Manley Wins Open Holland Masters

PETER MANLEY defeated James Wade 3-0 to win the final of the 2007 Open Holland Masters in Schiedam.

The three-time World Championship finalist picked up his first PDC title for 18 months with the straight sets victory over in-form Wade.He picked up 3-0 wins over Rico Vonck and John Ferrell in the early rounds, and then knocked out Saturday's Open Holland champion winner Michael van Gerwen 3-1.

Welshman Sean Palfrey and Wayne Mardle were also dispatched 3-0 before he edged out Terry Jenkins in a five-set semi-final.

Wade reached his fourth PDC Pro Tour final of the year with wins over Edward Steggerda, Patrick Dekker, Dick van Dijk, Andy Hamilton, Chris Mason and Barrie Bates.

Holland's Erwin Extercatte reached the quarter-finals in an encouraging return to form, including wins over Tony Martin, Mervyn King and Colin Osborne.

Mark Dudbridge missed the tournament following the birth of his third child - daughter Kiera - on Saturday, while number one seed Colin Lloyd was absent with passport problems.

Phone Camera Darts

Using software from GestureTech, your phone's camera senses motion the way an optical mouse's sensor does, though the emphasis is twisting rather than linear tracking.

The dart board appears on the screen, essentially on a virtual wall in front of you.

Your job is to twist around until you've got the dart board centered, then tap the OK button to make the shots.

Gosub 60 has relationships with most major carriers, and expects Camera Phone Darts to be available for download through carriers by the end of May or early June, for around $2.99 monthly, or $7.99 for unlimited access.

Next up, the company is devising a version of Camera Phone Darts for phones that don't have cameras. We wish them luck with that.

http://www.gosub60.com/MOBILE%20GAMES/Camera%20Phone%20Darts.html

Darts returns to the Palace of the arrows

Storey From Sportingo

With the popularity of the PDC’s Premier League tournament continuing to grow, Thursday sees the return of big-time darts to London’s 'Ally Pally'.
Almost 3,000 darts spectators and aficionados will pack themselves into the traditional home of the people's sport. Yet, even though the tournament has established a respected footing in its own right, this gathering will serve as an ample dry run for the World Championships in December.

Last month, the Professional Darts Council (PDC) announced the decision to move the venue of their flagship tournament from the Circus Tavern in Purfleet to the ‘Ally Pally’. Although the cramped Tavern has served the World Championship well in its previous 14 years of existence, circumstances have called for change - and a return to the venue that ignited the British public’s love affair with a traditional pub game.

Alexandra Palace hosted the News of the World Individual Darts Championship from 1963-77. Although the tournament had existed in various forms since 1923, these years in particular saw a boom in national interest for darts. Back then, the title was the most sought-after in the game and affectionately labelled: ‘The championship every darts player wants to win’.

The punters knew this, too, and the finals regularly saw 13,000-plus crowds, many of them darts players themselves. This was truly a game played by the populous, in ‘the people’s palace’.I ronically, the increasing popularity of the game, which saw an influx of sponsorship for more tournaments, was merely a precursor for the subsequent demise of darting interest which would later see the game’s top players form their own professional association.

After more than a decade of rival associations bickering and trying to establish themselves as the true flagship of the game, darts is once again on the up. Although the British Darts Organisation (BDO) has justified claims to being the grass roots of darts, the PDC has recently reinvigorated British interest.

Whether it being through injection of talent from abroad, most notably the Netherlands, or the increased TV coverage, there are two contributing factors that cannot be under-estimated - one being the Premier League Darts tournament, which has seen the game return to sold-out arenas. The other is the PDC persuading BDO king Raymond van Barneveld to switch allegiance, thus giving the sport a viable challenger to Phil Taylor and his autonomous grip as the world’s best player. The public, mesmerised at seeing these two titans of tungsten collide, have forced the hand of the PDC and the venue of the World Championships. Alexandra Palace can fit 300 per cent more spectators than the Circus Tavern for every session, boosting the prize money on offer from £600,000 to £1m in the space of just two years.

Some say that moving the event will ruin the atmosphere, lacking a unique ingredient only the claustrophobic Tavern can produce. Some say that the new venue will be half-empty for most of the sessions. Personally, I just can’t see it.

I’ve always found the Circus Tavern crowd a rambunctious lot, anyway, lacking the respect of the (more sedate) spectators at the Lakeside World Championships (BDO). The crowds for the Premier League Darts tournament have only reinforced this, on a larger scale. It’s fair to say that the atmosphere will be the same at the Ally Pally and the top players are used to it.

