Darts Federation of Australia

Day Three Highlights

2000 EMBASSY CHAMPION KNOCKED OUT

Sixth seed Tony O'Shea knocked out former Embassy World Champion Ted Hankey (pictured) with a thrilling 3-2 tie-break victory in their first round encounter at Lakeside Frimley Green.

Hankey who won the title in 2000 with a 170 checkout played brilliant darts but could not pull off a first round win this year.

In the deciding fifth set, Hankey missed a number of doubles and O'Shea took advantage to open up a two-leg lead.

But Hankey ensured the match would go to a nail-biting tie-break when he reeled off the next two legs to draw level.

O'Shea missed some double attempts but reprieved himself by hitting double four to win the fifth leg.

Hankey responded with a successful attempt at double 10 to level the set, before O'Shea again edged ahead 4-3.

In the final leg, Hankey failed to produce the out shot and O'Shea finally nailed double 16 to wrap up the win and move into the second round for the first time.

First round results:
Day 3

Colin Monk (Eng)	def	Shaun Greatbatch (Eng)	3-0
(6) Tony O'Shea (Eng)	def	Ted Hankey (Eng)	3-2
Dennis Harbour (Eng)	def	James Wade (Eng)	3-2
Mervyn King (Eng)	def	Steve Coote (Eng)	3-1

COLIN MONK 3 - SHAUN GREATBATCH 0

Courageous Colin Monk (pictured) breezed into the second round of the Embassy as he took advantage of an under-par Shaun Greatbatch in the evening's first of four all-England first round clashes.

Monk brushed aside Greatbatch's first throw advantage in the opening leg and went on to win the set 3-0 with ease.

The players broke each other once each in set two as Greatbatch - the first player to register a live televised 9-dart checkout in the 2002 Dutch Open - tried to get back into the game.

But Greatbatch was missing his doubles and Monk was only too pleased to be given the opportunities, which he took.

He claimed the deciding leg in set two and moved into round two when he won the third 3-1.

TONY O'SHEA 3 - TED HANKEY 2

Englishmen Tony O'Shea (pictured) and Ted Hankey shared a classic encounter as they graced the

famous Lakeside oche in a thrilling game of darts that no one deserved to lose.

The classy marksmen took the match to an inevitable tie break as the stunning display left excited darts fanatics breathless.

It was O'Shea who finally hit the winning double to oust the Millennium champion and move into round two for the first time.

"Ted was probably the one player the seeds didn't want to play because really he's a seeded player - he's an ex-champion," said O'Shea.

"Winning the first round here is everything. A lot of people have gone a long time without winning a first-round match, so I'm delighted."

Hankey got off to a blistering start as he reeled off three legs for set one.

Both players broke first throw advantage in the opening legs of set two but O'Shea went 2-1 ahead before hitting a timely 165 to leave double eight which he nailed with one dart.

O'Shea went behind in set three but came back with a similar shot to the one that netted him set two. He hit 177 to leave 24 and again got it with one arrow. But back came Hankey to go ahead by two sets to one.

Hankey was on the back foot in set four as O'Shea refused to wilt - knocking out a 3-0 victory to level at 2-2 in sets.

The stage was set for a nail biting finale and it came when the players matched each other at 2-2. The eventual winner would have to win by two clear legs and it was now a matter of whose nerve would hold.

O'Shea took first blood against "The Count" but Hankey leveled at 3-3. Incredibly both players upped their game as they bombarded the treble 20 but it was O'Shea who came out on top as Hankey missed his vital opportunities at a double.

DENNIS HARBOUR 3 - JAMES WADE 2

Teenager James Wade (pictured - youngest player at 19 years of age to debut at an Embassy) glimpsed the victory line several times in his clash with fellow debutante Dennis Harbour but could not quite finish off his opponent.

Harbour took the first set but was then forced to take a back seat as the 19-year-old reeled off six successful legs to go ahead 2-1 in sets.
Wade claimed the opening leg of the fourth set and was soon looking at victory after missing a 116 checkout by the width of a wire while 2-1 ahead in legs. He had three more guaranteed

shots for victory but missed and Harbour leveled.

Wade missed another string of shots at the double for a second round place but could not finish off Harbour who made the match all square.
Wade showed character by hitting a maximum with his first throw in the fifth set but leg-winning shots of 145, 115 and 62 was enough for determined Harbour.

MERVYN KING 3 - STEVE COOTE 1

Embassy 2002 runner-up Mervyn King (pictured) got back into winning ways on the Lakeside oche

when he overcame tough opposition in Steve Coote.

Fireman Coote put himself in pole position when he checked out on 101 to take the deciding leg in set one after the players had shared the first four games.

But King, who lost out to Aussie Tony David in the final last year, came back with the next two sets as Coote began to fade.

Number three seed King lost the opening leg of set four but drew level and never looked back as he won the next two and booked his deserved place in the second round.

This Website is maintained by TailoredPages for the Darts Federation of Australia

^ Top of Page ^