JUSTIN PIPE enjoyed a dream debut in Championship League Darts with victory in Group Two of the tournament as he defeated Phil Taylor 6-5 in Wednesday's final.
Pipe's rise up to 11th in the PDC Order of Merit over the past year has meant he qualified for the £200,000, internet-streamed event for the first time, and after entering in Group Two his success means that he now returns to Crondon Park GC in Essex on November 1 for the big-money Winners Group.
Pipe, the winner of five ranking titles over the past year, showed his quality in the multi-game format by winning four of his seven league games in the round-robin phase of the event, taking victories over Kevin Painter, Adrian Lewis, Simon Whitlock and Mark Webster.
Having finished third in the league table, he made amends for a narrow 6-5 defeat to Terry Jenkins in the league phase by winning their semi-final 6-4 before edging out Taylor in a deciding leg in the final.
Pipe won the final's first two legs before Taylor took the lead courtesy of three successive double 16 finishes, before he landed double ten to move 4-2 up.
Pipe punished a miss from Taylor to win the seventh on double 16 before a two-dart 76 checkout moved the reigning Championship League Darts winner a leg away from victory.
Pipe, though, took out 78 on tops to hit back and finished double five for a 13-dart leg to force a decider after Taylor missed tops for the match.
Pipe opened the 11th leg with scores of 140, 140 and 125, and hit double 18 for another 13-darter to seal the win, earning £3,000 prize money on the day and the chance to return for the Winners Group, with a £10,000 first prize and a place in the William Hill Grand Slam of Darts on offer for the eventual champion.
"It's a fantastic debut and I'm really pleased - I couldn't be happier," said Pipe. "My initial aim was just to make the cut, and when I knew I was in the semi-finals I just wanted to push on.
"The game Terry and I had in the league stage was really good, so it was good to beat him and then to beat Phil in the final is fantastic, so I'm chuffed.
"I'll be able to watch the remaining groups with interest and there's no pressure on me now. I can come back for the final day and I know what it's going to be like. I'll prepare really well for the Winners Group, and hopefully do well in that."
Pipe will face Simon Whitlock in the first round of the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix on October 8, and admitted: "Simon's hit a good bit of form so I know what I've got to do to beat him.
"Obviously I'm going to miss the practice experience in Championship League Darts, but it was important to take a win away from here and it's a fantastic confidence boost."
Taylor's defeat followed his semi-final exit in Group One, and although he won £3,100 on the day it also means that he will return for Group Three on Thursday.
The world number one won six of his seven league games to top the table on 12 points, and saw off Adrian Lewis 6-3 in the semi-finals to gain revenge for his loss to the World Champion at the same stage 24 hours earlier.
Group One runner-up Lewis and Jenkins - who won five of his seven matches as he celebrated his 49th birthday - will also return on Thursday for Group Three, alongside new European Champion Simon Whitlock and world number four Gary Anderson, who both missed out on the play-offs for a second successive day.
Kevin Painter and Mark Webster were both eliminated in their first day in this year's event, with Welshman Webster suffering a nightmare with his doubles as he lost all seven league matches.
Ronnie Baxter, Mark Walsh and debutant Dave Chisnall will enter the fray in Group Three, with play commencing at 10.30am.
Championship League Darts is screened exclusively live worldwide through LIVEPDC.TV and a series of 50 bookmakers' websites worldwide, which are detailed below.
