The BDO World Darts Championship, 2005

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Has just got underway. The draw for the first round:

Shaun Greatbatch v Mike Veitch
Raymond Barneveld (Neth) v Gary Anderson
Tony Eccles v Tony David (Aus)
Vincent van der Voort (Neth) v Andy Fordham
Dave Routledge v John Walton
Darryl Fitton v Gary Robson
Martin Atkins v Robert Thornton
Tony West v Rick Hofstra
Jarkko Komula (Fin) v Robert Wagner (Nor)
Ted Hankey v John Kuczynski (US)
John Henderson v Stephen Bunting
Martin Adams v Davy Richardson
Simon Whitlock (Aus) v Tony Martin
Tony O'Shea v Marko Kantele (Fin)
Co Stompe (Neth) v Andre Brantjes (Neth)
Mervyn King v Wayne Warren

And quite delightfully, the whole thing is being streamed LIVE on the BBC website. Every single match. Marvellous, eh? http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport will have the link for you. The big highlight of the first round is most likely Fitton-Robson, given that the draw is riddled with people I've never heard of. Barney to win, probably, but you never know - him and The Viking are set for a quarter-final match (possibly)...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 13:33 (twenty years ago)

Yer first match (underway now) is Tony Eccles against 2002 champion Tony David. David just took it 3-2, having lost a 2-0 lead, and leaving Eccles a mile ahead in the deciding leg. However, Eccles fluffed his outshot of 4 twice, and the Aussie snuck back in... it's looking pretty tense.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

And it's going to a deciding set, Eccles is dragging it all the way...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 14:10 (twenty years ago)

And the Hartlepool lad takes it! Tony Eccles takes the final set 3-0 to get into the second round on his fourth attempt.

Next up - Shaun Greatbatch (he of the televised nine-darter at the Dutch Open a couple of years ago) vs. Mike Veitch, in ten minutes time.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 14:23 (twenty years ago)

Veitch takes the first set 3-0, but that's being a touch flattering - both players have been struggling to find any kind of form, and the finishing has been quite woeful thus far - the second leg saw both men get down to 2, with Veitch finally getting it almost by default.

Greatbatch takes first leg of the second set, and we get our first shot of Jarkko Komula this championship. Yay!

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 14:49 (twenty years ago)

Greatbatch takes the second set, which is the first set he's won in four visits to the Lakeside - the darts still isn't of the greatest standard, both players struggling for consistency, but Greatbatch is picking himself up a little bit.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 15:00 (twenty years ago)

zzzzzzzzzzz

― contribute, Saturday, 1 January 2005 15:05 (twenty years ago)

It is a bit at the moment. John Part's just namechecked Plan 9 From Outer Space. I have no idea why.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 15:07 (twenty years ago)

Greatbatch is two sets to one up. Veitch let him right back in in the deciding leg and looks pretty much out of it, but Greatbatch is still looking pretty poor too... it might still go either way, but only because they both look very capable of messing up.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 15:11 (twenty years ago)

But all of a sudden, Veitch comes storming right back - 3 legs on the spin, the third with a 142 checkout, gives him the fourth set and we're going the distance again...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 15:21 (twenty years ago)

I won't spoil the ending because it's sodding tense and they might show it later. It's quite good though. I also need to be writing - see you later.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 1 January 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

Cool. There are two women playing now. I assume BBC Sport streams snooker coverage too? I miss snooker.

― I Am Curious (George) (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 1 January 2005 16:09 (twenty years ago)

Wahay! No Colin Monk and his offspring!

― Dave B (daveb), Saturday, 1 January 2005 16:48 (twenty years ago)

The viking's in real trouble now

― Dave B (daveb), Saturday, 1 January 2005 17:27 (twenty years ago)

3 Darts at tops for the dutchman!

― Dave B (daveb), Saturday, 1 January 2005 17:31 (twenty years ago)

He's gone! It's a young man's game, darts. Van der veart looked nervous as hell, but came through. The ovation for Fordham was quite touching I suppose, but they'll not be dancing in the streets of Dartford tonight.

― Dave B (daveb), Saturday, 1 January 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

I watched the stream for a few minutes. Fordham looked like he was one smoke, one pint and one fried egg sandwich away from the grave.

― I Am Curious (George) (Rock Hardy), Saturday, 1 January 2005 17:40 (twenty years ago)

Some Goldie Looking Darts from Barney Rubble.

― Dave B (daveb), Saturday, 1 January 2005 19:07 (twenty years ago)

Joe Jordan has smartened up considerably, so why can't darts players?

