Winmau Tour #3 & #4 Roundup
The ADC staged another successful couple of days in Bristol as the Championship Tour continues to thrive. Many players of all levels expressed appreciation for how the ADC has performed in its debut year, as it gives amateur players a chance to play for something and feel part of something.
Steve ‘The Bomber’ Brown and Dan Read claimed Winmau Championship Tour Events 3 and 4 respectively with Read also being runner-up in the former. ADC European title holder James Richardson was a double semi-finalist.
Over 130 players entered on Saturday and almost 120 on Sunday with many benefitting in the Rankings points and prize money across the two days:
ADC Chairman Brown stated: “Outside of the PDC we run the best and most professionally organised events out there…. there I said it!”
Saturday Event 3:
Steve Brown won his very first Winmau ADC Championship in Thornbury on Saturday after beating Dan Read 6-2 in the Final of Tour 3 coming through a 137-man field. The Bomber is up to third in the rankings after earning 256 ranking points, 12 points ahead of Tony Wood in fourth.
The Winmau star spoke to Darts World after his win and said: “Surprised is the main emotion I think, I wasn’t going to play today, its just dawned on me the players I beat today and in the last part of the afternoon I felt like my old self again”. Brown beat the likes of Kevin Garcia as well as the conqueror of ADC Number 1 Matt Jackson in Adam Smith Neale.
“I know I’m capable of winning these events but sometimes it's just your confidence and I’ve been lacking that recently, so to go and win today with my little girl here means a lot”. The Bristol thrower moves onto 556 points, 110 points behind second-placed Adam Atkinson.
James Richardson played his first ADC event as he made it all the way to the Semi-Finals in Thornsbury, losing to runner-up Dan Read who enjoyed a fantastic debut tournament himself. Ruthless has played on the Ally Pally stage on multiple occasions but was not going to let himself get carried away going into the Third Winmau Championship Tour.
“I walked in today and thought wow, this is good what they (ADC) are doing and a good venue, so I knuckled down. I’m really impressed with what Scott and Steve Brown have put together here and its only going to grow.”
Results:
Ryan Palmer 5-4 Chris Wickenden
Steve Brown 5-3 Adam Smith-Neale
Dan Read 5-2 Graham Hall
James Richardson 5-4 Callum Goffin
Semi Finals:
Steve Brown 5-2 Ryan Palmer
Dan Read 5-2 James Richardson
Final:
Steve Brown 6-2 Dan Read
Sunday Event 4
Dan Read made up for his defeat in the Final on Saturday and won the Winmau Championship Tour 4 after beating Michael Huntley 6-3 in the Final. The 23-year-old earned himself a £1000 for his days work as well as a spot in the Champion of Champions which will take place later in the year.
Dan the Man spoke to Darts World after his victory and said: “I’m over the moon to get over the line today, I was gutted yesterday because I played really well all day and in the Final, I didn’t play as well against Steve, but today I’m over the moon to win it’s been brilliant.”
The Englishman took out many players on his way to victory including wins over Lee Budgen in the Quarter Final before a 98.82 average against James Richardson, beating Ruthless in consecutive Semi Finals including a 134 checkout to reach the Final hitting two double tops for a 5-2 win.
“When I got to the Final I thought, come on Dan just win it today, I’ve been playing well with the Modus Online Live League, so I thought I need to come here and do the same. Two Finals I would have taken it but I am so happy to win it.” The youngster is up to 16th in the Rankings after his win moving onto 256 points, and three points off Kevin McDine in 15th.
ADC Number 1 Matt Jackson was beaten early on Sunday by Jimmy Bristow but moved onto 701 points, 35 clear now of Adam Atkinson who did not play in either of the Championship Tours in Thornbury. The Action reached the Last 32 of the Plate Tournament earning two more points, after losing to the eventual winner Jenson Walker who averaged an impressive 99.80 in the tungsten affair.
James Richardson will be happy with his weekends work after reaching consecutive Semi-Finals, earning 96 ranking points from two days of action ahead of his undisputed series battle with Kevin Painter later in the month for the European Title. His standout performance on Sunday must be his impressive 4-1 win over ADC Number 6 Graham Hall where he averaged over 104.
Winmau Championship Tour 4: Quarter Final Results
Scott Taylor 5-4 Ricky Palmer
Michael Huntley 5-3 Gary Blades
James Richardson 5-4 Steve Werrett
Dan Read 5-2 Lee Budgen
Semi Finals:
Michael Huntley 5-4 Scott Taylor
Dan Read 5-2 James Richardson
Final:
Dan Read 6-3 Michael Huntley