I had drawn Steve Maish in the first round of the event and I have played Steve twice before and had not beat him so I knew that I had a difficult game to play.

I opened up brilliantly hitting 95,140,135,99 double 16 for a 13 dart leg and followed up winning the 2^nd leg and the set 2-0 with a 139 finish (T19,T14,D20) for 15 darts whilst Steve was sitting on a double.

The second set was a good reply for Steve but I had missed chances. The 3^rd set was mine 2-1 with Steve missing 3 darts at double 10 to let me in and punish him (nice to have the boot on the other foot for a change).

The 4^th set was Steves and I had missed doubles so this levelled things up for us 50/50. The 5^th set 1^st leg I finished 81 (S15,S16,BULL) for 15 darts with Steve sitting on a double but again he returned the favour winning the 2^nd leg and setting up a deciding leg. I hit 83,140,135, to leave 143 with Steve still in the 400’s I knew all I had to do was hold my nerve and hit the finish – T20,T17 and missed double 16 but tidied this up next time to get a win which I knew I thoroughly deserved.

My second round clash was with Adrian Lewis who I class as one of the top 5 players in the world and his natural ability is awesome. I won the first leg in 15 darts and missed an 80 finish on double 20 to win the first set 2-0 only to watch him take out 106 for the leg then win the 3^rd leg for the 1^st set.

The second set followed the same pattern as the 1^st with me taking a decent first leg the missing a dart for the 2^nd leg and again losing the decider this time due to a 12 dart Lewis leg. The game was becoming very indicative of a match where someone is chasing and the chaser being me.

The 3^rd set first leg was taken by Adrian and despite throwing first in the 2^nd leg I could only admire the darts he was throwing as he took another great leg to win the match.

Dublin Players Championship Sunday 5^th October 2008

I had drawn Colin Lloyd in the first round of this event and again knew I had a sizeable task on my hands. I had played him in Holland 2 months ago and had run him very close so knew I had the game to get at him but again knew I had to hit him early as this standard of player does not need me to gift him an early lead.

The first leg was a storming opening for me 180,140,145 and sitting on D18 only to see 3 darts miss and lose the opening leg. I never get despondent and again took a good 14 dart leg to go 1-1 but missed out in the deciding leg and went 1 set down.

Without going into details the next 2 sets followed roughly the same pattern as the first set and I lost the match 3-0. Missed doubles cost me dearly losing each set 2-1 and only one leg of the 9 played where I did not have a shot at the double.

This sounds disappointing but believe me I am not taking any negatives from my weekends performance.

Positives from the weekend

 Saturday 30^th August – Holland Players Championship.

On Saturday I had drawn Colin Lloyd, Colin is PDC ranked number 9 but has been in the top 10 for the past few years so I knew it would be a tough game.

The first set went to Colin 2-0 but I was not downhearted because I had hit 45,180,100,140 in the first leg and 140,180,135 in the 2^nd leg but failed on double 16 for an 11 dart leg.

The second set has of a similar standard but I missed 3 darts at double 20 to seal the set and was 2-0 down.

The 3^rd and 4^th sets were both mine 2-0 each and I had 2 x 12 dart finished in these legs. This levelled the match at 2 sets each.

In the final set Colin put 2 great legs together and wrapped the match up 3-2. Colin went through to the ¼ finals before losing to Andy Hamilton.

Sunday 31^st August – Holland Players Championship.

 I had drawn Leroy Kwadjik in the first round. Having previously played Leroy on 2 occasions winning one and losing one I knew that he is a decent thrower.

 The first set went 2-1 to Leroy and the 2^nd set just the same. I had thrown some good darts including 2 x 180’s and a 103 finish but had failed to make a dent on the match and was again looking at being 0-2 down.

 I took the 3^rd set on double 20 when Leroy had missed double 12 for a 144 finish which would have given him the match. The first 2 legs in the 4^th set went with the darts and I was sitting on 31 with Leroy on 80. Leroy missed bullseye for the match and I missed 2 darts at double 8 for 2 sets each. Leroy then stepped up and checked out to win the match 3-1.

 Positives for the weekend 

I had drawn Dennis Smith in the first round and he is on good form at the moment and had qualified in the recently televised Las Vegas Classic. In the first set I opened up with a 12 dart leg with a 164 finish (T20,T18,BULL). I then lost the next 2 legs so was one set down.

In the 2^nd set I lost 2-1 again with a 16 dart winning leg. The 3^rd set was mine winning 2-0 and hitting 2 180’s and a 126 finish (T19,T19,D6).

The 4^th set, first leg was won by Dennis hitting a 74 checkout when I was on 52, I replied by winning the 2^nd leg in 14 darts to square the 4^th set up at 1-1. The deciding leg was a good leg for both of us – I hit 100,100,180 and Dennis hit 100,100,100,125 – I stepped up and missed the bull for the set and Dennis hit the 76 checkout to win the match 3-1 in sets.

Dennis went on to beat Alan Warriner-Little 3-0 and lost to Dave Smith in round 3. The eventual winner was Phil Taylor.

Positives from the event

 Specky 4 eyes (Dave Ladley)