Tag: competitions

Joe Cullen’s precise finishing at the end of his match – including back-to-back bulls – against Gerwyn Price saw him rally from 10-9 down to stun the Welshman.

Brendan Dolan dethrones Michael van Gerwen with shock win; we are back for more World Matchplay action on Monday at the iconic Winter Gardens in Blackpool as the world’s top stars battle it out for the Phil Taylor Trophy – live on Sky Sports Action

Brendan Dolan created more history by dumping out defending World Matchplay champion Michael van Gerwen in the first round in Blackpool on Sunday.

In one of the biggest shocks at the Winter Gardens, Dolan produced a wonderful performance to stun the pre-tournament favourite 10-7.

Reigning champion Van Gerwen, who underwent dental surgery in June and has been playing through the pain barrier, began his defence of the Phil Taylor Trophy as firm favourite against world No 27 Dolan in the evening session.

Sunday’s bumper double-session saw eight first-round ties take place at the Empress Ballroom, as world champion Michael Smith kicked off his title tilt with a comfortable win over Steve Beaton.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Brendan Dolan knocked out defending champion Michael van Gerwen in the first round of the World Matchplay

Dolan, nicknamed ‘The History Maker’ after his nine-dart heroics at the World Grand Prix back in 2011, won four of the first five legs to lead Van Gerwen by three, but a stunning 137 from the Dutchman saw him draw level.

Dolan then opened up an 8-6 lead before making no mistake with a clinical 62 finish to move within a leg of a huge upset.

The 49-year-old from Northern Ireland then dethroned the reigning champion by pinning double three.

“To beat Michael van Gerwen on a big stage, I suppose coming into this he had extra pressure, he’s the defending champion. He was unbelievable in Poland last weekend and I know he’s suffering and he’s trying to recover,” Dolan told Sky Sports.

“He probably isn’t getting in as much practice as he would like and it wasn’t the Michael there tonight that we would normally expect, but I am over the moon.

“I made enough opportunities and took enough of them to win the game.”

Brendan Dolan is a quality player, we know that. You can’t be better than these every single night of the year. He is through and let me tell you who else is pleased Michael van Gerwen’s out – it’s the nastiness of this competition. Every single other player in this event is glad that Brendan Dolan won because you don’t want all the big hitters in. There’s now an opportunity for someone to get through to a semi-final or final that they didn’t think would have been as easy.

Wayne Mardle on MVG’s shock exit

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Dolan says he took his opportunities as he shocked Van Gerwen

World No 1 Smith avoided the same fate as Van Gerwen, defying a below-par performance to defeat the evergreen Beaton, making his 22nd World Matchplay appearance at the age of 59.

The opening exchanges were dominated by missed doubles, but a majestic 161 finish from Smith in leg five catapulted him into a 4-1 lead, and the St Helens star converted a further two ton-plus finishes to wrap up a comprehensive 10-2 win.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Michael Smith produced a moment of magic during his victory over Steve Beaton

“I didn’t miss a thing in practice, but I came up here and I didn’t produce,” conceded Smith, who was left frustrated by his performance, despite the result.

“I think I tried too hard instead of relaxing. There’s a lot of room for improvement, but I’m still in the tournament and I’ll take the win.

“I won ugly, and that’s something I wasn’t able to do a couple of years ago. I know the game is there, and hopefully I can produce it on Tuesday night.”

Luke Humphries produced the performance of the tournament so far in his 10-2 demolition of Jose de Sousa, averaging almost 102 to see off the former Grand Slam champion.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Nathan Aspinall hit this massive 151 checkout during his win over Krzysztof Ratajski

Nathan Aspinall fired in eight 180s during his 10-7 win over 2021 semi-finalist Krzysztof Ratajski, producing a monstrous 151 checkout to move 7-4 ahead, and sealing his progress with a superb 12-dart leg.

In the afternoon session, Dirk van Duijvenbode won through a thrilling tie-break against Kim Huybrechts, surviving two match darts to condemn the Belgian to his eighth first-round exit in nine World Matchplay appearances.

