SUPER BARNEY REGAINS WINNING FEELING

 

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD won his first Players Championship for over three years with a 6-2 defeat of John Part in the final of Saturday^s tournament at the Moorways Centre in Derby.

The Dutch ace claimed the £6,000 title and his first ranking win since April 2008 in the Open Holland Masters with the success, which saw him make a winning return from a summer break in Spain.

Van Barneveld was pushed all the way to an 11th leg in three of his matches, but punishing Jamie Caven for misses in their second round contest, took out 106 to defeat Co Stompe and then edged out Steve Farmer in the quarter-finals.

He also defeated Adrian Bolitho and Brendan Dolan during the event, and a 6-4 win over Paul Nicholson in the semi-finals set up a tasty final against three-time World Champion Part.

Van Barneveld broke in the opening leg of the final and, after Part had levelled, took out a 13-darter to win the third and a brilliant 126 finish on the bull for the fourth - despite the Canadian hitting two 180s in the leg.

Part hit double 16 to take the fifth, but van Barneveld restored his two-leg advantage with a 12-darter, traded 180s with his opponent before landing a key double four to lead 5-2 and then sealed victory in style with a 156 finish.

Part was seeking to win a Players Championship for a second successive weekend - and his fourth event of the year - but had to settle for the £3,000 runner-up prize.

He had produced a moment of magic to win his semi-final against Simon Whitlock, taking out 126 on the bull for a 12-darter with the Australian sat on 45.

Part also overcame Gary Anderson 6-3 in the quarter-finals, and defeated Chris Thompson, Steve Brown - with a whitewash - and Michael Smith during the event.

Nicholson^s semi-final appearance was his best display since a victory in Barnsley in June, while Whitlock was defeated in the last four for the third time in the last five Players Championships.

Anderson^s run to the quarter-finals included a stunning whitewash win over Mark Dudbridge in the last 16, in which he used just 73 darts in picking up the 6-0 win with legs of 12, 11, 11, 13, 12 and 14 darts for a 123.5 average.

Farmer defeated in-form Wes Newton in the last 16 with a 6-5 triumph after the number one seed missed two match darts, while Mark Walsh came from 5-1 down to see off John Henderson in his run to the fourth round.

Sunday sees a second £35,000 Players Championship being held at the Moorways Centre in Derby, as players continue to battle for qualifying places in next month^s World Grand Prix in Dublin.

 

Players Championship 17 (Derby, Saturday)

First Round

Wes Newton (1) Bye

Nigel Birch 6-5 Dave Honey

Dennis Priestley (32) 6-1 Ryan Harrington

Matt Jackson 6-3 Mark Frost

Steve Farmer (16) Bye

Alex Roy 6-4 Joe Cullen

Andy Smith (17) Bye

Adam Smith-Neale 6-3 Andy Hutchings

Jamie Caven (8) Bye

Raymond van Barneveld 6-3 Adrian Bolitho

Peter Wright (25) 6-3 Mick Todd

Brendan Dolan 6-1 Kevin McDine

Vincent van der Voort (9) Bye

Dylan Duo 6-3 Paul Rowley

Co Stompe (24) 6-2 Andrew Hibbert

Andy Brown 6-4 Jason Crawley

Paul Nicholson (5) Bye

Simon Burt 6-5 Gary Mawson

Wayne Jones (28) 6-3 Barrie Bates

Scott Rand 6-4 David Coyne

Colin Lloyd (12) Bye

Terry Temple 6-5 Darrell Claydon

Colin Osborne (21) 6-1 Ian White

Darren Whittingham 6-5 Brian Woods

Ronnie Baxter (4) Bye

John O^Shea 6-4 Kevin Dowling

Peter Hudson 6-2 Andy Hamilton (29)

James Richardson 6-3 Steve Hine

Kevin Painter (13) Bye

Steve Evans 6-1 Andy Relf

Denis Ovens (20) 6-2 Wayne Atwood

Matt Padgett 6-1 Steven Pearson

Gary Anderson (2) Bye

Adam Hunt 6-1 Jon Archer

Tony Eccles (31) 6-0 John Walton

Roland Scholten 6-4 Steve Grubb

Alan Tabern (15) Bye

Robert Thornton 6-1 Martyn Turner

Reece Robinson 6-5 Mervyn King (18)

