2007 International Darts League

The 2007 Tropicana International Darts League was the fifth and final edition of the International Darts League. It was held at the Triavium in Nijmegen, Netherlands from 4–12 May 2007. The tournament was sponsored by Tropicana — a Dutch-based soft drink manufacturer. Raymond van Barneveld entered the tournament as three-times and defending champion. As in 2006, it was a cross-code event featuring players from both the World Darts Federation and the Professional Darts Corporation.

Darts history was made when the tournament became the first televised event to witness two nine dart finishes. On 8 May Phil Taylor hit his fourth perfect game on television against Raymond van Barneveld and the following night Tony O'Shea matched the effort against Adrian Lewis.

Despite the presence of current BDO and PDC World Champions and four other former world champions in the field, none progressed beyond the quarter-finals. 36 year old Gary Anderson won his first major title with a 13–9 victory over fellow BDO/WDF player Mark Webster.

Prize fund

The total prize fund is €135,000 (plus €26,000 for a nine-dart finish)

Winner €30,000

Runner-up €15,000

Semi-finalists €7,500

Quarter-finalists €4,500

2nd Group stage losers €3,000

1st Group stage losers €2,000

Preliminary round losers €1,000

Nine dart finish An Opel Tigra TwinTop valued at €26,000 – achieved by Phil Taylor on 8 May v Raymond van Barneveld. The sponsors presented Tony O'Shea with the same brand of car later in the tournament for his nine-darter on 9 May, although originally there was only one bonus prize on offer.

Highest checkout €1,000 currently shared by Phil Taylor 170 & Adrian Lewis

2007 controversy

The staging of the 2007 IDL was filled with controversy. There were several format changes, disagreements and even court cases surrounding the event.

In 2006 the BDO secured an agreement for 28 of their players to participate in the event until 2010. However, as the popularity of the PDC circuit grew in the Netherlands, the organisers decided to renege on the deal and invite only 12 BDO players. The remaining 20 players would qualify from the PDC including their top 12 ranked players plus four wildcards and four from a PDC/PDPA qualifying event.

This led to a threat from the BDO to take court action against the organisers who wanted their agreement upholding. A compromise was reached and the organisers introduced a preliminary round. The original 16 BDO/WDF players who believed they had missed out were to be joined by a further four automatic qualifiers from the PDC Order of Merit and a further four players from an already confirmed qualifying event in April. This expanded the field from 32 to 56 players.

However the sponsors of the four wildcard players (Michael van Gerwen, Mervyn King, Jelle Klaasen and Vincent van der Voort) were upset that their players had been relegated to the preliminary round when they felt they had an agreement to be automatically into the televised stages. The BDO also felt that all 28 of their players should not have to face a preliminary round. The dispute was resolved on April 25 when a Dutch court rejected the claims of the four wildcard players. Three of the players managed to qualify from the preliminary round with only van der Voort missing out.

