Report Championship League Darts - Group 8

HURRICANE POWERS TO AMAZING GROUP EIGHT WIN
KIM HUYBRECHTS claimed the final place in the Championship League Darts Winners Group with an amazing comeback from 4-0 down to win the Group Eight final against Peter Wright on Wednesday.

The Belgian star will now compete alongside the likes of Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Andy Hamilton in Thursday's big-money Winners Group, where a 10,000 pound first prize is on offer alongside 100 pound per leg in the league phase and 200 pound per leg in the Play-Offs.
Huybrechts, though, came close to missing out on winning through in a keenly contested Group Eight at Crondon Park GC in Essex, which saw him competing in a sixth day of the event.
Huybrechts edged out Gary Anderson on leg difference to claim the fourth semi-final spot, with a 6-3 win over Mark Walsh in his final league match, coupled with Anderson's defeat to Steve Beaton, proving crucial in keeping his hopes alive. Huybrechts then performed superbly to defeat table-topper Paul Nicholson 6-3 in the semi-finals, breaking the deadlock from three-all by taking the last three legs without reply, and produced a stunning comeback in the final.
/ Wright, competing in his fifth day of the event this year, took the final's first four legs without reply as he punished some shaky doubling from the Belgian to lead 4-0. Huybrechts, though, fired his challenge with an 11-darter in leg five, before finishing 67 in the next, and he then hit a 177 to set up double 16 as he cut the gap to one leg. A 14-darter then saw him level the game, and when Wright missed a dart at double 16 in leg nine, Huybrechts followed an earlier 180 by taking out 108 on tops to lead 5-4. Huybrechts added a 177 score in the tenth leg, with Wright missing the bull for a 132 finish which would have sent the match into a decider as the Belgian returned to hit double four to end an amazing day.

"It's been six long days but I'm really happy," said Huybrechts. "Maybe I was lucky to be here in the final, but it's fantastic to win and now I get to play again tomorrow in the Winners Group. When I lost against Paul Nicholson in my sixth game, I had one game left but I thought I was nowhere near the qualifying places. I went into the last game against Mark wanting to win, and I did, and then someone said to me that if Gary lost I was still in. Gary did lose, so lucky me and I won the tournament today! At 4-0 down in the final, I just wanted to win a couple of legs and not to lose 6-0. When I got back to 4-3, I thought maybe if I get the next leg I can put a bit of pressure on Peter, and I started playing really well."
The triumph continues a superb spell for the Belgian, who hit a nine-darter earlier in this event and won a Players Championship in Killarney last Sunday, and he is determined to claim the £10,000 first prize in Thursday's Winners Group.
"The top players like Phil and Michael are going to be really fresh and I've had some very long days, but it's not going to influence my fighting mode," added Huybrechts. I'll try to win every game and I'm going to battle to the end, and we'll see how far I get. Playing in this is the best practice there is - you're playing top players and it's been great for my game, I've got a lot of trust in my game from the form. The last week has made my year already, but I'm going to enjoy the experience tomorrow. It's my first time playing in Championship League Darts and I've made it to the Winners Group, so I'm very happy with that."

Wright reached three finals in his five days competing in the event, losing to Michael van Gerwen and Ian White in Group Five and Group Six, and again fell just short of sealing a Winners Group spot. The Scot won four of his seven league games on the day and raced to a 6-1 semi-final triumph against Andy Smith before running out of steam in the decider - although £12,650 prize money for the event softens the blow of his exit.
Nicholson, appearing in his fourth successive group, finished at the top of the league table following the round-robin stage but suffered a second semi-final defeat.
Andy Smith, in his first day of the year, had won his opening six league matches, but lost out to Nicholson in their final match, with the 6-1 reverse also costing him top spot, before he was defeated in the semi-finals by Wright.
Scottish star Anderson was narrowly denied a semi-final place on Leg Difference to Huybrechts as he competed in a fifth successive day of the tournament.
Steve Beaton eventually joined Anderson and Huybrechts on three wins, losing his opening four matches before finishing with a flourish, but again missed out on the Play-Offs on Leg Difference.
2009 Championship League Darts winner Colin Osborne won just two of his matches on the day as he missed out on the chance to win back the title, while Mark Walsh picked up just one victory from his seven games.








Contact © Global Darts. All Rights Reserved. Impressum