Paul Nicholson is celebrating his first tournament win for more than a year!
‘The Asset’ edged out Adrian Lewis in a cracking all Unicorn final by six legs to four, on a day when Wes Newton and Michael Rosenauer also had cause to celebrate!
Nicholson’s win in the Players Championship at the K2 Centre in Crawley, was his first since he stunned the field to win his first TV ‘Major’ – the Players Championship Finals at the Circus Tavern in January 2010.
And he played through the pain barrier to clinch “a massive win” because whatever happens, the victory and the £6,000 that goes with it, guarantees Nicholson his spot at the World Matchplay in the summer!
“I rode my luck a little bit in the semi-final and final, but I dug deep. That is an enormous win for me for many reasons,” he said. “People have said that win at the Circus Tavern was a fluke. That hurts and I will prove them wrong!”
But Nicholson has been threatening a victory for some time, as he bids to kick start his career again in 2011, and he was terrific all day in Crawley.
Although, it could all have been so different after he hurt his ribs in bizarre fashion!
Nicholson takes up the story. “Back in January when I was on holiday in Canada, I slipped on ice while out walking my friend’s dog. In the semi-final against Gary Anderson, I bent down to pick up a flight off my dart, and I felt the rib cartilage go again. But I knew I had a great chance of winning, so just got on with it, although the rib is blooming sore now!”
And it was all worth it as Nicholson came from behind in both the semi-final against Anderson and final against Lewis to take the victory.
Up until the semi=final showdown with Anderson, the Unicorn star had dropped only seven legs in five games….he really was firing – Jimmy Mann (6-1), Nicky Bache (6-1), Michael Mansell (6-0), Scott Rand (6-3), before a 6-2 quarter-final win over Unicorn stablemate Michael Rosenauer.
Nicholson was 3-1 down against Anderson, but fought back to level and the next four legs all went with throw to force a decider…..Nicholson had the darts, left 77 after 12 and took it out in two darts to win it!
And in the final, Lewis looked on course for another Pro Tour victory when he raced into a 4-2 lead.
“I knew how important it was for me, so I kept telling myself you can win this. To be fair, Adrian started missing doubles and I took advantage,” Nicholson explained.
He stormed back to win four legs on the spin!
Nicholson broke the Lewis throw twice as he went 5-4 in front and he was throwing for the victory. Lewis didn’t get a dart at a double and Nicholson won it with his third attempt at ‘tops’.
“I was fired up,” said Nicholson. “I just have to kick on from here, get back in the top 16 and aim for the top 10. That is what I want to achieve this year.”
Lewis though, is in good touch at the moment…he beat Matt Jackson, youngster Adam Smith-Neale, Justin Pipe, Jelle Klaasen, Newton and then Ronnie Baxter, 6-5 in a thrilling semi-final….
So, he will be disappointed that he threw away a great opportunity in the final.
But what a day for Rosenauer!
The 44-year-old from Bad Nauheim is giving the PDC Pro Tour a real go in 2011 and he got his reward in Crawley…..his run to the quarter-finals is his best performance in a PDC event in the UK. He has had success in tournaments in Germany and Las Vegas, but this was a gritty display.
And the £1,000 prize money could be absolutely crucial in his bid to qualify for the TV tournaments through the Players Championship Order of Merit.
It was his best result for nearly two years!
‘Rosy’ beat Terry Temple (6-4), Matthew Edgar (6-5), Steve Beaton (6-4) and Nigel Heydon (6-3) before losing to Nicholson 6-2 in those quarter-finals.
Wes Newton celebrated signing a new contract with Unicorn, by reaching yet another quarter-final….yes, he lost to Lewis but it was still a good day and he enjoyed some impressive wins in a tough draw.
‘The Warrior’ battled to victories over Dave Chisnall, Mark Dudbridge and John Henderson before going down 6-3 to Lewis…..and this performance he just be enough to see him up to a career high 9th in the world rankings!
The Unicorn pair of Kevin Painter and Jamie Caven were both knocked out in the last 16…..Caven lost 6-3 to young Irishman William O’Connor, while Painter was beaten 6-3 by Anderson.
O’Connor also disposed of Colin Osborne in the 3rd Round…..6-4 the score. The Irish ace finally saw his run ended by Baxter in the quarter-finals.
James Wade’s poor run of form continued in Crawley…..obviously low on confidence at the moment and a shock 6-2 defeat in the 2nd Round against Mareno Michels proved that once again.
He knows he has to play his way back into form. Wade is a class act and will surely start to prove that again very soon.
Also in the 2nd Round, Unicorn new boy Devon Petersen received a harsh darting lesson, as he was whitewashed by Steve Farmer and Terry Jenkins was well beaten 6-1 by Mark Frost.
Disappointingly, six Team Unicorn players fell at the very first hurdle.
Youngsters Joe Cullen and Arron Monk both missed chances to win, before going down in last leg deciders to Mareno Michels and Dave Smith respectively….Barrie Bates was thrashed 6-1 by Dave Chisnall, Kirk Shepherd lost 6-4 to Mark Dudbridge, Peter Manley was beaten 6-2 by Roland Scholten and Andy Hamilton’s disappointing year continued, as he lost 6-5 against Stephen Hardy.
Results – Quarter-Finals:
Paul Nicholson 6-2 Michael Rosenauer
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Wes Newton
Ronnie Baxter 6-3 William O’Connor
Gary Anderson 6-5 Mark Walsh
Losers - £1,000
Semi-Finals:
Adrian Lewis 6-5 Ronnie Baxter
Paul Nicholson 6-5 Gary Anderson
Losers - £2,000
Final:
Paul Nicholson 6-4 Adrian Lewis
Winner - £6,000
Runner-up - £3,000
By STUART PYKE (Twitter @stuartpykesport)
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC