PDC WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP 2006

 report by Andy Fairclough

Without doubt the biggest and most prosperous World Darts Championship in history kicked off at the Circus Tavern at Purfleet on the 19^th December 2005. Sponsored by Ladbrokes.com, there was a million pounds in prize money (with £100,000 for the winner) on offer and 64 of the world's best competing. No hiding place for the big stars either as they were thrown into competition from round one this year which featured a whopping 32 matches.

ROUND ONE

Kicking off proceedings was "Snakeman" Steve Alker who impressed earlier in 2005 at the UK Open. His opponent was Alan Caves who despite a handful of appearances on TV was yet to win a televised match. Alker began in style averaging around 98 and took the first set. He began to miss in the second set before finding his form again. Caves had his moments but overall a fairly comfortable 3-1 win for Alker.

Jason Clark started well against a lacklustre Steve Maish and took the first set. Maish improved however and checked out a 103 finish to make it 2 legs a piece in the fourth set (with Clark leading 2 sets to 1). Maish then took the set to level the match with both players averaging 89. Clark however took the decider and the match.

Adrian Lewis made light work of Dave Honey in his 3-0 win, although the latter put in an impressive debut at Purfleet.

Wes Newton had no trouble winning 3-0 against Japanese representative Yasuhiko Matsunaga and John Part disposed of Chinese rep. Liu Cheng An by the same score.

Steve Beaton was not on form against "Tweety Pie" Jan Van Der Rassel and despite the Dutchman missing doubles he coasted to a 3-0 win. Business as usual for Phil Taylor in a 3-0 win over David Platt and hotly tipped James Wade let a 2 sets to 0 lead slip against Wayne Jones who clawed the match back to win 3-2.

Onto the second day's play and East Anglia's Darren Webster saw a 1 set lead overturned by Dutchman Erwin Extercatte, who went on to win the match by 3 sets to 2. Mark Walsh made light work  of New Zealand's Warren Parry winning 3-0 and including a 161 checkout in the match.

Qualifier Mark Salmon was looking good against Dennis Smith taking a 2 sets to 0 lead. However Smith found the form that stood him in good stead at the Matchplay and Grand Prix tournaments to claw the match back to 2 sets apiece. In the first tiebreak of the tournament Dennis Smith eventually won the deciding set by 6 legs to 4.

A poor year for Lionel Sams culminated in a whitewash 3-0 defeat at the hands of American John Kuczynski.

Belgium's Patrick Bulen looked impressive at times against Andy Jenkins, but "Rocky" ultimately had too much class. Jenkins took the first set with a 134 checkout and the second set was lively with a 102 checkout to Bulen in the first leg and Jenkins taking out 108 in the fourth to make it 2 legs all. Bulen took the decider to level the match at 1 set each. Jenkins stormed on from then to a 3 sets to 1 win as the Belgian faded.

Roland Scholten blitzed returning veteran Dave Whitcombe in the first 2 sets of their encounter before the twice World finalist checked out 106 and then 112 to take the third set. Scholten stayed steady however to win 3-1.

Colin Lloyd looked to be cruising against Gary Welding leading 2 sets to 0 and averaging around 109. Welding upped his game tremendously to claw the match back and checked out 116 to make it 2 legs to 0 in a deciding fifth set. That was probably the killer blow as the world number one fell at the first hurdle to the man from Yorkshire.

Tuesday's play was rounded off with Peter Manley beating qualifier Kevin Spiolek 3-0.

Onto Wednesday and Denis Ovens chalked up an opening 3 sets to 1 win over Geoff Wylie.

"Mr Magoo"  John Magowan then took on Dennis Priestley in a match which found "The Menace" in inspired form. In the first set both players were averaging over 104 and it was the Irish veteran that took it. Priestley levelled with the second set and checked out 120 to lead 2-0 in the third. He followed this with a 113 finish and a 2 sets  to 1 lead. Priestley soon took the match averaging a highly respectable 95.

In a top drawer match Terry Jenkins pipped Jimmy Mann by 3 sets to 2 averaging just under 100 and Matt Clark progressed to round 2 with a 3-0 win over Ken Woods.

