Новости Unicorn

The Team Unicorn star looked in great form all weekend but he couldn’t find anything like his best darts – losing the final 7 legs to nil – to Irishman Mick McGowan.

Painter had beaten Alex Roy, then Unicorn new boy Andrew Hamilton, Dave Johnson and Wayne Mardle in the semi-finals, before it all came unstuck against McGowan.

But he still collects 2,100 euros and perhaps more importantly nine world ranking points, as he chases a place in the top six by the end of October, which of course is the cut off point for prized places in the 2007 Premier League.

It looked as though James Wade’s brilliant form was going to take him to another final. After his heroics to reach the final of the World Matchplay in July, Wade also fell to McGowan in Castlebar – losing in the semi’s 6-3.

Of the other Team Unicorn players, Adrian Lewis lost to Hamilton at the last 32 stage, while Peter Manley – who had flown in from the World Darts Trophy in Holland to chase ranking points – also lost at the same stage….beaten by Adrian Gray. Hamilton won 5-4 against Lewis, while Manley lost 5-3.

Ireland Open Classic results:

Last 16:

Dave Johnson 5-1 Dave Askew
Kevin Painter 5-4 Andy Hamilton
Chris Mason 2-5 Dennis Priestley
Barrie Bates 1-5 Wayne Mardle
Brendan Dolan 3-5 Lionel Sams
Terry Jenkins 1-5 Mick McGowan
Mark Dudbridge 3-5 Wayne Jones
James Wade 5-3 Adrian Gray

Quarter-finals:

Dave Johnson 2-6 Kevin Painter
Dennis Priestley 5-6 Wayne Mardle
Lionel Sams 1-6 Mick McGowan
Wayne Jones 3-6 James Wade

Semi-finals:

Kevin Painter 6-2 Wayne Mardle
Mick McGowan 6-3 James Wade

Final:

Mick McGowan 7-0 Kevin Painter

Winner: 4,200 euros + 12 world ranking points
Runner-up: 2,100 euros + 9 points
Semi-finalists: 1,050 euros + 7 points

BY STUART PYKE