CASH CONVERTERS PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIPS Kevin Painter wins his first PDC TV event with a 13-9 victory over Welshman Mark Webster in the final of the Players Championship Finals.
FINAL Kevin Painter 13-9 Mark Webster
KEVIN PAINTER won the first major title of his career with a brilliant 13-9 defeat of Mark Webster in the Cash Converters Players Championship final at the Doncaster Dome on Sunday night.
Painter, the 2004 World Championship runner-up when he lost to Phil Taylor in a sudden-death leg, finally held aloft major silverware by claiming the £60,000 title.
The 44-year-old had stared defeat in the face in his semi-final, coming from 9-6 against newcomer Scott Rand down to win 10-9, but turned on the style in the final with nine 180s and three ton-plus finishes.
Webster edged the final’s opening leg before Painter hit a nerve-settling 180 and double 16 to level and then broke by hitting the same bed.
However, a miss at double 18 in the next allowed Webster to win the fourth, and he then repeated the double top finish to lead 3-2.
Painter hit back with a 101 finish, and after Webster took the seventh following a 180 he then took three in a row, including a brilliant 11-darter, to move 6-4 up.
Double top gave Webster his fifth leg before a 68 finish from Painter edged him out to 7-5, although he paid the price for missing a single 20 to leave the bull in the next as the left-hander stepped in on double seven.
Any hopes Webster had of levelling the game, though, were shattered in the next as Painter hit back-to-back 180s in an 11-darter, which he followed with finishes of 110 and 104 to lead 10-6.
Double top gave Webster the next, but Painter again set up a potential nine-darter with two 180s.
He missed a seventh treble 20 for the second time, but again mopped up the leg in 12 darts to lead 11-7 before moving a leg away from victory on double 12 following two misses from the Welshman.
Webster hit double 16 to keep the game alive in the next, but his respite was brief as Painter hit a key 140 to leave 67, which he took out on double 16 before dropping to his knees in joy at the first major of his career.
Semi-Finals
Wes Newton 7-10 Mark Webster / Scott Rand 9-10 Kevin Painter
MARK WEBSTER 10-7 WES NEWTON MARK WEBSTER remains on course to win his first PDC major title after defeating Wes Newton 10-7 in the Cash Converters Players Championship semi-finals.
The Welsh left-hander, who won the 2008 Lakeside Championship, booked his place in the final at the Doncaster Dome with another assured display as he chases the £60,000 first prize.
He hit 180s in winning the first two legs before posting double ten in the third to leave Newton reeling at 3-0 down.
The Fleetwood ace hit tops to get off the mark in the fourth, and hit scores of 177 and 180 in the next to set up a potential nine-darter.
Although he was unable to achieve a perfect leg, he took out 86 for a 12-dart finish to pull back to 3-2.
Webster, though, hit a 168 to set up double ten in winning the sixth, and added tops to lead 5-2 before Newton posted two 180s and double 16 to reply.
The pair traded 180s in the ninth, with Webster’s maximum leaving 67 but only able to watch as Newton produced a 138 checkout on double nine to pull back to 5-4.
He was crucially unable to level, though, with Webster hitting double ten to edge away and 180 in setting up double nine to lead 7-4.
Newton hit double ten to win two of the next three legs, but a miss at tops for a 110 finish allowed Webster to move a leg away from victory at 9-6.
Webster would miss tops in the next, for a 106 finish, as Newton posted double eight to stay in the contest, but even a 180 from the UK Open runner-up was not enough to continue the fightback as the Welshman sealed victory on double ten.
“My finishing was pretty sharp and I’m delighted to be through,” said Webster. “I had a little bit of luck but I’ve not beaten Wes for a while so it’s nice to end that run.
“Hopefully I can go on to win the final now.” Newton admitted: “It’s disappointing for me and I felt that the little things didn’t go my way and I wasn’t able to gain any momentum. I came back into it after the start, but Mark did well and never let me get on level terms.”
