Sporting Life
Leonard Gates lifts the trophy aloft
Leonard Gates lifts the trophy aloft

Darts results: Leonard Gates beats Richie Howson to win the World Seniors Champion of Champions

By Sporting Life
Darts
Sun March 26, 2023 · 2y ago

Leonard Gates won the inaugural World Seniors Champion of Champions event after defeating Richie Howson 13-10 in Sunday's final.

The 'Soulger' had flown 6000 miles from his home in Dallas to take part in the Golden Ticket Qualifier on Friday evening, which he won to earn a shot at Phil Taylor in Saturday's quarter-finals.

Having then ended the Power's hopes of a first title on the World Seniors tour, he then edged past three-time Lakeside world champion Martin Adams 13-11 in Sunday's semi-finals before seeing off World Seniors Championship runner-up Richie Howson for the Blackpool title.

Gates looked to be storming towards glory in his first final on the tour when leading 10-5 but Howson, who got revenge on Robert Thornton earlier in the tournament for his defeat in the Circus Tavern showpiece, battled back trail to trail 12-10 but it was too little too late.

The American had earlier seen a 7-3 lead over Wolfie in the semi-finals evaporate to just 12-11 so it was understandable that he felt some finishing line nerves before finally sealing his moment of triumph.

Howson had earlier beaten David Cameron 13-11 in another hard-fought semi-final, which was level at 9-9 before the Owl decisively took charge of the closing stages.

World Seniors Champion of Champions: Tournament results

SATURDAY, MARCH 25
Time: 12pm-5pm
TV Channel: Channel 5

QUARTER-FINALS
Best of 19 legs

  • Robert Thornton 6-10 Richie Howson
  • David Cameron 10-5 Kevin Painter
  • Phil Taylor 8-10 Leonard Gates
  • Martin Adams 10-7 Trina Gulliver

SUNDAY MARCH 26
Time: 12pm-5pm
TV Channel: Channel 5

SEMI-FINALS
Best of 25 legs

  • Richie Howson 13-11 David Cameron
  • Leonard Gates 13-11 Martin Adams

FINAL
Best of 25 legs

  • Richie Howson 10-13 Leonard Gates

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