Championship League Darts
Tournament information
Dates	September 25 – November 1
Venue	Crondon Park Golf Club
Location	Stock, Essex
Country	England
Organisation(s)	PDC
Format	Legs
Prize fund	£200,000
Champion(s)
Phil Taylor
«2011 2013»

The 2012 Championship League Darts was the fifth edition of a darts competition — the Championship League Darts. The competition was organised and held by the Professional Darts Corporation, with the 2012 edition having a prize fund over £200,000.

The format of the tournament is similar to the Premier League Darts tournament, also organized by the PDC, except it is contested by a larger pool of players who were divided into a number of groups.

Every match could be watched on one of the fifty-three bookmaker websites who broadcast the competition. The tournament was available globally through the internet, except in the United States of America where it could not be shown for legal reasons.

Phil Taylor won his third Championship League title be defeating Simon Whitlock 6–4 in the final.^[1]

Format

The first group consisted of the top eight players from the PDC Order of Merit who were available for the competition. These eight players played each other over the course of a day, receiving two points for each win. All matches were contested over a maximum of 11 legs with a player winning the match on reaching 6 legs. After all players had played each other, the four players with the most points progressed to the semi-finals with the winners of those matches progressing into the final.

The winner of the final progressed to the winners group which took place at the end of the competition. The runner-up, losing semi-finalists and the players finishing fifth and sixth moved into group two, where they were joined by the next three players in the Order of Merit. The format of the second group was the same as the first group with players moving into the third group. In total there were 8 groups before the final group took place.

This format ensures that all players who do not win the group or finish in the last two positions have another chance to qualify for the winners group.

Prize money

The Championship League Darts awards prize money per leg won, as well as to the eventual winner, runner-up and semi-finalists of the entire tournament.
The amount of prize money awarded per leg won is:^[2][3]

The amount of prize money awarded to the winner, runner-up and semi-finalists of the tournament is:

Tournament dates

The tournament took place over nine days throughout September, October and November 2012. One group was played on each day. The dates were as follows:

• Group 1 – Tuesday September 25
• Group 2 – Wednesday September 26
• Group 3 – Thursday September 27
• Group 4 – Tuesday October 16
• Group 5 – Wednesday October 17
• Group 6 – Thursday October 18
• Group 7 – Tuesday October 30
• Group 8 – Wednesday October 31
• Winners Group – Thursday November 1

The tournament took place at the Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex.

Note: Raymond van Barneveld chose not to compete in the tournament. Vincent van der Voort withdrew due to medical issues, Andy Smith will take his place in group 4 with Steve Beaton taking up the new final spot in group 8.

Winners Group

• Wes Newton
• Justin Pipe
• Ronnie Baxter
• Phil Taylor
• Simon Whitlock
• Dave Chisnall
• Jamie Caven
• Mark Walsh

Group stage

^[4]

Group 1

Played Tuesday September 25, group 1 was won by Wes Newton who qualifies for the winners group. Andy Hamilton and James Wade were knocked out.^[5]

		Tay	Jen	New	Lew	And	Whi	Ham	Wad	Points, Legs
1	Phil Taylor		6–4	4–6	5–6	6–3	6–5	6–4	6–2	10, 39–30
2	Terry Jenkins	4–6		5–6	6–3	6–3	6–3	4–6	6–3	8, 37–30
3	Wes Newton	6–4	6–5		1–6	4–6	5–6	6–2	6–2	8, 34–31
4	Adrian Lewis	6–5	3–6	6–1		6–4	2–6	6–1	3–6	8, 32–29
5	Gary Anderson	3–6	3–6	6–4	4–6		6–4	6–3	6–5	8, 34–34
6	Simon Whitlock	5–6	3–6	6–5	6–2	4–6		5–6	6–4	6, 35–35
7	Andy Hamilton	4–6	6–4	2–6	1–6	3–6	6–5		6–3	6, 28–36
8	James Wade	2–6	3–6	2–6	6–3	5–6	4–6	3–6		2, 25–39

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Phil Taylor	2
	4	Adrian Lewis	6
						4	Adrian Lewis	3
						3	Wes Newton	6
	2	Terry Jenkins	5
	3	Wes Newton	6

Group 2

Played Wednesday September 26, group 2 was won by Justin Pipe who qualifies for the winners group. Mark Webster and Kevin Painter were knocked out.^[6]

		Tay	Jen	Pip	Lew	And	Whi	Pai	Web	Points, Legs
1	Phil Taylor		4–6	6–2	6–0	6–2	6–2	6–3	6–4	12, 40–19
2	Terry Jenkins	6–4		6–5	4–6	6–0	6–4	1–6	6–2	10, 35–27
3	Justin Pipe	2–6	5–6		6–5	5–6	6–3	6–3	6–1	8, 36–30
4	Adrian Lewis	0–6	6–4	5–6		6–4	1–6	6–3	6–1	8, 30–30
5	Gary Anderson	2–6	0–6	6–5	4–6		6–2	6–4	6–5	8, 30–34
6	Simon Whitlock	2–6	4–6	3–6	6–1	2–6		6–3	6–4	6, 29–32
7	Kevin Painter	3–6	6–1	3–6	3–6	4–6	3–6		6–5	4, 28–36
8	Mark Webster	4–6	2–6	1–6	1–6	5–6	4–6	5–6		0, 22–42