Results

Preliminary round

Played Friday 4 May 2007

Group One – Winner: Mervyn King

Matt Clark 5–4 Albertino Essers

Mervyn King 5–1 Steve Farmer

Steve Farmer 5–4 Albertino Essers

Mervyn King 5–3 Matt Clark

Matt Clark 5–0 Steve Farmer

Mervyn King 5–1 Albertino Essers

Group Two – Winner: Gary Robson

Gary Robson 5–0 Alan Tabern

Edwin Max 5–2 Kevin Painter

Gary Robson 5–1 Edwin Max

Kevin Painter 5–2 Alan Tabern

Alan Tabern 5–3 Edwin Max

Kevin Painter 5–3 Gary Robson

Group Three – Winner: Michael van Gerwen

Brian Sorensen 5–0 Kevin McDine

Michael van Gerwen 5–1 Steve West

Steve West 5–4 Brian Sorensen

Michael van Gerwen 5–3 Kevin McDine

Michael van Gerwen 5–4 Brian Sorensen

Kevin McDine 5–3 Steve West

Group Four – Winner: Ross Montgomery

Ross Montgomery 5–4 Chris Mason

Dirk Hespeels 5–2 Vincent van der Voort

Ross Montgomery 5–4 Dirk Hespeels

Vincent van der Voort 5–3 Chris Mason

Dirk Hespeels 5–0 Chris Mason

Ross Montgomery 5–2 Vincent van der Voort

Group Five – Winner: Barrie Bates

Wayne Jones 5–2 Shane Tichowitsch

Barrie Bates 5–1 Phill Nixon

Phill Nixon 5–4 Shane Tichowitsch

Barrie Bates 5–1 Wayne Jones

Barrie Bates 5–3 Shane Tichowitsch

Phill Nixon 5–4 Wayne Jones

Group Six – Winner: Mark Dudbridge

Mark Dudbridge 5–4 Goran Klemme

Andy Jenkins 5–1 Andy Murray

Andy Jenkins 5–4 Mark Dudbridge

Goran Klemme 5–1 Andy Murray

Goran Klemme 5–4 Andy Jenkins

Mark Dudbridge 5–0 Andy Murray

Group Seven – Winner: Jelle Klaasen

Robbie Green 5–2 Robert Hughes

Jelle Klaasen 5–1 Mark Barilli

Mark Barilli 5–0 Robert Hughes

Jelle Klaasen 5–2 Robbie Green

Jelle Klaasen 5–1 Robert Hughes

Robbie Green 5–2 Mark Barilli

Group Eight – Winner: Ronnie Baxter

Ron Meulenkamp 5–3 Richie Burnett

Ronnie Baxter 5–1 Paul Hogan

Ron Meulenkamp 5–2 Paul Hogan

Richie Burnett 5–4 Ronnie Baxter

Ronnie Baxter 5–2 Ron Meulenkamp

Richie Burnett 5–1 Paul Hogan

First round

Played Saturday 5 May to Monday 7 May

Group A Gary Anderson 6–3 Wayne Mardle Roland Scholten 6–5 Mervyn King Gary Anderson 6–2 Roland Scholten Wayne Mardle 6–5 Mervyn King Gary Anderson 6–1 Mervyn King Wayne Mardle 6–2 Roland Scholten

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Gary Anderson 3 18 6 2 Wayne Mardle 2 15 13 3 Roland Scholten 1 10 17 4 Mervyn King 0 11 18

Group B Gary Robson 6–3 Simon Whitlock Peter Manley 6–4 John Part Simon Whitlock 6–3 Peter Manley John Part 6-4 Gary Robson Gary Robson 6–4 Peter Manley Simon Whitlock 6–5 John Part

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Gary Robson 2 16 13 2 Simon Whitlock 2 15 14 3 John Part 1 15 16 4 Peter Manley 1 13 16

Group C Tony Eccles 6–3 Andy Hamilton Michael van Gerwen 6–4 Terry Jenkins Tony Eccles 6–4 Terry Jenkins Michael van Gerwen 6–0 Andy Hamilton Michael van Gerwen 6–5 Tony Eccles Andy Hamilton 6–4 Terry Jenkins

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Michael van Gerwen 3 18 9 2 Tony Eccles 2 17 13 3 Andy Hamilton 1 9 16 4 Terry Jenkins 0 12 18

Group D Martin Atkins 6–3 Ross Montgomery Raymond van Barneveld 6–2 Scott Waites Scott Waites 6–3 Ross Montgomery Raymond van Barneveld 6–1 Martin Atkins Raymond van Barneveld 6–2 Ross Montgomery Scott Waites 6–3 Martin Atkins

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Raymond van Barneveld 3 18 5 2 Scott Waites 2 14 12 3 Martin Atkins 1 10 15 4 Ross Montgomery 0 8 18

Group E Adrian Lewis 6–5 Barrie Bates Martin Adams 6–5 Mario Robbe Mario Robbe 6–4 Barrie Bates Adrian Lewis 6–2 Martin Adams Martin Adams 6–5 Barrie Bates Adrian Lewis 6–2 Mario Robbe

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Adrian Lewis 3 18 9 2 Martin Adams 2 14 16 3 Barrie Bates 1 16 16 4 Mario Robbe 0 11 18

Group F Colin Lloyd 6–4 Tony O'Shea Mark Dudbridge 6–2 Co Stompé Tony O'Shea 6–4 Mark Dudbridge Colin Lloyd 6–5 Co Stompé Mark Dudbridge 6–5 Colin Lloyd Tony O'Shea 6–2 Co Stompé

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Tony O'Shea 2 16 12 2 Mark Dudbridge 2 16 13 3 Colin Lloyd 2 17 15 4 Co Stompé 0 9 18

Group G James Wade 6–5 Darryl Fitton Jelle Klaasen 6–4 Dennis Priestley James Wade 6–3 Jelle Klaasen Darryl Fitton 6–1 Dennis Priestley Darryl Fitton 6–5 Jelle Klaasen James Wade 6–4 Dennis Priestley

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 James Wade 3 18 12 2 Darryl Fitton 2 17 12 3 Jelle Klaasen 1 14 16 4 Dennis Priestley 0 9 18

Group H Mark Webster 6–4 Phil Taylor Ronnie Baxter 6–1 Niels de Ruiter Phil Taylor 6–3 Niels de Ruiter Mark Webster 6–3 Ronnie Baxter Phil Taylor 6–4 Ronnie Baxter Mark Webster 6–3 Niels de Ruiter

