PDC SKYBET WORLD GRAND PRIX 2006 – a  review

The World Grand Prix just outside of Dublin always throws up its fair share of shocks. The double to start format is enough to make even the hardiest of darts professionals quake in his boots. Especially in round 1 when just 6 legs can see you through … or on the trip back home  before you've had chance to say "Mine's a Guinness!"

This year had the added spice of PDC newboy Raymond van Barneveld thrown into the fray as he had qualified through  the appropriate PDPA event and if all went to plan he was due to face 'The Power' as early as round two.

ROUND ONE

First match on the oche saw Las Vegas Champion John Part against Lionel Sams. Part was read hot favourite and started as per the form book taking the first set. Starting set 2 with a 14 dart leg Part seemed to be on his way to round two before Sams broke throw following some wayward darts from the Canadian. Two more breaks of throw saw the set tied at 2 apiece with Part clearly appearing to be suffering from the heat on stage. Sams took the set and immediately took the first leg of the decider against throw. The advantage had definitely swung the way of the Londoner and a spectacular 136 checkout saw Sams head into round two.

Kevin Painter against Andy Callaby could have been billed as 'battle of the tactics'. Both players were using on stage gamesmanship to try and throw their opponent off rhythm. Painter seemed to be the most affected, clearly looking irritated with Callaby from time to time. Callaby broke throw in leg 3 and went on to win the first set. Painter roared back with a 103 finish and 3 successive breaks of throw saw the set tied at 2 legs apiece. Callaby missed a number of doubles for the match but was still able to check out first and sending Painter home.

The battle of the Jenkins, Andy vs Terry was very close with Andy taking the first set. Terry won set two by 3-0 before Andy took a 2-0 lead in the decider. Terry Jenkins had to pull out all the stops – and he did to take three legs on the spin to win the encounter.

Anto McCracken was a real local qualifier – he lived within 20 minutes walk of the venue. He was also to become a real local favourite during the week. Facing an out of sorts Mark Walsh, McCracken took the first set. Walsh showed some class in the second set and won it 3-1 to level the game. But it was the Irish eyes that were smiling as McCracken took a famous victory and booked his place in the second round.

Colin Lloyd against Bob Anderson was a real top quality game. If Lloyd had brought his "A" game to the Oche then Bob Anderson found his "A+" game. Lloyd took the first set, Anderson the second setting up a taut decider. Anderson broke and Lloyd came straight back to make it 1-1 (Anderson 91, Lloyd 95 – averages). Anderson took the third leg and then checked out the match in style with a terrific 146.

Peter Manley checked out 130 to win the second leg inhis match against Chris Mason and it wasn't long before the emotional demons that have conquered Chris Mason before were on full show at the City West. Manley took a 2-1 lead with a break of throw and was soon a set up courtesy of an impressive 11dart leg. Mason broke to take the first leg of set 2 but Manley came straight back. Mason looked dejected and Manley soon was through to the second round by 2 sets to 0.

Wayne Mardle looked impressive in his first game against Denis Ovens winning the first set in the deciding leg. A break for Mardle followed and he held throw to make it a 2 leg advantage (Mardle 91.7, Ovens 80 – averages). Mardle took  the next leg for a relatively straightforward 2-0 win.

Roland Scholten outscored and outfinished Dave Askew during his 2-0 win checking out 116 and 111 on the way to victory. Dennis Priestley also had little troubler from qualifier Geoff Matthews as he sailed through 2-0.

Mark Dudbridge put in a 13 dart leg to take the first set against Steve Beaton to a deciding leg which was won by Beaton. Dudbridge fought back with a 103 checkout but Beaton took two in a row including the first break of throw of the match. Victory soon followed 2-0 but The Adonis didn't have it as easy at the scoreline suggests.

Alan Warriner-Little had a really tough first round tie lined up against 4 time world champion Raymond van Barneveld. Warriner had recently turned full time pro once again and it showed as he played arguably his best darts on the big stage for a long time. Barneveld won the first leg against the throw and made a statement of intent and then held his own throw. Warriner checked out 104 to make it 1-2 then Barneveld took out 107 for the first set. A 143 to take the first leg of set 2 for Barneveld would have killed off a lesser opponent but Warriner came back to take the set to a deciding leg after Barneveld missed 2 darts for the match. Warriner-Little won the set to make it a level game. Barneveld however stormed through the deciding set to win 2-1.

Pieman Andy Smith made light work out of qualifier Garrett Gray winning 2 sets to 0 and finishing the match in style with a 100 checked out by S20, D20,D20!

