Darts: Blue Square UK Open West Midlands Regional Final
PHIL TAYLOR picked up his seventh PDC Pro Tour win of 2009 with victory over Wayne Jones in the final of the Blue Square UK Open West Midlands Regional Final.
Taylorhad lost in the final of Saturday^s Players Championship to Mark Walsh - his first defeat on the PDC Pro Tour this year - but bounced back in style to claim the £6,000 title.
He defeated Robbie Parker, Gary Mawson, Mervyn King and Colin Osborne to reach the quarter-finals, where he staged a superb comeback against Raymond van Barneveld.
Trailing 5-2 to the world number three, Taylor won the next four legs in 11, 11, 13 and 11 darts to sweep into the semi-finals, where he whitewashed his great rival Dennis Priestley.
Taylor
then defeated Wayne Jones 6-5 in the final, coming through an exciting deciding leg battle.
Taylor
had broken throw in the opening leg and led 3-1 only for Jones to take three in a row, including a 121 finish, to lead.
The next three also went with the throw to send the match into a decider, but Jones missed the bullseye for another 121 finish, and then darts at double eight and double four for his first ever ranking title before Taylor hit double eight for a 13-darter.
Taylor
^s victory means he passes the £600,000 barrier on the PDC Order of Merit, based on prize money won in ranking events over the past two years.
"I^m really pleased to win this," said Taylor. "It was disappointing to lose against Mark Walsh in the final on Saturday but he was the better player.
"Wayne did really well too and could have won this one, but I got there in the end. He^ll be stronger for it and it^s great for me too."
Jones was appearing in his first final for 12 months, having had to win a deciding leg in both the quarter and semi-finals, against Brendan Dolan and Mark Walsh.
He also overcame Mark Jodrill, Mark Lawrence, Steve Maish and Terry Jenkins in his best display so far this year.
American Larry Butler, the 1994 World Matchplay champion, rolled back the years by reaching the semi-finals to win himself a place in June^s UK Open at Bolton.
He included Robert Thornton and Co Stompe amongst his victims before going down to Priestley, who he had defeated in the World Matchplay decider 15 years ago but allowed off the hook this time, as the Yorkshireman came from 5-2 down to win.
Matt Clark produced another big comeback, from 4-2 down, before seeing off Colin Lloyd to reach the quarters, while teenager Joe Cullen made the last 16 for the first time on the circuit.
Raymond van Barneveld hit the weekend^s second nine-darter, wrapping up a comeback against Kirk Shepherd with the achievement in the deciding leg of their third round game.
The nine-darter was the fourth of van Barneveld^s PDC career and earned him a £400 bonus, after Mervyn King scooped the £4,000 rolling bonus on offer on Saturday.
Blue Square UK Open West Midlands Regional Final
Preliminary Round
Mark Jones 6-4 Dave Ansell
Tony Blundell 6-5 Simon Pratt
Robert Alford 6-4 Jim Withers
Bryan de Hoog 6-2 Chris Daglish
Gary Anderson 6-0 Jonathan Overton
Ian Lilley 6-4 Anastasia Dobromyslova
