Reigning World Seniors Matchplay champion Leonard Gates thrashes Robert Thornton to set up final showdown with John Henderson

Saturday, 05 October 2024 at 21:55

The final is officially set at the World Seniors Matchplay with Leonard Gates set to face off against John Henderson in a battle of two of the best exponents of the WSDT.

Gates faced Robert Thornton in the second semi-final after John Henderson took down Richie Howson, the current WSDT Champion of Champions earlier in the evening. A match that many expected to be close was anything but.

Gates who is the current defending champion and won all three tournaments aside from the World Championship last year will look to retain a WSDT title for the first time against the current World Seniors champion.

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Some would've perhaps been expecting or wanting an all Scottish final but for Thornton, it was an uphill struggle from the start. He took the opening leg in 20 darts with Gates slow to start. But he soon got into his rhythm with Thornton unable to find his scoring power. He held and broke with a 14 darter. Thornton then missed chances to break back and Gates made it 3-1. It was the same again as Thornton actually bust his score as well as Gates before 'Soulger' fell over the line for a 4-1 lead.

Thornton's frustration was all to see on stage as Gates romped into a seventh straight leg for 7-1 and was two away from the final. The saying goes the comeback has to start somewhere. Gates missed chances for 9-1 and Thornton pinned double two for 8-2. He did a boogie ala Leonard Gates and celebrated ironically on stage.

Thornton danced ironically but when he returned. He hit an 80 checkout to break and go 8-4 down. But the revival was stopped with Thornton sat waiting but his scoring fell off mid leg and Gates pinned 88 to stop it in its tracks and win 9-4.