Match Stats
|
Mark Webster |
10-7 |
Wes Newton |
|
24 |
100+ |
23 |
|
12 |
140+ |
6 |
|
3 |
180 |
6 |
|
31.19 |
Ave1 |
31.85 |
|
93.58 |
Ave3 |
95.54 |
|
66 |
High Finish |
138 |
|
3 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
|
10/20 – 50% |
Finishing % |
7/19 – 37% |
KEVIN PAINTER 10-9 SCOTT RAND KEVIN PAINTER produced a miracle comeback to battle from 9-6 down to end Scott Rand’s Cash
Converters Players Championship dream with a dramatic deciding-leg victory.
Rand, who has knocked out Raymond van Barneveld and James Wade in his run to a first major semi-final, continued his impressive emergence by leading 7-4 and 9-6.
However, his superb finishing faltered for the first time in the tournament has he missed two match darts for a 10-7 win as Painter took three successive legs to force a decider before snatching a sensational win on double eight.
“That’s one of the most incredible games I’ve ever been involved in,” admitted Painter, the 2004 World Championship runner-up.
“I thought I played well even though I was behind for most of the match. My scoring was good but I was sat on a finish a lot of times when Scott
won legs and he never seemed to miss until that leg at the death.
“I put him under some pressure there at the end but I expected him to hit the double 16 for the match. He didn’t and I took my chance.”
Rand, nicknamed Cool Hand, showed few nerves in his first major semi-final by hitting 180s in winning each of the first two legs, landing double 16 and double eight.
Painter finished 96 on double 18 to get off the mark and then took out 130 on the bull to level, and shared the next two legs before Rand hit a 13-darter to take the seventh and punished misses from his opponent by taking out double 16 and 112 to lead 6-3.
Painter hit a 180 and finished 63 to win a fourth leg, before Rand took out 85 on tops to remain three legs clear at 7-4.
The pair traded double 16 checkouts before Painter pulled back to 8-6 by hitting a 180 and a second 96 finish of the game.
Rand, though, took out 76 to move a leg away from victory at 9-6 as he moved to within touching distance of a first major final after under two years as a professional.
Painter matched that 76 finish to begin his fightback, and when Rand saw two match darts at double 16 land outside
the wire he finished tops to pull back to 9-8.
Double ten from Painter forced a decider, in which he was the stronger against the throw to mean that a 180 from Rand was in vain as he took out double eight to joyfully celebrate a remarkable comeback.
“It’s the first time this week that I’ve wobbled on the doubles when I was on the double 16,” admitted Rand. “My hand was shaking but I’m sure I’ll have many more nights like this.
“Kevin’s experience paid off and I can see how important that experience is now. It’s been a very enjoyable weekend and
I’m excited about the World Championship now.
“I’ll be back driving lorries on Monday morning but one day I’d love to give that up and be a full-time professional. If I’d won the final I could have done that straight away, but it wasn’t to be.”
Match Stats
|
Kevin Painter |
10-9 |
Scott Rand |
|
30 |
100+ |
23 |
|
12 |
140+ |
12 |
|
4 |
180 |
4 |
|
32.62 |
Ave1 |
31.69 |
|
97.85 |
Ave3 |
95.06 |
|
130 |
High Finish |
112 |
|
3 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
|
10/20 – 50% |
Finishing % |
9/16 – 56% |
1/4 FINALS
Mark Walsh 5-9 Wes Newton
Scott Rand 9-5 James Wade
Kevin Painter 9-7 Mervyn King
Mark Webster 9-7 Dave Chisnall
Best of 17 legs
UPDATES from Sunday afternoon’s Cash Converters Players Championship quarter-finals, as the last eight players continue their bid to take the £60,000 title at the Doncaster Dome.
The quarter-finals will be followed in Sunday’s evening session by the semi-finals.
Tickets!
Tickets are still available for both sessions on Sunday, with extra tickets released for the evening session. Tickets can be booked in advance by
calling the Doncaster Dome Box Office on 01302 370 777 or in person at the venue.
Watch Live!
Coverage of the Cash Converters Players Championship is live on ITV4. LIVEPDC.TV International Pass subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland & Holland) can watch live coverage online through LIVEPDC.TV. Highlights from every game will also be available to all LIVEPDC.TV subscribers. Click here to visit LIVEPDC.TV.
QUARTER FINALS
WES NEWTON 9-5 MARK WALSH WES NEWTON hit back-to-back 170 checkouts to take a 9-5 win over Mark Walsh and win through to the semi-finals of the Cash Converters Players Championship.
The Fleetwood ace created a piece of history by taking the game’s final two legs with the maximum finish, as he moved into his second major semi-final of 2011.
Having been defeated in June’s UK Open final, the 34-year-old will now bid to claim his maiden major title on Sunday night, with both the semi-finals and final taking place at the Doncaster Dome.
“The 170s were special and it’s lovely to win a match like that,” admitted Newton. “My finishes are going in and I hit them when I had the chance there, so hopefully I can take that into the semis now.
“I was fighting all the way there and I can score better, but I’m through and that’s all that matters.
“I was nervous coming into this game so I’m relieved to be through, but I’ll relax now ahead of the semis.”
Walsh edged the opening exchanges, hitting a 180 in taking the first leg and 108 to win the third after Newton had hit double ten to level.
The Fleetwood ace, though, finished a showpiece 100 with two double tops in the third and then finished 103 to break and lead 3-2, despite Walsh opening the leg with a maximum.
He then finished double top and double ten to win the next two and take a 5-2 lead, although Walsh hit back well to win the next two, hitting a 180 and double six for a third leg and double four to win his fourth.
Newton kicked off the tenth with a maximum – his second in as many legs – and finished double top to move 6-4 up.
Walsh replied on double 16, but Newton won a seventh leg to regain a two-leg advantage and went on to seal the victory with his brace of show-stopping 170s.
Match Stats
|
Mark Walsh |
5-9 |
Wes Newton |
|
15 |
100+ |
13 |
|
11 |
140+ |
8 |
|
4 |
180 |
4 |
|
30.41 |
Ave1 |
30.39 |
|
91.22 |
Ave3 |
91.18 |
|
108 |
High Finish |
170×2, 103, 100 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
5/13 – 38% |
Finishing % |
9/16 – 56% |
SCOTT RAND 9-5 JAMES WADE SCOTT RAND’S incredible weekend at the Cash Converters Players Championship continued as he defeated world number three James Wade 9-5 to win through to the semi-finals at the Doncaster Dome.
The lorry driver from Coventry’s dream of winning the £60,000 title and giving up his day job to become a full-time professional continues after he followed up Saturday’s defeat of Raymond van Barneveld with another major scalp.
Wade led 3-1 early on, but Rand took charge with a run of five successive legs in mid-game before holding his nerve to reach the last four in only his fourth major tournament.
“It’s another great win for me,” said Rand. “I love playing on the stage and it’s going really well for me so far.
“I’ve beaten another established player and it would be good to shake it up a bit more. It would be amazing to be able to give up work and do this for a living, and I’ve got a great chance tonight to make that a reality.”
Wade had taken the game’s opening leg against the throw on double top, after Rand missed the bull, and posted double five to double his lead in the second in a strong start.
Rand hit a 180 and punished a miss from the left-hander to post double 16 and get off the mark, although Wade replied in style with a maximum of his own in the fourth, hitting tops to move 3-1 up.
Rand won the fifth with a 13-darter which included another 180, but missed his chance to level in the sixth as double ten saw Wade regain a two-leg lead.
That advantage was cut when Rand took out a 14-darter on double nine and then finished 102 to break Wade’s throw and level.
He then landed double eight to lead for the first time and hit the same bed for a 6-4 lead before taking a fifth successive leg, finishing 81 for a 12-darter despite a 180 from Wade.
Wade hit back by checking out 40 with an improvised double five and double 15, but was left waiting on a finish in the next as Rand finished double eight to move a leg away from victory at 8-5.
A fourth 180 of the game saw Rand first to a finish in the next as he left 90 before returning to take out the combination on the bull for another famous win.
Wade admitted: “I didn’t play well enough to win and he did a good job to beat me. I’ll regroup from this and get ready for the World Championship now.”