Mark Dudbridge 6-3 Nicky Bache

John Part (7) Bye

Chris Thompson 6-0 Paul Schofield

Steve Brown (26) 6-1 Matthew Edgar

Dyson Parody 6-1 Steve Maish

Mark Webster (10) Bye

Michael Mansell 6-3 Adrian Gray

Michael Smith 6-3 Dennis Smith (23)

Louis Blundell 6-5 Nick Fullwell

Mark Walsh (6) Bye

Matt Clark 6-3 Andy Pearson

Mark Hylton (27) 6-2 Dave Smith

John Henderson 6-2 Magnus Caris

Justin Pipe (11) Bye

Ian Jopling 6-5 Mark Jones

Chris Aubrey 6-2 Richie Burnett (22)

Shaun Griffiths 6-3 Andy Jenkins

Simon Whitlock (3) Bye

Nigel Heydon 6-1 Darren Johnson

Kirk Shepherd 6-2 Dave Chisnall (30)

Michael Barnard 6-1 Geoff Whitworth

Terry Jenkins (14) Bye

Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Stephen Hardy

Steve Beaton (19) 6-2 William O^Connor

Gary Welding 6-2 Mareno Michels

 

Second Round

Wes Newton 6-3 Nigel Birch

Dennis Priestley 6-2 Matt Jackson

Steve Farmer 6-2 Alex Roy

Andy Smith 6-1 Adam Smith-Neale

Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Jamie Caven

Brendan Dolan 6-5 Peter Wright

Vincent van der Voort 6-2 Dylan Duo

Co Stompe 6-5 Andy Brown

Paul Nicholson 6-1 Simon Burt

Wayne Jones 6-5 Scott Rand

Terry Temple 6-5 Colin Lloyd

Colin Osborne 6-3 Darren Whittingham

Ronnie Baxter 6-2 John O^Shea

James Richardson 6-2 Peter Hudson

Kevin Painter 6-2 Steve Evans

Denis Ovens 6-1 Matt Padgett

Gary Anderson 6-4 Adam Hunt

Roland Scholten 6-0 Tony Eccles

Alan Tabern 6-4 Robert Thornton

Mark Dudbridge 6-3 Reece Robinson

John Part 6-3 Chris Thompson

Steve Brown 6-3 Dyson Parody

Michael Mansell 6-3 Mark Webster

Michael Smith 6-2 Louis Blundell

Mark Walsh 6-3 Matt Clark

John Henderson 6-1 Mark Hylton

Justin Pipe 6-3 Ian Jopling

Shaun Griffiths 6-4 Chris Aubrey

Simon Whitlock 6-3 Nigel Heydon

Kirk Shepherd 6-5 Michael Barnard

Terry Jenkins 6-2 Michael van Gerwen

Steve Beaton 6-2 Gary Welding

Losers £200

 

Third Round

Wes Newton 6-5 Dennis Priestley

Steve Farmer 6-5 Andy Smith

Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Brendan Dolan

Co Stompe 6-3 Vincent van der Voort

Paul Nicholson 6-4 Wayne Jones

Colin Osborne 6-5 Terry Temple

James Richardson 6-5 Ronnie Baxter

Kevin Painter 6-4 Denis Ovens

Gary Anderson 6-1 Roland Scholten

Mark Dudbridge 6-4 Alan Tabern

John Part 6-0 Steve Brown

Michael Smith 6-2 Michael Mansell

Mark Walsh 6-5 John Henderson

Justin Pipe 6-3 Shaun Griffiths

Simon Whitlock 6-0 Kirk Shepherd

Steve Beaton 6-4 Terry Jenkins

Losers £400

 

Fourth Round

Steve Farmer 6-5 Wes Newton

Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Co Stompe

Paul Nicholson 6-5 Colin Osborne

Kevin Painter 6-3 James Richardson

Gary Anderson 6-0 Mark Dudbridge

John Part 6-2 Michael Smith

Justin Pipe 6-1 Mark Walsh

Simon Whitlock 6-3 Steve Beaton

Losers £600

 

Quarter-Finals

Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Steve Farmer

Paul Nicholson 6-3 Kevin Painter

John Part 6-3 Gary Anderson

Simon Whitlock 6-1 Justin Pipe

Losers £1,000

 

Semi-Finals

Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Paul Nicholson

John Part 6-5 Simon Whitlock

Losers £2,000

 

Final

Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 John Part

Winner £6,000

Runner-Up £3,000

Final - Leg-by-leg

Raymond van Barneveld v John Part

0-0 - John Part wins the bull and will throw first

1-0 - van Barneveld breaks on double ten, with Part missing the bull for a 130 finish.

