Baxter On Top In Group Three

RONNIE BAXTER came out on top in Group Three of Championship League Darts thanks to an exciting 6-5 victory over debutant Dave Chisnall in the final.

Baxter, who reached the semi-finals of the Betfair World Matchplay in July, takes his place in the Winners Group on November 1 alongside Wes Newton and Justin Pipe, who triumphed in Groups One and Two earlier this week.

The Blackpool man made a slow start after losing his first two league matches of the day, but found his form as he won four of his remaining five league matches, including a 6-4 victory against Phil Taylor in his final round of games, to claim a semi-final place.

Having finished fourth in the table, Baxter made amends for his league defeat to Mark Walsh by defeating the Hertfordshire man 6-3 before edging out Chisnall in a deciding leg in the final.

Chisnall made a good start to the final by breaking his opponent's throw in the first leg only for Baxter to hit back and win the next two and lead 2-1.

Chisnall, who defeated Baxter 6-4 in the league phase, then hit a 'showpiece' 92 finish comprising of single 20, double 18, double 18 to win the fourth leg, and he hit the same double to convert a 96 checkout to lead 3-2.

Chisnall then produced a fantastic 170 checkout to move 4-2 ahead before Baxter won his first leg in four by taking out a 107 finish.

Baxter then levelled the game by hitting a pressure double nine with his third, dart but Chisnall moved one leg away from victory by taking out 57 in two darts.

However, Baxter produced an excellent 14-darter to force a deciding leg, which he won by hitting double five to earn his Winners Group spot.

Chisnall, making his debut in Championship League Darts, produced a fine display on the day which included an incredible 42 maximums in his nine matches - including 39 in his seven league games.

Chisnall defeated World Champion Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson on his way to finishing third in the league table, before defeating Simon Whitlock in the semi-finals with a fine 6-2 victory.

Chisnall will return to Championship League Darts action next month to compete in Group Four of alongside Walsh, Whitlock and Taylor, who had to settle for fifth place having lost four of his seven league matches during the course of the day.

Terry Jenkins will also return to the Crondon Park Golf Club next month after a 6-4 victory over Gary Anderson in his final league match confirmed his status and eliminate the Scotsman in the process.

Along with Anderson, Adrian Lewis was also eliminated as the two-time World Champion won just two matches on the day.

Group Four of Championship League Darts will take place on October 16 following the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix, when last year's runner-up Paul Nicholson enters the fray along with Dutchman Vincent van der Voort and Mervyn King, another former finalist in the £200,000 tournament.

Championship League Darts is screened exclusively live worldwide through LIVEPDC.TV and a series of 50 bookmakers' websites worldwide.All LIVEPDC.TV Subscribers will be able to watch live coverage from Championship League Darts, featuring play in the league stage simultaneously on two boards. Highlights are also available in LIVEPDC.TV.

2012 Championship League Darts
Group Three Results

League Table

Match Information
First Set of Matches
Adrian Lewis continued his battle with Phil Taylor by opening Group Three with a 6-4 win over the world number one. Lewis made the early running by taking the opener and holding throw in the second before Taylor finished 93 in two darts to win the third. Finishes of double four and double two from Lewis moved him 4-1 up before Taylor took out 117 and tops to cut the gap to one leg. An 80 finish edged Lewis away, and although Taylor took the ninth the World Champion added a 180 as he sealed the win.
Mark Walsh picked up a 6-3 win over Ronnie Baxter to win their Group Three opener. After Baxter took the first leg, Walsh won three in a row to assume command, finishing 115 on tops for a key break of throw. Baxter won two of the next three to cut the gap to 4-3, but Walsh won the eighth and then sealed the win on tops.
Terry Jenkins denied Dave Chisnall a winning Championship League Darts debut with a 6-5 win in a heavy-scoring contest. Chisnall made a brilliant start with a 180 in an 11-darter, and doubled his lead with a 64 finish before Jenkins hit back in the third. The next four legs were shared as Chisnall held a 4-3 cushion, before Jenkins levelled after his opponent hit 180, 140 and 140 but missed two darts at double 18 as Jenkins stole the leg on tops. Jenkins then led 5-4 by hitting the same bed, and although Chisnall landed his sixth 180 as he forced a decider, the Ledbury man took out 80 to secure the win.
Simon Whitlock won his opener with Gary Anderson 6-4 in another high-scoring game, as the pair shared ten 180s, with the Scot ending with a 107 average to the Australian's 101 only to suffer defeat. Anderson took the opener on tops, and when Whitlock missed two darts to win the second - despite opening the leg with seven treble 20s only to miss the treble 15 for a nine-darter - he stepped in to finish 83 on the bull to move 2-0 up. The next two were shared before Whitlock found his range to win four successive legs and take a 5-3 lead. Anderson hit his sixth 180 as he pulled back to 5-4, but Whitlock finished 97 in the next to seal the points.

