Third Time Lucky For Newton

WES NEWTON won through to the Championship League Darts Winners Group at the third time of asking as he defeated Dave Chisnall 6-4 in Thursday's Group Three final of the internet-streamed event.

The Fleetwood ace had been a semi-finalist in Tuesday's Group One of the £200,000 tournament before finishing sixth in the Group Two table, but went all the way in Group Three to seal a place in October's big-money Winners Group.

Newton won four of his seven league games to finish in third place in the eight-player league table, but produced some superb finishing to defeat Kim Huybrechts 6-3 in their semi-final - hitting finishes of 150 and 126 at key moments in winning four straight legs from 3-2 down.

He then proved the stronger in the final against Chisnall, who had also competed in the previous two days of action at Crondon Park GC in Essex.

Chisnall actually led in the final, winning the opening leg on tops, but Newton hit the same bed to level and then finished 83 to punish misses from the St Helens ace to move 2-1 up.

Chisnall landed double 16 to level at two-all, but Newton - like in his semi-final - produced a killer blow as he finished 121 on the bull and tops to move 4-2 up.

The world number seven again replied, finishing 103 and double five to level, but Newton hit tops to move back in front and sealed victory by landing double six for a 14-darter.

Click here for Wes Newton Video Interview

"It was a tough final," said Newton. "It's been a tough three days - I'm playing against the best players in the world day-in, day-out for three days on the trot, and I'm over the moon to get through, it means a lot to me.

"Survival is an achievement [in the early days] but I knew I was playing really well in the group stages and that I had to keep it going.

"It's really tiring but I dug deep and kept going. I was very tired this morning and I think it's an achievement for both myself and Dave to get to the final having been in from Group One.

"In the semi-final against Kim, he was scoring better than me and I managed to take my chances. I took a 150 out and a 126 out two legs on the trot, when he was on a double both times, but it was a killer for Kim.

"I'm happy to be through to the Winners Group for the second year in a row. This is a really tough tournament - the toughest I've been in - but there's a lot of money to be won and I want to go one step further now and try to win it.

"I was in the Winners Group and I've been there before, so it's time to kick in and draw on my experience. Every tournament I go in, I want to win it, and it's there to be won."

Chisnall will now return to compete in Group Four after next month's partypoker.com World Grand Prix, having produced a brilliant second half of the day to reach the Play-Offs.

He had lost his opening four matches, but only dropped four legs in his final three games as he snatched fourth place ahead of Mervyn King and Kevin Painter.

Chisnall then came from 4-2 down to win 6-4 against Michael van Gerwen in his semi-final, claiming victory with a 112 finish as he punished the Dutchman for a string of missed doubles.

Van Gerwen had topped the Group Three league table with six wins from his seven games, including an outstanding 113 average in a 6-1 win over Chisnall during the league stage.

The world number two also hit a 110 average in his only league defeat as he went down to Huybrechts, who hit six 180s and a 107 average in a 6-4 triumph during a superb Championship League Darts debut.

The Belgian won his opening four games in impressive style and also won six of his seven league games, but his semi-final defeat means that he returns for Group Four next month.

King's 6-3 win over Newton in the final round of league games saw him avoid elimination at the expense of Brendan Dolan, who played some fine darts on the day but was knocked out along with Adrian Lewis.

World number three Lewis had been the runner-up in Group One, but picked up just one victory on Thursday as he was knocked out, although he claimed £5,900 prize money for his three days in the event.

The tournament will resume following the partypoker.com World Grand Prix with Group Four on Tuesday October 15, as Terry Jenkins, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson join Thursday's five survivors, with Group Five and Group Six following in the next three days of the event.

Group Seven will be held on Tuesday October 22, with Group Eight on Wednesday October 23 before the big-money Winners Group is held on Thursday October 24.

There will be one change for Group Eight, with Colin Osborne, the 2009 Championship League Darts winner, coming in to replace Vincent van der Voort, who has withdrawn from the event due to a potential clash of the Winners Group with the Host Nation Qualifier for the Dutch Darts Masters European Tour event should he have progressed through his group.

