Christian “Ian” Perez is the 2009 Philippine Qualifier to the World Darts Championships. Ian will represent the Philippines to the richest dart tournament in the world, the £1 Million World Darts Championship organized by the Professional Darts Corporation, starting December 18, 2009 to January 3, 2010, in Alexandra Palace, London, England. This is equivalent to 79M pesos.

Ian Perez is currently the NDFP #2 ranked player and the 2nd placer in the Shanghai International Darts Open, Asia’s richest steel tip tournament last month, losing to 3-times world champion John Part in the finals.

Leading to the finals, Ian came in joint 2nd-3rd placers with Boie Parfan in the 10 player round robin best of 7 format. Jojo Barellano, the 2007 Philippine Qualifier came in 1st. In the step ladder Ian Perez faced Boie Parfan for the right to play Jojo Barellano for the championship in the best of 5 sets best of 5 legs format. Ian overwhelmed Parfan 3-1 sets highlighted by 161 double bull finish in the last set.

Ian Perez opened the first leg of the championship with a 14-darter and won the first 3 sets 3-0, 3-1, 3-1. The best of 7 set best of 5 legs championship looked like a one-sided finals when Perez led 3-0 sets. But Barellano came back with his own 3 straight sets wins 3-0, 3-2, 3-1 for a final make or break set. In the final deciding set Perez won the diddle for the bulls and started the set. With 102 left and Barellano waiting with 40 left, Perez hit T20, S6, and hit the D18 out. The 2nd leg was won by Perez with 80 out and in the winning leg with 200 left and Barellano waiting with 101, Perez hit a T80 for 20 left and Barellano hit T20, S9 and missed the D16. With one dart Perez hit D10 and won the Philippine Qualifier to the World Darts Championship.

In the championship, Perez hit a total of 7 T80’s and 52 100 and up scores compared to Barellano’s not hitting a single T80. The average of Perez in the total 26 legs played is 87.23.

Ian Perez is in a hot streak and we hope that come World Darts Championship he will be more than ready to face the giants of the darting world. We look forward for great victories in our quest to gain more international recognition and respect.

In the final round robin JP de Tablan, the back to back Darterong Pinoy Youth champion 2007-2008, came in second, but was disqualified to continue in the step ladder because he did not have a passport as stipulated in the playing agreement. In the early phase of the elimination seeded players Boy Gionzon decided not to participate because he did not have a passport, Orlan Bernardino was abroad and Lourence Ilagan was prevailed upon by his handlers not to play. Should Ilagan win and again play in his 2nd PDC televised tournament he will be banned by the World Darts Federation in their tournaments. Ilagan’s handlers were more interested in pursuing WDF ranking points.

Summary of Event:

The 8 players from the open qualifier were:
Alvin Malilin
Francis Eguia
Cris Salinas
Henry Rivera
JP de Tablan
Bryan Eribal
Mon Oiveros
Arnold Garcia

The group 1 ranking was
1st King Gumanid NDFP# 3
1st Bert Lozano NDFP# 5
1st De Tablan
4th Chris Salinas
5th Bebot Mangle NDFP #9
6th Arnold Garcia
7th Alvin Maliilin
Did not play: Boy Gionzon NDFP# 7

Group 2 Ranking
1st Ricky Mijares NDFP# 8
2nd Jojo Barellano NDFP# 4
3rd Francis Eguia
4th Henry Rivera
5th Bryan Eribal
6th Mon Oliveros
Did not play: Orlan Bernardino NDFP# 6
Lourence Ilagan NDFP # 10

Final Round Robin
1st Jojo Barellano
2nd JP De Tablan
3rd Ian Perez
3rd Boie Parfan
5th Bert Lozano
6th Ricky Mijares
7th Francis Eguia
8th Cris Salinas
9th King Gumanid
10th Henry Rivera