Darts: Warriner advances

ALAN WARRINER reached the final of the Embassy World Professional Championship for the first time at the Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, last night when he beat Steve Beaton 5-2 in the semi-final.

Warriner will meet John Lowe, the former champion, in the final. Lowe brought to an end the run of Bobby George in the other semi- final with a 5-3 victory.

Warriner, a male nurse at Lancaster Moor Hospital, took full advantage of his opponent's profligacy. Beaton, a 28-year-old Midlander who had earlier accounted for two former world champions - Dennis Priestley and Bob Anderson - missed an incredible 50 doubles in 63 attempts and although he scored better than his Lancaster rival he never looked like winning.

Warriner, known as the 'Iceman' because of his coolness on stage, won the first two sets, led 4- 1 at the interval and clinched a comfortable success after Beaton had won the sixth set.

Warriner, will be back to work on Tuesday even if he wins the pounds 30,000 first prize tonight, but he said: 'If I win the title I'd collect the equivalent of two years wages in one go and I would have to think about my future.'

Lowe reached the final for the eighth time with his win over George. Lowe, champion in 1979 and 1987 and runner-up in 1978, 1981, 1982, 1985 and 1988, was always just a shade better - both in scoring and in recording doubles. Leading 4-3, he lost the first leg of the eighth set but then took three consecutive legs, in each of which he scored a 180 and never gave his rival a shot at a double.

EMBASSY WORLD PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP (Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green): Semi-final: A Warriner (Eng) bt S Beaton (Eng) 5-2; J Lowe bt R George 5-3.