The full field in Brisbane consists of Kyle Anderson, James Bailey, Corey Cadby, Damon Heta, Koha Kokiri, Brendon McCausland, Haupai Puha, and Ben Robb on the local side. The PDC side of the draw consists of Gary Anderson, Rob Cross, Daryl Gurney, Raymond van Barneveld, Michael van Gerwen, James Wade, Simon Whitlock, and Peter Wright.
New Zealand Qualifier for Brisbane World Series of Darts 2019 A thrilling final in New Zealand saw ‘Big Rig’ Ben Robb book his spot at the Brisbane WSD, defeating John Kelly by 7-4 with the pair throwing some scintillating darts..
Brisbane Qualifier 1 The afternoon saw qualifying for the Brisbane Darts Masters begin. In the final Haupai Puha defeated David Platt 6-4 to complete a trifecta of qualifications across the three oceanic World Series of Darts event. The quarter finals had seen Puha take out Tasmanian Brad Thorp 5-3. Raymond O’Donnell defeated Youth World Championship bound Tremaine Gallagher by the same score. In an all WA shoot out Koha Kokiri was defeated by David Platt 5-1, whilst fellow World Youth Championship entrant was more successful as Jamie Rundle defeated Melbourne World Series of Darts qualifier from earlier in the day, Robbie King, 5-3. The semi finals saw Kiwi World Cup star Puha whitewash O’Donnell 5-0, securing 11 and 13 dart legs, a 114 check out in leg two and an average of 107.4. The other semi final saw David Platt and Jamie Rundle win their opening legs (in 12 and 15 darts respectively.) Rundle then failed to take his chances in the next two legs as Platt moved to a 4-1 lead. Rundle then picked up a leg on throw before Platt closed out the game in the seventh leg. The final saw Platt take an early 2-0 lead before Puha won successive games to tie the match back up. Platt then converted his own throw before taking out 58 to break his opponent, Puha having been unsuccessful at converting 84. Platt missed a double 11 to take a 5-2 lead in the final and instead watched as at his next visit Puha moved back to within a leg of his opponent. Puha then held throw before a 13 dart leg saw him take the lead for the first time in the match. He then checked out a 97 to win the match and complete qualification for the Brisbane Darts Masters. Puha was reflective post match, after a huge six weeks in his dart career. “It has not sunk in yet. I came over here to do the business and I have done it. It has been a long month in darts for me so to qualify for my third event is exciting. Hopefully this inspires other young Kiwi darts players to reach for their goals.”
Brisbane Qualifier 2 Koha Kokiri put the disappointment of losing the final earlier in the day to qualify for the Brisbane Darts Masters by defeating young star Ryan Lynch in the final of the second qualification event. The Team Kiwi DPNZ DPA player won the match by six legs to two. In the quarter finals former World Youth Championship player Ryan Lynch took an early 3-1 lead against Mick Lacey before the Team Rebel man took two legs in succession. Lynch held throw and then broke for a 5-3 win. Koha Kokiri also moved to a 3-1 lead over Brad Thorp as did Robbie King over Brendon McCausland. Kokiri extended his lead to 4-1 but McCausland moved back to parity at 3 all in his match. Kokiri went on to win 5-1 whilst King took out his match in a deciding leg. The fourth quarter final was all even after four legs between Raymond O’Donnell and John Bunyard in an all NSW resident affair. O’Donnell then won three legs on the trot to qualify for the semi finals. The first semi final saw Koha Kokiri play Raymond O’Donnell. Kokiri broke his opponent and then held throw to take an early two leg lead. Both players then held throw before a 13 dart leg put Kokiri further in front. O’Donnell then put some concern in his opponent by breaking him in the sixth leg but Kokiri then had three 140 visits in a row to open the next leg and eventually won the leg, taking the match five legs to two. The second semi final was a match up between Robbie King and Ryan Lynch. King broke Lynch in the first leg of the match but then took the break straight back. King broke for a second time to regain the lead only for Lynch to again get the match back on parity. This time Lynch held throw to move 3-2 up before both players held throw. In the eighth game Lynch broke King for a third time to take the match out 5-3. In the final Kokiri once again broke his opponent in the opening leg and then held throw, Lynch unable to check out 112 for the leg. A double 18 gave Lynch his first leg, the third of the match. Kokiri then was unable to convert 78 and with two darts Lynch made the most of his attempt at 56 to move the match back into parity after four legs. Lynch then produced a poor leg on throw and Kokiri was able to break once again to move back into the lead. A 131 opening visit on throw gave Kokiri the impetus in the next leg and he quickly built on the opening to win the leg comprehensively and regain a two leg lead. A 100 check out against the throw meant Kokiri moved one leg away from victory and he opened with the same score on his next two visits in the eighth leg. A 99 check out was enough to put Kokiri into the Brisbane Darts Masters. Kokiri was pleased to have put the loss earlier in the day behind him and get back on the World Series of Darts stage for the fourth time. “I am excited to be back on the big stage once more. It has been a very busy day for me but to win tonight after the disappointment of earlier in the day is brilliant. I wont change anything from what I have done in the past on the big stage because I know I have the game to be able to compete.”