Second Set of Matches
Mark Walsh's brilliant start to Group Three continued with a superb 6-2 win over Phil Taylor. Taylor took the opener in 13 darts, but a brace of double five finishes saw Walsh hit the front, and he then won the next three to lead 5-1. Taylor took out double 16 to win the seventh leg, but he missed three darts to stay alive in the next, and Walsh finished tops to seal the win.
Adrian Lewis won his second successive game, powering past Ronnie Baxter 6-1. After the pair shared the first two legs, Lewis raced away, hitting double 18 to win the third, double five to break in the fourth and a 14-darter to lead 4-1, before taking out an effortless 121 on the bull for a fifth leg and 62 for a 12-darter to secure the win.
Simon Whitlock's strong opening to his thiord day in the event continued with a 6-3 win over Terry Jenkins. Whitlock hit two 180s in the opening leg and landed double four to move 2-0 up before Jenkins hit double ten to get off the mark. Whitlock won two more legs to lead 4-1, before Jenkins, inspired by a 180, took two of the next three to keep his hopes alive - only to miss three darts to save the match in leg nine as the Australian sealed the points on double ten.
Dave Chisnall produced another high-scoring performance as he edged out Gary Anderson 6-5 - hitting seven 180s and a 105 average, as well as crucially sealing victory with an 11-darter in the deciding leg. Anderson punished missed doubles from Chisnall too take the opener, but the newcomer took the next three before Anderson hit top gear. The Scot landed three 140s in an 11-darter to take the fifth, 62 to level and tops to lead 4-3. Chisnall levelled before Anderson posted a 13-darter to move a leg away from the win - but he would be denied the win as Chisnall forced a decider with a 12-darter before hitting two 180s in the decider, taking his total of maximums to seven as he secured the win with an 11-darter.

Third Set of Matches
Gary Anderson won his first game of the day and subjected Mark Walsh to his first defeat with a 6-2 triumph. Anderson took the opener before Walsh fired in a superb 170 checkout to level and an 11-darter to hit the front - only for Anderson to wrestle back the lead with a brace of double eight finishes, punish misses from Walsh to move 4-2 up and then hit tops to seal victory with five straight legs.
Phil Taylor narrowly avoided a third straight loss, as he edged out Dave Chisnall 6-5 as the St Helens ace hit eight 180s but crucially missed two darts to take victory. After initially finding himself 2-1 down, Taylor took three successive legs to punish missed doubles from Chisnall and lead 4-2. Chisnall hit four 180s in three legs as he moved 5-4 up, but missed double 18 for the match as Taylor hit tops to force a decider - and when Chisnall was off-target on double top the world number one returned from three previous misses to post double six for his first win of the day.
Ronnie Baxter picked up his first victory of the day with a 6-4 win over previously unbeaten Simon Whitlock. Baxter broke in the first leg and doubled his lead before Whitlock took the next two to level - only to miss the bull to lead as Baxter took out 72 and 85 as he regained the advantage. Whitlock hit back in the seventh, but after hitting two 180s he could only watch as Baxter finished 85 to lead 5-3 and then hit a 180 and tops to seal the win.
Terry Jenkins came from 5-3 down to edge out Adrian Lewis 6-5, ending the World Champion's unbeaten start. After Lewis took the opener, he finished 108 to double his lead and retained the advantage for the next six legs to take a 5-3 cushion. Jenkins hit a 180 and 106 to keep the game alive and took out 68 to force a decider, before landing a 180 in a 13-darter to edge to the points.