Half-empty seats? The Dutch crowds will see to that anomaly. The PDC have secured all but a few of their top maestros and you’d expect to see an influx of orange that has graced Lakeside for the past decade. The Circus Tavern is hardly an accessible place for those outside of the immediate area, so the move only opens up the potential attendance from further afield, especially to those ‘up north’.

The 2006 World Championship final between Taylor and van Barneveld set new standards. It was the first final to witness a pay TV audience of over a million, the first final where both players finished with a three-dart average over 100, and the first championship where one man achieved over fifty 180s (van Barneveld). You can hardly fault the people regaining interest in their game. The times certainly are a-changing and this week’s event gives us an insight in what to expect come Christmas.

Will the move to the huge Ally Pally be beneficial for darts?

Send your views to Sportingo.

Holsten Premier League Darts - Alexandra Palace Preview

Picture copyright Hans Willink

THE PDC will take darts back to Alexandra Palace on Thursday following a near 30-year absence from the north London venue.
The 13th league night of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts will take place in the West Hall at the prestigious venue, preceding the arrival of the Labdrokes.com World Darts Championship in December.
Alexandra Palace became famous in darting circles for hosting the final stages of the News of the World championships between 1963 and 1977.
The last ever News of the World final staged at Alexandra Palace was won by Mick Norris on 30 April 1977 - with Premier League Darts returning to the venue almost 30 years to the day later.
"It should be a fabulous night and hopefully the start of a long association between the PDC and Alexandra Palace," said PDC Chairman Barry Hearn.
"The interest from fans throughout the Holsten Premier League has been amazing, but so much attention has been on this week.
"Our players cannot wait to play in this arena and we are all looking forward to a great evening's entertainment."
Four matches involving the world's best eight players will be played on Thursday evening, including the all-Dutch clash between World Champion Raymond van Barneveld and Roland Scholten.
"I've had a tour of Alexandra Palace, and it's great," said van Barneveld. "It's a huge venue.
"The acoustics will be good and it will be a good atmosphere."
Phil Taylor meets his former practice partner Adrian Lewis, and he added: "It's fantastic.
"Alexandra Palce reminds me a bit of the Winter Gardens in Blackpool, when you first walk in, because of the foyer.
"It also feels like one of the big hotels in Las Vegas, you know you are somewhere special when you are in the venue."
Taylor's win over Colin Lloyd last week ensured that he will finish top of the table following the 14 league nights, and also extended his unbeaten run in three years of the event.
"I'm over the moon," he added. "Obviously I don't want to lose now but it's going to be a big match against young Adrian this week.
"I don't want to get beaten anyway and it's not about sending a message out to the other players - I just want to win the tournament."
A win for van Barneveld would confirm that he will finish either second or third - avoiding Taylor in the semi-finals.
"Of course you want to avoid Phil but at the end it will be four world class darts players in the play-offs," said the Dutchman, who turned 40 last Friday.
"I'll have to work very hard to get to the final - you saw last year that I lost to Roland Scholten in the semis.
"I've been working very hard recently to get my best form back. I'm on the Atkins diet and I feel confident every week now.
"I never did two or three practice days before with top players like Roland, Co Stompe or Edwin Max in Holland and I'm working hard, also doing fitness training every day.
"I'm feeling fit and very good, and more kilos will disappear in the next few weeks."

Holsten Premier League Darts
Night 13, Alexandra Palace, London
Peter Manley v Dennis Priestley
Terry Jenkins v Colin Lloyd
Raymond van Barneveld v Roland Scholten
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor
Live on Sky Sports from 7.30pm
Please note the new order of play at the request of Sky Sports

For Alexandra Palace venue information and history, click this link: http://www.planetdarts.tv/page/LatestDetail/0,,10180~1016202,00.html

