9 Dart "Diamond" Sparkles in Spain!
One of our most recent additions to Team Red Dragon kicked of the season in fine style in Benidorm. In the first match of the new season Ian `Diamond’ White was drawn to play his friend and practice partner Mark `Mile High’ Hylton. It could be said that this was a no win scenario for many. Here at Red Dragon we would like to have seen both of these superb recent signings get off to the best possible start. Unfortunately the nature of darts, and professional sport in general, made this impossible.
What a start to 2012! At 2-2 all Hylton hit the gas and took out a maximum 170 finish to break Ian and go 3-2 up. At this point the marker had to be changed, perhaps he could not cope with the standard? PDC Tournament Director Tommy Cox himself took over! Ian responded to all this with some heavy scoring, again however Mile High stepped up took out 122 to move 4-2 ahead.
Next leg and a 177 start offered a hint of what was to come, a maximum with darts 3-6 left Diamond on 144. This he dispatched with great aplomb! Fantastic! £2000 richer and the day was just beginning. Whether it was the 9 darter inspiring Ian or Mile High failing to ram home an advantage, who knows but Ian ran out 6-4 winner in the game to move into the next round.
Only 2 months ago Matt Clark had thrown a blinding last leg to deny Ian a place in a Pro Tour semi which would also have ensured a smooth passage to the Ally Pally. Instead Ian had to scrap down to the last day. I venture that will not be the case this year! Matt was on the receiving and of an Ian very determined not to let the hard earned win, or the 9 darter, effect him or go to waste, thus a 6-0 victory ensued.
Keith Stephen has already shown that he is a fine player and will be a handful on the tour, he had defeated Colin Osbourne in the previous round to reach a board final on his first day. A tough battle followed which Ian edged 6-5. A reward for all this was to meet Terry Jenkins on stage for the last 16! Ian had already got up to speed with tough games whereas Terry had had a slightly easier path. Thus Ian raced into a 5-2 lead and thoroughly enjoyed playing on the stage, he is getting used to it now.
Next up the Qtr final, Darren Whittingham is a great young player and universally liked as decent, polite and respectful young man. He is also local of Ian and part of a new generation Stoke on Trent players following in illustrious footsteps. He had had some tough games already however and Ian had his measure from early in the game, running out 6-2 in good style. A long wait before the semi final probably did not help our Diamond but it is just another lesson to learn. The incredibly in form Justin Pipe awaited and Ian gave him his sternest test of the day by far. After a doing dong battle with first one and then the other leading a 4-4 scoreline or 4 across as Ian would say was reached, despite Ian having the darts Justin put in a superb leg with multiple 120+ scores and set him self up to pinch the match in strong style.
Congratulations to Justin on winning the event, but also to Ian `Diamond’ White on a fantastic start to the 2012 season £2000 fro a 9 darter and £2000 for a semi final should remove some of the stresses and strains that affect all new/ish professional players and allow Ian to demonstrate his superb skills over the whole season.
All at Red Dragon are certain this is going to be a special year!