Ronnie beats The King to claim first Premier League win of 2010

25/02/2010

Ronnie claimed his first victory of the 2010 Whyte and Mackay Premier League Darts in Belfast beating Mervyn King 8-6.

The world number 6 finished on a superb 164 checkout to claim all points on night 3 in front of a 7,000 plus crowd at The Odyssey Arena. King had shared the opening 4 legs with Ronnie, punishing a missed double 16 in leg 1 to break Baxters throw from the start, however a 180 then double 18 saw Ronnie break throw for a 3-2 lead.

A 112 finish put The Rocket 4-2 up before the break, only for The King to roar back with a 13-darter to take the 7th leg. King hit a third 180 to open leg 8, however missed 2 darts to take the leg and Ronnie landed double 6 to steal.

Finishes of 69 and 70 kept Mervyn in the game at 6-5, but Baxter ensured a minimum of 1 point by taking the next leg to lead 7-5 which included a 100 shot out with 2 double tops bringing the Belfast crowd to there feet. King hit back with an 11-darter to set up a deciding leg, but Baxter had memories of 2 weeks ago when he let the lead slip against Jenkins and powered to the victory with a 12-darter and a superb finish 164 finish of treble 20, treble 18 and bull.

"It was frustrating being 7-5 up against Terry in the first week and to only draw, and then to be 4-0 up against Phil and not even get a point, but I managed to hold my nerve this time. Mervyn had beaten me twice at Swindon last weekend but I missed a few doubles in those games and he was superb, but I managed to take the 2 points this time, and to produce that finish to get the win was brilliant. You have to take chance when they come along, and I did that, especially with the 100 - 2 doubles are bigger than a treble so I went for that - and the 164 was a brilliant way to finish"