Phil Taylor had slipped up twice before in the first round of the World Grand Prix and I am sure Andy Callaby and Kevin Painter will happily recount their stories to you. Taylor looked a little out of sorts perhaps remembering what had happened in previous years but he beat Wes Newton 2-0 to move to round two pursuing a potential seventh World Grand Prix win.

Many thought Adrian Lewis against Barrie Bates would be too close to call but Lewis got off to a flier  winning the first set  3-0. Bates took the first leg of set two before Lewis held throw with the only whitewash of the tournament (Lewis had won his game before Bates had achievied his double to start). The second set went to a decider but Lewis took it to move into round 2.

Ronnie Baxter beat Dangerscouse Alan Green 2-0 but Green had his moments taking a leg in both sets. Baxter's highlight was a 160 finish in the second set which pushed him on his way to victory.

Last match of round one saw James Wade dispose of Paul Watton 2-0 but again the qualifier played  his part in the match winning 3 legs overall.

ROUND TWO

Andy Smith beat Wayne Mardle by 3 sets to 0 in a match that wwas closer than the scoreline suggests. However a big scalp for the Pieman and Mardle's premier league spot for 2007 was now in jeopardy with the likes of Adrian Lewis, Terry Jenkins and Ronnie Baxter all fighting for a place in the prestigious competition.

Andy Callaby took the first set off Terry Jenkins in the deciding leg with a break of throw, however Jenkins took the next two. Callaby levelled the match before Jenkins held firm to take the final set and move into the quarter finals.

Bob Anderson showed too much class for local favourite Anto McCracken to make much of an impression. Anderson checked out 110 in the first set which he won and fair play to the brave Irishman he wrestled the second set in the deciding leg. Anderson launched set 3 with a 149 checkout and took it 3-0. The match soon followed 3-1 to Anderson and a well deserved place in the quarter-finals.

Peter Manley broke Lionel Sams twice to win the first set of their encounter but an impressive second set from Sams saw him level the game. Manley started set 3 with a 100 checkout (a break of throw) and soon had a 2 sets to 1 lead. A 116 checkout for Manley came next and a 2 sets to 1 win.

James Wade took the first set in his match against Ronnie Baxter in the deciding leg and he checked out 120 to make it 2 sets to 0 (both players averaging 86). Baxter took out 119 to break at the start of set 3 but Wade broke straight back and then held his throw to win the match 3-0.

Steve Beaton went 2 legs up against Roland Scholten before the Dutchman pegged back to 2-2 with Beaton nicking the decider for the first set. Scholten hit a 100 finish on his way to winning set 2 and he then took set 3 in the deciding leg. The fourth set soon followed with Scholten through to the quarters.

Undoubtedly the match of the second round was yet another chapter in the book of Taylor and Barneveld encounters. Taylor broke throw first to lead 2 legs to 1 but Barneveld came straight back to make it 2-2. Taylor won the decider and the first set. Taylor took the second set 3-0 and seemed to be heading for a fairly comfortable win. A 12 dart leg followed from 'The Power' but then Barneveld broke throw to make it 1-1. That was enough to take Barneveld to his first set so now 2-1 to Taylor. Taylor took the first leg of set 4 but Barneveld responded with a 12 darter. Taylor took the next and Barneveld made it 2-2 with a 120 finish. However Taylor made the throw advantage count as he held on to win the match 3 sets to 1. Another classic encounter from the duo, with Barneveld almost figthing back all the way.

Adrian Lewis against Dennis Priestley was tipped to be a tight match and there was more than a place in the quarter finals at stake. Priestley if he won would be guaranteed a place in the Premier League 2007 whereas Lewis had to outperform other players still in the running to be in with a shout of qualifying himself. Priestley took the first set 3-0 and the second by 3-1. Lewis wasn't doing a lot wrong averaging 90 but Priestley's majestic 94.72 average with a double to start showed why he had the lead. Priestley took the first leg of the third set with Lewis springing back taking 3 on the trot to bring the game back to 1 set to 2. Lewis took the first leg of set 4, then Priestley replied with a 13 dart leg to make it 1-1. Lewis won his own throw and then took the set to make it 2 sets apiece. Priestley was majestic in the deciding set kicking off with a 144 checkout, taking the second leg and then winning the match with a 117 finish. A well deserved place in the Premier League and also the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix for the veteran who was continuing with the 'Golden Autumn' of his darts career.