2012 Championship League Darts
Group Two Fixtures
|
Time |
Board One |
Board Two | |
|
10.30am |
Match One |
Phil Taylor 6-0 Adrian Lewis |
Justin Pipe 6-3 Kevin Painter |
|
Match Two |
Terry Jenkins 6-2 Mark Webster |
Gary Anderson 6-2 Simon Whitlock | |
|
Match One |
Kevin Painter 3-6 Phil Taylor |
Adrian Lewis 5-6 Justin Pipe | |
|
Match Two |
Simon Whitlock 4-6 Terry Jenkins |
Mark Webster 5-6 Gary Anderson | |
|
Match One |
Kevin Painter 4-6 Gary Anderson |
Phil Taylor 6-4 Mark Webster | |
|
Match Two |
Simon Whitlock 3-6 Justin Pipe |
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Terry Jenkins | |
|
Not before 2.00pm |
Match One |
Gary Anderson 2-6 Phil Taylor |
Kevin Painter 6-5 Mark Webster |
|
Match Two |
Adrian Lewis 1-6 Simon Whitlock |
Justin Pipe 5-6 Terry Jenkins | |
|
Match One |
Justin Pipe 5-6 Gary Anderson |
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Phil Taylor | |
|
Match Two |
Mark Webster 1-6 Adrian Lewis |
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Kevin Painter | |
|
Not before 4.15pm |
Match One |
Terry Jenkins 1-6 Kevin Painter |
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Gary Anderson |
|
Match Two |
Mark Webster 1-6 Justin Pipe |
Phil Taylor 6-2 Simon Whitlock | |
|
Match One |
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Mark Webster |
Gary Anderson 0-6 Terry Jenkins | |
|
Match Two |
Justin Pipe 2-6 Phil Taylor |
Kevin Painter 3-6 Adrian Lewis | |
|
Not before 6.45pm |
Semi-Finals |
Phil Taylor 6-3 Adrian Lewis |
Terry Jenkins 4-6 Justin Pipe |
|
Not before 7.30pm |
Final |
Phil Taylor 5-6 Justin Pipe |
League Table
| Final League Table |
Pl |
W |
L |
Won |
Lost |
Leg +/- |
£Won |
Pts |
|
Phil Taylor |
7 |
6 |
1 |
40 |
19 |
+21 |
£2000 |
12 |
|
Terry Jenkins |
7 |
5 |
2 |
35 |
27 |
+8 |
£1750 |
10 |
|
Justin Pipe |
7 |
4 |
3 |
36 |
30 |
+6 |
£1800 |
8 |
|
Adrian Lewis |
7 |
4 |
3 |
30 |
30 |
0 |
£1500 |
8 |
|
Gary Anderson |
7 |
4 |
3 |
30 |
34 |
-4 |
£1500 |
8 |
|
Simon Whitlock |
7 |
3 |
4 |
29 |
32 |
-3 |
£1450 |
6 |
|
Kevin Painter |
7 |
2 |
5 |
28 |
36 |
-8 |
£1400 |
4 |
|
Mark Webster |
7 |
0 |
7 |
22 |
42 |
-20 |
£1100 |
0 |
Match Information
First Set of Matches
Phil Taylor bounced back from two defeats to Adrian Lewis in Group One with a whitewash of the World Champion, averaging 111.33 in a superb start to the day. Taylor failed to miss a dart at a double in the six legs, and allowed Lewis only three darts at a double in a dominant performance, which began with a 114 checkout to break throw. He took out 86 to win the second, broke on 40 in the third and landed double 14 to move 4-0 up. Lewis landed his third 180 of the game in leg five, but tops for Taylor moved him five legs up and he hit the same bed to seal the win - completing a fourth successive 13-dart finish.
Justin Pipe came from 3-0 down to win six successive legs for a debut win over Kevin Painter in Championship League Darts. After hitting tops to win the opening leg, Painter finished double eight for a 14-darter to break throw and took out double 16 to lead by three legs. Pipe hit tops in the fourth to get off the mark, and punished three misses from Painter to break back in the fifth before landing a 180 as he levelled in 14 darts. Both players began the seventh with 180s, and Pipe added a second in an 11-darter as he hit the front for the first time, and he punished missed doubles from Painter to win the next two with double six, and tops for a 13-darter.
Terry Jenkins made a high-scoring start to Group Two, defeating Mark Webster 6-2. Jenkins, a semi-finalist in Group One, made the early running by hitting double 12 for a 13-darter in the opening leg to break throw before moving 2-0 up on double ten. Webster took the third, but Jenkins finished double four to lead 3-1 and then hit a 180 and a 156 finish in the next as he broke again for a three-leg lead. Webster fired in double 16 to hit back, but missed two darts to win the next as Jenkins took out tops to lead 5-2 and then sealed the win in the next.
Gary Anderson made a fine start to Group Two, overcoming Simon Whitlock 6-2 in their opener. Anderson kicked off the game with an 82 finish for a 12-darter before Whitlock levelled in 11 darts - but the Scot reeled off four in a row to move 5-1 up with some fine darts. Whitlock took out 78 to hit back, but Anderson's heavy scoring continued as he set up double two for the win.