Stuart Dutton 6-3 Ian Lever
Larry Butler 6-1 Steve Watts
Dave Ladley 6-5 Steve Musson
Steve Perry 6-0 Mike Roberts
Mark Stephenson 6-2 Jon Archer
Sean Dowling 6-4 Alan Caves
Lee Williams 6-0 Andy Downs
Joe Cullen 6-2 Michael Smith
Robbie Parker 6-3 Pete Allen
Dennis Zijderhand 6-0 John Jenkinson
Gary
Blades 6-2 Andy Fulton
Danny King 6-0 David Pugh
Shaun Dring 6-1 Jim McKevitt
Gary
Welding 6-1 Andy Fordham
Simon Craven 6-4 Scott Kirchner
Stephen Hardy 6-3 Arron Monk
Louis Blundell 6-5 Steve Lane
Kevin Dowling 6-4 Stuart Bousfield
Chris Cooper 6-1 Brian Jones
Ian Perkins 6-1 Lee White
Andy Pearson 6-0 Andy Mason
Robert Heard 6-1 Gary Storey
Kieran Leal 6-3 John Quantock
Robbie Newland 6-2 Norman Fletcher
Mark Jodrill 6-0 Matt Gallett
Tom Martin 6-5 Kevin Hill
Richie Burnett 6-2 Ben Burton
James Barton 6-4 Russell Mason
Joey Palfreyman 6-4 Mark Carter
Ian Critchett 6-5 Kevin Harris
Par Riihonen 6-4 Ian Jopling
Geoff Whitworth 6-4 Dave Smith
Stuart Holden 6-2 Steve Grubb
Alex Tinsley 6-2 Darren Latham
Mark Webster 6-3 Gary Miles
Simon Cunningham 6-4 Dyson Parody
First Round
Wayne Mardle 6-3 Sean Palfrey
Andy Smith 6-4 Ray Farrell
Tony Ayres 6-1 Mark Jones
Jamie Caven 6-1 Tony Blundell
Tony Eccles 6-1 Harry Miles
Wes Newton 6-0 Gary Barnett
Robert Alford 6-5 John MaGowan
Dennis Priestley 6-0 Bryan de Hoog
Michael Barnard 6-0 Bryan Whybrow
Gary Anderson 6-5 Vincent van der Voort
Kevin McDine 6-4 Ian Lilley
Co Stompe 6-5 Stuart Dutton
Paul Knighton 6-5 Peter Manley
Larry Butler 6-4 Dave Askew
Dave Ladley 6-3 Denis Ovens
Robert Thornton 6-4 Steve Perry
Steve Perkins 6-5 Alan Warriner-Little
Kirk Shepherd 6-2 Jimmy Dunlop
Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Mark Stephenson
Andy Hamilton 6-1 Sean Dowling
Steve Hine 6-1 Tom Wilson
Ken Dobson 6-1 Steve Evans
Martyn Turner 6-5 Lee Williams
Joe Cullen 6-3 Dave Honey
Gary Mawson 6-3 Nigel Birch
Phil Taylor 6-1 Robbie Parker
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Dennis Zijderhand
Mervyn King 6-1 Gary Blades
Andy Relf 6-5 Chris Thompson
Colin Monk 6-0 Danny King
Colin Osborne 6-1 Shaun Dring
Gary
Welding 6-5 Mick McGowan
Darren Johnson 6-0 Gary Scratchley
Dennis Smith 6-4 Geoff Wylie
Jan van der Rassel 6-1 Simon Craven
John Part 6-3 Stephen Hardy
Nick Fullwell 6-3 Darren Whittingham
Brendan Dolan 6-1 Louis Blundell
Mark Frost 6-3 Kevin Dowling
Chris Cooper 6-5 Alex Roy
Chris Loudon 6-2 Roland Scholten
Lionel Sams 6-3 Ian Perkins
Terry Jenkins 6-0 Andy Pearson
Adrian Gray 6-0 Robert Heard
Steve Maish 6-2 Jim Leighton
Barrie
Bates 6-4 Kieran Leal
Mark Lawrence 6-2 Robbie Newland
Wayne Jones 6-3 Mark Jodrill
Adrian Lewis 6-0 Richard Foster
Mark Walsh 6-0 Peter Wright
Chris Mason 6-2 Tom Martin
Andy Jenkins 6-5 Richie Burnett
Steve Beaton 6-3 Robert Watson-Lang
Alan Tabern 6-2 James Barton
Kevin Painter 6-2 Joey Palfreyman
Paul Nicholson 6-1 Ian Critchett
Ronnie Baxter 6-3 Chris Allen
Matt Clark 6-3 Par Riihonen
Wayne Atwood 6-5 Geoff Whitworth
John Kuczynski 6-5 Stuart Holden
Colin Lloyd 6-1 Ricky Williams
Mark Dudbridge 6-1 Alex Tinsley
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Mark Webster
