Manx sharpshooter Colin Tyrer will lead the Island challenge at the Villa Marina's 25th birthday staging of the IoM International Darts Festival (12th - 14th March).
Tyrer scaled new heights when he reached the quarter finals last year, beaten by the eventual winner Darryl Fitton, who just a couple of months earlier had reached the semi finals of the BDO Lakeside world championships in Surrey.
Tyrer’s performance was the best by a Manx player in the championship apart from Wayne Harrison’s semi final showing in 1993 – before he took up residency on the Island.
Robbie Cannell, with three appearances in the last 32 and Mick Smedley’s two appearances in the last 16 have been the other eye-catching Manx achievements during the past 25 years.
That was until 12 months ago when Tyrer raised the bar as he coasted into the last eight.
Five Manx players had bravely battled into the last 64 against top class opposition to pick up prize-money but more importantly annex world rankings points.
Laxey’s Wayne Harrison and Colin Tyrer from Port Erin marched into the last 16, further fuelling island hopes.
Harrison spluttered to a halt - the 3-0 victim of Blackburn’s David Place - while Tyrer ruthlessly despatched Dutch international Joey ten Berg.
The 'flying Dutchman' swooped to smash in a 160 check-out for a 15-dart opening leg success, Tyrer missing a 113 checkout in the next but still managing to level the match.
The young Dutch player blasted in a 12-darter to once again move ahead, the Manx ace replying with a 13-dart fourth leg
In the deciding fifth, Ten Berg left himself 32 with the Islander requiring 120, Tyrer coolly hitting a single and then treble 20, clinching victory with his last dart for double tops.
Tyrer’s prize was a quarter final clash with professional and Madness Darryl Fitton but victory eluded the Manxman.
Despite taking the opening leg after Fitton missed two attempts for double tops, Dazzler hit back with a 13-darter, finished on double 13. In the next, Fitton was leading comfortably, as Tyrer, who had left himself the top checkout of 170, fired in back-to-back 170s but just missed the bullseye.
Despite missing two double attempts, Fitton nervously edged 2-1 ahead, the determined Manxman producing a match-levelling 93 finish, this time ironically completed with the bull!
Making the most of the throwing advantage, Fitton fired home his first 180 and two tons and a 137 steered him to victory and a place in the final, where he collected his first Manx title.
Fitton said of Tyrer following their clash, "Colin is a great player and I have watched him develop over the past few years, he was particularly impressive at the Europe Cup and is improving all the time."
Tyrer’s consolation was ?125 for reaching the last eight, to which ?50 was added as a prize for the best performance from a Channel Islander. This year he will have his eyes on the ?5000 winner’s prize.
Islanders once again have the incentive of the chance of lifting a ?50 prize for the best performing player from the Isle of Man in both the men and ladies singles competitions.
