WES NEWTON won Group One of Championship League Darts as he crowned a fine day of darts with a 6-3 victory over World Champion Adrian Lewis in the final at Crondon Park GC in Essex.
The first day of action in the £200,000 internet-streamed event saw the world's top eight players battling it out for a place in November's Winners Group.
World number one Phil Taylor topped the league table following the round-robin stage, which saw the players meet once over the best of 11 legs, but lost out in the semi-finals to Lewis.
Newton, who reached the PartyPoker.net European Championship final on Sunday, inflicted one of only two defeats on Taylor during the league stage with a brilliant performance in one of four victories.
He then came from 5-3 down to win a thrilling semi-final with Terry Jenkins in a deciding leg before seeing off Lewis 6-3 in the final to win the group.
Newton opened the final with two 180s but actually lost the opening leg before winning the next three before the World Champion hit a 180 in a 12-darter to reply.
A 74 finish edged Newton 4-2 up, and although Lewis cut the gap with a 14-darter, the Fleetwood ace's heavy scoring helped him to win the next two, as double six and double four secured the win.
"I'm chuffed to bits to be the Group One winner," said Newton, who won £2,900 o the day. "It doesn't get any tougher than this with the top eight players in the world, so I'm really happy to keep my form going at the minute.
"It's always good to beat Phil Taylor, that's only the second time I've done it and I did it in good style. It gives me the confidence to keep going, I'm playing really well and the next tournament can't come quickly enough for me.
"The World Grand Prix's a couple of weeks away and my confidence is so high at the minute, so I'll go home, have a bit of a rest and keep preparing while the rest of these players are battling it out!"
Lewis had edged out Gary Anderson on leg difference to finish fourth in the league table as one of four players tied on eight points, and was in brilliant form to complete a 'double' over Taylor on the day, having won their opening group game 6-5 before taking the semi-final 6-2.
Taylor had finished at the top of the league table after winning five of his seven league matches, with one win over James Wade seeing the world number one average 117.81 to the left-hander's 111.95.
Taylor, last's year's Championship League Darts winner, will now return to compete in Group Two alongside his fellow semi-final loser Jenkins, Scottish ace Anderson and Simon Whitlock.
Anderson missed out on a semi-final place on leg difference after winning four of his seven league games, while Whitlock's 6-5 loss to Taylor in the final round of matches saw him finish sixth.
World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton - who finished below Whitlock on leg difference - and 2009 champion James Wade were eliminated from the event, with the world number three winning just one of his games during the day.
World number nine Mark Webster, debutant Justin Pipe and Players Championship Finals winner Kevin Painter will enter the fray on Wednesday in Group Two, with play commencing at 10.30am.
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2012 Championship League Darts
Group One Fixtures
|
Time |
Board One |
Board Two |
|
10.30am |
Phil Taylor 5-6 Adrian Lewis |
Simon Whitlock 3-6 Terry Jenkins |
|
Wes Newton 6-2 Andy Hamilton |
James Wade 5-6 Gary Anderson | |
|
Terry Jenkins 4-6 Phil Taylor |
Adrian Lewis 2-6 Simon Whitlock | |
|
Gary Anderson 6-4 Wes Newton |
Andy Hamilton 6-3 James Wade | |
|
Terry Jenkins 6-3 James Wade |
Phil Taylor 6-4 Andy Hamilton | |
|
Gary Anderson 6-4 Simon Whitlock |
Adrian Lewis 6-1 Wes Newton | |
|
Not before 2.00pm |
James Wade 2-6 Phil Taylor |
Terry Jenkins 4-6 Andy Hamilton |
|
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Gary Anderson |
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Wes Newton | |
|
Simon Whitlock 6-4 James Wade |
Wes Newton 6-4 Phil Taylor | |
