Wayne Jones improves on PDC tour

Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones just missed out on a quarter-final spot after running Simon Whitlock close in the PDC's German Darts Masters.

Jones was edged out 6-5 by the Wizard yesterday afternoon after blowing a 4-1 lead, hitting two 180s along the way as he surged ahead.

Whitlock pulled it back to 4-4 but Jones, after missing double four for a 61 finish, checked out on double two to move within a leg of the win.

But Whitlock came from behind as Jones missed double 18 in the next leg and double top in the last as he bowed out after a close-run game.

'The Wanderer' was again hampered by his finishing but it represented some of his best form of the year in the non-televised 'floor' events.

The 47-year-old first stepped up to the oche at the Glaspalast in Sindelfingen to face fellow West Midlands darter Nick Fullwell on Friday.

Jones averaged 93 in seeing off the challenge of Stourbridge's Fullwell by 6-3 on stage two and was back the next day to face William O'Connor.

The Irishman had put out Kevin Painter in the first round but, where 'the Artist' had failed, Jones succeeded to take his second 6-3 win.

Then came Whitlock and his exit but Jones climbed a place to 22nd in the PDC Order of Merit, some progress after a terrible nine months.

Rugeley's Mark Hylton never got started, forefitting his first round tie with Jerry Hendricks with a hand injury. Adrian Lewis won the event.