2009 Orange Bowl, Game summary, Third quarter
The Bearcats' punted, and the ball rolled out of bounds at the Tech 14-yard line with six seconds remaining in the quarter. The Hokies had time for one play, a 21-yard run by Evans to the Tech 35-yard line. With one quarter remaining, Virginia Tech had a 13–7 lead over Cincinnati.


2009 Orange Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
The fourth quarter began with Virginia Tech in possession of the ball and facing a first down at their 35-yard line. The first play of the quarter resulted in a 20-yard gain by Evans on a running play. After that, however, the Hokies did not gain another first down and punted to Cincinnati. Following the kick, the Bearcats started their first possession of the fourth quarter at their 14-yard line. Running back Isaiah Pead ran for three yards, but then a pass by Pike was intercepted at the 10-yard line by Tech defender Orion Martin. Three rushing plays later, Evans ran six yards for a touchdown. The extra point kick was good, and with 11:29 remaining in the game, Virginia Tech took a 20–7 lead.


2009 Orange Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
The Tech kickoff was returned 17 yards by Gilyard to the Cincinnati 40-yard line, giving the Bearcats good field position to start their drive. Two rushes by Goebel resulted in 11 yards and a first down at the Tech 49-yard line. This success on the ground was followed by more through the air, as Pike completed three consecutive passes: a 16-yarder to Gilyard, a 3-yarder to Goodman, and a 14-yarder to Gilyard. Goebel then ran five yards to the Tech 11-yard line. Two Pike passes fell incomplete, setting up fourth down.


2009 Orange Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
Rather than attempt to kick a field goal, Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly ordered the offense to attempt to convert the fourth down. This was done when Pike completed a seven-yard pass to Goodman for a first down at the Virginia Tech four-yard line. Two more Pike passes fell incomplete before Goebel rushed three yards to the Virginia Tech one-yard line. Cincinnati again faced a fourth down, and again, Kelly elected to attempt to score a touchdown rather than kick a field goal. Pike attempted to cross the goal line on a running play, but was stopped by the Virginia Tech defense. With 7:25 remaining in the game, Cincinnati turned the ball over on downs to the Virginia Tech offense, which returned to the field.


2009 Orange Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
With a firm lead and now in possession of the ball, Virginia Tech began to run out the clock by executing short rushing plays up the center of the field. Since the game clock does not stop in American college football if a player remains in bounds short of the first down marker, the Hokies could hasten the end of the game and preserve their lead by following this strategy. From their one-yard line, Taylor ran the ball for a one-yard gain, followed by two rushes by Evans for another four yards.


2009 Orange Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
The Hokies prepared to punt the ball, but during the kick, Cincinnati committed a 15-yard personal foul penalty by tackling Tech punter Brent Bowden. The penalty gave Virginia Tech a first down and kept their drive going. From the Tech 21-yard line, Evans was stopped for a loss of one yard, but broke free for an 11-yard gain and a first down on the next play. As the clock continued to tick down, Cincinnati began to use its timeouts in an effort to stop the clock after each play. This strategy was partially successful, as Tech was denied another first down and punted with 2:31 remaining in the game.


2009 Orange Bowl, Game summary, Fourth quarter
The kick was returned to the Cincinnati 48-yard line, and the Bearcats prepared for a desperation drive in hopes of narrowing the Hokies' lead. On the first play after the punt, however, Pike threw an interception to Virginia Tech defender Cody Grimm. Back in possession of the ball, Taylor kneeled on the ball four times to wind down the game clock. After the final kneeldown, Virginia Tech secured the 20–7 win.


2009 Orange Bowl, Statistical summary
In recognition of his performance during the game, Virginia Tech running back Darren Evans was named the game's most valuable player. Evans finished the game with 28 carries for 158 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for five yards, set a Virginia Tech bowl-game record for carries, and tied the Tech record for rushing yards. Evans finished the season with 1,265 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns–both marks were Virginia Tech records for a freshman. On the opposite side of the ball, Cincinnati's rushing offense was led by Jacob Ramsey, who finished the game with 4 carries for 34 yards. Cincinnati's John Goebel had nine carries but only accumulated 26 rushing yards.


2009 Orange Bowl, Statistical summary
Most of the Bearcats' offense came through the air, however. Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike finished the game having completed 16 of his 33 pass attempts, resulting in 239 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 4 interceptions. Pike also ran the ball five times for four yards. Pike's four interceptions were a career-high and marked only the second time he threw more than one interception in a game. For Virginia Tech, quarterback Tyrod Taylor finished the game with 13 completions from 22 pass attempts, resulting in 140 passing yards and 1 interception. In addition to his passing, Taylor ran with the ball 15 times, gaining 47 yards and a touchdown in the process.


2009 Orange Bowl, Statistical summary
Taylor's favorite passing targets were wide receiver Danny Coale, who finished the game having caught three passes for 52 yards, and tight end Greg Boone, who caught 3 balls for 41 yards. On the Bearcats' side of the field, Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard led all receivers with 7 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown. Gilyard's receiving total was his best of the season and set a new Cincinnati bowl-game record. He also set a Bearcat bowl-game record for kickoff return yardage, recording 97 yards in that category. Fellow Cincinnati receiver Dominick Goodman caught 6 passes for 51 yards, in the process becoming Cincinnati's all-time leader in career receiving yards.


2009 Orange Bowl, Statistical summary
The two teams' defenses also performed statistically well during the game. Cincinnati's Terrill Byrd led all defenders by recording 11 tackles during the game. Included in that total were four tackles for loss, including one sack. That performance was his best in terms of quantity during the season, and his four tackles for loss moved him into sixth place on Cincinnati's list of career tackles for loss leaders. For the Hokies, Dorian Porch had eight tackles, leading all Tech players. Cody Grimm, Orion Martin, Stephan Virgil, and Kam Chancellor each recorded one interception.


2009 Orange Bowl, Statistical summary
The four interceptions were a Tech bowl-game record, and Chancellor's catch gave him six for the season, tying him with Victor Harris for the most on the team. It was the first time since 1968 that two Virginia Tech players had six interceptions apiece. Cincinnati's sole interception came at the hands of Brandon Underwood, who tallied his third of the season.


2009 Orange Bowl, Statistical summary
Each team found success on special teams as well. Cincinnati punter Kevin Huber, a first-team All-American, kicked the ball four times, averaging 45.8 yards per punt. A 56-yard punt in the first quarter marked the ninth consecutive game he had a kick of at least 50 yards. Virginia Tech placekicker Dustin Keys missed his first field goal attempt of the game but successfully converted his next two kicks, giving him 23 field goals and the Tech single-season record in that category.


2009 Orange Bowl, Postgame effects
Virginia Tech's victory raised it to a final record of 10–4, while Cincinnati's loss dropped it to a record of 11–3. The Hokies' 10-win season was the fifth consecutive year in which Tech recorded at least 10 wins, a feat matched only by the University of Southern California and the University of Texas during the same time period. As a reward for coaching the Hokies to an ACC Championship and an Orange Bowl championship, Virginia Tech coaches were given hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses.


2009 Orange Bowl, Postgame effects
In Miami, hoteliers and Dolphins Stadium had to quickly prepare for the arrival of Oklahoma and Florida, the two teams that played in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game one week after the Orange Bowl. Signs were changed, the playing field was repainted, and accommodations were prepared for the thousands of expected spectators. In total, South Florida's economy received an estimated $220 million boost from visitors who arrived to watch the two games.


2009 Orange Bowl, Postgame effects, Coaching changes
In the postseason that followed the Bearcats' loss to Virginia Tech, Cincinnati assistant head coach and defensive line coach Keith Gilmore resigned to accept the position of defensive line coach at the University of Illinois. To replace Gilmore, Cincinnati promoted special teams coach Mike Elston, who assumed assistant coaching and defensive line duties. In February, Cincinnati defensive coordinator Joe Tresey was fired by the school. He subsequently was hired by the University of South Florida to fill that school's vacant defensive coordinator position. Replacing Tresey is Virginia defensive coordinator Bob Diaco.


2009 Orange Bowl, Postgame effects, 2009 NFL Draft
As the final game of the 2008–2009 regular season, the 2009 Orange Bowl gave Virginia Tech and Cincinnati players a chance to show their skills before the 2009 NFL Draft. Cincinnati had six players selected in the draft. Defensive end Connor Barwin was the first Bearcats player taken. He was picked in the second round, 46th overall. He was followed by punter Kevin Huber (142nd overall), cornerback DeAngelo Smith (143rd), cornerback Brandon Underwood (187th), cornerback Mike Mickens (227th), and guard Trevor Canfield (254th). Several Cincinnati players were signed as free agents after the draft. These included defensive tackle Adam Hoppel, linebacker Corey Smith, and offensive lineman Khalil El-Amin.


2009 Orange Bowl, Postgame effects, 2009 NFL Draft
Virginia Tech had just one player taken in the 2009 draft: cornerback Victor Harris, who was picked by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 157th overall selection. Four Hokies were taken as free-agent selections after the draft. Defensive end Orion Martin, quarterback Sean Glennon, center Ryan Shuman, and fullback Devin Perez were signed to try out for various NFL teams.


2009 Ordina Open
The 2009 Ordina Open is a tennis tournament played on outdoor grass courts. It is the 20th edition of the Ordina Open, and is part of the International Series of the 2009 ATP Tour, and of the WTA International tournaments of the 2009 WTA Tour. Both the men's and the women's events take place at the Autotron park in Rosmalen, 's-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, from 14 June through 20 June 2009. Benjamin Becker and Tamarine Tanasugarn won the singles titles.


