Adams advances as Mitchell masters Manley mind games to reach World Seniors Darts Championship last 16

Martin Adams and Scott Mitchell are through to the last 16 of the 2023 World Seniors Darts Championship thanks to victories over Dave Prins and Peter Manley respectively at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet.

Last year's beaten finalist, Martin 'Wolfie' Adams began his attempt at going one step further this tie-around against 'The Badger' Dave Prins and it was Adams who took the opening leg on double top to hold throw, before Prins fired back with a hold of his own in the second. Two more holds, one from each player ensured that the opening set to a deciding leg. Wolfie would keep the sequence of holds going, pinning double top after some faffing and taking the opening set.

After Adams threatened to take out a 135, Prins coolly returned and successfully claimed the opening leg of the second set. Both players made a mess of the set-up in the following leg, with Prins the man to eventually nail the double and secure the first break of throw of the match. With missing three darts for the set, Adams came oh so close to stealing the leg with a 156 checkout but with The Badger returning he would pin double 5, third dart in hand and level up the match at a set apiece.

In a scruffy opening leg of set 3, Wolfie mopped up 25 to nudge in front. Despite looking visibly frustrated, Adams nailed double top to break the Prins throw and move two legs clear. A few moments later, Adams was 2-1 up in sets having raced through the third in double quick time.

Stopping the rot, Prins would take the opening leg of the fourth set on double 10 and Adams had missed five darts for the following leg, Prins had the opportunity to break. He was unable and Wolfie returned to finally get the leg in the bag. Successive holds then meant the set would be going all the way with Prins needing to win the leg or Adams would be advancing. After Prins failed to get a shot at double despite throwing six darts from 96 Adams snuck in and sealed the 3-1 win.

In a battle of the pink shirts, it was two of the most colourful characters in the darting world as Peter Manley took on Scott Mitchell. Manley immediately started with the mind games, getting his opponent to open his water bottle and forcing Mitchell into a handshake when Scotty Dog offered had offered a fist bump.

Once the darts had finally got underway Mitchell, fresh off losing his PDC Tour Card, seemed unaffected by Manley's games taking the opening leg. After Scotty Dog slipped up and missed double 7 for the 2nd leg, One Dart lived up to his moniker, nailed tops at the first time of asking and followed it up by laughing in Mitchell's face. Scotty Dog continued to just play his own game, taking the following two legs and getting the last laugh as he sealed the opening set.

After Mitchell took the opening leg of the second set, there was more drama as confusion ensued over who was set to throw first in the second leg. Eventually, once referee Paul Hinks had explained to a discombobulated Manley that it was not his throw, Scott Mitchell was the man who got the game back underway, with Scotty Dog taking the leg on double 18. A few moments later the players were going off stage with Mitchell 2-0 ahead.

After the break, Mitchell continued to power towards the finish line and a potential last-16 encounter with reigning World Seniors champ, Robert Thornton. After nailing double 5 for the opening leg, Scotty Dog eventually took the second leg on double 1 after numerous missed darts at the outer ring. Manley proved he wasn't finished just yet, rolling back the years with a splendid 161 to keep the match going but it proved nothing more than a consolation as Mitchell cleaned up on double 10 to secure a whitewash 3-0 victory.