For the seventh time Belcoo darter Brendan Dolan has missed out in the final of a ranking event, but the man they call ‘The History Maker’ can take plenty from his weekend performances at the Dutch Darts Masters.
Dolan lost in the final of the tournament to Belgian Kim Huybrechts six legs to three, with the champion in superb form averaging 105.90 and hitting a series of key 180s.
Dolan gave as good as he got though, sharing the first two four legs of the final before breaking throw in the fifth on double 16 to lead 3-2.
Huybrechts, though, broke back immediately on double 18, after his opponent missed the same double, and he then hit 180s in the next two legs to leave 44 and 47 as he hit a brace of double 16s to lead 5-3. He then opened the ninth leg with a fourth maximum of the game, and hit double 16 once more as he claimed the victory.
Dolan had seen off youngster David Pallett, Finland’s Jarkko Komula and reigning champion and world number four Simon Whitlock in Sunday’s final stages. Despite coming up short in the final Brendan could have no complaints.
“I’m not too disappointed to lose.
“I probably played my best darts in the final but Kim thoroughly deserved to win.
“I’m happy to get this far and it’s a major achievement when you consider the class of players that have been here. Kim and I came though and Kim got the better of me, and I’ve got no qualms with that, because he was the better player.
“I’m chuffed with how I played in the final and it would have won me many other games on the tour. Someday it will be my day – this is my sixth or seventh final but one day I’ll win one.”
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