2009 Ordina Open, WTA Entrants, Other entrants
The following players got entry through the Lucky Loser spot:


2009 Ordina Open, Champions, Men's doubles
Wesley Moodie /  Dick Norman defeated  Johan Brunström /  Jean-Julien Rojer, 7–6(7–3), 6–7(8–10), [10–5]


2009 Ordina Open, Champions, Women's doubles
Sara Errani /  Flavia Pennetta  defeated   Michaëlla Krajicek /  Yanina Wickmayer 6–4, 5–7, [13–11]


2009 Ordina Open – Men's Doubles
Mario Ančić and Jürgen Melzer were the defending champions, but did not participate in the tournament this year.


2009 Ordina Open – Men's Singles
David Ferrer was the defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals to Iván Navarro.


2009 Ordina Open – Women's Doubles
Marina Erakovic and Michaëlla Krajicek were the defending champions, but Erakovic chose not to participate that year. Krajicek partnered with Yanina Wickmayer.


2009 Ordina Open – Women's Singles
Unseeded Tamarine Tanasugarn successfully defended her title, by defeating Yanina Wickmayer 6–3, 7–5 in the final.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team
The 2009 Oregon Ducks football team represented the University of Oregon in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was led by head coach Chip Kelly in his first season as a head coach at the Division I FBS level. Kelly was only the third Ducks head coach since 1977 and led the Ducks to a Pac-10 Championship and was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year. He took over for Mike Bellotti.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team
The Ducks finished the season 10–3, 8–1 in Pac-10 to claim the Pac-10 championship and earn the conference's automatic BCS berth where they were invited to the Rose Bowl, the school's fifth Rose Bowl and first since the 1994 season. They were defeated by Ohio State 26–17.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Previous season
The 2008 Oregon Ducks football team entered the season ranked 21st in the AP Poll, after finishing the 2007 season ranked 23rd. The major question going into the season concerned the position of quarterback. Oregon's top two quarterbacks, Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf, had graduated the year before, with Dixon being drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Previous season
Sophomore Justin Roper was named the starter after Nate Costa suffered a season-ending injury before the season began. As a freshman, Roper had led the Ducks to a Sun Bowl win over South Florida in 2007. He was injured in the third game at Purdue, and was replaced by junior college transfer Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli had led his junior college team to a national championship the year before. Masoli was inconsistent in his first few games, as he put up good rushing numbers but shaky passing stats. But he came on strong the last three games of the regular season and led the Ducks to a 9–3 regular season record and a victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the Holiday Bowl.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Previous season
Senior Jeremiah Johnson led Oregon in rushing with 1,201 yards while LeGarrette Blount record 1,002 yards and set a school record with 17 rushing touchdowns. Oregon scored over 500 points for the second straight season, and finished the season being ranked 10th in the AP Poll.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Pre-season
July 29 – Senior Ed Dickson is named to the Mackey Award watchlist, given out to the nation's best tight end.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Pre-season
August 4 – Junior Jeremiah Masoli is named to the watch list for the Davey O'Brien Award.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Pre-season
August 8 – Senior LeGarrette Blount is named to the watch list for the Walter Camp Award.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Pre-season, Pre-season departures
Quarterback and wide receiver Chris Harper, quarterback Justin Roper, and wide receiver Aaron Pflugrad all decided to transfer from the team before the 2009 season.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Boise State
2nd Meeting. 0–1 All Time. Last Meeting Boise State 37, Oregon 32


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Boise State
Oregon's offense was completely shut down in the first half and was unable to gain a single first down. They allowed the Broncos to get into their red zone multiple times, but Oregon's defense held them twice. Both times resulted in Boise State attempting field goals after having a first and goal situation. Both field goals in the first quarter were missed by kicker Kyle Brotzman (29 and 47). In the second quarter, the Broncos scored on a TD pass from quarterback Kellen Moore to wide receiver Austin Pettis. Michael Choate ran in the two-point conversion.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Boise State
Billy Winn added to Boise State's first half score by tackling running back LeGarrette Blount for a safety. At the end of the first half, Kyle Brotzman booted in a 45-yard field goal to make the score 13–0. A low-scoring second half did not stop the Ducks from scoring a touchdown along with a two-point conversion. The rest of the game was back and forth until the clock expired, Boise State winning by 11.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Boise State
After the game, Blount, who earlier in the week was quoted as saying, "We owe that team an ass-whuppin," punched Bronco DE Byron Hout in the chin after Hout had taunted him in front of Boise State head coach Chris Petersen. Blount then went after fans in the front row of the south end zone before being restrained and escorted off the field by security, police, and Oregon coaches. The next day, Oregon suspended Blount for the rest of the season, seemingly ending his career. However, in October, Kelly announced that Blount could return as early as November provided he meets certain academic and behavioral benchmarks.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Purdue
The Ducks evened their 2009 record at 1–1 with a thrilling 38–36 win over Purdue in their first visit to Eugene. Jeremiah Masoli rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown and LaMichael James rushed for 56 yards. Walter Thurmond III returned an interception for a touchdown in the first half and Javes Lewis returned a fumble for a touchdown in the third quarter. With a minute and one second left to play Purdue failed on a two-point conversion that would have tied the game. Oregon recovered the onsides kick attempt and ran out the clock. Jamere Holland had 72 yards on 4 receptions but dropped a sure touchdown pass in the fourth quarter.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Utah
Utah brought the Nation's longest winning streak of 16 into Autzen Stadium this year. This was the first meeting between the schools since a 17–13 Utah win at Salt Lake City in 2003. The Utes last trek to Autzen Stadium was in early September 2001, when Joey Harrington and the Ducks handled Utah 24–10 on their way to an 11–1 record and No. 2 in the Nation finish.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, California
Uniform combination: throwback uniforms, yellow helmet, green jerseys, yellow pants


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, California
Cal has run off three in a row against the Ducks, more than any other Pac-10 school against Oregon. The Golden Bears streak is their longest versus Oregon since the 1970s. Cal won a waterlogged game at Berkeley last year, 26–16.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, California
The Oregon Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli struggled in previous games but had a major breakthrough against Cal, throwing 253 yards with 21 completions out of 25 attempts, three for touchdowns. Oregon tight end Ed Dickson had a career day with 11 catches for 148 yards and three touchdowns. The Oregon defense played very well, holding Jahvid Best who tied a Pac-10 record for rushing touchdowns the week prior, to just 55 yards on 16 carries. Before the game, Best was quoted as saying Autzen Stadium was the only venue where the crowd noise troubled him.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, California
The Ducks had a rough start to the game when Walter Thurmond fumbled the opening kickoff reception. Thurmond was hit in the knee on the return and was later diagnosed with a torn ACL and ended up missing the rest of the season. Cal took possession and, on a drive that went for negative eight yards, scored a field goal, their only points in the game. The two teams went back and forth on several miscues.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, California
In the first quarter on the Ducks' first scoring drive, running back LaMichael James fumbled the ball and was picked up by Cal's defensive back Josh Hill. During his run back, Hill fumbled the ball again which was recovered by Oregon. In the second quarter, Cal recovered a fumble by Oregon, only to fumble the ball back on the very next play. Later that quarter, Oregon punter Jackson Rice kicked the ball off the side of his foot for a 5-yard punt. After a quick three-and-out by Cal, Brian Anger, Cal's punter, booted the ball off the side of his foot for another 5-yard punt. Masoli's first touchdown pass of the season occurred in the first few seconds of the second quarter, a 26-yard completion to Ed Dickson.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, California
Since Cal's first field goal, the Ducks went on to score 42 unanswered points to win the game. It was Cal's worst loss with Jeff Tedford as the head coach.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Washington State
Oregon has won two in a row, and four of the last five against Washington State. The last two games have resulted in 63–14 and 53–7 victories by the Ducks. The Cougars have not won at Autzen since 2003 when they defeated Oregon 55–16.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Oregon won last year's match-up with UCLA 31–21 in Eugene. The Ducks last trip to the Rose Bowl in 2007 was a humbling experience, as they were shut out for the first time since 1985 by a score of 16–0. That game however was played the week after they had lost star QB Dennis Dixon to injury for the season. At game time, current Bruins head coach Rick Neuheisel was 4–2 against the Ducks going back to the days he coached the Colorado Buffaloes and the Washington Huskies. Since the first game in 1928, UCLA was leading the series 39–23.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, UCLA
With a solid performance in the first half and taking a field goal lead into the locker room, the Bruins gave up three quick touchdowns within few minutes of the third quarter to give the Ducks their fifth win of the season. The Ducks scored on Kenjon Barner's 100-yard kickoff return, on Talmadge Jackson's 31-yard interception, and on Nate Costa's 20-yard pass to Jeff Maehl, which was resulted from a UCLA fumble.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, UCLA
The Bruins scored their only touchdown when Akeem Ayers intercepted a Costa pass in the back of the Rose Bowl north end zone by keeping his feet in bound. Kai Forbath kicked a 52-yard field goal to give UCLA the early lead. Oregon’s Rob Beard attempted a 51-yard field goal, which was blocked by Jerzy Siewierski. Mogan Flint kicked a 33-yard field goals for the Ducks in the fourth quarter.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Washington
Oregon has won a school record five in a row over their hated rivals to the north, all by 20 or more points. Washington's last win over the Ducks came at Husky Stadium in 2003.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Washington
Uniform combination: black helmet, white jersey with silver numbers, black pants


