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Got my ticket to the darts record - what a line up!

Support the PDC Raise Money for Haven House Children’s Hospice

Some good news coming out of darts HQ – with the lads doing their bit to help others.

The lads in the premier league got together with Chas (yep of Chas n Dave) to record a single.

The ‘Got My Ticket To The Darts’ record, recorded by Chas Hodges & The Premier League Boys, is available now from iTunes, priced at 99p with all proceeds going to Haven House Children’s Hospice.

Buy it now at http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/got-my-ticket-to-darts-single/id525166201

If you like a giggle, watch the video for the ‘Got My Ticket To The Darts’ charity single below…  Phil obviously enjoys his performance, but some of em don’t look so confident

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Dean already qualified for the UK Open finals, playing for more ranking points

Dean headed to Birmingham for the final two Speedy Services UK Open qualifiers knowing that he was already safely qualified, and has done well enough to already be able to rest and enjoy Thursday, as he has qualified high enough to start his conquest on the Friday in Bolton.

Another huge turnout (nearly 200) at the NIA means more tough qualifying rounds, but luckily Dean missed out on those and went straight into round 1…

Saturday Results

Round 1: Dean Winstanley 6-4 Steve Maish
Round 2: Dean Winstanley 6-4 Darren Latham
Round 3: Dean Winstanley 6-2 Brendan Dolan
Round 4: Kevin Painter 6-5 Dean Winstanley

Dean was so close to making the 1/4 final, being ahead against Premier League player Kevin Painter, but was narrowly beated 6-5.  Still a good solid day, £600 added to the rankings, with another day to come!

Sunday Results

Round 1:  Dean Winstanley 6-4 Keith Stephen
Round 2:  Dean Winstanley 6-3 Andrew Palmer
Round 3:  Peter Wright 6-4 Dean Winstanley

Another £400 won, making it a round £1,000 from the two days.  I’m sure Dean will be disappointed that it wasn’t more, as he had darts to beat Painter on Saturday – but the positive if Dean is not only qualified well for Bolton, he’s also making a big impression in the PDC with consistent runs on the floor.

Continue reading »]]> ‘Over The Top’ at the Austria European Tour Event

Dean shakes hands with his opponent Paul Nicholson (pic Peter Holczer)

As he qualified in Barnsley a few weeks ago, Dean headed to Austria for the PDC’s first European Tour event of the year, where a massive £15,000 top prize is on offer in the three day tournament.  With a £1,000 on offer for a single win into the second round, it could be very good for Dean’s rankings if he has a run!

The games are being played in a large venue, with a massive stage for a ‘tour’ event, as you can see in the picture below.

The draw wasn’t kind though, and he knew it would be a tough first round, against ‘The Asset’ Paul Nicholson.

Round 1:  Dean Winstanley 6-3 Paul Nicholson

A great win for Dean in round 1 on that main stage in front of the fans.  Round 2 is played Saturday, so a well earned rest is in order!

Round 2:  Dean Winstanley (96.92)  6-5 Jim Walker (97.59)

Dean had to come back from 5-3 down in this one – his opponent Jim Walker hit 2×180′s in two of the legs, and the standard was pretty awesome, the longest leg being 17 darts, with several 12 darters.  Dean won the last 3 legs in 15, 14, 14 darts.

Round 3:  Richie Burnett 6-3 Dean Winstanley

Richie brought his A game to the stage in Austria, hitting over 97 average to beat Dean.  Still, a good couple of days, and £1,500 added to the rankings, which is going to help Dean push up the order of merit.

Dean on stage in Austria 1st round 2012 (Pic PDC Europe)

Winstanley vs Jim Walker Austria - Dean lets off steam after such a close great game!

Continue reading »]]> A busy weekend of darts in Barnsley, with a Friday evening qualifier for the Austrian PDC Euro Tour, and then two events to continue the UK Open qualifiers for Bolton.

Friday evening saw 62 players going for the 20 spots available – so it was going to be a short night, and concentration needed to be right straight away, as there is a £15,000 top prize to play for in the European tour events, with £1,000 for just a single win!

Round 1: Dean Winstanley 6-3 Gary Butcher

Dean has a tough draw for Austria, as he takes on the class floor player and ‘TV bad boy’; Paul Nicholson (16) v Dean Winstanley, but there aren’t really any easy games in the PDC any more, so you’ve got to get used to playing the best!

