Thursday, September 28, 2006
Newport
Although I didn't expect too much from the 3 Welsh tournaments, I've ended up very disapointed not to get any money or points out of it.
On Friday in the World Grand Prix playoffs, I beat Stuart Dutton in the 1st Round in a very close game. It went to a final leg decider, and I won it in the end hitting double 6 after I'd hit a 140 to leave it. Dutton missed a couple of darts to win it before that, but I'd also missed a couple to win it 5-3 so I guess we're even! In the 2nd Round I played Andy Hamilton. I didn't play anywhere near as well, and failed to take advantage of the few chances he gave me and lost 5-0.
On Saturday I had Adrian Lewis in the 1st Round. I started off well, winning the bull and then taking the 1st leg of the 1st set. After that I was hitting to many 60's etc with 3 darts, going round the treble but not in it. Lewis then went on to take the 1st set, and went 1-0 up in the 2nd. Then the point that cost me the match. 180, 140, 140 to leave me on 41 after 9 darts (5 darts on the way to a 9 darter). 9 darts later I'm stuck on double 1, as he takes the leg and the set. The 3rd set I'd lost it, and he won with ease to take the match 3-0.
Sunday was the 1st UK Open Regional, and it's very important that I get £100 prize money in these as quickly as possible to guarantee my place in Bolton. Not an easy draw, with Graeme Stoddart in the 1st Round. I scored very heavily, and should have won 6 out of the 7 legs. Missed doubles cost me however, and after missing a dart at Double 10 for a 4-2 win we went to a final leg. Unfortunately at this point I started to get very nervous, and needing 56 to win and hitting the 16, I pulled my darts at Double Top and Double 10 badly. I got another chance at 10, and despite normally going for 2, Double 4 as I had sucessfully earlier in the match, I decided I didn't feel confident hitting big 2 and went straight for Double 5. I again pulled it badly, and it went into big 20. Stoddart hit Double 6 to win. I'm not the best loser in the world, and losing like that really hurt. The only consolation is Stoddart and Keith Deller who was watching telling me how well I'd played.
Next stop is Ireland in October for PDPA Players Championship and UK Open tournaments. Hopefully I manage to get some bottle before those!!!
On Friday in the World Grand Prix playoffs, I beat Stuart Dutton in the 1st Round in a very close game. It went to a final leg decider, and I won it in the end hitting double 6 after I'd hit a 140 to leave it. Dutton missed a couple of darts to win it before that, but I'd also missed a couple to win it 5-3 so I guess we're even! In the 2nd Round I played Andy Hamilton. I didn't play anywhere near as well, and failed to take advantage of the few chances he gave me and lost 5-0.
On Saturday I had Adrian Lewis in the 1st Round. I started off well, winning the bull and then taking the 1st leg of the 1st set. After that I was hitting to many 60's etc with 3 darts, going round the treble but not in it. Lewis then went on to take the 1st set, and went 1-0 up in the 2nd. Then the point that cost me the match. 180, 140, 140 to leave me on 41 after 9 darts (5 darts on the way to a 9 darter). 9 darts later I'm stuck on double 1, as he takes the leg and the set. The 3rd set I'd lost it, and he won with ease to take the match 3-0.
Sunday was the 1st UK Open Regional, and it's very important that I get £100 prize money in these as quickly as possible to guarantee my place in Bolton. Not an easy draw, with Graeme Stoddart in the 1st Round. I scored very heavily, and should have won 6 out of the 7 legs. Missed doubles cost me however, and after missing a dart at Double 10 for a 4-2 win we went to a final leg. Unfortunately at this point I started to get very nervous, and needing 56 to win and hitting the 16, I pulled my darts at Double Top and Double 10 badly. I got another chance at 10, and despite normally going for 2, Double 4 as I had sucessfully earlier in the match, I decided I didn't feel confident hitting big 2 and went straight for Double 5. I again pulled it badly, and it went into big 20. Stoddart hit Double 6 to win. I'm not the best loser in the world, and losing like that really hurt. The only consolation is Stoddart and Keith Deller who was watching telling me how well I'd played.
Next stop is Ireland in October for PDPA Players Championship and UK Open tournaments. Hopefully I manage to get some bottle before those!!!
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Wales
Unfortunately my form at the moment is terrible. Only 1 win out of 3 so far in Super League, with each game being extremely poor. Apart from that I've hardly played, and although my practising is slowly getting better, its not going anywhere near quick enough for the 3 tournaments this weekend. The only plus is that myself and Pete Mawer are through to the Tuesday Night Double Board League Senior Pairs Quarter-Finals, after winning our board last night.
This weekend it's off to Wales for 3 PDC Touranements at the Newport Centre in (strangely enough) Newport. I don't have to much hope for getting anywhere, not just because of my form, but because of the bloody awful draws I've got!!
Friday night is the Skybet World Grand Prix Playoffs, with 4 players from a field of 128 joining the World Top 24, plus 4 Irish qualifiers in the Dublin Tournament in October. This one is different to all the others, as it's double start. My 1st Round is against Stuart Dutton, who got to the semi-finals in a tournament in Hayling Island in June. Should I beat him, then either Andy Hamilton who reached the Semi-Final of the World Matchplay less than 2 months ago, or former World Champion Richie Burnett await me. Should a miracle happen, I'm also in the same section as Raymond van Barneveld....
Saturday is the PDPA Players Championship event. The draw has given me a 1st Round game against Adrian Lewis. Oh dear.
Sunday is the Welsh UK Open Regional Finals. This is for me the most important one of the weekend, as after the 8 Finals the top 96 players in the money list qualify for the UK Open at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton next June. I qualified in 2005, but didn't this year so I want to get back there. 1st Round I play Graeme Stoddart, and if I get past him then Peter Manley stands between me and vital prize money. Dennis Priestley is also on my board.
Hopefully I can play myself into a bit of form by the Sunday!
This weekend it's off to Wales for 3 PDC Touranements at the Newport Centre in (strangely enough) Newport. I don't have to much hope for getting anywhere, not just because of my form, but because of the bloody awful draws I've got!!
Friday night is the Skybet World Grand Prix Playoffs, with 4 players from a field of 128 joining the World Top 24, plus 4 Irish qualifiers in the Dublin Tournament in October. This one is different to all the others, as it's double start. My 1st Round is against Stuart Dutton, who got to the semi-finals in a tournament in Hayling Island in June. Should I beat him, then either Andy Hamilton who reached the Semi-Final of the World Matchplay less than 2 months ago, or former World Champion Richie Burnett await me. Should a miracle happen, I'm also in the same section as Raymond van Barneveld....
Saturday is the PDPA Players Championship event. The draw has given me a 1st Round game against Adrian Lewis. Oh dear.
Sunday is the Welsh UK Open Regional Finals. This is for me the most important one of the weekend, as after the 8 Finals the top 96 players in the money list qualify for the UK Open at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton next June. I qualified in 2005, but didn't this year so I want to get back there. 1st Round I play Graeme Stoddart, and if I get past him then Peter Manley stands between me and vital prize money. Dennis Priestley is also on my board.
Hopefully I can play myself into a bit of form by the Sunday!
