Darts

A few days ago I was talking with some players that are fairly new to the game, and issue off accuracy came up. We talked about the importance of being able to have your darts consistently land in a tight group. I told them that working on having good groups was more important for someone looking to improve their game than hitting a specific target when you are just starting out, because it shows you are able to consistently repeat your throw. Then the big question came out: "Why can't I consistently group my darts no matter how hard I try?"The answer is simple... most folks move their bodies too much! You throw the darts with your arm and hand... nothing more nothing less! Then I suggested that they have a look at this interview with Cali West!

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN continued his incredible run of success by claiming glory at the European Darts Open, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-2 in Sunday night's final at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf. Van Gerwen followed up Thursday's McCoy's Premier League Darts triumph by romping to the £20,000 first prize in the PDC European Tour event in Germany, winning six matches during the weekend to take the title - his eighth tournament win this year. Having travelled from London to Dusseldorf on Friday, the Dutch ace overcame Germany's Andree Welge in the first round and then saw off Wayne Jones before claiming four victories on Sunday. However, after defeating Terry Jenkins, Gary Anderson and Peter Wright to reach the final, van Gerwen saved his best display for the decided as he gained revenge over Whitlock for a defeat in a Speedy Services UK Open Qualifier final recently. Van Gerwen kicked off the final with a 13-darter which included the first of three 180s, and though Whitlock took out 70 to level, van Gerwen won the next four legs without reply to move 5-1 up - hitting a 124 finish, an 11-darter and a 12-dart leg. Whitlock fired in a 180 and hit double ten to keep his hopes alive, but van Gerwen was not to be denied as he landed a maximum and finished 64 for a 14-darter to take the title with an average of 106.68. "It's been a brilliant few days," said van Gerwen, who takes home £20,000 following his first European Tour win. "I'm a bit tired at the moment but winning is the most important thing, and I'm very glad I saved my best game for the final. "Simon beat me the last time we played in a final and I knew I needed to play a proper game to beat him, and I think I showed my class with a very good performance tonight." He added: "The crowd was amazing and even though they were cheering for Simon in the final, they were very nice. "Darts is growing in Germany and the crowds are very good here. Every ticket's sold out and you want to see that." Van Gerwen will now travel to Dubai on Monday for next week's inaugural Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, and he added: "I'm so happy with my game at the moment and I hope I can continue this form in Dubai as well because I want to do well there. "I fly to Dubai on Monday and I'll have a couple of days off when I get over there but I'll be preparing for the Dubai Masters. I'm looking forward to it and it's very exciting." Whitlock picks up £10,000 as runner-up, and had enjoyed a fine weekend as he won through to the final to delight the vociferous Dutch crowd, who cheered the Australian to the rafters. Whitlock had overcome Tomas Seyler and Arron Monk to reach Sunday afternoon's third round, where he saw off world number four James Wade 6-3. He then fired in eight 180s and a 170 checkout in a thrilling 6-2 quarter-final victory over Justin Pipe before ending Jamie Caven's hopes in the semis with a 6-4 win. "I'm happy to make the final and I've done really well," said Whitlock. "I'd have loved to have won it, but Michael's the best player on the planet right now, and fair play to him, he played brilliant. "He was absolutely awesome in the final. I beat Michael in the last two times I played him before this final and I expected to win, but the man is so good and he plays great darts. "I had some tough games and I'm happy with my performance to make the final." He added: "I also want to thank the crowd because they were great - it's the best crowd in the world for me. I don't get support like this anywhere else and I'm so grateful to have such a great crowd." Whitlock will join van Gerwen, and the likes of Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis, James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld in heading to the Dubai Duty Free Darts Masters, and he added: "I'm looking forward to every tournament I play right now and hopefully I can win in Dubai." Runs to the last four for Wright and Caven saw them clai

THE PDC have today announced BetVictor as the new title sponsors of the BetVictor World Matchplay, which will celebrate its 20th staging in July 2013. The leading betting and gaming company, whose website www.betvictor.com offers sports betting alongside casino, poker and other games, have given their support to the PDC’s second oldest major. The BetVictor World Matchplay, first held in 1994, celebrates its 20th birthday this summer, with the nine-day event being staged at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from July 20-28. Read the full story >>

