AND NEW! - ALEC SMALL IS THE CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS!
Alec Small won his first ever Champion of Champions event joining the illustrious list of winners that include the likes of Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton. The Welshman beat Scott Bayliss 2-0 in the Grand Final at the Depot in Cardiff finishing 46 on double sixteen second dart to win £10,000 with the competition returning for the first time after a three-year absence.
The day was certainly an eventful one with Colin Lloyd and Bobby George on hand for a Q and A just before the Semis and credit must be given to Red Dragon for organising a fantastic event in the Welsh capital.
The players on show certainly had the quality with the likes of Martin Lukeman and Connor Scutt, two players on the PDC Pro Tour circuit involved in the action trying to win their first crowns.
Small will be over the moon to have come through as the winner of Board four beating a group of players that included the likes of Nick Kenny and Chris Willard.
The former Development tour star also provided some quality performances beating Red Dragon star David Evans in the Quarter Finals before claiming victory over Rob Owen 2-0 in the Semis with Stack Attack having played in the Live League and on the Pro Tour already.
The newly crowned champion qualified for the event having won at the Oak earlier in the year, with the passage through to the competition being you must win at one of the selected 256 arenas to qualify.
Scott Bayliss even though he fell to defeat at the Final hurdle can certainly hold his head high, beating Lukeman in the Quarter Finals knowing that his opponent hadn’t dropped a leg all through the competition after coming out the winner of Board 16.
The Welshman managed to win 2-0 against the man who made his World Matchplay debut this year to the delight of the spectators watching on, with screams of joy when the double eight was hit first dart in hand as his opponent missed multiple darts at double across the tungsten tussle.
Bayliss qualified through the Quakers Yard for the competition and despite not going all the way, the run can be described as fairy-tale after walking away from the Depot £2,500 richer.
Colin Lloyd also spoke on his thoughts of the Red Dragon Champion of Champions returning saying: “Its great to have it back, its one of them events where it’s not all about the pro’s, it comes from the pubs and people have to qualify through their own area.”
“What’s great about this event its best of three, that’s a killer and even if you go 1-0 up you must have your wits about you, who’s game is on will be crowned the champion. Red Dragon have worked really hard with Worthington’s to put on this event, it’s a shame we missed it the last couple of years but it’s great to have it back.”
A fantastic atmosphere and a cracking tournament so it’s safe to say the return of the Champion of Champions was a huge success and many congratulations to Alec Small on being crowned the winner for the first time in your darting career.
By Harry Masterson
Worthington Champion of Champions Results:
Semi Finals:
Alec Small 2-0 Rob Owen
Scott Bayliss 2-1 Chris Hurds
Final:
Alec Small 2-0 Scott Bayliss