Beaton overpowered by Taylor

The nine-day internet-streamed event drew to a conclusion with the eight group winners playing each other once in a league phase to decide the semi-finalists.

The Wellesbourne thrower got off to a poor start, losing his opening three games. A 6-4 defeat to Wes Newton was followed by 6-4 losses to Alan Tabern and Phil Taylor.

Beaton bucked the trend with a 6-1 win against Wayne Jones before gaining a 6-5 victory against Simon Whitlock and an emphatic 6-1 success over Andy Smith.

Despite a 6-2 defeat to James Wade in his final match, Beaton had done enough to make the last four, where he was joined by Taylor, Wade and Whitlock.

Unfortunately, he met Taylor on one of his power surges and went down to a 6-0 defeat.

In the other semi-final, Wade beat Whitlock 6-2 before edging out Taylor 6-5 in a memorable final.

“It was a great day of darts and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience,” said Beaton.

On Saturday, Beaton lost 4-3 in the second round of the Gleneagles Irish Masters to eventual winner Simon Whitlock.

The following day at the Killarney Darts Festival, he bowed out in the fourth round of the John McEvoy Golden Dart Classic Players Champ-ionship to Lillington’s Nigel Heydon.

Heydon, who had already seen off John Digan, Mark Howard and Andy Hamilton to reach the last 16, won the clash 6-4 before losing 6-2 to Richie Burnett in the quarter-final.

Gary Anderson won the title, beating Denis Smith 6-1 in the final.