Wayne Jones treading water in the PDC
Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones remains the world No 28 today after a mixed weekend of darts playing in the PDC Players Championship.
Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones remains the world No 28 today after a mixed weekend of darts playing in the PDC Players Championship.
'The Wanderer' travelled over to the City West Hotel in Dublin, Ireland to compete in the latest Pro Tour events over two days.
Jones was first up to the oche on Saturday but failed to make it past the first round, although he ran Reece Robinson to the full 11 legs.
Having lost 6-5, Jones was left kicking his heels until Sunday's tournament and flew out of the blocks against Jamie Caven, winning 6-3.
Progression to the second round saw the 47-year-old make even lighter work of Steve Grubb, in command for most of the match to win 6-3.
But Jones couldn't get near to Wes Newton in the third round, whitewashed by 'the Warrior' 6-0 as his weekend ended in a dire defeat.
Still, Jones is treading water where he is in the Order of Merit and picked up £400 for his run to the third round on Sunday.
Namesake Mark Jones will be a part of the PDC's next European tour event after a busy weekend of his own at the oche.
Jones will be going to Holland later this month to compete in the Dutch Darts Masters after winning both of his games in Dublin.
The 42-year-old edged past Michael Barnard 6-4 on Friday and went the full 11 legs with William O'Connor before winning 6-5.
With qualification in the bag, Jones moved on to the Players Championship events, also staged at the City West Hotel in Dublin.
Jones was first up to the oche to face Stuart Kellett and gradually got the better of his opponent, taking the victory by 6-3.
That set up a second round meeting with the resurgent 'Rocket' Ronnie Baxter, the current World No 14 and a real test for Jones.
But Jones stunned Baxter, who took just a leg as he fell to the Black Country darter 6-1, who went on to face 'The Pie Man' Andy Smith.
Smith has risen to 19th in the Order of Merit but was another to come a cropper to Jones, who took his chances to record a 6-3 victory.
However, Jones' Saturday was eventually derailed by former world youth champion Aaron Monk, who was in command to win 6-1.
Jones returned for Sunday's final tournament but failed to get past the first round, again winning just a leg in a 6-1 defeat to Nigel Heydon.
But the former West Midlands county player again proved he can stun the world's best, a trait showed in beating James Wade last month.
With victories like that in the Players Championship, Jones has risen another place in the world rankings and now sits 73rd.
Rugeley's Mark Hylton won one game over two events in Ireland as he competed in the PDC Players Championship events.
'Mile High' - a former airline cabin crew manager - took one win in three matches in Dublin, his maiden win coming on Sunday.
Hylton was first up to the oche on Saturday in a topsy turvy affair with Mike Veitch, but dropped legs at crucial times to finish on the end of a 6-4 defeat.
The 46-year-old initially rebounded in Sunday's tournament as he got the better of Richie Howson, progressing to the second round with a 6-2 victory.
That put Hylton into the money stages for the first time all weekend, but the emerging Scott Rand ended his challenge with a comprehensive 6-1 win.
With £200 to add to his ranking, Hylton remains 33rd in the Order of Merit and continues to knock on the door to the world's top 32.
