ADRIAN LEWIS defeated Ian White 6-3 in an all-Stoke final to claim the German Darts Masters title at the Glaspalast in Sindelfingen on Sunday.
Lewis claimed his first individual title since retaining the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship crown in January with the success in Germany, where he had also partnered Phil Taylor to win the Cash Converters World Cup of Darts earlier this year.
The world number two produced some brilliant darts throughout his six matches in the £82,100 European Tour event, dropping only three legs in his first three games as he defeated Darren Johnson, Peter Hudson and Michael Mansell 6-1.
After seeing off Tony West 6-3 in the quarter-finals, he then overcame world number three James Wade 6-1 and swept aside the challenge of White - often his practice partner at home in Stoke - to claim the £15,000 first prize.
Lewis won the final's first three legs without reply, opening with a 14-dart finish and then landing back-to-back 180s in taking the second in 12 darts, before taking out 80 with two double tops in the third.
The pair traded 180s in the fourth before White landed double 16 for a 13-darter, and he then superbly checked out 128 to pull back to 3-2 - only to miss key doubles at the bottom of the board in the next two legs, with double 19, double 17 and then double 16 proving elusive as Lewis moved 5-2 up.
White finished 107 to win a third leg, but Lewis landed his sixth 180 of the final in leg nine and hit double top to secure the title.
The tournament was Lewis' first since the summer break, which had seen him marry partner Sarah, and the 27-year-old is hoping to take this form into the year's remaining majors - beginning in a fortnight at the PartyPoker.net European Championship.
"The weekend couldn't have gone any better for me," said Lewis. "I've been putting the hard work in, and to win this tournament means a lot to me.
"I doubted myself in patches in some games, but I've come through strongly at the end. I kept focused and was pretty consistent and it's a massive confidence boost for me.
"I've had a poor year and been very patchy, so to go up there and win this with the quality of the field which was in this tournament is great.
"I love playing over in Europe and we're back in a couple of weeks for the European Championship. I'm really looking forward to it now."
Lewis added: "I'm very proud of Ian. He was probably third in the BDO rankings when I offered to sponsor him to come onto the PDC circuit, and I told him that I think he can be a top eight player.
"For him to hit a nine-darter and reach the final is fantastic, but it's only the beginning of things for him as he's a great player."
White had hit a sensational nine-darter finish earlier on Sunday during his third round win over Andy Hamilton, and he went on to defeat Robert Thornton in a deciding leg in the quarter-finals and then saw off Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 in the semis.
The Stoke ace took home £7,500 as runner-up and shares a £2,400 nine-dart finish bonus with Mark Webster, who had achieved the feat in Friday's first round.
"It's been the story this year that in every final I get to I don't get over the line, but I'll get there one day," said White, who has reached two other finals on the PDC ProTour in 2012.
"It was great to hit the nine-darter but I thought I'd blown it in the match when I went 3-1 up and then 5-3 down, but it was nice to get through those early stages and into the final.
"It was nice to beat Andy and then get a good win against Raymond, but Adrian's a very tough opponent. He might be a friend but I still wanted to beat him.
"He kept hitting the 180s like he does and I couldn't keep up with him. I got back to 3-2 but I missed some doubles, and the double 19 and double 17 were important, but it's all great experience for me."
Van Barneveld had won the third European Tour event in Dusseldorf in June, but despite wins over Germany's Andree Welge and fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort earlier on Sunday he was unable to add a further title to his roll of honour.
He was joined in reaching the last four by world number three Wade, who was the runner-up in the first European Tour event in April and also reached July's Betfair World Matchplay final on his most recent outing.
Wade had come from behind to defeat Nigel Heydon in the third round on Sunday afternoon, and saw off Simon Whitlock 6-3 in a high-quality quarter-final which saw both players average almost 106.
Van der Voort secured his place in the European Championship with his run to the last eight, while West's superb run - which included wins over Justin Pipe, Terry Temple and Terry Jenkins - saw him reach the quarter-finals of a PDC event for the first time since winning a Tour Card in January.
