Keith Deller was crowned the 2009 Betfred.com League of Legends champion with a 5-3 victory over Bobby George in the grand final at Rainton Meadows Arena, Durham.

 

The 1983 world champion was seeded second for finals night after he and Bob Anderson had dominated the league phase of the event and ‘Del Boy’ duly went one better than he had in 2008.

 

Deller and Anderson had fought out the final on both the first two nights of action in Leicester and Middlesbrough and the ‘Limestone Cowboy’ only gained the top seeding on leg difference.

 

However, Anderson was unable to produce his top form on finals night, having to come from 4-1 down to edge a 5-4 quarter-final win over Peter Ebdon, and he then came unstuck against George in the semis.

 

Deller took full advantage of the struggles of the man who had pipped him to the title last year, enjoying a comfortable success against Cliff Lazarenko before coming out on top in a decider against John Lowe.

 

He then recorded a highly respectable average of 88.32 in the final against George, who had whitewashed Dave Whitcombe with a 5-0 triumph in the opening match of the evening.

 

“I’m really pleased to be the 2009 Betfred.com League of Legends champion,” said the 49-year-old from Suffolk. “Bob was the best player last year but he was magnanimous enough to say I was the best this year.

 

“All the players are so competitive and I tried my absolute hardest to win. I knew I had a good shout and I think I deserved it. The best player in each year has won.

 

“Bob is such a true professional and it’s nice to take the title from a great champion and a really good bloke. It really means a lot to me because I didn’t want to be runner-up two years running.

 

“It’s been a fantastic two years in the League of Legends. Betfred have been absolutely brilliant for us and on behalf of all the players I’d like to thank them for putting us in the limelight again because we love that.”

 

Deller also collected the Sharon Henderson Memorial Trophy for achieving the most 180s during this year's series, nine in total.

 

The trophy was awarded in remembrance of tournament director Lee Henderson's wife Sharon, who tragically died in February 2009 at the age of 39, and presented to Deller by their son Joel.

 

John Lowe won the prize for the highest checkout during the series, a 160 against Cliff Lazarenko on night two in Middlesbrough.

 

 

 

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Two of the Legends will warm up for their bid for glory on finals night when they visit a Betfred shop in Sunderland on Saturday.

 

Customers can win some superb prizes by challenging Bob Anderson and John Lowe, who later the same day will battle it out for the 2009 Betfred.com League of Legends trophy at Rainton Meadows Arena.

 

The deadly duo are challenging members of the public to try to outscore them on the dartboard, with the professionals only allowed three darts against each punter to record as high a total as possible.

 

If the punter beats the pro’s total with three darts they will win a £1 free yankee bet (worth £11); if they fail to beat the pro with three darts but do so with six, they will win a 50p free yankee bet (worth £5.50). And nobody will go away empty-handed as consolation prizes are available!

 

There will also be the chance to win tickets for the Betfred.com League of Legends finals in which ‘The Limestone Cowboy’ puts his 2008 title on the line.

 

Betfred spokesman Jon Wilde said: “This is a fantastic chance to meet two of the most famous darts players of all time and have lots of fun. Bob and John will be signing autographs, posing for photographs and giving away free bets.

 

“I know they have both been practising hard and are determined not to let any of the punters beat them!”

 

The fun takes place at:

 

Betfred, 36 Westbourne Terrace, Shiney Row, Sunderland DH4 4QU from 1pm – 2pm on Saturday, October 31^st 2009

 

(strictly over-18s only)

 

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Keith Deller signalled his intention to go one better than last year in the 2009 Betfred.com League of Legends by winning the opening night of action in Leicester. 

The 1983 world champion, runner-up to Bob Anderson when the event was staged for the first time in 2008, hit seven maximum scores of 180 in a high-quality start to the new series.

 

This year’s League of Legends has a different format, with the first two nights taking the form of separate knockout competitions which also contribute towards a league table that determines the order of play for finals night.

 

Deller ensured he put himself on top of the initial table by winning the Leicester final 5-4 against Anderson, achieving a highly respectable three-dart average of 86.70, the best of the night, in doing so.

 

“I feel as though I’m playing better now than when I left the PDC,” said the 49-year-old from Suffolk. “I’ve been practising really hard and I haven’t been missing much.

 

“Bob has been my bogey player for 25 years and he usually plays brilliantly against me but this time it was my turn. I was 3-0 down in the final but I told myself I could come back and I deserved to win in the end.”

 

The night began with Anderson winning 5-1 against Peter Evison while Deller, in his quarter-final, edged out John Lowe in the ninth and deciding leg after hitting four 180s during the match.

