Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Hayling Island
Last weekend were the World Matchplay Qualifiers, and 2 Players Championship Events in Hayling Island. Despite having no form whatsoever, I played probably the best most consistant weekend of darts I've ever played. I was down to a 2 dart finish most legs after 12 darts, and if it wasn't for a few missed darts at doubles I'd have progressed deep in to the tournaments.
Friday - Matchplay Qualifiers
I drew John Magowan in the 1st Round, who the weekend before had reached the Semi-Final of the UK Open, only losing narrowly to Raymond van Barneveld. Oh dear! Not the best draw in the world at all. The key moment in the match was before the game even started. He threw for the bull to decide who threw first, and was just outside the 25. I threw, and my dart hit the bull, before falling out. I threw again, and hit the exact same spot in the bull. Again it fell out. After much swearing and head shaking, I decided with my 3rd attempt to aim for the 25. Instead it was just outside, and the darts narrowly went to Magowan. Every leg went with throw. He rarely troubled me on the legs I threw first, and in the 5th and 7th leg I had a dart to finish on 64 and 113. In the end, the 9th leg was easy for him as I was nowhere in site, and I had to suffer a 5-4 defeat.
Pretty gutting in the end, to play so well and lose so narrowly to someone of his quality. But it gave me confidence for the rest of the weekend. Magowan went out in the 3rd Round to Barrie Bates (UK Open Runner Up), who qualified for the World Matchplay next month in Blackpool. Also through were Alan Tabern, Steve Hine, and Andy Hamilton (who beat Raymond van Barneveld in the 1st Round!).
Saturday - PDPA Players Championship Event No.1
I was hopeful of continuing my form from Friday, and had drawn Steve Cuisak in the 1st Round. Not a player I knew alot about (actually, I knew nothing about him), but he'd got through a few rounds on Friday and I knew he'd be tough. In the end, it wasn't. I played very close to as well as I had the night before, and wrapped up at 3-0 win (Sets) very quickly, only losing 1 leg in the process. The 2nd Round was always going to be much tougher, playing Dale Newton who qualified for the World Championships last year, and also had a good run on Friday night. This was probably my worst game of the weekend, as instead of the 140's and 100's I was constantly hitting on Friday, I was hitting too many 81's and 85's. I still gave myself darts at doubles, but they were also stray. I wasted 3 darts to win the 1st set, and darts to win key legs in the 2nd and 3rd sets. His finishing was spot on, and I lost 3-0. This was the last 128, as the game against Cusiak was a Preliminary one. So no money or ranking points for me. Dale went out next round, losing to his brother Wes.
Colin Lloyd won this one, beating Barrie Bates 3-1 in the final.
Sunday - PDPA Players Championship Event No.2
I was detirmined to get something from the weekend, and with no Preliminary round. Robert Parker stood in my way, and again he's not a player who I knew anything about. A hinderance today would be the fact that I had to drive home afterwards, so the alchohol had may have helped the previous days would be absent! Every set went 2-0 against the throw, which as I won the bull meant a 3-2 defeat. Again, I had double trouble, as a total of 7 darts were missed at them in the 2 legs in the final set. Parker went out 3-0 next round to Alan Warriner-Litte.
The tournament was won by Raymond van Barneveld, who beat Adrian Lewis 3-1 in the final.
So despite the performance, no ranking points and no money this weekend. As I won't be going to Las Vegas next week (next year!), the next PDC tournament i'll be at is in 5 weeks. Another PDPA Players Championship event, this time in Blackpool. My next tourament could be the Cheshire Open on Sunday, depending on whether England are playing that day. Other tournaments coming up in July are the Cambridgeshire Open (again, dependant on England) and the Midland Open.
Friday - Matchplay Qualifiers
I drew John Magowan in the 1st Round, who the weekend before had reached the Semi-Final of the UK Open, only losing narrowly to Raymond van Barneveld. Oh dear! Not the best draw in the world at all. The key moment in the match was before the game even started. He threw for the bull to decide who threw first, and was just outside the 25. I threw, and my dart hit the bull, before falling out. I threw again, and hit the exact same spot in the bull. Again it fell out. After much swearing and head shaking, I decided with my 3rd attempt to aim for the 25. Instead it was just outside, and the darts narrowly went to Magowan. Every leg went with throw. He rarely troubled me on the legs I threw first, and in the 5th and 7th leg I had a dart to finish on 64 and 113. In the end, the 9th leg was easy for him as I was nowhere in site, and I had to suffer a 5-4 defeat.
