Red Dragon Yorkshire Masters Darts Open Grand Finals
"Rice’s Crisp Performance takes First YDP Yorkshire Masters Title”
Bridlington’s Steve Rice put in a first class performance to win the first, York Darts Promotions event, Yorkshire Masters Darts Open held at Huntington WMC in York. The event that consisted of eight Qualifying Stages organised across Yorkshire saw 64 players reach The Grand Finals with an overall first prize of £1,000.
Rice beat York’s Mark Hartley in the first semi final which saw both players averaging over 90 a throw. With the first five legs going with the darts Hartley,17-15-18 went 3-2 up, Rice’s replies being a 161 finish for 12 and 16 darts. Then a run of 15-17, a 106 finish for 18, a 101 finish for 15 and 15 dart legs saw Rice take the match hitting 27 tons and one 180 in his 7-3 victory. Hartley hit two 180’s.
The second semi-final pitched Nottingham’s Matt Padgett against York’s Lutz Leutzsch where they contested a 13 leg thriller. Leutzsch went 2-0 up which included a 15 dart leg only to see Padgett’s instantly replied with 13 and 180 score for 18 to level at 2-2. Leutzsch had legs of 17-19, a 103 finish for 15 and 17 to take out four of the next six legs to open up a 6-4 lead. Padgett then added 18 and 23 darts to his previous 17 and 18 to level the scores at 6-6. With both players showing nerves and throwing the odd lose dart, Leutzsch took the decider in 19 to book his Grand Final showdown with Rice.
The best of 15 dart leg final saw Rice 17-21-17 open up a 3-2 lead over Leutzsch who hit 17 and 18 dart legs in reply. In leg six Leutzsch left 140 after 9 darts with Rice way back on 278 and then proceeded to burst the 140 score which seemed to distract both players leaving Rice to win the leg in 27 darts. Leutzsch (18-18) won two further legs, clearly put off by his error, left the door open for Rice to win in 21-16-19 and 15 darts to take a well deserved victory winning the final 8-4. The π Final results were: Mark Hartley (15-16-18-18-15) 6 Dave Copley (14-15) 5 Steve Rice (15) 6 Ian Hannah 0 Matt Padgett (14 plus 180 score) 6 Wayne Woodhouse 2
Lutz Leutzsch (18-18-19-20-21) 6 Brian Dawson (180 for 15-180 for 18-14-15-16) 5.
The standard throughout the day was very high and prior to the π Finals there was a total of 75 legs of 21 darts or less recorded, 22 x 180’s with Jamie Ellam hitting 3 and double 180 scores from Daz Twist, John Bowler, Jake Patchett and John Quantock and 9 finishes of over 100 with Sam Fordham 154, Wayne Woodhouse 146, Reece Robinson 144 and Daniel Lidgett 140 being the highest. The furthest youth prize went to 17 year old Jake Patchett and the prize for the furthest lady was won by York’s Denise Fowler.
YDP would like to thank event sponsor^s Streamline Taxis of York, Red Dragon Darts, Y3 Car and Van Hire, SR Washers (York), The Pit Stop Sandwich & Snack Bar (York), Dransfield Novelty Co. Ltd and York Print for their support during this tournament.
The event will be run again starting at the back end of 2013 culminating in the Grand Finals in January 2014.
York Darts Promotions next event starts on Saturday 9th February 2013 which is the running of The 3rd Streamline Taxis York Open Darts Championship played over 8 Ranking Stages held at Huntington WMC in York. Details can be found on York Darts Promotions facebook page or can be obtained by emailing: info@yorkdartspromotions.co.uk or contacting Neil Hart on 07921128063