|
Andy Hamilton 1-6 Adrian Lewis |
Gary Anderson 3-6 Terry Jenkins | |
|
Not before 4.15pm |
Wes Newton 6-5 Terry Jenkins |
Adrian Lewis 3-6 James Wade |
|
Andy Hamilton 6-5 Simon Whitlock |
Phil Taylor 6-3 Gary Anderson | |
|
Gary Anderson 6-3 Andy Hamilton |
James Wade 2-6 Wes Newton | |
|
Simon Whitlock 5-6 Phil Taylor |
Terry Jenkins 6-3 Adrian Lewis | |
|
Semi-Finals |
Phil Taylor 2-6 Adrian Lewis |
Terry Jenkins 5-6 Wes Newton |
|
Final |
Adrian Lewis 3-6 Wes Newton |
| Final League Table |
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts |
Total £Won |
|
Phil Taylor |
7 |
5 |
2 |
39 |
30 |
+9 |
£1950 |
10 |
£2150 |
|
Terry Jenkins |
7 |
4 |
3 |
37 |
30 |
+7 |
£1850 |
8 |
£2350 |
|
Wes Newton |
7 |
4 |
3 |
34 |
31 |
+3 |
£1700 |
8 |
£2900 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
4 |
3 |
32 |
29 |
+3 |
£1600 |
8 |
£2500 |
|
Gary Anderson |
7 |
4 |
3 |
34 |
34 |
0 |
£1700 |
8 |
|
|
Simon Whitlock |
7 |
3 |
4 |
35 |
35 |
0 |
£1750 |
6 |
|
|
Andy Hamilton |
7 |
3 |
4 |
28 |
36 |
-8 |
£1400 |
6 |
|
|
James Wade |
7 |
1 |
6 |
25 |
39 |
-14 |
£1250 |
2 |
Match Information
First Set of Matches
World Champion Adrian Lewis came from 5-1 down to defeat Phil Taylor 6-5 in their opening clash. After losing the opening leg, Taylor raced away by winning five in a row, twice breaking throw, hitting finishes of 147 and 76 and a key double four to punish a host of misses from Lewis in leg five. Double nine from Lewis saved the match, and he hit double four and tops to pull back to 5-4 before Taylor missed the bull to take out 124 for the game in the tenth. Lewis posts tops to force a decider and was first to a finish with scores of 131, 121 and 180 - Taylor hit a 177 in reply but was unable to finish 132 and Lewis returned to hit double eight for 13-darter.
Terry Jenkins made a winning start with a 6-3 defeat of Simon Whitlock, Sunday's European Championship winner. Jenkins took the opener, before Whitlock replied with a 13-darter and broke in leg three, only for the Ledbury man to win the next four without replay, including a 120 finish as he moved 5-2 up. Tops gave Whitlock the next, after Jenkins missed the bull for a 167 finish, but he took the next on double six to claim both points.
Wes Newton took five successive legs as he hit back from 2-1 down to defeat Andy Hamilton. Hamilton made a strong to lead 2-1, but after Newton finished 98 to level he punished misses from the Stoke man to break in the fifth leg, hit double ten to lead 4-2 and then finished 121 and double eight to take the win.
Gary Anderson made an amazing comeback to defeat James Wade 6-5. Wade made a brilliant opening to the game, hitting a 180 in the opening leg and finishes of 121, 116 and 78 to move 3-0 up. He also won two of the next three to move a leg away from the win at 5-2 - only for Anderson to hit 120 to take the eighth leg, six perfect darts in the ninth as he landed a 14-darter to pull back to 5-2 and then traded maximums with Wade in the tenth as he forced a decider with another 14-dart finish. Anderson then scored 140 and 180 to move ahead in the decider before sealing victory in 15 darts.
Second Set of Matches
Phil Taylor bounced back from his opening loss with a 6-4 win over Terry Jenkins. Jenkins took three of the opening four legs to establish an early lead, but Taylor broke back in the fifth, hit double ten to level and finishes of double eight and double 16 to move 5-3 up. Jenkins landed a 180 and double ten to keep his hopes alive, but Taylor responded with a 174 and double 16 to seal his win.
Simon Whitlock defeated Adrian Lewis 6-2 to take his first win of the day. Whitlock took the opening two legs and had chances to win the third, only to miss five darts to take the leg as tops got Lewis off the mark. The Stoke ace then missed his chances in the fourth as Whitlock hit double 16, and a double 14 finish put the Australian 4-1 up. Lewis hit a 180 and a 124 to win the sixth, but Whitlock edged ahead in the seventh and took out 121 on the bull for the win.
