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Andy Jenkins qualified for the Speedy Services UK Open Finals, despite not competing on the professional circuit for four months through injury.

Jenkins accumulated enough ranking prize-money to seal a spot at next month’s tournament in Bolton, by picking up some crucial victories in the only two events he was able to enter.

‘Rocky,’ who reached the semi-finals in 2004, made the second round of qualifier seven in Birmingham on Saturday, before a run to the fourth round at the NIA community hall in Sunday’s qualifier eight was enough to clinch his place.

“I’m delighted to be playing in the UK Open,” said Jenkins, who claimed impressive wins over ex-Premier League players Jelle Klassen and Mark Dudbridge en route to booking his place in the finals.

“It seemed a long way away when I was injured and not playing. So to come in on the final weekend of qualifying is a very good achievement for me. I am looking forward to playing on the big stage again. It’s where we all want to be.”

James Hubbard

James Hubbard also impressed at the weekend. The youngster prepared for his World Youth Final match against Michael van Gerwen next week with a brilliant run to his first professional quarter-final on Sunday.

He said: “Sunday helped me a lot. I played a lot of good darts and took out some good finishes under pressure.

“I am improving every week with these runs, and by playing on the youth tour. I am getting valuable experience for the final at 02.”

Hubbard sealed his last eight place in style, hitting a fabulous 157 checkout in the deciding leg of his game against Dennis Smith.

His success in Birmingham elevated the 19 year-old into the top 32 of the UK Open Order of Merit, meaning he bypasses the first two rounds in Bolton.

He added: “It means a lot. Not only to qualify, but to qualify as a seed and be through to the Friday is fantastic.

“My goal at the start of the year was to qualify for the UK Open, but to do it the way I did, by reaching a quarter-final on Sunday made it even better. I’m looking forward to the finals now.”

Hubbard will be joined in round three by van Gerwen, who won one of the qualifying events, and Raymond van Barneveld, who won two of the four that he entered.

Simon Whitlock, Vincent van der Voort and Robert Thornton will also enter the tournament on the second day of action.

Sixteen MODUS players have qualified for the televised event in total, including James Wade, Mark Webster and Paul Nicholson.

By Chris Murphy

MODUS Qualifiers

Raymond VAN BARNEVELD

Michael VAN GERWEN

Simon WHITLOCK

Vincent VAN DER VOORT

Robert THORNTON

James HUBBARD

James WADE

Mark WEBSTER

Mervyn KING

Co STOMPE

Arron MONK

Paul NICHOLSON

John HENDERSON

Adam SMITH-NEALE

Andy JENKINS

Antonio ALCINAS

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

Simon Whitlock qualified for the McCoy’s Premier League Play-Offs despite losing to Andy Hamilton at Birmingham’s NIA on Thursday, while James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld face a shoot-out next week for a place in the semi-finals.

Van Barneveld’s draw with Gary Anderson on the penultimate league night put the Dutchman on twelve points, level with Wade, who was beaten by Phil Taylor.

‘Barney’ hit a sensational 170 checkout as well as a 120 finish, but a resurgent Anderson made sure that the points were shared.

“I had a few great finishes tonight and I can’t complain about that, but I wasn’t great on his throw,” said van Barneveld. “The 170 was great but it was only one leg, and now the players don’t care and they hit you back.

“Gary is the holder and even though he’s in eighth I knew he would play well, and he did that tonight. I’ll go and prepare myself now for next week in Newcastle because James is a quality player and I know what I’ve got to do against him.

“He always plays well against me and I know I’ll have my hands full, but I’ll get my chances and I must take them next week.”

Wade can seal qualification for finals night with a win against van Barneveld at the Metro Radio Arena next Thursday.

A win for ‘The Machine’ would eliminate ‘Barney’ from the competition however.

Whitlock plays third-placed Adrian Lewis, who is in need of a result to book his place in the Play-Offs.

‘The Wizard’ was beaten by Hamilton in Birmingham but other results meant that his semi-final spot was confirmed.

Kevin Painter kept his Play-Off hopes alive with an 8-3 victory over Lewis in the other match of a dramatic evening.

By Chris Murphy
Latest League Table

Simon Whitlock qualified for the McCoy’s Premier League Playoffs with fourteen points, despite suffering defeat at the hands of Andy Hamilton at Birmingham’s NIA.

Photo: Lawerence Lustig/PDC

‘The Wizard’ was rewarded for a good season when other results meant he officially qualified with a week to spare.

Whitlock had picked up six victories and two draws before Thursday’s setback against ‘The Hammer’, and fourteen points proved to be enough to seal a semi-final spot.

The Australian ace drew his first match against Raymond van Barneveld in Manchester, before an 8-4 triumph over James Wade in Aberdeen put him top of the table.

Back to back defeats against Kevin Painter and Phil Taylor knocked him off the league’s summit, but the ‘Beard to be feared’ bounced back by beating World Champion Adrian Lewis 8-4 in Brighton on night five.

‘The Wizard’ followed that win up with another success when he beat reigning Premier League champion Gary Anderson 8-6 in Glasgow.

He picked up another point when he drew with Hamilton in Dublin, and then put defeat against Wade in Cardiff behind him by claiming three consecutive victories.

Whitlock saw off Anderson, Painter and van Barneveld to reach the magic fourteen point mark, meaning defeats against Taylor and Hamilton had no bearing on him reaching the last four.

‘The Wizard’ faces Lewis on the final night of the league stage in Newcastle next Thursday, before joining Taylor and two others on finals night at London’s O2 Arena on May 17^th.

By Chris Murphy