ALAN TABERN and Jay Foreman were the two winners of the double-header of PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour events held in Wigan, on Sunday.
Tabern’s third win of 2014 strengthened his place at the top of the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour Order of Merit, while Foreman produced a career-best performance in Wigan, winning his maiden title at the age of 42.
Tabern started his run to a third Challenge Tour title of the year with a 5-2 win over Ryan Palmer before edging two tight matches against Colchester’s Jamie Robinson and Nottingham’s Aden Kirk to reach the last 16 stage.
The St Helens man won in a deciding ninth leg for a third game in a row courtesy of a last 16 defeat of Hong Kong’s Scott Mackenzie before booking his semi-final place with more comfort after a whitewash win over Mark Frost.
Tabern then sealed a place in his fourth final of the year with a 5-3 win over Danny Pinhorne before dispatching Luke Woodhouse in the decider with a whitewash 5-0 triumph to claim the £2,000 first prize.
Woodhouse, who hails from Worcester, overcame a tough first round opponent in the shape of Shaun Griffiths and continued his progression with battling 5-4 wins over Brett Claydon and Mark Forman.
Woodhouse, who won a Challenge Tour title last September, then defeated Ewan Hyslop and Nathan Derry to reach the last four where he stopped Alex Roy in his tracks with a 5-2 victory.
That fine win put the 25-year-old into his first final of the year but he failed to take a leg in the decider as Tabern proved too strong, leaving Woodhouse to settle for the £1,000 runners-up prize.
Colin Fowler, a two-time winner on the 2014 Challenge Tour, produced another solid run to the quarter-finals while Stoke’s Frost - who has appeared in two finals at Challenge Tour level - also reached the same stage.
Scotland’s John Goldie reached the last eight at this level for the second time this year, while 16-year-old Nathan Derry enjoyed his best result to date in the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour, after he produced a fine run to the quarter-finals.
Watford’s Alex Roy continued his good form in recent weeks with a strong run to the last four, while 33-year-old Pinhorne - who has competed at PDC ProTour level - recorded his best-ever result in a PDC competition by reaching the semi-finals on Sunday.
Jay Foreman - who suffered a whitewash loss in the first round of the day opening’s event - bounced back in brilliant style by producing an amazing run that took him all the way to the second £2,000 winners prize on offer.
The 42-year-old from Leicestershire began with good wins over Kevin Thomas and Prakash Jiwa before dismissing Michael Burgoine by a 5-1 margin to move through to the last 16.
Foreman then breezed past the next two rounds, recording whitewash 5-0 wins over John Scott and Nick Fullwell before coming through a tough semi-final clash against Pinhorne by a 5-4 margin.
Foreman - whose previous best performance was a run to the last 16 in a Challenge Tour event five weeks ago - won another deciding leg battle against Germany’s Max Hopp to claim his maiden title.
Hopp, the exciting 17-year-old German talent, started his run to the final of 2014 with wins over John Crossley and Nigel Birch - dropping just one leg across the two games.
The teenager the overcame Jason Wilson 5-2 before recording a notable victory over Tabern in a deciding leg to book a place in the semi-finals.
There, Hopp overcame Holland’s Dirk van Duijvenbode by a 5-3 margin, but he fell agonisingly short of sealing a first ever title, falling on the wrong end of a 5-4 scoreline to an inspired Foreman.
Pinhorne continued his fine display on Sunday as he matched his career best semi-final effort in the first event of the day with another great run in the second.
The 33-year-old reached the semi-finals for the second time in the day only to be denied a place in the final after an agonising 5-4 loss to Foreman, who went on to win the title.
Holland’s van Duijvenbode reached his fifth semi-final of the year, his third on the Challenge Tour, but once again failed to progress into the final as the 21-year-old lost 5-3 to Hopp.
Tabern continued his good form with a run to the quarter-finals in the day’s second event before losing narrowly to Hopp, ending his hopes of a double victory.
Matthew Edgar and Michael Beal claimed £100 in prize money for good runs to the last eight while the experienced Nick Fullwell also made the quarter-finals, recording his best performance since reaching a ProTour final in Killarney 18 months ago.
PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour Event Nine
Robin Park Tennis Centre, June 1
First Round
Gaz Cousins 5-2 Darren Burksfield
Ewan Hyslop 5-2 Dave Honey
Mark Hylton 5-0 Paul Lennon
Michael Beal 5-2 Darren Weaver
Luke Woodhouse 5-1 Shaun Griffiths
Brett Claydon 5-1 Tony Richardson
Richie Winpenny 5-2 Ben Davies
Mark Forman 5-3 Max Hopp
Jack Tweddell Bye
Nathan Derry 5-4 Tim Martin
Joe Lacey Bye
Curtis Hammond 5-3 Michael Burgoine
Stuart Bousfield Bye
Trevor Burkhill 5-1 John Burgess
Mark Wilson Bye
Ron Meulenkamp 5-1 Sam Hamilton
John Scott 5-2 Ben Songhurst
Robert Parker 5-1 Michael Symes
Richie Howson 5-1 Lee Whitworth
Terry Roach 5-0 Lee Hayes
Alex Roy 5-0 Michael Blake
Vince Tipple 5-3 Andy Pearson
John Brammeld 5-2 Stuart Holden
Jon Jukes 5-4 Karl Merchant
Mark Lawrence Bye
Dave Weston 5-1 John Newland
Steve Douglas Bye
Matt Clark 5-0 Jake Patchett
Lee Moffat Bye
Matthew Dennant 5-0 Adam Smith-Neale
John Goldie Bye
Stephen Gallimore 5-4 Stephen McNally
Danny Summers 5-3 Darren Mawer
David Copley 5-0 Lee Palfreyman
Andrew Johnson 5-0 Jaron Esteve
Maurice Whelan 5-3 Brandon Walsh
Prakash Jiwa 5-0 Ben Gaiter
Colin Fowler 5-1 Paul Redfern
Wayne Pepper 5-1 Dave Place
Sam Hill 5-2 Nigel Birch
Robert Turner Bye
Frankie Ansell 5-3 Lee Rose
Barrie Bates Bye
Danny Pinhorne 5-4 Jamie Landon
Ryan Harrington Bye
Garry Spedding 5-2 Jack Hill
James Bevan Bye
Jason Wilson 5-0 Steven Cupitt
Shaun Narain 5-0 Jay Foreman
Kevin Thomas 5-0 Ian Lever
Dimitri Van Den Bergh 5-0 Sean Ryan
Mark Frost 5-2 Stuart Stubbs
Reece Robinson 5-1 Krit Middleton
Nick Fullwell 5-3 Mark Jones
Doug Thompson 5-0 Jordan Johnston
Matthew Edgar 5-4 Oliver Stell
Aden Kirk Bye
Paul Rowley 5-2 Ian McFarlane
Jamie Robinson Bye
Alan Tabern 5-2 Ryan Palmer
Lee Holden Bye
Kurt Parry 5-0 Dirk van Duijvenbode
John Crossley Bye
Scott Mackenzie 5-1 Andrew Howarth
Second Round
Ewan Hyslop 5-3 Gaz Cousins
Mark Hylton 5-2 Michael Beal
Luke Woodhouse 5-4 Brett Claydon
Mark Forman 5-2 Richie Winpenny
Nathan Derry 5-2 Jack Tweddell
Joe Lacey 5-2 Curtis Hammond
Trevor Burkhill 5-1 Stuart Bousfield
Ron Meulenkamp 5-2 Mark Wilson
Robert Parker 5-3 John Scott
Terry Roach 5-4 Richie Howson
Alex Roy 5-4 Vince Tipple
John Brammeld 5-2 Jon Jukes
Mark Lawrence 5-3 Dave Weston
Matt Clark 5-3 Steve Douglas
Matthew Dennant 5-0 Lee Moffat
John Goldie 5-3 Stephen Gallimore
Danny Summers 5-4 David Copley
Andrew Johnson 5-0 Maurice Whelan
Colin Fowler 5-2 Prakash Jiwa
Sam Hill 5-4 Wayne Pepper
Robert Turner 5-2 Frankie Ansell
Danny Pinhorne 5-3 Barrie Bates
Ryan Harrington 5-3 Garry Spedding
Jason Wilson 5-3 James Bevan
Kevin Thomas 5-2 Shaun Narain
Mark Frost 5-3 Dimitri Van Den Bergh
