In 2000 Doeland (a raw material building store (DIY)) became the new main sponsor for the event, which was organised from then on by Diamond Media. They moved the event again and to the eastern side of the country. It was to far away to travel (100 miles) for the western-based population. So fewer spectators visited the event. In 2001 the event was moved to Egmond aan Zee and that seemed to be a good move. All three days the event was sold out and they saw Raymond Barneveld winning again.

Last year the tournament was moved from October to December. The last main tournament for all the Embassy participating players. 2002 was Tony David’s year. After winning the Embassy and the first World Darts Trophy in Utrecht, The Doeland Grand Masters was also a victory for him. After he beat title defender Raymond Barneveld, he beat Mervyn King in the final. His third victory over the British player as he did in the Embassy and the WDT.

So again this year it is to be played in December in Egmond aan Zee. The system was changed due more players participating. Now 24 players entered the tournament. The tournament also carries BDO points for 16 players. The players are divided in 8 groups of 3 players and only the winner of the group will qualify for the quarterfinals, the knock out phase that starts on Sunday.

On Friday evening the tournament started with 8 matches. All groups displayed one match. To keep the excitement in the group, the loser of the first match will play the second match against the third player in the group. So the decisions will fall in the last group matches played on Saturday evening.

The next match in Group B went over the full length. Greatbatch who entered the tournament as a substitute for Gary Anderson who couldn’t organize some leave from his job was up against the Fin Jarkko Komula. The deciding leg went to the Fin. He will meet Fordham in the last match of the group.

The third Dutch player of the evening saw Albertino Essers up against English Captain Martin Adams. It was a complete whitewash for Wolfie. The man from Coevorden couldn’t do anything against a well playing Adams. Adams had a 101 and 164 finish. Essers could now only fulfill his sportive obligation.

An all-English encounter between Tony West and Steve Coote was next. Not the best match of the evening, but West at certain moments showed what he is capable of. As the Winmau World Master he is one of the favorites of this tournament and much of him is expected at next month’s Lakeside World Professional tournament. After a 2-0 lead, West saw Coote coming back to level the match, but won the next three legs to win the match 5-2.

Next up saw showy Robert Wagner against Silverback Tony O’Shea. Wagner brutally took the lead 2-0 only to see Tony come back. Both players had won 4 legs to leave the last leg as the decider. It was O’Shea who comfortably won the leg.

A sold out venue (850 spectators) again saw a match over the full distance in Group F. Rookie Stephen Bunting against former Embassy Champion John “the Tyke” Walton. It looked like an easy win for the Yorkshire man after he took the lead 2-0. Bunting came back and took the lead 4-3 when Walton had to throw to stay in the match. Walton succeeded to take that leg and again a deciding leg for the match. Almost a 170 checkout for Bunting. Walton was to far behind so the next turn Bunting took the victory. The substitute for Ritchie Davies now plays Bob Taylor on Saturday evening.

King against Monk is always special. Knowing that Co Stompé is also in this group, it is a though one. Monk had a leg injury and could hardly walk. He limped on stage and that affected his play. Mervyn who knows what that means (think about the IDL last year), but also knows he had to play his own game. It never became a real match between the two. King took the initiative from the start and comfortably won the match 5-2, also hitting 3 180’s.

On paper perhaps the toughest group with Ted Hankey, Tony Eccles and Tony David. Hankey started against Eccles and immediately broke the advantage of Eccles. The second leg went easily to the Count. And with a 161 finish in the third leg, the second break was there. It was only in the fifth leg that Eccles showed something. It did not scare Ted. The new father of baby Leah born on 6th November won the sixth leg and that was the final leg of the match. Hankey to meet David in the last match of the group of death.

Results of first session:
Group A: Raymond v Barneveld 29.09 – Vincent vd Voort 27.75 5 – 2
Group B: Shaun Greatbatch 27.64 (Eng) – Jarko Komula 26.52 (Fin) 4 – 5
Group C: Martin Adams 31.71 (Eng) – Albertino Essers 26.50 (Ned) 5 – 0
Group D: Tony West 27.29 (Eng) – Steve Coote 24.50 (Eng) 5 – 2
Group E: Tony O’Shea 32.64 (Eng) – Robert Wagner 31.11 (Nor) 5 – 4
Group F: John Walton 29.45 (Eng) – Stephen Bunting 29.26 (Eng) 4 – 5
Group G: Mervyn King 29.63 (Eng) – Colin Monk 27.65 (Eng) 5 – 2
Group H: Ted Hankey 30.90 (Eng) – Tony Eccles 25.41 (Eng) 5 – 1

Andy Fordham’s made certain of successful in his group competition and progress to the quarterfinals. An sensational 5-0 victory over fellow countryman Shaun Greatbatch. With also a 100 + average Fordham would be a candidacy for the title. For Greatbatch, nothing remained, he was out of contention with two loses. The fans found the “Viking” spectacular and were very impressed. They would be their tonight to once again se him in action.