“Well pleased with tonight. Played Gary Butcher a fantastic player shame someone had to loose. Happy I got through!”

The good news is it’s at least £250 won towards the rankings by winning that game, and there are many good players who won’t have that opportunity.  Fingers crossed that could go much higher!

Saturday UK Open Results

Prelim: Dean Winstanley 6-3 Gareth Pass
Round 1:  Sam Hill 6-3 Dean Winstanley

Sunday UK Open Results

Prelim:  Dean Winstanley 6-1 Mark Stephenson
Round 1:  Dean Winstanley 6-5 Peter Wright
Round 2:  John Part 6-3 Dean Winstanley

No shame in losing to a multiple world champion, and John Part is a pure class player.  Dean had a tough draw, playing and beating the highly fancied Peter Wright, in round 1.

Just £200 added to the pot from the UK Open events, but Dean’s previous results mean he’s well safe – and even though there are two more events in Birmingham to finish off qualification – Dean should have already qualified in the top 32, which means missing out the early dangerous rounds on Thursday.

UK Open Order of Merit (after event 6) 
Number of events played in brackets

1 Raymond van Barneveld £14,000 (4)
2 Phil Taylor £12,000 (2)
3 Wes Newton £7,800 (6)
4 Michael van Gerwen £7,000 (6)
5 Brendan Dolan £6,000 (6)
6 Andy Smith £5,800 (6)
7 Simon Whitlock £5,000 (6)
8 Kim Huybrechts £4,400 (6)
9 Ian White £3,600 (6)
10 Vincent van der Voort £3,600 (6)
11 Dean Winstanley £3,600 (6)
12 Mark Jones £3,400 (6)
13 Jamie Caven £3,200 (6)
14 Colin Lloyd £3,200 (6)
15 Justin Pipe £3,200 (6)
16 Dennis Priestley £3,200 (4)
17 Michael Smith £3,200 (6)
18 Dennis Smith £3,200 (6)
19 Dave Chisnall £3,000 (6)
20 Richie Burnett £2,800 (6)

Continue reading »]]> In the bid to qualify (and qualify well) for the UK Open televised finals in June, Dean has travelled to Barnsley this weekend for the 3rd and 4th qualifiers, which are part the the PDC Pro Tour.

Dean will be looking to win enough money in the eight qualifiers to not only climb up his order of merit ranking, but  also enter the UK Open on the 2nd day, rather than day 1.

There were 190 players taking part, so unfortunately that means a tough prelim to get through – there are very few ‘easy’ games on the Pro Tour.

Saturday Results

Prelim:  Dean Winstanley 6-2 Kevin Dowling
Round 1:  Dean Winstanley 6-1 Steve Grubb
Round 2:  Dean Winstanley 6-1 Alan Tabern
Round 3:  Steve Farmer 6-5 Dean Winstanley

In round 3 Dean played and just lost 6-5 to Steve Farmer, who hit a 9 darter earlier in the day, so was obviously playing some great darts.   A good start to the weekend, with £400 added to the rankings.

Sunday Results

Prelim:  Dean Winstanley 6-5 Mike Veitch
Round 1: Dean Winstanley 6-5 Jamie Lewis
Round 2:  Dean Winstanley 6-1 Mareno Michels
Round 3:  Dean Winstanley 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Round 4:  Dean Winstanley 6-5 Andy Smith
1/4 Finals:  Dean Winstanley 6-2 Terry Temple
Semi final:  Dean Winstanley 1-6 Phil Taylor

What a fantastic day – with a run all the way to the semi-finals, only to be beaten by a magnificent Phil Taylor, who was looking to do a double over the weekend!  Taylor left 81 after 9 darts four times in their game, but Dean did have darts at doubles to take several of the legs he lost, so it could have gone another way.   Still – the £2,000 for a semi-final place will help the move up the world rankings!

“A great weekend in Barnsley, really proud off how I played. Well mister Taylor! What can I say??? Missed doubles first two legs to go 2 0 up . But the little ticker was pumping . Fantastic player in person and a gentle man. Well boys and girls many thought I’d fail. But I’m proud to say I’m doing well I’m fitting in and playing good darts, semi final today last 32 yesterday. Proud to say back on sky in the uk open in a couple off months. Roll on next comp. Cheers for all that believed in me!!!!” - Dean

Dean’s great performances so far on the pro tour have pushed him up to 12th in the Player Champs order of merit (see here), which is a great gauge on the year’s form so far (as it resets each year, and does not include the TV tournaments Dean won’t have been able to play in yet).