Match Stats
|
Scott Rand |
9-5 |
James Wade |
|
20 |
100+ |
25 |
|
9 |
140+ |
11 |
|
4 |
180 |
2 |
|
33.04 |
Ave1 |
31.59 |
|
99.12 |
Ave3 |
94.77 |
|
102 |
High Finish |
40 |
|
3 |
Breaks of Throw |
1 |
|
9/19 – 50% |
Finishing % |
5/18 – 28% |
KEVIN PAINTER 9-7 MERVYN KING KEVIN PAINTER won through to his first major semi-final since 2009 with a 9-7 win over Mervyn King in the Cash Converters Players Championship on Sunday afternoon.
The former World Championship finalist followed up his second round win over Gary Anderson on Saturday night with another strong performance, hitting over 40 percent of his chances at a double to see off King.
King had knocked out reigning champion and world number one Phil Taylor on Saturday night, but was unable to repeat the performance has he exited the tournament.
King did hold the edge early on, finishing 84 on the bull in the opening leg and also winning the third, with Painter hitting double 18 in leg two but unable to land two darts at the bed in the next as his opponent capitalised on double five.
Painter stepped in following misses from King to level in the fourth, and then finished double eight in three successive legs to move 5-2 up.
Painter’s winning run was ended in the next leg when he missed tops and King landed double ten, but was unable to hit the bull for a 124 checkout as Painter finished double four for a 14-darter in regaining his advantage.
King replied in kind with a 180 and hit double six to win a fourth leg, only to then burst his score when needing 70 to allow Painter in to hit double 16, before double ten moved him 8-4 up.
King battled to keep the match alive by winning the next two legs, hitting a pair of maximums and finishes of 69 and double two to pull back to 8-6.
Painter then missed the bull for a 122 checkout as King reduced the gap to one leg by landing the bull himself to finish 86.
Painter, though, hit four ton-plus scores in the next leg and finished double 15 to secure his place in the semis, where he meets Scott Rand.
“To beat Mervyn is a great victory for me because he’s a class player,” said Painter. “I often moan about having bad luck but I’ve had some good luck in this event with a couple of top players under-performing against me.
“I’m playing well and I’ve taken advantage by nicking legs where I can. My scoring’s not been as good as I’d like but my finishing has been good.”
King admitted: “I couldn’t find my doubles in the first eight legs and I didn’t score like I can. Kevin took advantage and he was the better player on the day.
” Match Stats “
|
Kevin Painter |
9-7 |
Mervyn King |
|
27 |
100+ |
17 |
|
8 |
140+ |
13 |
|
2 |
180 |
4 |
|
30.34 |
Ave1 |
29.14 |
|
91.02 |
Ave3 |
87.42 |
|
86 |
High Finish |
86 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
9/22 – 41% |
Finishing % |
7/26 – 27% |
MARK WEBSTER 9-8 DAVE CHISNALL MARK WEBSTER edged a dramatic 17-leg thriller with Dave Chisnall to win through to the semi-finals of the Cash Converters Players Championship in a tight last eight contest.
Chisnall, seeking to reach his first major PDC semi-final, led 3-1 early on but saw the lead slip away as Webster took five successive legs to move into a 7-4 lead.
He also took an 8-5 lead but was unable to close out victory as Chisnall clawed his way back to level, before Webster finally secured the win with his 11th match dart.
“It was scrappy at times but it was an exciting game too and I’m glad to be through,” said Webster, who now plays Wes Newton in the semis.
“I’d have kicked myself if I’d lost that after being in that position but I scraped through and I’ll prepare for the semis now. I’m getting back on the practice board and will work on my doubles a bit.”
Webster hit a 180 in the game’s opening leg, but Chisnall replied in kind before landing double 18 to lead.
Webster landed another maximum in the second, levelling on double two, but Chisnall finished 66 and 74 on double top to win the next two and move 3-1 up.
Tops gave Webster a second leg, but Chisnall landed the same double to win the next following four misses from the Welshman and take a 4-2 cushion.
Webster, though, continued the clinical finishing on tops to hit the bed in winnning the next four legs as he turned a two leg deficit into a two leg lead, and he then hit a 180 and a 100 finish in a 12-darter to move 7-4 up.