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Phil Taylor	6
	4	Adrian Lewis	3
						1	Phil Taylor	5
						3	Justin Pipe	6
	2	Terry Jenkins	4
	3	Justin Pipe	6

Group 3

Played Thursday September 27, group 3 was won by Ronnie Baxter who qualifies for the winners group. Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson were knocked out.^[7]

		Wal	Whi	Chi	Bax	Tay	Jen	Lew	And	Points, Legs
1	Mark Walsh		6–4	3–6	6–3	6–2	6–1	6–3	2–6	10, 35–25
2	Simon Whitlock	4–6		6–5	3–6	6–1	6–3	6–3	6–4	10, 37–28
3	Dave Chisnall	6–3	5–6		6–4	5–6	5–6	6–5	6–5	8, 39–35
4	Ronnie Baxter	3–6	6–3	4–6		6–4	6–1	1–6	6–4	8, 32–30
5	Phil Taylor	2–6	1–6	6–5	4–6		6–1	4–6	6–5	6, 29–35
6	Terry Jenkins	1–6	3–6	6–5	1–6	1–6		6–5	6–4	6, 24–38
7	Adrian Lewis	3–6	3–6	5–6	6–1	6–4	5–6		5–6	4, 33–35
8	Gary Anderson	6–2	4–6	5–6	4–6	5–6	4–6	6–5		4, 34–37

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Mark Walsh	3
	4	Ronnie Baxter	6
						4	Ronnie Baxter	6
						3	Dave Chisnall	5
	2	Simon Whitlock	2
	3	Dave Chisnall	6

Group 4

Played Tuesday October 16, group 4 was won by Phil Taylor who qualifies for the winners group. Andy Smith and Mervyn King were knocked out.^[8]

		Tay	Chi	Wal	Nic	Jen	Whi	Smi	Kin	Points, Legs
1	Phil Taylor		6–1	6–2	6–0	6–1	6–4	6–0	6–1	14, 42–9
2	Dave Chisnall	1–6		6–3	6–5	6–4	6–4	6–4	6–5	12, 37–31
3	Mark Walsh	2–6	3–6		6–5	5–6	6–5	6–3	6–3	8, 34–34
4	Paul Nicholson	0–6	5–6	5–6		5–6	6–4	6–2	6–2	6, 33–32
5	Terry Jenkins	1–6	4–6	6–5	6–5		6–5	4–6	1–6	6, 28–39
6	Simon Whitlock	4–6	4–6	5–6	4–6	5–6		6–4	6–1	4, 34–35
7	Andy Smith	0–6	4–6	3–6	2–6	6–4	4–6		6–1	4, 25–35
8	Mervyn King	1–6	5–6	3–6	2–6	6–1	1–6	1–6		2, 19–37

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Phil Taylor	6
	4	Paul Nicholson	3
						1	Phil Taylor	6
						3	Mark Walsh	1
	2	Dave Chisnall	4
	3	Mark Walsh	6

Group 5

Played Wednesday October 17, was won by Simon Whitlock who qualifies for the winners group. Colin Lloyd and Wayne Jones were knocked out.^[9]

		Nic	Chi	Whi	Jen	Tho	Wal	Llo	Jon	Points, Legs
1	Paul Nicholson		6–2	5–6	6–1	6–4	6–4	6–3	6–4	12, 41–24
2	Dave Chisnall	2–6		6–2	6–3	6–5	6–2	6–2	6–1	12, 38–21
3	Simon Whitlock	6–5	2–6		6–3	1–6	6–5	6–5	6–2	10, 33–32
4	Terry Jenkins	1–6	3–6	3–6		6–3	6–5	6–4	6–4	8, 31–34
5	Robert Thornton	4–6	5–6	6–1	3–6		5–6	6–3	6–4	6, 35–32
6	Mark Walsh	4–6	2–6	5–6	5–6	6–5		4–6	6–4	4, 32–39
7	Colin Lloyd	3–6	2–6	5–6	4–6	3–6	6–4		4–6	2, 27–40
8	Wayne Jones	4–6	1–6	2–6	4–6	4–6	4–6	6–4		2, 25–40

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Paul Nicholson	6
	4	Terry Jenkins	3
						1	Paul Nicholson	3
						3	Simon Whitlock	6
	2	Dave Chisnall	4
	3	Simon Whitlock	6

Group 6

Played Thursday October 18, was won by Dave Chisnall who qualifies for the winners group. John Part and Terry Jenkins were knocked out.^[10]