Continue reading »]]> As part of the launch for a brand new darts magazine, Dean did an interview with darts writer Krispy Brown (who also happens to be his webmaster), talking about his move to the PDC, how the Qualifying school went, and his targets for this and next year on the PDC Pro Tour.

The first issue is free, and in electronic form, and in five languages! (Dutch, German, Japanese and Chinese – and of course English!).   Future issues will be both electronic and in print form, and you can subscribe from a tenner a year for 12 issues.

Take a read of the interview with Dean (along with other features) here at;  www.insidedarts.co.uk

Dean's interview for Inside Darts magazine

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Sneak view from inside the Pro Tour (Photo by Krispy for an InsideDarts.co.uk article)

Reading Pro Tour weekend saw Dean throw some great darts, and miss d12 for a 9 Darter, but still come away with less than his form deserved!

Saturday saw Dean take on two big names, one in Klaasen a former Lakeside winner, and the other the former Lakeside finalist and PDC ranked five Simon Whitlock – so hardly an easy draw!  Sunday hardly saw things improve, with a draw against ‘the man’ Raymond van Barneveld.   Dean really should have won that game, and was winning throughout, the wire away from a 9 darter coming in the game.  Doubles where the key, and Barney came back from behind to take the game 6-5.

Dean knows that his form is good, and scoring is right up there – so confidence is still high for the next event in Barnsley in two weeks time.  Onwards and upwards!

Saturday

Round 1: Dean Winstanley 6-4 Jelle Klaasen
Round 2: Simon Whitlock 6-1 Dean Winstanley

Sunday

Round 1:  Raymond van Barneveld (23) 6-5 Dean Winstanley

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Dean sorted for June's UK Open in Bolton

Dean travelled down to Crawley for his 2nd PDC event, the first two  (of eight) UK Open qualifiers – looking to win a place at June’s UK Open finals in Bolton – a tournament which has a unique format and place in the hearts of the PDC darts fans.  It was a long couple of days – as some 190+ players turned up to compete from all around Europe, making for a lot of prelim games.

Nothing is sure, but £400 would probably be enought to qualify – so Dean was looking to make sure at the first time of asking…

Saturday’s Results

Round 1:  Dean Winstanley 6-5 Paul Rowley
Round 2:  Dean Winstanley 6-5 Dyson Parody
Round 3:  Dean Winstanley 6-4 James Wade
Round 4:  William O’Connor 6-5 Dean Winstanley

£600 won, which will be enough for Bolton qualification (unless this year something very different happens!) – job done!   A great win vs. one of the Worlds greatest players, James Wade, and a very close loss against Irish talent O’Connor, who was in great form.

Sunday’s Results

Round 1:  Dean Winstanley 6-0 Tony West
Round 2:  Dean Winstanley 6-1 Colin Monk
Round 3:  Johnny Haines 6-5 Dean Winstanley

£400 earned on Sunday –  but Dean was still disappointed as he had match darts to win the board final against Haines – but a solid start, with good wins against West and Monk.  With a £1,000 put towards his ranking, we will definitely see Dean in Bolton – lets hope for a TV appearance on the main stage!

Continue reading »]]> Tickets have just gone on-sale for MDA Promotion’s “Face Off 3″ exhibition, which takes place on 23rd Nov, in Derby.   DETAILS AND TICKETS HERE.

The event is always very popular, with special VIP tickets available where you can get early access and mix with the players on show in the VIP area.

In a special event on top of the main knock-out competition, Dean takes on his stable-mate Justin Pipe in a fun best of 5 comp.  May the best man win!   Come along and get to meet the players, maybe get a photo with your favourites!

featuring…

• Adrian Lewis is “Jackpot” – 2 Time world champion
• Christian Kist - BDO World champion!
• Gary Anderson is “The Flying Scotsman” – 2011 Premier league champion
• Colin Osborne is “Ozzy” – 2009 CLOD winner
• Paul Nicholson is “The Asset” – 2009 Players Champ winner
• James Richardson is “Ruthless” – Giant killer
• Andy Hibbert is “The Pirate”
• Ricky Sudale is “Elvis”

Also featuring on the night …

• Justin Pipe v Dean Winstanley – best of 5 exhibition match

Face off 3 exhibition - come and say hello!