Keith Deller grabbed the final qualification spot for the Betfred.com League of Legends semi-finals thanks to a 7-2 triumph in Stoke against Dave Whitcombe.
The result sent his opponent, the table-topper for the first four weeks, out of the competition.
Whitcombe had won his opening three matches but since then his form has deserted him and he was never in contention against the 1983 world champion.
Only victory would have been enough for Del Boy and from the moment he took out a bullseye finish in leg one it was clear he was in no mood to surrender his chances of glory.
"I was a bit nervous because I had been watching my best mate Cliff Lazarenko struggle to get through and I was wondering what I needed to do to join him," said Deller.
"I was talking to Phil Taylor, who was in the crowd, at the beginning of the night and saying that playing for a draw is alien to us players, but I needed to win and I did.
"I think I played really well. I threw a couple of loose darts when I got ahead, but apart from that my finishing was very good and I'm really pleased to have got through."
Last-gasp draw rescues Cliff
Cliff Lazarenko staged a fantastic fightback to draw 6-6 with Peter Evison and join his opponent in the semi-finals.
The Wellingborough professional trailed 6-3, but launched his recovery with a brilliant 130 checkout on the bullseye as he claimed the point he needed to be sure of a place in the last four who will battle it out for the inaugural title at Purfleet's Circus Tavern.
Evison looked on course to book his own place in the semis and oust his rival when he raced 5-2 ahead and the 'Fen Tiger' also held a three-leg advantage at 6-3.
But Lazarenko thrilled the King's Hall crowd with one of his trademark exuberant celebrations as he hit that superb 130, also took leg 11 and then pinned the decisive double 10.
"I think it would have been the end for me if I hadn't have taken out that 130 checkout," said Lazarenko.
"I went out there to win and I didn't want to leave my fate in anyone else's hands.
"At first Peter was annihilating me and I was thinking 'what the hell is happening'. Then I steadied myself, took a bit longer going up to the oche and told myself at the interval to dig deep. I dug deeper than Pete and I got away with it."
Evison was concerned that for the second week running he had let a winning lead slip and had to settle for a draw.
"I'm getting worried that I can't count to seven," said the West Drayton-based thrower. "It's one of those things but fair play to Cliff. He has been around a long time."
Anderson clinches top spot
Bob Anderson preserved his unbeaten record in the Betfred.com League of Legends with a fine comeback to draw 6-6 with Bobby George on the final night of round-robin action.
It had looked like 'Bobby Dazzler' would claim only his second win of the competition when he led 6-4, but the 62-year-old missed four match darts at double top as the 'Limestone Cowboy' hit back.
The duo traded blows in the early stages but George made the breakthrough when he won leg seven against the throw and then took out double top to lead 5-3.
After the next two legs were shared, George missed tops for the match in the penultimate game to give his opponent his first reprieve and then spurned three more darts to close it out in the decider, allowing Anderson to snatch a draw on double eight.
The result confirmed that Anderson ended the round-robin phase top of the table - he needed to win four legs to secure that position - while George was assured anyway of avoiding finishing bottom.
George knew he had thrown away a glorious opportunity of victory and said: "I had my chances, having four darts to win it, but I wasn't good enough on the double top. If they don't go in they don't go in.
"That's the way it goes. I've been playing darts for 30-odd years and you accept that.
"I've not played well in the Legends. I've been a bit spasmodic."
Anderson admitted it had been the most difficult test he had encountered so far in the event.
"In a lot of ways that was the toughest match I've had," said the Clevedon professional. "Basically that was because my mindset wasn't right as I knew I had qualified last week.
"It's therefore very difficult to lift your game and motivate yourself and I couldn't do that against Bobby. Maybe that's a weakness, maybe not.
"Bobby failed to take his chance but darts is hit and miss. This time I missed more than I hit."
Lowe ends the Legends on a high
John Lowe completed the round-robin phase of the Betfred.com League of Legends with a crushing 7-1 success against his old rival Eric Bristow.
All that was at stake, apart from bragging rights, was avoiding finishing bottom of the table and Old Stoneface was spared the ignominy as he gained his second win of the series.
"It's always nice to beat Eric because we are mega competitors, we always have been," said the Chesterfield veteran. "Every time we take to the stage it's a personal thing, even though we are good friends.
"I finished the match with a 91 average and I could have pushed that a bit higher.
"The crowd were incredible. Wherever we have played in the world I've always had more people on my side than Eric has and that's historically worked in his favour - he likes the people to be against him.
"But my form has come too late and what has happened with me and Dave Whitcombe has been a reversal. Dave started really well but has failed to qualify, whereas I began mediocre and I've got going too late."
by Jon Wilde 18/08/2008 BACK TO TOP ^ |