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Saturday, 1 January 2005 19:11 (twenty years ago)

They have smartened up - no alcohol or fags on stage.

― Dave B (daveb), Saturday, 1 January 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

I really wish I'd picked Andy Fordham for my dead pool team now.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 2 January 2005 00:04 (twenty years ago)

But he's cleaning up his act. He's going on Celebrity Fat Club!

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 2 January 2005 00:19 (twenty years ago)

Him and her from Soul II Soul!

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Sunday, 2 January 2005 00:23 (twenty years ago)

And Julie Goodyear. What excellent television.

I just read that they didn't have scales that went up far enough to weigh Fordham. I mean, they managed Rik Waller and he's a big bastard...

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 2 January 2005 00:25 (twenty years ago)

I was thinking of the grinning co-commentator more than anyone - that's who made me switch off within the first few seconds. I think it was Bobby George, but I'm not sure. He looks very well preserved. I didn't even have the sound on. I will try again today. Then it is Ski Sunday with Hazel Irvine.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Sunday, 2 January 2005 11:13 (twenty years ago)

For some reason they've got Juliette 'Five Live Match Day Travel' Ferrington in as the backstage interviewer, and she hasn't adjusted to the event at all - she's far too rigid, and she practically hounded The Viking yesterday, despite the fact that it was very obvious the poor sod wasn't really in much of a mood to talk about whether his preparation issues were playing on his mind. He was very polite about the whole thing, of course.

Bobby George is the post-match analyst con Stubbsy, John Part is the co-commentator. He is from Canada, and isn't particularly bronzed if I'm remembering right.

Today, of course, is all about Komula vs. Wagner. The Mullet Of Misery vs. The Somersaulting Suntan - neither of them will probably get past the next round, but it'll be fantastic while it lasts.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 2 January 2005 11:32 (twenty years ago)

did anyone read that story about how the power puts off his opponents by FARTING???

― ken c (ken c), Sunday, 2 January 2005 12:12 (twenty years ago)

Darts - it's a man's game

― Dave B (daveb), Sunday, 2 January 2005 20:06 (twenty years ago)

It was Bobby George then, girding his loins before settling down for some analysis.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Sunday, 2 January 2005 20:27 (twenty years ago)

I defected from these darts over to Sky last night to watch The Power gub blast-from-the-past Bob "The Limestone Cowboy" Anderson. There was precious little fun to be had in that, but at least we were in the pub.

Googling for info about Bob Anderson, I have realised there is a campaign going to get Bullseye back on the telly. http://www.bullseyeonline.net/ for more details. You can't beat a bit of Bully.

One of my pals decided last night he is going to be a professional darts player - his gimmick will be Steptoe and Son because he likes the music.

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 3 January 2005 11:58 (twenty years ago)

Is Simon Whitlock the world's most joyless man? I mean, he won fairly easily against Tony Martin (who seemed like a bit of a twat), and he just did not react at all... b'zarre...

Owing to 'various things' I've fallen slightly out of touch - apparently Hofstra choked against West and Hankey blitzerized Kuczynski. There's a lot of new players and they all look a bit thuggish. Still, tonight it's good old Co. Highlights ahoy...

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 3 January 2005 18:08 (twenty years ago)

How many corpses do you reckon you'd find buried under Bobby George's patio?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Monday, 3 January 2005 23:44 (twenty years ago)

Hankey was good against Wagner last night - Wagner never got a chance to win it, and Hankey was very good under pressure for three sets, when any slip would have been curtains. Still, has a face that's very unpleasant.

I was shocked to realise that the woman they always showed screaming for him was his mother, not his wife. His wife is, well, a lot more glamourous and younger than you'd expect him to pull. Must be the allure of the arrows.

Overall - Tony Green needs pensioning off; he's woeful. As the Finn Marko Kantele was playing, they showed someone in a hat with the Swedish flag on it. You could here the thought processes: Sweden - is where Kantele's from - Not it's not, that's Finland - it's all the bleeding same - not it's not - fuck it.

I don't know if it's me, but there's much less Bobby George this year and with the Darts Extra programme on afterwards (why they do this I don't know; will videoplus recorders go on strike if asked to do 90 minutes of darts?), there seems to be more darts, less chat. I'm undecided as to whether this is a good thing or not.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 6 January 2005 01:53 (twenty years ago)

Barney to beat Van Der Veart and play Daryl Fitton in the semi; Barney to win that but Fitton could cause an upset. IN the bottom half, Hankey to beat Brantjes to play Barney. I'll stick with Barney as it's his to lose. He's head and shoulders the number one player in BDOland.