Second Set of Matches
Phil Taylor won his second successive game, defeating Kevin Painter 6-3.Taylor hit a 180 in a 14-darter to open the match before Painter replied in fine style with an 11-dart finish, and the next two were shared before Taylor took three in a row to move 5-2 up. Painter finished 52 to hit back, but Taylor posted double ten in the next to take both points.
Justin Pipe edged out World Champion Adrian Lewis 6-5 to maintain his unbeaten start. Lewis held the early advantage by winning two of the first three legs, before Pipe levelled and then took out 150 break, and landed a 180 and an 88 finish to move 4-2 up. Lewis took two of the next three to pull back to 5-4, finishing double ten and a 112 checkout, and then finished 70 on tops to force a decider. Pipe, though, opened with a 180 and scored 100 and 140 before finishing 81 on double 13 to take victory with a 13-darter.
Terry Jenkins picked up his second victory of Group Two, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-4 in a see-saw game. Jenkins took the game's first three legs before Whitlock hit two 180s to kick off the fourth, missing out on a nine-darter but landing double four to hit back. Whitlock then took the next three to move 4-3 up, only to miss double six in the eighth as Jenkins followed a 180 with double three to level. Jenkins added another 180 and tops to move a leg away from the win, which he sealed with a 99 finish.
Gary Anderson came from 4-1 down to take a 6-5 win over Mark Webster and maintain his unbeaten start. Webster took the game's first three legs in a fine start, posting double 12 for an 81 finish in the opener and back-to-back double ten checkouts. Anderson took out 100 to get off the mark, and after Webster finished took his fourth leg the Scot reeled off four successive legs to take a 5-4 lead, landing three 180s in that spell. Webster hit back with a maximum and tops to force a decider, but Anderson finished 110 to take the points.
Third Set of Matches
Gary Anderson's brilliant start continued as he took a 6-4 win over Kevin Painter, who remains without a victory so far in Group Two. The pair shared the first four legs before Anderson broke on double ten and then landed double 16 to move 4-2 up. Painter hit back on double eight, and after Anderson finished tops he took out 88 on the bull to pull back to 5-4, but Anderson posted a 180 and finished 58 to seal the win.
Phil Taylor joined Anderson in remaining unbeaten with a 6-4 defeat of Mark Webster, another player yet to taste victory on the day. Taylor took out 48 and 58 to win the first two legs and hit a 177 in the third, only for Webster to get off the mark on double ten. Taylor then finished 109 and took out 132 on the bull to move 4-1 up before Webster won the next two to pull back to just one leg behind at 4-3. Double 18 from Taylor moved him a leg away from the win, and although Webster fired in double 15, the world number one sealed the win on double ten.
Justin Pipe's winning debut in Championship League Darts continued as his 6-3 triumph condemned Simon Whitlock to a third straight loss. The pair shared the opening four legs before Pipe took three in a row to take command, including six perfect darts in one leg as he took a 5-2 cishion. Double 16 from Whitlock kept him in the game, but Pipe sealed the win with a 108 checkout.
World Champion Adrian Lewis picked up his first win of Group Two, defeating Terry Jenkins 6-4. Lewis produced his best display of the day so far, taking control by winning the opener on double six and hitting a 12-darter to break and lead 2-0, and after Jenkins fired in a 180 as he got off the mark the Stoke ace took out 101 and double ten to lead 4-1. A miss from Lewis allowed Jenkins in on double two in the next, and he finished 81 and double one to level. Lewis, though, hit two 180s as he took leg nine, and added another maximum and two 140s as he sealed the win with a 106 average.
Fourth Set of Matches
Phil Taylor won the battle of two unbeaten players by taking a 6-3 triumph against Gary Anderson. Taylor took the opener despite a 180 from Anderson, who opened the second with back-to-back maximums before levelling with a 12-darter. Taylor, though, finished 121, double 16 and 127 on the bull to take the next three, before missing four darts to win a fifth leg as Anderson hit back to 4-2. Tops put Taylor to the brink of victory, and he landed double eight in the next to earn the points.
