NORMAN MADHOO CLINCHES LADBROKES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PLACE

Norman Madhoo from Guyana represents the Caribbean & South America at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Championship at Alexandra Palace after defeating two former champions at the Carib Beer Caribbean & South American Masters in Barbados in early November.

Madhoo, the first ever player from the region to play at the World Championship seven years ago, is an experienced player with an excellent technique that holds up even under intense pressure.

He did it the hard way by defeating both his Guyanese compatriot, Sudesh Fitzgerald and Bajan Anthony Forde on the way to the title. Both these opponents were former winners of the title and played at Alexandra Palace – Forde in 2007 when he lost to Barney and Fitzgerald in 2008 when he lost to Charles Losper.

The tournament was remarkable for the success of the women players. Maureen Shepherd from Barbados and Nanette Brooks from Trinidad & Tobago reached the quarter finals and it was Shepherd who won the right to play Forde in the semi-finals.

In the final Madhoo made the early running but Forde closed to 4 -3. In the eighth game Madhoo hit consecutive scores of 94, 100, 100, 100 and 71 before hitting double 16 with his 16th dart to take the prize.