Men's 1st Round highlights
As we enter another round of the Sheffield Darts Masters at Riley's players are jockeying for position to qualify for the all important Grand Final day at the end of the year...
We kicked things off with Pete Bramley defeating Martin Somerton 4-2. Connor Bowler showed his early intentions defeating Alex Hadfield 4 legs to 0. Steve Meek found form early doors starting off with a 13 dart leg and a maximum and never looked back in his whitewash of Dave Shaw. Bob Pinder kicked off with a routine victory over Dave Wilson and 110 checkout without dropping a leg. Jamie Bramton was throwing solid darts as he took out a 143 on his way to defeating Gareth Baxter 4-0. Pete Jaques and Mark Gurran went toe to toe and it was Jaques who found himself in fine form with a max, 170 top highest checkout of the day and also followed it up with a 130 finish too to defeat Gurran 4-2 who himself hit a maximum.. In the tie of the round Darren Johnson was up against "The Titan" Greg Beard in what was a very close fought contest as both players gave it their all Beard was in fine form hitting 2 maximums and a 13 dart leg but it wasn't to be as Johnson kept plugging away and eventually winning the tie in the deciding leg. Simon Birkett hit an 11 dart leg on his way to a mauling of John Smethurst.. Neil Bradley hit a max but just fell short in a last leg decided with Mick Smith booking his place in the next round......
1st Round Results
Pete Bramley 4-2 Martin Somerton
Alex Hadfield 0-4 Connor Bowler
Steve Meek 4-0 Dave Shaw
Jordan Matthews 4-1 Andy Kent
Dave Wilson 0-4 Bob Pinder
Steve Rumble 0-4 John Hirst
Jamie Bramton 4-0 Gareth Baxter
Rich Swainston 4-1 Steve Marfleet
Pete Jaques 4-2 Mark Gurran
Darren Johnson 4-3 Greg Beard
Tom Briggs 4-1 Ken Mushet
Tom Sawford 2-4 Steve Hattersley
Brian Lewis 1-4 Ben Dulley
Paul Buttery 4-0 James Enis
John Smethurst 0-4 Simon Birkett
Neil Bradley 3-4 Mick Smith
Gary Barker 1-4 Sunny Jahal
2nd Round
We started off the 2nd round with Pete Bramley up against Connor Bowler fresh from their victories in the first round Bowler hit a 180 and continued his run defeating Bramley 4-2. In the match of the round Bob Pinder was up against Jon Hirst and this match was a classic topsy turvy game with both players giving their all Bob hit 2 180's and followed it with 15 and 16 dart legs but that wasn't enough as Hirst hit back with a max of his own and a 15 dart leg to sneak through. In the next match their was another 180 fest between Jamie Bramton and Pete Jaques with Pete hitting 3 of them on his way a 4-1 victory.. Ben Dulley and Steve Hattersley played out a battle which went a decider and it was Dulley who powered through into the last 8 just sneaking past the unlucky Hattersley... Simon Birkett was next up against Buttery and it was a good match between the 2 Birkett hitting a max and a 156 checkout on his way to a 4-2 victory and to end the round Sunny Jahal hit a maximum on his way to a 4-1 victory over Mick Smith...
2nd Round Results
Pete Bramley 2-4 Connor Bowler
Steve Meek 4-2 Jordan Matthews
Bob Pinder 3-4 Jon Hirst
Jamie Bramton 1-4 Pete Jaques
Darren Johnson 4-1 Tom Briggs
Steve Hattersley 3-4 Ben Dulley
Paul Buttery 2-4 Simon Birkett
Mick Smith 1-4 Sunny Jahal
Quarter Finals
The final 8 players in the tournament square up and do battle to become the winner of this round of the masters and first up was Bowler against Meek and Bowler set off with a 17 darter but Meek replied in kind with a 15 dart leg of his own but that wasn't to put off Bowler as he upped the ante this time hitting a 19 dart leg and a cool finish to get over the line 4 legs to 1. Next up was a rampant Pete Jaques who had no mercy for his opponent Jon Hirst first hitting a maximum then following that up with 13 and 14 dart legs to sail through 4-0 surely on this form no-one can stop Pete? Up next it was Dulley who's thrown some great darts to get this far in the competition but he met his match this time in Darren Johnson who's experience saw him power through to the semi finals with a comfortable victory. Another player who's had a great tournament was Simon Birkett and he was at it again facing Sunny Jahal he went into a comfortable lead and never looked back cruising 4 legs to 1..
Quarter Final Results
Connor Bowler 4-1 Steve Meek
Jon Hirst 0-4 Pete Jaques
Darren Johnson 4-0 Ben Dulley
Simon Birkett 4-1 Sunny Jahal
Semi Finals
Into the semi finals we go in this cracking Sheffield Darts Masters up first was Connor Bowler up against Pete Jaques who yet again failed to disappoint hitting an 11 dart leg and 2 maximums in this match to put an end to Bowler's great run in this competition. Next up was the consistant Darren Johnson squaring up against the in form Simon Birkett and it was the consistency that won the day as Johnson reeled off the 4 legs without reply to book a final with Pete Jaques what promises to be a close one...