Bob Anderson against Andy Hamilton was always going to be a tight and intriguing match and it didn't disappoint. Anderson took the first set with Hamilton taking the second courtesy of  134 and 112 checkouts along the way. Anderson hit a 116 himself and pipped the deciding leg in the third set to lead 2-1. Hamilton levelled the match with both players scoring around a 90 average and then "The Hammer" saved the match with an 11 dart leg to force a tiebreak and 2 legs all in the last set. Hamilton, the 'other man' from Stoke won the next two legs and booked his place in round two.

Wayne Mardle suffered a few missed doubles but they weren't to count in the scheme of things as he sent Australian qualifier Brian Roach out of the tournament at the first hurdle. Mardle won 3-1 and his best checkout was a 160 in set 2.

In a scrappy match Mark Dudbridge beat Darin Young 3-0 but with far too many missed doubles along the way. One of the shocks of the first round was American Ray Carver taking out Ronnie Baxter with an impressive 3-2 win. The match went to a tiebreak which Carver won 5-3 (checking out 101 in the 7th leg at a crucial point).

Onto Thursday's play and the consistency of German Tomas Seyler was too much for "Bravedart" Jamie Harvey as he crashed out 3-0, while Erik Clarys faced little competition from the West Indies' Winston Cadogan. Known for his wild outshots, Clarys amazed the commentary team by checking out 124 – T14, T14, D20. Logical really because an S14, leaves 110 – still a two dart shot.

Andy Smith beat Colin Monk 3-0 and Gerry Convery beat Dave Askew by the same score.

Qualifier Alan Tabern turned the heat on Alex Roy and led throughout. Roy clawed back to 2 sets each but Tabern persevered to win. Kevin Painter showed his class to take out Wes' younger brother Dale Newton 3-1 and Chris Mason had to battle to beat Steve Hine by the same score. Last match of round one saw Alan Warriner-Little beat German Andree Welge 3-0.

ROUND TWO

After the Christmas break the players returned to the Circus Tavern for round two – the last 32 stage.

The first match on Boxing day was a cracker that made stars out of the two participants. American number 1 John Kuczynski against the bright yellow shirt clad Dutchman who always had a smile, Jan van der Rassel. On fire from the first leg Kuczynski kicked off in impressive style with a 164 checkout. The first set followed and then van der Rassel squared the match. Kuczynski was playing top level darts and he took the next 2 sets to lead 3-1. However van der Rassel wasn't finished and he won the next 2 sets to square the game and take the match to the last. Kuczynski was shading the scoring with a 90 average to Rassel's 86. The match went to a tiebreak at 2 legs each and then incredibly went to 5 legs each and therefore 'sudden death'. Kuczynski took the leg and the match. What a way to start round two!

Andy Jenkins got off to a good start taking the first set against Wayne Jones but the match stayed close and soon was 2 sets all. Jones took the next set before Jenkins squared the match again, so the second successive game to go to a deciding set. Jones threw the crucial finish in the second leg with a 141 checkout to put him 2-0 up in the set. The match soon followed 4-3 to Jones and his second big scalp of the tournament.

Gary Welding proved it was no fluke against Colin Lloyd by convincingly beating Erwin Extercatte 4-1 and Peter Manley had to come from 2 sets to 1 down to  ultimately beat Jason Clark 4-3.

Steve Alker soared on beating Denis Ovens 4-1 while Dennis Smith rather surprisingly beat Mark Walsh 4-0. Roland Scholten ultimately had too much experience and class for Tomas Seyler as he won 4-2.

Another absolute stormer of a match featured wonderkid Adrian Lewis against in form again veteran Dennis Priestley. Lewis got off to a phenomenal start and took the first set forcing Priestley to check out 116 at the start of set 2 (Lewis averaging 114 to Priestley's 97). The second set went to 2 legs each and Lewis took the decider to lead 2-0 (averaging 107). Set 3 again went to a deciding leg and this time Priestley won it checking out 110. Set 4 and the averages dipped slightly (Lewis 96, Priestley 89) and it was Priestley who managed to square the match at 2 sets all. Lewis won the next leg with a 129 finish and took the set 3-0 to lead 3 sets to 2. Lewis soon won the match in an impressive last set including an 11 dart game in leg 2.

After beating his younger brother Dale, Kevin Painter had to face more accomplished older brother Wes Newton in round 2. The Fleetwood man started well taking the first set and then it was 'even stevens', as the match went to 2 sets all. Newton won the fifth set 3-0 and Painter then squared the match before taking the decider. So Painter into round 3.

