DARTS: COVENTRY’S Mark McGeeney missed two opportunities to land the BDO World Darts Championship on Sunday, writes Josh Green.
The 45-year-old, who was born in Wyken, missed opportunities at double 18 and nine to win the championship – allowing rival Glen Durrant to scoop the £100,000 first prize.
In one of the most pulsating Lakeside finals in its 40-year history, neither player was able to open a two-set advantage until the closing stages,
McGeeney was out of the blocks quickly, capturing the first set with the darts.
Durrant landed the second set before three consecutive legs helped the Coventry lad edge to a 2-1 lead.
That soon became 2-2 before some disastrous doubling from Durrant gifted McGeeney a 3-2 lead.
Durrant continued to claw away at the resistant McGeeney as he nailed double three following his ninth maximum to make it 3-3 at the half way stage.
The two sets following the break went with the throw as the game remained tied.
But Durrant edged in front for the first time when breaking the throw of McGeeney to make it 4-5.
The advantage was doubled ten minutes later after the 47-year-old survived a 157 in the opening leg to take the tenth set of the match.
But just as it looked like McGeeney was heading for second prize, he found an extra gear.
Two successive set wins tied the match again.
McGeeney quickly raced to a two-leg lead in the deciding set. But throws to win the title at double nine and 18 went begging, and opened the door for Durrant.
The Middlesbrough man would level the crucial set before taking out a spectacular 149 to edge a leg clear.
The final nail in the coffin would be him on double 16, Durrant scraping through in an all time classic to retain the prestigious Lakeside trophy.
