Priestley defeats Painter in Bristol

DENNIS PRIESTLEY claimed his first tournament victory for over a year with a 3-2 defeat of Kevin Painter in the Bristol Trade Centre Players Championship on Sunday.

The 57-year-old has recovered from prostate cancer surgery to return successfully to the PDC circuit recently, reaching the semi-finals of last month^s PDC US Open and taking the £5,000 first prize at Ashton Gate.

Ironically, Bristol was the scene of his last tournament win, the Blue Square UK Open South-West Regional Final last February.

Priestley took the opening four legs of the final to open up a crucial two set lead, including an 82 finish to break throw in the second leg of the first set and a 13-darter against the throw in set two.

That advantage proved crucial when Painter battled back, first hitting two maximums, a bull finish and a 128 checkout to win set three and then taking set four without reply - with six perfect darts from Priestley in the second leg going to waste when he missed one dart at double top and Painter landed the bull.

Priestley took the final set^s opener, and then sealed the win in style with a 156 finish in the next.

He had defeated James Wade 3-2 in the semi-final and was also taken to five sets by Colin Osborne and Steve Hine during the latter stages of the event.

"I^m delighted with the win," said Priestley. "It has been a tiring day for me and it is draining, but it feels great to be playing so well.

"I scored well and some of the wins were really hard work - I should be called Dennis "3-2" Priestley after those last four games!"

Painter was appearing in his first final since September 2006 following a good run of form from the world number 14, having seen off Adrian Lewis and Jelle Klaasen with 3-1 scorelines in the latter stages.

He also defeated Steve Maish and Spain^s Carlos Rodriguez on his way to the final, picking up £2,500 prize money.

Osborne ended Phil Taylor^s bid for back-to-back Players Championship wins with a 3-2 victory in their last 16 clash, before coming from two sets down against Priestley in the quarters only to lose the decider.

Colin Lloyd included Ladbrokes.com PDC World Championship runner-up Kirk Shepherd amongst his victims in reaching the quarter-finals, while Gary Welding enjoyed his best run of the year to the last eight.

Klaasen^s run to the quarter-finals improves his chances of qualifying for July^s Stan James World Matchplay via the Players Championship Order of Merit.

Bristol

Preliminary Round

Mark Layton 3-0 Martin Burchell

Ian Walters 3-0 David Nelson

Tom Martin 3-1 John MaGowan

Darren Johnson 3-1 Ricky Williams

Jelle Klaasen 3-1 Simon Whatley

Chris Cooper 3-1 Steve Musson

Wayne Atwood 3-0 Dan Cook

Ben Burton 3-0 Michael Rosenauer

Steve Evans 3-2 David Fatum

Mark Frost 3-0 Jim Leighton

Gary

Fraser Hill 3-1 Derek Box

Danny King Bye (Geoff Daniels)

Michael Barnard 3-1 Lionel Sams

Rick Andrews 3-1 Peter Aleman

Tony Eccles 3-2 Steve Cusick

Mark Lawrence 3-0 Colin Wonnacott

Tom Wilson 3-2 Lee Holden

Tony Littleton 3-0 Danny Pinhorne

Ray Farrell 3-1 Dale Pinch

Brendan Dolan 3-1 Steve Smith

Stephen Hardy 3-0 Jason Clark

Tony Ayres 3-0 Karl Loiseau

Stuart Dutton 3-0 David Davies

Gary Mawson 3-1 Pat Orreal

Scott Kirchner 3-1 Ian Branks

Peter Wright Bye (Jimmy O^Regan)

First Round

Alan Warriner-Little 3-0 Geoff Wylie

Steve Maish 3-0 Graeme Stoddart

Michael Smith Bye (Raymond van Barneveld)

Mark Layton 3-1 Kevin Harris

Denis Ovens 3-1 Nick Fulwell

Carlos Rodriguez 3-0 Colin Monk

Kevin Painter 3-0 Ian Walters

Tom Martin 3-2 Mark Jones

Wes Newton 3-0 Glyn Humphries

Kevin Dowling 3-0 Gary Noonan

Andy Hamilton 3-0 Darren Johnson

Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Nigel Peden

Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Dave Honey

Matt Clark 3-0 Jacko Barry

Chris Cooper 3-2 Wayne Mardle

Owen Caffrey 3-2 Wayne Atwood

Mark Walsh 3-0 Ian Jopling

Steve Cupitt 3-2 Simon Cunningham

Adrian Lewis 3-0 Richard Plowman

Ben Burton 3-0 Tomokazu Onoda

Mervyn King 3-1 Steven Watts

Paul Dillon Bye (Shayne Burgess)

