World Seniors Darts Masters 2024 LIVE RESULTS: John Henderson beats Robert Thornton to win title & £10k prize – updates
JOHN HENDERSON beat Robert Thornton in Sunderland to take home the title and a £10,000 cheque.
Henderson held his nerve in a thrilling final set as he secured his third TV title of a brilliant year.
- Start time: From 7pm GMT
- Live stream: discovery+
- TV channel: TNT Sports
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MASON BREAKS! Martin Adams 0-1 Chris Mason* (3-0 in sets)
Mace the Ace finally takes a leg on the Adams throw.
It's his first glimmer of light in the match so far.
THIRD SET! Martin Adams 2-1 Chris Mason (3-0 in sets)
Adams breaks Mason to take the third set.
He now needs just one more for victory.
And of course he is throwing first in the fourth.
Martin Adams 1-1* Chris Mason (2-0 in sets)
Adams levels - but Mason is throwing to win his first set of the night.
Martin Adams* 0-1 Chris Mason (2-0 in sets)
Mason began the third set by holding his throw - as he surely had to.
Martin Adams 0-0 Chris Mason* (2-0 in sets)
Mason is throwing first in what feels like a must-win set.
SECOND SET! Martin Adams* 2-1 Chris Mason (2-0 in sets)
Adams doubles his lead in sets by taking the secOnd one 2-1.
He's yet to lose a leg when throwing first.
Martin Adams* 1-1 Chris Mason (1-0 in sets)
Mason levels on throw in the second set of this all-English clash.
Martin Adams 1-0 Chris Mason* (1-0 in sets)
Adams holds in the first leg of the second set.
Martin Adams 1-0 Chris Mason* (1-0 in sets)
Adams holds in the first leg of the second set.
FIRST SET! Martin Adams 1-0 Chris Mason
Adams pounces on a poor Mason leg to take the first set.
Martin Adams* 1-1 Chris Mason
Adams respond well - to level.
Martin Adams* 0-1 Chris Mason
Mason holds - to put the pressure on Wolfie.
Martin Adams 0-0 Chris Mason *
Chris Mason is throwing first in tonight's opening match.
Up first tonight...
Martin Adams v Chris Mason is due to start imminently.
Wolfie aims to be howling success
Martin Adams - aka Wolfie - opens up tonight's action against dangerous "part-timer" Chris Mason.
Mace the Ace, 54, insists he won't return to the full-time game.
But he's shown on the Seniors tour he can almost as brilliant as ever once he gets a few legs behind him.
Tonight's schedule:
- Martin Adams v Chris Mason
- Neil Duff v Darryl Fitton
- John Henderson v Scott Mitchell
- Richie Howson v Tony O’Shea
Results recap
Here's how the first four last-16 clashes panned out earlier today.
Female stars Lisa Ashton and Trina Gulliver exited.
And only one of the four matches went beyond five legs.
Lisa Ashton 2-4 Matt Clark
Paul Hogan 4-1 Glen Durrant
Rob Thornton 4-0 Trina Gulliver
Eirig Rowlands 4-1 Andrew KateleyBookies back Henderson
Rivals have a mountain to climb if they want to topple "Highlander" - according to the bookies.
Scotland's World Senior Darts champion John Henderson is a warm favourite at around 7/2.
Northern Irishman Neil Duff is rated at about 6/1 and English ace Scott Mitchell is listed third on 8/1.
There's then a gap to Martin Adams and Chris Mason, both at around 12/1.
Fours to be reckoned with
A slow start could be curtains for tonight's competitors.
That's because it's the first to four sets in each case.
It also means of course that whoever throws first has an even bigger advantage than usual.
'Winning is best medicine'
Michael van Gerwen says ‘winning is the best medicine’ ahead of the 2024 Mr Vegas Grand Slam of Darts.
The Dutchman is one of 32 stars battling for the £150,000 top prize in the tournament which starts in Wolverhampton tomorrow.
Credit: Instagram / @mvg180 The three-time world champ appears back in form in recent weeks, triumphing in the Hungarian Darts Trophy two months ago, then taking two Players Championship titles.
quote the legend as saying: "My confidence is there and I feel good, and I think that’s the most important thing for success.
“I think in some patches I’m playing really well. In other patches maybe not stable enough.
“I believe I’m hitting form, but last year I felt like I was in the same situation and then I lost an unnecessary game in the World Championship.
“Of course it gives you confidence and energy for the rest of the year, because winning is the best medicine!”
Night fever
There are still four matches to come this evening - including a belter to get us started.
Here's the schedule for tonight's last-16 games from 7pm:
- Martin Adams v Chris Mason
- Neil Duff v Darryl Fitton
- John Henderson v Scott Mitchell
- Richie Howson v Tony O'Shea
Credit: Getty Afternoon recap
That's that until 7pm, with four players safely through to the quarters.
Matt Clark proved too strong for Lisa Ashton in the opener, before Paul Hogan saw off Glen Durrant.
Robert Thornton breezed past Trina Gulliver, while Richard Rowlands is through despite a game effort from debutant Andrew Kateley.
- Lisa Ashton 2-4 Matt Clark
- Paul Hogan 4-1 Glen Durrant
- Robert Thornton 4-0 Trina Gulliver
- Richard Rowlands 4-1 Andrew Kateley
Rowlands speaks
"The whole game came down to finishing. He wired them.
"He's an excellent player, I've only recently met him. I was very lucky to get through that game.
"At one point I'd lost track of the sets, I just kept on winning legs."
Richard Rowlands BEATS Andrew Kateley 4-1
A valiant performance from Kately on debut.
He averages almost three figures, but is all over the place on his doubles.
Rowlands books his place in the quarter-finals with double top. He was in a real game there.
Latest scores – Rowlands 1-1 Kateley (3-1 in sets)
It's not over yet.
Two match darts missed by Rowlands and Kateley makes him pay, taking out tops.
Rowlands now throwing for the match.
Latest scores – Rowlands 1-0 Kateley (3-1 in sets)
Huge hold from Rowlands.
Kateley again puts the pressure on with his high scoring early in the leg, but just can't see it out when it matters.
Tops for the Welshman - game shot. He's now one leg away from the quarters.