MIGHTY MIKE COMPLETES CRAWLEY DOUBLE
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN completed a weekend double in the Speedy Services UK Open Qualifiers in Crawley, defeating Brendan Dolan 6-2 in Sunday's final at the K2 Centre in Crawley.
The 23-year-old Dutch star wrote his name into the history books alongside the likes of Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis with the double success as he continued his run of form with another superb day of darts.
Van Gerwen's achievement sees him rise above James Wade to a career-high third in the PDC Order of Merit as he took the £6,000 first prize on the day to double his winnings for the weekend.
Having also won the final Players Championship of 2012, the Dutchman has now won three ProTour events in succession, and including the opening three weeks of the McCoy's Premier League Darts is now unbeaten in his last 19 games.
His victims on Sunday in Crawley included Steve Farmer, Ryan De Vreede, Darron Brown and Keith Rooney before he saw off Premier League rival Wes Newton 6-1 in the last 16.
Van Gerwen then hit seven 180s and a 105.81 average in a 6-4 quarter-final win over Mervyn King before averaging 107.29 in his 6-2 semi-final defeat of Peter Wright.
The Dutchman raced into a 2-0 lead against Dolan in the final with legs of 15 and 14 darts before the Northern Irish ace punished a missed double 16 by hitting back in the third leg, following an earlier 180 with double ten.
Dolan, though, missed four darts to level the game in the next leg as van Gerwen posted double ten before hitting a 13-darter and a 68 finish in moving 5-1 up.
Dolan took out 84 to stay in the contest, but van Gerwen secured the win by finishing 114 on double top.
"It's amazing because not a lot of people have won two tournaments in one weekend, so it's a good achievement," said van Gerwen. "I'm feeling very proud of myself at the moment and it's so tough.
"Brendan had just beaten Raymond in the semi-finals and it's never easy to beat him, but I did what I needed to do. I played good darts on both days, and I want to keep this going now."
Dolan takes home £3,000 as runner-up and also secured his place in the top 32 of the rankings for June's Speedy Services UK Open televised finals in Bolton, where he will enter at the third round stage in 'The FA Cup of Darts'.
Dolan's successes on the day culminated in a fine semi-final victory over Raymond van Barneveld, who was punished for failing to close out the win with missed doubles in the final two legs as the Northern Irish ace came from 5-4 down to edge victory.
He also overcame former UK Open champion Roland Scholten, Matthew Medhurst, Saturday's runner-up Dave Chisnall, young Welshman Jamie Lewis, Stuart Kellett and Ronnie Baxter on the day.
Van Barneveld, the 2006 and 2007 UK Open champion, ensured his place in Bolton this June with impressive wins over Ian White, Jelle Klaasen, Steve Hine, Connie Finnan, Terry Jenkins and Simon Whitlock on the day.
Lowestoft's Peter Wright joined him in the last four as he saw off Antonio Alcinas, Aden Kirk, Kevin Painter, Mark Webster, Johnny Haines and Ricky Evans.
Kettering's Evans followed up his success in winning a PDC Tour Card at Qualifying School last month by reaching his first senior quarter-final in only the second ProTour event of the year.
He was joined in the last eight by Baxter, who continued his good form after reaching Saturday's semi-finals, Mervyn King and Simon Whitlock.
The day also featured a second nine-dart finish of the weekend, with Robert Thornton's achievement on Saturday matched by newcomer Kevin Thomas, who earned a £400 bonus for his perfect leg during a victory over Peter Hudson on his way to the last 16.
The weekend's events were the first two of eight £35,000 UK Open Qualifiers for professional players, with the top 96 players, plus ties, from the final UK Open Order of Merit progressing to compete in the televised finals at Bolton from June 6-9.
Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier Two
Sunday February 24, K2 Centre, Crawley
First Round
Johnathen Mulley Bye
Wes Newton 6-1 Lewis Venes
Ricky Sudale 6-5 Alan Derrett
Arron Monk 6-4 Richie Howson
William O'Connor 6-0 Barrie Bates
Ross Smith 6-2 Michael Smith
Justin Pipe 6-4 Darren Webster
Leon De Geus 6-5 Dave Honey
Colin Lloyd Bye
Keith Rooney 6-2 Brian Woods
Dafydd Edwards 6-2 Matt Clark
Rocco Maes 6-3 Simon Craven
Darren Johnson 6-2 Jordy Terburg
Darron Brown 6-1 Paul Anthony
Ryan De Vreede 6-2 Mike Nissen
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Steve Farmer
Campbell Jackson Bye
Andy Pearce 6-5 Simon Burt
Jason Wilson 6-5 Mark Forman
Jamie Robinson 6-0 Ashley Holgate
Mark Jones 6-2 Neville Roberts
Mervyn King 6-5 Kim Huybrechts
Alex Roy 6-2 Max Hopp
Andree Welge 6-5 Josh Jones
Reece Robinson Bye
Kirk Shepherd 6-2 James Richardson
Michael Mansell 6-0 Darrell Claydon
Mareno Michels 6-2 Jerry Hendriks
Colin Osborne 6-2 Shaun Griffiths
Steve Beaton 6-5 John Bowles
Ian Moss 6-1 Andy Relf
Geoff Whitworth 6-5 Peter Manley
Ryan Harrington Bye
Marc Dewsbury 6-5 David Copley
Jake Patchett 6-4 Lee Hayes
Johnny Haines 6-0 David Dodds
Joe Cullen 6-1 Lee White
Dave Charnock 6-0 Craig Pope
Vernon Sheppard 6-1 Dennis Smith
Mark Jones (Worcs) 6-4 Michael Barnard
Chris Skeates Bye
Mark Frost 6-0 Damien Sherwood
Mark Webster 6-4 Shaun Liptrot
Ron Atwill 6-4 Paul Barham
Kevin Painter 6-1 Lee Palfreyman
Mark Dudbridge 6-1 Danny Summers
Aden Kirk 6-5 Brandonn Monk
Peter Wright 6-3 Antonio Alcinas
Gary Anderson Bye
Ronny Huybrechts 6-2 Josh Payne
Co Stompe 6-3 Pete Dyos
Mark Walsh 6-1 Joe Bata
Terry Temple 6-2 Dylan Duo
Nigel Birch 6-1 Lee Gregory
Joey Palfreyman 6-3 Prakash Jiwa
Scott Rand 6-2 Jyhan Artut
Steve Coote Bye
Andy Jenkins 6-1 Michael Blake
Magnus Caris 6-5 Nigel Heydon
Kevin Dowling 6-5 Ewan Hyslop
Ryan Maher 6-3 Dave Ladley
Ricky Evans 6-2 Brett Claydon
Kevin McDine Bye (Tomas Seyler timed out)
Dan Russell 6-2 Carl Evans
Robert Marijanovic Bye
Richie Burnett 6-2 Andrew Hibbert
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Dean Winstanley
Edwin Max 6-0 Glen Miller
Robert Thornton 6-3 Ken MacNeil
Tom Martin 6-1 Tony Tasker
Mark Lawrence 6-2 Mike Norton
Dave Weston 6-5 Josh Pinder
Lee Bryant Bye
Adrian Lewis 6-1 Stuart White
Daryl Gurney 6-1 Ross Lowe
Sam Hamilton 6-4 Denis Ovens
Jack Tweddell 6-4 Terry Hayes
Steven Pearson 6-1 Darren Ward
John Part 6-3 Peter Evison
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Chris Wickenden
Wayne Jones Bye
Connie Finnan 6-0 Gavin Howard
Darren Whittingham 6-3 Mark Stephenson
Jamie Caven 6-1 Colin Fowler
Steve Hine 6-0 Nathan Richards
Andrew Gilding 6-5 Martyn Turner
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Ian White
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Andy Hamilton
Terry Jenkins Bye
Steve Grubb Bye
Matt Padgett 6-1 Scott Taylor
Wouter Vaes 6-5 Mark Cox
Gareth Pass 6-1 Scott Pearson
Ian Jopling 6-0 Chris Aubrey
Steve Brown 6-4 Adrian Gray
Scott Coleman 6-5 Steve McNally
Mark Hylton Bye
Jim Walker 6-4 John Scott
Sam Hill 6-3 Kentaro Suzuki
Joe Murnan 6-3 Jon Jukes
David Pallett 6-4 Tony Littleton
Peter Hudson 6-3 Gino Vos
Andrew Johnson 6-3 Sean Ryan
