Second Wind Brings Hamilton Victory!

ANDY HAMILTON edged out Michael van Gerwen 6-5 to win a dramatic Championship League Darts Group Two final on Wednesday evening.

The Stoke ace joined World Champion Phil Taylor in progressing to next month's big-money Winners Group in dramatic fashion as he claimed triumph on the second day of the internet-streamed, £200,000 tournament.

Hamilton had won his opening three matches in Tuesday's Group One before fading away to miss out on the Play-Offs, but won five of his seven round-robin games this time around to finish in second place behind Dave Chisnall.

He then won his all-Stoke semi-final with Adrian Lewis 6-2, avenging a defeat by the same scoreline in their league meeting, as he won through to the decider, which proved to be a see-saw affair.

Hamilton took out 121, 98 and double six to win the game's opening three legs, and also missed two darts for the fourth as van Gerwen got off the mark on double six.

The Dutchman then won the next and traded 180s with Hamilton in leg six before pinning a 121 finish on double 14 to level.

Van Gerwen claimed a fourth successive leg on double four, after hitting another 180, as he moved 4-3 up, and after Hamilton levelled on double 16, he posted double ten for a 13-darter to move a leg away from victory.

Hamilton, though, finished the stronger and posted double four to force a decider in which he was first to a double before hitting the bullseye to take out 90 for the win.

Click here for video reaction from Andy Hamilton

"It's great to be through to the Winners Group," said Hamilton. "I probably learned a lesson from Group One.

"Yesterday I was happy with getting to six points because I've struggled here in years gone by, and today I was more focused.

"You can't give Michael a chance and he proved how good he is coming back at me, but I had to dig in and stay strong. I was hoping that I'd get another chance, and I did.

"The last leg showed what the game's all about; big finishes against big players. There have been some great players here for the past two days but two are through and I'm one of them."

Hamilton had reached the UK Open final in June before suffering a form dip over the past month, but he heads into a first round clash with Kim Huybrechts at next month's partypoker.com World Grand Prix full of confidence.

"I've come back into form again," he said. "Going to Australia was a great experience but I struggled getting used to the time difference; I think it took a toll on me with being diabetic and I think I've just got over it now and it's showing in my form.

"I can't wait for the World Grand Prix now. If I can take this form into the World Grand Prix then I'll be a force; I'm a great double-starter and hopefully I can be a great double-finisher, and you need both of them to win it.

"I need a major to fulfil my career, so I'll be trying to do that this year. I'll have two days' rest after this but then I'll be back on the practice board preparing for Dublin."

World number two van Gerwen had finished fourth on the final league table after ending the league phase with an outstanding 112 average in a win over Robert Thornton which sealed his semi-final spot.

He then averaged 105 in a 6-3 victory over Chisnall in a high-quality last four game, but fell just short in the decider.

Lewis, the Group One runner-up, will also have to return on Thursday for a third consecutive day, having won five of his league games only to lose out in his all-Stoke semi-final.

Chisnall will also compete in a third successive day, having topped the Group Two league table with five victories but been out-scored by van Gerwen in their last four contest.

Kevin Painter matched van Gerwen in winning four of his league games, but missed out on the Play-Offs on Leg Difference, while Wes Newton's three victories were enough for him to survive for a second successive day.

Robert Thornton and Justin Pipe, though, were eliminated as the Scot paid the price for three 6-5 losses on the day, while Taunton ace Pipe endured a nightmare with seven successive defeats.

Former Championship League Darts finalist Mervyn King, 2011 World Grand Prix runner-up Brendan Dolan and debutant Kim Huybrechts enter the event for Group Three.

They are joined by Group Two runner-up van Gerwen, Lewis, Chisnall, Painter and Newton as the first week of the tournament concludes at Crondon Park GC in Essex.

Championship League Darts is screened exclusively live online, with coverage through www.LIVEPDC.TV and a series of bookmakers' websites worldwide which are listed below.

Prize money is paid at £50 per leg won in the league phase as the eight players meet each other once, before prize money rises to £100 per leg in the Play-Offs.