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 Three Results

League Table

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

Match Information
First Set of Matches
Michael van Gerwen made a storming start to Group Three with a 103 average in a 6-2 win over Adrian Lewis, avenging two defeats to the Stoke ace in the past two days. The pair hit 180s in the opening leg as Lewis took the lead on double two, but van Gerwen levelled with a 13-darter, broke on tops and then took out 78 for a 3-1 lead. Double nine saw Lewis hit back, but van Gerwen hit tops in the next two legs before sealing victory with a 14-darter.
Kim Huybrechts enjoyed a winning Championship League Darts debut as he defeated Brendan Dolan 6-4, averaging 100 in a strong display. The Belgian won the opening leg on tops for a 14-darter before Dolan hit a 180 as he levelled in 13 darts, but the Northern Irish ace missed his chance to break in the third as double four put Huybrechts 2-1 up Dolan levelled on tops, but Huybrechts hit a 180 and finished 64 to win leg five, and broke in the next with a 13-darter on double 16. Dolan broke back on double ten and hit a 13-darter of his own to level, but Huybrechts took the next two legs with 14-darters to claim the win.
Kevin Painter opened Group Three with a 6-4 win over Mervyn King. King hit two 180s as he broke in the opening leg, before Painter landed a maximum and broke back to level, with King finishing double 16 to take leg three before Painter hit tops to level at two-all and then held to move 3-2 up. King took two of the next three to remain level at four-all, but he paid for missing a dart at tops for a 120 finish as Painter took the ninth and then followed a 180 with a 156 checkout to seal the win.
Wes Newton came from 4-2 down to win his Group Three opener with Dave Chisnall 6-4. Newton made a fine start, hitting double four in the opening leg and 138 to take the second, but missed a string of doubles in the third as Chisnall stole the leg on double 18 and then finished 155 to level. Chisnall also took the next two for a 4-2 cushion, but Newton hit back in the seventh, levelled with an 83 finish, hit a 180 as he regained the lead on and finished double ten to win a fourth straight leg and seal the points.

Second Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts picked up a second successive Group Three win with a 6-4 defeat of Michael van Gerwen in a sensational match, averaging 107.56 and hitting six 180s to the Dutchman's 110.74 mean. Huybrechts opened the game with two 180s, but after missing out on a nine-darter he could only watch as van Gerwen took out 153 to win the first leg in 12 darts. Van Gerwen hit a 177 in the second leg, but Huybrechts took out 79 on double 11 to level with a 14-darter, before the pair traded 13-dart legs. Van Gerwen added another 13-darter to lead 3-2, before Huybrechts hit a 180 and double eight to win the only leg which was won in more than 14 darts. Van Gerwen hit a 180 in a 14-darter to move 4-3 up, but Huybrechts levelled with a 13-darter on double 16, hit a 180 in a 12-darter to break and then sealed victory on double 16.
Brendan Dolan bounced back to winning ways with a 6-4 win over Adrian Lewis. Dolan took the game's first two legs and missed the bull in the third as Lewis got off the mark on double 16. Double eight gave Dolan a 3-1 lead before Lewis broke with a 70 finish and hit double ten to level, only for the Northern Irish ace to win the next two as he moved 5-3 up. Lewis hit back in leg nine, but Dolan sealed the win with a superb 141 checkout.
Kevin Painter again produced a superb final-leg finish to continue his winning start to Group Two, edging out Wes Newton in a deciding leg. Painter punished Newton's misses in the opening leg before the world number eight took the next two, but the Fleetwood ace was then punished for missing double 16 for a 3-1 lead as Painter levelled. The next two were also shared before Newton took out double ten and tops for a 5-3 lead. Painter hit a 180 and finished 81 on the bull to win leg nine and punished a miss at tops for the match from Newton to take out 80 and force a deciding leg. Newton was first to a finish again in leg 11, but missed double 12 and six for the win, and Painter took out 94 with single 18, double 18 and double top to remain unbeaten.
Mervyn King produced a clinical performance to defeat Dave Chisnall 6-1 and win his first game of Group Three. Chisnall hit a 180 in the opening leg, but missed the bull as King landed double eight to move ahead, broke in leg two and finished double 16 for a 3-0 lead. Chisnall took out 100 on double 16 in the fourth, but King restored his lead by taking out 64 on double eight, hit double ten for a 5-1 cushion and punished two misses from Chisnall in the next by hitting double four to seal a big win.

