PDC World Championship - Match Reports 10. Day, Evening
Dave Chisnall sensationally knocked Phil Taylor out of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a stunning 4-1 triumph at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday night.
The 15-time World Champion suffered defeat in the last 32 of the 1 million pound tournament for the first time since the PDC's formation 19 years ago as the St Helens ace picked up the biggest win of his career.
Chisnall averaged 99.05 to Taylor's 100.32, but crucially punished missed doubles from Taylor, who hit only ten from 31 attempts during the game in failing to reach at least the quarter-finals for the first time. Taylor missed darts to win the first set and, after winning the second 3-2 lost the third and fourth in a decider to lead himself 3-1 down, before Chisnall edged in front in set five before sealing an amazing win in 13 darts.
Chisnall now meets another Stoke star, Andy Hamilton, in the last 16 on Thursday, while he was joined in the third round by Kim Huybrechts and Paul Nicholson on Tuesday night. Belgian newcomer Huybrechts followed up his first round whitewash of Brendan Dolan by seeing off James Richardson 4-1.
Richardson had caused a sensation of his own with victory over Raymond van Barneveld nine days earlier, but was unable to repeat the performance as Huybrecht's impressive emergence continued.
He now plays Nicholson in the third round, with the number nine seed having seen off Alan Tabern in straight sets, dropping only three legs in a high-quality performance.
(3:2, 1:3, 3:2, 3:0, 3:2)
Kim Huybrechts continued his dream Alexandra Palace debut at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a 4-1 victory over giant-killer James Richardson.
The match was finely balanced at one set apiece before the Belgian powered through the next three sets, taking nine of the next 13 legs to progress, ending the match with three-dart average over 95.
Huybrechts, who has only dropped one set in the tournament so far, will now face Paul Nicholson for a place in the last eight in his first World Championship appearance.
Both players held throw at the start of the match by hitting double 16 before Huybrechts, who recorded an impressive victory over Brendan Dolan in the first round, took out 66 to win the third leg. Richardson hit a pressure double ten in the next, with his opponent waiting on double 16, but the Belgian hit double eight in the fifth leg to win the set, after both players had missed previous opportunities to claim an early lead.
Richardson, who recorded a famous victory against five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld in round one, hit double 16 to make a positive start to the second, before Huybrechts held throw to take the second. The Belgian missed three darts to break throw in the third leg, which Richardson won by landing double four with his third dart. The Northamptonshire player then won the set with a superb 140 checkout as he levelled the match.
Huybrechts hit a maximum in the process of winning the first leg of set three, and then hit a 100 checkout to take the second. Richardson hit back well by taking the next with an 80 finish against the darts, and then won the fourth on double 18. However, Huybrechts hit a clinical 12-dart finish in the deciding leg to lead for the second time, before starting the fourth set with a 14-darter.
Huybrechts hit double 16 to take the second and then won his fourth leg in a row by hitting the same bed to move two sets clear. The Belgian hit double ten to make a winning start to the fifth set before Richardson stopped the rot by taking out 62 to win the second. Huybrechts won the third leg to move within touching distance of victory but Richardson took the fourth, landing double ten with his third dart, after the Belgian missed a dart at double top for the match. Huybrechts missed another dart for victory in the deciding leg, but Richardson was off-target with his attempt at double 16 and the Belgian returned to hit double 12 with his third dart and seal his third round place.
"I was feeling really good out there, and I played well tonight," said a delighted Huybrechts. "The crowd was very much with James, but I kept my head, took my chances and got the win. I'm loving it on stage and I'm really looking forward to my next match now."
Richardson admitted: "Kim was by far the better player tonight, and outplayed me for much of the game. "I wasn't affected after the huge reaction after my win over Raymond van Barneveld. I felt ready for the challenge, but lost to the better player on the night. "If you'd told me when I came through Qualifying School back in January that I'd beat Raymond van Barneveld in the World Championship in my first year I'd have bitten your hand off but it's been great. "My aim is to press on towards the top 32 over the next year, and I've shown that I've got the game to do that in this tournament."
(3:2, 1:3, 3:2, 3:0, 3:2)
Kim Huybrechts created one of the biggest shocks in Ladbrokes World Darts Championship history with an amazing 4-1 triumph against Phil Taylor at Alexandra Palace.
The 31-year-old from St Helens stunned the 15-time World Champion with the best display of his career, with Taylor suffering defeat in the last 32 of this event for the first time since its inception in late 1993.
Chisnall took the first set before Taylor hit-back to claim the second, but the former Lakeside Championship finalist won the next three sets for an amazing triumph.
"I fully believed that I could beat Phil tonight," said Chisnall, who now faces Andy Hamilton in the third round on Thursday. "I threw really well, and took my chances when Phil was missing doubles. I did get a bit nervy towards the end but I got the job done and I believe I can win this tournament."
Taylor hit a 180 in the first leg but missed two chances to win it, allowing Chisnall to hit double ten to hold throw. Taylor hit the same double to take the second before Chisnall, who defeated 2004 finalist Mark Dudbridge in the first round, recorded an 88 finish to win the third. Taylor won the fourth leg on double 16, but missed a dart at double top to win the set, and the St Helens man held his nerve to hit double eight and edge a tight opening set.
