Hurricane Storms To Amazing Victory

HURRICANE POWERS TO AMAZING GROUP EIGHT WIN
 

KIM HUYBRECHTS claimed the final place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group with an amazing comeback from 4-0 down to win the Group Eight final against Peter Wright on Wednesday.

The Belgian star will now compete alongside the likes of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Andy Hamilton in Thursday's big-money Winners Group, where a £10,000 first prize is on offer alongside £100 per leg in the league phase and £200 per leg in the Play-Offs.

Huybrechts, though, came close to missing out on winning through in a keenly contested Group Eight at Crondon Park GC in Essex, which saw him competing in a sixth day of the event.

Huybrechts edged out Gary Anderson on leg difference to claim the fourth semi-final spot, with a 6-3 win over Mark Walsh in his final league match, coupled with Anderson's defeat to Steve Beaton, proving crucial in keeping his hopes alive.

Huybrechts then performed superbly to defeat table-topper Paul Nicholson 6-3 in the semi-finals, breaking the deadlock from three-all by taking the last three legs without reply, and produced a stunning comeback in the final.

Wright, competing in his fifth day of the event this year, took the final's first four legs without reply as he punished some shaky doubling from the Belgian to lead 4-0.

Huybrechts, though, fired his challenge with an 11-darter in leg five, before finishing 67 in the next, and he then hit a 177 to set up double 16 as he cut the gap to one leg.

A 14-darter then saw him level the game, and when Wright missed a dart at double 16 in leg nine, Huybrechts followed an earlier 180 by taking out 108 on tops to lead 5-4.

Huybrechts added a 177 score in the tenth leg, with Wright missing the bull for a 132 finish which would have sent the match into a decider as the Belgian returned to hit double four to end an amazing day.

"It's been six long days but I'm really happy," said Huybrechts. "Maybe I was lucky to be here in the final, but it's fantastic to win and now I get to play again tomorrow in the Winners Group.

"When I lost against Paul Nicholson in my sixth game, I had one game left but I thought I was nowhere near the qualifying places.

"I went into the last game against Mark wanting to win, and I did, and then someone said to me that if Gary lost I was still in. Gary did lose, so lucky me and I won the tournament today!

"At 4-0 down in the final, I just wanted to win a couple of legs and not to lose 6-0. When I got back to 4-3, I thought maybe if I get the next leg I can put a bit of pressure on Peter, and I started playing really well."

The triumph continues a superb spell for the Belgian, who hit a nine-darter earlier in this event and won a Players Championship in Killarney last Sunday, and he is determined to claim the £10,000 first prize in Thursday's Winners Group.

"The top players like Phil and Michael are going to be really fresh and I've had some very long days, but it's not going to influence my fighting mode," added Huybrechts.

"I'll try to win every game and I'm going to battle to the end, and we'll see how far I get. Playing in this is the best practice there is - you're playing top players and it's been great for my game, I've got a lot of trust in my game from the form.

"The last week has made my year already, but I'm going to enjoy the experience tomorrow. It's my first time playing in Championship League Darts and I've made it to the Winners Group, so I'm very happy with that."

Wright reached three finals in his five days competing in the event, losing to Michael van Gerwen and Ian White in Group Five and Group Six, and again fell just short of sealing a Winners Group spot.

The Scot won four of his seven league games on the day and raced to a 6-1 semi-final triumph against Andy Smith before running out of steam in the decider - although £12,650 prize money for the event softens the blow of his exit.

Nicholson, appearing in his fourth successive group, finished at the top of the league table following the round-robin stage but suffered a second semi-final defeat.

Andy Smith, in his first day of the year, had won his opening six league matches, but lost out to Nicholson in their final match, with the 6-1 reverse also costing him top spot, before he was defeated in the semi-finals by Wright.

Scottish star Anderson was narrowly denied a semi-final place on Leg Difference to Huybrechts as he competed in a fifth successive day of the tournament.

Steve Beaton eventually joined Anderson and Huybrechts on three wins, losing his opening four matches before finishing with a flourish, but again missed out on the Play-Offs on Leg Difference.

