STUART Kellett missed out on a place at next month’s Austrian Open after a weekend of mixed fortune at Robin Park Tennis Centre in Wigan.
The Northwich ace, seeded eighth, lost 6-1 against Alex Roy in the second round of the UK qualifier on Friday.
He recovered to reach the last 32 of the seventh Players’ Championship the following day, Saturday, recording comfortable wins against Denis Ovens (6-3) and Terry Temple (6-0) before bowing out to Spaniard Antonio Alcinas.
The world number 31 could not repeat the trick on Sunday, when he was squeezed out by Michael Barnard at the first round stage of the next Players’ Championship after a deciding leg.
Kellett had beaten the same opponent during the Coral UK Open at Butlins Minehead Resort back in March.
He remains on course though to qualify for the Players’ Championship finals later this year.
Winsford’s Dave Bird, who graduated from the Professional Darts Corporation’s qualifying school in January, exited both Players’ Championship tournaments in the first round.
On Saturday, he lost to Kurt Parry (6-3) before a 6-0 defeat to Dean Winstanley, Kellett’s stablemate at MDA Promotions, on Sunday.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here