The first match in this competition was for Albertino Essers a large disappointment. A 5-0 defeat against Adams. Now he wanted to redeem himself and show what he could do in this tournament. Brian Derbyshire was for that reason a willing victim. The Englishman saw the Dutchman progress with a 5-2 win. Through that result has Wolfie in its evening competition against Derbyshire only requiring 2 legs to move forward.

The fire fighter Steve Coote was up against the wildcard player Rick Hofstra. Hofstra had played his best darts this year. He had earned an invitation to the prestigious Lakeside tournament next month and he knew in this place had the supporters naturally right behind him. That gave him sufficient confidence and played a spectacular match. With a solid spell of darts the Frisian took victory 5-3.

James Wade’s first match in this competition. Wagner in his first match had lost of John Walton. Wagner began just as in his first competition particularly good. He moved out fast to a 4-1 lead and threw 3 maximums. At this stage it appeared the group would be completely open. Wade came back however, very smartly with wins in the next four legs to win 5 - 4.

Bob Taylor – John Walton the second competition in Group F. Walton knew this was his last chance, by which he knew his fate was in his own hands. He took every chance that came his way to defeat the Scotsman. With a 5-3 win, he would discover later it was still not enough for the man from Yorkshire to progress.

Co Stompé v Colin Monk was a match which went the first 8 legs with the darts. Each time Stompé took the lead, back came Monk to square up the match. The deciding leg brought Stompé on a twelve darts finish but missed with Monk on 124. Hitting T20 T14 and D11 won Monk the leg and with that the match. For Stompé to remain in the competition he would now require a large victory over Mervyn King later in the day.

The title defender Tony David (pictured right) in its first match was up against Tony Eccles. The match went leg for leg to be tied away at 4 – 4. This match was to go the full distance. Eccles won the last leg against the darts. A beautiful bull finish for the match.

Noon Session Saturday:
Group A: Darryl Fitton 35.33 (Eng) – Vincent vd Forward 29.42 (Ned) 5 – 1
Group B: Andy Fordham 33.40 (Eng) – Shaun Greatbatch 28.07 (Eng) 5 – 0
Group C: Brian Derbyshire 29.07 (Eng) – Albertino Essers 29.48 (Ned) 2 – 5
Group D: Rick Hofstra 27.61 (Ned) – Steve Coote 26.05 (Eng) 5 – 3
Group E: James Wade 25.66 (Eng) – Robert Wagner 25.68 (Nor) 5 – 4
Group F: Bob Taylor 28.90 (Sco) – John Walton 29.37 (Eng) 3 – 5
Group G: Co Stompé 26.52 (Ned) – Colin Monk 28.41 (Eng) 4 – 5
Group H: Tony David 31.88 (Aus) – Tony Eccles 30.51 (Eng) 4 – 5

The adversary for Barneveld came from the last competition of Group B. Jarkko Komula against Andy Fordham. “Smiley” had dressed in Orange, looking for some support from the crowd. Against Andy Fordham that is a useless attempt. The Viking moved fast to a 3-0 lead. Komula however had at last demonstrated some fight. He came back smartly back to put the match at 3-2. When Fordham took the margin out to two legs, everyone thought the match was over. Komula took the next two legs with which again a decisive 9th leg was required to find the winner. The fight was on. With 106 required by the Finn, Fordham needed to throw a 120 finish for the match. The public went through the roof when he hit it. The desired quarterfinal between the Viking and Barney was now a fact, which everyone wanted to see.

