Mason Takes Southern Title

CHRIS MASON won the Budweiser UK Open Southern Regional Final with a 2-1 victory over Barrie Bates at The Hendon.

The world number 16 made it two wins in as many weeks with the triumph, which follows his victory in the West Tyrone Open last Sunday.

He was pushed all the way by Bates, who will move up to 35th in the world rankings after reaching his second final inside a month.

Mason took the opening set 3-2 with a 12-dart leg, finishing on 121 after Bates had hit back twice with a 144 finish and then a 14-darter.

Legs of 14 and 12 darts were not enough to help Mason in the second set, with Bates landing 96 in the decider - when his opponent was crucially sat on 12.

But Mason bounced back with a 14-darter to open the third set and then punished two missed darts from Bates to open up a 2-0 lead.

He then checked out 107 in style to seal the victory and a £4,000 winner's cheque.

"I am so proud of myself," said Mason. "It has been such a hard weekend and I've had to battle throughout.

"People kept hitting great finishes against me but I always came back and it's a big confidence boost on the back of last week."

Budweiser UK Open Southern Regional Final
Quarter-Finals

Terry Jenkins 5-4 Kevin Painter
Barrie Bates 5-3 Andy Hamilton
Bob Anderson 3-5 Chris Mason
Adrian Lewis 5-2 Mick McGowan
Best of nine legs
Losers £500/10 ranking points


Semi-Finals
Terry Jenkins 0-2 Barrie Bates (1-3, 2-3)
Chris Mason 2-1 Adrian Lewis (3-1, 2-3, 3-1)
Best of three sets, five legs per set
Losers £1,000/12 ranking points


Final
Barrie Bates 1-2 Chris Mason (2-3, 3-2, 0-3)
Best of three sets, five legs per set
Winner £4,000/20 ranking points
Runner-Up £2,000/16 ranking points

QUARTER-FINALS
TERRY JENKINS 5-4 KEVIN PAINTER


TERRY JENKINS came from three legs down to move into the semi-finals of the Southern Regional Final with a 5-4 win against Kevin Painter.

World number seven Painter, just 11 days after needing surgery to remove his gall bladder, looked set to take a comfortable win when he moved 4-2.

After losing the opening leg - Jenkins checking out 120 against the darts - Painter took four of the next five with some solid finishing.

Jenkins upped his game, hitting a 12-dart leg to make the score 4-3 before landing double nine to take the game into a decider.

He was then first to the double in the final leg, checking out 80 in three darts to progress.

BARRIE BATES 5-3 ANDY HAMILTON

BARRIE BATES produced an impressive display to see off Andy Hamilton and move into the semi-finals of the Budweiser UK Open Southern Regional Final.

The Welshman, who won the John Smith's Singles in Eastbourne last month, came from a leg down to move 3-1 up early in the game.

Hamilton replied with a maximum 180 on his way to winning the fifth leg, and levelled matters with a 110 finish.

But Bates landed double ten against the darts to move 4-3 up before checking out 102 to seal the win.

BOB ANDERSON 3-5 CHRIS MASON

CHRIS MASON came from behind to win his quarter-final clash with Bob Anderson 5-3.

Mason took the opening leg of their clash at The Hendon with an 80 checkout, but Anderson landed double 16 and double top to win the next two as his opponent faltered.

Mason then took advantage of misses from Anderson in the next two legs to go 3-2 up, and then hit an 11-dart leg to move to within a leg of the match.

Anderson secured double five with his third and final dart to stay alive in the seventh leg, but two scores 140 helped Mason on his way to the match in the next, landing double 20 at the fourth attempt.

ADRIAN LEWIS 5-2 MICK McGOWAN

ADRIAN LEWIS overcame Mick McGowan to complete the semi-final line-up at the Budweiser UK Open Southern Regional Final with a 5-2 win.

Lewis took the advantage early on with two 14-dart legs, although McGowan replied impressively with a 12-darter in the second.

The Irishman also stepped in to land double four to punish Lewis for two misses at double top to level matters.

But Lewis stepped up a gear, hitting double 14 before a 106 checkout saw him nip in to take the sixth leg.

McGowan also missed double top in the seventh leg, with Lewis landing double eight with his third dart to wrap up the win.

SEMI-FINALS
TERRY JENKINS 0-2 BARRIE BATES (1-3, 2-3)


BARRIE BATES booked his place in the final of the Budweiser UK Open Southern Regional Final with a straight sets win over Terry Jenkins.

After winning the John Smith's Open last month, Bates remained on course for an even bigger title by seeing off the in-form world number 14.

He took the opening leg with a 100 checkout and, though Jenkins responded with a 64 finish, took two successive legs to win the first set 3-1.

Jenkins hit two 140 scores on his way to breaking throw in the opening leg of the second set, although Bates hit back with a 120 finish.

The pair traded the next two legs to take the set into a decider, but a maximum 180 from Bates gave him the advantage.

He sealed victory with a 40 finish in peculiar fashion, hitting single 20 and then single 6 - when aiming at double ten - before landing double seven.

CHRIS MASON 2-1 ADRIAN LEWIS (3-1, 2-3, 3-1)

CHRIS MASON remains on course for a second tournament win in as many weeks after edging out Adrian Lewis in their semi-final at the Budweiser UK Open Southern Regional Final.

The world number 17 won last weekend's West Tyrone Open, and set up a final against Welshman Barrie Bates in a high-quality semi.

He hit two maximums on his way to opening up a 2-0 lead in the first set, and though Lewis responded with the third leg, Mason took out a 13-dart leg to move 1-0 up.

Mason took out a key double top in the opening leg of the second set before Lewis replied with a 13-darter.

Mason hit double ten to move to within a leg of the match, but missed double eight in the next to allow Lewis to step in with a pressure 139 to stay alive.

Lewis hit scores of 174 and 134 before checking out 56 to take the second set and level matters.

Mason won the opening two legs of the decider before Lewis landed a maximum on his way to taking the third with a 67 finish.

The Stoke youngster, though, could not save himself in the next, missing both double 20 and ten before Mason took his second chance for the match.