Borland Bags Super Series Success

Willie Borland became the first winner in Series 6 of the MODUS Super Series after defeating Nico Blum 4-1 in the Final at the Live Lounge. Big Willie qualified for the opening week’s Finals Night having finished third in Group B behind Jarred Cole and Harry Ward, walking away £5,000 richer after his first weekly win in Portsmouth.

“It’s about time I won something as big as that, I haven’t played to my full standards before when I have reached Finals Night, but I’m happy to win and move onto bigger and better things now.”

The Scottish international has played himself into form having impressed on the ADC Vault Series, topping the Scottish Region in the Vault 4.0 Series having claimed numerous Round Robin successes at selected venues in Kilmarnock, Falkirk, and Livingston.

The Winmau player opened his week playing in Group A, finishing 2^nd behind another Winmau player in Thibault Tricole with 11 wins out of a possible 15. The French Touch secured his place in Saturday’s Finale having won 13 matches in a row having lost in his opening 2 matches of the week, against Borland and Harry Ward.

The 27-year-old moved into Group B and was instantly on the receiving end of a 101.48 average from Jarred Cole in a 4-1 defeat, ending Thursday with 2 wins against Rob Grundy and Danny Smith to sit 3^rd with 4 games to play.

Big Willie found a 101.30 average in his first win on Day 5 against Harry Ward, finding 3 180s in a 4-3 win over Big H. The Scotsman went on to beat everyone in Group B at least once, claiming a 4-1 win over Jarred Cole with 3 180s again to earn his place in Finals Night after a third-place finish.

Borland beat Jarred again by the same scoreline to open his Finals Night campaign, before defeating WDF Boys World Championship Runner Up Charlie Large 4-3 to secure a spot in the Semi Finals.

“I knew Charlie had a big following, he had most of the room there. Jarred being a local lad as well meant it was a tough group, but I thought I had enough in the bank to get through to the Semi Finals which I did and I’m happy with that.”

A 91.86 average including a 57% doubling rate and a 100 checkout, saw Willie qualify for the Series 6 Week 1 Final with a 4-2 victory over Harry Ward, going through to face Nico Blum in the Final after he beat Charlie Large in the other Semi Final tie.

The Scottish international from East Calder completed a 70 check out on Double 16 with his last dart to win 4-1 in the Final against the Group C Runner Up, winning Week 1 in Portsmouth and becoming the first player through to the Series 6 Champions Week which will take place early next year.

Borland will hope this is a confidence booster ahead of PDC Qualifying School next year, as he hopes to regain his Tour Card back after a year away from the PDC Pro Tour, playing his darts in the ADC, MODUS, etc.

“That’s what I’m looking to do, I’m happy to get a bit of form back as I look onto Christmas, where it will be time for local competitions which will be great practise for Q School. If I don’t qualify then I will have the Challenge Tour and Champions Week to look forward to and I’ll take it from there.”

“At the start of the year I was going through a difficult time, and I wasn’t ready for Q School, but I still gave it my best shot. Unfortunately I didn’t do very well, and the same followed at the first Challenge Tour so I put my darts away, stopped practising for a few months and spent time with my friends.”

“After that I missed playing so I started gradually practising again and started playing the ADC Vault competitions, which was best of 3 legs all the time. You must be on your game right from the start, which has given me the competitive edge back and it’s just spurred my game on.”

A big win for Willie Borland who can hold his head high after 6 straight days of competitive action at the Live Lounge, in a week that showed you didn’t have to be the best to win, as the Final featured 2 players who didn’t win their respective qualifying groups.

By Harry Masterson