Toeing the Oche'

Grand Slam of Darts
Competing in this “exclusive” event was women’s former world champion Czar Anastasia Dobromyslova the “ Russian Fox” and current title holder Francis Hoenselaar Both lady’s got rude welcomes when Czar Ana lost 5-nil to Mr. Taylor while Francis was on the short end of the 5-1 score against van Barneveld. Czar Ana would get a “w” against Vincent van der Voort 5-4 after trailing 3-1 and 4-3. Dobromyslova becomes only the second women to win a match in a televised PDC event. The first was Deta “The Six Foot Chocolate Bar” Hedman a pal of the ODC. Czar Ana said “I’m on top of the world.” Wonder if she will be able to see Phil Taylor when he’s “over the moon.”? BDO champ Ted Hankey was jeered by the crowd when he went down to Scott Waites 5-3. Hankey did get a win by 5-4 over Wayne Mardle but missed 30 darts at doubles in the process. Hankey would check out of the tournament when he couldn’t hold a 4-1 lead against Aussie Simon Whitlock.

Phil Taylor took out his first two opponents 10-0. He finished the round robin against Vincent va der Voort who was coming off a loss to Czar Ana. “Who would have thunk it?” Final score Mr. van der Voort 5- Mr. Phil Taylor 1. Taylor was later quoted as saying, “I didn’t want to lose but he beat me fair and square”. Hu ? Yank Darin Young made the last 16 when he came from 3-1 down to whip Denis Ovens 5-3.

Then There Were Eight
“The field dwindles down to a precious few”. Phil Taylor did what he does best. Down 4-3 to Colin Lyoyd, Taylor ratcheted up his game for a 10-4 win. Of his 7 legs on the trot Taylor said, “I think I averaged about 113 for the last seven legs.” Raymond van Barnveld down 4-0 against Mervin King came back for the 10-6 win with a 161 finish . There were a couple of “let’s visit the lou” games. Kevin Painter’s 10-5 over Kirk Shepherd and surprisingly Aussie Simon Whitlock “opened a can of WP” on the red hot Steve Beaton 10-1. In all there were 4 matches that went to the deciding leg. BDO’s #1 Terry O’Shea’s won over Mark Webster 10-9. Webster led 9-8 , missed four darts at a finish so O’Shea tied it at 9. In the final leg O’Shea’s first score against the darts, was a 180. With darts in hand Webster got to the double first missing tops. O’Shea nailed double 12. "It was unbelievable and an incredible game," said O'Shea. Terry Jenkins led 4-1 over world #3 James Wade only to have the “port sider” come back to forge ahead 9-8. Wade never got a double shot as Jenkins made 121 disappear using “el toro”.

Scotsman Gary Anderson did everything but win in his match against Scott Waites. He tossed 11-180’s, had a 10 darter, averaged over 100 and led 9-7. That’s when “Old Mo” switched sides. Waites took the last 3 legs in 14, 15, 15 darts for the 10-9. Yank Darin Young put on a hell of show for the folks. Down 7-2 against Robert Thornton “double trouble” made an appearance which Young capitalized on to tie the match at 9. In the final leg Thorton had the darts and Young had a “bed & breakfast”. For you young zipper whippers that a 2 and 6 or 26. Not good. Thornton sealed the 10-9 win with a 116 close.

A New Day
“What a difference a day makes” could be Aussie Simon Whitlocks theme song. Coming off a 10-1 drubbing of Steve Beaton . Whitlock had a 5-4 lead but stalled as Scott Waites won 5 on the trot on the way to a 16-13 win. Waites used 3-180’s to win the final 3 and booking a spot in the semi’s. Terry Jenkins who had his way with Robert Thornton building a 9-2 lead then cursing 16-9. BDO #1 Terry O’Shea though he had Phil Taylor right were he wanted him level at 4. Silly boy. Taylor would take 12 of the next 14 legs for a convincing 16-7 win. Raymond van Barneveld struggled early with Kevin Painter holding a narrow 5-4 lead. The former world #1 then took five on the trot on his way to a 16-6 win.

The Semi’s
Making the semi finals means a nice checque of £25,000 but a win insures at least £50,000. Yorkshire’s Scott Waites made the jump from BDO #2 into the spotlight of the PDC with him win over Terry Jenkins. The win booked him a spot in the finals against Phil Taylor If Waites a joiner by trade, as was Jesus and John Lowe, though he felt pressure when he broke the 11 all tie to beat Jenkins 16-11 he was sadly mistaken. In darts it’s always “what have you done lately”. Taylor and Barney were tied at 1 but once “The Power” opened a 3-1 lead the “Fat Lady” was licking her lips. Taylor’s 16-6 win wasn’t indicative as he was in complete control. After the match Barney admitted, "I didn't have a good preparation, I didn't sleep well and was tired.’ Old Dart Coach True Dart fact, “That and missed doubles will do it every time.” Taylor post match comment ? "I'm over the moon to be in the final." Wonder if Czar Ana can see him ?

Phil Taylor was spectacular in the final. He laid a whipping on Scott Waites 16-2 On his way to 21st tournament win of the year Taylor had a 170 check out and a shot at a 9 darter in the final leg. He settled for 10 darts and £100,000. Scott Waites had a heck of a week with his £50,000 for runner-up surpassing his previous career earnings. Before he went back to hammering nails for a living Waites stated, "This week has been fantastic and I'm ready to come back next year for more." Yes one could say that.