Report for Stage 3 of The 2014 YDP Masters Darts Open.
"Alex, The Pride of Harrogate"
Harrogate^s Alex Pride proved to be the top home grown darts player at Stage 3 of The YDP Masters Darts Open held at Bilton WMC, Harrogate organised in Association with Streamline Taxis of York and Red Dragon Darts.
Pride who was taking on Humbersides Jamie Ellem, opened the final with a 19 dart leg to see Ellem reply with 16. The final continued with each player taking the darts against the throw with further legs of 21-15 from Pride and two 18 dart legs from Ellem, one of which included a 115 finish bringing the match to 3-3 and the decider. This saw Pride take out 100 in two for a 17 dart leg leaving Ellem, 2 x 100^s and a 101 score sat on 25.
Pride defeated fellow Harrogate player Rick Harper 3-0 which included a brilliant double bull finish for 21 darts whilst Ellem defeated Yorkshire^s Ian Malkin (17-16) 3-2 with 100 finish for 17, 18 and 21 whilst adding a 180.
Ellem (18-21-21) defeated York^s somewhat jaded John Quantock (16-18) 3-2 in the 1/4 Finals. Malkin (180 for 14) beat Scawtons Keith Craggs 3-0 which was the same result between Pride and Humbersides James Weldon with Harper seeing off the other Grand Finals Qualifier John Bowler (Barnsley) 3-1.
Other matches of note saw Bowler hit a 117 finish for 21, Harper including 19 & 20 dart legs. A 156 finish came from Weldon whilst 18 dart legs were hit by Ellem (2), Quantock and Craggs. Ian Balsdon (Harrogate) closed on 142 and Leeds Mally Welsh had a 15 dart leg. The best match of the day saw Malkin hit 3 x 180^s in legs of 15-16 and 16 to send Humbersides Daniel Lidgett home early.
Twenty two of the players then entered the Blind Pairs competiton where Malkin and Rab Mckenzie (Barnsley) won the final 2-1 against Craggs and Ellem. Beaten Semi-finalists were John Roberts (Leeds) & Weldon and Alan Aoslin (Leeds) & Balsdon.