Topic International Darts League - PDPA Qualifiers

Photo Copyright Hans Willink

CHRIS MASON AND MARK DUDBRIDGE are among the eight PDPA Qualifiers for the 2007 Topic International Darts League.
Over 100 players travelled to Villa Park on Saturday to play off for the eight places in the Preliminary Round of the IDL, to be held in Holland next month.
Dudbridge, Mason and Alan Tabern were the only seeded players to progress from the event.
Dudbridge had a narrow 5-4 win over Dave Honey in his deciding match, while Mason won 5-3 against Alan Caves and Tabern was a 5-2 victor against Lionel Sams.
Wayne Jones whitewashed David Platt 5-0 in his final game, while Richie Burnett knocked out Mark Robinson, Steve Smith, Mick McGowan and Wes Newton in his successful run - with three matches going all the way to a ninth leg.
Kevin McDine, a semi-finalist in the Blue Square UK Open Midlands Regional Final three weeks ago, defeated Dennis Smith 5-2 to progress, with Robbie Green winning by the same scoreline against Garry Spedding.
Matt Clark, who competed in the IDL before joining the PDC, ended the hopes of Colin Osborne early on and won 5-2 against Paul Knighton in his decider.

Topic International Darts League PDPA Qualifiers
Chris Mason
Wayne Jones
Richie Burnett
Alan Tabern
Mark Dudbridge
Matt Clark
Kevin McDine
Robbie Green

Holsten Premier League Darts - Night 12 Round-Up

Picture copyright Hans Willink

PHIL TAYLOR ensured that he would top the Holsten Premier League Darts table for a third successive year with an 8-3 win over Colin Lloyd.
Taylor has now gone 12 games unbeaten in this year's tournament - and 40 in the history of the Premier League - and holds an unassailable lead at the head of the table with two games remaining.
He confirmed his status in some style in front of a packed King George's Hall in Blackburn, averaging almost 105 and hitting two ton-plus finishes.
"I'm delighted because my first aim was always to finish top," said Taylor, who faces Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld in his final two games.
"My aim now is to be unbeaten going into the play-offs and win the title for a third time."
Wins for Raymond van Barneveld and Terry Jenkins mean that they are now assured of play-off places and Lloyd, Adrian Lewis and Peter Manley cannot break into the top four.
Mathematically, Roland Scholten could still catch Dennis Priestley, but would need the Yorkshireman to lose his last two matches heavily and to win his own games handsomely to overturn a leg difference of 19.
Scholten kept his hopes alive with an 8-4 win over Manley, while fellow Dutchman van Barneveld produced a sensational showing to defeat Dennis Priestley by the same scoreline.
Van Barneveld - who turns 40 on Friday - joined Taylor in averaging over 104 and hit seven maximums, with both players having a chance of a nine-darter during a high-quality contest.
The night's other game saw Terry Jenkins come from 4-2 down to win 8-5 against Adrian Lewis, winning five successive legs in the middle of the game to end the 22-year-old's feint top four ambitions.
The tournament reaches the penultimate night of the league phase next Thursday with the visit to Alexandra Palace in London, the new home of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Holsten Premier League Darts
Night 12, King George's Hall, Blackburn
Terry Jenkins 8-5 Adrian Lewis
Peter Manley 4-8 Roland Scholten
Dennis Priestley 4-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Colin Lloyd 3-8 Phil Taylor

Night 13, Alexandra Palace – New Order of Play
Peter Manley v Dennis Priestley
Terry Jenkins v Colin Lloyd
Raymond van Barneveld v Roland Scholten
Adrian Lewis v Phil Taylor

TERRY JENKINS 8-5 ADRIAN LEWIS

TERRY JENKINS produced a superb second half to his clash with Adrian Lewis to end the youngster's Holsten Premier League play-off hopes.
Lewis had ignited his chances of reaching the top four with wins in the past two weeks, and looked on course to keep up the pressure on fourth-placed Jenkins by leading 4-2 at the break in their game.
However, Jenkins stormed back into the match after the interval with five successive legs, including two ton-plus finishes, to put a foot into the semi-finals.
"It was a real pressure game for both of us, probably the hardest game I've ever played," said Jenkins.
"I needed to win to effectively get into the top four but I thought I'd thrown it away at the start.
"I hung in there and came back well after the break."
Jenkins took the first leg on double 18 after Lewis was off-target to break the throw, but the 22-year-old hit back in style.
He won the next three, with Jenkins missing his doubles in two, to lead 3-1, but wasted two chances to take the fifth leg and further extend his advantage.
A Jenkins 180, his first of the match, helped him to set up a double top finish in the sixth leg as he looked to level, but Lewis superbly took out 92 on double eight to take a 4-2 cushion into the break.
Lewis had another maximum in the first leg after the restart, but Jenkins took out a 12-darter, swiftly followed by finishes of 121 and 102 to hit the front.