Kevin Thomas 6-0 Lee Moffat
Keegan Brown Bye
Paul Nicholson 6-1 Matthew Dicken
Daniel Starkey 6-1 James Young
Matthew Edgar 6-1 Bernd Roith
Jonathan Worsley 6-0 Steve Randall
James Hubbard 6-2 Joshua Carter
Ronnie Baxter 6-0 Gaz Cousins
Toon Greebe 6-4 Charl Pietersen
Matthew Medhurst Bye
Brendan Dolan 6-4 Roland Scholten
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Andy Blackwell
Richard Plowman 6-5 Jon Farmer
Andy Smith 6-1 Ted Hankey
Jamie Lewis 6-4 Jamie Atkins
Alan Tabern 6-3 Ian Walters
Paddy Meaney 6-3 Samuel Poland
Dyson Parody Bye
Daniel Day Bye
Paul Rowley 6-1 Steve Maish
Stuart Kellett 6-0 Brian Startin
John Henderson 6-5 Tony West
Steve West 6-1 Adam Hunt
Stephen Hardy 6-2 Kurt Van De Rijck
Paul Amos 6-5 Nick Fullwell
Second Round
Wes Newton 6-0 Johnathen Mulley
Arron Monk 6-2 Ricky Sudale
William O'Connor 6-5 Ross Smith
Leon De Geus 6-3 Justin Pipe
Keith Rooney 6-4 Colin Lloyd
Dafydd Edwards 6-4 Rocco Maes
Darron Brown 6-3 Darren Johnson
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Ryan De Vreede
Campbell Jackson 6-5 Andy Pearce
Jason Wilson 6-1 Jamie Robinson
Mervyn King 6-3 Mark Jones
Alex Roy 6-0 Andree Welge
Kirk Shepherd 6-4 Reece Robinson
Michael Mansell 6-4 Mareno Michels
Steve Beaton 6-1 Colin Osborne
Ian Moss 6-0 Geoff Whitworth
Ryan Harrington 6-4 Marc Dewsbury
Johnny Haines 6-4 Jake Patchett
Joe Cullen 6-2 Dave Charnock
Vernon Sheppard 6-5 Mark Jones (Worcs)
Mark Frost 6-2 Chris Skeates
Mark Webster 6-2 Ron Atwill
Kevin Painter 6-3 Mark Dudbridge
Peter Wright 6-1 Aden Kirk
Gary Anderson 6-2 Ronny Huybrechts
Mark Walsh 6-2 Co Stompe
Nigel Birch 6-5 Terry Temple
Joey Palfreyman 6-4 Scott Rand
Andy Jenkins 6-0 Steve Coote
Kevin Dowling 6-3 Magnus Caris
Ricky Evans 6-5 Ryan Maher
Dan Russell 6-2 Kevin McDine
Richie Burnett 6-1 Robert Marijanovic
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Edwin Max
Robert Thornton 6-1 Tom Martin
Dave Weston 6-4 Mark Lawrence
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Lee Bryant
Daryl Gurney 6-4 Sam Hamilton
Jack Tweddell 6-3 Steven Pearson
John Part 6-2 Vincent van der Voort
Connie Finnan 6-4 Wayne Jones
Darren Whittingham 6-2 Jamie Caven
Steve Hine 6-1 Andrew Gilding
Raymond van Barneveld 6-4 Jelle Klaasen
Terry Jenkins 6-2 Steve Grubb
Matt Padgett 6-1 Wouter Vaes
Gareth Pass 6-0 Ian Jopling
Steve Brown 6-3 Scott Coleman
Jim Walker 6-3 Mark Hylton
Joe Murnan 6-3 Sam Hill
Peter Hudson 6-3 David Pallett
Kevin Thomas 6-1 Andrew Johnson
Paul Nicholson 6-0 Keegan Brown
Matthew Edgar 6-3 Daniel Starkey
Jonathan Worsley 6-3 James Hubbard
Ronnie Baxter 6-1 Toon Greebe
Brendan Dolan 6-2 Matthew Medhurst
Dave Chisnall 6-0 Richard Plowman
Jamie Lewis 6-3 Andy Smith
Alan Tabern 6-1 Paddy Meaney
Dyson Parody 6-5 Daniel Day
Stuart Kellett 6-1 Paul Rowley
Steve West 6-3 John Henderson
Paul Amos 6-3 Stephen Hardy
Third Round
Wes Newton 6-4 Arron Monk
Leon De Geus 6-3 William O'Connor
Keith Rooney 6-5 Dafydd Edwards
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Darron Brown
Jason Wilson 6-4 Campbell Jackson
Mervyn King 6-3 Alex Roy
Michael Mansell 6-2 Kirk Shepherd
Steve Beaton 6-1 Ian Moss
Johnny Haines 6-1 Ryan Harrington
Vernon Sheppard 6-4 Joe Cullen
Mark Webster 6-0 Mark Frost