 

Dave Whitcombe won 5-2 against Bobby George and there was a popular victory for Eric Bristow as the five-time former world champion took out Cliff Lazarenko, again in a decider.

 

Bristow was no match for Deller in the semi-finals as the Bury St Edmunds man prevailed 5-2, while Anderson accounted for Whitcombe with a 5-3 scoreline to set up a repeat of last year’s final.

 

“I think it’s good for the League of Legends that I won the final at Leicester,” added Deller. “It showed the event will be competitive this year and that it won’t be a walk in the park for Bob.”

 

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Bob Anderson has predicted an even more exciting Betfred.com League of Legends series this year as he prepares to defend his title against seven more of the most famous names in darts history.

 

‘The Limestone Cowboy’ won the live-televised inaugural League of Legends in 2008, beating fellow former world champion Keith Deller in the final at the Circus Tavern in Essex.

 

The line-up has remained unchanged for this year although the format is different, with the competition being played out over three nights in October, each of which contributes to the final standings although there will also be a winner of each individual show.

 

Last year’s event proved extremely close with the semi-final places only being confirmed on the seventh and final night of league action, and Anderson believes the players who did not do themselves justice last time will be keen to make amends.

 

“I think it will be even more competitive this year as the other seven players will be determined to do better and to beat me,” said the 61-year-old from Clevedon. “But I’m determined to do just as well too.

 

“I know John Lowe in particular has been practising hard. I’ve played him quite a few times this year and I think he’s sure to improve on last year’s performance.

 

“The new format doesn’t make any difference to me – I will approach every match in the same fashion as last year, and the potential to play three times in one night will suit me as I like to build up a rhythm.”

 

2009 BETFRED.COM LEAGUE OF LEGENDS FACTFILE

 

Who

 

Bob Anderson

Keith Deller

Cliff Lazarenko

Peter Evison

Eric Bristow

Bobby George

John Lowe

Dave Whitcombe

 

Where and when

 

Friday, October 2: Athena, Queen’s Street, Leicester LE1 1QD (ring 0844 847 2474 for tickets or visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk)

 

Friday, October 30: Marton Country Club, Stokesley Road, Marton, Middlesbrough TS7 8DS (ring 01642 317141 for tickets)

 

Saturday, October 31: Rainton Meadows Arena, Mercantile Road, Houghton-le-Spring, Durham DH4 5PH (ring 0191 584 8630 for tickets)

 

Competition format and schedule (all matches best of nine legs)

 

Night 1

 

Quarter-finals

 

1: Bob Anderson v Peter Evison

2: Bobby George v Dave Whitcombe

3: Eric Bristow v Cliff Lazarenko

4: Keith Deller v John Lowe

 

Semi-finals

 

5: Winner of 1 v Winner of 2

6: Winner of 3 v Winner of 4

 

Final

 

7: Winner of 5 v Winner of 6

 

Night 2

 

Quarter-finals

 

1: Cliff Lazarenko v John Lowe

2: Eric Bristow v Keith Deller

3: Bob Anderson v Peter Evison

4: Bobby George v Dave Whitcombe

 

Semi-finals

 

5: Winner of 1 v Winner of 2

6: Winner of 3 v Winner of 4

 

Final

 

7: Winner of 5 v Winner of 6

 

Results on these two nights will formulate a league table which will determine the schedule of play on Night 3. Points will be awarded on the following basis:

 

Quarter-final defeat: 1 point

Semi-final defeat: 2 points

Runner-up: 3 points

Winner: 4 points

 

Any ties for league positions after Night 2 will be resolved by the following criteria in order: leg difference; legs won; head-to-head record between tied players; head-to-head record with highest-ranked player where both tied players have faced that opponent the same number of times; one-leg play-off.

 

Finals night

 

Quarter-finals

 

1: 1^st in league v 8^th in league

2: 4^th in league v 5^th in league

3: 2^nd in league v 7^th in league

4: 3^rd in league v 6^th in league

 

Semi-finals

 

5: Winner of 1 v Winner of 2

6: Winner of 3 v Winner of 4

 

Final

 

7: Winner of 5 v Winner of 6

 

Prizemoney

 

Nights 1 and 2

 

Quarter-finalists: £625

Semi-finalists: £1,000

Runner-up: £2,000

Winner: £3,500

 

Finals night

 

Quarter-finalists: £750

Semi-finalists: £1,250

Runner-up: £2,250

Winner: £4,250

 

Bonuses

 

Highest checkout in series: £1,500

Most 180s in series: £1,500

 

 

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