He then won the next two legs to make it five in a row and move 7-4 up, securing a minimum of a point and ending any chance Lewis had of overhauling him to reach the play-offs.
Lewis continued to battle, hitting a sixth maximum of the game in winning leg 12 in 13 darts, but his missed dart at the bullseye in the next proved to be his last as Jenkins hit an 82 finish on double 12 for the match.

ROLAND SCHOLTEN 8-4 PETER MANLEY

ROLAND SCHOLTEN got back to winning ways in the Holsten Premier League Darts with an 8-4 win over Peter Manley at the King George's Hall in Blackburn.
The Dutchman has not been victorious since week seven in Blackpool, and repeated his Winter Gardens win over Manley with a methodical display.
He hit back from a slow start which allowed Manley to win the first leg with ease to lead 3-1, landing two 13-darters and a brace of maximums along the way.
Manley won two of the next three either side of the break to pull back to 4-3, but Scholten stepped up a gear with three legs in a row - including a 117 finish - to put one foot over the winning line at 7-3.
A superb 123 checkout, finishing on the bullseye, gave Manley leg 11, but Scholten hit five perfect darts to start the next leg and sealed the win comfortably on double six.

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-4 DENNIS PRIESTLEY

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD showed some brilliant form to defeat Dennis Priestley 8-4 and put himself back into second place in the Holsten Premier League Darts.
The pair produced a sensational contest in Blackburn, both averaging over 100 and also coming close to hitting nine-darters in one amazing leg.
They shared 11 maximums during the match, with seven coming from van Barneveld in the final nine legs after he failed to hit any in the opening three.
Priestley took the first leg before van Barneveld levelled in the next and then took out 116 against the throw - with the Yorkshireman sat on 40 - in the third.
The fourth saw both open with back-to-back 180s to leave them looking at nine-dart finishes - although van Barneveld missed an eighth perfect dart at treble 19 and Priestley was then off target on dart seven.
The Dutchman left 32, which he finished in two darts for an 11-darter to move 3-1 up, before the next two were traded in 13 and 12 darts respectively to leave van Barneveld two legs up at the break.
He came back out with a brace of brilliant 11-darters to go 6-2 up before Priestley hit two 180s in taking the next in 14 darts.
Van Barneveld won the tenth leg in 14 darts, with Priestley sat on 24, to ensure at least a point before Priestley won leg 11 to stay in the hunt for a draw.
But the Dutchman landed yet another maximum among three ton-plus scores to wrap up the win and avenge his disappointing defeat to Priestley in Blackpool a month ago.
"A month ago I couldn't hit a treble against Dennis but I've been exercising, on the Atkins diet and I've invested in myself," he said.
"After I took the third leg I relaxed and hit trebles all the way. It would have been nice to hit the nine-darter but I'm just pleased to get the win."

PHIL TAYLOR 8-3 COLIN LLOYD

PHIL TAYLOR ensured that he would top the Holsten Premier League Darts table for a third successive year with an 8-3 win over Colin Lloyd.
Taylor has now gone 12 games unbeaten in this year's tournament - and 40 in the history of the Premier League - and holds an unassailable lead at the head of the table with two games remaining.
He confirmed his status in some style in front of a packed King George's Hall in Blackburn, averaging almost 105 and hitting two ton-plus finishes.
Despite hitting two maximums in the first leg, Taylor actually went behind when Lloyd finished double top at the first time of asking for a 14-darter.

He hit back with three successive legs, taking the third against the throw after Lloyd missed three darts at a double before finishing on 126 - the night's highest - in the fourth.
Another 14-darter from Lloyd gave him the fifth leg, but a three-leg burst from Taylor, all 15-darters including further checkouts of 110 and 96, put the 13-time World Champion in command at 6-2.
Lloyd landed the second of three maximums on his way to winning leg nine, but Taylor was not to be denied and swiftly took the next two in 13 and 14 darts to cap a remarkable display.
"I'm delighted because my first aim was always to finish top," said Taylor, who faces Adrian Lewis and Raymond van Barneveld in his final two games.
"My aim now is to be unbeaten going into the play-offs and win the title for a third time.
"There was pressure on Colin tonight because he had to win to give himself a chance of reaching the play-offs, so I knew I would have to perform well."

Virgin Radio - 100% behind save our Darts

Virgin Radio breakfast show & top UK DJ Christian O' Connell have given their 100% backing to "Save our Darts" in pubs and will be helping the campaign:

http://www.virginradio.co.uk/djs_shows/shows/breakfast/blog/index.html

Take a look and have a listen to them, the station for Darters!!