In Group C could theoretically see all players finish on one victory each. Adams had the most favourable prospects. He only needed to win the match to keep going. The Dutchman Essers was already certainly to be eliminated. The average was namely the third deciding factor in the group after the number of victories and the legs played. Derbyshire took a 3-0 lead. With that appeared a sensation was in the making. Adams must have felt this also. The crucial 4th leg went to Adams and in the fifth leg, narrowly missing by a hair a 161 finish. Also by winning that leg, “Wolfie” knew he could win. Derbyshire brought the difference again to two legs. Missed twice in the next leg and Adams won an important 3rd leg. Won the next to tie at 4 – 4. The match went to a decisive 9th leg that was won by Adams.

Holland’s newest top player Rick Hofstra against Tony West. Both knew that a victory was necessary here. They had played each other before during the Bavaria World Darts Trophy in Utrecht earlier in the year. On that occasion West won 3-1 in sets won. West was the man that stopped Barneveld from winning the Superslam a month earlier. Hofstra open the competition winning the first leg. West, known round in darting circles to play at a fast tempo could not find his rhythm. Partly due to Hofstra taking more time than necessary for his shot. Hofstra moved to 2-0 and 3-0 and West missed the doubles he wanted. Was a surprise upset in the air? Just in the fifth leg was the Englishman able to find the double. Hofstra took the 6th leg and with that the match.

The Gladiator James Wade against Tony “Silverback O’Shea. Both players won with 5-4 score line over Robert Wagner. O’Shea let there be no doubt over who was to exist the competition. A lesson in consistency. O’Shea with 5-1 victory and through to the quarterfinals.

Bob Taylor knew what he had to do to stay in the competition against the 18-year-old birthday boy in Stephen Bunting. A very disappointing performance by “The Bear”. Bunting took an easy 5-0 victory. With that performance in his first Doeland Grandmasters, Stephen could prepare for the quarterfinals.

Mervyn King against Co Stompé. The most important meeting between the two was more than 3 years ago. The quarterfinals of the Embassy in 2000. Stompé triumphed then. Meanwhile, things have certainly changed. King has since then many finals of large tournaments played and Stompé appears to be eliminated in the first round. King was about to burn. King concentrated hard and moved fast to 4-0 lead. With that score the chances for Stompé on a place in the quarterfinals had already disappeared. The fifth leg went to Stompé, and then King finished the match winning the next leg.

Evening Session:
Group A: Darryl Fitton 34.63 (Eng) – Raymond v Barneveld 34.87 (Ned) 5 – 3
Group B: Andy Fordham 31.18 (Eng) – Jarko Komula 30.94 (Finn) 5 – 4
Group C: Brian Derbyshire 27.43 (Eng) – Martin Adams 29.42 (Eng) 4 – 5
Group D: Rick Hofstra 25.09 (Ned) – Tony West 24.93 (Eng) 5 – 1
Group E: James Wade 27.91 (Eng) – Tony O’Shea 29.17 (Eng) 1 – 5
Group F: Bob Taylor 23.73 (Sco) – Stephen Bunting 28.15 (Eng) 0 – 5
Group G: Co Stompé 29.02 (Ned) – Mervyn King 31.64 (Eng) 1 – 5
Group H: Tony David 29.88 (Aus) – Ted Hankey 30.15 (Eng) 3 – 5

After the group phase was completed the winners went on to the quarterfinal stages.

Eight players were left remaining with six English and two Dutch players. Most remarkable fact was the elimination of the player with the highest average. Darryl Fitton who had a 34.94 average over two matches followed the remainder of the tournament as a spectator and the man with the 22nd placed average Rick Hofstra (26.46) went through to the quarters.

Ted Hankey – Mervyn King.
A match between two great players - The King versus the Count. The match went over the full distance, including a throw for the bull after the deciding leg reached 2-2. The first set went to Hankey after trailing 2-0. The second again a 2-0 lead for King and he did not make the same mistake as in the first set. He won the set 3-0. On 2-2 in sets King had the first break and looked favourite for the Match. On a 2-1 lead Hankey missed 2 darts to break back and it was King to throw the winning double. On two occasions he missed and Hankey took the leg. The next leg was the last one. Hankey started it, but as so many times before, it was the opponent to win the leg. Hanky missed two darts on the double and King walked away with the match.

