Dan Read made up for his defeat in the Final on Saturday and won the Winmau Championship Tour 4 after beating Michael Huntley 6-3 in the Final. The 23-year-old earned himself £1000 for his day’s work as well as a spot in the Champion of Champions which will take place later in the year.
Dan the Man spoke to Darts World after his victory and said:
“I’m over the moon to get over the line today, I was gutted yesterday because I played really well all day and in the Final, I didn’t play as well against Steve, but today I’m over the moon to win it’s been brilliant.”
The Englishman took out many players on his way to victory including wins over Lee Budgen in the Quarter Final before a 98.82 average against James Richardson, beating Ruthless in consecutive Semi-Finals including a 134 checkout to reach the Final hitting two double tops for a 5-2 win.
“When I got to the Final I thought, come on Dan just win it today, I’ve been playing well with the Modus Online Live League, so I thought I need to come here and do the same. Two Finals I would have taken it but I am so happy to win it.”
The youngster is up to 16th in the Rankings after his win moving onto 256 points, and three points off veteran Kevin McDine in 15th.
ADC Number 1 Matt Jackson was beaten early on Sunday by Jimmy Bristow but moved onto 701 points, 35 clear now of Adam Atkinson who did not play in either of the Championship Tours in Thornbury. The Action reached the Last 32 of the Plate Tournament earning two more points, after losing to the eventual winner Jenson Walker who averaged an impressive 99.80 in the tungsten affair.
More famous names fell early with Adams Smith Neale, a former World Master was edged out in a deciding leg by Steve Hine, aka The Muffin Man. Colin Osborne a winner of the Championship League of darts and a UK Open finalist completed a disappointing weekend by succumbing to Tom Lonsdale in a high-quality match.
James Richardson will be happy with his weekend work after reaching consecutive Semi-Finals, earning 96 ranking points from two days of action ahead of his undisputed series battle with Kevin Painter later in the month for the European Title. His standout performance on Sunday must be his impressive 4-1 win over ADC Number 6 Graham Hall where he averaged over 104.
Son Josh was also part of the action as he reached the Last 16 losing out 4-3 against Ricky Palmer, with Stealth including a 4-0 victory against Mitchell Elliott-Bailey and a 4-1 victory over Terry Winfield. The youngster also spoke after his match and said
“I scored well all day, I hit a 170 checkout along the way so overall I am happy with the way I played”
The youngster also became the very first player to be called up to the England squad from Northamptonshire.
“I played my first game for British internationals for England in Wales, I lost one game and won one, the team in the men’s, women’s and youth won overall so I was happy with that.”
“To be picked to play for England again in Spain for the Europe Cup is amazing, there are only four men and that’s me, Scott Williams (PDC Players Championship 17 Winner), Luke Littler, and the captain James Hurrell. So, to play alongside them in the men’s is brilliant”
Michael Huntley made his ADC debut in Bristol across the weekend, impressing most who saw him. He excelled on Sunday and caught out opponents with some strong performances as he went all the way through the Final. The Welshman beat the likes of Callum Goffin who had reached the Quarter Finals on Saturday, but his standout performance came in the Quarter Finals against Gary Blades winning 5-3 and averaging 93.53, including a 117 checkout in the fifth leg to complete a 15-darter.
The 50-year-old earned 64 points for reaching the Final, moving onto 80 points and 87th in the Rankings with one point separating him and former BDO World Youth Champion Leighton Bennett who has 79 points to his name.
Tony Wood has also enjoyed a strong weekend’s action and he moves back up to fourth in the ADC rankings, reaching the Last 16 of Championship Tour 4.
The Gateshead thrower included a 4-0 win over Championship Tour 2 winner Tony Newell (last 32), ruthlessly finishing the fourth and final leg on 80 hitting double ten with his second dart in hand. The 52-year-old sits on 552 points, 14 points off Winmau and Championship Tour 3 winner Steve Brown. The form shown by Wood in recent months suggests he will be an addition to the Seniors Tour, should he attempt it, and we don’t just mean because of his flamboyant shirts!
Despite being edged out after playing stringy on both days Gary Blades will be happy to top the Championship Tour’s ranking table and be heading to the finals weekend and the World Darts OPen as a seeded player and one of the names to beat.
All in all another successful couple of days in Bristol as the Winmau Championship Tour continues to thrive. Many players commented how very happy they are with how the ADC has performed in its debut year:
“As it gives amateur players a chance to play for something and feel part of something”.
The 137 players who entered on Saturday and 117 on Sunday would agree. With many benefitting in the various Rankings and in ££s across the two days.
Roll on Manchester in August for the third weekend, events five and six, of this rapidly developing amateur tour.
Winmau Championship Tour 4:
Quarter-Final Results
Scott Taylor 5-4 Ricky Palmer
Michael Huntley 5-3 Gary Blades
James Richardson 5-4 Steve Werrett
Dan Read 5-2 Lee Budgen
Semi-Finals:
Michael Huntley 5-4 Scott Taylor
Dan Read 5-2 James Richardson
Final:
Dan Read 6-3 Michael Huntley
Winmau Championship Tour Ranking Table
| 1 | Gary Blades | 0 | 1 | 34 | +41 | 23 |
| 2 | Tony Wood | 0 | 1 | 33 | +27 | 22 |
| 3 | Steve Brown | 1 | 0 | 22 | +26 | 18 |
| 4 | Lee Budgen | 0 | 0 | 24 | +22 | 18 |
| 5 | Colin Osborne | 0 | 0 | 24 | +19 | 18 |
| 6 | Tony Newell | 1 | 0 | 21 | +26 | 17 |
| 7 | Dan Read | 1 | 1 | 24 | +31 | 16 |
| 8 | Kevin Garcia | 0 | 0 | 17 | +11 | 16 |
—–ENDS—–
Images: Darts World and ADC
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