Former West Midlands star Paul Hogan who now represents Hampshire in the BDO Inter County Championships returned to the West Midlands to defend his Winmau BDO Wolverhampton Open title at the Winmau Centre in the Wolverhampton Indoor Community Sports Stadium and he did just that as he beat Adam Smith-Neale 5-1 in the final to clinch a top prize of £1,000, Smith-Neale collecting £500.
The losing semi finalists Eddie Dootson, who lost 4-2 to Hogan and John Roberts who suffered a narrow 4-3 defeat to Smith-Neale each received £250, Welshman Roberts adding a further £100 to his pay day for a magnificent 170 checkout.
Due to the popularity and success of the event the BDO have announced that in future the open will be a BDO ranked event and carry ranking points.
Dharam Jagpal (Arena Owner) and Paul Hogan (Winner)
The final qualifying event for the 2016 Winmau WDDA World Masters was also on the agenda which saw Rob Williams (Wales) beat Ricky Chilton (England) in a very closely fought final encounter.
Sarah Smale (Head of BDDA) and Champion Rob Williams
Wiliams will now join Ricky Chilton, Paul Gelder, Paul Hampton, Graham Mitchell, Phil Lees, Tony Pass and Richard Green in the Winmau WDDA World Masters finals.
———————————
Amazingly despite winning Is It In lost the Winmau Centre Monday Night League in the very last fixture of the season. Going into the final round of games Is It In topped the table but a 28-20 win over third placed The Outcasts gave them a total of 616 points which was not enough to clinch the title as reigning champions 3 Yam Yams and A.Stokie (formerly What Are Thooose) recorded a 38-10 win over Keep It In The Family to give them 620 points, four more than Is It In who took the runners up prize. Outcasts defeat saw them drop from second and finish third with 605 points.
———————————
At the time of going to print the top two players in the Winmau Centre Thursday Night Champions League have both played thirty games but it is Louis Burley who has won 29 of his games that tops the table with 167 points. Kevin Harris is currently second on 157 points and has won 24 of his fixtures.
Reigning champion Mick Baker is third in the table and despite trailing Burley by some 27 points is still not out of the frame as he has four games in hand on the two players above him, four games that could net him a total of 28 points, but to get that amount Baker would have to win all four 7-0, however there are still more games to play and before the title is decided undoubtedly there will be more twists and turns.
———————————