Gordon Dobey set the standard for this year's Mark Williams Memorial Trophy tournament at Bedlington Station Working Men's Social Club with a scintillating display of the highest quality on Thursday night.

Thirty three of the region's finest took part in the first round of the competition with a first prize of £1,000.

The first part of the draw saw Hartlepool's Tony Eccles ranked 27th in the world (PDC) forcing the pace with wins against Colin Donnison, Ian Arkle and Dave Gradwell then following up with an impressive win against Mark Stevenson.

Alan Davie continued his good run of form with solid victories against Graeme Stoddart, Alan Sinclair and Micky Luke while Gordon Dobey was making short work of Chris Lyle, Matty Harrison and John Stevenson, then Dobey propelled his way through to the final with a brilliant win against Davie featuring the perfect leg of darts 180, 180 treble 20, treble 15, double 18 for his nine dart finish only achieved in this competition before by world BDO number one Gary Anderson three years ago.

The second part of the draw was just as tough, Matty Willis saw off the challenge of John Stevenson, Paul Bell and Alan Davie before progressing to the final with a good win against Dave Gradwell, Willis would face Gordon Dobey in the second half final as Dobey raced past Ian Arkle and Brian Burney and two tough games against Tony Eccles and Graham Vose.

The first final showed Dobey in dominant form against Eccles with a 17 dart first leg victory, scores of 86, 180, 97 and 98 had Dobey two up with a 15 dart second leg and completed the win with scores of 121, 96,
140 and 84 in 14 darts.

Dobey was hot again in the second final against Matty Willis, scores of 94, 100 and 140 saw Dobey take the first leg in 18 darts.

Dobey went further ahead with a nervous second leg win. He then powered home to his second final win with scores of 180, 140 and 145 in an impressive third leg.

Because Dobey won both finals the two losing finalists had to play off for the remaining qualifying place. Eccles started well but a 140, 83 and a fabulous 150 clock out by Willis in 15 darts set the pace.

A 15 darts leg saw Eccles level with 140 and 177 scores. Eccles went 2-1 ahead in a game no one seemed to get to grips with and he finally booked his place on finals night with a 16 darts winning game.
Qualifiers: G Dobey and Tony Eccles.

The competition continues next Thursday – All players are welcome. For more information contact Bedlington Station WMC on (01670) 822440 or Paul Smith on 07717 313089.