Gary Anderson picked up a second successive win, defeating Wes Newton 6-4. Newton took the opening leg before Anderson won three in a row for a 3-1 cushion - despite the Fleetwood ace setting up a potential nine-darter in the latter with two 180s and a treble 20, missing the treble 19 of the 141 combination and then five darts to win the leg. Newton finished 96 and 78 to take two of the next three to pull back to 4-3 before Anderson fired in a 180 and double 16 to move a leg away from the win. Newton won leg nine, but missed the bull to finish 86 to force a decider as Anderson stepped in for the two points.
Andy Hamilton won his first Group one game, holding off James Wade's fightback to take a 6-3 triumph. Hamilton took the first two legs before Wade, aided by a 180, got off the mark tin the third. Hamilton then won three in a row to move 5-1 up, and although Wade hit back courtesy of double 12 and double ten, the Stoke man fired in tops to seal both points.
Third Set of Matches
Terry Jenkins condemned 2010 champion James Wade to a thrd successive defeat with a 6-3 victory. Jenkins won four of the game's first five legs to assume control at 4-1 before the left-hander finished tops to win the sixth. After Jenkins edged 5-2 up, Wade took out 135 on the bull to save the match, but then missed double top and ten in the ninth and Jenkins finished tops to seal his second win of the day.
Phil Taylor won four successive legs from 4-2 down to edge out Andy Hamilton in their all-Stoke battle. Hamilton took the opener and, after Taylor finished 87 to level, he landed double 16 to win the next two and lead 3-1. Taylor replied in kind before Hamilton took the sixth - but he was punished for missed doubles in the next as the world number one began his charge. Taylor landed double 16 and then double eight to level, stepped in following three misses from Hamilton to move 5-4 up and then sealed the win on double two after Hamilton missed the bull for a 164 finish and then miscounted on his return to the oche.
Gary Anderson continued his winning start to Group One with his third victory of the day, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-4. The Scot made a fine start to win the first three legs, hitting a 121 checkout along the way, only for Whitlock to hit back with finishes of 65 and 76 as he won three of his own to level with legs of 14, 14 and 13 darts. Anderson posted a 180 in taking the seventh before the Australian fired in an 11-darter to square the match once again - only to miss six darts at doubles across three visits in a pivotal leg nine, with Anderson finishing double ten to move 5-4 up before he sealed the win with a 14-darter on tops.
Adrian Lewis powered to his second win of the day, averaging 106.56 as he defeated Wes Newton 6-1. The World Champion took the opener before Newton replied in 14 darts - but was punished for a mis at tops in the third as Lewis hit double nine to edge back ahead. He then finished 103 and 111 in successive legs for 12-darters which also featured maximums, and he then fired in back-to-back 14-dart legs to seal a fine display.
Fourth Set of Matches
Phil Taylor produced a sensational display to win a high-qualify clash with former Championship League Darts winner James Wade 6-2 - averaging 117.81 to Wade's 111.95. Taylor took out 128 on the bull to win the opener in 12 darts, and doubled his lead on double eight before Wade finished double ten to hit back with a 100 finish for a 12-darter. Taylor then took out 132 with a bull, bull, double 16 combination to win the fourth in 12 darts, and bettered that with a ten-darter as he moved 4-1 up. Wade replied with an 11-darter, only to see Taylor lift his average to 122 as he moved 5-2 up with a 91 finish for a 12-darter, before he took out 122 on the bull to seal a classy win.
Andy Hamilton took his second win of the day, defeating Terry Jenkins 6-4. After the pair traded the first two legs, Hamilton won the next three to take a 4-1 cushion, hitting a 142 in leg three and scores of 174 and 180 in the fifth. Jenkins won two of the next three and then finished 104 to cut the gap to 5-4, but Hamilton found another gear to post a 180 as he sealed the win with a 12-dart finish on double 16.
