BUDWEISER UK OPEN finalist Barrie Bates admits that his game has improved as a result of the example set by the leading professionals in the PDC.

RAYMOND van Barneveld has appealed for the return of his lucky darts after they were taken from the Reebok Stadium stage where he won the Budweiser UK Open on Sunday.

SIMON WHITLOCK did the double in the Australian Grand Prix tournaments staged over the weekend.

BOARD ASSIGNMENTS for the Stan James World Matchplay Qualifiers, which will see PDPA members head to the Lakeside Holiday Village, Hayling Island this Friday.

PHIL TAYLOR has regained the world number one spot after the Budweiser UK Open - but Terry Jenkins has taken the 12th automatic place for the Las Vegas Desert Classic and Matt Clark took the 28th spot for the Stan James World Matchplay.

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD won his first major title since joining the Professional Darts Corporation by defeating Barrie Bates 13-7 to take the Budweiser UK Open title.

BARRIE BATES ended Alan Tabern's hopes of glory at the Budweiser UK Open with an 11-9 victory in the semi-final. He will face Raymond van Barneveld, who defeated John MAGowan 11-7.

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD defeated Phil Taylor for the first time since his move to the PDC with an amazing 11-10 win in the Budweiser UK Open quarter-finals.

ANDY CALLABY, Barrie Bates, John MAGowan and Robbie Green produced shocks to move into the last eight of the Budweiser UK Open alongside Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor on Sunday.

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD announced his intentions to take the Budweiser UK Open crown from Phil Taylor as the pair progressed to the last 16 of the tournament on Saturday.