Owen Maiden nets fourth BDO youth title
Wolverhampton's Owen Maiden continues to make waves on the BDO's starlets circuit after picking up his fourth ranking titles.
Maiden again went all of the way in the youth singles at the International Open last weekend after coming through a mixed 19-player field,
All of the organisation's top performers were involved in various tournaments on a busy weekend of darts at the Pontins Holiday Park in Brean Sands, Somerset.
Maiden first had to play a preliminary round tie against Keiron Heard, whitewashing him 3-0, before dropping just a leg in beating Tia Jarman 3-1.
Another 3-0 shut out came over Liam Baker, before a 3-1 vanquishing of Daniel Perry set up the final against Wales' Alec Small.
That was a test, the two battling it out until the last leg where Maiden came out on top 3-2. His slightly inferior average of 21.55 to Small's 22.35 showed he hit the doubles when it mattered.
The 16-year-old from Ashmore Park in Wednesfield retained the International Open title and added to accolades in the England Open and Welsh Open.
Maiden also competed in the men's singles and beat Chris Hole 4-1 over the best-of-seven format, before going down 4-2 to Garry Thompson at the last 128 stage.
A host of West Midlands throwers were also involved, with two winning their boards to set up a last 16 clash against each other.
Tipton's Jamie Hughes, a World Championship semi-finalist, took on Shaun Carroll but it was the Bloxwich man who progressed with a 4-2 success.
Carroll then bowed out 4-2 to eventual champion Nick Kenny, who went on to defeat Tony O'Shea 6-5 in the final.
Cannock's Mark Craddock lost a board final 4-2 to Dean Reynolds, while Wednesbury's Matthew Dicken reached the last 64 where he was eliminated 4-3 by Andy Fordham.