2009 Championship League Darts winner Colin Osborne won just two of his matches on the day as he missed out on the chance to win back the title, while Mark Walsh picked up just one victory from his seven games.

Thursday's Winners Group sees the eight group winners from the internet-streamed event return to Crondon Park GC in Essex, with prize money doubling to £100 per leg in the league phase and £200 per leg in the Play-Offs.

In addition, there is a £10,000 first prize, with the runner-up taking home £5,000 and the semi-finalists £2,500, while the finalists will also qualify for next month's William Hill Grand Slam of Darts - giving an additional incentive for Terry Jenkins, Ian White and Richie Burnett.

That trio are joined by Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen, Andy Hamilton, Wes Newton and Huybrechts for the Winners Group, with play commencing at 10.30am and broadcast live online through www.LIVEPDC.TV and the websites listed below.

Follow Live Scores from Championship League Darts matches through the PDC Live Scores Website .

2013 Championship League Darts
Group Eight Results

League Table

Positions decided by:
Points Won
Leg Difference
Legs Won
Legs Won Against Throw

Match Information
First Set of Matches
Peter Wright made a winning start to Group Eight, defeating Kim Huybrechts 6-4. Huybrechts hit 180s in taking the first two legs, before Wright finished 74 in two darts to reply in the third, after the Belgian missed three darts at double 16, and he then hit the same bed to level the game. Double five put Huybrechts 3-2 up, before Wright levelled on double ten and then moved ahead by punishing two misses from the Belgian in leg seven. Wright produced a superb 148 checkout to lead 5-3, and though Huybrechts finished double 16 to stay in the game - after his opponent missed the bull for a 164 checkout - Wright finished 100 with two double tops in the next leg to take the points.
Former Championship League Darts winner Colin Osborne made a winning start to Group Eight, holding off Mark Walsh's fightback to claim a 6-5 victory. Osborne made a superb start, finishing 76 for a 14-darter in the opening leg and then taking out 101 and 108 for 15-dart legs as he moved 3-0 up. The next four were shared as Osborne moved 5-2 up, only for Walsh, aided by double ten and tops, to hit back to 5-4. Osborne then missed double 11 for the match as Walsh forced a decider, but the Derby ace kicked off the final leg with a 180 and took out double 16 for a 14-darter to seal the points.
Andy Smith raced to victory in his opening game, whitewashing Steve Beaton 6-0 with a 101.33 average. Smith hit a 180 and double ten as he took the game's opening leg, and punished five misses from the Group Seven semi-finalist in the second by landing double 16. Smith then finished 80 for a 12-darter in the third, punished a missed bullseye from Beaton to win the fourth on double 18 and then followed another 180 with a second 80 checkout of the game. Beaton missed another dart at the bull in leg six, to complete a 130 finish, and Smith took out 75 in two darts on double 12 to seal victory with a 14-darter.
Gary Anderson bounced back from his defeat in the Group Seven final with a 6-3 win over Paul Nicholson. Tops gave Nicholson the opening leg, before Anderson hit the same bed to finish a 14-darter to level, and he landed a 180 and a 62 finish to break before adding another 14-darter, an 80 finish and double 12 to lead 5-1. Nicholson hit double top and ten to win the next two, but missed two darts at tops on the ninth to allow Anderson to take out 68 to seal the win.

