Glen Durrant Defends BDO World Championships Title

BDO Championship

Last Sunday, Glen Durrant successfully defended his BDO world title after he capitalised on Mark McGeeney’s double miss as he was throwing for his own victory. The match couldn’t have been tighter, but McGeeney’s missed two darts for the title allowing Durrant to step up and land his tourney winning shot at double three, giving him a 7-6 victory at Lakeside.

The first eight sets went down to the throw with Durrant, 47, not taking the lead in the match until the ninth. The defending champion went on to lead 6-4 before McGeeney fought back to level at 6-6. Even then, Durrant misfired a host of shots at double before eventually landing the brilliant 149 checkout he required to move to within a leg of the title. Missing his first three darts, Durrant finally took out the double three following McGeeney’s collapse.

Durrant now becomes only the ninth player to have won more than one BDO world title joining Eric Bristow (five), Raymond van Barneveld (four), John Lowe and Martin Adams (three), and Ted Hankey, Phil Taylor, Scott Waites and Jocky Wilson (two).

Duzza can also be expected to add to his tally in the BDO after reluctantly calling time on his long-expected switch to the PDC. Admitting the “dream” move is over, Durrant said: “I’m unfortunately BDO for life. That’s probably hugely disrespectful to everybody but I did have a dream to do a Rob Cross. At my age, I’m not waiting another year so I’m going to try and win this title again and stick down that route.”

This will not be a career path shared by 31-year-old Jamie Hughes, who has confirmed that he will be moving over to the PDC, attempting to qualify by winning a PDC Tour Card at the Q-School.

Speaking of the PDC, the 2018 Masters is the next major darting event, opening up the 2018 schedule. Getting underway in Milton Keynes on January 27, events will be broadcast on ITV Sport. Qualifiers and match schedule is listed below.

2018 Masters Qualifiers

1. Michael van Gerwen
2. Peter Wright
3. Rob Cross
4. Gary Anderson
5. Daryl Gurney
6. Mensur Suljovic
7. Dave Chisnall
8. Simon Whitlock
9. James Wade
10. Raymond van Barneveld
11. Michael Smith
12. Gerwyn Price
13. Benito van de Pas
14. Ian White
15. Alan Norris
16. Kim Huybrechts

Draw Bracket

(1) Michael van Gerwen v (16) Kim Huybrechts
(8) Simon Whitlock v (9) James Wade
(5) Daryl Gurney v (12) Gerwyn Price
(4) Gary Anderson v (13) Benito van de Pas
(2) Peter Wright v (15) Alan Norris
(7) Dave Chisnall v (10) Raymond van Barneveld
(6) Mensur Suljovic v (11) Michael Smith
(3) Rob Cross v (14) Ian Whit

Schedule of Play

Friday January 26

  • Dave Chisnall v Raymond van Barneveld
  • Mensur Suljovic v Michael Smith
  • Rob Cross v Ian White
  • Peter Wright v Alan Norris

Saturday January 27

  • Simon Whitlock v James Wade
  • Daryl Gurney v Gerwyn Price
  • Gary Anderson v Benito van de Pas
  • Michael van Gerwen v Kim Huybrechts

Sunday January 28

  • Peter Wright/Alan Norris v Dave Chisnall/Raymond van Barneveld
  • Mensur Suljovic/Michael Smith v Rob Cross/Ian White
  • Daryl Gurney/Gerwyn Price v Gary Anderson/Benito van de Pas
  • Michael van Gerwen/Kim Huybrechts v Simon Whitlock/James Wade

Semi-Finals

Finals begin at 7 PM on January 28

Final

Follows the Semi-Finals