Dorset’s own Scott Mitchell grafted to a hard fought 3-0 win in sets on his World Seniors Darts Championship debut.
The 2015 BDO World Champion, who joined the Seniors Tour after failing to regain his spot on the PDC Tour last month, defeated former World Number One Peter Manley in an affair that saw Manley employ many of the mind tricks he became famous for during his prime.
It was a good display from Scotty Dog, who came onto the stage to his iconic walk on music, ‘Who Let the Dogs Out?’ by the Baha Men. He set the tone for the affair, by opening the match with a score of 140, before eventually confirming the opening Leg on D5, using the marker expertly to make the Double an easy one. He missed numerous darts at Double 14 and 7 in the second, meaning Manley was able to level. An outstanding dart at Tops and a 13 Darter rounded off a fairly drama free opening set.
Set Two opened with some drama. Manley was (potentially) up to his old tricks – questioning who out of the two had the throw in the second leg of the Second Set. Whether it was Manley mind games or genuine confusion was pondered by all, as it seemed to be the case that Manley was a leg behind – thinking that Leg One of Set Two, which Mitchell won, was, in fact, the leg to win Set One, and there was a delay as a consequence as referee Paul Hinks explained this – before the slight frustration of the veteran referee shone through, calling for Scott to throw first in the leg to end the saga. That was the most drama the Set would offer, as Scott would complete the whitewash, hitting D18 to win the second and third Legs, and once again winning the Set with a 13 Darter to move within a Set of victory at the first break.
The Third Set saw Manley produce arguably the highlight of the tournament thus far from an audience perspective – a 161 finish with Scotty Dog a Leg away, in order to prolong the inevitable and find a spark that had been lacking for One Dart throughout the previous sets. After a set that involved a D1 finish to secure the break, The Dorset Dartsmith sealed the victory on D10 to secure a place in the Round of 16 on Saturday.
In his post match interview with BT Sport, Mitchell dubbed the Tungsten Tussle:
‘The Clash of the Salmon and the Fuchsia Pink.” In reference to the shirt colours of the pair (Mitchell the Fuchsia, Manley the Salmon).
He also said of Manley’s 161 Finish:
“I thought I was going to do him good and proper, where did that come from?”
He returns to action on Saturday, where he’ll face either Roland Scholten or defending World Seniors Darts Champion Robert Thornton. Until then, the farm in Bransgore will be left in the capable hands of his son Sam, as Scott continues his quest for Circus Tavern Glory.