CRAIG CALDWELL finally won his spot in the TAB Auckland Darts Masters after taking victory in the fourth DPNZ Qualifier on Thursday.
Caldwell had been defeated in the final of two of the previous three DPNZ Qualifiers for the PDC World Series of Darts event this week, losing out to Loz Ryder on Tuesday and against Rob Modra on Wednesday.
However, he made amends by seeing off Deon Toki 6-4 in the final of Thursday's event at the Swanson RSA, securing himself the 16th spot in this weekend's inaugural TAB Auckland Darts Masters at the Trusts Arena.
A World Cup of Darts representative for New Zealand previously, Caldwell will now compete in his third successive World Series of Darts event, having played in the Perth Darts Masters and Sydney Darts Masters over the past fortnight - losing to Phil Taylor and James Wade respectively.
Caldwell will meet Taylor again in Auckland when they clash in Friday's first round, and goes into the game on a high following Thursday's success.
The knockout stage of the tournament had included a victory for Caldwell over former World Championship Qualifier Mark McGrath before he knocked out Cody Harris - a qualifier in Sydney a week ago - Mick Lacey and Kerry Whear in reaching the decider.
Toki had seen off Mike Buttar, Anthony Benitez and Tukina Weko on his way to the final, while Whear overcame New Zealand World Cup ace Warren Parry in the last 16.
2013 Sydney Darts Masters qualifier Monty Tuhua and Chris Robson joined Benitez and Lace in losing out in the quarter-finals in Swanson.
The TAB Auckland Darts Masters will be played at the Trusts Arena from August 28-30. Tickets can be purchased through Eventfinda viawww.eventfinda.co.nz or through 0800 BUY TIX (289 849).
2015 TAB Auckland Darts Masters
DPA Qualifier Four - Thursday August 27
Last 16
Tukina Weko 3-2 Ricci Grant
Monty Tuhua 3-1 Leon Twose
Anthony Benitez 3-1 Hemi Johnson
Deon Toki 3-0 Mike Buttar
Mick Lacey 3-2 Ryan Kitson
Craig Caldwell 3-0 Cody Harris
Kerry Whear 3-0 Warren Parry
Chris Robson 3-2 Damon Heta
Quarter-Finals
Tukina Weko 4-1 Monty Tuhua
Deon Toki 4-2 Anthony Benitez
Craig Caldwell 4-1 Mick Lacey
Kerry Whear 4-3 Chris Robson
Semi-Finals
Deon Toki 5-4 Tukina Weko
Craig Caldwell 5-2 Kerry Whear
Final
Craig Caldwell 6-4 Deon Toki
TAB Auckland Darts Masters Draw Bracket
Phil Taylor (1) v Craig Caldwell
Stephen Bunting (8) v Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson (5) v Rob Modra
Adrian Lewis (4) v David Platt
Michael van Gerwen (2) v Rob Szabo
Raymond van Barneveld (7) v Loz Ryder
James Wade (6) v Paul Nicholson
Peter Wright (3) v Mark Cleaver
TAB Auckland Darts Masters - Trusts Arena, August 28-30
Friday August 28 (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Adrian Lewis v David Platt
Peter Wright v Mark Cleaver
James Wade v Paul Nicholson
Phil Taylor v Craig Caldwell
Raymond van Barneveld v Loz Ryder
Stephen Bunting v Simon Whitlock
Michael van Gerwen v Rob Szabo
Gary Anderson v Rob Modra
Best of 11 legs
Saturday August 29 (7pm-10.30pm)
Quarter-Finals - Best of 15 legs
Sunday August 30 (7pm-10.30pm)
Semi-Finals & Final
Semi-Finals best of 19 legs
Final best of 21 legs
Caldwell had been defeated in the final of two of the previous three DPNZ Qualifiers for the PDC World Series of Darts event this week, losing out to Loz Ryder on Tuesday and against Rob Modra on Wednesday.
However, he made amends by seeing off Deon Toki 6-4 in the final of Thursday's event at the Swanson RSA, securing himself the 16th spot in this weekend's inaugural TAB Auckland Darts Masters at the Trusts Arena.
A World Cup of Darts representative for New Zealand previously, Caldwell will now compete in his third successive World Series of Darts event, having played in the Perth Darts Masters and Sydney Darts Masters over the past fortnight - losing to Phil Taylor and James Wade respectively.
Caldwell will meet Taylor again in Auckland when they clash in Friday's first round, and goes into the game on a high following Thursday's success.
The knockout stage of the tournament had included a victory for Caldwell over former World Championship Qualifier Mark McGrath before he knocked out Cody Harris - a qualifier in Sydney a week ago - Mick Lacey and Kerry Whear in reaching the decider.
Toki had seen off Mike Buttar, Anthony Benitez and Tukina Weko on his way to the final, while Whear overcame New Zealand World Cup ace Warren Parry in the last 16.
2013 Sydney Darts Masters qualifier Monty Tuhua and Chris Robson joined Benitez and Lace in losing out in the quarter-finals in Swanson.
The TAB Auckland Darts Masters will be played at the Trusts Arena from August 28-30. Tickets can be purchased through Eventfinda viawww.eventfinda.co.nz or through 0800 BUY TIX (289 849).
2015 TAB Auckland Darts Masters
DPA Qualifier Four - Thursday August 27
Last 16
Tukina Weko 3-2 Ricci Grant
Monty Tuhua 3-1 Leon Twose
Anthony Benitez 3-1 Hemi Johnson
Deon Toki 3-0 Mike Buttar
Mick Lacey 3-2 Ryan Kitson
Craig Caldwell 3-0 Cody Harris
Kerry Whear 3-0 Warren Parry
Chris Robson 3-2 Damon Heta
Quarter-Finals
Tukina Weko 4-1 Monty Tuhua
Deon Toki 4-2 Anthony Benitez
Craig Caldwell 4-1 Mick Lacey
Kerry Whear 4-3 Chris Robson
Semi-Finals
Deon Toki 5-4 Tukina Weko
Craig Caldwell 5-2 Kerry Whear
Final
Craig Caldwell 6-4 Deon Toki
TAB Auckland Darts Masters Draw Bracket
Phil Taylor (1) v Craig Caldwell
Stephen Bunting (8) v Simon Whitlock
Gary Anderson (5) v Rob Modra
Adrian Lewis (4) v David Platt
Michael van Gerwen (2) v Rob Szabo
Raymond van Barneveld (7) v Loz Ryder
James Wade (6) v Paul Nicholson
Peter Wright (3) v Mark Cleaver
TAB Auckland Darts Masters - Trusts Arena, August 28-30
Friday August 28 (7pm-11pm)
First Round
Adrian Lewis v David Platt
Peter Wright v Mark Cleaver
James Wade v Paul Nicholson
Phil Taylor v Craig Caldwell
Raymond van Barneveld v Loz Ryder
Stephen Bunting v Simon Whitlock
Michael van Gerwen v Rob Szabo
Gary Anderson v Rob Modra
Best of 11 legs
Saturday August 29 (7pm-10.30pm)
Quarter-Finals - Best of 15 legs
Sunday August 30 (7pm-10.30pm)
Semi-Finals & Final
Semi-Finals best of 19 legs
Final best of 21 legs
