Stevenson Rockets Towards Glory

Fawn's Simon Stevenson started his campaign towards a record sixth Champion of Champions crown with a 3-0 win over Devon Youth player Liam Page of the Kings Arms.

The former PDC Tour Card holder showed the form that he will need to take him to that elusive sixth trophy lift with a 14 dart leg.

Also playing at the Fawn club, King Billy's Scott Wapshott opened his account with a 3-0 win over Kev Bridgeman of the Indian Inn with the help of a 120 checkout.

Three of the nine games played at the Greenbank venue went down to last leg deciders with Victory's Kevin Evans coming through against stablemate Tom James.

Steampacket's Neal Hotchkiss took the notable scalp of Octagon's Alfie Ford by the odd leg in five whilst Victory's Quinton Taylor was pushed all the way by James Stoodley of the Bluebird for another 3-2 win.

Kings Arms' Chrissie Kinnaird was the only female player to make it past this stage with a brilliant 3-0 win over Andrew Waters who now represents Tradesmans.

Ker St's veteran Ralph Lancaster was the only former champion to fall at the Preliminary stage when he lost out 3-0 to an inspired Paul Goundry at the King Billy.

The Victory man chalked up eight ton plusses in his demolition job of the 1996 champion to book his place in the Last 64.

Mark Shears hit the only recorded maximum of the round in his 3-1 win over King Billy's James Ewing whilst Reg Matthews and Jo-Anne Symons shared eleven tons between them in their game.

Kings Arms' Matthews eventually won 3-1 against Cornwall's Jo-Anne Symons who certainly did not disgrace herself after making the long trip from the Truro area.

At the Indian, Octagon's John Mann, who won the trophy for a second time in 2021, was one of five players that won by routine 3-0 scores has he despatched Stephen Mills of the Cherry Tree.

Indian's Plymouth & District Friday Darts League Champion, Mark Hatherley, also made it through by three straight legs along with Kings Arms' Paul Palmer, and King Billy pair Billy Evans and Andrew Nation.

Victory's Mark Gilbery, who won the Plymouth City Super League Players Championship recently, endured arguably the toughest test of the night as he got the better of George Beckett from the Steampacket 3-1.

Another 3-1 winner was Monday Premier League Individual Champion Harry Bull who got by the veteran Tony Teal who now represents the Bluebird.

Thanks to the hard work of staff and volunteers at the Fawn, King Billy and Indian Inn, as well as the generosity of patrons, the charity event breezed past the £1,000 mark with all proceeds going to Mind.

The next round of the tournament will take place on Sunday, 16th October with the twenty-four winners from the Preliminary Round joining the forty recipients of a bye.

The Last 64 evening will see a more cut throat format of players needing to win through two games on the night to book themselves a place at the Last 16 Finals Night to be played at Victory Inn on 27th November.

Games will start with the players throwing for the bull in the first leg only; the winner of which will have the luxury of the throw in the first, third and crucially fifth leg where required.

The bust rule will apply throughout and the four winners from each venue will move into the Last 16 stage played on Finals Night.

Playing at the Fawn: Mark Gilbery (Victory Inn); Warren Page (Kings Arms); Paddy Archibald (Victory Inn); Mark Shears (Victory Inn); Scott Wapshott (King Billy); Daniel Jewell (Clifton); Simon Stevenson (Fawn); Alec Turner (Indian Inn); Dan Bunney (Fawn); Chrissie Kinnaird (Kings Arms); Paul Hendy (Kings Arms); Nathan Langdon (Union Inn); Damian Chalmers (Saltram); John Mann (Octagon); Paul Flower (Unattached); James Cook (Unattached)

Playing at the Indian Inn: Mark Hatherley (Indian Inn); Glenn Halford (Bluebird); Andy Pengelly (Clifton); Dave Matthews (Octagon); Darren Smith (Colebrook); Andrew Nation (King Billy); Kevin Evans (Victory Inn); Scott Lawrey (Victory Inn); Andrew Cook (King Billy); Lee Rodmell (Torpoint Cons); Fred Goldsmith (Fawn); Neal Hotchkiss (Steampacket); Jacob Bentham (Hyde Park); Jodie Hawton (Half Moon); David Young (Queen & Constitution); Danny Perryman (Railway)

Playing at the Hyde Park Social Club: Adam Fell (Victory Inn); Ian Heggie (Indian Inn); James Duke (Hyde Park); Billy Evans (King Billy); Darren Collis (Victory Inn); Alex Truscott (Lugger); Lee Doncaster (King Billy); Steve Duke (Hyde Park); Russ Paxton-Denny (Hyde Park); Mark Hopkins (St Levans); Lee Dennis (Victory Inn); Lewis Dare (Victory Inn); Tony Tasker (Victory Inn); Liam Taylor (Victory Inn); Quinton Taylor (Victory Inn); Dave Reed (Union Inn)

Playing at the King Billy: Paul Palmer (Kings Arms); Nick Miller (Cherry Tree); Jayden Dodd (Octagon); Wayne Oddie (Bluebird); Steve Harris (Queens Arms); Andy Bates (Tradesmans); Danny Allen (Victory Inn); Harry Bull (Indian Inn); Jaden Whitting (Fawn); Reg Matthews (Kings Arms); Lee Hellings (Octagon); Paul Goundry (Victory Inn); Neil White (Octagon); Simon Washington (Octagon); Paul Gavican (Victory Inn); Danny Bull (Indian Inn)