Second Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts picked up a 6-1 win over Colin Osborne as he opened his account for Group Eight with a fine display, averaging just under 100. Osborne opened the game with a 180 as he took the first leg, before the pair traded maximums in the second, with Huybrechts finishing 81 to level. The Belgian then finished double 16 in the next three legs as he moved 4-1 up, before taking out 130 on the bull for a 12-darter and double 12 to seal the win.
Peter Wright continued his winning start to Group Eight, defeating Mark Walsh 6-4. Walsh took the game's first two legs, and though Wright finished double ten and 68 to level, the Hertfordshire ace landed a 180 as he moved 3-2 up. Wright, though, took the next three to assume control, with Walsh finishing double ten to pull back to 5-4, but he was punished for failing to leave a double when needing 64 to force a decider, as Wright took out double 16 to complete the win.
Paul Nicholson bounced back from his opening loss with a 6-4 victory over Steve Beaton. Beaton took the opening leg on double four, before Nicholson levelled, but the former World Champion took out a 12-darter to lead 2-1. Nicholson levelled with a 13-darter and then punished a miss from Beaton to move 3-2 up, and also won the next two legs to lead 5-2. Beaton replied by finishing 75 and a ten-darter to pull back to 5-4, but was unable to take his chance to force a decider as Nicholson took the points.
Andy Smith's superb start to Group Eight continued as he defeated Gary Anderson 6-3. Smith took out 120 and double five to win the first two legs, but Anderson finished 78, double five and double 12 to put himself 3-2 up. However, he missed his chance to extend the lead in the sixth as Smith pinned 104, before he took out double 19 and 146 to lead 5-3, with a 68 finish in the next leg sealing the win.

Third Set of Matches
Gary Anderson won his second game of the day, defeating Colin Osborne 6-2 with a 101.22 average. Double 19 gave Anderson the opening leg, with Osborne replying with a 13-darter only to see the Scot finish tops, hit back-to-back 14-darters and an 11-dart leg to move 5-1 up. Osborne replied with a 14-dart finish on tops, but Anderson sealed the victory in the same manner, landing double 18.
Andy Smith maintained his winning start to Group Eight, defeating Kim Huybrechts 6-4. Smith finished 92 to win the opening leg, and though Huybrechts levelled, he took out 40 and 90 to move 3-1 up. Huybrechts scored 171 and finished 94 to win the fifth leg, and though Smith landed double ten, the Belgian won the next two to level at four-all. Smith, though, regained the edge with a 104 finish, and then finished double nine to remain unbeaten.
Paul Nicholson won his second Group Eight game, defeating Mark Walsh 6-2 despite his opponent landing two ton-plus finishes. Walsh kicked off the game with a 110 checkout, which was matched by Nicholson in the second leg, before he moved ahead with a 13-darter, hit double five and two double eight checkouts to lead 5-1. Nicholson also landed a 180 in the seventh leg, but Walsh took out 141 with a treble 17, bullseye, double top combination - only for Nicholson to seal the victory on tops for a 13-darter in the next.
Peter Wright remains unbeaten following three matches after a high-quality 6-4 win over Steve Beaton, who is without a win. The pair traded 180s as Wright took the opening leg in 14 darts, before Beaton took out 116 to level. Wright took out 137 to win the third, added a 14-darter and then hit double four to move 4-1 up, before Beaton finished double 16 to hit back. A 14-darter saw Wright move 5-2 up, with Beaton taking out double eight and a 14-darter to pull back to 5-4, but he paid for missing two darts at tops to force a decider as Wright hit a sixth 180 and finished double four to seal the win.

Fourth Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts came from 3-1 down to take a 6-4 win over Gary Anderson in their fourth contest. Anderson took the opener with a 70 finish, and though Huybrechts levelled with a 104 checkout, the Scot took the next two to lead 3-1. Huybrechts finished double 16 for a 13-darter to hit back, and landed double eight and double 16 to move 4-3 up. Double ten saw Anderson level, but Huybrechts held throw in the ninth before hitting double eight to seal both points.
Andy Smith's fine day continued as he dropped only one leg in seeing off Colin Osborne. Smith took the first three legs, edging double one and double two as well as finishing double 19 with a tricky third dart, as he took command. Osborne hit back by finishing 67, but double top restored Smith's cushion, double ten edged him clear and tops sealed victory.
Paul Nicholson ended Peter Wright's unbeaten run with a fine 6-3 win over the Scot to join his opponent on three victories. Nicholson made a fine start, hitting a 168 to set up double eight in the opening leg before hitting tops to double his lead and a 180 in taking a 3-0 advantage. Wright finished double 16 and double 14 to reply, bt a 121 bullseye checkout, for a 12-darter, moved Nicholson into a 4-2 lead before a 14-darter moved him to the brink of victory. Wright finished 104 to respond, but Nicholson sealed victory with a 13-darter on double 18.
Mark Walsh picked up his first victory of Group Eight, defeating Steve Beaton 6-2 in their bottom-of-the-table clash. Beaton took the opening leg by finishing 80 on tops, but Walsh levelled on the same bed, moved ahead with a 13-darter and then hit back-to-back 14-dart finishes as he moved 4-1 up. Beaton took out 64 to hit back, but double top gave Walsh the seventh leg and tops saw him earn a first win.