Speedy Services UK Open champion Thornton won through to the last eight with a sensational whitewash of Wes Newton in the third round, when he averaged over 107, before losing out narrowly to White.
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German Darts Masters - European Tour Event Four
Sunday September 9
Evening Session
Quarter-Finals
Vincent van der Voort 4-6 Raymond van Barneveld
Ian White 6-5 Robert Thornton
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Tony West
Simon Whitlock 3-6 James Wade
Followed by:
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 4-6 Ian White
Adrian Lewis 6-1 James Wade
Final
Ian White 3-6 Adrian Lewis
Quarter-Finals & Semi-Finals played in bracket order as per the order of the Third Round games.
All games the best of 11 legs.
Match Information
Quarter-Finals
Vincent van der Voort v Raymond van Barneveld
0-0 - Vincent van der Voort wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - van der Voort makes a confident start with a 14-darter, finishing on tops.
1-1 - van Barneveld levels in 13 darts on double 16.
2-1 - van der Voort again leaves a finish after 12 darts, and takes out 76 to win leg three.
2-2 - van Barneveld takes out 100 to square the match.
3-2 - van Barneveld misses three darts at double 16 and eight to break, and van der Voort posts tops to hold throw.
3-3 - van der Voort misses a dart at tops to punish van Barneveld's missed doubles, as the five-time World Champion returns to hit double ten and level.
3-4 - van Barneveld finally breaks throw, with both players initially missing tops before he returns to land double ten.
4-4 - van der Voort lands a 180, and although he is unable to finish 139 he returns to take out tops at the first time of asking to break back.
4-5 - van der Voort leaves 32 but can only watch as his opponent nails 90 on double 15.
4-6 - van Barneveld hits three 140s to leave 81, and finishes the combination in two darts for an 11-dart winning leg.
Match Stats
|
Vincent |
4-6 |
Raymond |
|
13 |
100+ |
17 |
|
5 |
140+ |
6 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
2 |
180 |
0 |
|
88.29 |
Average |
90.02 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
|
76 |
High Finish |
100 |
0-0 - Ian White wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - White, who landed a nine-darter earlier, lands a 180 on his second visit and finishes 88 for a 12-darter to open the match in style.
1-1 - White lands a 180 in leaving 121 after nine darts, while Thornton scores 171 to leave 16 as he finishes double eight for a 15-darter.
2-1 - White posts double 18 with his third dart at the bed to edge back ahead.
2-2 - White hits his third 180 of the game but Thornton finishes 88 to level.
2-3 - Thornton misses the bull, but White is off-target with two darts at tops to finish 100, and the Scot hits the same bed to break throw and lead.
3-3 - White hits a 180 to leave 66, and finishes the checkout with a bull-double eight combination for a 14-darter.
3-4 - Thornton breaks throw with a 13-darter, finishing on double 12.
4-4 - White breaks again on double 16 to level.
4-5 - The throw is broken once again as Thornton moves a leg away from victory in style with a superb 11-darter, hitting 140, 171 and 130 before finishing tops.
5-5 - White narrowly misses double 14 in double 11 for a 148 finish, but Thornton is unable to take out 96 and he returns to post double three and force a decider.
6-5 - White hits two 140s in being first to a finish, but misses tops - only for Thornton to fail to take out 140 and allow him back to finish double five for the win.
The defeat for Thornton means that he misses out on qualification for the PartyPoker.net European Championship, with the field being confirmed following this event. Thornton needed to defeat White to knock Mervyn King out of the qualifying places - although a Tony West win in the event would still edge King out.
Match Stats
|
Ian White |
6-5 |
Robert Thornton |
|
5 |
100+ |
15 |
|
12 |
140+ |
7 |
|
0 |
170+ |
2 |
|
4 |
180 |
0 |
|
93.74 |
Average |
92.02 |
|
3 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
88 |
High Finish |
88 |
Adrian Lewis v Tony West
0-0 - Tony West wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - Lewis breaks throw with a 100 finish to take an immediate lead.