BetVictor To Sponsor World Matchplay Another sponsor joins the PDC team, as the World Matchplay changes hands…  News from official PDC website. THE PDC are delighted to announce BetVictor as the new title sponsors of the BetVictor World Matchplay, which will celebrate its 20th staging in July 2013. The leading betting and gaming company, whose website www.betvictor.com offers sports betting alongside casino, poker and other games, have given their support to the PDC’s second oldest major. BetVictor join the PDC team by sponsoring the World Matchplay (Pic Lustig/PDC) The BetVictor World Matchplay, first held in 1994, celebrates its 20th birthday this summer, with the nine-day event being staged at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool from July 20-28. Reigning champion Phil Taylor is bidding to extend his incredible run of success in the tournament, having won 13 World Matchplay titles and equalled his own record run of five straight victories when he defeated James Wade 18-15 in the 2012 final. Rod Harrington, the 1998 and 1999 champion, is the only other two-time winner, while America’s Larry Butler, Peter Evison, Colin Lloyd and James Wade have also enjoyed success at the Winter Gardens. Despite his amazing BetVictor World Matchplay success, Taylor is currently the second-favourite to lift this year’s £100,000 title at 3/1 with the sponsors, with new Premier League champion Michael van Gerwen 5/2 to be crowned as the champion in Blackpool. Former finalist Raymond van Barneveld is 9/1, 2007 champion Wade – also a four-time runner-up – is 10/1, with Simon Whitlock 14/1 and Adrian Lewis 18/1 to take the title. “These are very exciting times in the world of darts and, after a magnificent World Championship and Premier League, we are delighted to lend our name to the BetVictor World Matchplay from the iconic Winter Gardens Blackpool,” said BetVictor Marketing Director Karl Riley. “It is a venue that invariably brings the best out of Phil Taylor, who has won 13 of the 18 renewals, but Michael Van Gerwen’s brilliant win at The O2 last week means that, for the first time in a very long time, ‘The Power’ is not our favourite for a major tournament. “Those who wish to write off the greatest darts player the world has ever seen do so at their peril as Taylor remains the King of Blackpool; our offer of 3/1 for The Power to continue his love affair with the Winter Gardens might look very big come the last weekend in July!” PDC Chairman Barry Hearn added: “It is a pleasure to welcome BetVictor as the new title sponsors of the BetVictor World Matchplay. “This tournament is a favourite for players, fans and television viewers around the world and enjoys a deserved status as one of the most prestigious titles in the sport. “This year’s BetVictor World Matchplay is already shaping up to be a great tournament, and with the ever-increasing standard of darts I think that last year’s two nine-dart finishes in Blackpool could even be surpassed this summer!” The three-year sponsorship deal was brokered by independent sponsorship agency, CMSeven, whose Director Charlie Mitchell said: “We’re thrilled to have worked with both BetVictor and the PDC in securing this exciting new partnership for the sport and we look forward to watching it develop over the coming years.” Tickets for the BetVictor World Matchplay are available now by calling the Winter Gardens Box Office on 0844 856 1111 or online throughwww.blackpoollive.com. Travel packages are also available through Thomas Cook Sport, and tickets can also be purchased through www.seetickets.com and www.viagogo.co.uk, the official ticket exchange partner of the PDC.

Individual Darts League in London Looking for More Players I’m often asked by visitors about where they can play competitive darts – not to the PDC’s standard, but for the fun of it and cash prizes.  Well I run the Open darts tournament database website for just that sort of thing, but also when I hear of something I like to share the details.  I know Paul Butler who runs this London darts league – I’ll let him explain more… The Rileys London Individual Darts League, the IDL, is currently on the lookout for darts players of all abilities to join our ever growing league, and I am now signing up new players for Season VII which starts at in mid June. Based at Rileys Victoria in Central London, the IDL is the only league of it’s kind to offer players the flexibility to arrange their own matches at their own convenience, seven days a week. The format is the best of 14 legs for League fixtures, first to 8 with 7-7 being a draw, and best of 9 legs for Knockout Cup fixtures (first to 5) with one fixture scheduled for each week in a twelve week season culminating in a showpiece Finals Night with all trophy presentations. All Divisional placements are decided fairly and based on averages attained from an Induction match, which all new players take part in, this ensures that players are grouped with opponents of similar ability and makes for a more competitive league. New registration costs £12, the equivalent of just a pound a week, and included with league membership and a detailed weekly email update, you also get a Rileys Teamcard entitling you to 20% off everything at the bar at all times at Rileys Victoria, and discounted entry to Victoria Cup Opens where you can win cash prizes every month, and an IDL only Victoria Cup qualifier for the main Victoria Cup tournament in December. The Opens take place on the first Friday of every month. Season VII of the IDL begins on June 24th and runs through to the mid September, so new registrations are being accepted from now until June 16th, which is the final date for all new Inductions to be completed. If you’d like to join the IDL, or anyone you know may do, drop me an email and I’ll send you some more information and answer any questions you may have. If you are a Team Captain, please let your team know about the IDL also. I can be contacted at paulbutlerdarts@gmail.com or facebook.com/paulbutlerdarts or @PB_IDL_Darts on Twitter.  The website can be found here.