Alan Tabern 3-0 Lee White

Steve Evans 3-2 Dave Smith

Adrian Gray 3-1 Russell Mason

Mick Savvery 3-1 Chris Daglish

Mark Frost 3-2 Terry Jenkins

Gary Welding 3-2 Michael van Gerwen

Jamie Caven 3-0 Andy Jenkins

Mark Jodrill 3-0 Alan Weist

Barrie

Dennis Smith 3-2 Danny King

Wayne Jones 3-0 Jan van der Rassel

Norman Fletcher Bye (Kevin Reade)

Phil Taylor 3-0 Gary Barnett

Michael Barnard 3-0 Jonathan Overton

Chris Mason 3-2 Robert Watson-Lang

Kevin McDine 3-2 Robbie Newland

Colin Osborne 3-0 Rick Andrews

Tony Eccles 3-1 Alan Caves

Steve Hine 3-1 Alex Roy

Dave Askew 3-0 Mark Carter

Roland Scholten 3-1 Mark Lawrence

Robert Thornton 3-0 Tom Wilson

Andy Smith 3-0 Andy Mason

John Quantock 3-0 Tony Blundell

Dennis Priestley 3-0 Tony Littleton

Ray Farrell 3-0 Steve Randall

Mick McGowan 3-0 Dave Ladley

Darrell Townsend 3-1 David Platt

Colin Lloyd 3-0 John Ferrell

Martyn Turner 3-1 Brendan Dolan

Kirk Shepherd 3-1 Lee Williams

John Kuczynski 3-0 Ian Critchett

Peter Manley 3-2 Stephen Hardy

Co Stompe 3-1 Tony Ayres

Steve Beaton 3-0 Matt Sheehan

Stuart Holden 3-0 Mark Tiller

James Wade 3-1 Stuart Dutton

Gary Mawson 3-1 Darren Whittingham

Mark Dudbridge 3-2 Nigel Birch

Darren Sutton 3-0 Raul Conde

Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Scott Kirchner

Peter Wright 3-2 Louis Blundell

Second Round

Steve Maish 3-0 Alan Warriner-Little

Mark Layton 3-2 Michael Smith

Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 Denis Ovens

Kevin Painter 3-0 Tom Martin

Wes Newton 3-2 Kevin Dowling

Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Andy Hamilton

Vincent van der Voort 3-1 Matt Clark

Owen Caffrey 3-2 Chris Cooper

Mark Walsh 3-0 Steve Cupitt

Adrian Lewis 3-0 Ben Burton

Mervyn King 3-0 Paul Dillon

Alan Tabern 3-0 Steve Evans

Adrian Gray 3-1 Mick Savvery

Gary

Jamie Caven 3-1 Mark Jodrill

Dennis Smith 3-0 Barrie Bates

Wayne Jones 3-0 Norman Fletcher

Phil Taylor 3-0 Michael Barnard

Kevin McDine 3-0 Chris Mason

Colin Osborne 3-2 Tony Eccles

Steve Hine 3-2 Dave Askew

Roland Scholten 3-0 Robert Thornton

John Quantock 3-0 Andy Smith

Dennis Priestley 3-1 Ray Farrell

Mick McGowan 3-2 Darrell Townsend

Colin Lloyd 3-1 Martyn Turner

Kirk Shepherd 3-1 John Kuczynski

Co Stompe 3-1 Peter Manley

Steve Beaton 3-2 Stuart Holden

James Wade 3-1 Gary Mawson

Mark Dudbridge 3-1 Darren Sutton

Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Peter Wright

Losers £75

Third Round

Steve Maish 3-1 Mark Layton

Kevin Painter 3-1 Carlos Rodriguez

Jelle Klaasen 3-1 Wes Newton

Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Owen Caffrey

Adrian Lewis 3-1 Mark Walsh

Alan Tabern 3-2 Mervyn King

Gary

Jamie Caven 3-1 Dennis Smiith

Phil Taylor 3-2 Wayne Jones

Colin Osborne 3-0 Kevin McDine

Steve Hine 3-0 Roland Scholten

Dennis Priestley 3-0 John Quantock

Colin Lloyd 3-1 Mick McGowan

Kirk Shepherd 3-0 Co Stompe

James Wade 3-2 Steve Beaton

Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Mark Dudbridge

Losers £150

Fourth Round

Kevin Painter 3-0 Steve Maish

Jelle Klaasen 3-1 Vincent van der Voort

Adrian Lewis 3-0 Alan Tabern

Gary

Colin Osborne 3-2 Phil Taylor

Dennis Priestley 3-2 Steve Hine

Colin Lloyd 3-1 Kirk Shepherd

James Wade 3-1 Ronnie Baxter

Losers £300

Quarter-Finals

Kevin Painter 3-1 Jelle Klaasen

Adrian Lewis 3-1 Gary Welding

Dennis Priestley 3-2 Colin Osborne

