Hat-Trick for Winmau^s Dennis Priestley
DENNIS PRIESTLEY picked up a third PDC Pro Tour victory of 2008 with a 3-1 victory over Raymond van Barneveld in Sunday^s Irish Players Championship.
Priestley, 58, followed up earlier wins this year in Bristol and Canada with a fine performance to warm up for the Sky Poker World Grand Prix in style.
He had reached the quarter-finals of Saturday^s Players Championship on his return from a month out of action to undergo radiotherapy treatment during his ongoing battle with prostate cancer.
Sunday saw him battle through the field at the Citywest Hotel to claim the £5,000 title at the expense of Dutch ace van Barneveld.
He was pushed all the way by Spain^s Carlos Rodriguez in round one, and defeated John MaGowan, Louis Blundell, Colin Monk and Jelle Klaasen to reach the semi-finals.
Priestley then came from a set down to defeat Mervyn King 3-1 in the last four, and made an ideal start to the decider by winning the first two legs for a one-set advantage.
Van Barneveld edged the second set in a deciding leg with an 82 finish, despite a third maximum of the game from Priestley, and the Dutchman took the opener to set three.
But Priestley opened the next leg with a 174 score and took out double eight to level before winning the set on double five.
He then took two successive legs in the next, punishing misses from the Dutchman in the fourth set^s opener, to seal the win.
"I^m very proud and very tired!" said Priestley, who moves back to tenth in the PDC Order of Merit as a result of the win.
"I^m drained and it^s been two long days, but I pushed myself through and was very determined.
"It^s a big confidence boost ahead of the World Grand Prix. I play Denis Ovens on Monday and I can^t wait to get on stage now, and hopefully continue this form."
Van Barneveld marked his return to action following a two-month break with a third Players Championship final of the year.
He had been knocked out in the last 16 on Saturday, but powered past Brendan Dolan, Kevin McDine, Robert Thornton, Denis Ovens, Colin Lloyd and Jamie Caven to reach the final.
King knocked out Saturday^s Players Championship winner Phil Taylor in the last 16, making him the only player to record two wins over the 13-time World Champion so far in 2008 after a win in Scotland in April.
Leicester^s Jamie Caven followed up his run to the final of a Players Championship in Wales last month with a semi-final appearance in this event, including World Championship runner-up Kirk Shepherd, Roland Scholten and Ronnie Baxter among his victims.
2004 World Grand Prix winner Colin Lloyd was a quarter-finalist for the second successive day, losing to van Barneveld on Sunday.
Jelle Klaasen reached the last eight of a Players Championship for the second time this year, while Adrian Lewis also reached the quarters.
Saturday’s Players Championship saw Taylor win his 13th Pro Tour event of 2008, defeating James Wade 3-2 in the final.
Taylor came from 1-0 and 2-1 down to take victory with a ten-dart winning leg against the defending World Grand Prix champion.
Vincent van der Voort and Colin Osborne were semi-finalists in that event, with Osborne ending van Barneveld’s challenge in the last 16.
RESULTS
Irish Players Championship (Saturday)
Preliminary Round
Ian Jopling 3-2 Nick Fulwell
John Jenkinson 3-1 Nigel Peden
First Round
Phil Taylor 3-0 Martyn Turner
Lee Williams 3-0 Matt Sheehan
Steve Beaton 3-1 Simon Whatley
Ian Jopling 3-0 Dave Ansell
Mervyn King 3-2 Tony Eccles
Louis Blundell 3-0 John Dawes
Kevin Painter 3-1 Dave Askew
Shane O^Connor 3-0 Alan Green
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Nigel Birch
Mark Lawrence 3-1 Chris Oprey
Andy Smith 3-0 Colin Ritchie
Bob Crawley 3-0 Karl Loiseau
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Darin Young
Dave Ladley 3-2 Steve Maish
Barrie Bates 3-2 Chris Cooper
Tony Ayres 3-0 Steve Musson
Terry Jenkins 3-2 Jamie Caven
Dennis Smith 3-2 John Kuczynski
Wayne Jones 3-0 Andy Mason
Aaron Turner 3-0 Jon Archer
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Jonathan Overton
Co Stompe 3-0 Chris Sargeant
Chris Mason 3-2 Colin Monk
James Keogh 3-0 Ian Eames
John Part 3-0 Geoff Daniels
Jacko Barry 3-2 Peter Wright
Alex Roy 3-0 Andrew Davies
Chris Thompson 3-1 Gary Barnett
Peter Manley 3-1 Jan van der Rassel
Joe Cullen 3-1 Stuart Dutton
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 James Barton
Steve Brown 3-2 Robert Watson-Lang
Raymond van Barneveld 3-2 Darren Johnson
Jim Withers 3-1 Steve Cusick
Mick McGowan 3-1 Stephen Hardy
Lee Holden 3-1 John Jenkinson
Colin Osborne 3-1 Gary Mawson
Darren Latham 3-1 Sam Rooney
Denis Ovens 3-0 Tony Blundell
Darren Sutton 3-1 Stuart Holden
Colin Lloyd 3-1 John Quantock
Steve Cupitt 3-2 Ben Burton
Matt Clark 3-1 Mark Walsh
Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Kevin Harris
Alan Tabern 3-0 Gary Storey
Felix McBrearty 3-0 Lionel Sams
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Mark Frost
Scott Kirchner 3-0 Ken Dobson
Wayne Mardle 3-0 Dave Honey
Robert Thornton 3-2 Jelle Klaasen
Adrian Gray 3-1 Peter Aleman
Carlos Rodriguez 3-0 Lee White
Roland Scholten 3-0 Ian Critchett
Alan Warriner-Little 3-0 Andy Howarth
Kirk Shepherd 3-2 Steve Evans
John MaGowan 3-1 Danny King
James Wade 3-0 Alan Caves
Wayne Atwood 3-0 Steve Grubb
Wes Newton 3-0 Andy Pearson
Danny Pinhorne 3-0 Jim Leighton
Ronnie Baxter 3-0 David Platt
Brendan Dolan 3-0 Robbie Newland
Mark Dudbridge 3-0 Shane Passey
Kevin McDine 3-1 Geoff Whitworth
Second Round
Phil Taylor 3-0 Lee Williams
Steve Beaton 3-0 Ian Jopling
Mervyn King 3-1 Louis Blundell
Kevin Painter 3-1 Shane O^Connor
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Mark Lawrence
Andy Smith 3-1 Bob Crawley
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Dave Ladley
Barrie Bates 3-1 Tony Ayres
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Dennis Smith
Wayne Jones 3-1 Aaron Turner
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Co Stompe
Chris Mason 3-2 James Keogh
John Part 3-2 Jacko Barry
Alex Roy 3-0 Chris Thompson
Peter Manley 3-1 Joe Cullen
Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Steve Brown
Raymond van Barneveld 3-2 Jim Withers
Mick McGowan 3-1 Lee Holden
Colin Osborne 3-1 Darren Latham
Denis Ovens 3-0 Darren Sutton
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Steve Cupitt
Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Matt Clark
Alan Tabern 3-2 Felix McBrearty
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Scott Kirchner
Robert Thornton 3-1 Wayne Mardle
Adrian Gray 3-1 Carlos Rodriguez
Alan Warriner-Little 3-1 Roland Scholten
John MaGowan 3-0 Kirk Shepherd
James Wade 3-0 Wayne Atwood
Wes Newton 3-0 Danny Pinhorne
Brendan Dolan 3-2 Ronnie Baxter
Kevin McDine 3-2 Mark Dudbridge
Losers £75
Third Round
Phil Taylor 3-2 Steve Beaton
Mervyn King 3-0 Kevin Painter
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Andy Smith
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Barrie Bates
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Wayne Jones
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Chris Mason
Alex Roy 3-0 John Part
Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Peter Manley
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Mick McGowan
Colin Osborne 3-0 Denis Ovens
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Michael van Gerwen
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Alan Tabern
Robert Thornton 3-1 Adrian Gray
John MaGowan 3-1 Alan Warriner-Little
James Wade 3-1 Wes Newton
Brendan Dolan 3-1 Kevin McDine
Losers £150
Fourth Round
Phil Taylor 3-1 Mervyn King
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Adrian Lewis
Dennis Priestley 3-1 Terry Jenkins
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Alex Roy
Colin Osborne 3-1 Raymond van Barneveld
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Andy Jenkins
John MaGowan 3-2 Robert Thornton
James Wade 3-1 Brendan Dolan
Losers £300
Quarter-Finals
Phil Taylor 3-1 Andy Hamilton
Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Dennis Priestley
Colin Osborne 3-1 Colin Lloyd
James Wade 3-2 John MaGowan
Losers £600
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor 3-0 Vincent van der Voort
James Wade 3-1 Colin Osborne
Losers £1,250
Final
Phil Taylor 3-2 James Wade (1-2, 2-0, 1-2, 2-0, 2-0)
Winner £5,000
Runner-Up £2,500
Irish Players Championship (Sunday)
Preliminary Round
Nick Fulwell 3-0 Jim Leighton
First Round
Steve Beaton 3-0 Andy Howarth
Stuart Dutton 3-2 Ian Jopling
Phil Taylor 3-2 Sam Rooney
Nick Fulwell 3-0 Jon Archer
Kevin Painter 3-0 Chris Sargeant
Mark Lawrence 3-1 Darren Johnson
Mervyn King 3-0 Chris Oprey
Gary Barnett 3-2 Ian Critchett
Andy Smith 3-0 Kevin Harris
Chris Thompson 3-1 Alan Caves
Andy Hamilton 3-2 Felix McBrearty
Alan Warriner-Little 3-2 Shane Passey