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Washington
After Erik Folk's 33-yard field goal in the first quarter for Washington, Oregon blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the endzone in the second quarter to give the Ducks their first lead. Javes Lewis intercepted Jake Locker's pass in the end zone to give the ball back to Oregon, which resulted in Jeremiah Masoli's 1-yard touchdown. With a second left, Folk kicked a 48-yard field goal to end the half, which was aided by a personal foul on Oregon.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Washington
With good field position at their own 47-yard line, the Ducks scored their third touchdown on Masoli's 3-yard run in the top of the third quarter.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, USC
USC had not won a game in the state of Oregon for the past three years, a streak that the Ducks kept alive. USC beat Oregon in the Los Angeles Coliseum last year, 44–10.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, USC
The tenth ranked Ducks handed the Trojans their worst loss since 1997 and Pete Carroll the worst loss in his tenure at USC. Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli passed for 222 yards, and a score, and ran for 164 more, including a touchdown, while LaMichael James ran for 183 yards.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Stanford
The Ducks will go for their 8th straight win against Stanford this season. It is their longest current win streak against any Pac-10 school. The seven straight wins also ties the longest stretch of dominance in school history over the Cardinal (1957–63). Oregon came from behind and won last year in Eugene on a last minute touchdown, 35–28. Stanford's last win against Oregon came in Eugene in 2001. That was the Ducks only loss that season, on their way to an 11–1 finish and No. 2 final ranking.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Stanford
Oregon's undefeated conference season came to an end at Stanford, 51–42. Both teams have five victories in the Pac-10 championship race.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Arizona State
Oregon has won four straight over the Sun Devils by an average of 23.8 ppg, including last year's 54–20 win in Tempe.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Arizona
Uniform combination: green helmet, white jersey with silver numbers, black pants


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Arizona
The previous trip the Ducks took to Tucson in 2007 was a crushing one as the Ducks saw their BCS National Championship Game hopes fade as their star quarterback Dennis Dixon tore his ACL in the first half of the game. The 2009 game was also important, as it involved the only two teams that week in the Pac-10 who were able to control their path to earn an outright Pac-10 Championship.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Arizona
It was a hotly contested game as neither team led by more than 10 points after Arizona's first touchdown in the second quarter. Ducks quarterback Jeremiah Masoli started with a sluggish game with two recovered fumbles and an interception to set up Arizona's first touchdown. Late in the game, however, he led the Ducks to a narrow victory with two key touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown of his own. After Arizona scored a touchdown in the only score of the third quarter to put them up by 3, the game turned into a frantic sprint with numerous close calls.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Arizona
Morgan Flint attempted a 43-yard field goal for the Ducks that bounced in after hitting the crossbar, tying the game. With three minutes left in the game and Arizona ahead by a touchdown, Talmadge Jackson intercepted Arizona quarterback Nick Foles's pass in the end zone on a 3rd and 16 play at Oregon's 40-yard line. As Oregon drove down the field in the remaining minutes, the student section poured into the Arizona sideline as they prepared to rush the field. However, the drive ended with a touchdown pass from Masoli to Dickson.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Arizona
The Ducks tied the game as Oregon backup quarterback Nate Costa corralled an errant snap for the extra point kicked by Flint. The Arizona student section made their way back to the stands as overtime began. The two teams traded a pair of touchdowns in the first overtime but in the second overtime, Arizona settled for a field goal and Oregon scored a touchdown to win the game.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Arizona
After the conclusion, the Arizona section at one end of the stadium next to the visiting section began to throw debris at the Oregon players. An Oregon cheerleader, Katelynn Johnson, was struck in the head with a full water bottle, giving her a concussion.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
The Ducks crushed the Beavers' Rose Bowl aspirations for the second year in a row and managed to secure their own with a 37–33 home victory over the Beavers at Autzen Stadium. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ran over safety Lance Mitchell in order to reach a first down much like his performance against UCLA and Oklahoma State last year where he ran over other players.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Oregon State
Suspended running back LeGarrette Blount saw his first action since the Boise State loss and took out his frustration this time in a sportsman like way by running over Oregon State linebacker Keaton Kristick who was regarded as the most feared player in the Pac-10. Blount also stiffarmed and threw Stephen Paea to the ground who was regarded as the best defensive tackle in the Pac-10. When Oregon was down 30 to 21 Blount broke free and rushed for a 12-yard touchdown to bring the game closer before Lamichael James broke free for 52 on a touchdown run. In total Blount rushed for 7 times for 51 yards and a touchdown.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Ohio State (Rose Bowl)
Oregon returns to the Rose Bowl for the fifth time and first since the 1994 season. That year the Ducks lost to No. 2 ranked and undefeated Penn State, 38–20. Oregon has never beaten Ohio State in their seven previous meetings. Their most recent meeting occurred in Columbus in 1987, with the Ducks losing 24–14. Oregon and Ohio State have played in the Rose Bowl once before. The 1958 Rose Bowl game turned out to be a defensive struggle as the Ducks eventually lost to the heavily favored Buckeyes 10–7.


2009 Oregon Ducks football team, Game summaries, Ohio State (Rose Bowl)
Ohio State would go on to share the National Title that year, the Ducks would have to wait 37 more years to return to Pasadena. Ducks QB Jack Crabtree was named MVP of the game that year, the last and only second time ever that a person from the losing team had been bestowed that honor. This time the Ducks will try to win the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1917, a 14–0 victory over Pennsylvania. The Oregon Ducks lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Rose Bowl in 2010, 26–17.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team
The 2009 Oregon State Beavers football team represented Oregon State University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Mike Riley, in his seventh straight season and ninth overall. Home games were played on campus at Reser Stadium in Corvallis. The Beavers finished the season 8–5, 6–3 in Pac-10 play, and lost the Maaco Bowl Las Vegas 20–44 vs BYU.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Portland State
Oregon State faced Portland State for the third time in history, first since 2005, which the Beavers won 41–14. The Beavers also won the first meeting in 1983, 51–14.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Portland State
Behind the legs of Jacquizz Rodgers, the Beavers thumped the in-state Vikings 34–7. Oregon State scored on their first play from scrimmage, an 87-yard touchdown from Sean Canfield to James Rodgers. Quizz ran for 103 yards and three touchdowns.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, UNLV
The fifth all-time meeting between Oregon State and UNLV will be an early road test for the Beavers. The Rebels own the series between the two, 3–1. The last time the two teams met was in 2002, in which Oregon State won 47–17.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, UNLV
Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 166 yards and a score and also led the team in receiving with 10 catches for 65 yards. UNLV led a 4th Quarter rally in which they went from being down 20–7 to up 21–20. Sean Canfield then executed a 2-minute drill (helped by a pass interference call on 3rd and 26) that set up the winning 33-yard field goal by Justin Kahut. The win was Mike Riley's first road win in the month of September.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Cincinnati
In 2007, Oregon State traveled to Cincinnati and turned the ball over 7 times in the Bearcats 34–3 victory. They will be looking for revenge as the Bearcats come to Reser. This game will be a signature game early in the season for both teams.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Arizona
Once upon a time, the Wildcats owned Oregon State. They won 19 of 22 from 1966 to 1998. But those days are gone. Since 1999, the Beavers have won 9 of 10, including last season's 19–17 effort in Tucson.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Arizona State
The Beavers haven't won at Tempe since 1969, a span of 16 games. They will be looking to break the streak as the Beavers face the Sun Devils and former coach, Dennis Erickson. The Beavers got hot early and the Sun Devils were never able to recover. An early miscue by the Sun Devils punter, gave Oregon State the ball on the Arizona State 17. A few plays and Jacquizz Rodgers punched it in. Another stop by the Beavs defense resulted in another punt, this one got off cleanly.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Arizona State
A great return by James Rodgers set up a nice 32-yard rush by Quizz for another touchdown. ASU drove down the field and was forced to settle for a short field goal. The Beavers third score came on an amazing 25-yard reception from Canfield to Rodgers. James juggled it for the first nine yards in the endzone, but recovered in time to get his foot in the last yard for the score. Arizona State came out pretty sharp as they scored on their first possession. The Beavs came out and scored on a drive with three huge plays.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Arizona State
Most notably a long pass to James Rodgers which set up an easy score from Sean Canfield to Damola Adeniji from the 2. Arizona took too long on their next drive, trailing 28–10. It took them over 6 minutes as they finally scored with :11 seconds left. A Sun Devil failed onside kick gave the Beavers the ball. Canfield took the kneeldown and the Beavs got their first win in Tempe in 40 years.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Stanford
Stanford shocked the Beavers in the opening game of the season last year. A late OSU rally came up short when WR Darell Catchings fumbles out of the end zone for a touchback while trying to extend for a touchdown. The Cardinal won the game 36–28.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Stanford
Oregon State jumped to a quick start as Jacquizz Rodgers scored the first three touchdowns in the game, giving the Beavers a 21–0 lead early in the 2nd quarter. Witt the Beavers up by 24 at the half, Stanford had to focus on moving the ball quickly with the passing game, which took running back Toby Gerhart out of the spotlight. The Beavers won 38–28.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, USC
In 2008, the #1 Trojans came to Corvallis and were upset 27–21. It was the second straight trip to Corvallis for USC that resulted in defeat. JacQuizz Rodgers ran for 187 yards on 37 carries and two touchdowns in the win. This year, Oregon State will attempt to win in the Coliseum for the first time since 1960. Oregon State is the second Pac-10 Conference school to have beaten USC twice during the Pete Carroll era, having done so in 2006 and 2008 (Stanford was first with victories in 2001 and 2007 and would do so again later in the 2009 season).