Nick Fullwell 5-1 Reece Robinson
Matthew Edgar 5-3 Doug Thompson
Aden Kirk 5-2 Paul Rowley
Alan Tabern 5-4 Jamie Robinson
Kurt Parry 5-2 Lee Holden
Scott Mackenzie 5-2 John Crossley
Losers £50
Third Round
Ewan Hyslop 5-4 Mark Hylton
Luke Woodhouse 5-4 Mark Forman
Nathan Derry 5-3 Joe Lacey
Trevor Burkhill 5-2 Ron Meulenkamp
Robert Parker 5-1 Terry Roach
Alex Roy 5-0 John Brammeld
Matt Clark 5-1 Mark Lawrence
John Goldie 5-2 Matthew Dennant
Danny Summers 5-3 Andrew Johnson
Colin Fowler 5-1 Sam Hill
Danny Pinhorne 5-2 Robert Turner
Jason Wilson 5-0 Ryan Harrington
Mark Frost 5-2 Kevin Thomas
Nick Fullwell 5-3 Matthew Edgar
Alan Tabern 5-4 Aden Kirk
Scott Mackenzie 5-3 Kurt Parry
Losers £100
Fourth Round
Luke Woodhouse 5-1 Ewan Hyslop
Nathan Derry 5-2 Trevor Burkhill
Alex Roy 5-4 Robert Parker
John Goldie 5-4 Matt Clark
Colin Fowler 5-0 Danny Summers
Danny Pinhorne 5-4 Jason Wilson
Mark Frost 5-3 Nick Fullwell
Alan Tabern 5-4 Scott Mackenzie
Losers £200
Quarter-Final
Luke Woodhouse 5-3 Nathan Derry
Alex Roy 5-1 John Goldie
Danny Pinhorne 5-3 Colin Fowler
Alan Tabern 5-0 Mark Frost
Losers £300
Semi-Finals
Luke Woodhouse 5-2 Alex Roy
Alan Tabern 5-3 Danny Pinhorne
Losers £500
Final
Alan Tabern 5-0 Luke Woodhouse
Winner £2,000
Runner-Up £1,000
PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour Event Ten
Robin Park Tennis Centre, June 1
First Round
Paul Rowley 5-3 Scott Mackenzie
Sam Hamilton 5-3 Andrew Johnson
Shaun Griffiths 5-4 Richie Howson
Ian McFarlane 5-3 Steven Cupitt
Matthew Edgar 5-2 Mark Hylton
Darren Weaver 5-2 Sean Ryan
Mark Forman 5-4 Ewan Hyslop
Ryan Harrington 5-2 Stuart Stubbs
Stephen McNally 5-0 Lee Hayes
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-1 Tony Richardson
Gaz Cousins Bye
Alex Roy 5-0 Adam Smith-Neale
Mark Lawrence Bye
Garry Spedding 5-2 Steve Douglas
Colin Fowler Bye
Terry Roach 5-4 Ron Meulenkamp
John Goldie 5-1 Jack Tweddell
Alan Tabern 5-2 Lee Palfreyman
Lee Whitworth 5-2 John Burgess
Dave Place 5-2 Trevor Burkhill
Dave Weston 5-1 Dimitri Van Den Bergh
Reece Robinson 5-0 Brandon Walsh
Ryan Palmer 5-0 Vince Tipple
Andrew Howarth 5-1 Jamie Landon
Maurice Whelan Bye
Nigel Birch 5-3 Ben Songhurst
Max Hopp Bye
John Crossley 5-1 Sam Hill
Stephen Gallimore Bye
Shaun Narain 5-1 Barrie Bates
Stuart Holden Bye
Jason Wilson 5-3 Tony Stone
Luke Woodhouse 5-3 Ian Lever
Brett Claydon 5-3 Matthew Dennant
Robert Parker 5-1 John Brammeld
Karl Merchant 5-4 Wayne Pepper
Jon Jukes 5-3 Kurt Parry
Danny Pinhorne 5-0 Jake Patchett
Frankie Ansell 5-0 Darren Burksfield
Nathan Derry 5-1 Michael Symes
Lee Moffat Bye
Tim Martin 5-1 Danny Summers
Jaron Esteve Bye
Jamie Robinson 5-0 Paul Lennon
Ben Davies Bye
David Copley 5-3 James Bevan