Holsten Premier League Darts - Night 11 Round-Up

ADRIAN LEWIS and Colin Lloyd stepped up their challenges for play-off places in the Holsten Premier League Darts with victories as the tournament visited Cardiff on Thursday.
The pair entered the night as the bottom two in the table, but wins at the CIA saw them cut the gap on the top four to just four points with three games remaining.
Lewis grabbed his second successive win with a quality display against Dennis Priestley, coming from 4-1 down against the two-time World Champion.
He hit eight maximums and averaged over 100 for the second game in a row to join Lloyd and Peter Manley on eight points.
"I'm hitting form at the right time," said Lewis. "Hopefully I can carry this on now and I've still got a chance of getting into the top four."
Lloyd had opened proceedings with an 8-4 victory over Roland Scholten, grabbing his third win in four weeks and averaging 103 to see off the Dutchman.
Raymond van Barneveld jumped onto 13 points with an 8-5 win over Terry Jenkins, hitting five 180s in the second half of their contest to surge to victory.
Defending champion Phil Taylor moved six points clear of Priestley with an 8-1 romp against Peter Manley, producing a superb finishing display to maintain his unbeaten record.

COLIN LLOYD 8-4 ROLAND SCHOLTEN
COLIN LLOYD kept alive his hopes of breaking into the Holsten Premier League Darts play-offs with an 8-4 win over Roland Scholten in Cardiff.
The Essex star knew that he had to grab a third win in four games to maintain any hope of breaking into the top four this year.
He did that in style against the Dutchman, averaging 103 and producing some superb finishing, especially on double 16.
Scholten began well, holding his throw in legs one and three before an 14-darter from Lloyd levelled at 2-2.
The former World Matchplay winner landed double 16 in the fifth to break Scholten's throw, and then went into the break with a 12-darter finishing on 96 to leave 4-2.
Scholten took out 76 on double 16 to hit back after the restart, but Lloyd produced an outstanding three-leg spell to surge 7-3 up and secure a minimum of a draw.
Scholten hit his first maximum of the match before taking out 121 on double 18 to stay in the contest in leg ten, but Lloyd punished his opponent's missed double in the next to once again land double 16 for victory.
"I enjoyed that," said Lloyd. "It's nice to come up on stage and throw some decent darts.
"Roland's one of my best mates but he knows what it's about and he would have done the same to me. I've got a result and I'm very happy."
The win puts Lloyd four points behind fourth-placed Terry Jenkins, and he added: "I needed this eight weeks ago but I won't stop fighting.
"It's going to be hard for me to qualify and I need a lot of results to go my way still."

ADRIAN LEWIS 8-6 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
ADRIAN LEWIS showed his class to come from behind and gain a second successive Holsten Premier League Darts win with an 8-6 defeat of Dennis Priestley at the CIA.
The 22-year-old ended a five-game losing run last week when he defeated Colin Lloyd, and kept alive any lingering play-off hopes with another quality display.
Having lost to Priestley 8-1 when the pair met in Newcastle earlier this year, another loss looked on the cards when Lewis fell 4-1 down.
But he produced some superb scoring, landing five 180s in taking seven of the next nine legs for victory.
"It's pleasing because Dennis is hard to play against," said Lewis afterwards. "Hopefully I can carry this form on now and put pressure on Raymond van Barneveld and Terry Jenkins.
"They will have to watch out because I've still got a chance of making the top four. I'm finding form at the right time and they're not safe."
In addition to his late burst of heavy scoring, Lewis also had three maximums in the first five legs, but saw a more clinical Priestley take the early lead, landing a 113 finish in leg three and six perfect darts in the fifth.
A two-dart 100 finish settled any Lewis nerves going into the break, although a 96 finish put Priestley 5-2 up.
The youngster put in two maximums in taking the next two to reduce the arrears to 5-4, before Priestley took advantage of his missed doubles in the next to edge back clear.
It was Priestley who missed chances in leg 11, his off-target bullseye for a 126 finish followed by Lewis landing double ten.
He then levelled matters by winning the 12th and a superb 11-darter put him ahead 7-6.
He then produced a quality final leg, including another 180, before double four put him over the winning line.