James Wade 3-0 Colin Lloyd

Losers £600

Semi-Finals

Kevin Painter 3-1 Adrian Lewis (2-1, 0-2, 2-0, 2-0)

Dennis Priestley 3-2 James Wade (2-1, 1-2, 2-0, 1-2, 2-0)

Losers £1,250

Final

Dennis Priestley 3-2 Kevin Painter (2-0, 2-0, 1-2, 0-2, 2-0)

Winner £5,000

Runner-Up £2,500

Round-By-Round Updates

Preliminary Round

Ben Burton condemns Michael Rosenauer to a second successive first-game defeat, while Jelle Klaasen defeated Simon Whatley 3-1.

Stephen Hardy takes a straight sets win over Jason Clark, while Wayne Atwood - who overcame James Wade on Saturday - defeats Dan Cook.

Brendan Dolan makes a winning start to Sunday^s event, having reached the quarter-finals 24 hours earlier.

Darren Johnson defeats Ricky Williams in the first game on stage in the Dolman Stand Exhibition Hall, with Bristol^s Steve Brown losing 3-1 to Gary Welding in the next match.

First Round

Wes Newton defeats Glyn Humphries in straight sets.

Alan Warriner-Little wins 3-0 against Geoff Wylie, while Jamie Caven knocks out Andy Jenkins.

Mick McGowan and Mark Walsh are other early round one winners.

Dave Honey misses darts to knock out Vincent van der Voort before the Dutchman prevails in the deciding leg.Steve Maish sees off Graeme Stoddart in straight sets, while Kevin Dowling and Andy Hamilton progress on board three with 3-0 wins against Gary Noonan and Darren Johnson.

Adrian Gray and Mick Savvery will meet on board seven after round one wins, while Mervyn king defeats Steven Watts 3-1.

Steve Hine^s 3-1 win knocks out Alex Roy, who reached the last 16 on Saturday.

America

Home favourite Mark Dudbridge needs five sets to see off Nigel Birch.

Phil Taylor, who won Saturday^s event, opens his challenge for a repeat win with a 3-0 defeat of Gary Barnett.

World number five Terry Jenkins is knocked out by Mark Frost in five sets.

Saturday^s runner-up Alan Tabern starts well, winning 3-0 against fellow left-hander Lee White, and Adrian Lewis repeats that scoreline against Richard Plowman.

Kevin Painter kicks off his challenge with a 3-0 win over Ian Walters.

Peter Manley comes from 2-1 down to win in a decider against Stephen Hardy.

Wayne Mardle loses 3-2 to Chris Cooper to exit in round one, but Roland Scholten bounces back from his first-game loss on Saturday to defeat Mark Lawrence 3-1.

Michael van Gerwen is defeated 3-2 by Gary Welding after missing three match darts, while Dennis Smith and Barrie Bates progress on board eight.

Tom Martin^s win over Mark Jones sets up a clash with Kevin Painter.

Gary Mawson^s win over Darren Whittingham sets up a repeat of last weeks Blue Square UK Open final against James Wade.

Second Round

Wes Newton sneaks past Kevin Dowling 3-2 to reach last 32, where he will be joined by Steve Maish, who swept aside Alan Warriner-Little 3-0.

Mark Walsh joins them in round three after a 3-0 win over Steve Cupitt, while Mick McGowan edges out Darrell Townsend 3-2.

Jelle Klaasen will meet Wes Newton in the board three final, after his 3-0 win over Andy Hamilton.

Kirk Shepherd defeats American John Kuczynski 3-1.

Holland

Phil Taylor sets up last 32 clash with Wayne Jones after 3-0 win over Michael Barnard.

Steve Hine wins five-set game with Dave Askew.

Co Stompe defeats Peter Manley 3-1 to reach last 32 in only his second PDC event.

Carlos Rodriguez defeats Denis Ovens 3-1 to set up third round game with Kevin Painter.

