Mandatory Credit: Photo by Shane Healey/ProSports/Shutterstock (10506000g) Dart fans with 180 signs during the PDC William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace, London PDC World Darts Championship - 15 Dec 2019
Recap of a Week of Qualifiers Two Sides of the Tasman
In the last week, at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club in NSW and the Black Horse Hotel Christchurch, positions were secured for the World Series of Darts New Zealand, NSW and Qld Darts Masters in August 2022. At Warilla an Australian number 1 was also crowned for 2022. The week’s events were run by DPA and DPNZ.
The first event saw Dave Marland defeat Bailey Marsh in the final as he secured his second visit to the World Series stage, this time in front of his family and friends in Wollongong.
“I knew I had it in me today, I was playing well and unlike last time this was not a surprise to me. I am looking forward to the challenge in front of family and friends and want to do Australia proud.”
In the afternoon Marsh returned to the final and this time went one step more by winning his final against Koha Kokiri to qualify for Townsville.
“I was not going to lose two finals in one day, and I learnt a lot from the first one. As for the World Series of Darts in Townsville I say Go Aussie and Bring It On!”
The Friday was all about Koha Kokiri. In the morning he defeated Brandon Weening in the final to qualify for the NSW Darts Masters in Wollongong whilst in the afternoon he defeated James Bailey in the final to qualify for the Queensland Darst Masters in Townsville.
“I am ready for this. It was nice to knock off the young blokes this morning. I really enjoy there rise, and they are great guys, but it is nice to remind them I have not gone anywhere yet. I will proudly represent both my country of birth and my adopted country at these events.”
“I did not have it my own way all this afternoon in the second event. I gave my opponents too many chances, but I stood strong and held on.”
“I am looking forward to the World Series, it will be great for my grand kids to see me play and for my family to be a part of this adventure once more.”
Saturday in Australia saw a full competition for the one New Zealand Darts Masters position on offer for Australians. The final had seen Mal Cuming defeat David Platt.
“I played solid all day against a class field and I am obviously happy with the result. I am looking forward to going to New Zealand and mixing it up with the Kiwi boys.”
Earlier in the day in New Zealand Bernie Smith had locked in a position in the New Zealand Darts Masters in Hamilton with a win in the day final over Ben Robb.
“I am looking forward to playing in front of the big crowd in New Zealand. It is great to have won over this weekend against such a tough field.”
In the evening Haupai Puha won the New Zealand position in Townsville with a win in the final over Jimmy Samuels. The following day he doubled up on that success by qualifying for Wollongong with a win in the final over old rival Ben Robb.
“The things that excites me the most about returning to both stages would have to be to see if my game has improved after the amount of work I’ve put in, and what better way to test it than against the best and on the world stage at Townsville and Wollongong.”
Earlier on the Saturday 22 year old Kayden Milne defeated Puha to make the New Zealand Darts Masters field.
“I am over the moon to have played this well over the weekend and especially today. It is a dream come true to make the big stage at Hamilton for the PDC World Series of Darts.”
On Monday morning another place on the stage at WIN Stadium Wollongong was up for grabs and in the final Raymond O’Donnell took the position by defeating Stuart Coburn.
“It will be amazing to get back on the World Series stage once more. I will keep doing what I have been doing and try to treat it like a normal competition. I will also try to use what I learnt last time to make the most of this opportunity.”
Marland’s victory on Monday evening was his second in the space of five days and meant he will be on the stage twice in a week. He defeated Joe Comito in the final to make the Queensland Darts Masters field at Townsville.
“I am a bit in shock with this one. I can take from this I have the ability to win one competition and then refocus and take out another. I am going to make the most of these opportunities but this feeling is incredible.”
The final day of qualifiers were held on Tuesday and in the morning the NSW Darts Masters position went to Mal Cuming after he defeated Bailey Marsh in the final.
“To come through this field is amazing. I am stoked to get over the line. To come back today and win I am delighted. I was relaxed today and I felt like if it happened so be it, and it happened! I will regroup now, go home hit the practice board hard and go from there.”
The final qualifier for the Queensland Darts Masters went to one of the most consistent performers all week long in Joe Comito after he defeated fellow West Australian Tim Pusey in the final.
“The way I played this week it was great, I never expected to do this at all. Just to know that I can do it this is a stepping stone, I have nothing to lose at the end of the day. 18 months ago I was going through the motions then I headed to the PK Tavern and things went from there and look where I am now.”
The field for the Queensland Darts Masters in Townsville on August 12th and 13th is James Wade, Gerwyn Price, Johnny Clayton, Peter Wright, Joe Cullen, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Fallon Sherrock, Damon Heta, GG Mathers, Simon Whitlock, Joe Comito, Dave Marland, Bailey Marsh, Koha Kokiri and Haupai Puha.
The field for the NSW Darts Masters in Wollongong on August 19th and 20th is James Wade, Gerwyn Price, Johnny Clayton, Peter Wright, Joe Cullen, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Fallon Sherrock, Damon Heta, GG Mathers, Simon Whitlock, Mal Cuming, Dave Marland, Raymond O’Donnell, Koha Kokiri and Haupai Puha.
The field for the New Zealand Darts Masters in Hamilton on August 26th and 27th is not quite finalised but James Wade, Gerwyn Price, Johnny Clayton, Peter Wright, Joe Cullen, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Fallon Sherrock, Damon Heta, GG Mathers, Simon Whitlock, Bernie Smith, Mal Cuming, and Kayden Milne are locked in with the number one and two ranked DPNZ players after the next event joining the field, at this point they are Ben Robb and Warren Parry but their entry will be confirmed only if they remain in these positions after the next set of events.
Tickets are available at:
Townsville: https://premier.ticketek.com.au/shows/show.aspx?sh=TOWNDART20
Wollongong: https://www.ticketmaster.com.au/search?q=darts
Hamilton: https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/Show.aspx?sh=DARTS2020
On Sunday at the Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club a position at the PDC World Championships at the end of the year was determined. The final of the Winmau DPA satellite series of 2022 came down to semi finals of Raymond Smith verse and Joe Comito verse Dave Marland. Comito survived a match dart before moving past Marland whilst Smith got past the man who had thrown a 107 in a previous match earlier in the day in Jones.
In the final Smith demonstrated all his class as he won three sets to nil to take his second successive number one ranking for the DPA. He therefore will return to the venue he made such an impression on in last year’s PDC World Championships.
“I am very stoked to have got through this field today and excited to go back to the PDC World Championships.”
“Last year I was not quite prepared for the world stage, it was only after Ky qualified that I realised I had to prepare. This time I am prepared for it, in fact I have prepared for it all year. My game has come a long way even since last year.”
“Full credit to the late Bert Ridgeway who taught me so much and also to Tony Glass and Tony David who are helping me get my game to the next level. “
Smith lost to Alan Tabern in his debut at the Palace in 2018. Last year he progressed past Jamie Hughes (3-1), Devon Petersen 3-0 and Florian Hempel 4-1 before losing 4-3 to Mervyn King in the fourth round.
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