1-1 - van Barneveld hits scores of 125 and 140 to be first to a finish, but misses four darts for the leg to allow Part back in, as the Canadian is let off for a miss at double 16 for a 109 finish on his previous visit by hitting the bed at the second time of asking.

2-1 - van Barneveld lands a 180 to be first to a finish, but misses the bull for a 12-darter and returns after Part also misses the middle target to win the leg on double 16 for a 13-dart finish.

3-1 - Part opens with a 180 and follows with scores of 100 and 180 - but fails to get a dart at the 41 finish as van Barneveld follows three ton-plus scores by finishing 126 on the bull for a 12-darter.

3-2 - The pair trade three tons apiece to open the fifth leg, but Part is first to a double, initially missing double 16 for a 104 finish but returning to hit the bed at the next time of asking.

4-2 - van Barneveld restores his two-leg lead with a sparkling 12-darter, hitting scores of 140, 137, 140 and an 84 finish on double 12.

5-2 - van Barneveld hits a 180 to take control against the throw, and although Part replies with a maximum to leave 106 the Dutchman was already on a finish and took out double four with his third dart to move a leg away from victory.

6-2 - van Barneveld secures the win in style with a brilliant 12-darter which he seals with a 156 checkout.

ENDS

 

MIGHTY MIKE^S PDC UNICORN YOUTH TOUR TREBLE

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN won his third PDC Unicorn Youth Tour title at the Moorways Centre, defeating Michael Smith 4-1 in the final.

The Dutch ace followed up victories in Wigan and Crawley earlier this year by taking the £600 first prize in Derby, courtesy of a brilliant showing in Event 11.

He whitewashed fellow countryman Jimmy Hendricks as well as Wales^ Marc Evans in the early stages, and dropped only one leg against Leon Bailey and Ricky Evans in reaching the semis.

There, he overcame fellow countryman Rick Veugelers 4-1 and produced the same scoreline to win the final in style.

After Smith missed the bull for a 170 finish in the opening leg, van Gerwen took out double 16 to lead before opening the second with a 177.

Smith hit two 180s in reply, but the Dutchman denied him a dart at double 13 by finishing tops for an 11-dart leg to double his advantage.

The pair traded maximums in the fourth leg, which Smith won with a 90 finish, but tops gave van Gerwen a 3-1 lead before he repeated the double to secure victory.

Smith^s display included victories over Welsh youngster Jamie Lewis, Holland^s Mike Zuidwijk and former Youth Tour winner Paul Barham as well as whitewashes of Sam Davidson and Darren Whittingham.

The St Helens ace picked up £400 as runner-up, as he lost in the final for the second time this year after being in the decider in Event Two back in February, when he had also hit a nine-darter.

Lewis celebrated his third appearance on the Youth Tour by reaching the last four, where he was joined by Dutch youngster Veugelers - who had overcome compatriot Dirk van Duijvenbode in the last eight.

The next PDC Unicorn Youth Tour event will be held in Nuland on Saturday September 24, with entry available via the PDC Head Office on 08712 501 180 or via www.pdc-europe.net for non-UK & Ireland players.

