Super Stoney Leads The Way: Scot Leads ADC Tour Table

Gary Stone made the perfect start to his Winmau Championship Tour campaign in the Amateur Darts Circuit, going unbeaten on Easter Sunday to claim £2000 and top spot in the overall rankings.

The Scottish international beat James Welding 5-3 in the Event 3 Final with an average of 95.38 in Middlesborough. His best performance of the tournament came in the Last 32 against Myles Avory, scoring 99.79 in a 4-1 win including a first 9 average of 104 and an 11 dart hold of throw.

Gary reached 3 of the opening 4 Finals at Eston Sports Academy and has put himself in a promising position already to qualify for Finals Night in November, leading by 261 points at the top of the Championship Tour Table with 648pts ahead of 2^nd placed Andy Boulton.

“I came into today saying to myself learn from it, if you get a chance, step back and make it count. That field of players is very strong, players who have won a lot of competitions, so to come through that, I’m absolutely delighted.”

“My game’s right up there and that’s me missing doubles. I feel as if there’s another gear or two there and if I can start taking finishes out, I’m going to be hard to beat. My averages have been good, my scorings been good and so has my first 9 average.”

Gary proceeded to claim the Final Event of the weekend after clinching a last leg decider against Andy Boulton, who reached 2 Finals himself on the opening weekend of the Winmau Championship Tour.

“I’ve had worse Sundays. I rode my luck in the Final and I thought Andy was absolutely superb. Andy does what Andy does which is punish you and I made a couple of mistakes. I went into the game thinking about what I did yesterday, trying to put it right and just relax.”

“The bullseye was the winner; it was the clincher to go 4 each. If it doesn’t go in, I’m beat and if it does, I’ve got a chance. To win is massive but to win it twice is ridiculous” reflected Stone after a successful Easter Sunday to Dartsworld.

Andy Boulton following on from a double win in Hildesheim on the PDC Challenge Tour, brought his form into the Winmau Championship Tour by whitewashing Gary Stone in the opening Final of the weekend.

“I just played steady all day and took my chances. I took finishes at the right time and it’s kind of what my game is all about. When it happens, I’m more than happy with that”.

“I’m critical of my own game, not sounding big headed but it’s about me, if I turn up and win that’s great because that’s what we’re here to do at the end of the day. It’s nice when you can win and put in a good performance as well.”

“I’m really pleased, it’s my first ADC tournament and I’m very happy to win my first one” reflected a jubilant X Factor at Eston Sports Academy.

Bradley Brooks was the other winner from Middlesbrough over the Easter weekend after he beat Neil Duff in a last leg decider to win Event 2. Bam Bam’s best performance of the tournament came in a 5-2 victory over Liam Goyne in the Last 16, where he opened proceedings with a 150 finish for a 12 darter whilst also hitting a first 9 average of 103.43.

“I can’t remember the last time I won a Senior Event for a long time, to come here when I’ve not been playing my best whilst using my new darts from Shot today is amazing. This weekend was more of a trial and error for me, if it doesn’t happen it doesn’t happen, but to win one on the first day I’m very happy with that.”

“The previous leg against Neil in the Final, he started 140, 100, 140 so I knew that leg was done and was ready for the next one. I prepared myself for that all the way through, knowing I needed to produce good darts on my throw. I started 96, 180 and then 86 whilst he didn’t kick of too well, so I knew I had time on my side and made sure to get over the line.”

Bradley sits third in the Winmau Championship Tour table behind the weekend’s other two winners ahead of the next Championship Tour Events on the 25^th and 26^th ^ofMay, again at Eston Sports Academy in Middlesbrough.

Congratulations to opening winners Gary Stone, Andy Boulton and Bradley Brooks who all walked away from Teesside £1000 richer in the ADC Winmau Championship Tour.