Michael van Gerwen continued his incredible run of success by claiming the European Darts Open title, defeating Simon Whitlock 6-2 in the final at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf and streamed live on LIVEPDC.tv. Photo courtesy of Carsten Arlt, www.pdc-europe.net Van Gerwen followed up Thursday’s McCoy’s Premier League Darts triumph by romping to the £20,000 first prize in the PDC European Tour event in Germany, winning six matches during the weekend before lifting the trophy – his eighth tournament win this year. The … Read the full story >>

Michael van Gerwen remained in unstoppable form as the newly-crowned Premier League champion won the European Darts Open in Dusseldorf.

Kim Huybrechts continued his challenge to win a maiden European Tour title with a thrilling 6-5 victory over Raymond van Barneveld in the European Darts Open on Sunday afternoon. The third European Tour event of 2013 is being held in Dusseldorf and streamed exclusively live through www.LIVEPDC.TV. Belgian ace Huybrechts had only dropped two legs in his wins over Steve Maish and Stuart Kellett earlier in the event, and was averaging 110 as he moved 3-1 up against van Barneveld. He retained that advantage as he took a 5-3 cushion before van Barneveld punished two missed match darts to hit back and force a deciding leg – only to miss one dart for the win himself as Huybrechts returned to land double ten and reach the quarter-finals. “It was a very close game and I did get a bit nervous at the end when I had a couple of match darts,” admitted Huybrechts. “Raymond missed his chance and I took mine, so I’m very happy to be through.” Huybrechts will now face Jamie Caven in Sunday evening’s quarter-finals as the £100,000 tournament reaches its conclusion at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf. The quarter-finals on Sunday night will be followed by the semi-finals and final, with a £20,000 first prize on offer for the champion. All matches are being screened exclusively live at www.livepdc.tv. Read the full story >>

European Darts Open – Sunday Finals Day Results Anderson popular with the fans in Germany Lots of great players still left in the European Open in germany, but one big name will be missing; as Phil Taylor was well beaten by Mervyn King last night.  Merv is a player who will never be scared of playing Phil, in fact he always seems to raise his game against his old foe. The players have already won £2,000 for their two days work, but things get serious now, playing for the £20,000 top prize for winning later tonight. It kicks off again at 12 noon UK time, and I’ll be updating scores and watching live on my laptop.  How?… Watch Live! The action is available to watch (I’ve been watching, and it’s sharp and smooth, with multi-camera viewing and commentary).  It’s only STREAMED LIVE on the official livepdc service (subscribe here for just £2.99 the month).  Live Scores can be followed through the PDC Live Scores Website at live.dartsdata.com. Third Round Afternoon Session (12pm-4pm) Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Terry Jenkins Gary Anderson 6-1 Brendan Dolan Robert Thornton 4-6 Peter Wright Colin Osborne 1-6 Andy Hamilton Simon Whitlock v James Wade Justin Pipe v Adrian Lewis Raymond van Barneveld v Kim Huybrechts Jamie Caven v Mervyn King Evening Session (6pm-10pm) Quarter-Finals Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson v v v Semi-Finals Final Prize Fund Winner £20,000 Runner-Up £10,000 Semi-Finalists £5,000 Quarter-Finalists £3,000 Third Round Losers £2,000 Second Round Losers £1,000 First Round Losers £500 Total £100,000

Mervyn King knocked World Champion Phil Taylor out of the European Darts Open with a 6-2 victory in the second round of the £100,000 event on Saturday night, but big guns Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld, Adrian Lewis, James Wade & Simon Whitlock all progressed to the last 16 in Dusseldorf. Taylor, who lost to van Gerwen in Thursday’s McCoy’s Premier League Darts final, had been bidding to bounced back in the £100,000 European Tour event. Read the full story >>