Gordon Mathers will make a triumphant return to the stage of Alexandra Palace after outlasting the best of Australia and New Zealand and winning the Oceanic Masters at the Club Howick in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon.
“I have been there before and no what it is all about so I am ready to go and play and am really excited by the prospect.”
After dominating the day before five Kiwis made the quarter finals of the Oceanic Masters on Sunday but only one progressed. Jaymie Hilton – Jones continued his terrific form of the day before with a 3-0 set defeat of Harrison Donegan.
Mathers defeated Mark Cleaver 3-1 in their quarter final whilst James Bailey eliminated Josh Walters 3-0 and Harley Kemp progressed past Kayden Milne 3-2. The first set saw kKemp go a break down after the first leg but he broke straight back and then held throw in the deciding leg. Set two saw Milne break Kemp in the fourth leg to win it 3-1. Set three saw Kemp break the Milne throw in leg four to move to a two set to one lead. Milne then won three straight legs to move back to level terms. The deciding set saw both players hold throw to the deciding leg. On throw Kemp left 32 chasing 106 but when Milne missed tops and left 20 chasing 82 Kemp stepped up and secured double 16 with his 16th dart to move through to the semi finals.
Both semi finals ended 3 sets to one. Mathers wont the opening break in the opening leg of his semi final and a hold of throw and second break (in 15 darts) meant he was a set up in quick time. Mathers then was broken by Hilton-Jones in the opening leg of set two but he broke straight back when the Masters singles champion left 8 chasing 32. Hilton – Jones broke in 15 darts in the third leg and this time was able to hold throw, thus taking the second set. He then held throw only for Mathers to do so in 12 darts, including a 113 check out. On the basis of that momentum Mathers powered through the next leg and then held throw comfortably to move back into a one set lead. Mathers then held throw with a ton finish to open the next set and with both players holding all the legs to the decider when Mathers held his throw in the fifth leg in 17 darts he was into the Oceanic Masters Final.
Harley Kemp opened his match with James Bailey with a 16 dart hold of throw. Both players then held their own throw before Kemp broke Bailey for the set in 15 darts. Bailey then opened the next set by holding throw in 15 darts. Both players held their throw and in a replica of the previous set but with the opposite result Bailey was able to break the Kemp throw in 17 darts (after Kemp left 18 chasing a 138 finish to stay in the set.) Kemp then held throw in 18 darts, broke the Bailey throw in 15 darts with a 120 check out and secured a one set lead with a 16 dart hold of throw. In the fourth set Bailey and Kemp held both their first two throws. In the deciding leg Bailey did not put away 60, leaving 20, and Kemp pounced to take out the leg, the set and the match, thus progressing to the final against Mathers.
The final saw Kemp hold throw in 17 darts in the opening set before Mathers did the same in 14 (including a maximum in his penultimate visit.) Mathers then broke the throw of Kemp when his younger opponent busted 60 and took full advantage by holding throw for the set (although after missing bull for a 142 check out Mathers had to watch as Kemp chased 32 – he left 9 in that attempt.) Mathers then held the opening leg of set two with a 93 check out, broke his opponent with a check out of 96 and held throw with a 68 check out in 17 darts to power to a two set lead. For Kemp it was now or nothing and he opened with an 11 dart leg including a 96 check out. Mathers held throw in 18 darts before Kemp did the same (despite busting 24 on his fifth visit to the oche.) Mather held throw to move the set to a deciding leg but under massive pressure Kemp held firm to check out 46 and take the set. Mathers checked out 70 to open the set four proceedings before Kemp checked out 88 to move the set to one leg all. Mathers then threw a check out of 80 to hold throw in 17 darts. On the Kemp throw Mathers started the stronger with visits of 123 180 and 100 but closing out the match took five visits from 98. Kemp could only edge down to 32 in that time and eventually the 24th dart of the leg gave Mathers the right to be called an Oceanic Master, having fallen at the final stage in 2022 against Mal Cuming, his already amazing resume now has another line to it.
Mathers knew that execution was important “I know Kemp and how good he is. I knew I had to take my chances in the final and I did just that. I am pleased to have won here today and am looking forward to the end of the year!”
Mathers joins Joe Comito and Ben Robb as having qualified for the Alexandra Palace stage from DPNZ and DPA competitions at this point.
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