The inaugural WADC Winmau Championship North erupted with spectacular darts action, crowning Natalie Gilbert and Vicky Pruim as its first two champions. Gilbert, a formidable talent, decisively claimed Event One with a commanding 5-1 win in the final. Not to be outdone, Sweden’s Vicky Pruim demonstrated remarkable resilience and skill to secure the Event Two title, notably overcoming Gilbert herself in a thrilling quarter-final clash. These victories set an electrifying precedent for the championship, showcasing exceptional talent and intense competition on the oche.
Gilbert Dominates Event One: A Masterclass in Middlesbrough
The atmosphere at Middlesbrough Sports Village was electric as the WADC Winmau Championship North got underway. All eyes were on the oche, and it was the experienced Natalie Gilbert, a former PDC Women’s Series title winner, who truly shone in Event One.
Gilbert’s path to glory was marked by consistent excellence and clutch performances:
- Round One: A strong start with a 4-0 victory against Phonsawan Whillis.
- Last 16: Faced a stern test against rising star Eleanor Cairns but emerged victorious with a hard-fought 4-3 win.
- Quarter-Final: Showed her dominance with a 5-1 triumph over Michelle Binns.
- Semi-Final: Repeated her strong performance, securing another 5-1 win against Sarah Roberts to reach the final.
Her opponent in the final was Angela Kirkwood, who had also navigated a challenging route:
- Kirkwood overcame Sara Walton, Marie Fitton, and Sue Davies in earlier rounds.
- Quarter-Final: Blasted to a whitewash victory over Rebecca Hoyland.
- Semi-Final: Secured her spot in the final with a nail-biting 5-4 win against Lauryn Salter.
In the highly anticipated final, Gilbert proved unstoppable. From a 1-1 deadlock, she reeled off four consecutive legs, including a superb 92 finish, to clinch the title with a 5-1 victory and claim the £500 first prize. It was a truly commanding performance that underscored her status as a top-tier darts player.
Pruim Rises in Event Two: Sweden’s Star Claims Victory
Following Gilbert’s impressive win, the focus shifted to Event Two, and the competition intensified. This event saw a new champion emerge, as Sweden’s Vicky Pruim showcased her incredible talent and resilience.
Pruim’s journey to the title was a testament to her fighting spirit:
- Early Rounds: Survived back-to-back last-leg thrillers against Sara Walton and Tracey Heppinstall, demonstrating nerves of steel under pressure.
- Quarter-Final: Delivered a significant upset by defeating Event One champion Natalie Gilbert 5-3, averaging an impressive nearly 77 in a high-quality match.
- Semi-Final: Booked her place in the final with a confident 5-2 win against Marie Fitton.
Standing in Pruim’s way in the final was Eleanor Cairns, the same rising star Gilbert had narrowly beaten in Event One. Cairns’s path to the final was equally impressive:
- Whitewashed Julie Fisher in an early round.
- Edged past Phonsawan Whillis.
- Secured a 5-3 win against Rebecca Barrow in the quarter-finals.
- Prevented Angela Kirkwood from reaching back-to-back finals with another 5-3 victory in the semi-finals.
The final promised a thrilling showdown, and Pruim delivered. Saving her absolute best for last, she averaged over 80 in the championship match. She opened the contest with a crucial 76 finish and clinched the victory with a decisive 72 finish, winning the final 5-2 against Cairns. This triumph crowned the Red Dragon National Singles Champion, Vicky Pruim, as the Event Two winner, marking a spectacular start to her Winmau Championship North campaign.
Source: Based on an article from Darts World Magazine.