Third Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts continued his brilliant Championship League Darts debut with a third straight win, defeating Dave Chisnall 6-5. The game's first four legs were shared before Chisnall finished a 14-darter in leg five, only for Huybrechts to hit a 180 and a 116 finish in a 12-darter to level at three-all. The next two also went with throw, and a 13-darter put Chisnall 5-4 up, but Huybrechts took out 82 on tops to level at five-all and then sealed victory with the game's only break of throw as he took out 104 in the deciding leg.
Michael van Gerwen needed less than 11 minutes to whitewash Mervyn King in their third group game. Van Gerwen opened the game with 140 and 180 as he took the first leg in 13 darts, before punishing a miss at double 16 from King to break in leg two on double 17. He also took the third before finishing 123 to break again in the fourth, hit a 180 and tops in the fifth leg and sealed a comfortable victory on double nine.
Wes Newton came from 4-2 down to claim a 6-4 win over Brendan Dolan in their third match. Newton hit a 180 in the opening leg, but Dolan broke throw and then won two of the next three to establish a 3-1 cushion, before being punished for two misses at double eight in the fifth as Newton hit a 180 and double five to hit back. Tops saw Dolan move 4-2 up, but Newton hit a 180 as he replied and then broke to level at four-all, before taking out 113 to lead for the first time at 5-3. He then opened the tenth leg with two 180s, and although he was unable to finish 141 for a nine-darter, he returned to finish tops to seal the win in 13 darts.
Adrian Lewis picked up his first victory of Group Three, averaging 101.79 in a 6-1 win over Kevin Painter. The pair traded 180s in the opening leg as Painter was punished for three misses by Lewis, who hit double five to lead, double ten for a 14-darter and followed a 180 with 86 for a 12-darter to lead 3-0. Painter took out 83 on double eight to hit back, but Lewis restored his cushion by finishing 78, hit double eight for a 14-darter to lead 5-1 and finished tops for another 14-darter leg in sealing victory.

Fourth Set of Matches
Michael van Gerwen made a stunning return from the lunch break, averaging 113.58 in a 6-1 demolition of Dave Chisnall which took less than ten minutes! Van Gerwen took out 120 to win the opening leg, and hit a 180 in the second only for Chisnall to reply with a maximum in a 14-darter as he levelled. Van Gerwen finished double 16 to take the third and then broke with a sensational 144 finish to complete a 12-darter. He added an 11-darter and double nine to move 5-1 up, and hit a third 180 of the game in another 11-dart leg to complete a brilliant performance.
Kim Huybrechts remains unbeaten following his 6-4 win over Mervyn King. The opening four legs went with throw before Huybrechts broke in the fifth on double four and punished two misses from King to land tops for a 4-2 lead. King hit double eight to win a third leg and shared the next two to pull back to 5-4, but Huybrechts sealed the win on double 16 with a 14-darter.
Wes Newton picked up his third victory of Group Three, snatching victory with a superb 12-darter in the deciding leg of his clash with Adrian Lewis. The pair shared the opening two legs before Lewis took out 84 and 116 to move 3-1 up, only for Newton to finish legs of 12 and 14 darts, despite 180s from his opponent, to level at three-all. The next two were also shared before Lewis moved 5-4 up with tops for a 13-darter, but Newton hit tops to force a decider, in which he posted a 180 to leave 87, taking out the finish on double five to snatch victory.
Kevin Painter produced another big game-winning finish as he defeated Brendan Dolan 6-4 to claim his third victory of Group Three. Dolan took the game's first two legs, before Painter hit back on double six, double 16 and double eight to move 3-2 up. He then punished two misses from Dolan to lead by two legs, before the Northern Irish ace took two of the next three to pull back to 5-4, but he was denied the chance to force a decider as Painter took out 117 to seal the win.

