Toeing the Oche' Ronnie "The Rocket" Baxter

John F. Kennedy said, “a rising tide lifts all ships.”  In this case that rising tide got it impudence not from the moon but  from income from TV’s  Sky Sports, Unicorn Darts, dart fans and most of all PDC Chairman Barry “The Miracle Worker”  Hearne. Last fall the PDC offered the British Darts Organization (BDO) £2 million pounds to purchase “amateur darts” in the UK with  money injected into the sport. BDO Major Dumbo Oley Croft rejected the offer out of hand. That decision was backed up by the “ay men and women” country representatives sans 8. In truth, according to the Old Dart Coach, the BDO controls not only amateur darts in the UK but throughout the world via the World Darts Federation.

The PDC has dropped a bomb which may have the most profound effect on darts since brass was replaced with tungsten and plastic replaced feathers fights. Taking dead aim at “amateur darts ” the PDC has hit the double bull. First up is the PDC World Cup of Darts to be shown on Sky Sports December 3-5 this year with a prize fund of £150,000. In contrast the WDF’s World Cup has no prize money with little or no TV.



A bemused “Rocket” Ronnie Baxter looks on helplessly as Phil Taylor comes from 4-nil down for a Premier League win. (Photo by Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

The format calls for 24 countries to compete  being drawn from the PDC Order of Merit. Then next January 3 the PDC will hold the Unicorn Under-21 World Championships with a £30,000 prize fund shown live just prior fnal of the Ladbrokes. com World Championship. Also new will be a Unicorn Women’s Championship carrying a prize fund of  £30,000.

As the PDC moves closer in structure of professional golf it’s best to bear in mind that Rome wasn’t built in a day.  The PDC’s frst responsibility is to its’ members, then to sponsor’s/ TV and fnally the fans. This may explain why the Old Dart Coach’s suggesting that the PDC World Cup be made up of 4 man teams playing a format of 4 –person team, 2 doubles and 4 singles found fle 13 right after it was made. Insiders have guessed that the format for year one will be two person teams playing double and singles. 

PREMIER LEAGUE night 2

Thomas Wolf wrote, “you can’t go home again”. That’s silly. Of course you can go home again it’s just never the same. That may have been the way Raymond van Barveld felt about Bournemouth site of  round two of the 2010 Whyte & Mackay Premier League.  In 2006 “Barney” hit the only ninedarter in the history of the Premier League playing against Peter Manley. “I love the crowd there, it’s a lovely venue and I like the balcony around it.”  Wonder how he feels now after getting blown out of his wooden shoes by Adrian Lewis 8-3 ? Lewis won the frst 6 averaging 111 per visit to the oche’. Lewis should have been up 7-0 but missed 4 at a double.

Phil Taylor was on track to follow “Barney” when he fell down 4-0 to “Rocket’ Ronnie Baxter. At that point the “Rocket” ran out of fuel, the “Power” kicked in and  Taylor ran off 7 legs on the trot.

The streak was  “inspired by a 11 darter” along with a bundle of missed double on the part of Baxter.  Down 7-4 Baxter fought back but still lost 8-6. Following the match Baxter said,  "I fell asleep half-way through the game.” Bad time for a nap.

Mervyn King started what would become a memorable week when he  remained unbeaten in league play. He  reversed  his defeat by James Wade last year in the League fnal. The out-of-form Wade, who is the only player without a point in league play, had a 2-0 lead but couldn’t buy a double as he missed 17 of 21. King on the other hand was double sharp converting on 8 of 13.

Terry Jenkins and Simon Whitlock drew a 7 in a match where Jenkins snatched “almost victory” from the jaws of defeat. Tailing 7-5 Jenkins took the 13 leg with an 11 darter. Jenkins got the draw when Whitlock missed a 16 for a 102 game shot. Jenkins made 104 vanish with double tops.


PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIPUK OPEN-SWINDON

There is something to be said when “Old Mo” in on your side. Country Singer Jerry Reed  sang “When you’re hot you’re hot”. Mervyn King is hotter than a Teelock when the retirement check is late. Using his Premier League win he did the double winning both Saturday and Sundays Players Championships at Swindon. Last time someone “did a double” was Robert Thornton last March. Over two days of play King was only extended to a deciding leg in only two matches.  In both case’s it came in opening matches. On Saturday Steve Evans extended King to 11 legs while on Sunday it was “the Russian Fox”  Anastasia Dobromyslova that got the job done as King came from behind for the “W”.  For the week King went 92-46 which sets the 2010 standard for excellence.

On Saturday King bested Andy Hamilton for the title. 

King’s 6-3 win over Andy Hamilton, who took a pair of 6-5 wins to reach the fnals, might have been closer. Hamilton at 4-3 down missed a bull for 164 then two at double 8 to tie the match. King secured the £6,000 check with a 180 leaving 99 which went the way of the 5 cent cigar.

Hamilton claimed the £3,000 runner-ups check which was a nice Saturday’s work. Sundays event had the added inducement of also being the frst of eight UK Open qualifers.  In the semi’s King faced world number #2 James Wade who he bombarded with seven 180’s in a 6-4 win. Those that though Simon “The Thunder From Down Under” Whitlock would wander around before hitting stride were wrong. 

Whitlock squeaked by with a pair of 6-5 wins over Terry Jenkins and Gary Anderson to reach his frst Players fnals.   King built a 4-1 lead then improved it for a 6-1 win and another  £6,000 in the bank. Whitlock had a nifty 14-darter which was the lone bright spot for him. "I'm lost for words," admitted an emotional King afterwards. "I can't explain how it feels to have won both ProTour events in a weekend.”