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, USC
The last time Oregon State won against USC in the Coliseum was when Dwight D. Eisenhower was the President of the United States.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, USC
USC quarterback Matt Barkley passed to Anthony McCoy for an 8-yard touchdown to give the Trojans the early lead in the first quarter. The Beavers got on the scoreboard with two field goal kicks from Justin Kahut (both 48 yards). In the second quarter, Matt Barkley completed a pass to Ronald Johnson for a 22 yards touchdown. On second and goal, Barkley rushed for a 1-yard touchdown for the Trojans. Kahut kicked a 33-yard field goal for Oregon State just before the half.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, USC
In the third quarter, Sean Canfield passed to Jacquizz Rodgers for a 6-yard touchdown for the Beavers on a 3:06-drive that took 8 plays for 61 yards. The Trojans countered with a 7-play drive for 70 yards with Allen Bradford rushing for 2 yards for a touchdown. Canfield narrowed Oregon State's gap by completing a 15-yard scoring pass to Damola Adeniji. USC answered with Allen Bradford scoring a 43-yard touchdown.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, USC
Oregon State became the first team to score more than 10 points on the Trojans in their last ten home games (though Stanford and Arizona would both do so in their victories over USC in the Coliseum later in the season, with 55 points and 21 points, respectively).


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
Justin Kahut kicked two field goals, 48 yards and 42 yards, to give the Beavers a 6-point lead. Oregon State increased its lead to 13 when Jacquizz Rodgers passed to Brady Camp for a 14-yard touchdown. Kahut's third field goal gave the Beavers a 16–0 lead at the half.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, UCLA
In the third quarter, Kai Forbath kicked a 24-yard field goal for the Bruins. Kahut kicked his fourth field goal (31 yards) in the fourth quarter to give the Beavers a 19–3 lead. A 58-yard pass to Nelson Rosario from Kevin Prince, combined with a 2-point conversion to Rosario, put UCLA back in the game, behind by only 8 points. Then Taylor Embree caught a touchdown pass from Prince and Johnathan Franklin caught a conversion pass to tie the game for the Bruins with 2 minutes left. But James Rodgers ran into the end zone for an Oregon State touchdown on a drive of 7 plays and 70 yards. UCLA took over the ball with 44 seconds remaining in the game and failed to make a complete comeback, losing their fifth game in a row.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, California
Scoring in every quarter, the Beavers defeated the Bears for the fifth consecutive time at Cal, 31–14. Cal running back Jahvid Best left the game with a concussion in the second quarter. Sean Canfield threw 29 completions for 342 yards, most of them to Jacquizz Rodgers (9), James Rodges (6) and Joe Halahunt (6). Cal, after getting back in the Top 25 after four weeks, has given up more than 300 passing yards in each of the last three games.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Washington
Oregon State has won 5 straight against the Huskies, including a 34–13 victory in Seattle last year. Oregon State will be celebrating Dad's Weekend as the Beavers will try to keep there very slim Rose Bowl chances alive. Washington quarterback Jake Locker will make his return to Corvallis after leaving the field on a stretcher in 2007.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Washington
Oregon State won for the sixth straight time as Sean Canfield passed for four touchdowns and Jacquizz Rodgers added 159 yards rushing and two touchdowns. The other half of the Rodgers Brothers, James caught two touchdown passes and ran the opening second half kickoff to the one-yard line that really put the game away. Jake Locker passed for three touchdowns for the Huskies.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Washington State
Oregon State has beat up on the Cougars the last two years winning by scores of 52–17 and 66–13, respectively. The Beavers will look to continue that success while Washington State will look to stop that success at home.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Washington State
Oregon State beat Washington State for the third straight year. Quizz ran for 165 yards and two scores and Sean Canfield passed for 2312 yards and two scores in the victory.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Oregon
Oregon crushed the Rose Bowl dreams of Oregon State last year in its 65–38 drubbing of the Beavers in Reser Stadium. This year the "Civil War" game will determine the Pac-10 representative to the 2010 Rose Bowl. Oregon State won the last meeting in Autzen, 38–31 in overtime. This is the first time in the series' 112–year history that the winner gets an automatic bid to the Rose Bowl. Oregon is the heavy favorite to win the game.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Oregon
For the second straight season the Oregon Ducks denied the Oregon State Beavers a trip to Pasadena to play in the Rose Bowl. This year, however, with the win the Ducks go to the Rose Bowl to play the Ohio State Buckeyes. This Civil War was a see saw battle that was exciting from the opening kick-off. LaMichael James ran for 166 yards on 25 carries that included 3 touchdowns. Jacquizz Rodgers had 64 yards rushing and 73 yards receiving and a touchdown as the two featured backs didn't disappoint.


2009 Oregon State Beavers football team, Game summaries, Oregon
LeGarrette Blount made his return from suspension in the 3rd Quarter sparking the Ducks offense. He finished with 51 yards on 9 carries and a touchdown. The turning point in the game was a critical decision when Mike Riley opted to go for it on 4th and 15 from the Ducks 27-yard line. The pass was incomplete and the Ducks took over. The Ducks ran out the remainder of the clock after converting 2 4th down plays on the drive sealing their ticket to Pasadena. The Beavers fell all the way to the Las Vegas Bowl to play BYU.


2009 Origins Award winners
The following are the winners of the 36th annual (2009) Origins Award, presented at Origins 2010.


2009 Orix Buffaloes season
The 2009 Orix Buffaloes season features the Buffaloes quest to win their first Pacific League title under their current franchise configuration.


2009 Oschersleben Formula Two round
The 2009 Oschersleben Formula Two round was the sixth round of the 2009 FIA Formula Two Championship season. It was held on 5 and 6 September 2009 at Motorsport Arena Oschersleben at Oschersleben, Germany. The first race was won by Andy Soucek, with Mirko Bortolotti and Kazim Vasiliauskas also on the podium. The second race was won by Mikhail Aleshin, with Andy Soucek and Julien Jousse also on the podium.


2009 Outback Bowl
The 2009 Outback Bowl was a college football bowl game played on January 1, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The 23rd edition of the Outback Bowl, it was one of the 2008–09 bowl games concluding the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Scheduled for a kickoff of 11 a.m. EST and telecast on ESPN, the game pitted the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Iowa Hawkeyes.


2009 Outback Bowl
Iowa jumped out to a large lead, leading South Carolina 21–0 at halftime and 31–0 at the end of the third quarter, en route to a 31–10 victory. Shonn Greene, the MVP, had 29 rushes for 121 yards and three rushing touchdowns.


2009 Outback Bowl, Teams
The game featured the Iowa Hawkeyes of the Big Ten Conference and the South Carolina Gamecocks of the Southeastern Conference. It was the first meeting between the two teams. It was each team's third appearance in the Outback Bowl.


2009 Outback Bowl, Teams, Iowa Hawkeyes
The Hawkeyes entered the game with wins in five of their previous six games, highlighted by an upset of #3 Penn State, and an overall record of 8–4 (5–3 Big Ten). Junior running back Shonn Greene earned consensus First-team All-American honors and received the Doak Walker Award.


2009 Outback Bowl, Teams, South Carolina Gamecocks
The Gamecocks dropped their final two regular season games and entered the Outback Bowl with an overall record of 7–5 (4–4 SEC).


2009 Ovation Awards
The nominees for the 2009 Ovation Awards were announced on October 19, 2009, at A Noise Within in Glendale, California. The awards were presented for excellence in stage productions in the Los Angeles area from September 1, 2008 to August 31, 2009 based upon evaluations from members of the Los Angeles theater community.


2009 Ovation Awards
The winners were announced on January 11, 2010 in a ceremony at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center in Redondo Beach, California.


2009 Oxfordshire County Council election
An election to Oxfordshire County Council took place on 4 June 2009 as part of the 2009 United Kingdom local elections, having been delayed from 7 May, to coincide with elections to the European Parliament. 73 councillors were elected from various electoral divisions, which returned either one, two or three county councillors each by first-past-the-post voting for a four-year term of office. The electoral divisions were the same as those used at the previous election in 2005.


2009 Oxfordshire County Council election
All locally registered electors (British, Irish, Commonwealth and European Union citizens) who were aged 18 or over on Thursday 4 June 2009 were entitled to vote in the local elections. Those who were temporarily away from their ordinary address (for example, away working, on holiday, in student accommodation or in hospital) were also entitled to vote in the local elections, although those who had moved abroad and registered as overseas electors cannot vote in the local elections.


2009 Oxfordshire County Council election
It is possible to register to vote at more than one address (such as a university student who had a term-time address and lives at home during holidays) at the discretion of the local Electoral Register Office, but it remains an offence to vote more than once in the same local government election.


2009 Oxfordshire County Council election, Summary
The election saw the Conservative Party increase their majority on the council by an extra 8 seats, the party won two thirds of the seats in the council. The Liberal Democrats remained the councils official opposition despite losing 5 seats. Labour gained a seat and the Greens lost 3 seats, reducing their representation down to 2 councillors. One Independent lost his seat, the other was re-elected.


2009 PBA All-Star Week
The 2009 PBA All-Star Week was the annual all-star weekend of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)'s 2008–09 PBA season. This year's all-star game was totally different from the past All-Star games, as this year's event had 3 all-star games in different cities: Victorias, Negros Occidental (April 22), Panabo, Davao del Norte (April 24), and Quezon City (April 26).


