PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts - Newton Wins ITV Wildcard Qualifier

WES NEWTON claimed a place in the PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts with a victory over Colin McGarry in the final of the ITV Wildcard Qualifier.

The Blackpool-based accountant earned himself a minimum £4,000 prize money by qualifying for next month^s tournament at the Wolverhampton Civic.

Newtondropped out of the PDC^s top 32 last week, being overtaken by Tony Eccles, but responded in style to ensure his place in front of the ITV Sport cameras.

He defeated Northern Ireland’s McGarry 5-3 in the deciding game, coming from 3-2 down to take three successive legs and win his place in the Grand Slam with a two-dart 81 finish.

He had overcome in-form Alan Tabern 4-1 in the semi-finals, and also taken wins over experienced professionals Alex Roy, Barrie Bates and Jason Clark in his earlier games.

"I^m absolutely delighted," said Newton. "Dropping out of the top 32 has been a kick up the backside for me and this is a massive boost for me.

"I^ve had a disappointing year but hopefully I can end it on a high now. I^ll look forward to playing in the Grand Slam of Darts next month and I^m determined to be successful in Wolverhampton."

Alan Tabern defeated Leicester^s Jamie Caven 5-3 to win the third-fourth place play-off.

McGarry, Tabern and Caven will earn invitations to the Grand Slam of Darts should the winner of the Championship League Darts final and the finalists from the European Championship already have qualified for the tournament.

McGarry, who played in the 2004 PDC World Championship, was a surprise finalist having competed little on the professional circuit recently.

He included Spain^s Carlos Rodriguez, David Davies, Joe Murnan, Mark Layton and Jim Withers to reach the last eight, before overcoming Mark Dudbridge 4-1 in the quarter-finals and Caven 4-2 in the semis.

St Helens^ Tabern has lifted himself to tenth in the PDC Order of Merit this year, and overcame Leeds^ Dave Smith, Watford^s Mark Walsh and Northern Ireland^s John MaGowan in reaching the latter stages.

Caven hit seven perfect darts during one leg of his semi-final with McGarry, but then lost the leg to go 3-1 down and eventually went down 4-2.

Adrian Lewis was eliminated in a deciding leg at the last 128 stage by Ronnie Baxter, who lost to Mark Dudbridge 4-0 in the next round.

Dudbridge also defeated Wayne Jones - who, like Lewis and Baxter, competed in last year^s Grand Slam of Darts - in straight legs in reaching the last eight, but then went down to McGarry.

Gary Robson performed best of the leading BDO/WDF players, reaching the last 16 before losing to Caven, having earlier edged out former World Champion Steve Beaton in a deciding leg.

Scott Waites, who also played in Wolverhampton 12 months ago, lost out to Co Stompe in the last 64, while Chris Mason - who won through last year^s ITV Wildcard Qualifier - was a first game casualty to Sean Palfrey.

Peter Manley was the fifth player who played in last year^s Grand Slam to miss out in the knockout, coming from behind to win 4-3 against both Matt Jackson and Shane O^Connor before being whitewashed by Caven.

Midlothian

PartyPoker.com Grand Slam of Darts ITV Wildcard Qualifier

Preliminary Round

Chris Jackson 4-2 Andy Pearce

Darrell Townsend 4-2 Andy Smith

Brendan Dolan 4-0 Steve Maish

Ian Perkins 4-1 Gary Scott

Ian McCallum 4-1 John Nicol

Ewan Hyslop 4-0 Antony Sharratt

Steve Evans 4-1 Peter McGuinness

Paul Hannaway 4-0 Karl Loiseau

Martyn Turner 4-1 Joey Palfreyman

Darren Johnson Bye (Danny Quinn)

Mark Davis Bye (Preben Krabben)

Arron Monk 4-3 Steve Cupitt

Sam Rooney 4-1 Stuart Holden

Jan van der Rassel 4-1 Andy Pearson

Robert Watson-Lang 4-3 Ken Dobson

Alan Tabern 4-0 Geoff Harvey

Joe Bata 4-1 Mark Carter

John MaGowan 4-0 Kenneth Boa

Lionel Sams 4-2 Jim Leighton

Mark Frost 4-0 Steve Gerrard

Alex Lister 4-1 Chris Louden

Jason Clark 4-3 Steve Cusick

Don Haughton 4-1 Allan Kerr

Sean Palfrey 4-3 Chris Mason

Kevin Dowling 4-1 Dean Lawrie

Barrie

Peter Wright 4-3 John Kuczynski

Lee Palfreyman 4-3 Nick Fulwell

Mark Jodrill 4-0 John Pearson

Gary Scratchley 4-1 Mark Stephenson

Erwin Extercatte Bye (Shane Passey)

