Новости Unicorn

Lloyd won the tournament on Saturday and reached the semi-final’s in Sunday’s event, to knock Unicorn stablemate Phil Taylor off the top – just a week after losing his prized No.1 position to ‘The Power’.

Taylor sat out both Players Championship events in Hampshire and great rival Raymond Van Barneveld cashed in, winning the Sunday tournament – beating Unicorn’s Adrian Lewis in the final. Two big tournaments…two big-name winners!

It rounds off a great week for Barney….this victory coming just seven days after his triumph at the UK Open in Bolton. Despite having his darts stolen at The Reebok, he saw off Team Unicorn trio Peter Manley, Kevin Painter and John Part, before beating Lewis 3 sets to 1 in the final. It means Barneveld has picked up 50 World Ranking points in the last week – more than making up for the disappointment of failing to qualify for the World Matchplay Championship. In Friday’s qualifiers, he lost in the 1st round to Andy Hamilton.

Lloyd was back on top form over the weekend, which also saw Unicorn star James Wade hit his second 9-darter of the year. He produced the perfect finish in his match against Alan Warriner on Sunday – a great achievement – but still lost the match! The up and coming Colin Osborne also nailed darts holy grail during Saturday’s Players Championship.

Lloyd beat Welshman Barrie Bates 3 sets to 1 to take the £5,000 winners cheque on Saturday….but what a week for Bates. He reached the UK Open Final against Barney, qualified for the World Matchplay and then lost out to Lloyd in another final at Hayling Island.

‘Jaws’ just failed in his bid for a unique double. He lost an all-Unicorn semi-final to Adrian Lewis on Sunday, after missing darts to win the match.

Players Championship results (Saturday):

Last 16:

Colin Lloyd 3-0 Alan Warriner
Dennis Priestley 3-1 Wes Newton
Darren Latham 3-2 Colin Osborne
Wayne Mardle 3-0 Mark Walsh
Jamie Harvey 0-3 Jason Lowe
Roland Scholten 0-3 Denis Ovens
Raymond Van Barneveld 3-0 Bob Anderson
Barrie Bates 3-1 Lionel Sams

Quarter-Finals:

Colin Lloyd 3-1 Dennis Priestley
Darren Latham 1-3 Wayne Mardle
Jason Lowe 2-3 Denis Ovens
Raymond Van Barneveld 1-3 Barrie Bates

Semi-finals:

Colin Lloyd 3-1 Wayne Mardle
Denis Ovens 1-3 Barrie Bates

Final:

Colin Lloyd 3-1 Barrie Bates

Players Championship results (Sunday):

Last 16:

John Part 2-3 Raymond Van Barneveld
Terry Jenkins 1-3 Kevin Painter
John Magowan 3-2 Colin Monk
Chris Mason 1-3 Stuart Dutton
Mark Walsh 2-3 Mick McGowan
Adrian Lewis 3-2 Andy Jenkins
Mark Dudbridge 3-0 Dennis Priestley
Alan Warriner 2-3 Colin Lloyd

Quarter-finals:

Raymond Van Barneveld 3-0 Kevin Painter
John Magowan 2-3 Stuart Dutton
Mick McGowan 2-3 Adrian Lewis
Mark Dudbridge 1-3 Colin Lloyd

Semi-finals:

Raymond Van Barneveld 3-0 Stuart Dutton
Adrian Lewis 3-2 Colin Lloyd

Final:

Raymond Van Barneveld 3-1 Adrian Lewis

Prize money and World ranking points for both days:

Winner: £5,000 and 20 points
Runner-up £2,500 and 16 points
Semi-finals: £1,250 and 12 points
Quarter-finals: £600 + 10 points
Last 16: £300 + 8 points

World Matchplay qualifiers: Barrie Bates, Andrew Hamilton, Alan Tabern and Steve Hine

BY STUART PYKE