Leonard Gates claimed the 2023 World Senior Darts Masters after beating Richie Howson 5-2 in the Final at Westlands in Yeovil. The competition continues to provide winners from North America, with Soulger claiming the £10,000 winners prize for his performances over the weekend.
The American international reached the Semi Finals after beating former MODUS Super Series week winner Chris Mason, clinching a last leg decider against Mace the Ace. Gates punished his opponent crucially in the 5th set, with Chris missing a dart at double 19 for a 100 checkout and a 3-2 lead in sets.
The Texas born thrower found double tops with his second dart in hand to lead for the first time in the Quarter Final, before clinching the last set without reply, finishing on double 16 with his last dart to claim a 4-3 success.
Gates would face back-to-back Seniors World Champion Robert Thornton in the Semi Finals, producing a 116 check out in the fourth set to move into a 3-1 lead against the Thorn. The Red Dragon player missed a crucial dart at double 5 in the 6th set to level the match at 3-3, allowing his opponent to return to the oche and hit the very same double.
Thornton again missed darts at double, this time two at tops to win the next set and keep the Semi Final alive. Soulger set up a repeat of the Champion of Champions Final after hitting double 18 with his first dart, wrapping up a 5-2 victory against the tournament 2nd seed.
Richie Howson reached his third Seniors Final of the year, beating reigning WDF World Champion Neil Duff in the Quarters with a 141 finish, before securing his place in the Final with victory over Dennis Harbour in the Semi’s.
Leonard raced out the gates in the Final, claiming the first four legs without reply to take a 2-0 lead in sets against the Owl. Richie produced one of his trademark ton plus checkouts to get of the mark in the 3rd set, hitting double 16 to complete a 112 finish.
Howson reduced the deficit to one in the third and fifth sets but was left to rue 11 missed darts at double in the 7th set. Gates punished and moved within one of the match, after hitting double 5 with his last dart in hand.
The Owl produced a 102 finish on double 16 to level the 8th set at 1-1, but it was Leonard Gates who wrapped up victory in the Final on double 4 to win 6-2 and become the 2023 World Senior Darts Masters Champion.
The American has taken to the Seniors Circuit vsuperbly, adding the World Senior Darts Masters trophy to the Champion of Champions he won earlier in the year.
2023 World Senior Darts Masters: Results
Quarter Finals:
Richie Howson 4-3 Neil Duff
Dennis Harbour 4-2 Phil Taylor
Robert Thornton 4-3 John Part
Leonard Gates 4-3 Chris Mason
Semi Finals:
Richie Howson 5-2 Dennis Harbour
Leonard Gates 5-2 Robert Thornton
Final:
Leonard Gates 6-2 Richie Howson
—–ENDS—–
Images: WSDT / Chris Sargeant
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