Stoodley J-ames For Glory

Three former trophy holders will compete with thirteen contenders for the grand prize of Champion of Champions after a bumper night of play and charity fundraising across the four host venues.

One of the 'challengers', Bluebird's James Stoodley, lit up the Indian venue with a 3-2 win that was accented by a crucial 80 checkout against Cherry Tree's Tony Reid.

Stoodley then almost achieved something that has never been cracked in the competition's thirty-nine year history by going seven darts into the magical nine darter in his last 32 clash with Alfie Ford of the Octagon.

Ford had earlier bettered Indian's own Paul Gavican 3-1 before his 3-1 loss to Stoodley who nailed as many 180s as legs in the victory whilst King Billy's Andrew Cook came through thanks to two wins against teammates.

Fellow King Billy player Scott Cook was his brother's first victim after an 80 checkout gave Cook a 3-2 win before roundly beating Paul Goundry also of the King Billy 3-0 to book his place amongst the sixteen elite.

Kings Arms' Paul Palmer will have another crack at glory after wins of 3-0 over Indian's Danny Bull and a 3-1 against Liam Taylor who represented Victory earned his place.

Hyde Park's Lee Dennis was a 3-1 winner over teammate James Duke before ending the hopes of Cherry Tree's James Ewing 3-0 with a 180 for the victor in that matchup.

Ewing had looked in good nick for a place in the show piece event after his 3-0 success over Dennis' Friday night teammate Andrew Hawes.

Champion in 2000, Bruce Harrison, finds himself in the familiar surroundings of the last 16 after a 3-1 triumph at the King Billy over Lee Hunter who was wearing the colours of Legends Lounge.

Hunter nailed an 87 combination in the only leg he won, but did well to make it through to that stage after a 3-2 success over Devon's Frankie Stout who plays from King Billy.

Stout added legs in 15 and 18 darts with a three dart combination of 72 providing one of that brace of chalk marks.

Andy Bates secured two 3-0 wins to book his chance at glory with the first coming in the opening rubber of the contest.

Bates (25.91) bagged a leg in 18 darts to go alongside a 180 and a 90 checkout in a three straight leg success against Dave Lee who runs and represents the Cherry Tree.

Del Bryce of Legends Lounge was waiting for Bates in the last 32 after a 3-2 win over Steve Towl who plays from Elburton that saw both players add to the highlight reel.

Towl put together a 16 darter during that defeat whilst Bryce's 90 combination out shot proved crucial in deciding the outcome of the match.

Bates checked a leg in 14 darts during the aforementioned 3-0 win over Bryce whilst Fawn's Sean Taylor provided a major shock by getting the better over Octagon's Lee Hellings 3-1.

Hellings was probably one of the favourites to lift the crown and showed why that hype was justified with legs in 18 and 16 in a 3-0 win against Colebrook's Dave Reed.

Taylor's form was too much for Hellings as he set about the Cornwall A team star with a 121 checkout and a 15 darter contributing to him adding his name to the list of final's night contenders.

Former semi finalist, Reg Matthews of the Kings Arms, survived a 180 from Alec Turner to come through 3-1 before running out a 3-0 winner against Bluebird's Glenn Austin.

The Victory played host to three time champ, Fawn's John Mann, who added two legs in 18 darts and another in 16 to help towards wins of 3-0 and 3-1 against Victory pair Paddy Archibald and Darren Collis.

Two other Victory players, AJ Brunton and Tony Tasker, both did make it out of their home venue with their chances in tact.

Brunton was a 3-2 winner over Indian's Mark Hatherley who got the better of Victory's Chris Beale 3-0 in the first stage whilst Tasker came through of Cherry Tree's Paul Freeman 3-1.

Legends Lounge's James Nicholls will be right up for a title bid after a 17 darter came in a 3-1 win over Mainstone's Cameron O'Brien.

Octagon's Neil White was the only former winner that fell before the finale after losing out to Bluebird's Jack McMinn 3-1 when turning out at the Fawn.

Colebrook's Zak Smith proved a tough competitor for White in the first round of the night as he nailed a 102 checkout but fell 3-2.

White completed his night ultimately disappointed by still found a 180 and a checkout of 112 during the affair whilst Simon Stevenson of Cornwall Gate is still in the hunt to retain the title.

Despite winning the event a record six times, Stevenson has never won back to back and is still hot favourite after a 3-0 win against Mark Hopkins.

St Levans' Hopkins had a nice warm up for that game after a 3-2 win against Steampacket's David Young whilst Quinton Taylor of the Victory will be one of the men in the way of Stevenson.

Another former semi finalist Taylor came through 3-0 against Beacon Park's Beau Carter with a 180 ticking Taylor along; a game that came after a 3-2 win for Carter against Fawn's Matt Anderson.

Lee Roberts completes the sixteen title hunters after an admirable 3-0 win against Nick Bryant put the Bluebird man through at the expense of the Cherry Tree player.

The competition will be completed at the Victory on Sunday, 15th December with the field being whittled down from sixteen players to one winner.

One draw will be made at 7pm, after which play will commence alongside a large fundraising raffle with food laid on by the venue.

PLAYING AT THE VICTORY INN: Simon Stevenson (Cornwall Gate), John Mann (Fawn), Bruce Harrison (Unattached), Paul Palmer (Kings Arms), Reg Matthews (Kings Arms), Quinton Taylor (Victory Inn), Jack McMinn (Bluebird), James Nicholls (Legends Lounge), AJ Brunton (Victory Inn), Tony Tasker (Victory Inn), Lee Roberts (Bluebird), Sean Taylor (Fawn), Andy Bates (Unattached), Lee Dennis (Hyde Park), James Stoodley (Bluebird), Andrew Cook (King Billy).