Craig Caldwell has qualified for the Auckland Darts Masters
Friday 28 August 2015 09:53, UK
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.
