The Team Unicorn duo of Colin Osborne and Joe Cullen have both clinched their prized places in the World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens!
But Osborne still has work to do!
Osborne’s brilliant 6-0 victory over Johnny Haines in the 3rd Round of the European Darts Trophy in Dusseldorf on Sunday afternoon was enough to guarantee his place at the Winter Gardens.
He now faces a quarter-final in Germany against Mervyn King.
It was a nerve-wracking wait for Cullen but results in the last 16 went his way and he now can’t lose his place in the 16 qualifiers through the Pro Tour Order of Merit.
It will be a World Matchplay debut for Cullen and we will have first news of the draw later tonight here on the Unicorn Website.
Osborne produced arguably one of his best performances of the year in whitewashing Haines with an average of 101.33
And there will also be a huge all Unicorn quarter-final clash between James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld!
Wade brushed aside the challenge of Andy Smith 6-2, winning the match with a 120 check-out
And Barney won five consecutive legs as he beat fellow Dutchman Gino Vos by the same score....the win included a trademark 156 finish and a terrific average of 104.
And there were tears of joy on the Dusseldorf stage from young James Hubbard.
The PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion beat Mark Walsh 6-3 and that victory was extra special, because it clinched Hubbard his place at the World Matchplay, at the expense of Peter Wright.
And we will have news on the finale of the European Darts Trophy from Dusseldorf on the Unicorn website, followed by that all-important draw for the World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens, which of course starts on Saturday week.
And confirmation that Gary Anderson will take his place at Blackpool.....Unicorn’s World No.4 is recovering well from his eye problem and is adamant that he will be 100 per cent fit and raring to go for the prestigious tournament.
European Darts Trophy – 3rd Round results:
Richie Burnett 6-2 Michael van Gerwen
James Hubbard 6-3 Mark Walsh
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Gino Vos
James Wade 6-2 Andy Smith
Mark Dudbridge 2-6 Dave Chisnall
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Robert Thornton
Johnny Haines 0-6 Colin Osborne
Steve Beaton 5-6 Mervyn King
Quarter-Finals:
Mervyn King v Colin Osborne
Simon Whitlock v Dave Chisnall
James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
James Hubbard v Richie Burnett
By STUART PYKE
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC