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James Hubbard, Arron Monk and Andy Jenkins booked their places at the fifth European Tour event, after winning through the UK qualifier at Dublin’s Citywest hotel on Friday night.

The trio were amongst the 20 qualifiers for the Dutch Darts Masters, which takes place in Holland later this month.

PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion Hubbard came through a tough draw to progress.

The Norfolk ace saw off Michael Mansell 6-2 before defeating local rival Darren Webster to qualify.

Monk, who currently tops the Youth Tour Order of Merit, triumphed over Shaun Griffiths and Joe Cullen to win his place in Holland, while Andy Jenkins sealed his spot with a 6-1 victory over Jamie Lewis.

The top 32 players from the PDC Order of Merit who entered are placed directly into the first round draw, with the 20 UK Qualifiers joined by four players from a Home Nation Qualifier to be held on Rosmalen on Friday October 12 and eight players who will come from the European Qualifier in Bielefeld on Saturday October 13.

By Chris Murphy

***SPECIAL OFFER – Silver tickets for The Untouchables, Eastbourne on Friday 19 October are TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE – Click here for more details***

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Michael van Gerwen hopes to build on a good year of progress when he plays in next week’s PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix in Dublin.

The young Dutch sensation, who burst onto the professional scene by winning the 2006 Winmau World Masters when he was just 17, has managed to find some consistency in his game in 2012.

‘Mighty Mike’ has won three ProTour titles this year and, after hitting a nine-darter en route to the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay in July, he is pleased to be finally taking his floor form onto the big stage.

“I’m playing very well at the moment,” said the 23-year-old, who was knocked out of last month’s European Championships by compatriot Raymond van Barneveld in a thrilling match.

“I’m feeling very confident because I’m having a good year. I had a good couple of floor tournaments in Barnsley recently and I played well against Raymond in Germany.

“I lost 10-9 but I played really well in what was a great game.

“My TV form is getting better. It’s all to do with confidence. If your confidence is good then you play well. Mine is good and I’m playing well.

“I know that I can do even better but I need to do it step by step.”

van Gerwen faces 2004 winner Colin Lloyd in the opening round of the World Grand Prix on Tuesday, and the Dutchman is expecting a tough start to the tournament.

He said: “You never know with Colin. He’s a great player, who has won a lot more than I have but it doesn’t matter who I play really.

“There are so many good players. Everyone in the tournament is capable of winning it but you have to concentrate and play your best game from the first dart to the last, which is very hard.

“I need to play my own game and I know that, if I play well, I can beat Colin and then go on to do very well in this tournament.”

The £350,000 tournament, which takes place at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel from Monday 8 October, is unique for its double-start format, where players have to begin and end each leg with a double.

van Gerwen, who is currently ranked 25th in the PDC Order of Merit, believes that concentration could be the key to success.

He added: “I think it is the most difficult tournament of the year. The double-in, double-out rules mean that you must keep your concentration in every leg and every throw.

“It will be difficult but I hope to reach the quarter-finals again and then we will see how it goes from there.

“With a good run here and at the rest of the TV tournaments this year, there is a chance of me reaching the top 16, which is a big target of mine.”

By Chris Murphy

***SPECIAL OFFER – Silver tickets for The Untouchables, Eastbourne on Friday 19 October are TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE – Click here for more details***

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

Simon Whitlock claimed his first PDC major title, defeating Wez Newton 11-5 to be crowned as European Champion in Germany.

‘The Wizard’, who had been a losing finalist in three different tournaments previously, ended his wait for a televised triumph, as he clinched the £50,000 first prize at the Sporthalle in Mulheim.

The Australian, who defeated Mark Walsh and Dave Chisnall to reach the quarter-finals, had to win three games on Sunday, beating Colin Lloyd, Kim Huybrechts and Newton to win the PartyPoker.net European Championship.

“I’m over the moon,” said an emotional Whitlock, who had clinched his first ProTour victory for almost two years just seven days earlier.

“I’ve been so close for a couple of years so I’m absolutely ecstatic to win.

“I got some great confidence from winning the floor event last week and I’ve managed to bring that to the stage. I’ve got tears in my eyes. I’m just so overwhelmed.”

Both players hit 180s in the opening leg, which Whitlock won, posting double eight to hold his throw.

Newton levelled before ‘The Wizard’ hit double seven to edge back in front, but Newton held again to restore parity.

A second maximum helped Whitlock take a 3-2 lead into the first break.

The Premier League runner-up hit double ten to take the next leg against the throw, before holding on double six to move three legs in front.

Newton pulled a leg back, before Whitlock’s third 180 helped him go 6-3 up.

‘The Warrior’ responded with an eleven dart leg to reduce the deficit to two at the second break.

‘The Wizard’ almost brought the house down, just missing the bull for a 170 before tidying up the remaining 25 to restore his three leg cushion.

He did produce a magical finish in the very next leg though, hitting a show-stopping 167 checkout for another break of throw.

The Australian ace then moved five legs clear, taking out 58 to make it 9-4, before Newton hit double top to pull one back.

Whitlock moved a leg away from the title, going bull, 12 double 16 to clean up 94 and moved into a 10-5 lead.

‘The Wizard’ wasted no time in sealing victory, hitting double eight for another break of throw, to take is maiden major success.

By Chris Murphy

See some of the world’s top darts players in action at The Untouchables,Eastbourne on Friday 19 October.

Image courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC

(Report from www.simonwhitlock.tv)