PDC Unicorn Youth Tour Event 11

 

Preliminary Round

Steven Kirby 3-2 Brandonn Monk

Ryan Harrington 3-1 Bryan Flew

Adam Smith-Neale 3-2 Aden Kirk

Jamie Green 3-0 Joe Thompson

Rick Veugelers 3-1 Daniel Cooper

Reece Robinson 3-1 Daniel King-Morris

Scott Taylor 3-2 Joe Davis

Graeme Hoggarth 3-0 Robert Raine

Jimmy Hendricks 3-0 Conner Durham

Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Peter Browning

Marc Evans 3-0 Jamie Grinhaff

Adam Hunt 3-1 James Hayer

Greg Falcus 3-0 Kieran Dodd

Jack Tweddell 3-0 Ryan Iceton

Shaun Griffiths 3-1 Anthony West

Dan Dean 3-0 Daniel Firth

James Smith Bye (Jack Barwick timed out)

Sam Davidson 3-2 Sam Hamilton

Simon Hicks 3-0 Jack Hill

Darren Whittingham 3-2 Gareth Thomas

Mike Zuidwijk 3-1 John De Kruijf

Lee Whitworth 3-2 Curtis Hammond

Ryan Hoggarth 3-0 Kirsty Haw

 

First Round

Joe Cullen 3-0 Josh McCarthy

Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-1 Steven Kirby

Co Stompe Jnr 3-1 Aaron Holdstock

Adam Smith-Neale 3-0 Ryan Harrington

Jake Jones 3-2 Curtis Bagley

Scott Pearson 3-2 Jamie Green

Liam Lewis 3-1 Christian Pimblett

Rick Veugelers 3-1 Kristen Bircher

Ricky Evans 3-0 Luke Humphries

Reece Robinson 3-1 Scott Taylor

Matthew Dicken 3-0 Chris Aubrey

Steve Haggerty 3-0 Graeme Hoggarth

Leon Bailey 3-1 James Young

Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Jimmy Hendricks

David Everley 3-2 Dan Read

Marc Evans 3-0 David Galaska

David Coyne 3-1 Patrick Meaney

Adam Hunt 3-0 Greg Falcus

Wouter Vaes 3-1 Ryan De Vreede

Jack Tweddell 3-1 Kacey Jones

Jamie Landon 3-0 John Bryan

Lewis Venes 3-1 Shaun Griffiths

Jamie Lewis 3-0 Matthew Dennant

James Smith 3-2 Dan Dean

Paul Barham 3-0 Alex Nunez

Michael Smith 3-0 Sam Davidson

Ryan Herrington 3-1 Jeffrey De Zwaan

Darren Whittingham 3-1 Simon Hicks

Sam Hill 3-0 Dean Reynolds

Mike Zuidwijk 3-2 Tim Vandenhoek

Matt Gallett 3-0 Jelle Muller

Lee Whitworth 3-0 Ryan Hoggarth

 

Second Round

Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-1 Joe Cullen

Co Stompe Jnr 3-2 Adam Smith-Neale

Scott Pearson 3-2 Jake Jones

Rick Veugelers 3-1 Liam Lewis

Ricky Evans 3-1 Reece Robinson

Matthew Dicken 3-2 Steve Haggerty

Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Leon Bailey

Marc Evans 3-2 David Everley

David Coyne 3-1 Adam Hunt

Jack Tweddell 3-1 Wouter Vaes

Lewis Venes 3-1 Jamie Landon

Jamie Lewis 3-0 James Smith

Michael Smith 3-1 Paul Barham

Darren Whittingham 3-0 Ryan Herrington

Mike Zuidwijk 3-1 Sam Hill

Matt Gallett 3-1 Lee Whitworth

 

Third Round

Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-0 Co Stompe Jnr

Rick Veugelers 3-0 Scott Pearson

Ricky Evans 3-0 Matthew Dicken

Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Marc Evans

Jack Tweddell 3-0 David Coyne

Jamie Lewis 3-1 Lewis Venes

Michael Smith 3-0 Darren Whittingham

Mike Zuidwijk 3-2 Matt Gallett

Losers £25

 

Quarter-Finals

Rick Veugelers 3-2 Dirk van Duijvenbode

Michael van Gerwen 3-1 Ricky Evans

Jamie Lewis 3-0 Jack Tweddell

Michael Smith 3-1 Mike Zuidwijk

Losers £100

 

Semi-Finals

Michael van Gerwen 4-1 Rick Veugelers

Michael Smith 4-3 Jamie Lewis

Losers £200

 

Final

Michael van Gerwen 4-1 Michael Smith

Winner £600

Runner-Up £400