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 6 January 2005 02:25 (twenty years ago)

I'd go along with that... except Hankey vs. Wagner had Hankey wobbling a fair bit, though he still came back very well in the end. And Andre doing for King last night finally got me back into it again, so Brantjes is my favourite player left in the draw at present. Fitton just doesn't quite have the consistency to get past Barney, I don't think. Thornton's the only man left in that I've not seen play yet.

And yes, the commentary as a whole has stunk this year. Green and Part were making absolutely no effort to get into Whitlock-Kantele, and their knowledge of poor old Marko appeared to extend to him having beaten Tony O'Shea (it was even worse when he was actually playing O'Shea - "so, how's Tony going to get back into this one..."). I really did feel very sorry for Marko - people were booing him at one point. He can't help:

a) playing slowly
b) being the only player in the tournament who's wearing a non-shiny shirt (with the exception of Whitlock, who I think wears a polo shirt)
c) the fact that the only other Finn in the audience is noted hellraiser Jarkko Komula.

David Croft isn't actually any good either. He can count, but he's trying to copy Green's (already highly shabby) punning style and completely bombing. Part can still analyse the game well but he's getting drawn to their level and it's all starting to get so horribly, horribly smug. What's even worse is that Bobby George's analysis basically consists of him flatly copying what the commentators said earlier... The spark between him and Stubbsy appears to have gone this year. Still, Juliette Ferrington is improving as an interviewer, which is quite good to see. And that little piece they had with the feller whose job it is to predict the next throw was very interesting - why not give him a go with the mic instead?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 6 January 2005 10:32 (twenty years ago)

Also - Jarkko must always be sat in close proximity to the player's wives, as this makes everything much better (see: Adams' match last night - Sharon Adams screaming all over the place while behind her Jarkko looks like he's watching competitive billiards).

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 6 January 2005 11:26 (twenty years ago)

Do the menfolk shun him, and so he's taken pity on by the wives?

― Dave B (daveb), Thursday, 6 January 2005 11:41 (twenty years ago)

I think there's a designated Finnish table, occupied by him and Marko Kantele's wife (I'm assuming it's Marko's wife, cos fuck knows Green, Croft and Part have no idea). He just frequently seen sat in the audience not smiling or reacting to anything. This alone makes him preferable to Ted Hankey's mum.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 6 January 2005 11:49 (twenty years ago)

hang on a minute... is phil 'the power' a pun?? like FEEL the power but doesn't quite work?

― ken c (ken c), Thursday, 6 January 2005 21:07 (twenty years ago)

I've just realised why this thread hasn't been as successful this year. Distinct lack of:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/thingummy99/sdb5811.jpg

Anyway. Barney's hit form a bit, hasn't he?

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Thursday, 6 January 2005 23:48 (twenty years ago)

And for the Boyler:

ittp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/thingummy99/sdb5812.jpg

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:04 (twenty years ago)

The commentator tonight on the BBC highlights show has been shoehorning in Madness references to Fitton - "he's one step beyond, if he didn't win, it would be an embarassment" that sort of thing.

God I miss Sid Waddell.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:25 (twenty years ago)

It's Croft, isn't it? I'm quite glad I'm downstairs now, except it probably means I've missed the match, which is annoying cos it looked to be quite good.

I appear to have messed up the earlier picture. Here it is again:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v622/thingummy99/sdb5812.jpg

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:27 (twenty years ago)

Robert Thornton should call himself "Billy" Bob Thornton.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:28 (twenty years ago)

How long till Tony Green comes up with that one? In terms of, y'know, years.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:29 (twenty years ago)

I'm thinking Fitton could win it this year. I would quite like Mr Hanky to win though. Actually the problem I have with watching darts these days is that there isn't anyone I really want to win overall anymore.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:31 (twenty years ago)

If I had been Robert Thornton, I'd have thought of it a while ago. He could come on with a vial of Angelina Jolie's blood, or something.

(Bobby George has top amounts of blinginess on tonight)

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:32 (twenty years ago)

Ray Stubbs is getting kind of excited about how good Barneveld was today. I wish I'd been in tonight to watch it rather than being shit at my local pub quiz.

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:34 (twenty years ago)

How shit was Bobby's shirt with the fake gold chain printed onto it, which he then paired with an actual gold chain?

