Новости Unicorn

The Dutch star won his second consecutive UK Open Regional – following on from his victory in Ireland – with a 2 sets to nil win over Welshman Barrie Bates in the final at the Magnum Centre in Irvine.

Team Unicorn’s hopes ended in the quarter-finals, with defeat for both Peter Manley and Colin Lloyd.

When Barney joined the PDC in February, he was promised a wildcard into next month’s Ladbrokes.com World Championships….amazingly it now looks certain that he won’t need that wildcard, because he has played so well and is odds on to claim a place in the top 32 by right, before the Circus Tavern showdown.

Barneveld added the UK Open Scottish Regional to his already impressive list of tournament wins, dropping only one leg in the final against Bates…and he hit seven perfect darts at the start of the 2nd set – just missing treble 19 on his way to the sport’s holy grail.

Lloyd ended Adrian Lewis’ hopes of another Scotland double in the 3rd Round, before losing to Barney again! You may remember Unicorn’s World No.1 was beaten by Barneveld in the UK Open Irish Regional Final. This time it was the last eight, with Barney edging it 5 legs to 3.

Manley’s run was ended by Dennis Priestley – also 5-3. Kevin Painter accounted for BDO star Gary Anderson 5-2 in the 1st Round and also disposed of Ronnie Baxter, before he lost 5-1 to Roland Scholten.

Bob Anderson beat another BDO man in Tony West 5-1 in the 1st Round. He then beat Unicorn stablemate John Part 5-3, before losing by the same score to Mark Dudbridge.

Wes Newton won the all-Unicorn 2nd Round clash against Michael Barnard 5-2, while youngster Kirk Shepherd lost at the same stage. Newton enjoyed a good run to the 4th Round but became another of Priestley’s victims.

In another all-Unicorn match in the 2nd Round, Adrian Lewis beat Andy Hamilton 5-2, while there was disappointment for James Wade – a 2nd Round loser to Jason Lowe. Lewis lost 5-3 to Lloyd at the last 32 stage.

UK Open Scottish Regional results:

4th Round (legs)

Dennis Priestley 5-1 Wes Newton
Peter Manley 5-2 Jason Clark
Colin Lloyd 5-3 Colin Monk
Raymond Van Barneveld 5-0 Alan Caves
Roland Scholten 5-1 Jimmy Mann
Mick McGowan 5-1 Darren Johnson
Robert Thornton 5-2 Mark Dudbridge
Barrie Bates 5-4 Lionel Sams

Losers £250 + 8 ranking points

Quarter-finals (legs)

Dennis Priestley 5-2 Peter Manley
Raymond Van Barneveld 5-3 Colin Lloyd
Mick McGowan 5-1 Roland Scholten
Barrie Bates 5-4 Robert Thornton

Losers £500 + 10 ranking points

Semi-finals (sets)

Raymond Van Barneveld 2-0 Dennis Priestley (3-0, 3-0)
Barrie Bates 2-1 Mick McGowan (0-3, 3-1, 3-0)

Losers £1,000 + 12 ranking points

Final (sets)

Raymond Van Barneveld 2-0 Barrie Bates (3-1, 3-0)

Winner £4,000 + 20 ranking points
Runner-up £2,000 + 16 ranking points

BY STUART PYKE