2009 PBA All-Star Week, Sunday Skills Competition
Held prior to the All-Star Game at the Araneta Coliseum on April 26.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference
The 2009 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Fiesta Conference or known as the 2009 Motolite PBA Fiesta Conference for sponsorship reasons, was the last conference of the 2008-09 PBA season. It started on February 28 and finished on July 17. The tournament was shortened to accommodate the training of the national basketball team for the FIBA Asia Championship 2009 qualifying tournament for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. The last conference had games on Thursdays and Saturdays. The tournament is an import-laden format, which allows an import or a non-Filipino player for each team and with a new height limit of 6-foot-6.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference
Two teams had new names before the start of the conference: the former Red Bull Barako was now known as the Barako Bull Energy Boosters, and the former Air21 Express were called as the Burger King Titans. However, with the failure of several business deals that would have changed the franchise's upper management, the Titans renamed into the Burger King Whoppers by their seventh game into the conference, retaining their old managemend headed by the Lina family.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference, Format
The following format was observed for the duration of the conference:


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference, Classification round
The May 17 game between the Barangay Ginebra Kings and the Alaska Aces held at the Albay Astrodome in Legaspi was canceled when the playing court was judged as too slippery, with Ginebra leading 9–2, and 8:04 remaining in the first quarter. The game was stopped twice and the stoppages lasted two hours before the game was canceled. The game was restarted at the Araneta Coliseum on May 22.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference, Wildcard phase
Note: Rain or Shine and Burger King possessed the twice to beat advantage but it was not used as their opponents failed to win to extend the series into a deciding game.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference, Statistical leaders, Locals
*refers that the local had a higher statistic than an import


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference, Imports
The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics. Highlighted are the imports who stayed with their respective teams for the whole conference.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals
The 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals was the best-of-7 championship series of the 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference and the conclusion of the conference's playoffs. The series was a best-of-seven affair and was the 97th championship disputed in the league. The teams competing are first-seed San Miguel Beermen and the second-seed defending champions Barangay Ginebra Kings, two of the three San Miguel Corporation-owned teams.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals
This was the fourth time the two teams meet in the finals, with San Miguel winning their first two meetings (1989 Reinforced Conference and the 2001 All Filipino Cup). Barangay Ginebra won their latest finals meeting on the conclusion of the 2006–07 PBA Philippine Cup.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals
This was also the first time in PBA history that a champion of the previous year's Fiesta Conference was able to enter the finals to defend their crown.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals
After a full 7-game series, San Miguel held off Ginebra in game 7 with an emphatic 90–79 win, with Jonas Villanueva awarded as the Finals MVP.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals, Series summary, Game 2
With just a few seconds before the game ended, and with a San Miguel win certain, San Miguel players Danny Ildefonso and Marc Pingris were involved with an altercation with a Ginebra fan. Both men were suspended for one game and were fined P30,000 and P10,000 respectively.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals, Series summary, Game 3
The Kings, after falling behind by 12 points, outscored the Beermen by 11 points in the third quarter and another 15 points in the final quarter to have a come-from-behind victory to take the series lead. Noel had a triple double and had key plays during the decisive Ginebra run.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals, Series summary, Game 4
A close game all-throughout with as many as 18 deadlocks in between, Freeman converted a three-point play to increase San Miguel's lead to five; SMB led by as much as 8 in the final two minutes when Ginebra had another run. Eric Menk and Chico Lanete scored to cut the lead to two. Noel tied the ballgame after shooting two free throws off a foul from San Miguel, but Freeman scored on a put-back off Mike Cortez's miss. With less than 30 seconds left, Freeman fouled Noel beyond the three-point line on the act of shooting; Noel missed all of this free-throws, and San Miguel hung on to tie the series 2–2.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals, Series summary, Game 5
The fifth game of the series was rescheduled to July 13 since the Araneta Coliseum was not available due to a WWE event on July 10 and a UAAP doubleheader on July 12.


2009 PBA Fiesta Conference Finals, Broadcast notes
The finals is the second championship series of  The PBA on C/S.


2009 PBA draft
The 2009 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft was an event at which teams drafted players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Market! Market! in Taguig on August 2, 2009. The Burger King Whoppers selected Japeth Aguilar of the Ateneo de Manila University and Western Kentucky University as the number one draft pick. Players applied for the draft had undergone a three-day rookie camp. This is the only draft wherein a draft pick held by a defunct franchise was not retained by a new team which purchased that franchise(the second overall pick originally held by Shell was not inherited by Rain or Shine).


2009 PBA draft, Japeth Aguilar controversy
As expected, the Burger King Whoppers nabbed Japeth Aguilar as its overall No.1 draft pick in the 2009 PBA draft; however days after the draft, he boldly declare that he would join the Smart Gilas Pilipinas developmental basketball program coached by Serbian Rajko Toroman, a move which caused controversy within the PBA and angst especially by the team that drafted him. Its governor, Lito Alvarez, even went to the extent of banning Aguilar from the league for his refusal to sign with the Whoppers.


2009 PBA draft, Japeth Aguilar controversy
An amicable settlement was reached on October 9, 2009, two days before the 35th PBA season. With SBP prexy Manny Pangilinan and executive director Noli Eala intervening and at Alvarez's behest, Aguilar signed the one-year contract with the Whoppers, which included him playing for a few games with them then he would be traded to Talk N Text Tropang Texters (Pangilinan's PBA team) which would then release him to Smart Gilas as he wanted. Alvarez even said that before Aguilar signed their contract, the former already has had the latter's No.18 uniform with the Whoppers made.


2009 PBA draft, Japeth Aguilar controversy
Aguilar played his only professional game with the Whoppers against the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in the PBA season opener, which ended in a 93-80 loss to the Giants. Immediately after, Aguilar got his wish as the Whoppers traded him to the Tropang Texters in exchange for future draft picks, indirectly through Barako Bull Energy Boosters which acted as the conduit team. As expected, TNT loaned him to Smart Gilas where he will stay there until after the 2012 London Olympics as per his Gilas contract.


2009 PBA draft, Japeth Aguilar controversy
As the consequence of this controversy, the board of governors approved stiffer penalties for rookie draftees who would turn their back on the league.


2009 PBZ Zagreb Indoors
The 2009 PBZ Zagreb Indoors was an ATP tennis tournament played on hard courts indoors. It was the 4th edition of the PBZ Zagreb Indoors, and part of the ATP World Tour 250 series of the 2009 ATP World Tour. It took place in Zagreb, Croatia from February 2 through February 8, 2009.


2009 PBZ Zagreb Indoors
The singles line up was led by world no. 19 Igor Andreev and Croats Marin Čilić and Ivo Karlović. Also competing were Paul-Henri Mathieu, Jürgen Melzer, Andreas Seppi, Mario Ančić and Simone Bolelli.


2009 PBZ Zagreb Indoors, Champions, Doubles
Martin Damm /  Robert Lindstedt defeated  Christopher Kas /  Rogier Wassen 6–4, 6–3


2009 PBZ Zagreb Indoors – Doubles
Paul Hanley and Jordan Kerr were the defending champions, but lost in the quarterfinals to Philipp Petzschner and Alexander Peya.


2009 PBZ Zagreb Indoors – Singles
Sergiy Stakhovsky was the defending champion, but lost in the quarterfinals to Viktor Troicki.


2009 PDC Pro Tour
The 2009 PDC Pro Tour was a series of non-televised darts tournaments organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC). They consisted of Professional Dart Players Association (PDPA) Players Championships and UK Open Regional Finals.


2009 PDC Pro Tour, Prize money
In addition, £400 per Pro Tour event was reserved for a nine-dart finish. Should this not be won in an event, it would be carried over to the next event, and so on until a nine-dart finish is achieved. Once the prize fund is won, it will revert to £400 for the next event.


2009 PDC Pro Tour, German Darts Corporation
The German Darts Corporation rankings are calculated from events across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The top player in the rankings automatically qualifies for the 2010 World Championship.


2009 PDC Pro Tour, Australian Grand Prix Pro Tour
The Australian Grand Prix rankings are calculated from events across Australia. The top player in the rankings automatically qualifies for the 2010 World Championship.


2009 PDC Pro Tour, Other PDC tournaments
The PDC also held a number of other tournaments during 2009. These were mainly smaller events with low prize money, and some had eligibility restrictions. All of these tournaments were non-ranking.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship
The 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship was the 16th World Championship organised by the Professional Darts Corporation since it separated from the British Darts Organisation. The event took place at Alexandra Palace in London from 19 December 2008 and 4 January 2009.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship
John Part was the defending champion, having won the PDC World Championship for the second time in the previous year's final against Kirk Shepherd. However, he was eliminated by Bill Davis on the opening night. Shepherd's poor form in 2008 continued, as he was also eliminated in the first round, by Dutchman Jan van der Rassel. Eventually, the title was won by Phil Taylor, with a 7–1 victory in the final over Raymond van Barneveld. This was Taylor's twelfth PDC world title, and his fourteenth in all; his average of 110.94 against van Barneveld remains a record for the PDC World Championship final.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship
The tournament was also notable for featuring the first ever nine-dart finish at the PDC World Championship, completed by van Barneveld in his quarter-final match with Jelle Klaasen.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Format and qualifiers
The televised stages featured 70 players, an increase of two from the previous year. The top 32 players in the PDC Order of Merit on 1 December 2008 were seeded for the tournament. They were joined by 16 PDPA members and 22 international qualifiers determined by the PDC and PDPA.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Format and qualifiers
The 16 PDPA members were made up from the top eight players who had not already qualified in the PDC Pro Tour events during 2008 and eight other qualifiers were determined at a PDPA Qualifying event which was held on 6 December 2008 in Telford.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Format and qualifiers
These 48 players were joined by 22 international players who qualified through various means. Some of the players, such as the top American, Australian, Danish and Eastern European players were entered straight into the first round, while others, having won qualifying events in their countries, were entered into the preliminary round.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Format and qualifiers
There were two notable absentees from this year's tournament. Bob Anderson had resigned from the PDC in 2008 to take part in the BetFred League of Legends, thus ending a run of 25 consecutive appearances in a World Championship stretching back to 1984, while Alan Warriner-Little also did not participate, having made 20 consecutive appearances stretching back to 1989. This meant that Phil Taylor now had the longest unbroken run in World Championships, making his 20th consecutive appearance, while Dennis Priestley was the only other remaining player to have played in every WDC/PDC World Championship since the inaugural event in 1994.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Prize money
The 2009 World Championship featured a prize fund of £724,000.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Draw
The draw for the first round of the championship was made on 8 December on Sky Sports News by Sid Waddell and Eric Bristow. The preliminary round draw was made on the morning of that date.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Draw, Preliminary round
These matches were played over the course of the first six sessions of the championship, between 19–22 December. The winners enter the main draw, and played their first round matches over the course of 20–23 December. The matches were the best of nine legs, and had to be won by two clear legs unless the score reaches 7–7 in which case the 15th leg would be decisive. The preliminary round draw were as follows:


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Draw, Preliminary round
Scores after player's names are three-dart averages (total points scored divided by darts thrown and multiplied by 3)


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Representation from different countries
This table shows the number of players in the World Championship, the total number including Preliminary round.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Representation from different countries
* In darts, as in many other sports, some non-sovereign sub-national entities of the United Kingdom are treated as separate countries for sport governance purposes.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying
The international contingent for the championship have qualified through various means, detailed here:


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, Continental Europe Order of Merit
The Continental Europe Order of Merit was used to decide four of the international qualifiers for the event, all of whom would be entered in the first round. The top four players in the Order of Merit who had not already qualified via the full Order of Merit or the Players Championship Order of Merit were, from the Netherlands, Co Stompé (who was the top ranked player on the ranking system mainly by virtue of his German Darts Championship win), second placed Jelle Klaasen, and fourth placed Jan van der Rassel. Third place went to the Serbian-born Austrian Mensur Suljović.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, Continental Europe Order of Merit
Of the four qualifiers, three had played in the 2008 PDC World Darts Championship, with Stompé being the only debutant having joined the PDC in June. Klaasen, on his debut in 2008, fell in the first round (albeit in a sudden death leg) to fellow countryman Vincent van der Voort, having missed ten darts to win the match. Van der Rassel fared better in 2008, beating Colin Lloyd 3–2 in his first-round match before dispatching Denis Ovens 4–1 in the second round; however he fell by the same scoreline to Peter Manley in the last 16.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, Continental Europe Order of Merit
Van der Rassel has made two other appearances in the PDC World Championship – in the 2006 event he lost in the second round and in 2004 he lost in the first round. Suljović is making his second appearance in the tournament – in 2008 he defeated Andy Smith 3–2 in the first round before losing out 4–1 to eventual champion John Part in his second match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Australia qualifiersThe first Australian qualifier was Newcastle-born Paul Nicholson, making his debut in the PDC World Championship. After the William Cross Pro-Am series of events in Shoalhaven, Nicholson took an unassailable lead at the top of the Australian Grand Prix rankings – the top ranked player here would earn a place in the first round of the World Championship. His performances in Shoalhaven also earned him a place in the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
The second Australian place was given to veteran Russell Stewart, who made 11 appearances between 1984 and 2002 in the BDO World Championship. Stewart won the Oceanic Masters, an event open to all Australian and New Zealand players, to secure his debut in the PDC World Championship, at the first round stage.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Caribbean qualifierSudesh Fitzgerald, of Guyana, won the Caribbean and South American Masters to become the second ever Guyanese player to appear in the PDC World Championship, after Norman Madhoo who qualified for the 2004 event. Fitzgerald is entered in at the preliminary stage of the tournament.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
China qualifierShi Yongsheng became the Chinese representative at the tournament, making this his third successive appearance in the PDC World Championship. Yongsheng played in the 2008 PDC World Championship, beating Indian qualifier Ashfaque Sayed in the preliminary round but losing to Alan Warriner-Little in the first round. He also played in the 2007 PDC World Championship but fell at the first hurdle in a loss to Andy Smith. Yongsheng won the Chinese National Championship to secure his place in this year's event, at the preliminary stage.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Denmark qualifierFor the third year in a row, Per Laursen topped the Danish Darts League to win a third successive place in the PDC World Championship. He was entered in at the first round stage. In 2007, Laursen defeated Colin Monk 3–0 in the first round but narrowly lost 4–3 to third seed Dennis Priestley in the second round, having had eight darts to win the match. In 2008, he lost 3–1 in the opening match of the event to Alan Tabern.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Eastern Europe qualifierThe Eastern European qualifier took place on 31 October and was open to players from 14 countries in the area. Hungary's Nándor Bezzeg won the event to become the first ever Hungarian representative at the PDC World Championship, being given a first round place at the tournament. He succeeds the Czech Republic's Miroslav Navratil who won the previous year's Eastern European qualifier to earn a place in the 2008 World Championship. Navratil then went on to defeat Philippines qualifier Rizal Barellano 5–0 in the preliminary round before losing 3–2 to Andy Jenkins in the first round.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Finland qualifierMarko Kantele will be making his debut at the PDC World Championship (and is Finland's first ever representative in the event) in 2009 having won the Finnish Pro Darts Championship. He entered at the preliminary phase.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Germany/Austria qualifierThis qualifying place was decided by the German Darts Corporation rankings, which ranks all German/Austrian players from darts events held in the two countries. Austrian Mensur Suljović topped the rankings, however he had already qualified via the Continental Europe Order of Merit. Therefore his fellow Austrian, second-placed Hannes Schnier, received the invitation to make his debut in the event. He entered at the preliminary round.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Ireland qualifierShane O'Connor won the Irish qualifying event, the inaugural Irish Matchplay, meaning he was entered into the preliminary round of the World Championship, his debut in the event.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Japan qualifierAkihiro Nagakawa was the Japanese representative having won the Japanese National Championship to qualify. Nagakawa played at the 2008 PDC World Championship but lost to Anthony Forde from Barbados in the preliminary round. He will once again appear at the preliminary round this year.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
New Zealand qualifierThe New Zealand qualifier was Warren French who won New Zealand's National Singles Championship. French is no stranger to the PDC World Championship, having accompanied fellow New Zealander Warren Parry to the 2008 event and having played in the 2007 event, where he lost to James Wade in the first round. This year he enters in at the preliminary rounds.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
North America qualifiersThe 2008 North American Order of Merit was used to decide the three North American qualifiers. Pennsylvanian Darin Young topped the rankings, after a second round appearance in the 2008 Las Vegas Desert Classic and victory in the inaugural North American Darts Championship. As well as qualifying him for the first round of the 2009 PDC World Championship, these results gave him a place in the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts. Young has twice appeared before in the PDC World Championship, but failed to win a game in either 2005 or 2006.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Bill Davis finished second in the North American Order of Merit having performed consistently well in all American events, and was the only American to qualify for the televised stages of both the 2008 US Open and the 2008 Desert Classic. This ensured him a place in the first round of the 2009 World Championship. Davis appeared in the World Championship in 2007 but lost his first game 3–1 to Andy Jenkins.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Third placed Canadian David Fatum qualified for the preliminary round of the event, his debut in the World Championship. Fatum's high placing was mainly on merit of his run to the semi-finals of the 2008 US Open, where he was narrowly beaten 3–2 by Colin Lloyd.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Philippines qualifierLourence Ilagan succeeded Rizal Barellano (who lost in the preliminary round of the 2008 event) to become the 2009 Philippines qualifier. Ilagan won the National Darts Federation of the Philippines qualifier to earn a place at the preliminary round at the Alexandra Palace.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Current BDO Ladies' World Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova received qualification following the withdrawal of the Indian qualifier. She became the second woman to play in the PDC World Championship, following Canadian Gayl King who took part in the 2001 PDC World Championship. Following this, Dobromyslova will join the PDC circuit full-time and therefore is not eligible to play in British Darts Organisation events, meaning she cannot defend her BDO Ladies' world title.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
Charles Losper will return to the Alexandra Palace for this year's World Championship, after victory for the second successive year in the South African Open. Losper appeared in the first round of the 2008 World Championship, where he lost 3–1 to eventual champion John Part. He will be entered in at the preliminary stage this year.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
The Dutch TV station SBS6, who will be broadcasting the World Championship in the Netherlands, originally gave their wildcard to Co Stompé, who joined the PDC in 2008. However, this decision was in early November; mere weeks later Stompé won the German Darts Championship (his maiden PDC title), beating Phil Taylor 4–2 in the final – this earned him a spot in the World Championship by right, via the Continental Europe Order of Merit.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, International qualifying, International representatives
As a result, on 30 November 2008, Remco van Eijden was offered and accepted the wildcard, a decision which led to his expulsion from the 2008 Zuiderduin Masters to be replaced by fellow Dutchman and 2009 BDO World Championship qualifier Willy van de Wiel. This was van Eijden's debut in the PDC version of the World Championship, and he was entered in at the preliminary round.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day One, Friday 19 December, First round
The opening match of the tournament was an international affair, seeing Spain's Carlos Rodriguez take on sixteenth seed Roland Scholten of the Netherlands. Scholten was struggling with a shoulder/neck injury and in his last televised match – the first round of the 2008 European Championship – he had averaged 52. Rodriguez on the other hand had defeated fifth seed Terry Jenkins in the same tournament. True to form, the first set went to the Spaniard, including a 121 checkout. Scholten then hit back to take the second before Rodriguez included an 11 darter in taking the third set 3–2.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day One, Friday 19 December, First round
The Dutchman included an 11 darter of his own as he took the next set without reply and looked to have the momentum going into the decider, but it was perhaps one set too far as the injury took its toll on Scholten's game and Rodriguez won the set – and the match – fairly comfortably. Scholten did not disgrace himself with an 80 average this time around, though Rodriguez' 88 showed the scoring power that gave him the match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day One, Friday 19 December, First round
