St Helens star Dave Chisnall secured a brilliant Players Championship double in Crawley, as Unicorn youngster Keegan Brown enjoyed the best performance of his career!
Chisnall joined the elite band of players to win both tournaments over a Pro Tour weekend, by coming from 2-4 down to beat Justin Pipe 6-4 in Sunday’s final.
But what a weekend it has been for teenager Keegan Brown!
He had a fabulous run to the semi-finals of the 6th Players Champion ship tournament of the year.
The 19-year-old Team Unicorn starlet has made a massive statement about what he wants to do over the next couple of decades in his world of darts.....
There is no doubt that he has the ability and the temperament to succeed in the professional game and the last week or so has proved just why.
Remember Brown reached the quarter-finals and semi-finals in two of the PDC Unicorn Youth Tour events last weekend....on Friday he qualified in style for next month’s German Darts Championship in Berlin and on Saturday, he got to the last 16 of the PC tournament in Crawley.
But this was the best day of his darting life and the most lucrative! He pocketed a cheque for £2,000 for reaching those semi-finals.
After beating former BDO star Steve West in the 1st Round, young Brown went onto to secure the three biggest scalps of his career.....he won dramatic last leg deciders against fellow Unicorn stars James Wade and Andy Hamilton, before thrashing Joe Murnan 6-1 to win his spot in the quarter-finals.
He then beat Terry Jenkins 6-3, before his brilliant run was finally ended 6-1 by Chisnall in the semi-finals.
Nevertheless a great day for the young man from the Isle of Wight....
It was a case of so near, but yet so far for Raymond van Barneveld.
The Dutchman looked in dominant form all day, but came unstuck in the semi-finals....he was 4-3 up against Pipe and then lost three straight legs and that was that.
So Brown beating Jenkins, Hamilton and Wade on his journey, but how did the rest of Team Unicorn fare on Sunday in Crawley?
Including his semi-final win over Barney, Pipe beat for Unicorn players on the day....Kevin Painter 6-4 in the last 16, Arron Monk 6-3 in the 3rd Round and Devon Petersen in round two by 6 legs to 2.
Jamie Caven lost in a deciding leg to Simon Whitlock in the last 16 and Wes Newton was a 6-3 loser against Brendan Dolan in the last 32.
It was a hugely disappointing weekend all round for Gary Anderson.
The World No.4 (having received a 1st Round bye on each day) lost in his first game for a second day running as he went down 6-3 to Jelle Klaasen....Paul Nicholson was another 2nd round loser as he was beaten in a last leg decider by Stuart Kellett.
In the 1st Round, Steffi Luck failed to win a leg against Chris Aubrey, while Joe Cullen went down 6-5 to Anthony Littleton.
Crawley Players Championship 6 results:
Quarter-Finals
Keegan Brown 6-3 Terry Jenkins
Justin Pipe 6-3 Simon Whitlock
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Mervyn King
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Kim Huybrechts
Losers - £1.000
Semi-Finals:
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Keegan Brown
Justin Pipe 6-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Losers - £2,000
Final:
Dave Chisnall 6-4 Justin Pipe
Winner - £6,000
Runner-up - £3,000
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy PDC