Thomas Banks claimed a 2nd Winmau Championship Tout title of the year at Bradmoor Farm in Aylesbury, moving top of the overall rankings by 27 points.
“Bulldog Banks” won Event 10 on the Saturday in Buckinghamshire, defeating James Richardson 5-4 in the Final to claim £1000 and a 2nd tournament win of the year.
The English international opened his campaign with a 4-0 success over Archie Self, before averaging 102.85 in beating Tyler Rawlings 4-1, including 3 180s and a 117 finish for a 12-dart break of throw in leg 4.
His reward for his impressive win over Rawlings was former Red Dragon Champion of Champion’s winner Paul Hogan, clinching a 4-3 victory over “Crocodile Dundee” after hitting 2 maximums and a 120 finish to crucially break his opponents throw.
Banks defeated Winmau Championship Tour 3 Finalist James Welding 5-3 in the Last 16, before beating Cam Crabtree 5-1 in the Quarter Finals with a 95.09 average.
The 17-year-old faced Darryl Pilgrim in the Semi Finals, instantly kicking of with a 102 finish for a 12-dart break of throw in the opening leg. “Mr P” responded with a ton plus finish of his own after taking out 109 to level the match at 1-1, in an impressive start from both players.
Thomas went on to clinch a 5-3 win in the Semi Finals, to reach a 3rd Winmau Championship Tour Final of the year. He would face James Richardson who beat Championship Tour’s 3 and 4 winner Joe Croft 5-4 in the other Semi Final.
Banks kickstarted the Final with a 167 checkout on the bullseye, before following up with another 15-darter to break throw, wrestling the initiative early in the Final.
6 consecutive break of throws occurred with “Ruthless” including a 112 finish to take 7th leg in 15 darts, as the Final stayed on throw at 4-3.
Thomas did make the advantage of throw count in the all-important 9th and final leg, as he finished 69 in 2 darts to claim his 2nd tournament of the year.
Tom Lonsdale kickstarted proceedings with victory in the opening event of the weekend, including an impressive display to beat Aaron Fountain 4-1 in the 2nd Round with an average of 102.12, hitting a 161 finish for a 12 darter and the win.
The 27-year-old beat a host of top names to reach the Final of Event 9, recording victories against the likes of Jarred Cole, Darryl Pilgrim, Mark Frost, Andy Boulton and Myles Avory to set up a Final Southwest player Johnny Haines.
“The Punk” instantly broke throw in the Final as he raced into a 2-0 lead, before Lonsdale fought back to level the match at 2-2 in the fourth leg. Johnny then broke once again to complete a 16 darter in leg 5 before Lonsdale fired back with a 15 darter of his own in Leg 8, with his third and final dart at double.
Tom made sure to use the advantage of throw in the 9th and Final leg as he secured a 5-4 victory over Johnny Haines in the Final, picking up a first Championship Tour title.
Lonsdale sits 63 points of the Top 8 in the Winmau Championship Tour rankings, with 4 Events left to play before the Finals Day Lineup is confirmed.
Darryl Pilgrim moved into the Top 8 positions with victory in Championship Tour 11 on the Sunday, as he beat Adam Lipscombe 5-2 in the Final, adding 256 ranking points to his tally.
“Mr P” sits 3 points clear of 9th placed James Richardson in the rankings, as he looks to defend his position in the Top 8 on the final weekend at Bradmoor Farm, at the start of August.
The Final Champion of the weekend in Aylesbury was Shane Turner, who won Event 12 with a 5-2 success against Carl Wilson.
The Oxford born player beat the likes of David Hill, Daniel Murphy and Mike Huntley, before producing his best performance of the tournament to defeat Event 9 Runner Up Johnny Haines 5-3 in the Semi Finals.
Turner included a 117 checkout to break the throw of Carl Wilson in the 4th leg for a 15 darter, before hitting 48 in three darts to win the 7th and final leg to claim the final £1000 on offer at Bradmoor Farm.
The final weekend of the Winmau Championship Tour will take place on the 3rd and 4th of August for the 2nd instalment at Bradmoor Farm.
With 4 Events now left to play: Thomas Banks, Gary Stone, Joe Croft, Andy Boulton, Bradley Brooks, Charlie Martin, Neil Duff and Darryl Pilgrim are the 8 players that will qualify as things stand for the Championship Tour Finals Day at the MODUS Super Series.
James Richardson, James Welding, Shane Turner and Tom Lonsdale are all in pursuit, with everything still all to play for on the final weekend in Buckinghamshire.
Winmau Championship Tour 2024
Event 9
Tom Lonsdale 5-4 Johnny Haines
Event 10 Final:
Thomas Banks 5-4 James Richardson
Event 11 Final:
Darryl Pilgrim 5-2 Adam Lipscombe
Event 12 Final:
Shane Turner 5-2 Carl Wilson
Winmau Championship Tour 2024 Rankings:
1. Thomas Banks: 734pts
2. Gary Stone: 707pts
3. Joe Croft: 654pts
4. Andy Boulton: 611pts
5. Bradley Brooks: 419pts
6. Charlie Martin: 370pts
7. Neil Duff: 349pts
8. Darryl Pilgrim: 328pts
9. James Richardson: 325pts
10. Shane Turner: 272pts
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