Pretty gutting in the end, to play so well and lose so narrowly to someone of his quality. But it gave me confidence for the rest of the weekend. Magowan went out in the 3rd Round to Barrie Bates (UK Open Runner Up), who qualified for the World Matchplay next month in Blackpool. Also through were Alan Tabern, Steve Hine, and Andy Hamilton (who beat Raymond van Barneveld in the 1st Round!).
Saturday - PDPA Players Championship Event No.1
I was hopeful of continuing my form from Friday, and had drawn Steve Cuisak in the 1st Round. Not a player I knew alot about (actually, I knew nothing about him), but he'd got through a few rounds on Friday and I knew he'd be tough. In the end, it wasn't. I played very close to as well as I had the night before, and wrapped up at 3-0 win (Sets) very quickly, only losing 1 leg in the process. The 2nd Round was always going to be much tougher, playing Dale Newton who qualified for the World Championships last year, and also had a good run on Friday night. This was probably my worst game of the weekend, as instead of the 140's and 100's I was constantly hitting on Friday, I was hitting too many 81's and 85's. I still gave myself darts at doubles, but they were also stray. I wasted 3 darts to win the 1st set, and darts to win key legs in the 2nd and 3rd sets. His finishing was spot on, and I lost 3-0. This was the last 128, as the game against Cusiak was a Preliminary one. So no money or ranking points for me. Dale went out next round, losing to his brother Wes.
Colin Lloyd won this one, beating Barrie Bates 3-1 in the final.
Sunday - PDPA Players Championship Event No.2
I was detirmined to get something from the weekend, and with no Preliminary round. Robert Parker stood in my way, and again he's not a player who I knew anything about. A hinderance today would be the fact that I had to drive home afterwards, so the alchohol had may have helped the previous days would be absent! Every set went 2-0 against the throw, which as I won the bull meant a 3-2 defeat. Again, I had double trouble, as a total of 7 darts were missed at them in the 2 legs in the final set. Parker went out 3-0 next round to Alan Warriner-Litte.
The tournament was won by Raymond van Barneveld, who beat Adrian Lewis 3-1 in the final.
So despite the performance, no ranking points and no money this weekend. As I won't be going to Las Vegas next week (next year!), the next PDC tournament i'll be at is in 5 weeks. Another PDPA Players Championship event, this time in Blackpool. My next tourament could be the Cheshire Open on Sunday, depending on whether England are playing that day. Other tournaments coming up in July are the Cambridgeshire Open (again, dependant on England) and the Midland Open.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Stockport Open
Another tournament, another 1st Round exit. At least I played a bit better this time. I won the bull so had the darts, and in the 1st leg missed 3 darts at a double and lost it. I took the 2nd leg against the darts, and after 12 darts in the 3rd needed 11. Unfortunately he had threw well too, and I only got 2 darts at double 4 before he'd finished. In the 4th leg I couldn't buy a treble, and lost the match 3-1.
Gary Anderson beat James Wade in the final.
Hopefully next weekend I can be more consistant. Not having to drive home and being able to have more than a couple of drinks may help! It'll be hard though, as there are no bad players at these PDPA member only events. The draw for the Matchplay qualifiers on Friday night isn't out yet, but should be later today. The draw for the Players Championship tournaments on Saturday & Sunday are, and my draw isn't too bad. So hopefully I'll be able to pick up a bit of cash.
Gary Anderson beat James Wade in the final.
Hopefully next weekend I can be more consistant. Not having to drive home and being able to have more than a couple of drinks may help! It'll be hard though, as there are no bad players at these PDPA member only events. The draw for the Matchplay qualifiers on Friday night isn't out yet, but should be later today. The draw for the Players Championship tournaments on Saturday & Sunday are, and my draw isn't too bad. So hopefully I'll be able to pick up a bit of cash.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Oh Dear
Well what a shambles that was! Not just my performance, but the tournament as a whole!