PHIL TAYLOR 8-1 PETER MANLEY
PHIL TAYLOR picked up a second successive 8-1 Holsten Premier League Darts victory with a rout of Peter Manley in Cardiff.
Taylor was once again in imperious form to move further clear at the top of the Premier League table in style.
He dropped only one leg against Manley, who had to take out an 11-darter in leg four to get off the mark.
Taylor had raced past Terry Jenkins a week ago in Bournemouth, and began in similarly destructive form by winning the opening three legs with finishes of 82, 120 and 68.
Manley hit back in the fourth but Taylor landed double ten to restore a three-leg cushion after his opponent was off-target at double 19 - and he never looked back.
Taylor also punished Manley misses on double top in leg six and moved 6-1 up with double two after the restart.
A 106 finish put the 13-time World Champion on the finishing line in the next before Taylor then sealed the win on double 16 to move six points clear of Raymond van Barneveld and Dennis Priestley in the table.
"I keep trying every week and I'm very happy with this win," said Taylor.
"Peter played well but missed a couple of doubles - my finishing was "One Dart" tonight, not his! He's under pressure now and needs to win now to get into the top four."

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-5 TERRY JENKINS
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD grabbed his first Holsten Premier League Darts win for five weeks with an 8-5 defeat of Terry Jenkins at the CIA.
The World Champion has dipped in form recently with two wins and a brace of draws, but moved back to second in the table with the victory.
After a slow opening left the pair locked after six legs, the Dutchman burst into form in the second half of the match.
He won five of the final seven legs and hit x 180s on his way to a vital win.
Jenkins took the first two legs of the match with van Barneveld sat on a double before the Dutchman landed a 76 finish on double 18 to get off the mark.
Jenkins held his throw in leg four, but a double salvo from van Barneveld put him level at the break, with the World Grand Prix finalist off target with four darts at the double in leg six.
Van Barneveld returned from the break with a maximum on his first visit to the oche, setting the tone for an electric period of play.
A second 180 of the leg set up an 11-dart finish - only for the Dutchman to miss six darts at double top before landing double ten, with Jenkins having just one dart at the bullseye to steal the throw.
The Ledbury man took leg eight with a 12-darter, but three successive legs from van Barneveld saw him jump out to 7-4.
Jenkins threatened a fightback by winning leg 12 in 13 darts, but van Barneveld wrapped up the win by matching that in the next with double 18.
"I wanted to get the win and was focused for this," said van Barneveld.
"The first three or four legs were a disaster but Terry missed a few doubles and I went into the break at 3-3. After the break I started playing well.
"I'm focused on reaching the semi-finals and we'll see what happens now. It doesn't matter who I play if I make the last four."

Bullseye is back on the 19th May

19th May 2007
Hosted By Vernon Kay
Special Guest StarsMartin (Wolfie) Adams – BDO 2007 World Professional Darts Champion Raymond Van (Barney) Barneveld – PDC 2007 World Professional Darts Champion
Phil (the Power) Taylor – Former 13 times World Darts Professional Darts ChampionOn Saturday 19th May 2007 Bullseye will be the featured one hour celebrity special show on ITV’s network series ‘Game Show Marathon 2’.
The current reigning BDO and PDC World Champions, Martin (Wolfie) Adams and Raymond Van (Barney) Barneveld and former World Champion Phil (the Power) Taylor go head to head, each one the captain of their celebrity team.
Which one of the three will personally get the highest total score on the show?
Who will be the Champ and which two will be the Chumps?
Be sure not to miss this exciting special edition of Bullseye.

Back to form Smiffy takes the Classic

Storey and Picture from: The Andover Advertiser

After eight hours of the highest quality darts, Dennis Smith confirmed his return to form with a magnificent performance in lifting the fourth Andover Invitation Darts Classic, sponsored by Transplus.
It was fitting that Smiffy (29.89) clinched the £1,000 prize with a 12- darter, 136 finish in the final leg of the fifth and deciding set against the talented and popular Mark Walsh (28.74).
Testament to the quality of the 64 player field was that many top name stars failed to make it onto the stage.
Last year's winner James Wade was beaten 5-4 in the quarters by Aaron Turner who also collected the £350 highest check out award sponsored by BTLS Hayley with 149. Turner had earlier accounted for Wes Newton 5-4, and the rising Blackpool star subsequently donated his £50 winnings to Andover's Unicorn Darts Academy. Southampton's Mark Haskett played well all day to take board four before succumbing to Walsh in the semi- final.
Wiltshire's Paul Cook, Hampshire's Paul Gibbs and Surrey's Lionel Sams could only reach the last 16 as could Andover's father and son pairing of Colin and Arron Monk. Monk junior continues his excellent progress and picked up the best Andover award with Academy awards going to the fast improving Charlotte Burgess, Dominic Ware and Monk. The collective progress is still apparent with some fine performances from both senior and Academy players. Ali MacDonald, Peter Bailey and Arron Monk all rubbed shoulders with a dozen professionals in the last 16. Dennis Simpson, having comfortably beaten John Brine should then have beaten Peter Evison while Trevor Lewis's 130 check out against Dennis Smith showed real character.
Dale Headech never looked out of place against Smith, Dominic Ware was unlucky not to take more than his one leg off Walsh, Gary Thorne performed well against Eddie Edmondson and Jamie Kelling had to be in excellent form to get past Colin Denyer, last year's best Andover performer.

