Darts, Beers, & Cheers

McCoys Premier League & Youth World Champ Finals

Russ Bray enjoying himself with the lovely walk-on girls.

Here we go!  A double finals night tonight, which makes it double the fun.   We have the final 4 battling it out in the premier league, and sandwiched in between, the world Youth final from last year’s tournament.   The O2 will be rocking tonight through the games, and I’m sure they will throw their support behind the English Youth finalist James Hubbard too (Mighty Mike will have some fans I’m sure too).  GAME ON!

Get yourself on Sky Sports HD if you can – or if you’re outside the UK you can watch live on LIVEPDC.tv.  If you can’t do that just bookmark this page to keep up to date with the scores, or follow me on twitter @dartsbeerscheer for updates.

And for those who like to know, the walk-on girls are the Irish lovely’s tonight; Kelly Donegan (brunette) and Hazel O’Sullivan (blond).

Oh and there will be some musical entertainment tonight – as all eight of the premier league lads join their band to sing the charity record “got my tickets for the darts” – a bit on that here.

UPDATE:  A 9 darter from Whitlock in only the 2nd leg of the night!

UPDATE:  Phil Taylor takes his form into the final, and wins 10-7 – after Whitlock shows some bottle to come back from 6-1 down.. but it wasn’t quite enough.

Semi-Finals
Simon Whitlock 8-6 Andy Hamilton

Simon whitlock celebrates his 9 darter (Pic PDC/Lustig)

130 c/o from the HAMMER!!  what a break to start us off.  We’re loving it.  as Ronald would say.   BOOOSHHHH! 9 darter to break back from Whitlock – wow!  112 c/o from the Hammer to break again.. 3 legs.. 3 breaks.. 1 9 darter!  wow.  2-1 Hamilton.    9 darters don’t win games.. but they are great   Hammer holds and he’s 3-1 up.   100% 4 from 4 on the doubles from Hamilton.  fantastic darts under pressure up there – 103 average too (vs 100).  Whitlock holding on by his nails.. gets a 2nd leg on the board.. 4-2 to the Hammer tho at the break.    Hamilton seems to have come back a little off after the break… not finding his range.  Whitlock 3-4 now.   OK so Hammer re-finds his range. .. has a few goes at the double.. Whitlock can’t finish and leaves 100.  Hammer on 14.. 5-3!   Whitlock misses 65.. Hammer on 25 thought he had lost that one.  Hammer misses d4.  Whitlock let off.. hits d6 5-4.  Hammer with another 100+ c/o!   What a fighter.  6-4 up.. bottle time coming up now!   Whitlock holds.. 6-5 the Hammer.. all about squeaky bums soon.   May need another beer myself!   Hamilton on 68… Whitlock waiting on 49. 1 dart left in the Hammers hand.. needs d20…. NO! Hits d1! Whitlock hits it! 6-6.  Whitlock must have thought Hammer was about to break then.. but he leaves 18.. and Whitlock takes d9 and the lead!  7-6 up now.   Whitlock wins!! what a game to start us off! Hammer can be proud of his performance throughout this. 8-6. 

Phil Taylor 8-6 James Wade

87 c/o on d9 and a 12 darter to start from Wade .. 1-0 up.  He’s ready for this game!   112 c/o from Taylor and we are 1-1.  Wade won the bull.. and he’s holding throw.. all he needs to do!   2-1 up.  2-2 after Taylor leaves himself 22 by mistake?  Split it and hit 3rd dart.   Wade just holds on there.. d10 and 3-2 up with throw.  180 from Wade and he has a chance to break here… Wade needs 25 to go into the break 4-2 up… 5… 10!  d5!!   GAME ON!   d8 and Taylor breaks back – bit of flight chewing, but Wade let him back in there.  4-3 Wade.. Taylor throwing.Wade lets Taylor in… several darts to break back but misses, and Taylor goes 6-4 up.  Wade holds.. it’s not all over.. Taylor missing some big scores… 6-5.  d10 from Wade to break.. his ‘old standby.   Game still very much on.  6-6.   Taylor takes 149 c/o…. wow!   He breaks right back under massive pressure – amazing darts.  7-6 up now and throwing for the game.   Taylor on 80… two fat 20′s.. and tops.  Game over.  Great semi-final (again).  8-6 Taylor.  

Best of 15 legs

PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship Final

Michael van Gerwen 3-6 James Hubbard

Hubbard looking nervous.. and rightly so! starts well with a 140.. then 180.   Well well well… Hubbard 2-0 up with a break.  81 c/o in 2 darts from Hubbad! 3-0 up.. he’s class and now looking more relaxed up there.  100 ave from ‘old mother’ Hubbard and he’s 4-1 up.  Hubbard misses 5 darts at a double to break.. 4-2 as van Gerwen takes 48 out.   102 c/o from van Gerwen to break – he’s getting into his flow now.  4-3 Hubbard.   Hubbard 5-3 up .. takes tops out .. and throwing for the game now.  A mis-count from Hubbard, I think he was too busy banging the 60′s in – had 180 left.. hits 120.. then a 19?  van Gerwen leaves 30… and Hubbard wins, hits tops in his last dart. 

Best of 11 legs

McCoy’s Premier League Darts Final

Phil Taylor  10-7 Simon Whitlock

A missed d16 from Whitlock to break… Taylor .. inside d16 too!   Wizard misses d4.  Taylor hits d4 – nervy.  1-0 Taylor.  Whitlock misses his much needed 160 to hold.. and Taylor breaks.  2-0 up.   d8 and a 96 c/o from  Whitlock… steadies the ship there.  3-1 Taylor.  3 missed darts at a double there for the Wizard.  Taylor hits bull for a 89 c/o and 5-1 lead at the break.   109 c/o from Taylor.. turning far too easy now, the Wizard has to find some momentum soon!  6-2.. Whitlock holds.. but too little too late?   Taylor leaves 16.. Whitlock needs 164.. can’t hit it.  Taylor goes 7-2 up.  d10 and Whitlock still battling.  7-3 to Taylor.   Taylor misses tops and lets Whitlock back in.. hits tops himself.. 7-4 and a break.  Hang on!    HERE WE GO!! Whitlock holds and it’s 7-5.. boring? no way now!   Whitlock breaks again!!  7-6 now.  Getting interesting!   120 c/o from Whitlock…. 7-7.   Who fears the Beard? �    Whitlock so close to a 149 stunner.   Taylor needs tops for his 70.. and he hits it.  8-7 up.  Heartbreaker from Phil.  He breaks just as Whitlock was looking to turn the game around.  9-7 up now.  Phil needs 126… Whitlock on 161.  Phil will set-up.. hmm not great. leaves 73.   D8 from Phil – and he wins and regains ‘his’ Premier League title.  wins 10-7.  Whitlock gave him a scare. 

Best of 19 legs