Michael Beal Bye
Ben Gaiter 5-3 Mark Frost
Nick Fullwell 5-4 Doug Thompson
John Newland 5-4 Lee Holden
Jack Hill 5-4 Darren Mawer
Stuart Bousfield 5-4 Aden Kirk
Joe Lacey 5-1 Curtis Hammond
Jordan Johnston 5-4 Michael Blake
Oliver Stell 5-2 Robert Turner
Dave Honey 5-4 Paul Redfern
Krit Middleton Bye
Michael Burgoine 5-3 Richie Winpenny
Prakash Jiwa Bye
Jay Foreman 5-3 Kevin Thomas
Matt Clark Bye
Mark Jones 5-4 Mark Wilson
Andy Pearson Bye
John Scott 5-0 Paul Hodkin
Second Round
Paul Rowley 5-2 Sam Hamilton
Shaun Griffiths 5-4 Ian McFarlane
Matthew Edgar 5-4 Darren Weaver
Mark Forman 5-4 Ryan Harrington
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-2 Stephen McNally
Gaz Cousins 5-3 Alex Roy
Garry Spedding 5-1 Mark Lawrence
Colin Fowler 5-1 Terry Roach
Alan Tabern 5-4 John Goldie
Dave Place 5-2 Lee Whitworth
Reece Robinson 5-1 Dave Weston
Andrew Howarth 5-3 Ryan Palmer
Nigel Birch 5-0 Maurice Whelan
Max Hopp 5-0 John Crossley
Shaun Narain 5-3 Stephen Gallimore
Jason Wilson 5-1 Stuart Holden
Luke Woodhouse 5-1 Brett Claydon
Robert Parker 5-1 Karl Merchant
Danny Pinhorne 5-1 Jon Jukes
Nathan Derry 5-1 Frankie Ansell
Tim Martin 5-2 Lee Moffat
Jaron Esteve 5-4 Jamie Robinson
David Copley 5-0 Ben Davies
Michael Beal 5-2 Ben Gaiter
Nick Fullwell 5-1 John Newland
Stuart Bousfield 5-2 Jack Hill
Joe Lacey 5-0 Jordan Johnston
Dave Honey 5-3 Oliver Stell
Michael Burgoine 5-0 Krit Middleton
Jay Foreman 5-4 Prakash Jiwa
Mark Jones 5-2 Matt Clark
John Scott 5-4 Andy Pearson
Losers £50
Third Round
Shaun Griffiths 5-2 Paul Rowley
Matthew Edgar 5-1 Mark Forman
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-1 Gaz Cousins
Garry Spedding 5-4 Colin Fowler
Alan Tabern 5-4 Dave Place
Reece Robinson 5-0 Andrew Howarth
Max Hopp 5-1 Nigel Birch
Jason Wilson 5-1 Shaun Narain
Robert Parker 5-1 Luke Woodhouse
Danny Pinhorne 5-3 Nathan Derry
Jaron Esteve 5-4 Tim Martin
Michael Beal 5-4 David Copley
Nick Fullwell 5-0 Stuart Bousfield
Joe Lacey 5-3 Dave Honey
Jay Foreman 5-1 Michael Burgoine
John Scott 5-1 Mark Jones
Losers £100
Fourth Round
Matthew Edgar 5-1 Shaun Griffiths
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-3 Garry Spedding
Alan Tabern 5-2 Reece Robinson
Max Hopp 5-2 Jason Wilson
Danny Pinhorne 5-2 Robert Parker
Michael Beal 5-1 Jaron Esteve
Nick Fullwell 5-2 Joe Lacey
Jay Foreman 5-0 John Scott
Losers £200
Quarter-Finals
Dirk van Duijvenbode 5-4 Matthew Edgar
Max Hopp 5-4 Alan Tabern
Danny Pinhorne 5-3 Michael Beal
Jay Foreman 5-0 Nick Fullwell
Losers £300
Semi-Finals
Max Hopp 5-3 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Jay Foreman 5-4 Danny Pinhorne
Losers £500
Final
Jay Foreman 5-4 Max Hopp
Winner £2,000
Runner-Up £1,000