Joe Comito finally broke through with a win in a final to take up the last position of the Queensland Darts Masters field to be played in Townsville on August 12 and 13.
The first quarter final had seen Josh Kime face Tim Pusey in a battle of Team Misfit colleagues. Kime had the throw in the first leg but Pusey secured one hundred to leave a shot at 86. Both players missed chances at check outs until Pusey final took his chance to win the leg. He then opened up with a 140 and backed it up with 100 and 140 to leave 121. He checked that out six darts later. Pusey then opened with 180 and then added a 100 kicker to his leg before checking out 40 later in the leg to lead 3-0. On throw Pusey then opened with 100 and 140 before checking out 54. The fifth leg saw three successive 100s and on his third visit Kime threw 140, followed up by 100 to leave 116. Pusey had a shot at 58 after Kime busted 65 but left 20 and this time Kime took the darts to get his first leg on the board, 4-1. Pusey opened up with 96, 140 and 100 in the next leg and a 133-visit left him needing double 16 for the leg. 140 left Kime on 118 as Pusey stepped up and missed the check out. With Kime unable to take the darts Pusey returned to the oche to check out and move within a leg of the match. Kime then opened with 100 on throw, only for Pusey to match it. Pusey then threw 140 on his second visit and eventually checked out 70 to win 6-1.
Joe Comito opened up with two 140s against the Matt Mullen throw and secured a double nine for the first leg. He then scored 115 and 139 visits on the equivalent visits of the second leg and checked out 16 to lead 2-0. His favourite visits came up again in leg three with 100 and 140 and a 40 check out this time (Mullen had secured a maximum and thrown 116 to leave 24 during the leg but to no avail.) On throw Comito etched out a lead in the next leg with a 100 leaving him needing 100. Comito ended up checking out 20 to take a 4-0 lead and then opened with 100 against the throw before throwing a 180 to leave 45, eventually securing the break to lead 5-2. Comito responded to a 123 start from Mullen in the sixth leg with a 140 and moved clear in the leg, leaving 104 for the match. It took him a little while until with Mullen standing behind him on 40 Comito finally checked out four to win 6-0 and make another semi-final.
Brenton Lloyd opened had first throw in his quarter final with Raymond O’Donnell and a 177 helped Lloyd win the first leg. A maximum from O’Donnell in the second leg helped him hold his throw to make the match at 1-1. O’Donnell then had visits of 140, 180 and 108 to leave 16 after 12 darts. Lloyd missed a chance at check out with a 131-visit leaving six. O’Donnell then secured his third leg in the row with a 134, 140 and 100 sequence of visits and a 46 check out helped him to a 3-1 lead. In the fifth leg Lloyd threw 140 and two 100s through the middle of the leg and checked out 56 before O’Donnell opened with a 140 in the next leg. Both players spurned multiple chances until O’Donnell threw double ten to lead 4-2. O’Donnell then threw away a lot of chances in the seventh leg and Lloyd finally secured 20 to move to 4-3. O’Donnell opened up with 140 and Lloyd then got 139 in response. Lloyd check out 52 for the break of throw before O’Donnell opened up with two tons and a 140 to leave 151 in the ninth leg against the throw. Visits of 100 and 95 left Lloyd on 137. O’Donnell spurned multiple chances and Lloyd secured 55 to hold throw and take a 5-4 lead on throw. In the tenth leg O’Donnell had visits of 140, 96 and 171 that left him on 94. He again missed multiple chances and Lloyd pounced with an 84 for the win, leaving O’Donnell on 4. Lloyd had progressed by winning 6-4.
In the fourth quarter final a 140 from Manny Kato second up helped him set up a shot at the bull but he missed. Two visits later he was able to check out eight to lead 1-0. In the second leg Coburn threw 125 and 140 (with Kato throwing 125 in between) to leave 170. Although he was unable to get it, he did throw 105 to leave 65. He did not make the most of his opportunities until a double 5 helped him to tie the match back up at 1-1. The third leg was a struggle for both players but Coburn threw 99 to leave 80 only for Kate to throw 100 to leave 91. Coburn checked out 80 for a 2-1 lead on throw. The fourth leg was highlighted by a 140 from Coburn who eventually checked out for a 3-1 lead. Coburn threw 140 on his second visit in the fifth leg but it was a slow affair until he checked out 18 for his fourth leg (4-1.) Kato had two successive 100s on throw in the next leg before Coburn threw 100 to leave 180. A couple of visits later and Coburn secured 65 to move a leg away from the match. In the seventh leg Coburn opened with an 83 and pair of 99s followed by 100 left him needing Shanghai as Kato moved from to 32 with a 140 visit. Coburn missed match darts and Kato pounced to win a second leg. Kato then threw 125 on his second visit in the eighth leg and Coburn responded with 100 before throwing another later in the leg to leave 112 for the match. Kato moved to 99 with a 121 visit and Coburn gave him a shot at it after leaving 40. Kato then also left 40 and it was one opportunity too many as tops was Coburn’s path to a 6-2 victory.