1-1 - Lewis lands a 180 but is unable to finish the leg in three visits and West takes out 76 to level.
2-1 - Lewis breaks back with a 75 checkout.
3-1 - Lewis scores 140, 180 and 145, with West replying with a maximum but not able to apply the pressure, with the World Champion missing three darts to win the leg before returning to finish double nine for a 13-darter.
3-2 - West hits back by finishing 72 to win the fifth leg.
3-3 - West lands a 180, and although he misses double 16 he is allowed to return to the oche when Lewis, needing 80, only gives himself one dart at tops and is off-target, with the former World Masters winner landing double eight with his third dart in levelling the contest.
4-3 - Lewis is first to a finish, and although he again initially misses his chance he has enough cushion to return and post double two to edge back ahead.
5-3 - Lewis hits a 180 to leave 120, and finishes the 'Shanghai' combination to move a leg away from a place in the semi-finals of the tournament.
6-3 - West posts a maximum, but Lewis replies with a 180 of his own to leave 40, and hits the bed at the second time of asking to seal his victory.
Match Stats
|
Adrian Lewis |
6-3 |
Tony West |
|
9 |
100+ |
8 |
|
7 |
140+ |
2 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
4 |
180 |
3 |
|
94.44 |
Average |
86.59 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
|
120 |
High Finish |
76 |
Simon Whitlock v James Wade
0-0 - James Wade wins the bull and throws first.
0-1 - Whitlock opens with two 140s but misses double seven to finish 122, and Wade takes out 87 to hold throw in 15 darts.
0-2 - Wade finishes tops at the first time of asking to break Whitlock's throw and move two legs up.
1-2 - Whitlock posts a 180 to leave 100 after nine darts, and finishes the combination on tops to get off the mark with a 12-dart finish.
1-3 - The pair trade 180s before Wade adds another maximum to leave 42, and he lands tops for an 11-darter to break.
2-3 - Whitlock adds another maximum and finishes 130 on the bull to win the fifth against the throw with a second 12-dart leg of the contest.
3-3 - The players again swap 180s, and the Australian finishes tops for a 14-dart finish to square a thrilling game, with both players' averages hitting the 107 mark.
3-4 - Wade finishes 65 to edge the seventh leg and regain the lead.
3-5 - Wade opens with 180 and 140, and when Whitlock misses double five for a 130 finish and two further darts to level, the left-hander takes out double ten with his third dart to move a leg away from the semis.
3-6 - Wade lands two 140s to be first to a finish, and he lands tops at the first time of asking to win through to the semis, with both players averaging above 105.
Match Stats
|
Simon Whitlock |
3-6 |
James Wade |
|
13 |
100+ |
6 |
|
6 |
140+ |
8 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
4 |
180 |
4 |
|
105.98 |
Average |
105.59 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
130 |
High Finish |
87 |
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld v Ian White
0-0 - Raymond van Barneveld wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 and lands double ten to win the opener in 15 darts.
1-1 - White finishes 68 to hit back and level.
1-2 - van Barneveld misses the bull for a 170 finish and five darts at double eight, with White off-target on double ten for a 137 finish but being allowed back to hit the same bed and break throw.
1-3 - White hits back-to-back 180s to leave 22, and finishes double 11 for a 13-darter as he moves two legs clear of the Dutchman.
1-4 - White breaks throw again to win a fourth straight leg, finishing double 16 at the first time of asking.
2-4 - van Barneveld kick-starts his challenge with a 180 to be first to a finish, and he takes out 64 in two darts on double eight for a 14-dart finish to break throw.
2-5 - van Barneveld misses double 19 for a 118 finish, and White takes out 116 on double 18 to break again and move a leg away from a place in the final.
