Monthly Archives: July 2017

Gary Anderson's hopes of a first World Matchplay title were dashed in dramatic fashion by Daryl Gurney in Blackpool on Tuesday. 

The Unicorn man went down 11-9 in a thriller but that will be of no consolation to the Scot who was frustrated throughout. 

Anderson made the perfect start racing into a 3-0 lead. One of the big moments came as early as the fifth leg. Gary was in total control but he blew four darts for a 4-1 advantage and that gave Gurney the impetus that he was looking for.

They turned out to be very costly misses. Anderson hit seven perfect darts as he did go 4-2 in front but the Irishman levelled. Gurney grew in confidence with a 121 finish and an 11 darter as he went ahead for the first time at 7-5.

Unicorn duo Kyle Anderson and Ian White are out of the World Matchplay.

Kyle couldn't find the big shots when it really mattered in the all Aussie clash with Simon Whitlock and he went down 10-5.

And White lost to debutant Rob Cross at the Winter Gardens on Monday.

Anderson actually hit six 180s but was undone by his opponent's finishing. Whitlock raced into a 7-3 lead. At that stage he was 7/9 on the doubles and 5/5 on 'tops'. In between times, Anderson took out 105 and also banged in a brilliant 10 darter but he was always playing catch up.

A run of three straight legs got the Unicorn man back to within two legs but then missed doubles allowed Whitlock to close the game out.

White will rue a missed opportunity. After the first six legs went with throw, Cross won three on the spin to take control. Then came a 125 check-out to go 7-4 ahead.

White responded and got back to within one at 7-8 behind but Cross kept his composure to close out the

Kim Huybrechts World Matchplay jinx goes on.

The Unicorn ace has now lost six consecutive 1st Round matches in Blackpool after going down 10-6 to Alan Norris on Sunday night. 

Joe Cullen also lost a thriller to Raymond van Barneveld. 

But the Belgium wasted a great opportunity after racing into a 3-0 lead. It was the perfect start, but the next two legs changed the complexion of the match. 

Going for a 120 finish to make it 4-0, he hit the T20 but carelessly missed the single 20....and in the next leg Huybrechts missed four darts to make it 4-1 only for Norris to take out an incredible 155 on the bull. 

It turned the game on its head as Norris went on a winning run of eight straight legs and there was no coming back from that. 

Cullen came agonisingly close but in the end, he left himself too much to do and was edged out 10-8 by Van Barneveld. 

It was an incredible first night at the World Matchplay. The tournament never fails to disappoint and Gary Anderson just about came through unscathed.

But fellow Unicorn stars James Wade and Michael Smith were sent through the Winter Gardens exit door....and No.3 seed Peter Wright just scraped through.

 It really was one of those nights!

Anderson came up against an inspired Christian Kist but eventually got through 10-7.

"I'm just relieved to be honest," he admitted. "Having been on the road for a while, it was all about getting through. But when it mattered, I found the darts!"

The Unicorn star averaged 102 and was pushed all the way by the Dutchman. Gary hit 10 x 180s in a match that featured 19 maximums. He led 4-1 and then 6-2 and looked comfortable before Kist hit back with three straight legs.

There were 11 breaks of throw in the match!

Gary Anderson will know he should have played in the final of the first ever US Darts Masters on Saturday. 

He lost in the semi-finals to Daryl Gurney after missing darts to go 4-0, 5-1 and 5-2 in front. He also missed 'tops' for a 5-4 lead and D10 to level at five apiece. Unfortunately the Unicorn man only has himself to blame. 

It was there for the taking.

Michael van Gerwen won the US Masters in Vegas - his 10th World Series title in all - as he beat Gurney 8-6 at the Tropicana Hotel.....Viva Van Gerwen in Vegas!

Anderson was cruising as he led 4-1 but then came the double trouble. He missed D6 for a 126 finish and 4-0 and then he blew dart after dart at 'tops' to allow Gurney back into the match, and the Irishman took his chances. 

Gary was in total control and actually averaged 103 despite 11 crucial missed darts at doubles, but he will quite rightly be kicking himself. Earlier

James Wade has been knocked out of the US Masters in one of the biggest upsets in World Series history.

The Team Unicorn man was beaten 6-5 by young Canadian Dawson Murschell in a dramatic 1st Round clash on the opening day in Las Vegas.

But there were no problems for Gary Anderson who swept to victory against Canadian qualifier Jayson Barlow. 

Wade though, only has himself to blame. He has now lost 14 last leg deciders in 2017. He blew SIX darts to win in that 11th leg.

But take nothing away from the 21-year-old from the superbly named Medicine Hat in Alberta, Canada. 

'Awesome' Dawson has played and won on the PDC Unicorn Development Tour....and Team Unicorn's Canadian three-times World Champion John Part has predicted that Murschell will be the next big thing in North American darts....high praise indeed. 

Wade had it all to do from the off as he trailed 1-3

Big time darts returns to the entertainment capital of the world for the first time in eight years this weekend.

The first ever US Darts Masters takes place at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas with sell-out crowds guaranteed for the third World Series event of the year.

Team Unicorn's Gary Anderson was triumphant in Dubai, while Michael van Gerwen won in Shanghai. 

It's a big tournament for many reasons as the PDC gives it a real go in North America with significant investment to bolster the sport in the region. 

Anderson will face Canadian qualifier Jayson Barlow in the 1st Round in Vegas, while fellow Unicorn star James Wade has been drawn against young Canadian Dawson Murschell, who reached the semi-finals of the North American Championship on Thursday. 

Wade is seeded fourth in the top half of the draw with Anderson the No.2 seed in the bottom half. And there is an extra incentive

Get snapping!