Markers Eye View from the PDC Pro-Tour Round 7

The pro tour continued with round 7 of the UK Open qualifiers from the Robin Park tennis centre in Wigan. After the draw had gone up there was more activity than usual as a lot of players in the room were fighting for a place at Bolton in June for the “F A Cup of Darts” and I’m allocated board 5 at 12.00pm.

PRELIMINARY ROUND

Richie Corner 6-4 David Coyne

I had never heard of Richie before this game and to be fair I don’t know why! The guy can clearly play the game and utilised some high scoring and big finishing 116 and 121 against his young Irish opponent, Who in my opinion is one to watch as he seems to be getting more comfortable on the tour with every event. I feel a good run is not far away for this young man.

FIRST ROUND

Andy Hamilton 6-3 Ken MacNeil

Quite simply Andy had far too much for Ken. Having taken a 3-0 lead Andy was always in control and although Ken would hold his own throw relatively comfortably he could do little damage on the Hamilton throw who was aided by a 180 in each of the last 3 legs he started and cruised to a comfortable victory.

James Richardson 6-0 Mick McGowan

Well if the last game was comfortable for Andy then this was even easier for James. James is on his first year on the pro tour having qualified through the q school but looked like he’d been on the tour for years. He allowed Mick only one dart at a double in the entire a match. That said Mick by his own admission did not play to the standard we are used to seeing from him, but take nothing away from James who did a very professional job.

Nick Fullwel 6-3 Dyson Parody

Nick’s power scoring was the difference here. It seemed every time Dyson hit a 100 or 125 Nick replied with a 140 or 180. Nick was always first to a double and indeed all the legs Dyson won required a finish of 80 plus. Nick was very clinical.

Richie Corner 6-4 Steve Maish

This was without doubt the match of the first round. Steve raced into a 3-0 lead and was looking like the only man in the game until Richie’s finishing came to the fore. At 3-0 Richie pegged 116 with Steve sitting on a double. He then took the next with a 76 finish and after Steve had took the sixth leg Richie hit back with a brilliant 130 to get within one leg. This power finishing was clearly getting to Steve and after taking the eighth leg to level at 4-4 a 156 finish from Richie put him one leg away from the match which he would take out in the very next leg for a hard fought 6-4 win.

SECOND ROUND

Andy Hamilton 6-4 James Richardson

This was a game that Andy was always in control of. After establishing a break of throw at 2-1 Andy’s power finishing was the key. Never taking more than 3 darts at a double in any leg. James best chance of breaking back was in the 8th leg where he had a single dart at 32 to draw level but he wired this and that was to prove fateful as Andy checked out and then held his throw in the next to advance to the board final. Keep an eye out for James in the future

Nick Fullwell 6-4 Richie Corner

Again in this second round match Richie brought his big finishes taking 3 of his four legs with 105,112 and 116 checkouts, however this was to prove fruitless as Nick’s more consistent scoring was the key. He always arrived at the double first and only Richie’s big finishes saved him from a bigger defeat. I have said before that the standard of the lesser known players is tremendous and again another example of that was produced here.

THIRD ROUND (BOARD FINAL)

Andy Hamilton 6-1 Nick Fullwell

After the two previous games I was fully expecting this one to go the distance as well but alas that was not to be. Nick seemed to be out of sorts for some reason as it was only 10 minuets after his previous game. Andy didn’t need to get out of second gear but as both players had already qualified for The UK Open I would imagine Nick will take solace in that fact.

FOURTH ROUND (LAST 16)

Adrian Lewis 6-5 Nigel Heydon

I was asked to chalk this last 16 game and wow what a privilege. Nigel has the most pronounced lean when throwing that I have ever seen, This would unbalance most players but it works well for the man who goes by the nickname of “the undertaker”. Nigel raced into a 3-0 lead and the world champion seemed to be struggling until a 116 checkout got Adrian on the score sheet.

The next two legs were shared and at 4-2 Adrian hit a divine 105 (25, tops, tops) to reduce the arrears to 1. Nigel took the next to lead 5-3 taking out 87 to move one leg away from the ¼ finals. Alas this was not to be as Adrian proved just why he is world champion and after surviving a match dart against him in leg 10 hit double top in leg 11 to advance.

I don’t think I would be far away from the truth in saying both guys were averaging 95 + in this high quality game.

On a side note and I didn’t mark this game but in round 4 Gary Anderson beat Aaron Monk 6-1 with winning legs of 13,12,11,11,11 and 11 darts in the leg he lost he was left 40 after 9 darts. For all you stato’s that’s an average of 134.88 !!

Many thanks for reading

Adie