Stevenson rockets to his seventh Champions title

Stevenson helped himself to a seventh Champion of Champions crown on a dramatic evening of tungsten at the 2024 finals night held at Victory Inn.

-  JAMES COOK

CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS 2024 SIMON

After Andrew Cook was the lucky recipient of a bye, Reg Matthews and Lee Dennis got the last 16 finale proceedings under way. A 3-0 win for the former put Matthews through to his third quarter final.

Stevenson outplayed 2011 semi finalist Lee Roberts 3-0 before 2000 champion Bruce Harrison continued his darting renaissance with a third 3-0 victory of the competition against James Stoodley.

Two players that play their darts for the host venue, Tony Tasker and Quinton Taylor, met in the fourth tie of the night to become the fifth player through to the first stage.

Taylor got the better of his stablemate 3-2, with a 15-darter in the third leg that was ended with a 116 combination out shot giving him the slenderest of advantages.

John Mann (29.47) started off his campaign with a fine 3-0 win over AJ Brunton, whilst Paul Palmer snuck past Jack McMinn 3-2 to book a place amongst the elite eight.

Andy Bates (27.51), who had his first title tilt back in the 1980s, looked up for a run towards his first trophy lift during his 3-1 success over Sean Taylor (25.56). Bates plundered legs in 18 and 16 darts, Taylor's 13-dart riposte wasn't enough to put his name in the next round.

Andrew Cook showed signs of ring rustiness in the first quarter final against Reg Matthews but got going in the final two legs with a 71 checkout in the third and a 13 darter in the fourth to reach the final four.

There was two years between Harrison's only title and Stevenson's first in 2002 so it was fitting they would be drawn together in the quarters.

Despite some good play by Harrison in the second leg, Stevenson (27.33) showed his more senior colleague the door with a 3-0 win that contained a leg in 14 and a 76 combination out.