Chisnall hit back on double 16 and hit a 180 in being first to a finish in the 13th leg – but he crucially missed seven darts at a double before Webster stepped in on tops to move a leg away from victory.
The St Helens ace opened the next with back-to-back 180s, but after seeing a potential nine-darter go begging he suffered further double trouble to give Webster his chance to take the win.
The Welshman, though, was unable to capitalise with one dart at tops and three on the wire of double ten, with Chisnall posting double two to stay alive.
When Webster missed double 12, six and three to take victory in the 16th leg Chisnall again stepped in, this time taking out 68 on tops to force a decider.
However, Chisnall’s trebles deserted him in his first four visits to the oche as Webster moved clear.
The St Helens man then posted a 180, but it came in vain as Webster returned from three more missed match darts to hit double five and finally reach the semis.
“I’m disappointed to have lost but it was a great game,” said Chisnall. “It took my a while to get going and when I got my scoring going it flowed for me but I was unlucky with a few doubles.”
Match Stats
|
Mark Webster |
9-8 |
Dave Chisnall |
|
25 |
100+ |
15 |
|
8 |
140+ |
12 |
|
5 |
180 |
6 |
|
30.76 |
Ave1 |
30.12 |
|
92.27 |
Ave3 |
90.37 |
|
100 |
High Finish |
85 |
|
6 |
Breaks of Throw |
5 |
|
9/32 – 28% |
Finishing % |
8/27 – 30% |
Last Players Championships Phil Taylor beat Gary Anderson 16-15
Tickets are available all sessions of the Cash Converters Players Championship, either in person from the Doncaster Dome Box Office or by calling 01302 370 777, with a buy one, get one free offer available for tickets for the opening night on Thursday December 8.
Cash Converters Players Championship Schedule of Play
Thursday December 8
First Round
Jamie Caven 2-6 Scott Rand
Mark Walsh 6-3 Mark Hylton
Peter Wright 6-4 Denis Ovens
John Part 0-6 Wayne Jones
Wes Newton 6-3 Richie Burnett
Ronnie Baxter 3-6 Raymond van Barneveld
James Wade 6-4 Andy Smith
Paul Nicholson 5-6 Steve Brown
Friday December 9 (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Alan Tabern
Colin Osborne 2-6 Kevin Painter
Vincent van der Voort 1-6 Co Stompe
Mervyn King 6-4 Colin Lloyd
Justin Pipe 6-1 John Henderson
Phil Taylor 6-4 Terry Jenkins
Mark Webster 6-2 Steve Beaton
Gary Anderson 6-0 Michael van Gerwen
Saturday December 10
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Second Round
1.05pm Wes Newton 8-6 Peter Wright
2.05pm Wayne Jones 2-8 Mark Walsh
3.05pm Steve Brown 6-8 James Wade
4.05pm Raymond van Barneveld 6-8 Scott Rand
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
7.05pm Co Stompe 2-8 Dave Chisnall
8.05pm Justin Pipe 7-8 Mark Webster
9.05pm Phil Taylor 5-8 Mervyn King
10.05pm Gary Anderson v Kevin Painter
Sunday December 11
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Quarter-Finals
1.05pm Mark Walsh 5-9 Wes Newton
2.05pm Scott Rand 9-5 James Wade
3.05pm Kevin Painter 9-7 Mervyn King
4.05pm Mark Webster 9-7 Dave Chisnall
Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Semi-Finals
7.05pm Wes Newton 7-10 Mark Webster
8.15pm Scott Rand 9-10 Kevin Painter
Final
9.45pm Kevin Painter 13-9 Mark Webster
Format
First Round Best of 11 legs
Second Round Best of 15 legs
Quarter-Finals Best of 17 legs
Semi-Finals Best of 19 legs
Final Best of 25 legs
Prize Fund
Winner £60,000
Runner-Up £24,000
Semi-Finalists £15,000
Quarter-Finalists £10,000
Second Round Losers £6,000
First Round Losers £3,000
Total £250,000