Peter Wright 6-4 Kevin Painter
Gary Anderson 6-2 Mark Walsh
Nigel Birch 6-4 Joey Palfreyman
Kevin Dowling 6-2 Andy Jenkins
Ricky Evans 6-5 Dan Russell
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Richie Burnett
Robert Thornton 6-3 Dave Weston
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Daryl Gurney
John Part 6-1 Jack Tweddell
Connie Finnan 6-3 Darren Whittingham
Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Steve Hine
Terry Jenkins 6-5 Matt Padgett
Gareth Pass 6-3 Steve Brown
Jim Walker 6-5 Joe Murnan
Kevin Thomas 6-4 Peter Hudson - Kevin Thomas hits nine-dart finish
Paul Nicholson 6-1 Matthew Edgar
Ronnie Baxter 6-3 Jonathan Worsley
Brendan Dolan 6-5 Dave Chisnall
Jamie Lewis 6-4 Alan Tabern
Stuart Kellett 6-5 Dyson Parody
Paul Amos 6-2 Steve West
Losers £200
Fourth Round
Wes Newton 6-1 Leon De Geus
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Keith Rooney
Mervyn King 6-4 Jason Wilson
Steve Beaton 6-0 Michael Mansell
Johnny Haines 6-3 Vernon Sheppard
Peter Wright 6-3 Mark Webster
Gary Anderson 6-2 Nigel Birch
Ricky Evans 6-4 Kevin Dowling
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Robert Thornton
John Part 6-3 Adrian Lewis
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Connie Finnan
Terry Jenkins 6-3 Gareth Pass
Kevin Thomas 6-3 Jim Walker
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Paul Nicholson
Brendan Dolan 6-3 Jamie Lewis
Stuart Kellett 6-4 Paul Amos
Losers £400
Fifth Round
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Wes Newton
Mervyn King 6-3 Steve Beaton
Peter Wright 6-1 Johnny Haines
Ricky Evans 6-5 Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock 6-5 John Part
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Terry Jenkins
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Kevin Thomas
Brendan Dolan 6-2 Stuart Kellett
Losers £600
Quarter-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Mervyn King
Peter Wright 6-3 Ricky Evans
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Simon Whitlock
Brendan Dolan 6-5 Ronnie Baxter
Losers £1,000
Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Peter Wright
Brendan Dolan 6-5 Raymond van Barneveld
Losers £2,000
Final
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Brendan Dolan
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000
Final
0-0 - Michael van Gerwen wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - van Gerwen takes the opening leg in 15 darts, finishing 61 on double nine.
2-0 - The Dutch ace breaks with a 14-dart finish, with Dolan missing the bull to take out 85 before van Gerwen finishes 65 on tops.
2-1 - Dolan lands a 180 but misses tops for an 82 checkout, but van Gerwen is off-target on double 16 for a 104 finish to allow the Northern Irish ace in on double ten to break back.
3-1 - Dolan misses four darts at doubles to level, and van Gerwen makes him pay on double ten.
4-1 - van Gerwen moves three legs clear by landing tops for a 13-dart finish.
5-1 - van Gerwen breaks by taking out 68 on double 16 for a 15-darter as he moves a leg away from a weekend double.
5-2 - Dolan checks out 84 in two darts on double 12 to keep his hopes alive.
6-2 - van Gerwen seals victory by taking out 114.