Coral UK Open qualifying hat-trick for Wright

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Peter Wright made it three PDC titles in just nine days by defeating James Wade 6-3 as qualification for the Coral UK Open was finalised at the Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan yesterday, when Christian Kist hit the fifth nine-darter of the weekend.

Scottish ace Wright has been in electric form in recent weeks and backed up his wins in Qualifier One and Qualifier Three last weekend with another victory as he produced some stunning darts.

An early break in the final against Wade put Wright – the Coral UK Open runner-up for the past two years in Minehead – in command as he opened up a 3-1 lead.

Two-time UK Open champion Wade pulled back to 3-2 and then 4-3, but Wright’s scoring power proved too strong as he broke once more before finding the sixth leg for victory to scoop the £10,000 first prize.

Early victories over Steve Lennon and Kevin Painter put Wright into the last 32, before he dropped just seven legs in three games as he beat Dirk van Duijvenbode, John Henderson and Steve Beaton to reach the semi-finals.

It was there that Wright produced arguably his most stunning display as he fired eight 180s in just 11 legs as he came from behind to defeat two-time World Champion Adrian Lewis in a deciding leg to reach the final.

Wright’s third title means that he tops the UK Open Order of Merit, securing a staggering £35,000 in prize money over the six events.

Wade can be delighted with his day’s work as he made the final of a floor event for the first time since April 2016. He blitzed through his opening games, whitewashing Nigel Daniels before exacting revenge on Rob Cross, who knocked him out on Saturday.

Next up was the tall order of two-time World Champion Gary Anderson, but Wade squeezed through in a last leg decider to reach the last 16, where he whitewashed Mick McGowan before easing past Kim Huybrechts 6-3 and Alan Norris 6-1 to reach the final.

In a weekend which has seen an incredible five nine-darters hit, former Lakeside Champion Kist was the latest to add his name to that list as he struck perfection in his defeat to Lewis.

The Dutchman joins Michael van Gerwen, who hit two in one game, Ronny Huybrechts and Darren Webster on the nine-dart roll of honour from this weekend’s action. In total, there were six perfect legs hit in qualification for the UK Open, with Ted Evetts achieving the feat in Qualifier Three.

Beaten semi-finalist Lewis can count himself unlucky not to make the final after an impressive day on the oche, having comfortably raced past Matt Padgett, Robbie Green, Gerwyn Price and Kist, dropping just eight legs in the process, before edging out a resurgent Brendan Dolan in a last-leg decider.

Norris put in a great display on his way to the final four, beating Mick Todd and Ross Twell followed by high-profile wins over Stephen Bunting, Ian White and Kyle Anderson.

Jamie Caven made a late run to secure his qualification to the UK Open. After first round exits in all five of the previous qualifiers, he produced whitewashes against Rene Eidams and Jeffrey de Graaf before falling to a 6-5 defeat to White.

The Coral UK Open TV Finals will take place between March 3-5 at Butlins Minehead, with 128 players (96 from the Order of Merit and 32 Rileys Amateur Qualifiers) vying for the £350,000 prize fund and the highly sought-after title in the multi-board championship.

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