Semi Finals Results
Connor Bowler 0-4 Pete Jaques
Darren Johnson 4-0 Simon Birkett
Final
This round of the masters only 2 remain to play out the final both Pete Jaques and Darren Johnson have been throwing so top tungsten to get this far and now have to do battle to determine the winner of round ?? of the SDM.. Jaques has been a 180 machine in this tournament and in the final was no exception as he hit another 2 with Johnson trying to pull it back gaining 2 legs but nothing was going to stop Jaques in this kind of form and he powered on hitting the trebles with ease and getting over the finishing line with it being crowned the winner of this round of the Sheffield Masters.
Final Result
Pete Jaques 4-2 Darren Johnson
Ladies 1st Round
In the ladies event 8 players squared up in a battle to become the winner of this edition of the ladies darts masters up first we had Marie Groves facing Sara Mortimer in a close contest with both players giving their all the match swung backwards and forwards with Groves hitting a good 96 checkout sneaking the deciding leg to be the First Lady through to the final 4.. Up next was Laura Taylor against Wendy Anderson who started her tournament on fire has she went through without dropping a leg.. Wonder girl Beau Greaves was next up challenging Kerrie Crompton and Beau found her feet early doors and never looked back in taking the game in a 4-0 whitewash. In the final tie of the round Paula Burgess took on Kirsty Hydes and despite Hydes best efforts to win a leg it was Burgess who took the game 4-1.
Last 8 Results
Sara Mortimer 3-4 Marie Groves
Laura Taylor 0-4 Wendy Anderson
Beau Greaves 4-0 Kerrie Crompton
Kirsty Hydes 1-4 Paula Burgess
Semi Finals
In the semi finals of the ladies event we had 2 closely fought battles first up we had Marie Groves who had a cracking game in the last 8 taking on Wendy Anderson who found herself on top form so the match was a close one to call and after Marie took 2 legs but unfortunately for her it was not to be her day as Wendy kept on hitting them doubles to book a place in the final.. In the other semi final Beau Greaves played Paula Burgess and after dropping just 1 leg between them this was also going to be a close one and it showed as young Beau tried to keep up with an in form Paula but it wasn't enough as Paula crossed to finishing line to face Anderson in the ladies final.
Semi Finals results
Marie Groves 2-4 Wendy Anderson
Beau Greaves 2-4 Paula Burgess
Final
In the final 2 we had Wendy Anderson who dropped 2 legs all tournament up against Paula Burgess who's only dropped 3 herself. Before the game we expected some top darts and it delivered for Paula has she found her top form just at the right time hitting 2 big checkouts (115 and a 108) and a 13 dart leg on her way to a resounding 4-1 victory and with it taking this edition of the ladies darts masters.
Final Result
Wendy Anderson 1-4 Paula Burgess
Youth Last 8
We had 8 youth players all wanting to be crowned the winner of round ?? of the youth SDM.. First up we had a close one between Robert McColl and Tom Blagg who both gave a good account of themselves giving everything they had and it was The Blaggster who just sneaked through in the last leg decider. Up next was rising star Tom Gurran who had a tricky opponent in George Antcliffe and it showed when Guran just couldn't get going and paid the price when Antcliffe ran away with the game 4 legs to 1. Up next Jake Rhodes was up against Mason Wilson and Rhodes won a leg hoping to push on but Willson managed to race clear and take the match 4-1 and in the final tie of the round was a tight run contest when Nathan Hinchcliffe faced Jack Kerr. Both players played exceptionally well, Hinchcliffe hit a maximum and pushed Kerr all the way but just couldn't get to the magical 4 leg mark and it was Jack what did well in the final leg shootout to take out the winning double unfortunate for Hinchcliffe...
Youth Last 8 Results
Robert McColl 3-4 Tom Blagg
George Antcliffe 4-1 Tom Gurran
Jake Rhodes 1-4 Mason Wilson
Nathan Hinchcliffe 3-4 Jack Kerr
Semi Finals
The final 4 stage was set as Tom Blagg played George Antcliffe and Mason Wilson faced Jack Kerr.. In the first match Blagg struggled for form and paid the price as Antcliffe showed dominance in his performance winning without dropping a leg.. In the other semi final Mason Wilson played Jack Kerr and Kerr found the treble 20 bed with ease hitting 2 180's and a 16 dart leg, Mason did well to take 2 legs but he couldn't stop the onslaught of Kerr who deservedly got to the final..
Semi Finals Results
Tom Blagg 0-4 George Antcliffe
Mason Wilson 2-4 Jack Kerr
Final
The final of the Sheffield youth masters promised to be a close run thing between George Antcliffe and Jack Kerr and we were right it was high pressure darts at it's best no-one could pick a winner. The pendulum swung one way then the other with no player giving an inch to the other as the match wore on the game was finally poised at 3-3 we was going into the final leg decider to determine the winner of this edition of the Sheffield youth masters. Antcliffe started the final leg strong and managed to find his way on a finish then took out the winning double of the final and put his name on the winners list of the Sheffield Youth Masters.
Final Result
George Antcliffe 4-3 Jack Kerr
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| Pete Jacques and Darren Johnson top,bottom left Wendy Anderson and Paula Burgess with Jack Kerr&George Antcliff |
Pat Finney (Projectdarts Reporter/Media)
