There was heartbreak and frustration for Unicorn star Paul Nicholson, as he lost his grip on the Australian Grand Prix title in dramatic circumstances.
The prestigious Players Championship title was won Dennis Priestley, who again showed that age is no barrier!
He has just turned 60, but he was too good for Mark Hylton in the final, winning 6-3 and he clinched victory in style with a 111 check-out!
Priestley had earlier beaten Simon Whitlock in the quarter-finals and then edged out Nicholson 6-5 in a dramatic semi-final at the Revesby Workers Club in Sydney.
‘The Asset’ had his chances against the veteran Yorkshireman before losing that last leg decider. His consolation is a cheque for £1,250
Nicholson looked to have rediscovered his best form in the tournament which means so much to him, because of his dual citizenship and the years that he spent in Australa, before he moved back to his native North East in 2009.
He breezed through his first four matches, beating Wayne Weening (6-1), Aaron Petty (6-3), Jeremy Fagg (6-0) and Rob Modra, who ‘The Asset’ beat 6-2 in the quarter-finals.
The highlight of his career came earlier this year, when after taking out Phil Taylor at the Circus Tavern, he went onto to win his first TV ‘Major’ – beating Mervyn King in the Players Championship Finals in Purfleet.
But this defeat will hurt.
Nicholson had flown back to Australia three weeks ago after the European Championship, to prepare for the defence of his Grand Prix title.
But his run to the semi-finals will boost his standing in the Players Championship Order of Merit, should he need that route to qualify for the World Grand Prix in Dublin.
Unicorn’s Australian ace Barry Jouannet enjoyed a good run to the last 16, but his hopes were ended 6-4 by Sean Reed.
Jouannet did well to find some form on Sunday after the disappointment of narrowly missing out on a shot at getting to the World Championship at the Ally Pally.
Last weekend, he was beaten 6-2 in the semi-finals of the Oceanic Masters by Shane Tichowitsch, who went onto lose in the final to Simon Whitlock, but Tichowitsch will claim the World Championship spot, as Whitlock qualifies through being in the world’s top ten!
But it is good to see Jouannet getting back to something like his best on the Aussie darting circuit, and his goal remains to qualify for another World Championship after his two previous appearances at the Circus Tavern.
Results:
Quarter-Finals:
Mark Hylton 6-2 Mark Walsh
Sean Reed 6-3 Preston Ridd
Paul Nicholson 6-2 Rob Modra
Dennis Priestley 6-3 Simon Whitlock
Semi-Finals:
Dennis Priestley 6-5 Paul Nicholson
Mark Hylton 6-5 Sean Reed
Final:
Dennis Priestley 6-3 Mark Hylton
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy Chris Sargeant