In the first semi final Joe Comito opened with a ton which was matched by Stuart Coburn. Comito then threw 180 and three visits later checked out 56 for a 1-0 lead. Coburn then opened with his own maximum only for Comito to score the same on his second visit to the oche. Coburn left 170 after three visits before a 105 left him needing 65. He would eventually check out 20 for the leg to go 1-1. Two visits of 100 from Coburn left 136 however he spurned opportunities and Comito took one eventually to secure the leg and lead 2-1. Coburn then held throw thanks to two late ton visits to make the score 2-2 before Comito threw 174, 100 and 99 to leave 128 in the fifth leg. With Coburn well behind Comito took five darts to put the leg away and lead 3-2 on throw. The next leg started slowly on the Coburn throw and things were exactly even after three visits. Comito broke through with a 140 leaving 101 and he then checked that out to lead 4-2. He then opened with a 140 on throw and backed it up with a 99, 128 and 94 to leave 40. He failed to convert but Coburn was far enough behind that he came back and this time he secured the leg to lead 5-2. Against the throw Comito threw 134 only for Coburn to respond with a 140. A ton two visits later left Coburn needing 108 to stay alive in the match and Comito could only move to 146 in reply. Coburn left double 16 and nervously waited for a turn, one he would get as Comito missed double 16 for the match to leave 16 with a visit of 130. Coburn got the check out with last dart in hand to move within two legs of his opponent. Comito opened with a 140 on throw in his chase for the final and on his fourth visit he threw 140 to leave 117. With Coburn well behind, Comito left 60. With a 145 Coburn put some pressure on his opponent’s throw by leaving 65. Comito was determined and threw the 60 with his last dart in hand to win 6-3.
In the second semi-final Pusey held throw thanks to a start of 121 and two further ton visits at 1-0. Pusey then threw two 140s in succession in the second leg and a fourth visit of 140 set up a 40 check out which he took with his 15th dart to lead 2-0. Lloyd started the next leg against the throw with a 100 but it was Pusey who made the most of ton plus visits with 100 and then 141 setting up a 60 check out which he duly got. A 180 from his third visit gave Pusey a good lead in the fourth leg and despite a 100-visit leaving 45 from Lloyd Pusey looked to clean up his miss at the bull. He failed to do so, however, and eventually he would be punished by Lloyd with a double 10 moving the match to 3-1. Pusey then opened with 99 and then threw two tons. Lloyd threw 135 and 140 on his third and fifth visits respectively only to have to stand back and watch Pusey check out 68 for the leg to lead 4-1. A maximum on his third visit left Lloyd in the box seat on throw and a double 8 moved him to within two legs of his opponent. Pusey scored a 140 and 100 to match Lloyd’s opening two efforts in the seventh leg only for Pusey to then leave 89 with a 129. He secured the check out five darts later to move a leg from the final. Pusey scored a ton on his second visit in the eighth leg but a 125 on his fourth visit got Lloyd back into the leg. Pusey, however, chipped away at the score. Under pressure after Lloyd threw 131 to leave double 16, Pusey checked out 40 and won the match 6-2.
The final position for the Queensland Darts Masters came down to a clash between Tim Pusey and Joe Comito. Comito opened on throw with a 124 visit, Pusey responding with a 140 on his second visit. A 125 and 99 from Pusey left him needing 56 against the throw. Pusey missed the chance and Comito had a throw at 106 but left 32. This time Pusey stepped up and took out the check out in two darts to take a 1-0 lead. He then opened with a 100 and backed it up with the same to leave 301. Comito through a ton himself to move to 341. A 180 two visits later left Comito needing a ton and then Pusey threw 81 to leave the same. Neither player scored the ton check out and it was Comito who cleaned up first to draw the match level at 1-1. Against the throw Pusey then started with a 140 before a maximum from Comito moved him to 237. A 97 and 100 later and Comito left tops for himself which he took on his next visit to lead 2-1. Pusey opened with a ton on throw in the next leg and a 125 on his third visit helped push home his advantage in the leg. Comito was being let in by Pusey’s inconsistent scoring but another big visit on his fifth visit left Pusey needing 40. Pusey had more issues with the check out and Comito threw an amazing 157 check out to take the leg, and a 3-1 lead. Comito then opened with a ton on throw in the fifth leg but Pusey responded with a 140 on his second visit. Comito threw 96 to move to 206 and stay in front in the leg. A 137 hammered home the advantage although a 138 from Pusey put pressure on the check-out opportunity for Comito. He left 20 and Pusey pounced to secured 72 with 2 darts and put the game back on throw at 2-3. The next leg started slowly but a 121 on his third visit aided the Pusey cause. 99 left him needing 140 and a ton left 40. Pusey had to score the tops as Comito stood behind him needing 77 and Pusey did so with last dart in hand to move the match to 3-3. Comito opened the next leg with a 98 and a 97 but in between Pusey threw a 140. A ton from Comito and 95 from Pusey had them both on 206 after three visits each. Comito then moved to 121 but Pusey bettered that visit to move to 68. Comito was up to the challenge and threw the 121 to hold throw and lead 4-3. This seemed to affect Pusey as he started slowly on throw in the next game and Comito pounced with a 140 on his second visit. By the third visit he had the darts and a ton left him needing 201. One hundred left Pusey on 121 and with Comito this time unable to make the big check out Pusey had a go at 121. After some nervous visits from both players Pusey cleaned up to tie the match back up at four sets all. Pusey threw another 140 against the throw in the next leg and three visits later he threw a 180 to leave 41. Comito stood behind him on 112 when Pusey threw the check out with last dart in hand to lead 5-4, the first time he had a lead since after the opening leg. Comito opened against the throw with a 180 and then backed it up with a 124. Pusey threw a 140 on his third visit as Comito moved to needing 114. Comito ended up checking out 56 to take the break of throw straight back and move the match to 5-5. A 140 from Pusey on his second visit had the players neck and neck and a follow up 99 moved Pusey into prime position in the leg. Pusey left 122 after the next visit but Comito was just behind him setting up 123. It was Comito who cleaned up a 68 with last dart in hand to move a leg away from the match. Pusey had the walk in the next leg and opened with a ton. Comito responded with 97 but Pusey upped the ante with a visit of 140. A 140 on his third visit had Comito nipping at Pusey’s heals and a 125 left him with a shot at 80 for the match after Pusey left 36 after a visit of 105. Comito secured the 80 with his 15th dart, the final score being 7-5.
About Author
