This weekend across Australia and the world DPA darts completed three huge events.
On Friday afternoon and evening (and morning in the UK) The Daley Darts Kyle Anderson Memorial Trophy came down to four Australians, two Englishmen, a Kiwi and a Scotsman. It was almost like Kyle was telling one more of his jokes. With Koha Kokiri overcoming Mat Mullen and Darren Armstrong in Scotland getting past Team Platinum’s Brody Klinge the two would face off in a semi final that Armstrong comprehensively won 6-2. In an all English quarter final Gary Blackwood just snuck past Brian Woods whilst Ash Britt went 2-0 down to Josh Kime before winning six straight legs to progress. Team Platinum’s Britt then came back from 4-1 and 5-2 down to win four straight legs and make the final.
The final would see Britt jump into one of his comebacks again, this time moving from 2-0 down to tie things up after four legs. However that was all there would be for the Victorian as Scotsman Armstrong won four games on the trot to take out the Kyle Anderson Memorial Trophy.
The Oceanic Masters on Saturday saw stars from around Australia (excluding states with COVID restrictions on the day, like Victoria and also New Zealand also being in lockdown saw them not able to participate) line up to get a shot at this prestigious title. In the quarter finals Ky Smith knocked out number one seed Tim Pusey 6-5 whilst number 3 seed James Bailey also fell with the same scoreline, this time to Bailey Marsh. The other two quarters were won by two players with plenty of international experience in Rob Modra (6-2 over reigning champion Robbie King 6-2) and Ray Smith (6-3 over Kiwi but Australian resident and Team Misfit colleague Brendon McCausland.)
The first semi final saw WA young superstar Marsh knock out Ray Smith 6-3, coming from 3-2 behind along the way. The other semi final saw Ky Smith jump out of the blocks quickly to go to a 4-0 lead, including 12 and 11 darters in legs two and three. Modra held throw in the fifth game before getting a break back in the sixth and then holding throw in leg seven. He then gained a second break to return the match to four legs all and had the throw to go into the lead for the first time in the match. However he was unable to hold his throw and thus Smith stepped up to throw for the match in leg ten. Visits of 140, 125, 140 and 87 helped Smith into a dominate lead and he converted the nine left with his 14th dart of the leg to make the final.
Thus the final was between two young superstars, not unlike the last time the Oceanic final was played when Robbie King and Steve Fitzpatrick took to the stage in 2019, although remarkably these two were even younger than those to in 2019.
Smith broke the Marsh throw in the first leg before Marsh was unable to convert 32 for a break straight back and Smith took a 2-0 lead. Marsh held in the third leg with a 13 darter before Smith returned serve by holding in 14. Marsh then missed a chance at a 140 finish and then failed to secure the 20 remaining on his next visit and had to watch as Smith checked out 48 with last dart in hand to take a 4-1 lead. Smith then secured two maximums, with 60 in between and 81 afterwards to secure a 12 dart lead and move to within one leg of the title. Marsh opened with a 180 in the seventh leg and did not let go of the throttle to hold his throw. Smith would open with a 140 in the next leg and hit a maximum on visit three before just missing his first shot at the title. With Marsh unable to do anything except throw a 1252 to leave 81, Smith then threw the required checkout with last dart in hand to secure a 6-2 win in the final.
Smith was therefore crowned the Oceanic Masters champion and is eligible to play at the Worlds. He will still be a teenager when he steps on to the PDC World Championship stage, although not as young as Mitchell Clegg when he did the same.
On the Sunday the Quarter Finals of the Pirate Life Winmau DPA Satellite Series Finals saw Justin Frey represent NSW and Rob Modra SA. Apart from that the other six quarter finalists had played regularly at the Pine Rivers Darts Club in Queensland in the tour proper throughout the year and now represented Queensland at the Carole Park darts club.
James Bailey had the most comfortable win at this stage with a 6-2 win over Paul O’Malley. Ray Smith defeated Team Misfit colleague Brendon McCausland 6-4 as another team-mate, Robbie King, defeated Modra by the same score. Frey took on Chris Krabbe and it came down to a final deciding leg after the Queenslander came from 5-3 down to tie things up. In the final leg Krabbe missed a shot at Bull and Frey took out 56 with his next two darts to move into the semi-finals.
Frey’s semi final went all the way once again. This time his opponent was Robbie King and the Rocket came from 5-3 down as well. Frey had the throw and would have been satisfied with his opening 95 but a follow up 45 was punished as King hit a maximum. Things slowed from there but King hit the double 20 with Fret along way back on 151 to be the first into the final. The other semi saw two legends of the game in Queensland take it up on the oche as James Bailey and Ray Smith played off for the other place in the final. Smith opened the scoring before his great mate Bailey replied to draw level. The fourth leg saw the first break in the match and then Smith held his own throw to lead 4-1. Bailey then held throw in 16 darts before taking the break back in leg 7 in 15 darts. With Bailey throwing to return the match to 4-4 Smith through 100, 100, 180 and 97 before securing the break on his fifth visit to the oche. He then opened with 140 on his own throw and led comfortably through the leg before checking out 100 for the win.
The final saw the opening four legs go to Smith with King missing the bull on the opening leg but not getting more shots at a check out until the fourth leg, when he failed to capitalise on a constant lead in the leg until a 160 visit left Smith requiring just 20 and with King unable to convert 790, leaving four, Smith got the required with his next dart in hand to lead 4-0. On throw in the fifth leg visits of 100, 140, 180 and 81 saw Smith move within a leg of the match with an 11 darter. King then opened the next leg with a maximum before visits of 140 and 105 was capped off with a 76 in 12 darts to gain a leg. However Smith was not to be denied and cleaned up on the next leg, converting 81 to win the Pirate Life Winmau DPA Satellite Series, crowned as DPA’s number one Australian player and join his son on the plane to the Worlds, the second time Smith has appeared on the Ally Pally stage.
About Author
