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!!!
# posted by Gaz @ 8:49 am 
