Monthly Archives: November 2017

Gary Anderson will start his bid for a third World Championship crown against a preliminary round winner in London.

But the Team Unicorn superstar, pictured with the 2016 trophy, has been handed a tough start against either Canadian Jeff Smith - a former Lakeside finalist - or Luke Humphries who won the 2017 PDC Unicorn Development Tour.

Gary is currently having treatment on the back strain he suffered at the Grand Slam.

The World Championship draw was made on Monday night by PDC Chairman Barry Hearn and Sky Sports pundit Wayne Mardle. 

And what an opportunity for Team Unicorn youngster Chris Dobey. He has been given the opportunity to be the last man to beat Phil Taylor at a World Championship. Taylor of course retires from professional darts after the Ally Pally and Dobey could write his name into the history books.

There is a big all-Unicorn 1st Round clash between James Wade and Keegan

The Professional Darts Corporation and ITV have signed a new broadcast contract to continue their coverage of five of the sport's biggest tournaments from 2018-2020.

A long-standing broadcast partner of the PDC, ITV4 have secured a new three-year deal to cover The Masters, UK Open, European Championship, World Series of Darts Finals and Players Championship Finals.

The Masters was introduced to the PDC circuit in 2013 and sees the world's top 16 players competing across one weekend, with Michael van Gerwen having won the title for the past three years.

The UK Open features the unique format of seeing 128 players competing across eight stages at the Butlins Minehead Resort, with 96 professional players joined by 32 amateur qualifiers in the exciting and unpredictable event, which was won by Peter Wright this March.

The 32-player European Championship and 64-player Players Championship Finals feature qualifiers from the respective European Tour and Players

 He is a World Champion and what a performance from Dimitri van den Bergh!

 The Belgian youngster beat Josh Payne 6-3 to win the PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship in Minehead on Sunday night.

 He also recorded the highest ever average in a World Youth Final....101.23

 "It is an unbelievable feeling. I spoke to my Dad before and he gave me good advice as always. This is a very proud   moment for me and my family," Dimitri said.

 "Everyone comes into the Development Tour to hopefully make a future in the sport. Maybe I can make my future in darts   for many years."

 He was a worthy winner.

 Van den Bergh raced into a 2-0

Michael van Gerwen's astonishing winning run continued as he claimed the Players Championship Finals for a third consecutive year.

The World No.1 thrashed Welshman Jonny Clayton to take the big prize in Minehead yet again.

James Wade's run came to an end in the quarter-finals in Minehead, as the Unicorn man was beaten by Rob Cross. 

Despite a 121 finish, Wade found himself 4-1 down and the big moment came in the 10th leg. The Team Unicorn star was sat on 44 to get the match back to only 6-4 behind and Cross took out a sensational 148.

Cross was then beaten by Clayton in the semi-Finals, while Van Gerwen beat Justin Pipe.

But the World No.1 was just too good all weekend. He averaged 105 in the final and his tournament average was also around the 105 mark.

Clayton was no match but can still be very proud of his achievements. Van Gerwen hit three ton plus finishes and five

James Wade has reached his first 'Major' TV quarter-final since the World Championship.

The Unicorn man is through to the last eight at the Players Championship Finals. He produced a terrific display to win his all Unicorn last 16 clash with Ian White 10-6. 

Wade will take on the in-form Rob Cross in those quarter-finals on Sunday. 

"I am working very hard to put things right," he said. "I will keep proving people wrong and this was a good performance against a very good player."

After losing the opening two legs, Wade stepped up to the plate. He won six out of the next eight legs, hitting seven 180s along the way as he pushed his average over the 100 mark. 

White had no answer to this form from Wade, who raced away with the match. He missed two darts at 'tops' to win 10-5, but wrapped it up in the next leg as he took his 180 tally to nine.

Elsewhere on Saturday

It was a night to forget for former Players Championship winner Gary Anderson in Minehead. 

Still clearly hampered by a back strain that he picked up at the Grand Slam semi-final last weekend, the Team Unicorn star slumped to a 6-3 1st Round defeat to Irishman Mickey Mansell. 

Gary has also been concerned by matters away from Darts with his baby daughter in hospital with respiratory problems. 

From the moment he missed five darts to break Mansell in the opening leg, it went wrong for the Scot. Mansell broke in the 6th leg, then took out a 136 Check-out and won with an 86 average to Anderson's 84.

But Ian White did make it through. 

White was involved in a thriller with Raymond van Barneveld. The Unicorn man missed a match dart, then survived two match darts before squeezing through in a last leg. 

The game swung one way then the other. A 127 finish saw

So, all the trash talking is done, players prepped and team selected. Who has the advantage? Only tonight at midnight (GMT) when the players take centre stage for the first time can the cricket can finally do the talking .

I look forward to sitting back tonight and watching the cricket , if sleep deprivation allows. For more than one reason, like most of the Unicorn Group workforce, I will have added interest in how our GM guys get on, Dawid Malan , James Vince & Jake Ball have all been selected for the first test and we wish them the very best of luck. Team GM in Nottingham at the factory, everyone one of them have put something into what the guys will be using on the field of play tonight. So hopefully

Joe Cullen has enjoyed the best year of his darting career. 

Now he has been rewarded with a new long-term deal and a prestigious promotion to Maestro at Team Unicorn. 

"Together we have a great relationship and a great partnership. To be become a Maestro is reward for the hard work I have put in and it would be great to deliver more titles for Unicorn. That's the big aim certainly!" Cullen said. 

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a stellar year, winning a spot inside the world's top 20 for the first time and he tasted victory in two big Players Championship tournaments. 

His breakthrough first PDC title came in April when he beat Daryl Gurney 6-5 in a thrilling PC Final. The Unicorn ace followed that with a second Players Championship title in July. Again it was in Barnsley, and this time he beat Austrian Zoran Lerchbacher 6-4. 

Cullen has also reached two semi-finals on the

Gary Anderson will be kicking himself. 

He lost the most dramatic semi-final in the history of the Grand Slam as he was beaten 16-15 by Peter Wright.

The only time Wright was ahead in the entire match was when he landed the winning D16. 

Anderson will be heartbroken. He had played beautifully in the semi-final but the Unicorn man threw away a 13-7 lead.

The tournament was won by Michael van Gerwen for a third consecutive year. He beat Wright 16-12 in a terrific final. 

Wright took out 156 and 149 to lead 10-9 but when he missed two darts to edge ahead again at 11-10, Van Gerwen stepped in to take control. 

But Anderson should have been in the final. 

The Unicorn ace produced a golden run from 6-4 ahead. Anderson had missed a dart at 'tops' for 7-3 but then proceeded to win seven out of the next ten legs to take control at 13 legs to