This years West Tyrone Open Darts Classic event saw a new format set in place for the first time when the 9^th annual event darted off played in 16 groups of six in a round robin format with all players going into the groups including the top PDC members all trying to qualify for the last-32 knockout stages on the Sunday but it was Lionel Sams who was crowned the 2007 champion after THE LION TAME THE FIELD.

Lionel who is known to the darting world as the lion played outstanding darts throughout the tournament to be crowned champion starting it all off in the group matches where he only came through in the runner-up spot after losing his last group match 4-3 to the impressive Peter Waters from Waterford but recorded enough victories earlier over James Byrne (Donegal), Freddie Harper (Fermanagh), Barry King (Tyrone) and Billy O’Brien (Wexford) to put him into the knockout stages.

Lionel kept his great run of form going when he defeated last years champion Chris Mason in the last-32 and followed that up with further victories over Justin Mc Guigan, Felix Mc Brearty, Sean Magowan, before defeating fellow PDC member Ray Farrell 8-4 in the final which seen Ray also playing great darts throughout the tournament in front of the large crowed who attended…

PDC Players: -----This new tournament format saw a host of top PDC members not even making out of there groups which included Jamie Harvey, Graeme Stoddart and Reg Harding to mention a few, after they where drawn against a lot of Ireland's top players in the round robin group format.

West Tyrone Open Results
Final
Lionel Sams 8-4 Ray Farrell
Winner £1,600
Runner-Up £1,000

Semi-Finals
Ray Farrell 7-4 John Joe Dolan
Lionel Sams 7-3 Sean Magowan
Losers £350

Quarter-Finals
Ray Farrell 6-2 Declan Cunningham
John Joe Dolan 6-5 Paul Mein
Sean MaGowan 6-5 Sean Gallagher
Lionel Sams 6-1 Felix McBreaty
Losers £100

Last 16
Ray Farrell 6-1 Roy Bailie
Declan Cunningham 6-4 Raymie Williamson
John Joe Dolan 6-2 Shane Burgess
Paul Mein 6-5 John McGinley
Sean Gallagher 5-2 Martin Carvill
Sean MaGowan 6-3 Geoff Wylie
Lionel Sams 6-0 Justin McGuigan
Felix McBreaty 6-1 Sam Frazier

Last 32
Roy Bailie 6-1 Irwin Muirhead
Ray Farrell 6-0 James Derry
Raymie Williamson 6-3 Danny McDaid
Declan Cunningham 6-1 Paddy McDermott
John Joe Dolan 6-0 Campbell Jackson
Shane Burgess 6-2 Andrew Coulter
Paul Mein 6-4 Brendan Dolan
John McGinley 6-4 Grant McFarland
Sean Gallagher 6-5 John MaGowan
Martin Carvill 6-2 Ian Branks
Sean MaGowan 6-5 Kyle McKinstry
Geoff Wylie 6-5 Peter Waters
Justin McGuigan 6-2 Sean Duggan
Lionel Sams 6-3 Chris Mason
Felix McBreaty 6-4 Terry Muirhead
Sam Frazier 6-5 Sean McMurray

Over 80 players gathered at 1-pm on Friday afternoon for the 9^th annual Irish Open Individual (Irish players only) now named the Kevin McGrath Memorial which is always Avery popular event in the West Tyrone Open Darts Festival. It was N. Ireland’s top PDC member Brendan Dolan who was crowned champion defeating Kilyleagh’s Andrew Coulter on a 5-3 score-line in the final. 

Lionel Sams and Sean Magowan defeated Brendan Dolan and Glen Lagan 4-0 in the final to win the 2007 Open Doubles Championship. 

The winners of the 2007 Pro-am 3-Man Team Event was won by another PDC player Graeme Stoddart when he partnered Tyrone’s Sean Gallagher and Felix Mc Brearty to victory. 

The Ladies open which takes place each year at the West Tyrone Open Darts Festival was renamed in memory of the late George McGovern who was a great player and follower of darts throughout Ireland as well as being a great supporter of the annual West Tyrone Open Darts Festival which takes place in the Co. Fermanagh town…The tournament was won by N. Ireland’s number one ranked player Denise Cassidy defeating Tyrone’s Maria Cassidy in the final when they received there prizes and the perpetual cup from the late George’s wife….. 

The junior open seen players from throughout the province gather to the venue for this popular junior event but come Sunday evening it was Ballymena’s Darmell McCrory who was crowned champion.