Steve Brown 6-1 Simon Cunningham
Second Round
Andy Smith 6-2 Wayne Mardle
Tony Ayres 6-1 Jamie Caven
Tony Eccles 6-3 Wes Newton
Dennis Priestley 6-0 Robert Alford
Gary Anderson 6-2 Michael Barnard
Co Stompe 6-3 Kevin McDine
Larry Butler 6-1 Paul Knighton
Robert Thornton 6-1 Dave Ladley
Kirk Shepherd 6-1 Steve Perkins
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Andy Hamilton
Ken Dobson 6-1 Steve Hine
Joe Cullen 6-2 Martyn Turner
Phil Taylor 6-2 Gary Mawson
Mervyn King 6-1 Michael van Gerwen
Colin Monk 6-1 Andy Relf
Colin Osborne 6-2 Gary Welding
Dennis Smith 6-1 Darren Johnson
Jan van der Rassel 6-4 John Part
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Nick Fullwell
Mark Frost 6-0 Chris Cooper
Lionel Sams 6-3 Chris Loudon
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Adrian Gray
Steve Maish 6-2 Barrie Bates
Wayne Jones 6-4 Mark Lawrence
Mark Walsh 6-5 Adrian Lewis
Andy Jenkins 6-1 Chris Mason
Alan Tabern 6-5 Steve Beaton
Kevin Painter 6-4 Paul Nicholson
Matt Clark 6-4 Ronnie Baxter
John Kuczynski 6-4 Wayne Atwood
Colin Lloyd 6-4 Mark Dudbridge
Steve Brown 6-5 Jelle Klaasen
Losers £200
Third Round
Andy Smith 6-4 Tony Ayres
Dennis Priestley 6-4 Tony Eccles
Co Stompe 6-4 Gary Anderson
Larry Butler 6-3 Robert Thornton
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Kirk Shepherd ** Raymond van Barneveld hits nine-darter
Joe Cullen 6-3 Ken Dobson
Phil Taylor 6-2 Mervyn King
Colin Osborne 6-2 Colin Monk
Dennis Smith 6-5 Jan van der Rassel
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Mark Frost
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Lionel Sams
Wayne Jones 6-2 Steve Maish
Mark Walsh 6-4 Andy Jenkins
Alan Tabern 6-2 Kevin Painter
Matt Clark 6-0 John Kuczynski
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Steve Brown
Losers £300
Fourth Round
Dennis Priestley 6-3 Andy Smith
Larry Butler 6-5 Co Stompe
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Joe Cullen
Phil Taylor 6-3 Colin Osborne
Brendan Dolan 6-3 Dennis Smith
Wayne Jones 6-3 Terry Jenkins
Mark Walsh 6-4 Alan Tabern
Matt Clark 6-5 Colin Lloyd
Losers £400
Quarter-Finals
Dennis Priestley 6-5 Larry Butler
Phil Taylor 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Wayne Jones 6-5 Brendan Dolan
Mark Walsh 6-1 Matt Clark
Losers £800
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 6-0 Dennis Priestley
Wayne Jones 6-5 Mark Walsh
Losers £1,500
Final
Phil Taylor 6-5 Wayne Jones
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000
News Updates
Preliminary Round
Gary Anderson whitewashes Jonathan Overton and will now take on Vincent van der Voort.
Lee Williams and Danny King also pick up 6-0 wins.
Joe Cullen defeats Michael Smith 6-2 in a battle of two top young players.
Louis Blundell is a narrow 6-5 winner against Steve Lane, with Tom Martin another deciding leg winner, against Kevin Hill.
Ian Lilley defeats Anastasia Dobromyslova 6-4.
Coventry-based brothers Kevin and Sean Dowling both progress to round one.
Mark Stephenson^s win against Jon Archer sets up repeat of World Championship clash with Raymond van Barneveld.
Gary Welding defeats Andy Fordham 6-1.