Justin Pipe 4-1 Michael Barnard

Norman Fletcher Bye (Norman Fletcher)

Robbie Parker 4-1 Steve Hine

Simon Craven Bye (Max Murray)

Jacko Barry Bye (Geoff Whitworth)

David Platt 4-2 Peter Mitchell

Davey Mansell 4-0 John McDonald

Danny Pinhorne 4-3 Willie Gemmell

Peter Allsopp 4-2 Isen Veljic

Jelle Klaasen 4-0 Gary Blades

Danny King 4-1 Mick McGowan

Harry Todman 4-1 Kevin Harris

Gary Robson 4-1 Andrew Davies

Steve Beaton 4-1 Craig Wilson

Matt Clark 4-3 Alex Tinsley

Matt Jackson 4-2 Steve Perkins

Peter Manley 4-0 Frazer Gunn

Peter Walford Bye (Mark Jones)

Shane O^Connor 4-0 Andy Boulton

Peter Aleman 4-1 Dylan Duo

Wayne Atwood 4-1 Kevin Phaup

Ian Gunion 4-1 Matt Gallett

Ben Burton 4-1 Paul Hodkin

Michael Rosenauer 4-2 Ivor Phillips

Co Stompe 4-1 Steve Grubb

Dave Honey 4-0 Robbie Newland

Colin Osborne 4-0 Andy Mason

Steve Musson 4-2 Fraser Dempsey

Gary

Martin Atkins 4-2 Steve Brown

Tony Eccles 4-1 Sean White

Richie Burnett 4-1 Paul Alexander

John Quantock 4-1 Mike Herold

Lee White 4-1 Tommy McIntosh

Adrian Lewis 4-3 Paul Anthony

Ian Jopling 4-3 Dennis Smith

Adrian Gray 4-1 Peter Allen

Wayne Jones 4-0 Tom Martin

Matt Wenham 4-1 James McKenna

Chris Cooper 4-0 Steve Watts

Colin McGarry 4-1 Carlos Rodriguez

David Davies Bye (Mark Brown)

Joe Murnan 4-1 Jonathan Overton

Alan Brown 4-2 Russell Mason

Jason Crawley 4-2 Alan Tabern Jnr

Lee Williams 4-2 Andy Relf

Jim Withers 4-0 Geoff Wylie

Stephen Hardy 4-0 Kean Olivero

Chris Daglish 4-0 Ralph Hirst

First Round

Dave Smith 4-1 Alan Green

Martin Burchell 4-1 Chris Jackson

Brendan Dolan 4-3 Darrell Townsend

Ian Perkins 4-1 Ian McCallum

Dave Ladley 4-1 Alastair Tairbet

Colin Monk 4-1 Ewan Hyslop

Steve Evans 4-3 Paul Hannaway

Martyn Turner 4-2 Darren Johnson

Paul Knighton 4-0 Craig Winning

Mark Walsh 4-0 Mark Davis

Sam Rooney 4-3 Arron Monk

Jan van der Rassel 4-1 Robert Watson-Lang

Kevin Hill 4-1 James Watson

Alan Tabern 4-1 Jim Young

John MaGowan 4-3 Joe Bata

Lionel Sams 4-1 Mark Frost

Scott Kirchner 4-0 Steve Randall

Wes Newton 4-1 Alex Lister

Jason Clark 4-1 Don Haughton

Kevin Dowling 4-0 Sean Palfrey

Chris Maguire 4-2 Geoff Daniels

Barrie

Peter Wright 4-1 Lee Palfreyman

Mark Jodrill 4-3 Gary Scratchley

Tony Ayres 4-1 Robert Baker

Erwin Extercatte 4-1 Glenn Moody

Justin Pipe 4-1 Norman Fletcher

Robbie Parker 4-3 Simon Craven

Andy Downie 4-3 Ian Henderson

Alex Roy 4-2 Jacko Barry

David Platt 4-0 Davey Mansell

Peter Allsopp 4-1 Danny Pinhorne

Mike Veitch 4-3 Jason Cole

Bill Davis 4-2 Jelle Klaasen

Danny King 4-0 Harry Todman

Gary Robson 4-3 Steve Beaton

John Dawes Bye (Taro Yachi)