Fifth Set of Matches
Gary Anderson edged out Mark Walsh 6-5 to win a third game of Group Eight. Anderson won two of the first three legs to take the early advantage, only for Walsh to land tops in three consecutive legs as he moved 4-2 up. Finishes of double ten and tops saw Anderson level, before he hit an 11-darter to move 5-4 up. Double five saw Walsh force a decider, but Anderson landed a 177 and finished 67 on tops to take the points.
Steve Beaton claimed his first victory of Group Eight, edging out Kim Huybrechts 6-5 in a tight contest. Huybrechts won the opening leg with a 13-darter before Beaton replied with a 124 finish, and after the Belgian moved 2-1 up with double 16, the former World Champion finished 72 and 78 to move 3-2 up and then hit double ten to lead 4-2. Huybrechts responded with legs of 13 and 11 darts to level, with Beaton moving 5-4 up with double eight. Huybrechts posted double six to send the game into a decider, but mised three match darts at double eight and four and Beaton, who hit a 177 to leave 24, landed double six to edge the victory.
Andy Smith edged out Peter Wright 6-5 to win a fifth successive game, sneaking past Peter Wright to maintain his 100% record. Smith finished double ten, double 12 and double two to win the opening three legs, before Wright took the next three to level. Double 14 moved Smith back ahead, but Wright posted double eight and then moved 5-4 up with a 13-darter - only to then miss three match darts as Smith forced a decider, which he won by taking out 86 on the bull.
Paul Nicholson won his fourth game of Group Eight, defeating Colin Osborne 6-4. The game's first four legs were shared before Nicholson edged the fifth to move 3-2 up, only for Osborne to finish 107 to level. Nicholson hit 180s as he won two of the next three, before breaking in the tenth to claim a key victory in his bid for another semi-final place.

Sixth Set of Matches
Steve Beaton won the basement battle with Colin Osborne 6-4 to retain his outside hopes of making the top four. Beaton kicked off the game with two 180s, and though a possible nine-darter went begging, he took the first leg before Osborne levelled, but Beaton finished 121 on the bull to win the third, broke in the fourth and added finishes of double 16 and tops to lead 5-1. Osborne took out double eight, double four and double 16 to hit back to 5-4, but Beaton sealed victory by taking out 126 on the bull.
Peter Wright moved a step closer to sealing a semi-final place with a 6-4 victory over Gary Anderson in their sixth game of the game. Wright took the game's first three legs before Anderson, aided by a 134 checkout, hit back to level. Wright then took out 116 to lead 4-3, with the next two legs shared before he pinned double five to claim the victory.
Andy Smith ended Mark Walsh's hopes in Group Eight and maintained his own sensational day, winning a sixth match as he defeated the former UK Open finalist 6-2. Walsh took the opening leg on tops, but missed three darts to double his lead as Smith edged level on double one, before finishing tops, a pair of double eights and double four to lead 5-1. Walsh hit back on tops, but double ten from Smith in the next ensured yet another two points.
Paul Nicholson sealed his semi-final place and left Kim Huybrechts hoping for other results to go his way with a 6-2 victory over the Belgian. After Nicholson won the opener, Huybrechts took the next two to move ahead, only for the Australian World Cup star to take out 96 to level. He then won the next three to move to the brink of victory, which was sealed on double eight.

