The England Classic Darts tournament culminates today with two highly anticipated finals. In the Men’s Open, Chas Barstow, who impressively defeated the top seed, will face the consistent Robbie Martin. Meanwhile, the Ladies’ final promises a thrilling rematch between the dominant Deta Hedman and Scotland’s Lorraine Hyde, who previously clashed in the England Masters. Both winners will claim significant prize money, with £1,500 for the Men’s Open champion and £750 for the Ladies’ victor.
Men’s Open Final: Barstow vs. Martin
The stage is set for an exciting clash between Chas Barstow and Robbie Martin in the England Classic Open final.
Chas Barstow’s Road to the Final
Barstow’s journey to the final was anything but easy, highlighted by a dramatic semi-final victory. He sensationally ended top seed Kaya Baysal’s tournament with a narrow 4-3 win in a deciding leg.
Baysal, competing under the Turkish flag for the first time, had shown formidable form with two averages above 105 before Barstow stopped his run. Throughout the tournament, Barstow has demonstrated remarkable efficiency, dropping just eight legs on his way to the final. His impressive run includes:
- A stunning 105.47 average in a 4-0 win against Nick Fulwell in the Last 32.
- Beating Callum Grealis 4-2 in the Last 16.
- A 4-1 victory over Paul Lewis in the quarter-finals.
Robbie Martin’s Consistent Performance
Robbie Martin has been a picture of consistency, showcasing his strong form throughout the event. He has achieved averages over 100 on two occasions, underlining his precision.
Martin’s path to the final saw him concede only six legs in total, three of which came in a tight last-leg decider against Tom McInnes in the Last 128. His key results include:
- Defeating Dimitrii Rogov 4-1 with a 101.45 average in the Last 32.
- A 4-1 win over Tom Cromwell, boasting a 100.20 average, in the Last 16.
- A dominant 4-0 victory against Jarred Cole in the quarter-finals.
- Overcoming Mason Teese 4-2 in the semi-finals.
Martin has also had a successful year on the MODUS Super Series, reaching the Week Four final in February, further proving his high level of play.
Ladies’ Final: Hedman vs. Hyde Rematch
The Ladies’ title will see a highly anticipated rematch of the England Masters final, as darts legend Deta Hedman takes on Scotland’s Lorraine Hyde.
Deta Hedman’s Dominant Run
Deta Hedman has been the undisputed dominant force in the Ladies’ event, dropping an astonishingly low three legs throughout the entire knockout stage. Her commanding performances include:
- A flawless 4-0 whitewash of Efa Kay in the Last 32.
- A solid 4-2 win against Hannah Davies in the Last 16.
- An impressive 90.33 average in her 4-1 victory over Erdenechimeg Dondov in the quarter-finals.
- Seeing off fellow Europe Cup Teams winner Paige Pauling with another convincing 4-0 win in the semi-finals.
Lorraine Hyde’s Challenging Journey
Lorraine Hyde has faced a slightly tougher route to the final, demonstrating her resilience and ability to win under pressure. Her path included:
- A 4-0 victory over Lilly Wheeler in the Last 32.
- Beating Ella Hannaford 4-2 in the Last 16.
- A hard-fought deciding leg win against Jojo Rolls in the quarter-finals.
- Edging out Macy Gibbons 4-2 in the semi-finals. This marks the second time this weekend Hyde has beaten Gibbons in the semi-finals, having done so previously in the England Masters.
Prize Money and Format
Both finals promise high stakes and thrilling action, with significant prize money on offer:
- The Men’s Open winner will take home £1,500, with the runner-up receiving £700, from a total prize fund of £5,040.
- In the Ladies’ event, the winner will earn £750, and the runner-up £250, from a £2,170 prize pot.
Both the Men’s Open and Ladies’ finals will be played in a best of nine legs format, ensuring a compelling contest to determine the champions.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