Fifth Set of Matches
Dave Chisnall picked up his first victory of Group Three as the race to avoid elimination intensified with his 6-2 defeat of Brendan Dolan. Chisnall took out 72, 98 and double nine to win the first three legs before Dolan hit a 180 as he got off the mark in the fourth. Dolan finished 68 to pull back to 3-2, but Chisnall hit two 180s in leg six as he moved back ahead with a 13-darter before finishing 121 on the bull for a 12-darter and a 5-2 lead, and he then sealed victory on double eight.
Michael van Gerwen continued his push for a Play-Off place with a fourth victory of Group Three, sweeping past Kevin Painter 6-1. Van Gerwen capitalised on a miss at tops by Painter in the opening leg by finishing tops, before hitting double 18 and double 12 to lead 3-0, before Painter stepped in to punish misses from the Dutchman in the fourth by landing tops to get off the mark. Double top restored van Gerwen's cushion, he hit a 180 and double ten in a 12-darter to lead 5-1 and punished a missed bull from Painter in the next, for a 126 finish, by landing double nine to seal the points.
Mervyn King picked up his second Group Three victory by edging out Adrian Lewis 6-5, despite having led 5-1 at one stage. King took out 94, 62, 104 and 64 to win the game's opening four legs before Lewis hit a 180 as he got off the mark in the fifth. Double eight moved King into a 5-1 lead, but he missed the bull for a 161 finish in the next as Lewis hit double 16 to keep his hopes alive and a 140 finish to pull back to 5-3. He also took the ninth and punished three more missed match darts from King to land double one and force a decidier - but missed four darts at double 12 and one dart at double six to complete an amazing fightback, as King hit double eight to claim the points.
Wes Newton ended Kim Huybrechts' unbeaten run with a fine performance to take a 6-2 win and join the Belgian and Michael van Gerwen on eight points. Newton took the game's first two legs before Huybrechts hit back to level, but a key 122 finish, on double seven, saw the Fleetwood ace move 3-2 up. He then hit a 180 in a 12-darter to move two legs clear, and finished double six and double eight for the win.

Sixth Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts won his fifth game of the day with a fine 6-2 win over Kevin Painter. Huybrechts broke in the opening leg on double 16, and though Painter levelled by hitting double 18, the Belgian took the next three with finishes of double 16, 24 and double 12. Painter hit double ten to pull back to 4-2, but double top restored his cushion and double eight sealed his win.
Dave Chisnall took a big step towards Group Three survival with a 6-1 win over Adrian Lewis, producing his best performance of the day with a 107.72 average and only one leg above 14 darts. He hit 180s in the opening three legs as finishes of 13, 14 and 11 darts put him in command, before he took the fourth leg in 14 darts to take total control. Lewis hit back with a 13-darter, but missed the bull for a 132 finish in the next only to see Chisnall finish 140 for a 5-1 lead, and he went on to seal victory with double eight.
Brendan Dolan improved his chances of survival in Group Three with a narrow 6-5 win over Mervyn King. Dolan took the opening leg before King, aided by a 180, levelled and then opened the third with scores of 180 and 177, before hitting double 16 for an 11-darter despite Dolan - who landed a 177 - missing the bull himself. King missed three doubles in the next leg as Dolan levelled before taking leg five, and the next four legs went with the throw to leave Dolan 5-4 up. King finished 76 on tops to force a decider, but Dolan took out 102 on double 16 to win the game's final leg.
Michael van Gerwen won his fifth game of the day with a 6-3 victory over Wes Newton. Newton hit two 180s in an 11-darter to open the game, but van Gerwen landed a maximum as he levelled with a 13-dart finish and then hit another 180 and 68 to lead 2-1. Newton levelled on tops, but van Gerwen hit double ten and twice landed tops for a 5-2 lead, before Newton hit a 180 in a 14-darter to keep his hopes alive. However, the Fleetwood ace was punished for a miss at tops in the next as van Gerwen stepped in to land double ten and seal a rapid victory.