Chris Dobey ended his winless run at the Winter Gardens with a gripping 10-8 victory over 2007 champion James Wade.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Australian Damon Heta winds up the Blackpool crowd by mocking Jonny Bairstow and reminding everyone of the score in the men’s Ashes

Australian No 1 Damon Heta sported a baggy green cap and his cricket bat for his Ashes-inspired walk-on and he celebrated his first win on the famous stage, courtesy of a resounding 10-5 success against highly-fancied debutant Josh Rock.

Dutchman Danny Noppert, the 2022 semi-finalist, survived a late scare to see off Martin Schindler in a gruelling encounter.

Peter Wright, the 2021 champion, enters the fray as the first round draws to a close on Monday night, and the world No 2 will play UK Open champion Andrew Gilding for a place in the last 16.

Raymond van Barneveld will also make his World Matchplay return, with the five-time world champion securing his qualification following a five-year hiatus.

“I really feel like I’m coming back and I’m proud of myself for that,” insisted Van Barneveld, who will meet 15th seed Ryan Searle in round one.

“It feels really good to be going back to Blackpool, I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it. It’s like a summer World Championship, the atmosphere there is brilliant.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Speaking on Love The Darts, Raymond van Barneveld talked about his aims for this year’s World Matchplay

Meanwhile, 2020 champion Dimitri Van den Bergh locks horns with European champion Ross Smith in Monday’s opener, before Wales’ World Cup winner Jonny Clayton faces Germany’s No 1 Gabriel Clemens.

We are back for more World Matchplay action at the iconic Winter Gardens on Monday at 7pm as the world’s top stars battle it out for the Phil Taylor Trophy – live on Sky Sports Action.

Australia take the important wicket of Tammy Beaumont who had produced a brilliant 47 from 42 balls in the run chase.

Zharnel Hughes: “I will use this to get faster and become a global champion. It has been a long journey to get the title back I last won in 2015. I thank my team, my coach and everyone who came to support me. I shall come back for the 200m on Sunday and hope the conditions are better”

Zharnel Hughes eyed the world title after becoming British 100m champion for the first time in eight years.

The new national 100m record holder, who broke Linford Christie’s 30-year time last month, won in 10.03 seconds in torrential rain ahead of Reece Prescod on Saturday.

The heavens opened in Manchester just before the race and knocked out some electrics at the Regional Arena, with the BBC’s feed also going down.

But Hughes impressively powered through to target next month’s World Championships in Budapest.

“I will use this to get faster and become a global champion,” he said. “It has been a long journey to get the title back I last won in 2015. I thank my team, my coach and everyone who came to support me.

“I shall come back for the 200m on Sunday and hope the conditions are better. I really must thank each and every one of the crowd for watching in these terrible conditions.

“Come rain, sun or shine you perform regardless is the slogan in Anguilla. I train in these conditions sometimes in Jamaica but I am soaked, these conditions are the worst ever.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Great Britain men’s 100m record holder Zharnel Hughes says it’s been amazing working with Usain Bolt’s former coach, Glen Mills

Eugene Amo-Dadzie, an accountant who competes part-time and ran 9.93 seconds last month, came third and is likely to get the final 100m spot for Hungary.

CJ Ujah, back from a drugs ban following a positive test at the Olympics two years ago – which cost Team GB their 4x100m silver – was fifth.

Dina Asher-Smith clocked 11.06 seconds to win the 100m women’s race. The final was delayed after the torrential rain which forced the athletes back inside.

Asher-Smith is gearing up for next month’s World Championships, with the weekend doubling up as the British trials.

She remains well behind Jamacia’s Shericka Jackson’s world-leading time of 10.65 seconds, while Sha’Carri Richardson ran 10.71 seconds en route to winning the US Championships this weekend.

Asher-Smith’s personal best, and national record she set in 2019, remains 10.83 seconds – which she equalled when finishing fourth in Eugene last year.

