Peter Manley has been gifted a perfect chance to gain revenge over the greatest of them all – on a stage that holds mixed memories for ‘One Dart’!
Manley has won a place at the Players Championship Finals at the world famous Circus Tavern later this month and he will face old rival Phil Taylor in the 1st Round.
Originally, the Unicorn ace finished 33rd in the Players Championship Order of Merit, so just missed out on a spot in the £250,000 tournament to be broadcast ‘live’ on ITV4 from January 28-31.
But Andy Jenkins has withdrawn his appeal against a four-month ban handed down by the DRA, so he is out of the event and Manley comes in.
But of course, he must now face Taylor, who’s the No.1 seed and the clash is sure to evoke old memories and rivalries, because it was on the same Purfleet stage that ‘The Power’ beat Manley in three World Championship Finals!
Only recently, Manley in his role as Chairman of the PDPA, presented Taylor with the Player’s Player of the Year award at the PDC Awards Night at the Dorchester Hotel……Manley has slipped down to No.27 in the world rankings, so this is a massive opportunity to make an impression.
The 1st Round matches are over only the best of 11 legs, so you never know! Manley against Taylor will take place on the opening night at the Circus Tavern – Thursday January 28.
The likes of Raymond van Barneveld, John Part and Wayne Mardle will be missing because they failed to make an impression in Players Championship events last year.
In all, 11 Team Unicorn players will feature…..Colin Osborne is the No.3 seed, Adrian Lewis No.4 and Wes Newton No.6
James Wade is only the 10th seed and he will feature in arguably the match of the opening round against Mervyn King.
Here is the draw in bracket fashion, with Unicorn players highlighted and a list of which night they will be playing the 1st Round matches.
PHIL TAYLOR (1) v PETER MANLEY (32) – Thurs 28 Jan
TERRY JENKINS (16) v Vincent van der Voort (17) – Thurs 28 Jan
Colin Lloyd (8) v Denis Ovens (25) – Thurs 28 Jan
Robert Thornton (9) v KEVIN PAINTER (24) – Thurs 28 Jan
Steve Beaton (5) v Tony Eccles (28) – Thurs 28 Jan
Dennis Priestley (12) v PAUL NICHOLSON (21) – Thurs 28 Jan
ADRIAN LEWIS (4) v Brendan Dolan (29) – Thurs 28 Jan
Alan Tabern (13) v ANDY HAMILTON (20) – Thurs 28 Jan
Mark Walsh (2) v Steve Hine (31) – Fri 29 Jan
Wayne Jones (15) v Andy Smith (18) – Fri 29 Jan
Gary Anderson (7) v Jelle Klaasen (26) – Fri 29 Jan
JAMES WADE (10) v Mervyn King (23) – Fri 29 Jan
WES NEWTON (6) v Peter Wright (27) – Fri 29 Jan
Ronnie Baxter (11) v Mark Dudbridge (22) – Fri 29 Jan
COLIN OSBORNE (3) v Co Stompe (30) – Fri 29 Jan
JAMIE CAVEN (14) v Michael van Gerwen (19) – Fri 29 Jan
The prize fund has just been increased to £250,000 thanks to a £50,000 injection from the Professional Darts Players Association and the tournament will be sponsored by totesport.com
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC