King Finishes The Year With Another
Bridges Title by Ian Holman
 Danny
King (pictured) retained the Three Bridges Open title from an
impressive field of 72 players, beating last week's Crimbo Open winner Gary
Miles 3-0 in the final and collect £180 in prize money. King had a tough
task as he was drawn on Board 1 along with last month's other finalist Tony
Ayres and semi-finalist Andy Gurr. Also drawn on the board soon renamed the
'Board Of Death' by some of the players were PDC player Martin Burchell and
County players Paul Russell and Dave Mansell as well as Mick Clarke and last
week's Crimbo Open runner-up Paul Oakley. Burchell was the first casualty
when he lost a first round tie 3-2 against Paul Burrows having lead 2-0. In
the next round Ayres beat an off form Mick Clarke 3-0 and Danny King beat
Burrows 3-0. In the third round Ayres beat Russell 3-0 and King beat Mansell
3-0. Ayres then beat Gurr 3-0 and King made it through with a 3-1 win over
Oakley. In a repeat of last month's final King beat Ayres 3-2 in the board
final. Board 2 featured the other of last month's losing semi-finalists Rob
Cross and County player James Packer. Both players met in the third round
with Cross winning 3-1. Cross then came unstuck in the fourth round when he
lost 3-2 against Ian Holman. Holman then went on to beat Phil Gorringe 3-1
in the board final with checkouts of 101 in the first leg and 126 in the
fourth leg. County star Jim Withers took an opening game exit on Board 3 as
Mick Curren beat him 3-1. Two rounds later Gary Miles beat Curren 3-2 to set
up a board final with Gavin Studholme. In a repeat of last week's Crimbo
Open semi-final Miles made it through to the final four with a 3-1 win. Last
week's other Crimbo Open semi-finalist George Finch from Woking lost 3-0 in
his opening game against Doug Mason on Board 4. Mason went on to reach the
board final with wins against Wayne Banks and David Saker. Rob Metcalfe came
from two down to beat another County player Dave Creasey 3-2 in the third
round and then beat former London County player Graham Parker 3-2 to
reach the board final. The match up between the two County Youth
players saw Metcalfe beat Mason 3-1. Due to time restrictions both
semi-finals were played alongside each other with both King and
Miles progressing with 3-0 wins. King then went on to win the final
with another polished performance. Miles picked up £90 as runner-up
while losing semi-finalists Holman and Metcalfe received £45 each.
180s were hit by Ian Holman, Danny King, Dave Mansell, Steve Mecrow
and Rob Metcalfe. Wayne Banks hit a 126 checkout. |