Adrian Lewis just failed to round off a perfect week, when he was beaten by World Champion Raymond Van Barneveld in the first of the Stan James Players Championships in Gibraltar. Lewis hit ‘The Jackpot’ after being given the last place for the 2007 Premier League and he celebrates his 22nd birthday on Sunday…..but he couldn’t put the icing on the cake – losing the final by 3 sets to 1.
For Barney, it is yet another title in a golden run. He has now won the last three big PDC events…..of course ‘The Greatest Game’ against Phil Taylor to be crowned World Champion, then he won the UK Open North East Regional and now the first of the events in Gibraltar.
He just can’t do any wrong at the moment and fully justified his favourites tag before a dart had been thrown. Barney lost only three legs in the final. He was two sets up, before Lewis rallied to take the third set….but there was no stopping the Dutch darting master, as he claimed another PDC title and another £5,000.
Lewis had beaten three fellow Team Unicorn stars on his way to the final…..Bob Anderson 3 sets to nil in the 3rd Round, Colin Lloyd 3 sets to 2 in a terrific quarter-final and Peter Manley 3-1 in the semi-finals.
Of the other Team Unicorn stars, Andy Hamilton was beaten 3-0 by PDC new boy Michael Van Gerwen in the 3rd Round…..Kevin Painter lost 3-1 to Barrie Bates at the same stage and John Part was another 3rd Round loser – going down 3-1 to Alan Tabern.
It wasn’t the best of days for Kirk Shepherd, James Wade, Wes Newton and Robbie Green. Shepherd lost an all-Unicorn 1st Round clash 3-2 to Hamilton, Wade suffered a surprise 2nd Round exit – losing 3-1 to Dave Jowett, Newton lost 3-1 in the 2nd Round to another of the Dutch newcomers Vincent van der Voort, while Green also lost in round two – beaten 3-1 by Wayne Jones.
Former BDO World Champion Jelle Klaasen reached the last 32, where he was beaten 3-0 by Peter Manley.
Results – 4th Round:
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-1 Barrie Bates
Losers - £300
Quarter-Finals:
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-1 Wayne Mardle
Losers - £600
Semi-Finals:
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-1 Ronnie Baxter (2-0, 0-2, 2-1, 2-1)
Losers - £1,250
Final:
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-1 Adrian Lewis (2-0, 2-1, 0-2, 2-0)
Winner - £5,000
The second Stan James Players Championship event takes place on Sunday….keep in touch with the Unicorn website for news of the tournament.
BY STUART PYKE