QUARTER FINALS

Battle of the big lads was the first quarter final as two larger than life characters Peter Manley took on rising star Andy Smith. Manley broke Smith in the first leg and went on to take the first set in the now best of 7 sets encounter. Manley also took set 2 in the deciding leg averaging a healthy 91. Manley broke again at the start of set 3 but  this time Smith broke straight back and it was enough to take him on towards his first set win to make it 1-2. Manley broke the Pieman again to go 2-0 in set 4 and despite a break back from Smith, Manley made it 3 sets to 1 (average now 87). Set 5 went to a deciding leg and Manley had a shot at 120 for the match, which he took out in style. A terrific win for Peter Manley by 4 sets to 1, the big advantage he had being in getting his double start away almost every time. In fact he set a new tournament record taking an average of 1.81 darts to start each leg.

Dennis Priestley against James Wade was tipped to potentially be the closest of the quarter finals between two top quality players, but it didn't quite live up to its billing. Wade took the first set with a 13 dart leg and Priestley won a scrappy second set having thrown away many missed doubles. In the third set Priestley started to get the upper hand with his slow pace clearly beginning to affect Wade (Priestley's average was +6 over the previous set, Wade's -11). Priestley took a 2-1 lead but Wade levelled with a 3-0 win  in set four. Set five went to a decider won by Priestley and with the winning post in site the veteran Priestley almost cantered over the finish line with a 3-0 scoreline in set seven to win the match by 5 sets to 2.

Roland Scholten played his match against Phil Taylor having suffered two slipped discs in his neck. His left arm was all but immobile during the match and Taylor quickly rattled off a 4-0 win. The fourth quarter final was won by Terry Jenkins who beat Bob Anderson 4-1.

SEMI FINALS 

The first semi-final was the vastly experienced Peter Manley against the surprise package of the tournament, antique salesman Terry Jenkins. 3 breaks of throw in the first set which went to Jenkins and despite a 136 finish from Manley, Jenkins won set 2 as well. Manley took the deciding leg in set 3 to win and then levelle the match with a 12 dart leg, so now 2 sets apiece. Jenkins took the next two sets both in the deciding leg to put him two sets away from a place in the final. Manley took the next though and then levelled the match at 4-4 with a crucial break of throw in the eighth set. Jenkins broke to take the first leg of set 9 with Manley breaking straight back. Jenkins stole the throw yet again and persevered to hold his throw and take the set. Staking his claim in a match free of many high spots, Jenkins took out 119 to lead 2-1 in the tenth set. This seemed to be the killer blow as he won the match with the next leg, so 6-4 to Jenkins. Whatever was to happen in the final the unassuming Jenkins had now ousted the flamboyant Wayne Mardle for the sixth qualification place for the Premier League.

The second semi-final was another mouthwatering Taylor v Priestley encounter – and it didn't disappoint. Two breaks of throw (one each) in the first set showed Taylor wasn't going to get it all his own way and The Power checked out 102 to make it 1-0. Taylor followed with a 104 and then a break of throw and whizzed to 2 sets to 0, averaging 106. Dennis Priestley has not clawed his way back from the lower part of the top 20 to number 3 in the world by caving in though. Priestley averaging 96 broke Taylor to win the second set in the fourth leg and an early break in the next set was enough for him to follow through and level the match at 2-2. Taylor roared back with a 100 and 118 checkout in the next set, followed by holding his throw to make it 3-2. Priestley broke Taylor again in the next set though to make it 3-3 (Taylor averaging 94, Priestley 96). Taylor took set 7 with another break mid set and Priestley looked to be coming back again as he checked out 102 to lead 2-0 in set 8. Taylor put in a 12 dart leg and then broke throw to make it 2 legs each. Priestley had a dart to level the game but it was Taylor who capitalised now with a 5-3 lead. A powerful 3-0 in the 9^th set took Taylor into the final 6-3 winner.

THE FINAL

If the final lacked a bit of atmosphere it wasn't for want of Terry Jenkins effort. Jenkins took the first two sets before Taylor stormed back winning the next two sets 3-0. Taylor rattled off the next two sets (despite a 102 finish from Jenkins in the sixth) to lead 4-2. Jenkins clawed back to 4-4 but Taylor then as he has done so many times before seemed to be able to dig out a victory just when it counted. Taylor took the remaining sets to win 7-4 and notch up an amazing 7^th World Grand Prix title. Jenkins though could not be too disappointed as he knows he has the exposure and payday of the Premier League to look forward to from February to May next year.

Superstars of Darts