2013 Championship League Darts
Group Two Fixtures

League Table

League placings determined as follows:
Points Won
Leg Difference (+/-)
Legs Won
Legs Won Against Throw

Match Information
First Set of Matches
Adrian Lewis came out on top 6-4 in the battle of the two highest ranked players in Group Two, as he faced Michael van Gerwen. Lewis hit a 180 and double 12 to claim the opening leg against the throw, following three misses at tops from van Gerwen, and he doubled his lead with a 13-darter which featured a second maximum. Van Gerwen landed a maximum and double two to get off the mark and punished four missed doubles from Lewis to level. The pair hit tops to win the next two legs, before Lewis hit a 180 to set up double 18 for a 13-darter and van Gerwen posted a 177 to leave 24 as double 12 levelled at four-all. Lewis, though, hit a 14-darter in leg nine and posted another 180 in the tenth, finishing double 18 for a 14-darter and the win.
Kevin Painter edged out Robert Thornton in an 11-leg thriller, taking out 114 to claim the two points. Thornton hit a 180 to set up double 18 in the opening leg, before Painter took the next three, levelling in leg two, breaking in the third on double eight after the Scot missed the bull, and hitting a 180 and an 81 finish in the fourth to move 3-1 up. Thornton took two of the next three to pull back to 4-3, and then hit a 180 and took out 129 on the bull to level at four-all. He also missed tops to move ahead as Painter hit the same bed for a 5-4 cushion, but the roles were reversed in the next as Painter missed tops for the win as the former UK Open champion forced a decider - only to miss one dart at tops for the match as Painter returned to finish 114, on tops, to edge to victory.
Wes Newton came from 4-1 down to edge past Justin Pipe 6-5 in their Group Two opener. The pair shared the first two legs before Pipe, aided by one break of throw as he punished missed doubles from Newton, took three in a row to lead 4-1. Newton hit back to level the game, landing a 180 as he broke, but missed the bull to move in front as Pipe edged leg nine to move 5-4 up. Pipe then missed tops for a 117 finish to take victory as Newton landed double eight to force a decider, and after opening leg 11 with a maximum he posted the same double to take the win.
Andy Hamilton snatched a dramatic 6-5 win over Dave Chisnall, who missed one dart for victory in the deciding leg of the contest. Hamilton took the opener before Chisnall replied, with the Stoke ace finishing double ten and then breaking with a 52 finish to lead 3-1. Chisnall hit back to level, but missed his chance to go ahead as Hamilton posted double 16 to regain the edge. Chisnall levelled on double 14, and after the UK Open finalist moved 5-4 up, the world number seven hit a 180 and tops to force a decider - but he paid for a miss at double 18 for a 112 finish as Hamilton was given a reprieve for bursting his score on 90 and missing double five as he returned to hit double two to win.

Second Set of Matches
Michael van Gerwen posted a fine 104 average in a 6-1 victory over Kevin Painter. Van Gerwen hit a 180 in a 14-darter to open the match, before punishing missed doubles from Painter in the next two by landing double five and double 18 for a 3-0 lead. Painter finished double ten to win leg four, but van Gerwen hit a 180 in a 13-darter to move 4-1 up, added a 12-dart finish and then finished 72 on double 12 for a 14-darter to complete a fine performance.
Adrian Lewis picked up a second successive victory as he edged past Robert Thornton 6-5. Lewis hit legs of 13 and 12 darts and Thornton posted a 14-darter as the pair shared the opening four legs, before Lewis hit tops, broke on double ten and double eight for a 5-2 lead. Thornton, though, hit back with a 13-darter, hit a 177 and double ten to pull back to 5-4 and punished two missed doubles for the match from his opponent as he forced a decider on double seven. Thornton then opened leg 11 with a 180, but missed tops for the win as Lewis again faltered, before the world number three recovered to sink double five for a narrow win.
Dave Chisnall raced past Wes Newton with a 6-2 victory as the Group One semi-finalist averaged 105.71 in a superb display. Chisnall opened the game with a 180 and took the opener in 11 darts, before Newton levekked with a 13-darter which featured a 180 and double four. Chisnall took the third on double ten before Newton finished 100 to level - but Chisnall stepped up the pace with a 12-darter, finished 67 to break and landed a 13-darter for a 5-2 cushion, before punishing three misses from Newton in the next by taking out 100 with two double tops to seal a fine win.
Andy Hamilton hit two 11-darters in the final two legs as he edged out Justin Pipe 6-5. Hamilton won the opening leg before Pipe took the next two for a 2-1 lead, but the Stoke ace took out 12 to level. The next three went with the throw as Pipe edged 4-3 up, only for Hamilton to take out 108 as he punished the Taunton ace for missing his chance to break. Pipe then hit double six to lead 5-4, but Hamilton posted two 180s in an 11-darter - missing out on a possible nine-dart leg - as he forced a decider, and he added another 180 as he snatched victory with an 11-dart finish.

