Success in Spain - 15/16 Nov 2008

What has become the norm, ManoloV. and I headed off to a competition in Spain (Malaga).

Not very surprising that there were top players in attendance like Jacinto Nietto, Bebeto, Yuli, Paco Ruis etc etc. Some of the best players in Spain and for example Jacinto Nietto who has been World Champions.

Just to show that when you're on form, things tend to go your way and golly gosh didn't they just.

Manolo partnered me and he played exceptionally well, I simply did what I usually do; Manolo tells me where to throw and I oblige in the best way I know how to and that is NOT missing lol.

Most games in Spain are not straight up 501 but you play cricket and in this event if you are 1 all then you play a decider in cricket.

We won the pairs on Saturday and on our route to the final we beat all the guys I mention above and others as well so it was not easy.

On Sunday it was the singles and I fell at the 1st hurdle which made things complicated as I had to play through the losers side.

Battling away and after a few close calls (I even had to finish a 165 outshot), yes 165 cos you can finish on a treble jejejeje so I had to hit 60, 60, 45 to go through and the other player was left sitting pretty on 58....

Four rounds later I managed to get through to the last 16 and I played Jacinto, what a match we had!!! He won the bull so it meant he started the 1st and 3rd leg which was in my belief why he just managed to pip me at the post. In fact in the last leg when I squared it 1 all, I was on 86 left and I had overtaken him in the scoring. He is a class player however and everyone knows that. He showed me his class as he finished 137 and beat me 2-1.

Again through the losers side of the top quadrant I played Paco Ruis another fantastic player and even though I was scoring more than he was and I reached the double and had 3 darts to win it, it was not to be and he punished me for it.

I am sure in a few previous posts I have mentioned that my scoring has been very high and I have to tidy up my finishing. This is still the case jejejeje and I am working on that.

Not bad though, a few Euros in my pocket... and great confidence building for future events.