Blog – Masonry / Load More / Sidebar

The draw for the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix was made on Sunday evening after Simon Whitlock won the PartyPoker.net European Championship.

The 32 man field includes nine MODUS associated players, including ‘The Wizard’, who has been handed a first round tie against Justin Pipe.

James Wade, who is bidding to win the £100,000 title for the third time, has been drawn against Colin Osborne, while UK Open champion Robert Thornton will take on Mark Walsh.

Raymond van Barneveld, twice a runner-up in the Dublin tournament, will face Ian White, Mark Webster takes on Andy Hamilton and Michael van Gerwen will play 2004 winner Colin Lloyd.

Paul Nicholson has been drawn against Michael Mansell, Vincent van der Voort will take on William O’Connor and Mervyn King has been pitted against Terry Jenkins.

The PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix will be held from October 8-14 at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin.

PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix Draw Bracket – MODUS associated players in bold
Phil Taylor (1) v Michael Smith
Mark Walsh v Robert Thornton
Terry Jenkins (8) v Mervyn King
Dean Winstanley v Dave Chisnall
Simon Whitlock (5) v Justin Pipe
Kevin Painter v Kim Huybrechts
Gary Anderson (4) v Brendan Dolan
Vincent van der Voort v William O’Connor
Adrian Lewis (2) v Richie Burnett
Michael van Gerwen v Colin Lloyd
Andy Hamilton (7) v Mark Webster
Steve Beaton v Andy Smith
Wes Newton (6) v Ronnie Baxter
Raymond van Barneveld v Ian White
James Wade (3) v Colin Osborne
Michael Mansell v Paul Nicholson

By Chris Murphy

Simon Whitlock won through to the final of the PartyPoker.net European Darts Championship with a 11-9 triumph over Kim Huybrechts in Germany.

‘The Wizard’ held his nerve to take victory in a terrific battle and will now face Wez Newton for the £50,000 title.

“That was an absolutley brilliant match,” said Whitlock, who moved a giant step closer to clinching his first PDC major.

“Kim played absolutely brilliantly and I had to sneak a bull in to beat him. I’m going to enjoy the final now and I’ll be going all out to win it.”

‘The Wizard’ hit a maximum in the opening leg, which he won against the throw before holding, hitting double top on both occasions.

He slotted in his second 180 on the way to another break, winning the third leg with a 92 checkout.

Huybrechts stopped the rot with back to back checkouts of 104 & 102, to pull the score back to 3-2 at the first break.

The Belgian hit double ten to break Whitlock’s throw and draw level, before taking out 86 to take the lead for the first time.

‘The Wizard’ ended a run of four consecutive legs for his opponent by taking out 58, but ‘The Hurricane’ took out 122 on the bull to restore his lead.

The players exchanged 180s in the tenth leg, which Whitlock won on double ten to make it five legs apiece.

Huybrechts held to regain the lead but ‘The Wizard’ responded with a 180 before hitting double eight to level.

Both players held their throw in the next three legs, meaning Whitlock went into the second break trailing his opponent by eight legs to seven.

The Australian star came back out fighting, opening the 16th leg with a 180, before hitting double ten to go level once more.

Whitlock also kicked off the next leg with a 180, and he grabbed a vital break of throw on double four.

The world number seven hit another 180 before hitting double four again to move just a leg away from the final.

Huybrechts kept himself in the match with a brilliant bull, bull, double 16 combination to finish 132.

But it was a Whitlock’s shot at the bull that won the match, as ‘The Wizard’ held his nerve to take out 95.

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

Simon Whitlock remains on course to win his first PDC major title, after defeating Colin Lloyd 10-7 in the quarter-finals of the European Darts Championship in Germany.

‘The Wizard’ hit five maximums in a high quality tussle with the former world number one, and will now face Kim Huybrechts this evening.

“It was a very tough game,” admitted Whitlock, who is bidding to reach his third televised final of 2012.

“Colin played very well and I’m expecting the same from Kim tonight but I’m feeling good for this. I’m playing well and I believe I can go all the way.”

Whitlock won the opening leg with a neat 64 checkout and he quickly doubled his lead, following up a 171 with another tidy finish, this time 94.

The Australian ace continued his sharp finishing as he checked out 121 for a third leg on the spin.

Lloyd got off the mark by hitting double top, before a 105 checkout reduced Whitlock’s lead to a solitary leg.

‘Jaws’ levelled up with a brilliant 164 checkout, which ‘The Wizard’ responded to by hitting his first 180, before cleaning up 52 to edge back in front.

Lloyd took the eighth leg before Whitlock made the perfect start to the ninth, hitting a second maximum on the way to taking a 5-4 lead.

The pair went into the second break all square though, after Lloyd posted double four to hold his throw once more.

‘The Wizard’ retook the lead by hitting a 114 checkout with his opponent waiting on 25 to break.

The Australian then just missed double top for a 148 finish, before eventually finding the double ten bed to grab a break of his own.

And he increased his advantage to 8-5 by hitting tops, before Lloyd held despite a third 180 from ‘The Wizard’.

‘Jaws’ hit double top to reduce Whitlock’s lead to 8-7 but another maximum helped the Premier League finalist break straight back, to move within a leg of victory.

‘The Wizard’ kicked off the 17th leg with his fifth 180, before posting double top again, to book his place in the last four.

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)