Express & Star

Wayne Jones keeps worlds chance alive

Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones made up some lost ground in his quest to qualify for the next PDC World Championship over the weekend.

Published

The former worlds semi-finalist's chances of making the cut for Alexandra Palace this year are in mortal danger,

writes Craig Birch.

It looked as if his turgid run would continue after failing to qualify for next month's European Grand Prix in Germany, but he rebounded.

Two Players Championship events benefitted him to the tune of £1,750, which put him back in the top 40 on the PDC Order of Merit.

He remains a lowly 57th in the Pro Tour standings but will see this as a step in the right direction, with his best work coming on Saturday.

Jones missed the boat for the last European Tour date of the year, coming within a game of qualifying after beating Tony Richardson 6-2.

He returned to the Barnsley Metrodome for the first Players Championship event and that's where 'the Wanderer' saw his darts start to come off.

A run to the last 16 accounted for Jamie Caven and Matt Padgett 6-3, before a last leg 6-5 win over Ricky Evans put him into the last 16.

Former BDO world champion Jelle Klassen opposed him next, in another clash that went to the last leg before Jones was thwarted 6-5.

He again reached the money stages back at the same venue for the second Players Championship tournament, after a 6-1 victory over Darren Webster.

The toughest draw all weekend awaited him in the second round, going down 6-3 to a formidable Michael van Gerwen. Jones picked up £250 for his run.

Stourbridge's Nick Fullwell was also involved in all three as an associated PDPA member, losing 6-4 to John Bowles in the preliminary round of the Euro qualifier.

Fullwell was then defeated by 10th seed Kim Huybrechts in the first Players Championship competition and 6-2 by Kevin Thomas in the second.

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.