Jamie Caven 4-1 Matt Clark

Peter Manley 4-3 Matt Jackson

Shane O^Connor 4-3 Peter Walford

Gary Stone 4-0 John Dalton

Peter Aleman 4-3 Alan Caves

Wayne Atwood 4-0 Ian Gunion

Michael Rosenauer 4-3 Ben Burton

Scott Waites Bye (Shayne Burgess)

Co Stompe 4-0 Steven Middleton

Colin Osborne 4-2 Dave Honey

Steve Musson 4-2 Gary Welding

AJ Urmston-Toft 4-3 Ian Walters

Andy Howarth 4-1 Martin Atkins

Tony Eccles 4-2 Richie Burnett

John Quantock 4-2 Lee White

Mark Dudbridge 4-2 Jon Archer

Ronnie Baxter 4-3 Adrian Lewis

Adrian Gray 4-3 Ian Jopling

Wayne Jones 4-1 Matt Wenham

Mark Layton 4-2 Dave Ansell

Mark Bloor 4-2 Chris Cooper

Colin McGarry 4-0 David Davies

Joe Murnan 4-0 Alan Brown

Michael Smith 4-0 John Jenkinson

Jason Crawley 4-0 Hans Hagley

Jim Withers 4-3 Lee Williams

Stephen Hardy 4-1 Chris Daglish

Second Round

Dave Smith 4-1 Martin Burchell

Ian Perkins 4-3 Brendan Dolan

Colin Monk 4-1 Dave Ladley

Martyn Turner 4-3 Steve Evans

Mark Walsh 4-1 Paul Knighton

Sam Rooney 4-2 Jan van der Rassel

Alan Tabern 4-1 Kevin Hill

John MaGowan 4-1 Lionel Sams

Wes Newton 4-1 Scott Kirchner

Jason Clark 4-2 Kevin Dowling

Barrie

Mark Jodrill 4-1 Peter Wright

Tony Ayres 4-2 Erwin Extercatte

Justin Pipe 4-2 Robbie Parker

Alex Roy 4-2 Andy Downie

David Platt 4-1 Peter Allsopp

Bill Davis 4-2 Mike Veitch

Gary Robson 4-1 Danny King

Jamie Caven 4-0 John Dawes

Peter Manley 4-3 Shane O^Connor

Gary Stone 4-3 Peter Aleman

Wayne Atwood 4-2 Michael Rosenauer

Co Stompe 4-3 Scott Waites

Colin Osborne 4-2 Steve Musson

AJ Urmston-Toft 4-2 Andy Howarth

Tony Eccles 4-1 John Quantock

Mark Dudbridge 4-0 Ronnie Baxter

Wayne Jones 4-3 Adrian Gray

Mark Layton 4-1 Mark Bloor

Colin McGarry 4-2 Joe Murnan

Jason Crawley 4-3 Michael Smith

Jim Withers 4-2 Stephen Hardy

Third Round

Dave Smith 4-1 Ian Perkins

Martyn Turner 4-2 Colin Monk

Mark Walsh 4-1 Sam Rooney

Alan Tabern 4-2 John MaGowan

Wes Newton 4-0 Jason Clark

Barrie

Justin Pipe 4-2 Tony Ayres

Alex Roy 4-0 David Platt

Gary Robson 4-3 Bill Davis

Jamie Caven 4-0 Peter Manley

Wayne Atwood 4-3 Gary Stone

Colin Osborne 4-2 Co Stompe

AJ Urmston-Toft 4-2 Tony Eccles

Mark Dudbridge 4-0 Wayne Jones

Colin McGarry 4-2 Mark Layton

Jim Withers 4-3 Jason Crawley

Fourth Round

Dave Smith 4-3 Martyn Turner

Alan Tabern 4-1 Mark Walsh

Wes Newton 4-1 Barrie Bates

Alex Roy 4-3 Justin Pipe

Jamie Caven 4-2 Gary Robson

Wayne Atwood 4-3 Colin Osborne

Mark Dudbridge 4-1 AJ Urmston-Toft

Colin McGarry 4-2 Jim Withers

Quarter-Finals

Alan Tabern 4-2 Dave Smith

Wes Newton 4-2 Alex Roy

Jamie Caven 4-1 Wayne Atwood

Colin McGarry 4-1 Mark Dudbridge

Semi-Finals

Wes Newton 4-1 Alan Tabern

Colin McGarry 4-2 Jamie Caven

Third-Fourth Place Play-Off

Alan Tabern 5-3 Jamie Caven

Final

Wes Newton 5-3 Colin McGarry