Fleet finally wins Pacific Masters

The 32nd running of the prestigious Pacific Darts Masters saw over 250+ players competing for World Darts Federation, British Darts Organisation and Darts Federation of Australian ranking points and the $5000.00 prize money on offer. Australia's premier dart players found the standard of competition extremely high at the Redlands Multi Sports Club in Birkdale, just out of Brisbane today. Hundreds of spectators watched and many local players enjoyed great darting contests throughout the day, some locals even participating.

Canberrian Anthony Fleet (above) put in a powerful display of darts to out point Perth's Neil Hembrow in the final of the Pacific Masters. Fleet winning his first Masters title 6 - 2. It was an interesting final for Fleet as he has been a finalist on two other occasions and on those two attempts he was soundly beaten. Not today though. He was the outstanding player in the final. He could have had the perfect start but missed double 10 to win the opening leg against the darts. Not to be though as the young Western Australian hit double 8 to take the early lead. That was close to all he could manage though. Fleet won leg two in 16 darts to square up the final, then put on the pressure with some brilliant scoring to win the next two legs in 16 and 15 darts. In leg five Hembrow matched Fleet for scores and finished from 40 to win his second leg. Fleet continued pounding the triple twenty in the next leg to win the leg in 17 darts to lead 4 - 2. Fleet won the next two legs with some strong scoring but he did waste some darts on these two legs when he could not finish cleanly. I'm sure it did not worry him in the end. His first Pacific Masters after many attempts was finally his.

It had been a great day of darts for Fleet, as he defeated two 2008 Australian Darts Team representatives in the quarters and semi finals in great matches. Both Fleet and Peter Machin averaged over 30+ in their quarter final match. For Hembrow, this also was a great performance put in by him in his first Pacific Masters attempt.

Pacific Masters Final Averages: Anthony Fleet 27.392 Neil Hembrow 25.252 (both pictured right)

The first semi final saw Fleet up against Western Australia's Kyle Anderson. This was a cliff hanger of a match that went the whole distance. Fleet started strongly winning the first leg in 15 darts against the throw finishing on 146. Anderson responded with an 18-darter of his own to square up this semi final. The third break of the lead throw saw Fleet sneak ahead with a 93 finish. Anderson was not going away and with a 91 peg he squared up the semi final at 2 - 2. Anderson took the lead when he won the fifth leg. Fleet grabbed the next two legs before Anderson grabbed the eighth leg against the throw to send the match into a tiebreaking leg. Anderson was away first in the final leg but a couple of 140's set up Fleet to have first shot at the double. He finished from 47 to make the final with Anderson still requiring 34.

Semi Final Averages: Anthony Fleet 28.183 Kyle Anderson 26.544

The second semi final had Hembrow up against Mick Mullaney of Canberra. Hembrow opened up with an 18-dart leg. Mullaney took the second leg to square up the semi final at this early stage. For the next five legs the lead thrower won the leg with great consistent darts being thrown by both players. The eighth leg was started by Mullaney, but three big scores put Hembrow put him in the box seat, just requiring one more leg to advance to the final. Those three shots was the difference between the two as he was first to the double and double ten sent him into his first Pacific Masters final.

Semi Final Averages: Neil Hembrow 25.293 Mick Mullaney 24.479

Well over 130 of Australia's top ranked men's players contested this event.

Forwood's third Masters

Victoria's Carol Forwood (pictured right) had a huge day winning her third Pacific Masters title from a field of 88 players. She has been in great form of late on the Australian darts circuit, winning just about everything she has entered. In the final she had to defeat local Queensland Champion Pam Burr.

The Pacific Masters Final was a fairly even contest with both players in pretty good form after some powerful wins in their semi finals. Burr was away first and started scoring brilliantly but wasted six darts at trying to hit the first double. This gave Forwood her first break, hitting a 115 finish to claim leg one. This boosted Forwood's confidence and with some strong scoring and a clean finish was in a flash two legs up. Burr struck back with some strong darts in leg three. The fourth leg saw again strong scoring by Burr including a 180, but her finishing again was letting her down. She wasted 10 darts trying to hit the right double to win the leg but it was not to be. This gave Forwood every opportunity to steal the leg which did. Leg five and both players were hitting the big scores. Burr started with three 100's in a row, but Forwood was matching her and with a brilliant 77 finish she claimed the fifth leg and the title. It had been a close contest and the third Pacific Masters title for Forwood, previously winning in 1995 and 2003. A good day for Forwood winning $1100.00 in prize money and some more very valuable World and BDO ranking points.