Brisbane Qualifier 3 Brendon McCausland, of Team Misfits, rounded out the Australian qualifiers for the domestic World Series of Darts events by defeating Tim Pusey 6-3 in the final qualifying event at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club. The quarter finals saw an all Queensland play off as Robbie King took on Jamie Rundle and it was King who triumphed, the final scoreline reading five legs to nil. John Bunyard was defeated just as comprehensively by Brendon McCausland whilst Dave Marland eliminated Mick Lacey, the match going to a final leg decider. In the fourth match up Tim Pusey and Tahuna Irwin shared the oche and it was the West Australian who came out on top of the Kiwi, with Pusey winning five two. The semi finals saw Dave Marland and three Team Misfits players step up. Marland took an early two leg lead before McCausland moved the match back into parity after four legs. After six legs the match was all tied up once more before McCausland took his chance to break once again and move within a leg of the match. He failed to hold throw in the next leg and thus the match went into a final leg decider with Marland taking the first walk to the oche. It was McCausland who gained the early momentum though, moving 80 ahead of his opponent after their first visits. He then backed it up with visits of 100 and 140 to leave 121. With Marland only on 163 McCausland left double 18 for the match which he got with the first dart of his next visit. The second semi final saw both players hold throw until the fourth leg when Pusey took a 3-1 lead. He then held throw to move to a three leg lead but King held his own throw in a poor leg from both players before breaking the Pusey throw in 13 darts. Pusey had to hold his nerve in the eighth game and did so to break his opponent once again and win the match 5-3. Brendon McCausland won the bull to take an early advantage in that he made the first visit to the oche. After four strong visits he left himself tops although it took him four darts from that point to take the first leg. Pusey then replicated the first four legs of the previous leg by leaving himself needing tops but he could not get it on the next visit and his opponent did not give him a chance to get another shot at it by taking out 36 for a two nil lead. A second maximum from McCausland in the next leg gave him the impetus needed to hold his throw successfully and go to a three leg lead. Pusey opened with 140 in the next leg but his opponent matched it at the first attempt. A follow up ton from Pusey had him back in front but a 144 check out from McCausland gave him a four nil lead. Pusey had to try and break the throw of his opponent in the next leg to get some momentum going and a maximum on his second visit certainly helped that cause. After nine darts Pusey required 96 and he got it in four darts to take his first leg of the match. A start of 60 from Pusey gave his opponent an opening in the next leg but McCausland could only collect a ton. Both players struggled through the middle of the leg before McCausland got to a double first and was able to take a four leg lead. He then threw for the match but a strong opening two visits from Pusey saw him move into contention for the leg. He was unable to convert 91 and McCausland stepped up requiring tops for the match but failed to convert as well. Pusey took the second chance he was offered to move the score back to 5-2 in his opponent’s favour. In the eighth leg Pusey opened with a maximum but poor follow up visits presented his opponent with a chance to move back in front, a chance McCausland took with two 140 visits. McCausland came very close to converting 161 but Pusey hit the 49 required to move within two legs of parity. The next leg saw McCausland have a shot at Shanghai but he could only halve the target. With Pusey requiring 80 McCausland converted 60 for the match. McCausland was delighted to make the main event. “I came back into the game this year and aimed to qualify for TV so I have achieved my ambition. I am looking forward to being able to take my dad to the event and let him watch me against the overseas professionals as he loves the game as much as I do. It would be a buzz to play Simon Whitlock at the event as we have a long history as playing and practice partners. “