Another two highlights came from Sean White and Charlotte Burgess. White had to be at his best to dispose of Academy captain Steve Turner then went even better by taking two legs off James Wade. Charlotte Burgess had a raucous crowd enthralled and at 2-2 gave Wes Newton a magnificent game.
In reflecting the standard, sportsmanship and atmosphere, it was without doubt the best Classic to date and Andover darters and sponsors should take great credit in the esteem the town is now being held.
Champion: £1,000 Dennis Smith.
Runner-up £500 Mark Walsh.
3/4 £250 Aaron Turner and Mark Haskett 5/8 £125 Sam Rooney, James Wade, Kev Ede, Peter Evison.
9/16 £50 Paul Gibbs, Colin Monk, Peter Bailey, Lionel Sams, Paul Cook, Wes Newton, Ali MacDonald, Arron Monk.
Highest checkout: £350 Aaron Turner.
Best Andover: Arron Monk.
Academy Achievement Awards: Charlotte Burgess, Arron Monk, Dominic Ware.
Andover Invitation Darts wish to thank the players and spectators who spontaneously raised £300 for the Academy.

Holsten Premier League Darts - Night Ten Round-Up

PHIL TAYLOR cemented his place at the top of the 2007 Holsten Premier League Darts table after making it 38 games without defeat in the tournament with a thumping 8-1 win over Terry Jenkins.
Week ten of the league series at the Bournemouth International Centre produced two drawn matches, with only Taylor and his fellow Stoke-on-Trent thrower Adrian Lewis recording wins.
Lewis, who has been desperately out of form in recent weeks, stormed back to his best by producing four ton-plus finishes on his way to an 8-5 win over Colin Lloyd, whilst the matches between Raymond van Barneveld and Peter Manley, and Roland Scholten and Dennis Priestley both finished all-square at 7-7.
Manley won the last three legs of his match with the reigning world champion to secure a point that keeps him in with an outside chance of qualification for the May 28 play-offs in Brighton, and Priestley pegged Scholten back with a 99.50 average in another stalemate.
Taylor rounded the night off by pulverising his opponent into submission with a 107 average - taking the first six legs without reply and looking set for the first whitewash of the event before Jenkins avoided humiliation by taking the eighth leg.

PETER MANLEY 7-7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD

PETER MANLEY snatched a draw from the jaws of defeat to deny Raymond van Barneveld two points from their Holsten Premier League Darts contest at the Bournemouth International Centre.
Manley looked set to suffer a blow in his play-off hopes when he fell 7-4 down following a mid-game burst from van Barneveld.
But the Dutchman was unable to complete the job, with Manley winning the final three legs to claim a 7-7 scoreline against the World Champion for the second time in the 2007 Premier League.
The pair made a slow start, with the first three legs going with the throw - to leave Manley 2-1 up - without the winning player being under any pressure.
Van Barneveld took out double 16 with his first dart in leg four to level matters, and then had the luxury of missing six darts at a double before winning leg five against the darts to move ahead.
Manley missed two darts to break back immediately going into the break, with van Barneveld checking out on double four to go into the break 4-2 up.
Manley took the first two legs after the restart to square the match before van Barneveld hit top gear for a superb three-leg spell.
He landed double 16 in all three legs, checking out in 11, 13 and 11 darts to move 7-4 up and earn at least a point.
With the throw in his favour in two of the final three legs, few would have backed against the Dutchman closing out the win.
But Manley immediately hit back to win leg 12, hitting four successive ton-plus scores and hitting double top for a 14-darter.
He took the 13th leg to send the game into a decider, and took advantage of three van Barneveld misses at double eight to land his favoured double top and scramble a point.
"Peter gave me a lot of opportunities at the doubles but I didn't take them," said van Barneveld.
"While I was practising I felt good but it was totally different on stage and I struggled to hit the treble.
"I've now lost three and drawn one of my last six games, which isn't good enough for a World Champion."
Manley said: "I really needed to beat Ray to move closer to the top four and I guess I've got to win every game now.
"I think the top four are pretty settled and it will be hard to break in there now, but I'll give it my best shot."