Stephen Hardy wins 6-3 against youngster Arron Monk, and Richie Burnett is 6-2 victor against Ben Burton.
Chris Cooper is 6-1 winner against Brian Jones.
Stuart Holden defeats World Championship qualifier Steve Grubb 6-2, and Ian Critchett edges out Kevin Harris in a deciding leg.
First Round
Coventry
^s Steve Hine is 6-1 winner against Tom Wilson.
Ken Dobson defeats Steve Evans by the same scoreline to set up second round game with Hine.
Colin Lloyd wins 6-1 against Ricky Williams.
Peter Manley is knocked out 6-5 by Paul Knighton, a quarter-finalist a fortnight ago.
Wayne Mardle overcomes Sean Palfrey 6-3.
Tony Eccles and Wes Newton set up second round game with victories against Harry Miles and Gary Barnett.
Adrian Lewis and Mark Walsh, Saturday^s Players Championship winner, enjoy whitewash wins against Richard Foster and Peter Wright.
Steve Maish wins 6-2 against Jim Leighton.
Andy Relf and Martyn Turner win in a deciding leg, while Darren Johnson whitewashes Gary Scratchley.
Scotland
^s Chris Loudon takes 6-2 win against Roland Scholten.
Steve Beaton wins 6-3 in his opening game, against Robert Watson-Lang.
Lionel Sams, Gary Mawson and Nick Fullwell enjoy 6-3 wins.
Gary Anderson wins a deciding leg against Vincent van der Voort.
Mark Dudbridge wins 6-1 against young newcomer Alex Tinsley.
Ronnie Baxter is 6-3 winner against Chris Allen and Barrie Bates wins 6-4 against Kieran Leal.
Kirk Shepherd enjoys 6-2 victory against Jimmy Dunlop.
Terry Jenkins moves into last 64 with whitewash of Andy Pearson.
Phil Taylor picks up 6-1 win against Robbie Parker.
Larry Butler and Dennis Smith pick up 6-4 victories against Dave Askew and Geoff Wylie respectively.
Chris Mason defeats youngster Tom Martin 6-2, and Brendan Dolan is 6-1 winner against Louis Blundell.
Tony Ayres takes 6-1 win against Mark Jones, and Kevin McDine is 6-4 victor against Ian Lilley.
Jelle Klaasen edges out Mark Webster 6-5 in a battle of the former Lakeside Champions.
Dave Ladley defeats Denis Ovens 6-3.
Colin Osborne is a 6-1 winner against Shaun Dring, and Adrian Gray whitewashes Robert Heard.
Dennis Priestley whitewashes Dutch youngster Bryan de Hoog.
Co Stompe and Jamie Caven progress to second round, and John Part wins 6-3 against Stephen Hardy.
Andy Hamilton, Mervyn King and Paul Nicholson move into last 64 with 6-1 victories.
John Kuczynski takes out 117 to win deciding leg of his clash with Stuart Holden.
Second Round
Ken Dobson defeats local star Steve Hine 6-1.
Joe Cullen joins Dobson in last 32 with 6-2 win against fellow Yorkshireman Martyn Turner.
Colin Lloyd defeats Mark Dudbridge 6-4 to move into round three.
Gary Anderson enjoys 6-2 win over Michael Barnard.
Andy Smith knocks out Wayne Mardle with 6-2 victory, and Tony Eccles overcomes Wes Newton.
Lionel Sams is 6-3 winner against Chris Loudon.
Steve Maish progresses with 6-2 defeat of Barrie Bates.
Mark Walsh remains on course for a weekend double, having overcome Adrian Lewis 6-5.
Steve Brown edges out Jelle Klaasen 6-5, coming from three legs down to win a decider.
Dennis Priestley whitewashes Robert Alford and now meets Tony Eccles.
Co Stompe defeats Kevin McDine 6-3 to set up clash with Gary Anderson.
Tony Ayres sees off Jamie Caven 6-1.
Alan Tabern takes narrow 6-5 win against Steve Beaton.