She said: “It was probably colder at Gateshead Diamond League but today we had the not knowing if the race would got ahead, the waiting, going out, coming in, lightning, wind.

“This is the first time I had to really make sure I stay focused which is good practice and lessons to be taken about how you deal with it.”

Asher-Smith was never challenged, with rival and last year’s champion Daryll Neita focusing on Sunday’s 200m, as Imani Lansiquot and Bianca Williams finished second and third.

Earlier, Keely Hodgkinson reached Sunday’s 800m final by winning her heat in two minutes 01.16 seconds.

The 21-year-old came second at last year’s World Championships to the USA’s Athing Mu having also won silver – behind Mu – at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.

She said: “Every person has said, when I’ve said I’m doing the British Championships, ‘why?’

“Last year I missed doing it, even though I was doing the 400m it didn’t get my adrenaline up because it’s not my event. Everyone was taking it so seriously and I was like ‘I don’t belong here.’

“I like doing the British Champs, another title under my belt – hopefully – and I live here, it’s my training track as well.”

Laura Muir, who split with long-term coach Andy Young earlier this year, won her 1500m heat as she looks to move on from a tough period.

“I think I just can go back to enjoying it. Which is the most important thing,” she said.

“It’s been very difficult. I’ve been injured before, physically, and it’s been a lot harder this year. ‘ll take a physical thing over this any day.”

Matthew Hudson-Smith, who won 400m bronze in Eugene last year, reached Sunday’s final in 46.31 seconds, while Holly Bradshaw missed out on her 11th British outdoor title in the pole vault to Molly Caudery.

Steve Smith was left fuming with Jonny Bairstow following his dismissal after Moeen Ali’s 200th Test wicket leaves Australia with 73-3.

Steven Gerrard delivers a message to the Al Ettifaq fans after being unveiled as the new manager of the Saudi Pro League club.

The best of Ben Stokes’ stunning 155 from 214 balls including 9 sixes and 9 fours on day five of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.

Worrying signs for Australia as Nathan Lyon limped off the pitch after appearing to injure his leg running in to take a catch off of Ben Duckett.

Following the announcement that he has joined Arsenal from Chelsea in a £65m deal, Kai Havertz says it ‘feels super exciting’ to join the north London side.

Arsenal agree a fee with West Ham for the transfer of Declan Rice. Mark McAdam brings us the latest.

Australian duo of Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock begin title defence with an emphatic win as Belgium overcome personal issues The World Cup of Darts continues at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle with a double session at 11am and 6pm on Friday – live on Sky Sports Arena

France and Denmark caused opening night shocks at the World Cup of Darts, while defending champions Australia made a winning start and Belgium overcame personal issues.

The opening night of the revamped £450,000 tournament saw 12 group stage ties take place on Thursday, with Australia’s reigning champions amongst the high-profile nations to triumph.

French duo Jacques Labre and Thibault Tricole enjoyed a dream debut, courtesy of an emphatic 4-1 rout against Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan and Daryl Gurney.

Labre and Tricole dominated their more experienced opponents, and a 114 checkout from Tricole capped off a terrific display, as Northern Ireland’s miserable recent record at this event continues.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

France caused a big upset with a surprise victory over Northern Ireland

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Check out the best of the action from Day One of the World Cup of Darts in Frankfurt

Danish debutant Benjamin Reus produced the performance of the night, boasting an astonishing individual average of 114.7 to stun 2021 runners-up Austria in Group F.

Reus also landed four 180s and conjured up a match-winning 116 finish as he and Vladimir Andersen condemned Mensur Suljovic and Rowby-John Rodriguez to a shock 4-2 defeat.

“I don’t know what just happened. I was completely in the zone,” reflected Reus, who featured in January’s Nordic Darts Masters.

“I was totally relaxed and everything went perfectly tonight. We played two really good PDC players, so we knew we needed to find something extra tonight.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Benjamin Reus was the star performer as Denmark outplayed Austria

Australia’s Damon Heta and Simon Whitlock began their defence with a whitewash win over debutants Guyana.

