The Wonderer Wayne Jones seals Champions Week spot at the MODUS Super Series

Former PDC tour card holder Wayne Jones wins Week 9 of the Modus Super Series and books himself a spot at Champions Week after a victory over Mareno Michels.

Group A

JT Davies was in pole position at the end of play on day one of Group A. The American debutant won four out of his five games and made an impressive start to his Super Series campaign. His only defeat of the day came from Dutchman Mareno Michels in the penultimate match of day one.

Also making his debut at the Modus Super Series was Steven Plumstead, the man from the Isle Of Wight, was on the same points as four other players in the group going into day two.

American JT Davies only managed to back up an incredible start with only two wins. ADC Europe qualifier Kristiaan De Boer capitalised on this and sat at the top of the table. This turned into what was an incredible debut in Portsmouth.

He remained in pole position and cruised to an impressive Group A victory as he finished on 20 points which meant the Dutchman had won himself a spot at Finals Night.

With only picking up one win on the final day of Group A, JT Davies dropped to fourth, where he finished on the same points as four-time World Champion Lisa Ashton. It was the same story for Steven Plumstead as after having an impressive start to Super Series life, the last two days of Group A, he struggled, which meant he had joined Ashton and Davies in Group C.

After pinning a 170 finish earlier in the Group, Mareno Michels finished on the same points as the reigning Zlatibor Darts Masters Champion Scott Walters and this saw the pair join Group B.

Group C 

With Lisa Ashton unable to continue playing for personal reasons, she was replaced by 19-year-old Charlie Large.

Mark Dudbridge was the dominant player on the first day of Group C, as he managed to beat Ricky Palmer to go five out of five. Just behind him was former Player Championship winner Kevin Painter, who sat on 8 points overnight.

Dudbridge secured his spot at finals night after a 4-2 win over an underperforming JT Davies. Charlie Large ended the first day on two points and started the second day with two wins from three. However, Kevin Painter came back fighting as he quickly put aside Dudbridge with a 100.20 average for his first loss of the week.

This win meant that both spots at Finals Night were complete. Painter remained as the leader of Group C as Charlie Large managed to beat Dudbridge 4-0, which meant Painter had won the Group outright.

Charlie Large also did the double on the duo, which helped the teenager as he finished third. Ricky Palmer only managed to pick up three wins as he finished below Steven Plumstead, who sat on eight points.

Group B 

Jim McEwan, the reigning Super Series Champion, returned for a second chance of qualifying for Champions Week. The Scotsmen ended the first night on six points, the same as Mareno Michels.

Michels also checked out an impressive 164 finish on the bull to win 4-1 against Tony O’Shea. This added to the Dutchman’s growing number of ton-plus finishes. O’Shea and Wayne Jones were slowly following as they had four points, whereas Scott Walters could not get off the mark on Night 1.

Scott Walters managed to pick up wins over the top two players, McEwan and Michels. These were huge wins for Englishmen as they both had qualified for finals night after two dominant performances. Wayne Jones got the last spot on finals night after Tony O’Shea only picked up one win, which wasn’t enough to see him through.

Finals Night 

Finals Night didn’t get off to the best of starts for Group A winner Kristiaan De Boer as he lost to 51-year-old Mark Dudbridge. The other man in the group, Jim McEwan wired double 12 for a perfect leg as he put aside Mark Dudbridge, who had already qualified for the semi-final after winning two legs. De Boer’s night ended after McEwan took out a 100 checkout, which secured the Scotsman top spot in the group.

In the other group, Mareno Michels picked up where he left off in Group B as he recorded a 4-3 win after Wayne Jones missed match darts at tops.

That result did not get to Jones, as he replied with an emphatic 4-1 win over Kevin Painter, which put him into the semi-final. Painter needed to win to qualify for the semi-finals, but Michels had pinned double ten which did enough to knock out “The Artist” even though Painter had won 4-2.

Michels got the better of Jim McEwan in the first semi-final as he won in sensational fashion by taking out 356 in seven darts. Wayne Jones managed to get past Dudbridge after breaking his throw to win 4-2.

Wayne Jones won the bull and took full control of the final as “The Wanderer” raced into a 3-0 lead. However, after missing the bull for a 121 finish to win the match, Michels came back and pinned double five for an 87 checkout. After missing match darts, Jones had one dart left in his hand and that was at double two which he had pinned for the Week 9 title.

Modus Super Series Week Nine (Finale)

Saturday 20th January

Group One

Mark Dudbridge 4-2 Kristiaan De Boer

Jim McEwan 4-3 Mark Dudbridge

Jim McEwan 4-3 Kristiaan De Boer

 

Group Two

Mareno Michels 4-3 Wayne Jones

Wayne Jones 4-1 Kevin Painter

Kevin Painter 4-2 Mareno Michels

 

Semi-Finals

Mareno Michels 4-2 Jim McEwan

Wayne Jones 4-2 Mark Dudbridge

 

Final

Wayne Jones 4-1 Mareno Michels

 

 

Words By Harry Tovey