American Larry Butler, the 1994 World Matchplay winner, defeats Paul Knighton 6-1 to reach last 32.
Terry Jenkins sees off Adrian Gray 6-4, and Brendan Dolan wins by the same scoreline against Nick Fullwell.
Andy Jenkins defeats Chris Mason to set up third round game with Mark Walsh.
Matt Clark defeats Ronnie Baxter 6-4, with Kevin Painter winning by the same scoreline against Paul Nicholson.
Raymond van Barneveld takes narrow 6-5 win against Andy Hamilton to move into third round.
Mark Frost whitewashes Chris Cooper and now takes on Brendan Dolan.
Wayne Jones is 6-4 winner against Mark Lawrence.
Robert Thornton defeats Dave Ladley 6-1 and now faces Butler in round three.
Colin Osborne wins 6-2 against Gary Welding.
American John Kuczynski defeats Wayne Atwood 6-4 and now meets Matt Clark in last 32.
Third Round
Teenager Joe Cullen is first man into last 16 after 6-3 win over Ken Dobson.
Colin Lloyd moves through to round four with 6-2 defeat of Steve Brown.
Co Stompe takes 6-4 win against Gary Anderson.
Victories for Andy Smith and Dennis Priestley by 6-4 scorelines set up their fourth round game.
Phil Taylor defeats Mervyn King for second time this weekend with 6-2 victory.
Terry Jenkins is 6-4 winner against Lionel Sams, and Mark Walsh overcomes Andy Jenkins in the same fashion.
Raymond van Barneveld hits nine-darter in deciding leg of clash with Kirk Shepherd, hitting scores of 177, 180 and a 144 finish against the throw - earning him a £400 bonus should no other player hit a nine-darter in the remainder of the event.
Wayne Jones enjoys 6-2 win against Steve Maish and now faces Terry Jenkins in fourth round.
Alan Tabern defeats Kevin Painter 6-2 to progress.
Brendan Dolan enjoys 6-4 win over Mark Frost, and he now takes on Dennis Smith, who was a winner in 11 legs against Jan van der Rassel.
Colin Osborne defeats Colin Monk 6-2.
Larry Butler follows up his run to the last 32 from Saturday by reaching the last 16 with 6-3 defeat of Robert Thornton.
Matt Clark whitewashes John Kuczynski to reach last 16.
Fourth Round
Raymond van Barneveld defeats Joe Cullen 6-2 to reach quarter-finals.
Wayne Jones overcomes Terry Jenkins 6-3 to put himself into last eight.
Dennis Priestley^s 6-3 win over Andy Smith means he progresses.
Mark Walsh reaches last eight for second successive day, defeating Alan Tabern 6-4.
Larry Butler matches a 180 from Co Stompe to win the deciding leg of their clash - meaning he takes on Priestley in the quarter-finals in a rematch of their 1994 World Matchplay final.
Phil Taylor reaches quarters with 6-3 win over Colin Osborne - setting up meeting with Raymond van Barneveld.
Brendan Dolan is 6-3 winner against Dennis Smith and now takes on Wayne Jones.
Matt Clark edges out Colin Lloyd in a deciding leg to reach his second PDC Pro Tour quarter-final in March.
Quarter-Finals
Dennis Priestley battles back from 5-2 down to defeat Larry Butler in a deciding leg.
Phil Taylor is another comeback winner, having been 5-2 down to Raymond van Barneveld before hitting legs of 11, 11, 13 and 11 darts to take victory.
Mark Walsh sees off Matt Clark 6-1 to reach semis, hitting two 11 darters and two 13-darters keeping alive his bid for a second win of the weekend.
Wayne Jones edges 11-leg clash with Brendan Dolan.
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor ruthlessly ends Dennis Priestley^s run with a 6-0 whitewash of his great rival.
Wayne Jones edges a tight clash with Mark Walsh to reach the final with a 6-5 victory, with Walsh hitting a 121 finish to send the game into a decider but missing one dart for the win in the 11th leg. Jones is appearing in his first final for just over a year.