Yorkshire’s two finest darts players, Scott Waites (No.4 Seed) and Dean Winstanley (No.2 Seed) were the perfect opponents for a Winmau World Masters final held at the Hull Arena in their native county.
The in-form Waites produced a 180 in the opening leg to make his intentions clear as he won the first set by 2-0 in legs, and then followed up with the second set. Dean took the next to make it 2-1 as both players produced excellent scoring. Scott then took the next to take him into the break at a commanding 3-1 in sets. After the break Scott took the opening set with the aid of yet another 180. And then a 61 checkout for the next and a commanding 4-1 lead. Dean hit a 180 in the deciding leg of the 6th set, and Scott did the same, but Dean was back in business with a 140 checkout to make it 4-2 before Scott came back to make it 5-2 and just two away from victory and even closer when he went 6-2 up at the second break.
Scott opened with back to back 180’s in the first leg after the break to be on another possible 9-darter. It didn’t happen but he won the leg and then opened the next with yet another 180 and then finished in style with a magnificent 161 checkout to become 2011 Winmau World Masters Champion…..and fittingly so because he was the in-form player of the whole tournament and a truly deserved Masters Champion.
It was a case of ‘Beam Me Up Scotty’ as he took the Masters to a breathtaking level of high scoring and big checkouts.
He scored six 180’s and his checkouts were 102, 138 and 161 to win the title. His single dart average in the final was 33.54 and Dean’s was a very respectable 31.95 and he had a 140 checkout and just one 180.
Golden Girl TRINA GULLIVER opened her account in typically determined style as she took the opening leg against England colleague Lisa Ashton, but she faltered on an unfancied double 7 in the next and Lisa hit back by taking the next two legs when Trina again stumbled on double 5. A strangely out of sorts Trina just couldn’t find the form that has made her so dominant in the women’s game, and it was Lisa Ashton who was crowned 2011 Winmau World Women’s Master with an impressive 4-1 victory.
Match Reports
Quarter Finals:
Martin Adams 3-1 Glen Durrant
Scott Waites 3-2 Gary Robson
Dean Winstanley 3-2 Tony West
Ross Montgomery 3-0 Stephen Bunting
Semi-Finals:
Scott Waites 5-3 Martin Adams
Dean Winstanley 5-4 Ross Montgomery
Finals:
Scott Waites 7-2 Dean Winstanley
Lisa Ashton 4-1 Trina Gulliver
