Sporting Life
Jose De Sousa
Jose De Sousa

Darts results: Jose De Sousa lights up the PDC Home Tour with three crushing wins

By Chris Hammer
Darts
Mon May 11, 2020 · 5y ago

Jose De Sousa produced the highest standard of darts seen on the PDC Home Tour so far as he dropped just one leg in his astonishing table-topping night.

The 46-year-old, who became the first Portuguese winner of a PDC event by thrashing Gerwyn Price 8-1 last September before picking up a second title a few weeks later against Glen Durrant, showed the rest of the world how to consistently reach sky high standards in your own front room.

Prior to the Group 25 action, there had been just 17 ton+ averages in 144 matches, with the best being Luke Woodhouse's 113.9 against Price on the second night of the tournament, in which he managed a historic nine-darter in his kitchen.

Durrant had so far managed the highest overall average from three matches with 100.03 while the most dominant string of victories came from Dave Chisnall, who dropped just three legs.

But the dangerous De Sousa raised the bar considerably and underlined just why he'd been expected to continue his rapid rise up the rankings this year after finally getting his maiden Tour Card at the start of 2019.

He averaged 110.5 in a thumping 5-0 victory over Robert Thornton in his opening match, which he finished off with a 132 checkout after his third 180.

De Sousa's next victim was NHS key worker Keegan Brown, who was given a second opportunity in the tournament after connection problems ended his first attempt two weeks ago after one game.

The Special One averaged 'just' 97.6 compared to his opponent's 85 in a second successive whitewash which all but sealed his place in the next round.

De Sousa then secured top spot in style by thrashing Reece Robinson 5-1 with a 106.8 average and if he can maintain this kind of form in the second round, he'll take some stopping.

He said: "It was really fantastic. All the players are good players, everyone knows it's very difficult when you play like this.

"I don't care about the average, I just played to win my legs. The big average helps though.

"I'll keep going with my practice every day, with friends and sometimes alone. I'm staying at home so can't do anything more."

Brown had earlier held off Robinson to win the opening game of the night 5-4 while the pair went on to both defeat Thornton by 5-2 scorelines. Robinson averaged 110.8 against the winless Scotsman, who managed an impressive 104.7 himself.

PDC Home Tour Darts: Monday results and Tuesday fixtures

Play begins at 1930 BST each night
Best of nine legs
Click here for Sky Bet odds

GROUP 25 - Monday May 11

* Keegan Brown gets a second chance after WiFi connection ended his involvement of his first attempt

  • Keegan Brown 5-4 Reece Robinson
  • Jose De Sousa 5-0 Robert Thornton
  • Reece Robinson 5-2 Robert Thornton
  • Keegan Brown 0-5 Jose De Sousa
  • Jose De Sousa 5-1 Reece Robinson
  • Robert Thornton 2-5 Keegan Brown

GROUP STANDINGS

  1. Jose De Sousa P 3 W 3 L 0 Leg Diff +14 Pts 6
  2. Keegan Brown P 3 W 2 L 1 Leg Diff -1 Pts 4
  3. Reece Robinson P 3 W 1 L 2 Leg Diff -2 Pts 2
  4. Robert Thornton P 3 W 0 L 3 Leg Diff -11 Pts 0

** THE REMAINING SEVEN GROUPS WILL MAINLY BE MADE UP OF PREVIOUS RUNNERS-UP ALTHOUGH THERE ARE STILL SOME PLAYERS STILL HOPING TO MAKE THEIR DEBUTS ONCE THEY SORT OUT THEIR LOGISTICAL ISSUES **

GROUP 26 - Tuesday May 12

  • Conan Whitehead v Steve Brown
  • Mike De Decker v Martin Atkins
  • Steve Brown v Martin Atkins
  • Conan Whitehead v Mike De Decker
  • Mike De Decker v Steve Brown
  • Martin Atkins v Conan Whitehead

CLICK HERE FOR FULL TOURNAMENT RESULTS & FIXTURES

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