Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC.

COLIN OSBORNE defeated nine-dart hero Jelle Klaasen 6-3 to win the final of Group Six in Championship League Darts.

Osborne had competed for the previous three days in the internet-televised tournament, but progressed to the Winners Group for a second successive year with the triumph.

He finished second overall in the day’s league phase, alongside Klaasen and Wayne Jones on five wins, after making a fine start to the day with four straight wins.

He then defeated Jones 6-4 in the semi-finals, before a clinical display saw off debutant Klaasen in the decider.

Osborne took an immediate 3-0 lead in the final, including a 110 finish against the throw, before finishes of 134 and 130 put Klaasen back in the contest.

However, he was left waiting on a finish in the next two legs as Osborne took out 124 on the bull and then double top to lead 5-2.

A 96 finish gave Klaasen a third leg, but Osborne took the next on double five to seal victory and his spot in the Winners Group on October 22.

“I’m finally through at the fourth time of asking and it’s a big relief,” said Osborne, who has won £8,700 so far in the event.

“I started off pretty well today, I was solid and got the points on the board early on and it was good just to get into the semi-finals.

“I played solidly against Wayne and also against Jelle in the final, and I finished well.”

He added: “I lost in the final on Wednesday and had to pick myself up again, but you can’t complain because you’re playing darts and have to get on with it.

“These are long days and it’s tough, but I’ve won one and it’s great – I get to rest now and just come back for the Winners Group!”

Klaasen, making his first ever appearance in the Championship League Darts event, showed his quality with some brilliant displays in the league phase, notably hitting a nine-darter against Osborne in their group match.

He was joined by Jones, making his 2009 debut, in winning five league matches, while Lewis edged out Terry Jenkins for fourth by winning his final two league matches 6-1 and 6-0.

Lewis, though, was unable to finally qualify after losing in a deciding leg to Klaasen in the semi-finals after leading 5-3.

The Stoke youngster has appeared in all six groups so far this year, and will return next month for Group Seven having won £11,100 but not yet qualified for the Winners Group.

Jenkins and Andy Smith will also come back in Group Seven on October 20, but Denis Ovens and Mark Dudbridge were eliminated after picking up just one win on Thursday.

Group Seven will be played on Tuesday October 20 at the start of the final three days of action from Crondon Park GC in Essex, with Kirk Shepherd, Tony Eccles and Holland’s Co Stompe coming into the fray.

Group Matches
Terry Jenkins 5-6 Adrian Lewis
Wayne Jones 5-6 Andy Smith
Mark Dudbridge 2-6 Jelle Klaasen
Colin Osborne 6-3 Denis Ovens

Andy Smith 5-6 Terry Jenkins
Jelle Klaasen 3-6 Colin Osborne – Inc Klaasen nine-darter
Denis Ovens 6-5 Mark Dudbridge
Adrian Lewis 3-6 Wayne Jones

Andy Smith 2-6 Colin Osborne
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Jelle Klaasen
Denis Ovens 5-6 Wayne Jones
Adrian Lewis 5-6 Mark Dudbridge

Colin Osborne 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Andy Smith 1-6 Jelle Klaasen
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Denis Ovens
Wayne Jones 6-5 Mark Dudbridge

Wayne Jones 6-4 Colin Osborne
Mark Dudbridge 1-6 Terry Jenkins
Jelle Klaasen 6-3 Adrian Lewis
Denis Ovens 5-6 Andy Smith

Mark Dudbridge 3-6 Andy Smith
Adrian Lewis 6-1 Colin Osborne
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Wayne Jones
Terry Jenkins 6-5 Denis Ovens

Wayne Jones v Terry Jenkins
Colin Osborne 6-1 Mark Dudbridge
Denis Ovens 1-6 Jelle Klaasen
Andy Smith 0-6 Adrian Lewis

Semi-Final 1
Jelle Klaasen 6-5 Adrian Lewis

Semi-Final 2
Colin Osborne 6-4 Wayne Jones

Final
Jelle Klaasen 3-6 Colin Osborne