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Mark Webster 3 18 10 2 Phil Taylor 2 16 13 3 Ronnie Baxter 1 13 13 4 Niels de Ruiter 0 7 18

Second round

Played Tuesday 8 May to Thursday 10 May

Group I Gary Anderson 7–1 Martin Adams Mark Dudbridge 7–6 Gary Robson Gary Anderson 7–6 Gary Robson Martin Adams 7–2 Mark Dudbridge Gary Anderson 7–3 Mark Dudbridge Gary Robson 7–5 Martin Adams

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Gary Anderson 3 21 10 2 Gary Robson 1 19 19 3 Martin Adams 1 13 16 4 Mark Dudbridge 1 12 20

Group J Phil Taylor 7–4 Raymond van Barneveld Darryl Fitton 7–2 Michael van Gerwen Raymond van Barneveld 7–5 Michael van Gerwen Darryl Fitton 7–6 Phil Taylor Michael van Gerwen 7–6 Phil Taylor Raymond van Barneveld 7–6 Darryl Fitton

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Darryl Fitton 2 20 15 2 Raymond van Barneveld 2 18 18 3 Phil Taylor 1 19 18 4 Michael van Gerwen 1 14 20

Group K Adrian Lewis 7–4 Wayne Mardle Simon Whitlock 7–6 Tony O'Shea Tony O'Shea 7–4 Adrian Lewis Simon Whitlock 7–5 Wayne Mardle Tony O'Shea 7–5 Wayne Mardle Adrian Lewis 7–4 Simon Whitlock

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Tony O'Shea 2 20 16 2 Adrian Lewis 2 18 15 3 Simon Whitlock 2 18 18 4 Wayne Mardle 0 14 21

Group L James Wade 7–2 Tony Eccles Mark Webster 7–6 Scott Waites Scott Waites 7–3 Tony Eccles Mark Webster 7–2 James Wade James Wade 7–4 Scott Waites Mark Webster 7–4 Tony Eccles

Pos Name Wins Legs won Legs lost 1 Mark Webster 3 21 12 2 James Wade 2 16 13 3 Scott Waites 1 17 17 4 Tony Eccles 0 9 21

Knockout stages

Quarter-finals Best of 11 sets best of three legs per set 10 May

Semi-finals Best of 17 sets best of three legs per set 11 May

Final Best of 25 sets best of three legs per set 12 May

WDF

Gary Anderson 107.97

6

PDC

James Wade 106.05

3

WDF

Gary Anderson 97.47

9

PDC

Adrian Lewis 87.66

1

PDC

Adrian Lewis 94.23

6

WDF

Darryl Fitton 96.63

2

WDF

Gary Anderson 95.85

13

WDF

Mark Webster 94.54

9

WDF

Tony O'Shea 96.03

6

PDC

Raymond van Barneveld 96.36

4

WDF

Tony O'Shea 84.42

1

WDF

Mark Webster 96.84

9

WDF

Mark Webster 90.60

6

WDF

Gary Robson 83.37

2

2007 format

The field was scheduled to contain 56 players with 12 automatically from each organisation going into the group stages. Some players from the BDO withdrew citing the uncertainty over the staging of the event as their reason.

The WDF qualifiers are:- Gary Anderson Martin Adams Tony Eccles Darryl Fitton Simon Whitlock Co Stompé Martin Atkins Niels de Ruiter Mark Webster John Walton (withdrew) Tony O’Shea Ted Hankey (withdrew)

The PDC automatic qualifiers are:- Phil Taylor Raymond van Barneveld Colin Lloyd Peter Manley Dennis Priestley Terry Jenkins Adrian Lewis Roland Scholten Wayne Mardle James Wade John Part Andy Hamilton

A preliminary round will now consist of:

• The BDO/WDF players ranked 13 to 28 at the cut-off date (Mario Robbe, Scott Waites, Gary Robson, Brian Sørensen, Albertino Essers, Ross Montgomery, Ron Meulenkamp, Shane Tichowitsch, Robert Hughes, Göran Klemme, Steve West, Mark Barilli, Phill Nixon, Steve Farmer, Paul Hogan, Edwin Max) Dirk Hespeels and Andy Murray were added to the field to replace the withdrawn players
• The PDC players ranked 13 to 16 at the cut-off date (Ronnie Baxter, Andy Jenkins, Barrie Bates, Kevin Painter)
• Eight qualifiers from a PDPA qualifying tournament at Villa Park, Birmingham on April 21 (Chris Mason, Wayne Jones, Richie Burnett, Alan Tabern, Mark Dudbridge, Matt Clark, Kevin McDine and Robbie Green)
• Wildcards Michael van Gerwen, Jelle Klaasen, Mervyn King and Vincent van der Voort.

Eight players from the preliminary round will go through to join the 24 automatic qualifiers in the group stages.