Martin Adams – Rick Hofstra
These two have met two times before. The first time a week before the Bavaria World Darts Trophy when Rick won a final of a money tournament in Nijkerk and the second time it was Adams who won the more important match at the Winmau World Masters in November this year. Adams won the first set without dropping a leg. Not even a chance on a double for the Dutchman. Hofstra had nothing to lose and finally found his pace on 2-1 in front in the second set he broke the advantage of Adams and won the set 3-1. In the deciding leg of the third set, Adams missed a 122 finish to take the set and Rick finished 48 with two darts on D16. The crowd went crazy. A sensation was in the air. Free of any pressure Hofstra 1-0 in front in the fourth set missed a 161 to lead 2-0. Martin hung in and finished on 36. On his advantage it went 2-1 for Hofstra and then he was only one leg away from victory. Adams however won the next two legs without giving his opponent a chance on a winning double. It was only postponement for Adams. Hofstra took a 2-0 lead due a break with a 79 peg hitting T19 D11. Adams managed to draw a leg back, but the young gun finished the 4th leg on Tops. With tears in his eyes Hofstra saw Adams leaving the stage first and he waited several minutes inhaling the cheers from the audience. Into the semi final against Raymond or Andy!

Raymond Barneveld (Ned) – Andy Fordham (Eng)
Their last encounter at the Winmau was a cracking match. Fordham proved he was able to play long matches and this was much shorter. The first set went to Barneveld in 15, 15 and 12 darts. The first set also went to the Dutch before Andy could do something back. On 2-1 Barneveld hit two 180’s and the 7th dart also hit the T20. Only the 8th dart missed the T15 by a whisker. Gone was the chance for a televised 9-dart leg. He took the set to lead 2-0. Fordham then found the trebles and with good finishes he managed to draw back a set. When he also took the next set because Barneveld could not hit the D18 anymore. Barneveld took his time to concentrate again. He was in real trouble as he had not been in this situation before during the year. Only Fordham and West had pushed him this way before. The 1995 and 2001 winner broke Fordham in the first leg of the final set and that was enough for the lead. He then won the next leg he started too and Fordham saw destiny coming closer. Another break in the next leg and the victory was there.

Quarterfinals Sunday:
Tony O’Shea 28.97 (Eng) – Stephen Bunting 28.36 (Eng)
3 – 2 (3-1, 2-3, 1-3, 3-0, 3-1)
Mervyn King 31.07 (Eng) – Ted Hankey 29.99 (Eng)
3 – 2 (2-3, 3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2)
Martin Adams 29.59 (Eng) – Rick Hofstra 29.09 (Ned)
2 – 3 (3-0, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 1-3)
Raymond Barneveld 33.38 (Ned) – Andy Fordham 30.60 (Eng)
3 – 2 (3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 3-0)

Raymond Barneveld – Rick Hofstra
The organisation was very happy with a Dutch player in the final. Would it be young gun Hofstra who experienced a remarkable year, or the man who had won so many titles this year Raymond Barneveld? Hofstra was already the surprise of the tournament after his win over Steve Coote and Tony West in the group stage and Martin Adams in the quarterfinal. Raymond would be happy if he did not win this tournament. From the start it looked to be a very one-sided match in favour of Barneveld. 180’s flew around if they were so easy. In the first two sets he didn’t drop a leg and two opportunities for the 9-dart leg. In both occasions he missed the 7th triple 20 needed. There was nothing that Rick could do about it. Only in the third set he was able to take a leg and that gave him the confidence to even win the set. After a missed 116 finish from Barneveld on his favourite D18 and a missed 103 from Hofstra, Barneveld again had a chance on the double. He did not miss again and the lead in the fourth set was there. He went on winning the next two legs to win the match and qualify for the final. His opponent would be Mervyn King. Rick received a standing ovation from the crowd. With his earned ranking points he will climb on the ranking ladder.

Semi Finals:
Tony O’Shea 29.50 (Eng) – Mervyn King 29.56 (Eng)
1 – 3 (1-3, 3-0 , 0-3, 1-3)
Rick Hofstra 27.56 (Ned) – Raymond Barneveld 32.41 (Ned)
1 – 3 (0-3, 0-3, 3-1, 0-3)

Final:
Mervyn King 29.35 (Eng) – Raymond Barneveld 31.41 (Ned)
1 – 6 (1-3, 2-3, 2-3, 0-3, 2-3, 3-1,1-3)

Report supplied by Hans Senders - Press Doeland Grand Masters.
Photos supplied by Jan van de Laar - worlddartsplaza