Kevin McDine^s 3-0 win over Chris Mason means he meets Colin Osborne, while Yorkshiremen Dennis Priestley and John Quantock clash in the board 12 final.

Colin Lloyd knocks out York^s Martyn Turner 3-1 to earn board 13 final place against Mick McGowan.

Ronnie Baxter to face Mark Dudbridge in last 32 for second successive day, after his 3-1 win over Peter Wright.

Owen Caffrey^s 3-2 win over Chris Cooper sets up meeting with Vincent van der Voort.

James Wade repeated his victory in the Blue Square UK Open final against Gary Mawson to move into board final against Steve Beaton.

Third Round

Jelle Klaasen wins board three with a 3-1 defeat of Wes Newton to move into the last 16.

Adrian Lewis avenges Saturday^s loss to Mark Walsh with a 3-1 win in his board final.

Phil Taylor edges out Wayne Jones 3-2 to remain on course for second win of the weekend, with Jones missing two darts at double 16 in the final leg to send the game into a decider.

Alan Tabern produces sensational last leg to defeat Mervyn King in a decider, opening with two 180s before taking the win.

Dennis Priestley wins board 12 with defeat of John Quantock, while Colin Lloyd and Kirk Shepherd will meet in the last 16 after coming through their boards.

Kevin Painter defeats Spain^s Carlos Rodriguez 3-1 in board two final, and will meet board one winner Steve Maish.

Vincent van der Voort wins 3-2 against Owen Caffrey, meaning he meets Jelle Klaasen in fourth round.

Jamie Caven and Gary Welding will meet in round four after their 3-1 wins over Dennis Smith and Adrian Gray.

James Wade edges past Steve Beaton 32 to reach fourth round.

Colin Osborne^s 3-0 win over Kevin McDine sees him set up last 16 contest with Phil Taylor.

Fourth Round

Jelle Klaasen avenges his Blue Square UK Open defeat to Vincent van der Voort with 3-1 fourth round victory.

Kevin Painter wins 3-0 against Steve Maish to progress to quarter-finals, where he meets Klaasen.

Adrian Lewis defeats Alan Tabern 3-0, and will meet another St Helens player, Gary Welding, in the last eight, following his 3-2 win over Jamie Caven.

Dennis Priestley wins quarter-final place with five-set defeat of Steve Hine, taking out 130 on the bullseye for the match after hitting a 160 finish to win the fourth set and level - with Hine sat on a double on both occasions

James Wade ousts Ronnie Baxter 3-1, with Colin Lloyd defeating Kirk Shepherd by the same scoreline.

Colin Osborne inflicts defeat on Taylor with a 3-2 win, ending the world number one^s hopes of back-to-back titles. Taylor landed a ton-plus finish to save the game in set four after Osborne missed one dart at double top for the game, but the Derby man won a deciding leg in the fifth set.

Quarter-Finals

James Wade wins in straight sets against Colin Lloyd to earn a place in the semis.

Kevin Painter overcomes Jelle Klaasen 3-1, taking out 109 to defeat the young Dutchman.

Adrian Lewis wins third quarter-final, defeating Gary Welding 3-1.

Dennis Priestley held off Colin Osborne^s fightback to win a place in the semis with a 3-2 victory in the last quarter-final. Priestley won the first two sets before Osborne hit back to level, but the two-time World Champion was too strong in the decider.

Semi-Finals

Kevin Painter won through to his first PDC ranked final since September 2006 with a 3-1 defeat of Adrian Lewis in a superb showing.

The pair, facing each other for the first time since their disqualification at the Open Holland Masters in April, produced an entertaining semi-final.

Painter won the first set 2-1, with a 177 setting up a double 12 finish in the first leg before he also won the decider.

Lewis took back-to-back legs to level the match, but a missed double 16 in the third set^s opener allowed Painter back in, and he also took leg two to move 2-1 up in the match.

Painter took advantage of more missed doubles from Lewis to lead in set four, and a 180 helped him take the advantage in the next before sealing the win.

The second semi-final saw Dennis Priestley win a five-set epic with James Wade.

Priestley came from behind to win the first set 2-1, hitting two maximums in the set. He also took out 88 to level in the second, but scores of 180, 140 and 150 saw Wade pull clear to take the decider on double two and level the game.

Priestley landed double top twice to take set three without reply, and he was level in the next before Wade saved the match in the deciding leg.

A 119 finish put the Yorkshireman a leg away from the win in the final set, with Wade missing double top to save the game again before Priestley landed the same bed for victory.