3-5 - van Barneveld lands a maximum to leave 81 after nine darts, and finishes double eight for a 14-darter to keep his hopes alive.?
4-5 - The Dutchman hits a 180 in his third visit for a second successive leg, and although he misses double 16 for a 104 finish he returns to land double eight to win his fourth leg when White is unable to take out 134.
4-6 - The players trade 180s, with van Barneveld adding a 140 to leave 90 after nine darts and White scoring 134 to leave 45. Van Barneveld fails to set up a double on 90, and White posts double eight to reach the final.
Match Stats
|
Raymond |
4-6 |
Ian |
|
12 |
100+ |
13 |
|
6 |
140+ |
6 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
5 |
180 |
3 |
|
96.63 |
Average |
99.56 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
64 |
High Finish |
116 |
Adrian Lewis v James Wade
0-0 - James Wade wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - Lewis is first to a double and breaks throw with a 14-darter, landing double 16 to take out 48.
2-0 - Lewis leaves 43 after 12 darts, and after initially missing four darts to win the leg he returns to take out double five.
2-1 - Wade wins his first leg of the match, finishing tops to hit back and take leg three.
3-1 - Lewis initially misses double ten to take out 120 - hitting treble 20 and then double top - but when Wade wires double 18 to finish 156 the World Champion returns to pin double ten.
4-1 - The pair trade two tons apiece before Lewis fires in a 180 and then takes out 121 on the bull for a 12-darter to break throw and move three legs clear.
5-1 - Lewis continues to score heavily before finishing double 18 to move a leg away from an all-Stoke final with White.
6-1 - Lewis follows up an opening score of 22 with an effortless 180, but Wade is first to a finish. Lewis then adds another maximum, and when the left-hander misses darts at double top and ten, he steps in to take out 75 on double eight for victory.
Match Stats
|
Adrian Lewis |
6-1 |
James Wade |
|
9 |
100+ |
12 |
|
5 |
140+ |
2 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
3 |
180 |
0 |
|
95.22 |
Average |
88.77 |
|
3 |
Breaks of Throw |
0 |
|
121 |
High Finish |
58 |
Final
Ian White v Adrian Lewis
0-0 - Adrian Lewis wins the bull and throws first.
0-1 - Lewis opens with two 140s and finishes double ten for a 14-darter to start the final in style on double ten.
0-2 - Lewis kicks off the second leg with a 180, and lands a second maximum to set up a possible nine-darter. Needing 141, he throws for treble 17 first and misses the bed, but returns - after White misses the bull - to take out 84 on double 11 to break throw with a 12-darter.
0-3 - White misses four darts at double ten - initially for a 137 checkout - and Lewis steps in to finish 80 with two double tops.
1-3 - The pair trade 180s as the high-scoring start to the final continues, with Lewis unable to finish 161 as White takes out double 16 for a 13-darter to get off the mark.
2-3 - Lewis suffers two bounce-outs during the leg, and White capitalises by finishing 128 superbly with two treble 18s and double ten to break back.
2-4 - Lewis wins a huge leg - with White first to a finish, missing the bull for a 161 and two darts at double 19, only for Lewis to post a 180 and finish 116 on double 18 to break back and regain his two-leg lead.
2-5 - White hits a 180 to leave 84, but misses his chance to punish two misses at tops from Lewis by missing double 17 and then switching to double 16, which he also missed - allowing the World Champion back in to move a leg away from the title.
3-5 - Lewis hits a 180 to be first to a finish, but misses a dart at tops for the title and White takes out 107 on double 16 to stay in the game.
3-6 - Lewis opens with a 180, and although he initially misses two darts at tops for a 100 finish he returns to hit the bed for victory.
Match Stats
|
Ian White |
3-6 |
Adrian Lewis |
|
14 |
100+ |
9 |
|
6 |
140+ |
4 |
|
0 |
170+ |
0 |
|
2 |
180 |
6 |
|
95.26 |
Average |
97.71 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
6 |
|
128 |
High Finish |
116 |
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