Kevin Painter made a miracle comeback from 5-1 down to defeat Mark Webster 6-5, after the Welshman missed five darts to pick up his first win of the day. Webster opened the game with a 180 and finished 101 to take the first leg, and although Painter replied to level the Welshman took the next three before finishing 132 on the bull for a 5-1 cushion. Painter finished 90 on double 15 to kick-start his challenge and then landed double eight before capialising on four missed match darts from Webster to post double ten and pull back to 5-4. Painter hit a 180 and double 16 to force a decider, and when Webster missed tops for a 106 finish he hit double 12 to complete a remarkable recovery to earn his first win of the day.
Simon Whitlock won his first game of the day, defeating Adrian Lewis 6-1 as the World Champion suffered with missed doubles throughout the contest. Lewis was punished for three misses in the opening leg as Whitlock hit the same bed to lead, and the Australian landed a 180 in the next, double 16 and a 63 finish as he moved 4-0 up. Two more misses from Lewis allowed him to hit double four to move five legs clear before the Stoke ace fired in a 180 and a 76 finish to finally get off the mark - but Whitlock was swift to secure the win on double 18.
Terry Jenkins edged a tight contest with Justin Pipe 6-5, despite the debutant missing four darts for victory in the deciding leg. The pair shared the opening four legs, before Jenkins broke in the fifth and took out tops for a 14-darter to lead 4-2 - only for Pipe to hit back by finishing double ten and 72 to level. A 121 finish put Jenkins a leg away from the win, but he missed a dart at tops to take out 116 as Pipe finished double six to force a decider. Jenkins scored 137, 140 and 140 to be first to a double - only to miss three match darts to give Pipe a sniff - but he missed double top, ten and two at double five to sneak the win as Jenkins returned to land double four to end the newcomer's unbeaten run.
Fifth Set of Matches
Gary Anderson held off Justin Pipe's fightback as the Taunton ace suffered a second successive 6-5 defeat. Anderson took out 112 to win the opening leg, and finished double ten, 76 and tops to move 4-0 up before Pipe, with the aid of double four and double 18, halved the gap. Tops moved Anderson 5-2 up, but he missed three match darts in the nxt leg, before Pipe took the next two to level and force a decider. Anderson landed a 180 in the final leg, and took out tops to secure his fourth win of the day.
Terry Jenkins ended Phil Taylor's unbeaten run with a fine display to take a 6-4 win and join the world number one on four victories for the day. Taylor took out 82 and 130 to win two of the first three legs, but Jenkins levelled, then hit a 180 and a 91 finish to break in the fifth and followed a maximum with a 92 checkout as he took a 4-2 cushion. Taylor replied by winning two of the next three, but missed two darts at double 12 to allow Jenkins to secure the win on double nine.
Adrian Lewis picked up a potentially key win, defeating Mark Webster 6-1 to leave the Welshman without a victory after five games. Lewis followed up double eight for the first leg by finishing an 11-darter, which included a 180 and two 140s, to break throw and lead 2-0. The pair traded 180s as Lewis won a third leg, and the World Champion hit a brace of double ten checkouts to move five legs clear. Lewis missed the bull for a 122 finish to take a whitewash as Webster finished 67 on tops to win his first leg, but the Stoke star posted a 96 checkout in the next for the win.
Simon Whitlock won his basement battle with Kevin Painter 6-3 to earn his second win of the day. The Australian won the first three legs to take command of the game, before Painter took three of the next four to cut the gap to 4-3. Double 16 moved Whitlock 5-3 up, and although he missed two match darts in the next, Painter saw a dart at tops land on the wrong side of the wire and the new European Champion returned to hit double 18 for the win.
Sixth Set of Matches
Kevin Painter won his second game of the day, powering past Terry Jenkins 6-1. Painter enjoyed a confidence-boosting start by taking out 86 before stepping in following a miss on double 18 from Jenkins, with double five seeing him double his lead. Painter then reeled off the next three legs to lead 5-0 before Jenkins took out 112 to hit back. His respite was short-lived, though, as Painter finished double three for the two points.
Adrian Lewis continued his play-off challenge with a 6-4 win over Gary Anderson. The pair traded the first two legs on tops before the next four legs went against the throw to leave the scores tied at three-all, before Anderson edged the seventh to regain the lead. Lewis hit an 11-darter to level and then broke again to lead 5-4 before sealing victory in style with a brilliant 170 checkout.
Justin Pipe eliminated Mark Webster from Championship League Darts with a 6-1 win which sees the debutant put one foot into the semi-finals. Webster's double troubles continued as he was punished for misses in two of the first three legs, with Pipe also hitting a 120 finish to lead 3-0, before landing double ten to win a fourth leg and three 140s as he led 5-0. Webster took out tops to get off the mark, but double 12 from Pipe sealed his fourth win of the day.
Phil Taylor took a 6-2 win over Simon Whitlock to leave the Australian in danger of elimination from the tournament. After Taylor took out 86 for the first leg, the Australian won the next two to lead. However, a miss at the bull in the next allowed Taylor to follow a 174 with double 16 as he levelled, before the world number one held throw to edge ahead, hit double 16 to break and 90 to move 5-2 up, before matching Lewis' earlier feat by finishing 170 on the bull for the two points, his fifth win of the day.
Final Set of Matches
Simon Whitlock ensured he will avoid elimination with a 6-4 win over Mark Webster. Whitlock entered the game with only the Welshman below him in the league table, but won his third game of the day to leave Webster without a victory on the day. After the pair shared the first two legs, Whitlock hit 180s in winning the next two and finished 74 to lead 4-1. Webster took out 55 before Whitlock finished 78 to move a leg away from the win, and although the left-hander took out 20 and 78 to pull back to within a leg - but crucially he missed three darts to level and double 16 gave Whitlock the win.
Terry Jenkins secured his semi-final spot and left Gary Anderson hoping for an Adrian Lewis defeat in his final game with a whitewash of the Scot. Jenkins won his fifth match of the group stage in style, opening with a 14-darter and adding double eight in the second leg, before a 180 took him three legs clear. Another break in leg four took him away from Anderson, before he landed a 180 in taking the fifth and double four to seal a whitewash.
Phil Taylor finished top of the league table with 12 points from six wins after defeating Justin Pipe 6-2, although the Taunton ace finishes third to reach the play-offs on his Championship League Darts debut. The pair shared the first four legs of the contest before Taylor found another gear, breaking in a key sixth leg, holding in the seventh and then hitting double ten to seal another two-pointer.
Adrian Lewis' 6-3 win over Kevin Painter sees the World Champion sneak into the play-offs for the second successive day, with the Players Championship Finals winner eliminated from the tournament. After Painter took the opening leg, Lewis took the next two with the aid of 180s and also won leg four before Painter finished 100 to pull back to 3-2. A brace of tops finishes moved Lewis clear, and although Painter took the eighth, three misses from the Essex-born ace allowed Lewis to seal victory in the ninth leg - knocking out Painter in his first day of the event this year.
Semi-Finals
Phil Taylor made amends for his Group One semi-final loss to Adrian Lewis with a 6-3 win over the World Champion. The pair shared the first four legs before Taylor took the fifth in 11 darts, having opened with 177 and 180. Lewis replied to level in 12 darts, hitting a 180 of his own own, before Taylor landed a 177 to move 4-3 up, 108 to break and lead by two legs and tops to seal his place in the decider.
Justin Pipe continued his brilliant Championship League Darts debut with a 6-4 defeat of birthday boy Terry Jenkins, who now returns to play in Group Three on Thursday. Jenkins took three of the game's first four legs, including a brilliant ten-darter to break and move 3-1 up, hitting 140, 180 and 145 to set up double 18. Pipe replied in fine fashion with back-to-back 12-darters which included 180s and a 121 bullseye finish. The pair traded maximums in each of the next two legs as Pipe moved 5-3 up with double four and a 76 finish, and although Jenkins took out tops to win a fourth leg, Pipe landed double six to move into his maiden Championship League final.
Final
Justin Pipe won the final's first two legs before Phil Taylor took the lead courtesy of three successive double 16 finishes, before he landed double ten to move 4-2 up.
Pipe punished a miss from Taylor to win the seventh on double 16 before a two-dart 76 checkout moved the reigning Championship League Darts winner a leg away from victory.
Pipe, though, took out 78 on tops to hit back and finished double five for a 13-dart leg to force a decider after Taylor missed tops for the match.
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