Six of the best for the BDO World Trophy
Wolverhampton hosted an open play-off event that decided on the final field for the BDO World Trophy later this month.
Over 100 darters poured into the city's Sports Arena hoping for a shot at glory which will come at the iconic Lakeside, writes Craig Birch.
The home of the World Championship will also host the 2016 Trophy, after this year's event was moved from Event City in Manchester, from May 28-30.
Six places, four for the men's competition and two for the ladies tournament, were on offer in the Black Country as wildcards.
A total of 120 players, 103 men and 17 ladies, paid £20 each to take part, operating on 14 match and 18 practice boards. Four groups separated the men.
There would be no local qualifier, though, as Scotland's Ross Montgomery, Wales' Nick Kenny, Essex's Barry Lynn and Tyne & Wear's Ryan Joyce took the spots.
Mongtomery, a worlds quarter-finalist in 2015, prevailed from Group One with four wins after a bye past the last 128.
'The Boss' first drubbed Brandon Walsh 6-1, then seeing off Garry Thompson 6-4. David Bird was then vanquished 6-2, before a 6-4 victory over Martin Atkins in the group final.
Kenny emerged from group two, with five results. He whitewashed Michael Waterworth 6-0, before beating Gary Stafford 6-3.
Another 6-0 shut-out, of Steve Pearce, set up a meeting with Kevin McDine which went his way, 6-5 in the last leg. He defeated Mark Layton 6-4 in the group final.
Lynn needed four victories to take Group Three, starting with a 6-4 verdict over Matt Padgett.
He then dropped just a leg as he downed Richard Selby 6-1.
He was pushed before eliminating Lee Russell 6-5, with the same verdict recorded over Bradley Kirk in the group final.
Joyce put five wins to come out on top of Group Four, starting with a 6-1 result over George Cressey. He then accounted for Anthony Urmston-Toft (6-2) and Ben Green (6-3).
The latter verdict over Martin Atkins put him to within a game of success, getting the job done 6-4 over Rhys Griffin in the group final.
Surrey's Laura Turner and Wales' Rhian Griffiths came through the ladies ranks by virtue of reaching the final, with three wins apiece.
Turner's path came at the expense of Julie Gore (4-1) and Louse Simmonds (4-2), before a decider against Maggie Sutton (4-1).
Griffiths made her way with the scalps of Appylee Jones (4-3) and Ann-Marie Potts (4-2), getting over the line against Claire Brookin (4-2).
