Group F
Robert Thornton produced a whitewash victory
over Mark Walsh to get his campaign off to the best
possible start, the former UK Open Champion was in
fine form and never looked like losing as he moved
top of the group.
Group F was also shaping up to be complicated as
wins for Robert Thornton over Justin Pipe and Andy
Hamilton over Mark Walsh by scorelines of 5-2 and
5-1 respectively left Walsh out of the tournament
but all three of the other men in with a chance of
reaching the second round when the quartet met for
their final group games on the Monday night.
Having already been eliminated Mark Walsh was
under no pressure during the final round of group
games and unfortunately for Justin Pipe this meant
that Walsh was able to relax and play his best darts as
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Justin Pipe had come through the Wildcard qualifier
earlier in the week to reach the main event and he
made the most of his opportunity with a 5-2 win
over Andy Hamilton to move into second place in a
tough group, leaving Hamilton under pressure in the
process.
he defeated the Taunton-based thrower 5-2, leaving
Andy Hamilton needing only two legs in his match
with Robert Thornton to progress to the last sixteen.
In the end this proved to be no problem for Hamilton
who secured his second win of the campaign after
edging out Thornton in a deciding leg that ensured
both men would progress.
“I would have liked to have gone through the group
with three straight wins but it wasn’t to be,” said
Thornton.
“To win my first two games was great and although
this game wasn’t the greatest, I’ll be ready and
prepared for the second round.”
Hamilton added: “I went up on stage knowing that
I needed two legs to qualify - and I was trying too
hard early on to get those two legs!”
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
“Once I relaxed a bit and got the two legs, the win
was a bonus. The groups are so hard to get through
because it’s the best of nine legs, but now it’s a
longer format and I can relax.”
“I would have liked to have gone
through the group with three straight
wins but it wasn’t to be”
Robert Thornton
Group F Results
Robert Thornton 5-0 Mark Walsh
Justin Pipe 5-2 Andy Hamilton
Robert Thornton 5-2 Justin Pipe
Andy Hamilton 5-1 Mark Walsh
Mark Walsh 5-2 Justin Pipe
Andy Hamilton 5-4 Robert Thornton
P
Robert Thornton
Andy Hamilton
Justin Pipe
Mark Walsh
W
L
+/- Pts
3
3
3
3
2
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
+7
+2
-3
-6
4
4
2
2