Adrian Lewis produced a brilliant display as he edged out Gary Anderson 6-4 with a 104 average. Lewis opened the game with an 11-darter before Anderson replied with a 103 finish, and the pair reamined locked following six legs before the Scot gave himself a chance to break in the seventh - leaving 64 only to see the World Champion finish 118. Anderson levelled on tops, but Lewis finished 160 and 124 in the next two to seal victory.
Simon Whitlock edged a final-leg thriller against Wes Newton to take a 6-5 win in their repeat of Sunday's European Championship final. A see-saw game saw Newton win the first three legs before Whitlock hit back to level with his own treble. The Australian missed a chance to break in the seventh as Newton landed double four, with Whitlock levelling in the eighth and also in the tenth after Newton hit a 63 checkout in between. Both players hit 180s in the decider, with Newton first to a finish when he left 164 - only to miss the bullseye and five further match darts to allow Whitlock in to hit double four at the third time of asking to snatch triumph from the jaws of defeat.
Fifth Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock inflicted a fifth loss of the day upon James Wade with a 6-4 comeback win over the former champion. Wade started superbly to win the opening three legs - including a 92 to break - and after Whitlock posted a 180 in getting off the mark, Wade finished double 12 to lead 4-1. Whitlock, though, hit double nine to win his second leg, punished two misses from Wade to break in the seventh and then levelled. A fourth successive leg moved the Australian ahead, and he took out 101 on double 16 to complete the comeback.
Wes Newton defeated Phil Taylor in sensational fashion, taking a 6-4 victory with a 115.28 average. Newton finished 84 on the bull to win the opening leg - erasing the memory of his miss for the same double in the deciding leg against Simon Whitlock only minutes earlier - before hiting a 180 to leave 61 in the second, only for Taylor to post double 16 and then hit the bed again for an 11-darter to move 2-1 up. Newton posted tops to level and then stole the fifth following five misses from Taylor, taking out an 86 finish. Newton then finished a 12-darter and landed another two-dart 86 finish for an 11-dart leg as he moved 5-2 up. Taylor replied in style with back-to-back 12 dart finishes to cut the gap to one leg, but Newton hit a sixth 180 of the contest and double 16 to seal the triumph.
Adrian Lewis powered to the top of the league table with a 6-1 win over Andy Hamilton. Lewis took the game's first three legs before Hamilton hit back in the fourth. The World Champion fired in a fourth 180 and a two-dart 81 finish to regain his cushion, and then took the next two to seal a big win.
Terry Jenkins remains in the hunt for the semi-finals after his 6-3 win over Gary Anderson. The Scot took two of the first three legs to move 2-1 up before Jenkins levelled and then finished double one to move 3-2 up. Anderson landed tops to reply, only for Jenkins to post quick-fire finishes of 107 and 76 before securing the win on tops.
Sixth Set of Matches
Wes Newton won his third game of the day, edging out Terry Jenkins in a deciding leg. A topsy-turvey contest saw Newton win the first leg before Jenkins took four in a row to lead 4-3. Newton finished double 16 and tops to regain the lead, only to miss a match dart as Jenkins finished double two to force a decider. Jenkins landed a 180 to leave 56, but Newton took out 84 for a 14-darter to edge the points.
James Wade picked up his first win of the day with a 6-3 defeat of Adrian Lewis - but Newton's win on Board One means he cannot avoid elimination from Group One. Lewis hit two 180s in winning two of the first three legs before Wade hit the front with a brace of double five finishes, and checkouts of 76 and 96 moved him 5-2 up. A pair of missed match darts allowed Lewis in on double 18, but Wade posted double ten in the next to take two points. Wade needed to win his final two games and hope that Newton and Andy Hamilton lost both their matches to keep him in the event.
Phil Taylor earned his fourth victory of Group One, defeating Gary Anderson 6-3 as the Scot suffered his third straight loss. Taylor hit two 180s in the first leg only to miss double 16 and eight to allow Anderson in, and the Scot also led 2-1 before Taylor levelled on double eight and broke on double 16. Anderson levelled with double nine, but Taylor broke back in the seventh, hit tops to lead 5-3 and finished double six for the win.