I went out 1st Round to Duncan someone. 4-2 was the score, but he was nothing special and I should be beating players like that. I'm sure Andy Smith will have had no problem with him in the 2nd Round. I couldn't put more than 6 decent darts together, and I only even managed that twice. Back to the practise board this week!
As for the tournament, it was a joke. Cheap Nodor boards were used, which provided bounceouts a plenty. The lighting was terrible. On the board I played on, you could hardly see the Treble 19. It was very hard to judge the range. Not an excuse though, as it was the same for both players. And the organisation was none existant. The tournament was supposed to start at 11. When I went to look at the draw, I was told that I'd be one of the first games on. It was gone 12 o'clock by the time I was called up to the desk to play. Preparation is key in touraments. You always have an idea of when your playing, and an hours difference is a big one. Instead of being stood around waiting for an hour, I could have been practising or sat down off my feet. And I've been told that they hadn't finished the last 64 at 5pm. There were only 200 in the tournament in the first place. The general feeling amonsgt most players is that the tournament was run very poorly.
All in all, its would have to have a huge jump in prize money or ranking points for me to even consider entering next year.
Oh, not that it matters, but Colin Osbourn beat Alex Roy 6-5 in the final.
I went out 1st Round to Duncan someone. 4-2 was the score, but he was nothing special and I should be beating players like that. I'm sure Andy Smith will have had no problem with him in the 2nd Round. I couldn't put more than 6 decent darts together, and I only even managed that twice. Back to the practise board this week!
As for the tournament, it was a joke. Cheap Nodor boards were used, which provided bounceouts a plenty. The lighting was terrible. On the board I played on, you could hardly see the Treble 19. It was very hard to judge the range. Not an excuse though, as it was the same for both players. And the organisation was none existant. The tournament was supposed to start at 11. When I went to look at the draw, I was told that I'd be one of the first games on. It was gone 12 o'clock by the time I was called up to the desk to play. Preparation is key in touraments. You always have an idea of when your playing, and an hours difference is a big one. Instead of being stood around waiting for an hour, I could have been practising or sat down off my feet. And I've been told that they hadn't finished the last 64 at 5pm. There were only 200 in the tournament in the first place. The general feeling amonsgt most players is that the tournament was run very poorly.
All in all, its would have to have a huge jump in prize money or ranking points for me to even consider entering next year.
Oh, not that it matters, but Colin Osbourn beat Alex Roy 6-5 in the final.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Tomorrow
Tomorrow is the Sheppey Classic. It will be the first tournament I've played in since the last UK Open Regional event, and the first time I've played any darts for about a month. I'd had a break from practising, and since I started again last Sunday it hasn't been going too well at all. Until today anyway. This afternoon has been much better, and has given me a bit of extra confidence. If I can take today's form into tomorrow then I'll do ok.
The main aim for tomorrow and next week in Stockport is to get some match practise for the weekends tournaments at Hayling Island in a fortnight. I'll be happy to win a couple of games in both these 2 tournaments, just to get me sharper. Plus with tomorrow having PDC ranking points and prize money, it would be nice to squeak into the last 16 too! It is only a catagory 2 event, which means the likes of Phil Taylor & Raymond van Barneveld won't be there. But last year most of the other top PDC English players were there, so there should still be a decent standard of darts. Andy Belton beat Ronnie Baxter in last year's final. Hopefully the draw will be kind to me, and I'll get through a couple of rounds!
The main aim for tomorrow and next week in Stockport is to get some match practise for the weekends tournaments at Hayling Island in a fortnight. I'll be happy to win a couple of games in both these 2 tournaments, just to get me sharper. Plus with tomorrow having PDC ranking points and prize money, it would be nice to squeak into the last 16 too! It is only a catagory 2 event, which means the likes of Phil Taylor & Raymond van Barneveld won't be there. But last year most of the other top PDC English players were there, so there should still be a decent standard of darts. Andy Belton beat Ronnie Baxter in last year's final. Hopefully the draw will be kind to me, and I'll get through a couple of rounds!