Third Set of Matches
Andy Hamilton continued his winning start to Group Two, winning his third game of the day with a 6-2 defeat of Kevin Painter. Hamilton punished missed doubles from Painter as he took the game's opening two legs on double 16, for a 13-darter, and double ten, and won a third leg before hitting a 180 and a 100 finish in a 12-darter to lead 4-0. Painter took out 81 on the bull to hit back in the fifth, only for Hamilton to post a 180 and finish 77 for a 5-1 cushion. Painter traded 180s with the Stoke ace as he pulled back a second leg, but he missed the bull to take the next as Hamilton finished double 16 for the win.
Michael van Gerwen won his second successive game 6-1, with his victory over Justin Pipe leaving the Taunton ace without a point following three matches. Pipe took the game's opening leg with a break of throw, but van Gerwen levelled with a 14-darter, hit double five to lead 2-1 and then finished double four for another break as he moved two legs clear. The Dutch ace then posted a 180 and tops for a 4-1 lead, hit double eight for a 14-darter and added a 180 and tops in another 14-dart finish to seal the points.
Dave Chisnall won his second game of Group Two with a 6-4 defeat of Robert Thornton. Chisnall hit a 180 and tops to win the opening leg with a break, before Thornton hit back with a maximum and double ten in a 12-darter, finished double four to lead and landed another 180 before tops, for a 14-dart leg, moved him 3-1 up. Chisnall finished 68 to win the fifth leg, and moved ahead with a pair of double five finishes, before double 16 put him 5-3 ahead. Tops kept Thornton in the contest, but Chisnall landed a second 180 and then finished double four to seal the points.
Adrian Lewis remains unbeaten following three games after his 6-4 win over Wes Newton in a high-quality contest which saw the Fleetwood ace hit five 180s and a 101 average to Lewis' 108 average. The pair traded the first two legs on double ten before Newton hit a 180 in a 13-darter to lead 2-1, only to see Lewis level in the same manner after posting a 171 socre. Newton posted a 180 and finished 81 for a 12-darter, with Lewis levelling with a 177 in a 14-darter before Newton finished 100 for another 12-dart leg to lead 4-3. Lewis, though, found another gear to hit a 180 in a 12-darter and then finished 130 and 121 for two more 12-dart legs as he snatched the win.

Fourth Set of Matches
Andy Hamilton won his fourth game of Group Two, remaining unbeaten with a 6-4 win over Michael van Gerwen. Hamilton took the opening leg before the pair traded 180s in the second as van Gerwen levelled and then punished missed doubles from his opponent across two visits to move 2-1 up. The next two were shared before Hamilton hit a 180 and tops to level in leg six before moving 4-3 up. Van Gerwen levelled again, but Hamilton hit a 180 to lead 5-4 and finished 80 on double ten for the points.
Kevin Painter picked up his second victory of Group Two and denied Justin Pipe a maiden victory with a narrow 6-5 triumph. Pipe broke in the first leg, hitting a 180 and punishing a miss at tops from Painter, who bounced back to win the next four to lead 4-1. Pipe hit back wth three in a row to level, but Painter hit a 180 and finished 121 on the bull to take a key ninth and move 5-4 up, and though the Taunton man finished double for to force a decider, Painter was first to a finish and hit tops to take victory.
Dave Chisnall joined Adrian Lewis on three victories with a 6-43 defeat of the European Champion. Chisnall took the opener and, after Lewis levelled with an 11-darter, the St Helens ace hit back-to-back 14-dart legs and double five to move 4-1 up. Lewis finished a 14-darter and double 12 to win two of the next three, Chisnall having hit a 113 checkout to take his fifth of the game, but even another 180 from the Stoke star was not enough as Chisnall sealed his win with double 16 for a 13-darter.
Wes Newton claimed a potentially key 6-4 win over Robert Thornton, leaving the Scot without a win and moving himself four points clear of the elimination zone. The pair shared the opening four legs before Newton took out 160 and 121 to move 4-2 up. Thornton replied by taking out 167 and 95 to level, but Newton finished 41 to edge back ahead and double three to secure the points.