Andy Smith, Paul Nicholson and Peter Wright are confirmed in the Play-Offs - if Gary Anderson wins his final game he finishes in the top four.

Final Set of Matches
Kim Huybrechts moved himself into fourth place - temporarily at least - by ending his league campaign with a 6-2 defeat of Mark Walsh. Huybrechts finished 75 and a tricky third-dart double two to move 2-0 up, and though Walsh took the third leg, the Belgian finished double six and double seven to establish a 4-1 advantage. Walsh won two of the next three to keep his hopes alive, but Huybrechts finished 84 on double 12 to pick up his third win of the day. The victory means that Huybrechts needs Gary Anderson to lose his final league game if he is to make the Play-Offs, while Steve Beaton cannot now finish in the top four.
Colin Osborne ended Group Eight with his second victory of the day, edging out Peter Wright 6-5. Wright took three of the first four legs to move in front, and retained his cushion to lead 5-3. Osborne took the ninth, and when Wright missed his chance to claim victory in the tenth - scoring 174 and 140 but missing double five for the match - Osborne took out 127 on the bull to force a decider, which he opener with a 180 and took in 11 darts to finish with a flourish.
Paul Nicholson inflicted a first defeat of Group Eight on Andy Smith with a 6-1 victory which sees him top the final league table and push Smith into second. Nicholson finished double ten to win the game's first three legs before missing two darts to take the fourth, as Smith hit a 180 and then landed double 16 - at the sixth time of asking - to get off the mark. Smith missed two darts to hit back in the next as Nicholson moved 4-1 up, before the pair traded 180s as he moved four legs clear, with double 18 sealing the margin of victory to take him above Smith to finish top.
Steve Beaton knocked Gary Anderson out of Championship League Darts - handing fourth place in Group Eight to Kim Huybrechts - with a 6-3 victory over the Scot, ending the day with three successive victories but missing out on a Play-Off place himself on Leg Difference. Beaton took the game's first three legs to take control, before Anderson hit back to 3-2. Beaton, though, finished double ten and double two to lead 5-2, and though double six kept Anderson in the contest, Beaton won the ninth leg to end his opponent's hopes of snatching a Winners Group place.

Semi-Finals
Kim Huybrechts won through to the Group Eight final with a 6-3 win over table-topper Paul Nicholson. The Belgian finished 121 for a 12-darter in the opening leg, and though Nicholson levelled, misses from the Australian World Cup star in the next two allowed Huybrechts to finish double 16 and double eight for a 3-1 lead. Nicholson hit back with a 14-darter, and then took out 64 to level after Huybrechts missed the bull for another 121 checkout. The Belgian, though, finished 96 to regain his lead, punished two misses from his opponent to lead 5-3 and then finished double ten to secure his spot in the decider.
Peter Wright swept into the Group Eight final with a 6-1 win over Andy Smith, who had been victorious in his opening six matches before losing his final league game and in the semis. Wright hit 180s as he took the first two legs, before finishing double 16 for a 14-darter in the third. Smith hit a second 180 of the game as he got off the mark with a 14-dart finish, but Wright replied with a maximum of his own to lead 4-1. He then defied a 180 from Smith to move 5-1 up, before finishing double three in leg seven to keep alive his hopes of claiming a Winners Group spot.

Final
Kim Huybrechts claimed the final place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group with an amazing comeback from 4-0 down to win the Group Eight final against Peter Wright. Wright, competing in his fifth day of the event this year, took the final's first four legs without reply as he punished some shaky doubling from the Belgian to lead 4-0. Huybrechts, though, fired his challenge with an 11-darter in leg five, before finishing 67 in the next, and he then hit a 177 to set up double 16 as he cut the gap to one leg. A 14-darter then saw him level the game, and when Wright missed a dart at double 16 in leg nine, Huybrechts followed an earlier 180 by taking out 108 on tops to lead 5-4. Huybrechts added a 177 score in the tenth leg, with Wright missing the bull for a 132 finish which would have sent the match into a decider as the Belgian returned to hit double four to end an amazing day.

Match Stats

Group Eight Stats

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