Two new champions were crowned at the 2023 Australian Darts Open on Saturday with world number one Andy Baetens of Belgium and Lisa Ashton of England winning the men’s and women’s competitions respectively.
Baetens put on an incredible display for the big crowd that gathered at the Moama Bowling Club in Moama, putting on a clinic in the final to beat Northern Ireland opponent Neil Duff 10-2.
Both of the men’s finalists deserved their spot in the title decider with Duff having beaten Danny Porter of Australia in their quarter final 6-3, before dispatching Kiwi Jonny Tata in the Semi 8-4.
Baetens progressed having rolled Australian Ronald Nakata 6-2 in their quarter final before trouncing another Aussie – reigning champion Raymond Smith, 8-0 in their semi final.
But it was all one way traffic in the final – Duff manages to win the third and 10th legs in the 12-leg affair, but those moments were few and far between for him.
In the women’s final, Ashton took on world number one Aileen de Graaf of the Netherlands and rushed out to a 3-0 leg lead.
De Graaf managed to pull one back before Ashton went on another three-leg tear, moving to a 6-1 lead in the race to eight legs.
The Dutchwoman won three of the next four legs to bring it back to 4-7 but it was too much – Ashotn checking out a 25 with claim the title convincingly.
Each of the finalists made light work of their semi final opponents earlier in the day to qualify – Ashton beating Kiwi Desi Mercer 6-0, and de Graaf getting the better of Jo Hadley 6-1 in their match-up.
Check out all the results, news and replay the livestreams by heading to the 2023 Australian Darts Open hub via: https://dartsaustralia.com/2023-australian-darts-open/
Final Day Results
WOMEN SF1: Lisa Ashton (ENG) v Desi Mercer (NZ) 6-0
WOMEN SF2: Aileen De Graaf (NED) v Jo Hadley (AUS) 6-1
WOMEN’S FINAL: Aileen de Graaf (NED) v Lisa Ashton (ENG) 2-8
MEN’S QF 1: Haupai Puha (NZ) v Jonny Tata (NZ) 4-6
MEN’S QF2: Neil Duff (N.IRE) v Danny Porter (AUS) 6-3
MEN’S QF3: Andy Baetens (BEL) v Ronald Nakata (AUS) 6-2
MEN’S QF 4: Peter Machin (AUS) v Raymond Smith (AUS) 4-6
MEN’S SF 1: Jonny Tata (NZ) v Neil Duff (N.IRE) 4-8
MEN’S SF 2: Andy Baetens (BEL) v Raymond Smith (AUS) 8-0
MEN’S FINAL: Andy Baetens (BEL) v Neil Duff (N.IRE) 10-2