A preliminary round game followed between Japan's Akihiro Nagakawa and New Zealand's Warren French, to be contested over nine legs. This was probably for the better as neither player hit top form, both averaging 54, which was a factor in Sky Sports stopping footage of the game halfway through. French had double trouble in the opening legs, letting Nagakawa take a 2–0 lead, but he soon improved, reeling off four legs on the trot to take the match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day One, Friday 19 December, First round
Highly fancied Robert Thornton took on twenty-fifth seed Wayne Jones in the next match. Thornton, the lone Scotsman in the competition, joined the PDC in May 2008 and had already risen up to thirty-fifth in the PDC Order of Merit. Jones, a semi-finalist here in 2006, took the first set, but Thornton, averaging 94, took the next three without reply to win the match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day One, Friday 19 December, First round
The tournament lit up in the next match as American Bill Davis sensationally defeated the defending champion and fourth seed, Canadian John Part, 3–0. A slow start from Part allowed Davis to take the first set with a 116 checkout, and the American took a two legs lead in the second set with a 120 checkout. This seemed to awaken the defending champion, who hit five 180s in the next three legs, but missed doubles for the set cost him as Davis took a 2–0 lead. The final set went to a deciding leg as well – Part almost completed a 125 checkout, missing the double 20 to save the match before Davis hit double 10 – the same double Part won his world championship on – to wrap up the win.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day One, Friday 19 December, First round
The final match of the night was a high quality affair with both Dutchman Co Stompé and twenty-fourth seed Andy Jenkins averaging 93 and 94 respectively. Both players had defeated Phil Taylor in recent events – Stompé in the final of the German Darts Championship and Jenkins in the group stages of the 2008 Grand Slam of Darts – and Stompé took the first set.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day One, Friday 19 December, First round
A 120 checkout from the Englishman levelled the match but Stompé, himself a newcomer to the PDC this year, hit a 164 checkout – the highest of the tournament – to help him take the third set. The debutant won the final set 3–1 to win the match by the same scoreline, sending the 2007 semi-finalist Jenkins out. This result also meant all four seeds in action had crashed out.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
The afternoon session of the second day of the World Championship opened with fifth seed Terry Jenkins taking on Dennis Smith who was returning to the event after a two-year absence. Jenkins had lost in the first round the previous year to 500–1 outsider Kirk Shepherd, who would then go on to reach the final. His woes at the Alexandra Palace continued as Smith took a comfortable 3–1 victory. Smith took the first two sets before Jenkins looked to stage a comeback with 118 and 107 checkouts helping him take third set 3–0. However, 'Smiffy' put a stop to the resurgence with an 84 checkout on the bull to win the match, meaning all five seeds who had played so far had fallen at the first hurdle.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
This was followed by a preliminary round match of considerably better quality than the previous night's. Austrian Hannes Schnier, making his debut in the event, and China's Shi Yongsheng, making a third consecutive appearance, faced off with Yongsheng taking an early lead. Two 180s helped Schnier to take a 4–3 lead before Yongsheng reeled off three legs in succession to take the match 6–4.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
Arguably the match of the tournament so far followed as seventeenth seed and semi-finalist last year, Kevin Painter, took on Matt Clark. Clark took the first set 3–2 before Painter hit back taking the second 3–1. ' The Artist' then seemed to gain momentum as he took the next set without reply, including a 100 checkout with two double tops and a 126 checkout on the bull, however 'Superman' Clark comfortably won the next set 3–1 to send the match into a decider.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
The final set had to be won by two clear legs but no player could open up such a margin as they each held their throw for ten straight legs to send the match into a sudden death leg, something that Painter had famously been on the wrong end of in the 2004 final. Clark won the bull, meaning he threw first, but heavy scoring from Painter meant he was first to a double – he missed one dart at double 16 for the match with Clark left on a 104 checkout. Clark got the required treble 20 but himself missed a dart at double 12 to win the contest. Painter then hit double 8 with his third dart to finally take victory and become the first seed to advance into the second round.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
Dennis Priestley, the eleventh seed, had a considerably more comfortable victory against Warren French of New Zealand. French played far better than in his preliminary round game, averaging 76 rather than 54, however Priestley's average of 87 told all as he took all three sets 3–1 for a 3–0 overall victory. Welshman and twenty-ninth seed Barrie Bates had a similarly easy victory over Northern Ireland's Felix McBrearty, dropping three legs before a 101 checkout gave him a 3–0 win to end the afternoon session.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
The evening session opened with ninth seed Alan Tabern producing a comfortable 3–0 victory over 1996 BDO World Champion Steve Beaton. Tabern's average of 91 to Beaton's 82 was the decisive factor in the match as Beaton only won three legs in his defeat to the 2007 quarter-finalist. This was followed by a third preliminary game, easily the highest quality of the round so far as both the USA's David Fatum, a semi-finalist in the 2008 US Open, and Ireland's Shane O'Connor produced averages of above 75. Fatum led 4–2 before missing seven match darts to let O'Connor peg the match back to 4–4, however Fatum made no mistake in taking the next two legs and the match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
Another player from the USA and the highest ranked on the North American Order of Merit, Darin Young, took on Dutch youngster and thirty-second seed Michael van Gerwen in the next match. Young opened with heavy scoring and took the first set before van Gerwen took the next including a 104 checkout that gave the Netherlands player a burst of momentum – he only dropped one leg in taking the next two sets to win the match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
Thirteen-time World Champion and top seed Phil Taylor opened his campaign with a dominant victory over debutant Steve Grubb. Taylor, with a 96 average – the highest of the tournament so far – was never pushed and didn't drop a leg in a whitewash of the qualifier that acted as a warning shot to the rest of the competition. The final match of the day saw twenty-eighth seed Alex Roy meet fast-rising youngster Kevin McDine.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Two, Saturday 20 December, First round
McDine took the first set 3–2 and the second 3–1 – a 100 checkout and seven perfect darts in two separate legs helping the Geordie take the latter. Roy seemed to come alive as he took the third set without reply along with a 116 checkout, but McDine included a 108 finish in taking the fourth and final set 3–1 to secure the match, and finish off day two's action.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
The first match of the third day was a tight affair between twenty-first seed Mark Walsh and Jamie Caven. Both were second round losers last year and both averaged 91 in a match where the first break of throw was not until the third set. At 1–1 in sets, Walsh had eight perfect darts towards a nine dart finish but his dart at double 12 fell well short. The following leg he broke Caven's throw and despite a break back from Caven, a 120 checkout saw him take the third set.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
Caven took the fourth set 3–2 but Walsh, who two years ago went out in the first round with a 71 average due to suffering from dartitis, took the final set 4–2 to go into the second round. The match eventually ended up with a total thirteen 180s between the players; eight were from Walsh which would set a joint-record for the first round along with Adrian Lewis.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
The next match saw the second best performance from a preliminary round entrant in South Africa's Charles Losper, who faced Guyana's Sudesh Fitzgerald. Losper, who twelve months ago lost 3–1 in the first round to eventual champion John Part, averaged 87 in a tidy 6–4 victory over Fitzgerald, making his debut at the World Championship. Fitzgerald started poorly and let Losper take a 3–1 lead, before a 64 finish helped him level the match. Losper then checked out 95 to retake the lead, but despite Fitzgerald hitting back the next leg, a 180 in the ninth leg and a 14 dart finish in the tenth gave Losper victory.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
The 2005 runner-up and twentieth seed Mark Dudbridge was next in action against debutant Nick Fullwell in a match that also went to a fifth set. Dudbridge led in the first, but missed doubles let Fullwell steal it before 'Flash' Dudbridge took the next set 3–1 including a 100 checkout. Dudbridge took control of the match by taking the third set without reply, but 'Hero' Fullwell hit a 98 finish in the fourth to send the match into a decider. Dudbridge finally prevailed by taking the fourth set 4–2.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
Thirty-first seed Englishman Wes Newton faced off against Danish Per Laursen in the next match. Both suffered first round exits last year and Laursen was condemned to the same fate in a fairly unremarkable match in which both players averaged in the 80s. Laursen took the first set 3–2 but Newton won the next by the same scoreline, before taking the lead with a 3–1 score in the third set (the only set that didn't go to a deciding leg) and finishing the match off with double 4 in the fourth set's decider.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
A fairly one-sided match followed as eighteenth seed Denis Ovens took a comfortable victory over Steve Maish. Ovens took the first set 3–1 and a tight second set which Ovens won 3–2 with a 15 darter seemed to break Maish's resolve, as finishes of 80 and 120 helped Ovens take the third set without reply to end the afternoon's action.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
The evening opened with some heavy scoring from number seven seed Andy Hamilton, who set the best average of round one (101.59) in a straight sets victory over Michael Barnard. Barnard did not disgrace himself, averaging 93 and performing 114 checkout, but Hamilton's power play including five 180s ensured he went through while throwing down the gauntlet for the rest of the field.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
What followed was one of the most hotly anticipated matches ever in the PDC World Championship. Massive hype had gathered over the appearance of Russian Anastasia Dobromyslova, the Ladies World Champion, facing off against Dutchman Remco van Eijden in a preliminary round game. Both were making their debut in the PDC World Championship and both had been awarded a wild card into the competition. However, Dobromyslova was the clear crowd favourite and the pressure showed on van Eijden as he lost the first leg.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
This seemed to awaken the Dutchman as he reeled off the next three legs before a thirteen darter helped the Russian to level the match. van Eijden then took the next two legs to win the match and end the dream for Dobromyslova, though both players averaged over 80 in arguably the highest quality preliminary round match so far.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
