boris Koltsov, Oreshkin found himself in possession of his first EADC Pro Tour title.

His 79.7 semi-final average may not have turned heads, but he demonstrated those strains of both greatness and mediocrity which we might see in ourselves.

The unpredictability and eccentricity of a player like Oreshkin makes him a pleasure to watch. Eric Bristow called him “the best Russian we’ve ever had (at the Ally Pally”, and hopefully we’ll be seeing more of him soon.