There was a distinctly old-school heavyweight feel about Saturday night’s MODUS Super Series darts finale. Henry Cooper, making his presence felt like a young ’Enry stepping into the ring for the first time against a seasoned pro, put up a fabulous debut fight across the evening.
Cooper traded punches, soaked up pressure, and forced a last-leg shoot-out in the final. But just when the crowd sensed an upset, Benito van de Pas landed the decisive blow.
The Dutchman – nicknamed ‘Big Ben’ and ringing loud all weekend – was crowned Week Seven champion with a hard-fought 4-3 victory over Cooper, pocketing the £5,000 top prize and booking his ticket to Champions Week.
The Darts Undercard
Van de Pas arrived into Saturday’s finale as Group C winner from Thursday and Friday and never looked back. He opened the night by seeing off Richie Howson and then edged Cooper 4-3 in the group stage – a warning shot that the Englishman would ultimately ignore at his peril.
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In the opposite corner of the draw, Cooper produced his own moment of grit, grinding past Steve Green 4-3 in the semi-finals after Green had earlier whitewashed David Evans.
Meanwhile Van de Pas clinically dismantled Sam Spivey 4-2 to set up a rematch that felt more like a boxing sequel than a darts final.
The Main Event
The final was pure theatre. Cooper, all heart and high guard, refused to be knocked out early. He matched Van de Pas blow for blow, forcing the contest into a last-leg decider. For a few delicious moments it looked as though the debutant might pull off the kind of fairytale that once made the original Henry Cooper a national hero.
Instead, Big Ben kept his composure, stepped in, and delivered the finishing combination. 4-3. The Dutchman had his hand raised. Cooper had gone the distance and earned every ounce of respect, but the knockout belonged to van de Pas.
One man walks away with the weekly crown and a Champions Week place. Another walks away having announced himself in the most dramatic fashion possible.
In the end it was a classic boxing style story: the challenger gave everything… and the champion still found a way to land the last blow.
What’s Next
The MODUS Super Series rolls straight into Week Eight on Monday, with Group A kicking off at 9:30am BST. Former weekly winners Steve West and Scott Taylor head the bill as the next chapter begins.
Daily MSS play is streamed on Pluto TV from 9.30 AM (BST) with highlights and other coverage on the MODUS Super Series YouTube channel, or via various bookmaker’ websites worldwide.
Check out DartsWorld’s MODUS Super Series Hall of Fame for the personalities and history of this event.
MODUS Super Series Week Seven
Saturday 19th September
Finale
Group One
David Evans 4-1 Sam Spivey
Sam Spivey 4-1 Steve Green
Steve Green 4-0 David Evans
Group Two
Henry Cooper 4-3 Richie Howson
Benito Van de Pas 4-3 Richie Howson
Benito Van de Pas 4-3 Henry Cooper
Semi Finals
Henry Cooper 4-3 Steve Green
Benito Van de Pas 4-2 Sam Spivey
Final
Benito Van de Pas 4-3 Henry Cooper
Images: MODUS Super Series
