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WDF/BDO ENGLAND OPEN 2006 The England Open was the second WDF European Open tournament to be covered by British Eurosport and coverage was far better than with the Finland Open earlier in the year. In between the British Internationals were covered by Eurosport and weren't really successful so it was pleasing to see things get back on track somewhat with this competition. Coverage began with the quarter-finals where Scotland's Mike Veitch beat Brian Bird by 2 sets to 1. Mervyn King was on next against Welshman John Burton and King was in charge from the off. A 137 checkout took the first set and he won the next leg checking out 107. 2 sets to 0 for King and Burton must have wondered what hit him. England's Paul Gibbs won the first leg of his match against Dutchman Mario Robbe with a 101 checkout. Gibbs took the first set, Robbe the second with Gibbs winning the decider so a 2 sets to 1 victory for him. Vincent van der Voort beat Kirk Shepherd 2-0 in the remaining quarter-final. * Mervyn King seemed to lose his form and unusually for him his confidence as he was trounced 3-0 by Mike Veitch in the first semi-final whereas Paul Gibbs had to come from a set behind to win 3-1 over van der Voort, who also seemed to lose his form * Not many would have predicted a Paul Gibbs and Mike Veitch final at the start of the tournament but it did appear that the nerves finally got to Gibbs as Veitch used all of his stage experience to claw out a win. Veitch led 1-0, Gibbs levelled and the next two sets went one to each player (with Gibbs checking out a 131 in the process). Veitch's nerve held the strongest as he won the deciding set and the England Open title, but full credit to the Englishman who came from nowhere in the Darts world to reach this Open final.
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