Exclusive for the PATTAYA TIMES, Toeing the Oche

Players Championship

“My oh my” this is the frst big one of the year and it wasn’t won by Phil Taylor. Remember the tarbender that said he would get you that fnal lager when he got “aroundtoit”. Remember when your current signifcant other that “when pigs fy ?” Guess what, that “roundtoit”is here and pig are fying so don’t look up.   Phil Taylor did not defend his Players Championship title at the  Circus Tavern in Purfeet. Paul Nicholson took care of that when he eliminated Taylor 10-9 in the semi fnals.  The old adage that you score for show and double for dough was evident in this one as Taylor out-score Nicholson  99.40 to 95.86.  To achieve that win Nicholson had fnishes of   170,130, 121 and 104. In 7 legs Nicholson fnished with no wasted darts.  “Oh my.”

On his way to the fnal Nicholson took out Dennis Priestly, who will join the old folks tour , aka The Legends 6-2, then Steve Beaton  8-5 , Adrain Lewis 9-7 and then the heart stopping 10-9 win over Taylor. In almost every match Nicholson was out scored but never out “doubled.”  In the fnal he faced Mervyn King who wasn’t about to lay down in the final. 

After 20 legs the two were tied at 10 making it a best of 5. Nicholson then cranked it up a pair of dandy’s  of 14 and 11 darts. With Nicholson  one away from victory King’s  scoring deserted him while Nicholson doubles never falter as  a double 8 hit paydirt for £60,000 and the title of  Players Champion. Nicholson while unknown to the general darting public was born in Newcastle and  jump started his career while based in Melbourne in 2008 dominating the DartPlay-ers Australia circuit qualifying for the Grand Slam of Darts and the World Championships.  "I've put in a lot of hard work to get where I am and this may take a bit of time to sink in. I've got to thank my family and friends and my sponsors for backing me.

The Premier League

The Old Dart Coach reminds us that back in the day of real feather fights and brass darts when a big dart event was always preceded with a “dodgy draw”. That’s no longer the case. Darts has entered the professional arena.  When the premier league kicks off it’s £400,000 14 week run on SkyTv February 11 at the 02 in London it was “good luck” that frst night play is headlined by Phil Taylor against  Simon “The Thunder from Down Under” Whitlock. They ended the last season head-to-head in the World Championships. Whitlock led briefy before losing 7-2.  In the past if that draw were announced for opening night  the ghost Elvis or Carl Perkins would be singing, “One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready now go man go.”  This time a person not authorized to speak for the PDC who shall remain anonymous said “It was an amazing stroke of luck that Taylor and Simon came out for opening night.”  Yes it was. Dart fans in Aussie can watch the Premier League on FOX-TV. Over the course of preliminary play each of the 8 players will play round robin best of 14 legs against the feld. When the top four end up on May 23 at Wembely Arena  they’ll be playing for £230,000 with the winner taking home £125,000.  Wales, Scotland and Ireland also get premier league play. 

A Premier League a player is ensured at least the  £25,000 which is last place money. In other opening night action last years Premier League Champ and world #3 James Wade meets world #2 Raymond van Barneveld, last seasons runner-up Mervyn King gets wildcard Adrian Lewis with “Rocket” Ronnie Bax-ter returns against  Terry Jenkins.


More Jocky Wilson

There are as many Jocky Wilson stories as there are pints in a fresh keg of “golden aim-ing fuid”.  The Old Dart Coach, back in the day, did a little MC work at a spectacular charity night of darts sponsored by the now gone Federation Brew-ery  in Newcastle.  The event was held at the brewery’s Lancastrian Suite before more that 1,000 holiday revelers. Mr. John Lowe, Bob Anderson, Keith Dellar and Jocky were playing for the Champions Trophy. Mr. David Brook, now of the Island Lager Bar in Patong Beach, was the head man at Federation picks up the story. “  Upstairs in the Board Room Bar we had a party for the players and all associated with the Event. I had cheques in my inside jacket pocket for Keith, Bob and Jocky.....gave Keith and Bob theirs which left one folded cheque in my pocket. Pulled Jocky aside to say thanks, couple of photos and slipped him what I thought was a folded cheque, neither of us bothering to look at it.”

”Late the  afternoon the following day had a phone call from John Lowe...he was giggling quite a lot...he said he had received a call from Jocky asking if " The Big Man" was taking the mickey....seems I had not given Jocky the cheque but rather  a folded paper which  was my shopping list !!! Imagine Jocky's face when he unfolded  what he thought was a cheque and found a list for 2lbs of butter, loaf of bread etc!!!! True story. One of many great memories of being with Jocky...a wee man with a big heart ....sadly missed in the world of darts.”


New Zealand Checks In

Regular reader from Kiwi Land, Oldwing a transplanted Yank, likes to keep the Old Dart Coach on the straight and narrow. Not an easy task.  He corrects the Old One. “The feminine of czar is czarina,” then adds, “Have a great New Year, keep the BDO honest(ha,ha,ha) and continue to entertain the west with the wonders of Thailand and the southern hemisphere”. A bundle of knowledge Oldwing provides the information that “Colin Osborne was once the British yoyo champ”. Osborne is currently 10th in the Order of Merit having picked up 5 ranking spots in 2009. A similar performance this year puts him in the magic 6 which comes along with more perks than an old Geezer in Pattaya when his monthly check arrives. Oldwing asks a very serious question. “Why do the PDF pros kiss after the match?  None of  them are even French ? I’ll look forward to your analysis of the kissing phenomenon.” It started with earrings.  We should have seen this coming.