Fifth Set of Matches
Robert Thornton won his first game of Group Two, defeating previously unbeaten Andy Hamilton 6-3 to keep alive his hopes of avoiding elimination. Hamilton punished missed doubles from the Scot to win the first two legs, before Thornton finished 72 to get off the mark and levelled in the fourth. He was punished for missing darts to move ahead as Hamilton edged the fifth on double one, but Thornton levelled, posted double four to hit the front and then won the eighth leg to move 5-3 up, before punishing five misses from the UK Open finalist by landing tops to secure his first win of the day.
Michael van Gerwen won his third Group Two game with a 6-2 defeat of Wes Newton, with the Dutchman averaging 103 in a fine win. Van Gerwen made a lightning start, hitting a 180 in taking the first leg, holding throw in the second and punishing a miss at tops from the Fleetwood ace in the third by landing double 12. Newton finished 68 to get off the mark and also took the fifth leg, but van Gerwen took the sixth to deny him the chance to level, and posted double ten for a 5-2 lead before finishing 74 to seal the win.
Adrian Lewis continued his push for a second successive Play-Offs challenge with a 6-2 with over Justin Pipe. whose hopes of avoiding elimination are handing by a thread. The pair shared the opening two legs, with Pipe hitting a 13-darter to level, before Lewis took the next three in 15, 15 and 12 darts to move into a 4-1 lead. Pipe took out 70 on double eight for a 14-darter to hit back, but Lewis restored his advantage with a 13-darter before taking out 72 to seal the win.
Kevin Painter won his second successive game with a narrow 6-5 defeat of Dave Chisnall. Painter made the better start, finishing double eight and tops to win the opening two legs, but after Chisnall hit a 13-darter to reply, Painter was punished for a string of missed doubles as the St Helens ace took another four legs, hitting three 180s, another 13-darter and a 14-dart leg. However, the tables were turned as Chisnall missed two match darts in the eighth as Painter hit double one to stay alive, before finishing tops to pull back to 5-4 and a 96 checkout of single 20, double 18 and double top to force a decider. Chisnall hit two 180s in the last leg, but missed double 16 - in single seven - to claim victory as Painter followed a maximum of his own by finishing 97 on tops to snatch the points.

Sixth Set of Matches
Wes Newton claimed a key 6-4 win over Kevin Painter - a result which eliminates winless Justin Pipe. Painter made the stronger start once again, hitting double ten in the opener and finishing 66 in two darts, following a 180, in the second before missing one dart to win the third, as Newton took out 113 to hit back. The Fleetwood ace then levelled, and took out 100 to move 3-2 up before trading 180s with Painter in the next, only to miss one dart at double five as his opponent landed tops to level at three-all. Painter then missed double 12 to finish 138 to move ahead, as Newton took out 70 and then followed a 180 with double eight for a 5-3 lead. Painter won the ninth to stay in the game, but missed four darts to force a decider, and Newton posted double ten for the win - taking him onto six points.
Adrian Lewis won the top-of-the-table clash with Andy Hamilton 6-2 to claim his fifth victory of the day, confirming his place in the semi-finals. Lewis took the first two legs before Hamilton replied on double 16, but the two-time World Champion then finished tops, 92 on double 16 and 161 to move 5-1 up. Hamilton hit a 180 as he took a second leg of the game, but missed tops to continue his fightback, as Lewis secured the points on double 16.
Robert Thornton kept alive his hopes of avoiding elimination with a 6-3 win over Justin Pipe. Thornton made a fine start to win the opening three legs, and missed tops to win a fourth as Pipe got off the mark, and the Taunton ace then took out 100 before levelling in the sixth. Tops saw Thornton restore his cushion, before he won the next two to win his second game of the day and retain his hopes of staying in the tournament, meaning he would have to win his final fixture.
Dave Chisnall put one foot into the Play-Offs with a 6-4 comeback win over Michael van Gerwen. Van Gerwen took the first two legs on double 18 and also won the third, before Chisnall hit tops to take the fourth. Chisnall hit a 180 and double four to win the fifth, and then levelled on double six before continuing the charge as van Gerwen missed his chance to take the seventh, as double two put Chisnall ahead. Van Gerwen hit a 174 and double eight to hit back in the ninth, but Chisnall took leg ten to seal victory from a high-quality game, averaging 104.81 to van Gerwen's 101.52.

