After a successful World Senior Darts Championship where Robert Thornton claimed back-to-back titles at the Circus Tavern, the Seniors return to the VIVA Blackpool for the Champion of Champions, with 8 players battling it out to become the first winner of the inaugural event.
The Thorn beat Ritchie Howson 5-2 back in February to win in Purfleet for the second time in 2 years, and the pair will face off in the Quarter Finals after the draw was made whilst the Senior Darts Championship was still in progress.
The pair played in the MODUS Super Series last week in Portsmouth, with the Red Dragon player going on to reach the Final where he lost 4-2 to Matt Clark. The reigning back-to-back Senior Darts Champion claimed Group A glory ahead of the Owl, who topped Group B to qualify for the Grand Finale on Saturday.
The competition will feature a golden ticket winner and the prize is a face-off against the legendary Phil Taylor, who reached the Quarter Finals at the recent World Senior Darts Championships.
The Power is familiar with Blackpool success, the Stoke-born thrower winning a record-breaking 16 World Matchplay crowns at the Winter Gardens.
The 16-time World Champion will be out for revenge after what happened at the Circus Tavern, with Taylor falling to defeat against eventual Runner-Up Richie Howson, having come through clashes with Colin McGarry and Darren Johnson last month.
The inaugural event will be broadcast this Saturday on Channel 5, with former 3-time Lakeside World Champion Martin Adams facing 10-time ladies World Champion Trina Gulliver at VIVA.
The Golden Girl competed in the MODUS Super Series for the second time this month, including a 4-2 win over Jamie Kelling in Portsmouth where she hit a checkout rate of 66%, missing just 2 darts on the outer ring.
Wolfie also featured in the MODUS-sponsored competition and included a 93.17 average in beating Scotsman Gary Stone, who went on to top Group A that particular week after 3 days of Round Robin action.
The other Quarter Final features World Senior Darts Masters Champion David Cameron, with the Canadian international facing former World Championship finalist Kevin Painter.
Excalibur competed at the recent World Darts Championship, staging an epic fightback in the First Round to beat Tour Card holder Ritchie Edhouse 3-2 in sets, before losing out to former UK Open champion Danny Noppert in Round 2.
The Artist reached the Semi-Finals of the recent World Senior Darts Championship, including the highest checkout of the tournament (167).
Painter produced his highest average of the tournament, just shy of 90 in beating Mark Dudbridge 3-1 in the Quarter Finals, before falling to defeat against eventual winner Robert Thornton in the Semis.
The inaugural event starts from 12 pm live on Channel 5 with 7 Seniors and a Golden Ticket winner all fighting it out to become the first Senior Champion of Champions winner at VIVA Blackpool.
World Senior Champion of Champions Quarter Finals:
Robert Thornton v Richie Howson
David Cameron v Kevin Painter
Phil Taylor v Golden Ticket Winner
Martin Adams v Trina Gulliver
—–ENDS—–
Images: Chris Sargeant / WSDT
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