ADRIAN LEWIS 8-5 COLIN LLOYD
ADRIAN LEWIS ended a five-game losing run in the Holsten Premier League Darts in style with an 8-5 win over Colin Lloyd in Bournemouth.
The 22-year-old had slumped to the bottom of the league table following a disappointing recent run.
However, that looked like a distant memory as Lewis hit back in style, including a 164 finish in a four-leg burst which powered him over the finishing line.
"I've learned a lot this year and I'll hopefully be able to build on this now," said Lewis.
"It would be nice to show what I can do now in the remaining weeks. My scoring has been good recently but I've struggled with my finishing and tonight it was there.
"I managed to keep the pressure on Colin and I took out some crucial finishes when he was on a double."
Lewis made a blistering start, winning the first leg with a 124 finish, the second in 13 darts and the third on double one after Lloyd wasted his chance to get off the mark.
Lloyd hit back with a 14-darter in leg four to break Lewis' throw, and won the next three legs either side of the break to lead 4-3.
A superb 129 finish saw Lewis level before Lloyd moved back ahead with a 12-darter.
Lewis took leg ten on double top, and a stunning 164 finish for a 12-darter against the throw saw him break Lloyd's throw and go 6-5 up.
He took out 87 for an 11-darter in leg 12, and then landed three ton-plus scores in the next to seal the win.

ROLAND SCHOLTEN 7-7 DENNIS PRIESTLEY

DENNIS PRIESTLEY and Roland Scholten shared the spoils in a 14-leg Holsten Premier League Darts thriller in Bournemouth.
The pair battled out a see-saw encounter in front of over 3,000 fans at the BIC, with the lead switching hands three times before Priestley won the final leg to grab a draw.
The veteran Yorkshireman hit back from losing the opening leg to take three in a row, including two 14-darters, to move 3-1 up.
Scholten hit back in leg five - despite two maximums from his opponent - but Priestley went into the break 4-2 ahead after landing double eight on his final dart.
However, he was to miss doubles in the next three legs to allow Scholten to move 5-4 up, with the Dutchman then taking out 121 for a 12-darter to a two-leg lead as he hit top form - opening four legs in a row with 180s.
Priestley responded superbly, mirroring the 121 finish before then taking out 127 on double eight to square the game at six-all.
Scholten was first to the double in the 13th leg, taking out 90 in two darts to ensure at least a draw.
Scores of 140 and 180 gave Priestley the advantage in the decider, and he landed double ten to grab himself a share of the points.
"At 4-2 up I wanted to kick on and get the win, but Roland fought his way back into the game well," said Priestley.
"It was a great game and I'm satisfied with a draw in the end."
Scholten added: "We both played really well. Dennis took out some nice shots and probably deserved a point."

PHIL TAYLOR 8-1 TERRY JENKINS

PHIL TAYLOR produced a thundering display to defeat Terry Jenkins 8-1 in Bournemouth and extend his lead at the top of the Holsten Premier League Darts table.
The defending champion has returned towards top form in recent weeks, and produced his best display yet in 2007.
Taylor averaged 107 and dropped just one leg in a thrilling display to move four points clear at the head of the table.
"I've been practising very seriously for this because Terry has been in great form this year," said Taylor.
"I've concentrated hard and I feel I'm getting better and better at the moment. The fitness regime I've been on is kicking in and I feel good."
He certainly looked good in making an outstanding start, opening up a 3-0 lead without Jenkins getting to a double.
The Ledbury thrower was given a chance in leg four when Taylor missed three darts at tops, but his missed bullseye allowed the 13-time World Champion back - and he made no mistake on double ten.
He took the next two legs to lead 6-0 at the break, and was narrowly off-target on the bullseye for a 167 finish in the next, before hitting double eight to put one foot over the finishing line.
Jenkins won the eighth leg to get off the mark, hitting double top with his first dart, but that would be as good as it got for the World Grand Prix finalist as Taylor completed the rout on double eight.