Crowd favourite and eighth seed Wayne Mardle then began his World Championship campaign against debutant American David Fatum. The four-time (including last year) semi-finalist did not play his best game, averaging 86 to Fatum's 81, but it was enough to put him through in straight sets, dropping only one leg in the process. While his scoring was nothing to write home about, Mardle's finishing was eye-catching, including a 116 and 106 checkout in a clinical performance on the doubles – it was this part of his game that put 'Hawaii 501' through comfortably as 'The Scorpion' Fatum struggled in finishing off legs.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
The 2007 champion and second seed Raymond van Barneveld began his challenge for the championship against English qualifier Mark Stephenson. 'Barney', a third round loser last year, was hoping to outdo both Hamilton's average and Taylor's record of not dropping a leg, and, in taking the first two sets 3–0 he looked to be doing just that. van Barneveld included a 13 darter and two 14 dart finishes in rapidly taking the first set, and a 102 finish was crucial in taking the second.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
However, his third set was less comfortable, as Stephenson gained his first leg with a 126 checkout and then sent the set into a deciding leg. Stephenson, averaging a respectable 88, missed a dart to take the set before 'The Man' wrapped up the game, averaging a strong 100.80 in the process.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
The final match of the day saw another upset as thirteenth seed Peter Manley fell in a deciding set to Serbian-born Austrian Mensur Suljović. Manley, a three-time runner-up at the PDC World Championship, took the first set with ease including a 124 checkout. He then led 2–0 in the second set before Suljović began to hit back, with two 180s helping him take three legs on the spin to level the match 1–1.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Three, Sunday 21 December, First round
Suljović, a second round loser to eventual champion John Part last year, led for the first time in the third set, before 'One Dart' hit a clinical 118 checkout to put him back in the game. However, his scoring was not up to par as Suljović continued to outperform him in that area, and a 101 checkout helped him take third set 3–1. Manley, sensing a defeat, quickly took the next set 3–0 to send the match into a decider. However, it was Suljović (averaging an impressive 91 to Manley's 88) whose nerve held when it mattered most as he broke his opponent's throw early and double ten sent Manley crashing out.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Four, Monday 22 December, First round
The fourth day only featured play in the evening, and began with a major upset as twenty-second seed Chris Mason fell in straight sets to 67-year-old Irishman John MaGowan. Mason never got going in the match, averaging 83 to MaGowan's 92. All sets went 3–1 in 'Mr Magoo's favour, with the highlight of the match being a 156 checkout from MaGowan in the final set to end Mason's hopes of a recovery – double 4 finally completed a major surprise in the opening game of the night.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Four, Monday 22 December, First round
In the preliminary round game that followed, Finland's Marko Kantele produced the best performance of the preliminary stage with an average of 89 to win 5–2 against Lourence Ilagan of the Philippines. Both were debutants though it was the Finn who settled in earlier, completing a 120 checkout before a 12 darter put him 2–0 up. Ilagan won two more legs but Kantele was always in control and a 60 checkout completed the final preliminary round match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Four, Monday 22 December, First round
Sixth seed young gun Adrian Lewis, twice a quarter-finalist at the World Championship, entered the tournament facing off against veteran Australian Russell Stewart who was making his debut at the PDC version of the event despite making eleven appearances in the BDO World Championship. Lewis stormed through the first set, including three 180s and a 121 finish to complete a 12 darter to take the set.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Four, Monday 22 December, First round
A 111 finish helped him open up the first set 2–0 as the youngster looked to have the match under control, but a sudden loss in form from Lewis and steady scoring from Stewart helped 'Rusty' take three legs on the trot to level the match. Stewart took the first leg of the next set to take the lead from the first time, but 'Jackpot' started to find form again as he punished missed darts at doubles from the Australian to take the third set 3–1. A 105 checkout sealed the match for Lewis in the fourth set – though he only averaged 86 to Stewart's 84, Lewis did hit eight 180s in the match, the most of the round and equalling Mark Walsh's record.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Four, Monday 22 December, First round
The next match was hyped before the tournament as the match of the first round, however it proved to be anything but as 2006 BDO World Champion Jelle Klaasen dropped only one leg in a clinical demolition of tenth seed Colin Lloyd.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Four, Monday 22 December, First round
Both were first round losers last year, and both had had darts to win their matches (Klaasen had missed ten match darts to put away Vincent van der Voort), but Klaasen made no mistake in that area this time as he won the last two sets 3–0 against a disappointing Lloyd – 'Jaws' averaged 86 to 'The Matador's impressive 95. The last match of the night was another one-sided affair as twelfth seed Mervyn King didn't drop a leg against China's Shi Yongsheng. The averages – King with 92 to Yongsheng's 75 – told all as a 105 checkout was the only real highlight in a match dominated by 'The King'.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
The last day of play before the Christmas break featured eight round one games to finish up the first round. First up was twenty-sixth seed Andy Smith, a first round loser last year, taking on debutant Tony Ayres. Ayres took the first set before 'The Pieman' Smith changed gears, hitting two 180s and a thirteen darter to take the second set. An even contest saw Ayres take the third with finishes of 116 and 101 but Smith took the fourth including a 155 checkout.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
In the deciding set, Ayres quickly took a 2–0 lead before Smith hit a 100 checkout with two double tops to save the game; it was only delaying the inevitable however as Ayres, who hit three 180s to Smith's six, and averaged 86 to Smith's 87, was on target when it mattered – he hit double four cleanly in the next leg to win the match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
The next match was an unexpected demolition of twenty-seventh seed Adrian Gray, who did not win a leg in a whitewash defeat by top Australian player Paul Nicholson. Gray only got one dart at a double in the entire match as his average of 84 was blown away by Nicholson's 96 (Nicholson averaged exactly the same as Phil Taylor, who did not drop a leg in his first round match either). Though Nicholson did not hit any 180s, he did hit showpiece checkouts of 142 and 100 to set up a match with Adrian Lewis in the second round, who had beaten his fellow Australian Russell Stewart the previous day.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
Twenty-third seed Kirk Shepherd was not to have a repeat of his fairytale run to the final in last year's 2008 event as he was defeated in a deciding set by Dutchman Jan van der Rassel. A 106 checkout helped Shepherd lead in the first set, but clean checkouts of 98 and 97 in two consecutive legs ensured that van der Rassel took the first set. Shepherd took the second set 3–1 before the third set went to a deciding leg – 'Rassel Dazzle' held throw to go 2–1 up.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
The 'Martial Dartist' Shepherd stormed through the fourth set, finishing it with a 126 checkout on the bull, but he could not keep up the momentum as van der Rassel took the final set by two clear legs with a clean 106 checkout. Shepherd's defeat also meant that both finalists from the previous year's tournament had gone out in the first round, the first time this has ever happened.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
The final game of the afternoon also went to a deciding set though it did not look to be at first as thirtieth seed Tony Eccles shot to a 2–0 in sets lead against Remco van Eijden, the conqueror of Ladies World Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova in the preliminary round. Eccles included a 164 checkout in the first set, which he won 3–0, and though the second set was closer in going to a deciding leg, Eccles came out on top to give himself a strong lead.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
However, the match was far from over as van Eijden took the third set in a deciding leg with a gutsy 116 checkout, and in the deciding leg of the fourth Eccles missed five darts for the match before van Eijden levelled the match. ' The Viper' Eccles lost the first leg in the deciding set as van Eijden took the lead for the first time, but this provoked him into heavy scoring as he won the next three legs without reply to finally win the match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
The evening's play saw fifteenth seed Ronnie Baxter take on the best performer of the preliminary round – Finn Marko Kantele. Kantele took the first set with some eye-catching finishing, hitting checkouts of 124 and 164 both on the bull to carve himself a lead despite superior scoring from Baxter. Though Kantele again finished on the bull with a 122 checkout in the second set, Baxter held his throw under pressure to level the match.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
From then Baxter only lost one leg in the next two sets as he started to hit good form and Kantele's started to slip away – 'The Rocket' stormed through the third set without dropping a leg and he took the fourth, and the match, with some eye-catching finishing of his own, hitting two double tops to complete a 100 checkout. Baxter's end average of 92 to Kantele's 83 showed that it was his scoring that gave him the edge in the match despite some amazing finishing from the Finn.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
The fourteenth seed Colin Osborne, a quarter-finalist in 2007 but a first round loser last year, opened his campaign with a clinical straight-sets victory over South African Charles Losper. Osborne rivalled Kantele's finishing as a 121 checkout helped him take the first set without reply, and a 167 checkout – the highest of the first round – was instrumental in opening a lead in the second set, which he later won with a 110 finish.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
Losper, now with his back to the wall, appeared to gain steam as a 14 darter gave him a two leg advantage in the third set, but Osborne regrouped and a 96 checkout gave him victory in the deciding leg of the set. ' The Wizard' Osborne's average of 95 to complement his finishing also showed that he was very much a threat following the disappointment of last year.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
Brendan Dolan gave third seed James Wade a great scare in the first set of their match – he missed six darts for the set before an under-par Wade, who averaged 88, hit an important 106 checkout to take it and break Dolan's spirit.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
From then on Wade took six of the next seven legs in winning the following two sets and won the match with a thirteen dart finish to set up a match with Tony Eccles, who had famously knocked Wade out in the first round of the 2008 World Grand Prix as 'The Machine' was the defending champion at the time. The next match was another straight-sets victory for a seed – nineteenth seed Vincent van der Voort won the final first round match 3–0 against Hungarian Nándor Bezzeg.


2009 PDC World Darts Championship, Tournament Review, Day Five, Tuesday 23 December
The first set went to a deciding leg but van der Voort took it under pressure, and like Wade he dropped only one leg in taking the next two sets – a 106 checkout, five 180s, and a 90 average from 'Greased Lightning' proved enough to dispatch the Eastern European qualifier and end the first round.