Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Column HR469
OCTOBER MEANS MATCHPLAY and GRAND PRIX!
Of course, October is also known for the coming of fall in many parts of the Colonies – a time for citizens to post on social media how much they love pumpkin spiced everything.
For the Old Dart Coach, the month contains his favorite holiday – Halloween, when people dress up in costumes. The ODC isn’t a costume-type guy. He loves All Hallow’s Eve because years ago his ex-wife was flying a Dollar Store broom and crashed into a giant Elm tree. Thankfully, the Elm wasn’t damaged.
October this year has World Seniors Matchplay. Those eligible? The top 16 in the World Seniors Dart Tour – a stellar field, missing all-time great Phil Taylor.
Taylor: It’s the worst pain I’ve ever had, the last 12 months. Honestly, it’s been a nightmare. I’ll be glad when this year has gone. I’ve been OK, but practicing for a couple of hours, then you play the game, you get a really bad ache in your hip. It’s like having a toothache; it drives you crackers.
World Seniors Matchplay champion, Leonard Gates, is back to defend his title. English newspapers go overboard. The Sun wrote: Leonard Gates continued his incredible form at this competition last year by defeating Jim McEwan (9-6) in a mouthwatering final. And as a result, the American ace took home a winning share of £10,000 ($13,122).
The City of York (where the ODC was introduced to Black Pudding – the introduction didn’t lead to a long friendship) played host. Two Scotsmen, Roberrt Thornton and John Henderson, would be able to set a roadblock on Gates’ journey to defend his title. Thornton is the reigning World Senior Champion. Gates and two other North Americans, John Part and David Cameron, were in the field of 16: Cameron advanced to the round of eight and Part checked to Thornton, losing 10-8.
Gates advanced to the semifinals with an 8-1 thrashing of Tina Gulliver. The Sun newspaper called Gulliver “the greatest female player of all time.” Shirley they jest. John Henderson came from 6-3 down to eliminate David Cameron 8-6. Tied at 6, Cameron missed 9 darts to level at 7.
Gates faced Robert Thornton in the semis. Thornton took the opening leg, then Gates took 7 on the trot heading to 9 and the win. During Gates’ run he took out 3 and 5 as his counting remains questionable. He won it 9-4, counting be dammed. John Henderson and Richie Howson were tied at 3 when Hondo broke it open with 3 for 6-3 on his way to a 9-6 win.
Gates was in deep trouble in the final from the start against John Henderson 7-2. Gates’ scoring combined with a T21 check allowed him the grab a couple of legs back. After trading legs Henderson closed the show for a 9-6 win.
Starting Monday, the 27th PDC World Grand Prix kicked off at Leicester’s Mattioli Arena. The field of 32 players consists of the top 16 on the PDC Order of Merit and the top 16 non-qualified players from the ProTour Order of Merit as of September 30. The top eight players on the Order of Merit will be seeded for the tournament.
The format is unique as it’s a double start event with matches being played in sets consisting of best of 3 per set in the opening rounds. The event has a prize fund of £600,000 ($785,580) with £120,000 ($157,098) to the winner – and the Phil Taylor trophy. Taylor won the event 11 times. Luke Humphries will be out to defend the title he won last year that kicked off what can only be described as a spectacular jump start to his career.
That aside, Luke Littler was the betting favorite to win the title.
In the first match Ryan Joyce defeated Josh Rock 2-0 (3-2, 3-0).
Martin Schindler missed 6 match darts in the second set yet prevailed over Brenden Dolan 2-0 (3-0 and 3-2). Schindler was 8 for 12 with starting darts.
#8 Jonny Clayton was on fire in his first set against Ritchie Edhouse which he won 3-1 including checks of a 13-darter and finishes of T30 and T08. The second set was the decider as Clayton won 3-2 behind a T12 opening giving him a 2-nil win.
#5 Nathan Aspinall overcame a stubborn Ryan Searle and double trouble winning 2-1 (3-1, 0-3 and 3-2).
Ricardo Pietreczko had troubles starting but won the match against Raymond van Barneveld 2-1 (2-3, 3-2, 3-nil). In the final set Barney needed 18 darts to start.
#1 Luke Humphries made an escape that would make Houdini proud beating Stephen Bunting 2-1(0-3, 3-2, 3-1). What made the win so stunning was Bunting took the first five legs missing a match dart for a 2-0. He then collapsed like a cardboard suit in a rainstorm.
#4 Rob Cross overcame a great start by Luke Littler (2-T60, T40) then finished with a bull winning 2-1 (3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
For the 5th year in a row Ross Smith advanced with a 2-0 (3-0, 3-1) win over Gian van Veen. van Veen’s only leg won was with a T70 out.
#6 Dave Chisnall laid a “Snyder” 2-0 (3-0, 3-0) on Cameron Menzie sending him back to Haggis and nervous sheep.
Next up with the match level at 1-all Dimitri Van den Bergh opened the deciding set with a T37 and T10 check against the throw, then sailed to the win 3-1(1-3, 3-2, 3-1) sending Luke Woodhouse to the bar.
Mike De Decker took advantage of Damon Heta missing a dart to win the first set, then a match dart to advance 2-1 (3-2, 3-1, 3-2).
After losing the first set, James Wade won 5 legs in a row to beat Peter Wright 2-1 (2-3, 3-1, 3-0). Wright missed 9 darts to extend the match.
#7 Gerwyn Price survived a match dart from Danny Noppert to win 2-1(3-1, 2-3, 3-2). In the second set Noppert was down 1-nil and 0-2 used a couple of bull finishes (T26, 84) to stay a live – but all for nought.
Gary Anderson, on his way to his first Grand Prix title, when he took out #2 Michael Smith 2-1 (1-3, 3-2, 3-2) after Smith missed 2 match darts.
#3 Michael van Gerwen was unable to land a punch on Daryl “The Chin” Gurney who scored a KO 2-nil (3-0,3-0).
Following a rocky start, Joe Cullen turned the lights out on “Hollywood” Chris Dobey in the deciding set 3-nil for the 2-1 win (1-3, 3-1, 3-0).
It took the last three matches of the first round for two seeds to bow out: #2 Michael Smith and #3 Michael van Gerwen. Could the name Michael be the key?
Here’s what’s on deck in the second round:
Round #2 (Thursday October 10 – 1900 BST)
#1 Humphries vs. Pietreczko
#8 Clayton vs. Ryan Smith
#4 Rob Cross vs. Martin Schindler
#5 Nathan Aspinall vs. Ryan Joyce
Gary Anderson vs. Mike De Decker
#7 Price vs. James Wade
Darlyn Gurney vs. Dobey/Cullen
#6 Chisnall vs. van den Bergh
Stay thirsty my friends.