Matt Clark surprisingly won the first set against Phil Taylor but after that it was all one way as Taylor cruised to a 4-1 win. Mark Dudbridge then made light work of Alan Tabern with a 4-0 victory.

Andy Hamilton beat Terry Jenkins 4-1 and then American Ray Carver took on "Pieman" Andy Smith. It was nip and tuck to 3 sets all and another deciding set and tiebreak situation. Andy Smith checked out 136 to lead 3 legs to 2 and then took the next leg and the match.

Alan Warriner-Little beat Gerry Convery 4-0 and Wayne Mardle beat a disappointing Erik Clarys 4-1. Clarys took the first set but after Mardle equalised it was all one way traffic.

After a few lacklustre matches, the tournament soared back to life as Chris Mason took on John Part. In the first round Mason struggled to find his form against Steve Hine, whereas Part coasted through against the Chinese qualifier. Part set out his stall checking out the first leg with a 113 checkout and the first set soon followed. Mason won the second set (Mason averaging 100, Part on 92). Set 3 went to Mason and Part began set 4 with a 167 checkout. Next leg Mason checked out on 136. The fourth set went to 2 legs apiece with Part taking the deciding leg and therefore squaring the match at 2 sets all (Mason 99 average, Part 95). Part went 2 legs up in the next set courtesy of a 127 finish and Mason pulled the set back to 2-2. Part again took the deciding leg and went back in front in the match. Mason led 2 legs to 1 in set 6 with a 117 checkout and the set followed so now 3 sets each and down to a final set. Part took the first two legs, Mason the next but it wasn't enough as Part took the match 4 sets to 3. A match played with excellent sportsmanship with each player congratulating the other for their excellent outshots. Mason hit an amazing 12 x 180 during the contest.

LAST 16

Gary Welding and John Kuczynski couldn't be separated, with the American keeping his nose in front at 2 sets to 1. Welding levelled the match and then checked out 120 on his way to leading 3 sets to 2. The sixth set also went Welding's way and therefore a 4-2 win to "Capper".

Wayne Jones took the first set in his match against Steve Alker with the Welshman taking the second (Jones averaging 92, Alker 98). Jones took the deciding fifth leg in the next set to lead 2-1 (Jones 92, Alker 95). The next set also went to Jones and the fifth set also went to a deciding leg. It wasn't to be Steve Alker's night as Jones took the leg and booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win.

Peter Manley just had the edge on Dennis Smith and won 4-3.

Adrian Lewis' name always sparked an interest no matter who he played and there was little doubt that his match against Roland Scholten would be a classic. Scholten took the first set, and set 2 went to a deciding leg (Lewis averaging 103, Scholten 101). Scholten took set 2 to lead 2-0. Lewis fought back to take the next two sets (Lewis averaging 101, Scholten 95). Lewis looked on his way to victory as he took the fifth set, but Scholten hasn't risen to the very highest points in the world rankings for nothing and he took the sixth set 3-0. So now its was 3 sets all and a decider to determine the winner. Lewis checked out an amazing 160 in the first leg and stayed firm to cross the finish line 4 sets to 3 winner. A 95 average to Lewis as well with Scholten finishing with a highly respectable 92 average.

Alan Warriner-Little beat Andy Smith 4-2 with the latter not showing his form from earlier in the tournament.

Another very tasty prospect that didn't disappoint was John Part against Wayne Mardle. Mardle took the first set with a 126 checkout and Part banged in a 108 finish of his own to lead 2-0 in the second and then he levelled the match at a set apiece. Mardle took the third set despite Part thus far having the higher average (95 to Mardle's 89). Part levelled again to make it 2-2 and Mardle once again went a set in front. Part checked out 119 to lead 2-1 in the next set but it wasn't to be as Mardle took the next two legs and with them the match to win 4 sets to 2.

Andy Hamilton had said that he was looking to play Phil Taylor to use it as a benchmark to see how good he really was, having already of course reached the World Championship quarter-finals the previous year. Hamilton played consistently well throughout the game but it was one of those famous Taylor nights where he could do nothing wrong. Taylor won 4-0 with a 108.3 average checking out finishes of 121, 117, 133 and 125 en route. Hamilton continued to prove his class throughout, even hitting a 10 dart leg in the fourth and last set.

Though there wasn't much difference in the averages (around 93 at the midpoint), Kevin Painter once he got in front at 2 sets to 1, raced for the finish line to clock up a 4 sets to 1 win over Mark Dudbridge. Painter indeed upped his average to 96 by the end of the match.

QUARTER FINALS

Gary Welding's consistency in the tournament deserted him as he was thrashed 5-0 by Wayne Jones in the first quarter-final.

Then came the game that got everybody talking for the rest of the championships and way beyond and I am sure a match that will go down as one of the most memorable of all time, though maybe not for the right reasons. Few gave Peter Manley hope against the red hot form of Taylor protégé, Adrian Lewis but "One Dart" had other ideas and proceeded to use every gamesmanship trick in the book against his opponent. Manley took the first two sets with Lewis already indicating that Manley's slow dart retrieval and bustling close or into the exclusion zone was upsetting him. Lewis won the next set and seemed on the way to the fourth when Manley checked out 116 to make it 2 legs each. Manley then checked out a classy 160 to go make it 3-1. Whatever the atmosphere on the oche, you could not deny that Manley was throwing superbly. After appearing to have settled the atmosphere between them, things turned nasty again later in the match with Lewis clearly distressed. It appeared to the tv cameras that Manley muttered something to Lewis as he was about to throw. Lewis then walked off the stage. Russ Bray the referee went back stage to speak to both players and the rest of the match passed without incident, but Lewis clearly had suffered from the head games. Manley's 101 checkout to make it 4 sets to 2 was probably just about the end for Lewis even though he took the next set. Manley wrapped the match up by winning 5 sets to 3 to book his place controversially in the semi-finals.

Wayne Mardle against Alan Warriner-Little certainly got off to a lively start with Mardle hitting 8 perfect darts of a potential 9 darter in the second leg, which he amazingly then lost. It was all rather plain sailing for Mardle as he beat the "Iceman" 5 sets to 0.

Phil Taylor against Kevin Painter is always eagerly anticipated since their epic World Final encounter a couple of years ago. The 'needle' of last year's match was missing in this good spirited encounter and to be fair Painter never seemed likely to recover the match after "The Power" had gone 3 sets to 1 up. At that point Taylor was averaging around 105 to Painter's respectable 94. Taylor kept it up while Painter lost a bit of steam, 5-1 to Taylor.

SEMI-FINALS

Peter Manley absolutely  blitzed Wayne Jones in the first semi-final playing some terrific darts. At the end of the fourth set with Manley leading 4-0 he was averaging 99. A 144 then a 156 checkout hastened on 'One Dart' to a 6-0 win.

Wayne Mardle has in the past struggled in his encounters with Phil Taylor and possibly had Taylor been on his normal game the same might have happened again. However an apparently nervous Phil Taylor struggled from the off in what was to become a classic match. Taylor raced to a 3 sets to 0 lead courtesy of Mardle missing some key doubles. From there on many would have tipped Taylor to coast through but 'Hawaii 501' had other ideas. A 101 checkout to lead 2-1 in the fifth set was pivotal as Wayne Mardle retrieved the set deficit to 3-2. Mardle was 2-1 up in the next set as well but Taylor checked out a cool 123 to make it 2-2. Mardle again took the decisive leg to level the match. A 106 checkout in the next leg for Mardle and again the edge in another five leg set put Mardle ahead 4-3, having won 4 sets in succession. Another five leg set saw Taylor level the match at 4-4 (both players on a 95 average). Mardle blitzed in a 112 checkout to lead 2-1 in the next before Taylor made it 2-2 again. Mardle took the decisive leg to now lead 5-4 with just one set needed for a memorable victory. Taylor however persevered and won the next two sets which both went his way 3-1. A cracking game and once again Taylor gets the rub of the green.

THE FINAL

Some more comments made by Peter Manley the night before criticising Phil Taylor's daughter for cheering Wayne Jones only added smoke to the already healthy fire to the final.

Unfortunately someone poured some cold water on the embers as Manley was brushed aside in a 7-0 whitewash. Although Manley didn't play quite as well as in his previous two matches he still put in a credible performance.

Taylor however was in no mood for messing around after his disappointing performance the night before. A 170 finish in the second leg set out the stall for Taylor who averaged over 100 throughout, finishing on a 106 average. Manley checked out a 141 and a 105 in the match but it was all Taylor and a well deserved incredible 13^th world title and of course a £100,000 winners cheque.

SUPERSTARS OF DARTS