Fourth Set of Matches
Phil Taylor edged a second deciding-leg win with a narrow 6-5 defeat of Gary Anderson. The pair shared the first four legs before Taylor set up a potential nine-darter in the fifth, scoring 180 and 177 and hitting the first treble 20 of a possible 144 combination, and although a perfect leg went begging on the eighth dart he took the leg and then posted tops for a 4-2 cushion. Anderson took out double 18 in successive legs to level, but Taylor finished double 16 to edge ahead. Double ten from Anderson levelled to force a decider, only for Taylor to hit another 177 as he sealed the victory.
Dave Chisnall's exceptional form continued as he averaged 112.82 and hit six further 180s in a 6-3 win over Mark Walsh. Chisnall landed maximums in the first three legs before breaking in the fourth on tops to lead 3-1, before Walsh scrambled in double five to hit back. Chisnall then posted back-to-back ten-dart legs, and although Walsh finished 76 to stay in the game, Chisnall hit his sixth 180 and a 136 checkout to complete a brilliant display.
Simon Whitlock moved to the top of the table with his third victory of the day, defeating Adrian Lewis 6-3. After Lewis edged the opener, Whitlock won the next four to take command of the game at 4-1 before Lewis won two of the next three to stay in the contest at 5-3. Whitlock, though, opened the next with a 180, and when Lewis was unable to hit his doubles the Australian finished double four for the win.
Ronnie Baxter left Gary Anderson alone at the foot of the table with one win as he picked up a 6-1 win over Terry Jenkins. The pair shared the first two legs before Baxter pulled clear, winning three in a row to move 4-1 up before Jenkins hit a 180 in the next only to miss two darts at double 19 as Baxter finished tops to lead 5-1, before he completed the triumph on double 16.

Fifth Set of Matches
Ronnie Baxter's 6-4 win over Gary Anderson leaves the Scot at the foot of the league table following five matches. Baxter took out 126 for the first leg, but Anderson won the next three with the aid of a brace of 180s to lead 3-1. Baxer took out double four and a 127 finish to level and shared the next two, before a 91 finish from Baxter saw him break and tops gave him the win.
Phil Taylor won his third successive game with a 6-1 win over Terry Jenkins. The world number one tok the game's first four legs without reply, hitting two 180s in an 11-darter in the third, and he also missed double 11 to take the fifth as Jenkins got off the mark. Taylor, though, clinically landed 90 on the bull to win his fifth leg, before posting double 14 for the win.
Dave Chisnall moved to the top of the league table with a fine 6-5 win over Adrian Lewis - who dropped to third bottom after seeing a 5-4 lead slip away. The pair shared four legs before Chisnall landed 180s in taking the next two for a 4-2 lead. Lewis then reeled off three in a row, but paid the price for misses in the tenth as Chisnall forced a decider and then took out 101 for the match.
Mark Walsh joined Simon Whitlock on six points in the league table with his 6-4 win over the Australian. Whitlock hit a 180 in taking the lead, before Walsh won the next two to lead. Double 16 from Whitlock levelled before Walsh finished 145 on tops, while the Australian took two of the next three to level at four-all. Walsh, though, finished 102 on tops to edge back ahead and stepped in following a miss from Whitlock at the bull to seal the win on double four.

Sixth Set of Matches
Mark Walsh put a foot into the semi-finals with a fine 6-1 win over Terry Jenkins, who faces a must-win clash against Gary Anderson in his final game if he is to escape elimination. Jenkins took the opening leg on tops, but that would be as good as it got for the seven-time major finalist, as Walsh levelled on double four, hit a 180 to lead and double eight to break. Tops gave Walsh a 4-1 lead, which was extended as he landed a 180 before a miss at double 13 from Jenkins allowed Walsh to finish tops for a big win.
Gary Anderson kept alive his hopes in Championship League Darts by defeating Adrian Lewis 6-5, joining the World Champion and Jenkins on four points as they battle at the foot of the table. Anderson posted 104 for the opening leg, and after the first three were shared Lewis fired in a 110 finish - using a treble one, treble 19 and bull combination - to move 3-2 up. Anderson finished double 16 and double eight to regain the lead, and after Lewis levelled he finished 120 to move 5-4 up. Lewis hit a 180 and took out 85 in two darts to force a decider, where he landed another maximum to lead 121 only to miss the bull and two darts at double eight to let Anderson in on double seven for the win.
Dave Chisnall defeated Ronnie Baxter 6-4, securing himself a play-off place on his debut in the tournament. After Baxter won the opener, Chisnall took the next three with the aid of a pair of 180s, and he also hit another in the fifth before Baxter posted double 14 to hit back. Chisnall hit another 180 as he moved 4-2 up, but double top and a 120 finish from Baxter saw him level - only for Chisnall to pull away with double eight and double 12 for the win.
Simon Whitlock powered past Phil Taylor 6-1 to leave the reigning champion in danger of elimination in Group Three. Whitlock sealed a semi-final place in style, with only a 13-darter from Taylor seeing the world number one make a mark as the Australian romped through to the win, following a 100 finish frmo the opening leg with double four in the third and double ten to break in the fourth. Tops gave Whitlock a 4-1 lead, and when Taylor missed tops in the next he finished double eight to lead 5-1 before sealing the win with a maximum and double 16.