Andy Hamilton joined four other players on six points with a final-leg defeat of Simon Whitlock. After the first two legs were shared, Whitlock took out 132 and 118 in successive legs for a 3-1 lead before Hamilton - inspired by back-to-back 180s in leg five, won three in a for to move 4-3 up. Whitlock levelled with a 78 finish before Hamilton posted a 171 in moving 5-4 up. Whitlock forced a decider with double four, but Hamilton posted double 16 for the win.
Final Set of Matches
Gary Anderson kept alive his play-off hopes and eliminated Andy Hamilton with a 6-3 victory in their final league game. Anderson took the first two legs before Hamilton posted double 16, but the Scot won the next two and then finished 110 to move 5-1 up. Double nine gave Hamilton and he then finished a 118 checkout to keep the game alive, but a miss at the bull allowed Anderson in to seal the win on double six.
Wes Newton put a foot into the play-offs with a 6-2 win over bottom-placed James Wade - but the European Championship finalist still needs either Terry Jenkins or Simon Whitlock to lose if he is to make the semi-finals. Newton made an electric start, opening the game with a 180 and hitting legs of 11, 12 and 15 darts to lead 3-0, with a 126 bullseye finish seeing him break in the third leg. Wade took out tops for the fourth, and after newton took the fifth on double five the left-hander hit back with a 76 finish. The pair traded 180s in the next, but Wade missed five darts at doubles to allow Newton to hit double 16 to move 5-2 up before he sealed the win on double ten.
Phil Taylor came from 5-3 down to defeat Simon Whitlock 6-5 - ending the Australian's hopes of taking a semi-final spot. Taylor finished 146 to win the opening leg before Whitlock replied with a 112 finish and then landed double ten to level. Taylor levelled on double eight and the pair shared the next two before Whitlock hit a 180 to edge 4-3 up and then a ten-dart finish which began with two maximums to move a leg away from a semi-final place. He missed double 16 for a 109 checkout for the match in the ninth before Taylor finished double 16 for a 14-darter to pull back to 5-4. Taylor then fired in a 180 in an 11-darter to force a deciding leg, and repeated the trick in the next to snatch victory - which leaves Whitlock missing out on a semi-final place but returning for Group Two, while Taylor ensured he finishes top of the table.
Terry Jenkins' 6-3 win over Adrian Lewis puts him into the play-offs in a dramatic final round of games. Jenkins took out 117 and 96 to win the first two legs and also won the third before Lewis finished double 16 and tops to hit back to 3-2. Jenkins hit 180s in the next two legs as he moved 5-2 up, and although double one kept Lewis alive, his opponent hit tops in the next to seal the win.
Semi-Finals
Adrian Lewis won through to the Group One final with a 6-2 defeat of Phil Taylor, who had topped the league table but will now return for Group Two on Wednesday. The pair shared the first two legs before Taylor broke in the third, but he missed two darts to win the fourth and Lewis levelled, hit a 12-darter to lead 3-2 and took out 79 on double 11 for a 4-2 lead before punishing five misses from Taylor to edge to the brink of victory, which was sealed on tops.
Wes Newton came from 5-3 down to reach the Group One decider with a 6-5 win over Terry Jenkins, who hit seven 180s but fell to defeat. Newton started superbly, opening with 180, 140 and 165 for a 12-darter to win the opener, and he traded maximums with Jenkins to double his lead. Jenkins hit a 180 to get off the mark, and after Newton took the fourth he won the next three to lead 4-3. Jenkins then opened the eighth leg with two 180s, and hit the treble 20 of a possible 141 finish for a nine-darter, missing the treble 19 but returning to win the leg in 11 darts for a 5-3 cushion. He missed three match darts in the next as Newton finished double eight, and he hit the same bed to force a decider. Both players opened the final leg with maximums, but Jenkins was left waiting on 40 as Newton fired in double 16 to take the win and seal a place in the final.
Final
Wes Newton 6-3 Adrian Lewis
Newton opened the final with two 180s but actually lost the opening leg before winning the next three before the World Champion hit a 180 in a 12-darter to reply.
A 74 finish edged Newton 4-2 up, and although Lewis cut the gap with a 14-darter, the Fleetwood ace's heavy scoring helped him to win the next two, as double six and double four secured the win.
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