John Still Plymouth's Mann To Beat

John Mann produced a stunning Final's Night performance in this year's Champion of Champions tournament to make it back to back titles; the third of his glittering local darting career to date.

In a hair raising first outing of the night for Mann, the reigning champion almost suffered a surprise exit as Paddy Archibald ripped through the first two legs and had a dart to make it a 3-0 whitewash victory.

However, Mann came roaring back to win the tie 3-2; booking his place in the Last 8 where he'd face Simon Washington who was the recipient of a bye at the Last 16 stage due to an unfortunate withdrawal of Billy Evans.

A spirited Jodie Hawton, who became the first female player to ever make it to Final's Night, was beaten by Devon teammate Fred Goldsmith (23.85) 3-0 whilst Dave Matthews got the better of Paul Hendy 3-1.

In the top half of the draw played on the Victory stage, Andy Bates (24.64) opened proceedings with a 14 darter; withstanding a 180 from opponent Andrew Cook (23.92).

Missed doubles from Cook in the second and third legs of the tie were severely punished by Bates who ran out a 3-0 winner.

Quinton Taylor (22.43) was waiting for Bates in the quarters after his 3-0 win over Ian Heggie who was swept aside with the help of a 180 and a leg in 17 from Taylor.

Harry Bull (23.87) and Paul Gavican (22.73) played out an epic five leg contest, which went with throw in the first four legs; meaning a last leg shootout for a spot amongst the eight elite players.

Gavican having the throw didn't seem to phase Bull however as he put a 180 on the board; surviving two match darts to take the leg and match in 16 darts.

Darren Collis added two maximums to the evening but failed at the business end of legs as Dan Jewell punished a raft of missed doubles, including six in the final leg, to take their Last 16 tie 3-2.

In the first quarter final, Quinton Taylor (26.86) returned to the stage to blow away one of the favourites for the title, Andy Bates (22.01), with legs of 16 and 18 darts giving Taylor a 3-1 win.

After both Harry Bull (23.50) and Dan Jewell (21.69) survived five leg battles in the first stage of the evening, the pair shared another epic battle that went the full distance.

Four straight tons gave Bull the platform to take a 1-0 lead in 17 before Jewell once again was ruthless at the business end to make it 1-1 before taking a 2-1 lead against the darts.

Jewell seemed to unexpectedly run out of steam, which was duly punished by Bull who reached the semis for the very first time in his fledgling tungsten career.

John Mann (30.67) booked his spot in the semi finals in emphatic fashion with legs of 12 and 18 darts finished with 121 and 113 three dart combination out shots

Mann's opponent Simon Washington (25.67) scored well but was blown away by the brutal finishing power on display.

Long term friends and stablemates of multiple teams, including Devon county, Dave Matthews (22.21) and Fred Goldsmith (23.56), met in the final quarter final of the evening.

Missed doubles from Matthews in the first leg was punished by Goldsmith who quickly stretched his lead to 2-0 in the second.

After a missed dart at the bull for a 130 kill from Goldsmith, Matthews got his first and only leg on the board before an 80 checkout from Goldsmith sealed the win.

Both Harry Bull (24.62) and Quinton Taylor (24.08) showed no nerves in their first Champion of Champions Semi Final to put on an excellent display.

After the first two legs were shared, Taylor took a 2-1 lead in 17 darts before Bull once again levelled with a brilliant 16 dart leg for a fourth leg in a row won against the throw.

Bull then took the lead for the first time in the match with a 17 dart hold before capitalising on some uncharacteristic loose Taylor finishing to book his place in the grand final for a 4-2 success.

John Mann (29.47) didn't hang around in the second semi final as he took out 81 in three darts for a leg in 12 and followed with games of 18, 21 and 17 for a 4-0 whitewash of his adversary Fred Goldsmith (22.60).

In the final, Bull (26.13) raced into a 2-0 lead like a rat up a drain pipe with an 18 dart leg before Mann (31.53) halved the deficit; finishing a 12 darter with a 96 checkout and nailing the first of four 180s in the match.

Bull once again restored his two leg lead in 18 darts, hitting a maximum of his own during the fourth leg to leave the youngster more than halfway towards the magic the race to five.

This only seemed to serve to inspire Mann into some of the most remarkable darts that the competition has ever seen in it's long and illustrious thirty-seven year history.

Mann kicked the fifth leg with a maximum to pull back the score line to 2-3 in Bull's favour before a 177 and an 84 checkout contributed to an 11 dart leg to level the contest at 3-3.

A leg in 18 finished in three darts from 83 gave Mann his first lead of the final to put him on the brink of victory at 4-3 before another 180 in a 15 dart winning leg that was finished in three from 80 gave Mann another title.

The triumph sees Mann become only the fourth player to win the title on three separate occasions and also the fourth to win the event for two successive years; the last being Adrian Lamerton back in 2005 and 2006.

Each year the charity event raises money for local causes with the benefactor from the £2388.09 collected by volunteers and players alike being Mind who specialise in the care of those suffering with mental health issues.

Mind plan to use the money to fund local mental health services at both Glenbourne Unit at Derriford Hospital and The Zone who support vulnerable young people.