Final Set of Matches
Michael van Gerwen came from 5-3 down to seal top spot in the Group Three league table with a dramatic win over Brendan Dolan, whose fugure in the tournament is hanging by a thread going into the final games. Van Gerwen finished double 14 and double 18 to win the opening two legs, before Dolan finished 130 and 127 to level - but he missed two darts to lead in the fifth as van Gerwen hit tops to move 3-2 up. Dolan finished 101 to level, and then took out 76 and tops to remain flawless on his doubles with five from as many attempts. Van Gerwen too out 170 to hit back and followed a 180 and double 18 to force a decider, and when Dolan was unable to finish 140 - hitting a treble 20 but electing, unsuccessfully, to try for two double tops - the Dutchman landed tops to edge the win.
Kim Huybrechts knocked Adrian Lewis out of Championship League Darts in Group Three as he picked up his own sixth win of the day with a 6-3 triumph. Huybrechts took out 111 to win the opening leg, with Lewis hitting a 180 as he replied only for the Belgian to take out 64, double 16 and double eight for a 4-1 lead. Lewis hit back with a 14-darter, but Huybrechts landed a 180 in a superb 11-darter to move 5-2 up. He missed three match darts in the next, as Lewis hit double five to save the game, but the world number three missed double four to stay in the match as Huybrechts followed another 180 with double ten to seal the win.
Mervyn King ensured survival in Group Three, knocking out Brendan Dolan, with a 6-3 win over Wes Newton in their final league game. Newton took the opening two legs and seemed set to win a third before missing two doubles, as double top saw King take the third. He then levelled and took out 64 on double eight to move 3-2 up, only for Newton to punish two misses from his opponent to level on double seven. However, the roles were reversed in leg seven as Newton missed the bull to take out 106, with King finishing double 16 to regain the lead - a leg which secured his survival - double six to move 5-3 up and 120 for the victory.
Dave Chisnall snatched a top-four finish and a semi-final berth with a 6-1 win over Kevin Painter, who misses out on the Play-Offs but will return for Group Four. Chisnall took out 100 in the opening leg, double eight and double nine in the next two and an 11-darter on double 18 to move 4-0 up. Double nine got Painter off the mark, but he missed doubles in the next two legs as Chisnall finished double five and double 12 to claim a win which sees him leapfrog the former Players Championship Finals winner to take a top-four place.

Semi-Finals
Dave Chisnall won through to the Group Three final with a 6-4 comeback win over Michael van Gerwen. Van Gerwen edged a nervy opening leg, and though Chisnall opened the second with a 180, the Dutchman doubled his lead. Chisnall took the next two to level, but van Gerwen hit six perfect darts with two 180s in a 12-darter to move 3-2 up and finished double 16 to lead 4-2. Chisnall, though, punished misses from the Dutchman in the next three as he firstly pulled level and then hit double ten to move 5-4 up, before pinning 112 to move into the final.
Wes Newton produced a fine fightback to punish missed doubles from Kim Huybrechts and win a spot in the Group Three final with a 6-3 victory. Newton edged the opening leg on double nine, before Huybrechts finished 80 and 70 to win the next two and lead 2-1. Newton levelled before double six put the Belgian into a 3-2 lead, but Newton punished a missed bull to hit double five and level, and though Huybrechts hit 180s in the next two, the Fleetwood ace took out 150 and 126 to move 5-3 up, before hitting tops to seal the win.

Final
Wes Newton won the Group Three final with a 6-4 defeat of Dave Chisnall. Chisnall actually led in the final, winning the opening leg on tops, but Newton hit the same bed to level and then finished 83 to punish misses from the St Helens ace to move 2-1 up. Chisnall landed double 16 to level at two-all, but Newton - like in his semi-final - produced a killer blow as he finished 121 on the bull and tops to move 4-2 up.The world number seven again replied, finishing 103 and double five to level, but Newton hit tops to move back in front and sealed victory by landing double six for a 14-darter.

Match Stats

Group Two Stats (players in world ranking order)

Overall Prize Money Groups 1-3

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