Final Set of Matches
Michael van Gerwen eliminated Robert Thornton from Group Two with a 6-5 win over the Scot in a sensational game, as he averaged 112.48 to his opponent's 107.10. Van Gerwen hit two 180s as he won the opening leg, and he moved two legs up, before Thornton hit back to level. The pair shared the next two, before Thorntno took the seventh with a break to lead 4-3, and then hit double ten to lead 5-3. Double 15 from van Gerwen kept his hopes alive, and he took out double four to force a decider before landing a 180 and finishing 91 for a sublime 11-darter to seal victory in a game of the highest quality.
Kevin Painter ensured survival in Group Two with a brilliant display to end the league campaign with a 6-1 defeat of Adrian Lewis. Painter took the opening leg in 14 darts on double 16, and hit 180s in the next two as double 19 and a 121 finish put him into a 3-0 lead. Lewis missed his chance to hit back in the fourth as Painter hit double ten and then tops for a 5-0 cushion. Lewis finished 88 to get off the mark, but missed doubles in two visits in the next as double four gave Painter victory, although he misses out on a Play-Off place on leg difference.
Dave Chisnall took top spot in the Group Two league table with a 6-1 defeat of Justin Pipe, who ends the day without a victory. Chisnall opened the game with legs of 14, 13 and 15 darts as he took the opening three legs, before Pipe took out 130 on double five to reply. Pipe also added a 180 in the fifth, but double ten restored Chisnall's cushion, before double eight and double ten sealed another impressive win, as he ended with a 101.97 average.
Andy Hamilton sealed his Semi-Final place with a superb 103.49 average in a 6-2 win over Wes Newton, who survives to compete in Group Three on Thursday. Newton hit a 180 in a 13-darter to take the lead, but Hamilton levelled with a 78 finish and then took legs of 14 and 13 darts to lead 3-1. Double top gave Newton a second leg, but Hamilton hit a 14-darter to move 4-2 up and then opened the seventh leg with two 180s, and though he missed out on a nine-dart finish he moved three legs clear before sealing the win on tops for a 13-darter.

Semi-Finals
Michael van Gerwen turned on the style as he booked his place in the Group Two final with a superb 105.80 average in defeating table-topper Dave Chisnall 6-3. Van Gerwen finished 91 on tops to win the opener before Chisnall levelled by finishing 72, but the Dutch ace took the next three in brilliant fashion, hitting a 180 and a 100 finish for a 12-darter in leg three, tops in the fourth and 28 in the fifth. Chisnall finished double eight and double five to hit back, but van Gerwen landed a 180 in going 5-3 up before finishing 68 for a 14-darter to seal his spot in the final.
Andy Hamilton powered into the Group Two final, defeating Adrian Lewis 6-2 in their all-Stoke last four clash. Hamilton took advantage of misses from Lewis to win the opening two legs on double ten, before hitting double eight for a 3-0 lead. Lewis hit 180s in the next two, but could only watch on as the UK Open finalist finished double eight and double ten to move 5-0 up. Hamilton missed one match dart for a whitewash in the sixth, at tops for a 160 finish, as Lewis took out 112 to stay in the hunt and double ten to win a second leg - but Hamilton hit a 170 score to leave 40 in the eighth and landed tops for a fine win.

Final
Andy Hamilton claimed victory in Championship League Darts Group Two in dramatic fashion by taking out 90 on the bull to win a see-saw final against Michael van Gerwen in a deciding leg. Hamilton took out 121, 98 and double six to win the game's opening three legs, and also missed two darts for the fourth as van Gerwen got off the mark on double six. The Dutchman also took the next and then traded 180s with Hamilton in leg six before pinning a 121 finish on double 14 to level. The Dutchman claimed a fourth successive leg on double four, after hitting another 180, as he moved 4-3 up, and after Hamilton levelled on double 16, he posted double ten for a 13-darter to move a leg away from victory. Hamilton, though, finished the stronger and posted double four to force a decider in which he was first to a double before hitting the bullseye to take out 90 for the win.

Match Stats

Group Two Stats (players in world ranking order)

Overall Prize Money

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