Barrie Bates 3-0 Lee White
Simon Whatley 3-0 Nigel Birch
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Tony Blundell
Stephen Hardy 3-0 Steve Cupitt
Wayne Jones 3-1 Steve Cusick
Jan van der Rassel 3-1 Jacko Barry
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Darren Sutton
Colin Monk 3-0 Scott Kirchner
Chris Mason 3-1 Robert Watson-Lang
Louis Blundell 3-0 Andy Mason
Dennis Priestley 3-2 Carlos Rodriguez
John MaGowan 3-0 Andrew Davies
Alex Roy 3-2 Ken Dobson
Jim Withers 3-2 David Platt
Steve Grubb 3-2 John Part
Gary Mawson 3-1 Karl Loiseau
Jelle Klaasen 3-2 Vincent van der Voort
Andy Pearson 3-1 John Quantock
Peter Manley 3-0 Gary Storey
Dave Honey 3-2 Tony Ayres
Robert Thornton 3-1 Mick McGowan
Dave Askew Bye (Alan Green Withdrew through injury)
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Brendan Dolan
Kevin McDine 3-0 John Dawes
Denis Ovens 3-0 Nigel Peden
Robbie Newland 3-1 Darren Latham
Peter Wright 3-2 Colin Osborne
Steve Evans 3-1 Matt Sheehan
Mark Walsh 3-0 Peter Aleman
Danny King 3-0 Dave Ansell
Colin Lloyd 3-0 Dave Ladley
John Kuczynski 3-0 Dennis Smith
Andy Jenkins 3-0 Danny Pinhorne
Lionel Sams 3-2 Co Stompe
Alan Tabern 3-0 Michael van Gerwen
Matt Clark 3-0 Steve Maish
Chris Cooper 3-1 Adrian Gray
James Barton 3-1 Martyn Turner
Wayne Mardle 3-1 Steve Musson
Mark Frost 3-1 Wayne Atwood
Kirk Shepherd 3-0 Stuart Holden
Jamie Caven 3-0 Geoff Daniels
Roland Scholten 3-0 Jonathan Overton
Lee Holden 3-1 John Jenkinson
Wes Newton 3-0 Aaron Turner
Tony Eccles 3-0 Ian Eames
James Wade 3-0 James Keogh
Joe Cullen 3-0 Darin Young
Mark Dudbridge 3-1 Lee Williams
Shane O^Connor 3-2 Geoff Whitworth
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Ben Burton
Bob Crawley 3-0 Steve Brown
Second Round
Steve Beaton 3-0 Stuart Dutton
Phil Taylor 3-1 Nick Fulwell
Kevin Painter 3-0 Mark Lawrence
Mervyn King 3-0 Gary Barnett
Andy Smith 3-1 Chris Thompson
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Alan Warriner-Little
Barrie Bates 3-1 Simon Whatley
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Stephen Hardy
Wayne Jones 3-1 Jan van der Rassel
Colin Monk 3-0 Terry Jenkins
Louis Blundell 3-2 Chris Mason
Dennis Priestley 3-1 John MaGowan
Alex Roy 3-0 Jim Withers
Steve Grubb 3-0 Gary Mawson
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Andy Pearson
Peter Manley 3-2 Dave Honey
Robert Thornton 3-1 Dave Askew
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Kevin McDine
Denis Ovens 3-0 Robbie Newland
Peter Wright 3-1 Steve Evans
Mark Walsh 3-1 Danny King
Colin Lloyd 3-0 John Kuczynski
Andy Jenkins 3-2 Lionel Sams
Alan Tabern 3-1 Matt Clark
Chris Cooper 3-1 James Barton
Mark Frost 3-2 Wayne Mardle
Jamie Caven 3-1 Kirk Shepherd
Roland Scholten 3-2 Lee Holden
Tony Eccles 3-1 Wes Newton
James Wade 3-1 Joe Cullen
Mark Dudbridge 3-0 Shane O^Connor
Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Bob Crawley
Losers £75
Third Round
Phil Taylor 3-1 Steve Beaton
Mervyn King 3-1 Kevin Painter
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Andy Smith
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Barrie Bates
Colin Monk 3-1 Wayne Jones
Dennis Priestley 3-2 Louis Blundell
Alex Roy 3-2 Steve Grubb
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Peter Manley
Raymond van Barneveld 3-2 Robert Thornton
Denis Ovens 3-1 Peter Wright
Colin Lloyd 3-1 Mark Walsh
Alan Tabern 3-1 Andy Jenkins
Mark Frost 3-2 Chris Cooper
Jamie Caven 3-0 Roland Scholten
James Wade 3-0 Tony Eccles
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 Mark Dudbridge
Losers £150
Fourth Round
Mervyn King 3-1 Phil Taylor
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Andy Hamilton
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Colin Monk
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Alex Roy
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Denis Ovens
Colin Lloyd 3-2 Alan Tabern
Jamie Caven 3-2 Mark Frost
Ronnie Baxter 3-2 James Wade
Losers £300
Quarter-Finals
Mervyn King 3-0 Adrian Lewis
Dennis Priestley 3-0 Jelle Klaasen
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Colin Lloyd
Jamie Caven 3-0 Ronnie Baxter
Losers £600
Semi-Finals
Dennis Priestley 3-1 Mervyn King (1-2, 2-0, 2-1, 2-1)
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Jamie Caven (2-0, 1-2, 2-1, 2-1)
Losers £1,250
Final
Dennis Priestley 3-1 Raymond van Barneveld (2-0, 1-2, 2-1, 2-0)
Winner £5,000
Runner-Up £2,500