Monthly Archives: October 2017

A case of what might have been for Joe Cullen at the World Grand Prix.

The young Unicorn ace went down 3-1 to Daryl Gurney in the second round but the scoreline only tells half the story. 

Cullen found himself two sets down, but got himself back into it and should have sent the match into a deciding set.

After trailing by those two sets, Joe then reeled off three legs on the spin to get himself back in contention. He took the opening leg of set four and looked to be on a roll.

The second leg turned the match in Gurney's favour. Cullen missed SIX darts to take it and the Irishman banged in a 127 finish on the bull. It was a body blow for the Unicorn man and Gurney closed out the match.

Elsewhere on Tuesday night, 2015 WGP Champion Robert Thornton set up a quarter-final with Gurney as he beat Dave Chisnall in a thrilling last leg decider.....but only after Chizzy had missed five match darts. 

Team Unicorn quartet James Wade, Michael Smith, Ian White and Ronny Huybrechts all bowed out of the World Grand Prix on day two in Dublin. 

There was more woe for Wade as the Unicorn man lost in the 1st Round on the Dublin stage for the second consecutive year. The two-times World Grand Prix champion won only two legs as he was beaten by Steve West. 

West took out 101, 114 and 101 again as Wade failed to make his mark. A disappointing night for 'The Machine'.

Smith had beaten Gerwyn Price in their last seven meetings but came unstuck against the Welshman on Monday night at the City West Hotel. 

He lost the opening set as Price took out 105 and 86, but a brilliant two dart 92 check-out gave Smith the upper hand in the second set and he levelled the match.

The turning point came in the first leg of the final set. Smith left himself 24 only for Price to take out 88 on D7.....a 98 finish

Joe Cullen produced a terrific display on a dramatic opening night at the World Grand Prix.

Defending champion and World No.1 Michael van Gerwen was stunned by John Henderson, who beat the World Champion by two sets to one at the City West Hotel. 

And after the withdrawal of Team Unicorn's expectant Dad Gary Anderson, the tournament is now wide open.

Cullen was terrific as he gets better and better every time he steps on the stage at a TV 'Major'. He came from a set down to beat Darren Webster with some scintillating darts. 

"It was a case of believing in my ability," he said. "Last year I remember about 10 players went out in the 1st Round after losing the opening set. I was one of them! I knew I had the game and getting away at the start of the legs was crucial for me."

Cullen plays Daryl Gurney in round two after the Irishman beat Adrian Lewis. 

Webster raced

Unicorn star Gary Anderson is out of the World Grand Prix in Dublin.

The Scot is staying at home in Somerset with partner Rachel who is due to give birth to the couple's second child any day.

Anderson left it as late as possible to make the decision.

Of course the Unicorn man was the runner-up in Dublin 12 months ago, but family comes first.

Welshman Mark Webster is the lucky beneficiary who takes Anderson's play in the Dublin draw.

By STUART PYKE in Ireland

Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC

Team Unicorn's Latvian star Madars Razma has enjoyed his best result in the PDC!

He reached the semi-finals of Players Championship 20 in Dublin on Saturday with a brilliant display. Razma eventually lost 6-3 to Stephen Bunting but what a performance from the 29-year-old. 

The tournament was won by the in-form Mensur Suljovic who beat Bunting 6-4 in the final. Suljovic had earlier beaten Michael van Gerwen in the quarter-finals. 

Razma won three all Unicorn matches on his way to the semi-final, seeing off Chris Dobey 6-3 and then Keegan Brown by the same score.....Brown had earlier beaten James Wade in another all Unicorn clash. The score was 6-5 after Wade had missed a stack of match darts. 

The Latvian was a 6-2 winner over Ronny Huybrechts in the last 16, before producing his best performance of the day as he won a thrilling last leg decider against Gerwyn Price in the quarter-finals.