Final Set of Matches
Going into the seventh round of games, Simon Whitlock, Mark Walsh and Dave Chisnall are all assured of play-off places, with Ronnie Baxter and Phil Taylor playing for a semi-final spot.
The Terry Jenkins v Gary Anderson game is a shoot-out for survival, but Adrian Lewis, Taylor and Baxter could all still be eliminated depending on the results - as could Jenkins even if he wins.

Simon Whitlock enjoyed a narrow 6-5 win over Dave Chisnall in their final league game, although both players still qualify for the semi-finals. There was never more than a leg between the pair as they shared eight 180s, with Whitlock finishing 64 and 81 to lead 2-1, with Chisnall following a 101 with a 61 checkout to level before Whitlock fired in a 180 to lead 3-2. The Australian hit two maximums in the sixth but nChisnall levelled by finishing 80, and the pair traded the next two before three misses from Whitlock allowed Chisnall to break on tops and lead 5-4. Double nine forced a decider, and he hit a 171 to set up double nine as he edged the win.
Terry Jenkins defeated Gary Anderson 6-4 to end the Scot's hopes in the tournament - but the Ledbury thrower would also be eliminated if Adrian Lewis wins his final game. Jenkins produced some fine darts to win three of the first four legs, with Anderson finishing double ten to win two of the next three as he pulled back to 4-3. The Scot, though, missed two darts to level as double two moved Jenkins a leg away from the win, and although Anderson posted double five to stay in the game, the Ledbury ace hit a 180 and landed double three for a win which may yet be in vain.
Ronnie Baxter defeated Phil Taylor 6-4 to win a semi-final place, meaning Taylor will now return for Group Four on October 16. Taylor finished 67 to break in the first leg, and opened with back-to-back 177s as he took the second in ten darts, before Baxter hit back on double five to win the third. Double eight levelled and a 115 finish put Baxter ahead, and although Taylor levelled the Blackpool ace fired in two double ten checkouts moved him 5-3 up. Taylor finished double five to keep his semi-final hopes alive, but Baxter was swift to seal his play-off spot at the expense of the Stoke great by posting a 180 and a 129 bullseye finish to seal the win.
Mark Walsh's 6-3 win over Adrian Lewis means he finishes top of the Group Three league table and eliminates the World Champion. A 12-darter from Walsh settled any early nerves and he won five of the first six legs to move 5-1 up. Lewis hit tops to take the next two, but a miss at the same bed allowed Walsh to finish 86 in two darts to secure top spot with his fifth win of the day.

Semi-Finals
Ronnie Baxter reached the final thanks to a 6-3 triumph over Mark Walsh. Baxter gained an early advantage by breaking throw in the opening leg before consolidating that by hitting double 16 to take a 2-0 lead.
The next two legs were shared before Walsh won the fifth with a clinical 101 finish to reduce the deficit to 3-2 before Baxter put together a 12-dart finish to restore his two leg advantage.
The Blackpool thrower then produced a fabulous 146 checkout to move one leg away from the match and won the match on double five making Walsh pay for four missed darts at doubles.
Dave Chisnall continued his excellent form at Crondon Park by defeating Simon Whitlock 6-2 to reach the Group Three Final.
The St.Helens man began the match superbly by taking the first three legs to take full command of the match before Whitlock managed to take the fourth leg to stop the rot.
Chisnall took out a 120 finish to claim the fifth leg before the Australian took the sixth to keep in the hunt. But Chisnall stormed to victory as won the next in 12-darts and converted a 105 checkout to close out the match.

Final
Dave Chisnall won the first leg against the darts before Ronnie Baxter claimed the second with an 84 finish and then took a 2-1 lead by hitting double eight.
The St.Helens thrower then hit a purple patch as he produced excellent finishes of 92 and 96 to move 3-2 ahead before converting a fantastic 170 checkout to take the sixth leg.
Baxter won the next leg with a 107 finish and then levelled the match at four apiece by landing a pressure double nine with his third dart.
Chisnall broke throw in the ninth leg by taking out 57 in two-darts but Baxter hit back by completing a 14-dart finish to set up a final-leg decider which he won on tops to claim an excellent win.


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