“It wasn’t a great performance but we got the job done,” said Australia’s No 1 Heta, who warmed up for this event by scooping a Players Championship title on Tuesday.

“We move on to bigger and better things tomorrow night and hopefully we get the job done against Gibraltar.

“We have grown up in Australia playing Pairs, so I think this format suits us. We fancy our chances.

“We won this title last year and it’s up to the other players to try and beat us, and that’s how we are going to approach it.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Australia delighted the crowd with their walk-on

Germany also opened their challenge with a whitewash win over Hong Kong, as Gabriel Clemens and Martin Schindler dispatched Man Lok Leung and Lok Yin Lee in four straight legs.

Huybrechts no longer gets on with team-mate Van den Bergh

Kim Huybrechts admits he no longer gets on with team-mate Dimitri Van den Bergh

Belgium were the highest seeds in group stage action on Thursday’s opening night, and Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts began their campaign with a 4-0 demolition of Finland.

After the match, Huybrechts admitted he no longer gets on with team-mate Van den Bergh.

Huybrechts, the world No 31, told Online Darts: “It was a professional victory. We did a job but that’s about it.

“For me it’s the first time playing a doubles tournament with someone you don’t get along with now.”

Huybrechts added there was “something personal” between him and world No 10 Van den Bergh.

Massimo Dante (left) and Michele Turetta celebrate their win over Switzerland

Krzysztof Ratajski inspired Poland to a deciding-leg win over Portugal’s Jose de Sousa and debutant Luis Ameixa in their Group G opener, in a thrilling contest featuring seven maximums.

Elsewhere, Keane Barry impressed on his World Cup bow alongside ever-present William O’Connor, as 2019 finalists Ireland brushed aside Thailand 4-1 in their Group E opener.

Meanwhile, Michele Turetta and Massimo Dante led Italy to a landmark first win on the World Cup stage in the evening’s opener, after they fended off a late fightback from Switzerland to claim a 4-3 success.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Italy edged past Switzerland to secure their first win at the World Cup of Darts

The losing nations from Thursday’s matches will play the third team from each group in Friday’s afternoon session, as Northern Ireland and Austria battle to preserve their qualification hopes.

England, Wales, Netherlands and Scotland – the top four seeded teams – do not enter until the second round on Saturday.

The World Cup of Darts continues at Frankfurt’s Eissporthalle on Friday with a double session at 11am and 6pm – live on Sky Sports Arena.

England captain Ben Stokes underlines the importance of team building ahead of The Ashes with England’s players playing golf together whilst Australia were in action against India.

Kent 1st innings

Fall of Wickets

• Ben Compton at 34 for 1, from 11.1 overs34-1 (Ben Compton, 11.1 ov)
• Tawanda Muyeye at 35 for 2, from 11.6 overs35-2 (Tawanda Muyeye, 11.6 ov)
• Daniel Bell-Drummond at 35 for 3, from 12.4 overs35-3 (Daniel Bell-Drummond, 12.4 ov)
• Joe Denly at 35 for 4, from 13.1 overs35-4 (Joe Denly, 13.1 ov)
• Jack Leaning at 41 for 5, from 16.2 overs41-5 (Jack Leaning, 16.2 ov)
• Joey Evison at 162 for 6, from 51.2 overs162-6 (Joey Evison, 51.2 ov)
• Hamidullah Qadri at 167 for 7, from 52.6 overs167-7 (Hamidullah Qadri, 52.6 ov)
• Matt Quinn at 199 for 8, from 60.4 overs199-8 (Matt Quinn, 60.4 ov)
• Jordan Cox at 299 for 9, from 81.4 overs299-9 (Jordan Cox, 81.4 ov)
• Wes Agar at 301 for 10, from 82.2 overs301-10 (Wes Agar, 82.2 ov)

Watch the best bits from Manchester City’s treble parade as the players and staff took to the stage to celebrate with fans.