Pacific Masters Final Averages: Carol Forwood 21.882 Pam Burr 20.964 (both players pictured left)

Forwood had a good tussle with Queenslander Chrissy Sheerin in the semi finals. Some early nerves in the first leg by Sheerin saw Forward easily take the early lead. In leg two Sheerin got her game together and was back in this match when she finished from 32. Leg three and both players were hitting the big scores early in the leg, before both appeared to start to struggle a little. Forwood grabbed the leg with a 16 finish. This gave Forwood plenty of confidence and she was back on the spot hitting the big scores again. She powered through the leg finishing the leg from 60 against the darts to take the match 3 - 1.

Semi Final Averages: Carol Forwood 22.919 Chrissy Sheerin 19.153

Burr had a strong victory over Western Australian Samara Ash. Burr had just defeated 2008 finalist Corrine Hammond in the quarter finals with an average of 26+ and she continued that form in this match. Ash had been playing brilliant darts herself defeating 2008 Australian Darts Team Representative Louise Ball in the quarters, but in this match she could not reproduce that form to challenge Burr. Burr claimed the first leg against the darts, after Ash busted from 55. Burr easily won leg two and continued that form in leg three to move into the final.

Semi Final Averages: Pam Burr 22.103 Samara Ash 16.938

With both the Ladies and Men's events hold World and BDO Ranking Points, both winners have gained an invitation into the Winmau World Masters being played in the U.K. early in September by winning this event. Today's competition highlighted how strong and even the darts competition is at this level. Some of the big names that you would expect to come through to the finals were early casualties.

Ladies Results

Board Final Results
Samara Ash defeated Becca Heidke 3 - 0
Pam Burr defeated Melissa Sinnott 3 - 1
Louse Ball defeated Cathy Shaw 3 - 1
Carol Forwood defeated Sheryl Beasy 3 - 2
Kim Kelly defeated Janine Cassar 3 - 1
Chrissy Sheerin defeated Rebecca Webster 3 - 0
Leah Ashe defeated Emma Watkins 3 - 1
Corrine Hammond defeated Joanne Hadley 3 - 0

Quarter Final results
Pam Burr 26.513 defeated Corrine Hammond 22.227 3 - 1
Samara Ash 19.792 defeated Louse Ball 19.258 3 - 1
Carol Forwood 19.179 defeated Kim Kelly 18.934 3 - 2
Chrissy Sheerin 19.567 defeated Leah Ashe 18.819 3 - 1

Semi Final Results
Carol Forwood 22.919 defeated Chrissy Sheerin 19.152 3 - 1
Pam Burr 22.103 defeated Samara Ash 16.938 3 - 0

Final
Carol Forwood 21.882 defeated Pam Burr 20.964 4 - 1

Men's Results

Board Final Results
Peter Machin defeated Owen McArthur 4 - 1
Kyle Anderson defeated Henry Bajowski 4 - 3
Andrew Townes defeated Steve Duke 4 - 2
Mick Mullaney defeated Sean Reed 4 - 2
Neil Hembrow defeated Eddy Sims 4 - 1
Anthony Fleet defeated Lindsay Haji Ali 4 - 1
Kerry Whear defeated Shane Tichowitch 4 - 3
Fred Cadby defeated Damon Heta 4 - 2

Quarter Final Results
Kyle Anderson 25.496 defeated Kerry Whear 25.531 4 - 3
Neil Hembrow 26.459 defeated Andrew Townes 24.083 4 - 0
Anthony Fleet 30.821 defeated Peter Machin 30.662 4 - 1
Mick Mullaney 20.852 defeated Fred Cadby 20.861 4 - 2

Semi Final Results
Anthony Fleet 28.184 defeated Kyle Anderson 26.554 5 - 4
Neil Hembrow 25.293 defeated Mick Mullaney 24.479 5 - 3

Final
Anthony Fleet 27.392 defeated Neil Hembrow 25.252 6 - 2