Maria's title hopes dented by former world champion

MARIA O’Brien travelled to Grietherstrasse, to contest the Bull’s German Open and Bull’s Darts Masters and in both events had her title hopes dented by the four-times world champion, Lisa Ashton.

The two tournaments, which were held at the popular Wunderland Kalkar, were Cat B events and Maria opened her account in the opening match of the Bull’s German Open with a 4-0 victory over Corinna Sehnert.

Sehnert’s German compatriot Kristina Erkelenz was also defeated in straight legs as was the Netherland’s Samantha Raaphorst in the board final.

In the last 16, O’Brien pulled out all the stops to defeat the former World No.1 Trina Gulliver 4-1, before herself losing by the same margin in the quarter-finals to Lisa Ashton.

Romania’s Andreea Brad was Maria’s first opponent in the Bulls Darts Masters the following day and was defeated 4-2 before back to back 4-0 victories against the Dutch duo of Maria De Leeuw and Aletha Wajer put the Business Development Manager into the last 16.

Germany’s Stefanie Luck was another to be ousted in four straight legs before Maria had another quarter-final meeting with the Lancashire Rose herself, Lisa Ashton.

Maria fared a lot better than their previous meeting and took Ashton to 3-3 before bowing out by the odd leg in seven.

But it was more ranking points gained and Maria will be looking to build on that when she competes in the Denmark Open and Denmark Masters, both Cat A events, over the weekend of May 4-5 at the Granly Hockey Arena, Esbjerg.