		Cav	Chi	Tho	Wal	Osb	Nic	Par	Jen	Points, Legs
1	Jamie Caven		5–6	6–5	6–1	6–3	6–4	6–4	6–3	12, 41–26
2	Dave Chisnall	6–5		4–6	6–3	6–2	6–2	6–3	6–4	12, 40–25
3	Robert Thornton	5–6	6–4		6–3	3–6	6–3	4–6	6–4	8, 36–32
4	Mark Walsh	1–6	3–6	3–6		6–5	6–5	6–4	6–4	8, 31–36
5	Colin Osborne	3–6	2–6	6–3	5–6		6–4	6–4	4–6	6, 32–35
6	Paul Nicholson	4–6	2–6	3–6	5–6	4–6		6–3	6–3	4, 30–36
7	John Part	4–6	3–6	6–4	4–6	4–6	3–6		6–3	4, 30–37
8	Terry Jenkins	3–6	4–6	4–6	4–6	6–4	3–6	3–6		2, 27–40

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Jamie Caven	1
	4	Mark Walsh	6
						4	Mark Walsh	3
						2	Dave Chisnall	6
	2	Dave Chisnall	6
	3	Robert Thornton	1

Group 7

Played Tuesday October 30, was won by Jamie Caven who qualifies for the winners group. Richie Burnett and Colin Osborne were knocked out.^[11]

		vnG	Tho	Cav	Nic	Dol	Wal	Bur	Osb	Points, Legs
1	Michael van Gerwen		6–2	6–3	6–4	6–5	6–5	6–1	6–1	14, 42–21
2	Robert Thornton	2–6		6–1	6–3	6–4	5–6	6–4	6–2	10, 37–26
3	Jamie Caven	3–6	1–6		6–5	5–6	6–4	6–2	6–4	8, 33–33
4	Paul Nicholson	4–6	3–6	5–6		5–6	6–1	6–1	6–2	6, 35–28
5	Brendan Dolan	5–6	4–6	6–5	6–5		4–6	3–6	6–2	6, 34–36
6	Mark Walsh	5–6	6–5	4–6	1–6	6–4		3–6	6–1	6, 31–34
7	Richie Burnett	1–6	4–6	2–6	1–6	6–3	6–3		6–1	6, 26–31
8	Colin Osborne	1–6	2–6	4–6	2–6	2–6	1–6	1–6		0, 13–42

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Michael van Gerwen	3
	4	Paul Nicholson	6
						4	Paul Nicholson	4
						3	Jamie Caven	6
	2	Robert Thornton	2
	3	Jamie Caven	6

Group 8

Played Wednesday October 31, group 8 was won by Mark Walsh who qualifies for the winners group.^[12]

		vnG	Tho	Wal	Bea	Wri	Dol	Nic	Ove	Points, Legs
1	Michael van Gerwen		5–6	6–3	6–0	6–3	6–5	6–3	6–3	12, 41–23
2	Robert Thornton	6–5		6–4	6–5	2–6	6–4	6–2	6–1	12, 38–27
3	Mark Walsh	3–6	4–6		6–3	6–4	6–4	6–4	6–1	10, 37–28
4	Steve Beaton	0–6	6–2	4–6		2–6	6–3	6–5	6–2	8, 30–30
5	Peter Wright	3–6	5–6	3–6	6–2		6–3	4–6	6–3	6, 33–32
6	Brendan Dolan	5–6	4–6	3–6	4–6	3–6		6–1	6–3	4, 31–34
7	Paul Nicholson	3–6	2–6	4–6	6–4	5–6	1–6		6–2	4, 27–36
8	Denis Ovens	3–6	1–6	1–6	3–6	2–6	3–6	2–6		0, 15–42

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Michael van Gerwen	5
	4	Steve Beaton	6
						4	Steve Beaton	5
						3	Mark Walsh	6
	2	Robert Thornton	2
	3	Mark Walsh	6

Winners group

Played Thursday November 1, and was won by Phil Taylor.^[1]

		Tay	Cav	Whi	Chi	Pip	Bax	New	Wal	Points, Legs
1	Phil Taylor		6–2	6–4	6–4	6–5	6–4	6–5	6–0	14, 42–24
2	Jamie Caven	2–6		3–6	6–4	6–4	6–4	6–3	6–4	10, 35–31
3	Simon Whitlock	4–6	6–3		6–4	3–6	6–4	3–6	6–4	8, 34–33
4	Dave Chisnall	4–6	4–6	4–6		6–2	5–6	6–4	6–2	6, 35–32
5	Justin Pipe	5–6	4–6	6–3	2–6		6–1	6–4	4–6	6, 33–32
6	Ronnie Baxter	4–6	4–6	4–6	6–5	1–6		6–4	6–3	6, 31–36
7	Wes Newton	5–6	3–6	6–3	4–6	4–6	4–6		6–4	4, 32–37
8	Mark Walsh	0–6	4–6	4–6	2–6	6–4	3–6	4–6		2, 23–40

	Semi-final					Final
	1	Phil Taylor	6
	4	Dave Chisnall	0
						1	Phil Taylor	6
						3	Simon Whitlock	4
	2	Jamie Caven	4
	3	Simon Whitlock	6