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:39 (twenty years ago)

I'm tempted to describe as a good match, but it was that bloody one-sided... Barney was quite startling at times, but he didn't start too well and had the odd wobble - except for his finishes. Fitton will have to go some, but he might have a chance. I don't think Hankey's quite got the consistency to do it somehow. If he can turn it on strong against Adams, then perhaps. And then... The Quiet Man, who on his day has the potential to fuck things up nicely for anyone who lets him. Overall it still seems very much like Barney's to lose, but I'd like to entertain the possibility that he'll have to work for it. One-sidedness has never had much appeal for me.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:41 (twenty years ago)

It was the most Bobby Georgesque thing I have ever seen. Ever. It was the Essex darts boy equivalent of those tshirts with collars and ties, or an apron with tits, printed on it. (I thought it was a real chain at first as I was watching on a crappy little TV with several gallons of wine inside of me)

(xpost)

― ailsa (ailsa), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

He's going for the borough mayor look. He wants to open a swimming pool.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Friday, 7 January 2005 00:43 (twenty years ago)

I have decided that Bobby George is the acceptable face of cockneydom, and I apologise for suggesting he looked like a twat earlier on in the thread.

I like that Madness bloke, and his wife. She obviously loves him very much.

― Puddin'Head Miller (PJ Miller), Friday, 7 January 2005 10:08 (twenty years ago)

"is that garridge... or 'ip-'op?"

― cºzen (Cozen), Saturday, 8 January 2005 01:26 (twenty years ago)

Is this on today?

― Gravel Puzzleworth (Gregory Henry), Saturday, 8 January 2005 08:40 (twenty years ago)

Last night I was in Blockbusters and realised that BOBBY GEORGE IS IN A FILM!. (incidentally the Teresa May also listed in the cast is not to be confused with the Tory MP, as can be illustrated from her filmography).

But still, Bobby George in a Sarf Lahdahn gangster film. Best idea evah!

― ailsa (ailsa), Saturday, 8 January 2005 10:56 (twenty years ago)

I didn't see today's semis but the Hankey-Adams qf last night was extraordinary. Adams ("The Wolfman" rather than "Grizzly" - WTF?) won 5-3 from 1-3 down and nailed Hankey in the last leg from hundreds behind with consecutive 180s and a double-19 out-shot. Every set went to five legs and Hankey started practically every leg when he had the darts with a maximum or an immaculately-grouped 140.

― Michael Jones (MichaelJ), Saturday, 8 January 2005 17:28 (twenty years ago)

It is not unfair to say that this was not the final I was hoping for.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Saturday, 8 January 2005 20:50 (twenty years ago)

yeah michael that last leg wz screwed up, really thought it was going all the way after that first 180 from 'the count'. but at 3-1 up Hankey did pump himself up, overdid it and ended up really losing both patience and cool and hand it to adams. the first semi was awful (5-0 score it had to be). the second was pretty good; it took a 146 shot finish from barneveld to sink him after a gd fightback.

― Julio Desouza (jdesouza), Saturday, 8 January 2005 23:25 (twenty years ago)

Arjen Robben at the Darts!

Tony Green describes him as a 'very good looking man'. I think he wanted to say 'his girlfriend is a hottie', but you never know.

In other news, I have found out some grebt gossip on the BDO/PDC split, and apparently, the BDO's favourite player is Adams (who is the most unpopular man on the circuit, I'm told) and they switched the order of play to help him in the quarters.

4-1 at the break. Looking good for the big man.

― Dave B (daveb), Sunday, 9 January 2005 19:03 (twenty years ago)

Thought that applies to most darters

― Dave B (daveb), Sunday, 9 January 2005 19:04 (twenty years ago)

"You sing like Rick Hofstra."

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 9 January 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

The real hero of the tournament, of course, is Richard Ashdown. Watching him breaking down the art of finishing for Stubbsy's benefit the other afternoon was quite incredible.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 9 January 2005 19:32 (twenty years ago)

C'mon! Wahay!

That bit in the interval on slo-mo coverage of various throws was fascinating. Tony Green was seriously senile.

― Dave B (daveb), Sunday, 9 January 2005 19:37 (twenty years ago)

Hmm. Disappointing tournament; best man won obviously, but the fact that no-one ever really looked like challenging him was a bit of a downer. Still, now I know how people who watch the PDC tournament must feel.

Hopefully Fitton'll properly get his dander up next year and stay out of Barney's half of the draw. Then they can have a really good final. Whitlock, Wagner and Brantjes to come on strong in the next twelve months and move into contention, Hankey to get consistent, Co (CO! CO WILD DANCES!) to finally have a half-decent tournament... seemed to be more of 'promise of things to come' one this year.

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 9 January 2005 20:02 (twenty years ago)

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