Taylor made a winning start to the second set by landing double 16, but then missed two darts to break throw in the next, allowing Chisnall to hit double ten and level. Taylor won the third leg, which included a 180, but he missed a dart at double top to win the set in the fourth, and Chisnall hit double 18 to force a decider. Taylor was first to a finish in the fifth leg, but was off-target with two darts at double top to give Chisnall his chance when needing a 108 finish. However, Chisnall calmly slotted the treble 19 with his first dart, but missed single 19 to leave 32 in denying himself a chance to double his lead, and Taylor returned to hit double eight to level the match.
Taylor secured the first break of throw in the match at the start of the third set, but Chisnall immediately hit back to claim the second leg. Chisnall hit an excellent 119 checkout to take the third leg before missing a dart at double 18 for a 144 finish in the fourth. Taylor stepped in to hit double eight to force another deciding leg, which Chisnall won by landing double four with a pressure third dart to lead the match for the second time.
He then broke Taylor's throw at the start of the fourth set, only for the world number one to bounce back in style by hitting an 11-dart finish to take the second. Taylor won the third leg on double 16 after Chisnall missed three darts to secure another break of throw. Chisnall hit double top to win the fourth leg and landed a timely maximum in the deciding leg, followed by double top to move 3-1 ahead.
Chisnall began the fifth set in positive fashion with a 14-dart finish to win the first leg, before Taylor hit double top at the first time of asking to level. Chisnall took out 67 to win the third leg, again in 14 darts, and then hit back-to-back 180s to leave an opportunity of winning the match with a nine-dart finish. That dream was quashed after his attempt at a seventh treble 20 was off-target, and Chisnall then missed two opportunities at double 12 to win the match. However, Taylor could not accept the reprieve as he missed two darts at double top, and Chisnall returned to land double six to complete a huge upset.
"This is the best night of my career so far," said Chisnall. "It's a great feeling and I'm over the moon. "I've been waiting to play Phil all year and I just took this as another game, I thought I'd play the dartboard and not the player and I didn't think about beating Phil Taylor, just about winning the game." "I thought I'd blown it when I missed the double 12 in the last leg but he missed and I got the double six."
Taylor admitted: "Dave was by far the better player tonight and deserved to win "Missing an 87 finish in the first leg knocked my confidence and I couldn't get it out of my head for a few legs, when I usually forget about it. "Dave finished better than me and took the chances that he had, and he was brilliant. I've got to go away and work to put things right for 2012 and I'm going to work harder than ever to do that."
(3:2, 2:3, 3:2, 3:2, 3:2)
Dave Chisnall produced an impressive display to reach the last 16 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a straight-sets victory over Alan Tabern.
Nicholson won the opening six legs of the match to take full command and dropped just three legs in total during a fine performance.
The 2010 Players Championship Finals winner will now face Belgian Kim Huybrechts for a place in the quarter-finals on Thursday, as he bids to record his second major title.
Nicholson, who defeated Mensur Suljovic in his first match, made an excellent start by taking the opening two legs, which included a break of throw in the second following missed doubles from Tabern. The number nine seed then hit double top at the first time of asking to win the set without reply with a second 13-dart finish of the game, and hit double 16 to make a winning start to the second. Nicholson then hit a 106 checkout to win his fifth successive leg, which was followed by double 20 to seal a 2-0 lead.
The third set began with Nicholson missing six darts to extend his lead further, and Tabern landed double four to finally get a chalk on the scoreboard. The left-hander then missed two darts at double 16 to win the second leg, which Nicholson stepped in to win with a clinical two-dart 80 finish. Both players held their throws in the next two legs before Nicholson recorded a third 180 of the match in the fifth leg, and hit double four to move three sets clear.
Nicholson won the opening leg of set four against the darts, and then hit a clinical 112 checkout to move a leg away from victory. Nicholson hit a maximum at the start of the third leg and left 16 after 12 darts thrown, but Tabern took hit back with a superb 103 checkout to keep the match alive. However, Nicholson was not to be denied as he fired in another 180, followed by landing double 16 at the first time of asking to end the contest.
"I was feeling a little under the weather coming into the game and I rested over Christmas, got my mind right and that showed in my performance," said Nicholson. "I kept my head down and did the job. I knew that Alan was struggling but if I gave him a sniff he could have come back into it, and I didn't do that. "I've got a bit of experience and I've got to utilise that. I was proud of a couple of the ton-plus finishes there and I made the most of my chances."
Nicholson added: "I think the tournament is starting to show the strength in depth in this sport. "I'm the kind of person who wants to take this sport forwards, and people like Kim Huybrechts, Dave Chisnall and myself showed tonight that we can dominate sessions and make the most of our opportunities. "I've got to know Kim quite well since the European Championship in July and he's a nice kid, but I'm going to have to take him out. This tournament is what I want and he's standing in my way."
Chisnall averaged 99.05 to Taylor's 100.32, but crucially punished missed doubles from Taylor, who hit only ten from 31 attempts during the game in failing to reach at least the quarter-finals for the first time. Taylor missed darts to win the first set and, after winning the second 3-2 lost the third and fourth in a decider to lead himself 3-1 down, before Chisnall edged in front in set five before sealing an amazing win in 13 darts.
Chisnall now meets another Stoke star, Andy Hamilton, in the last 16 on Thursday, while he was joined in the third round by Kim Huybrechts and Paul Nicholson on Tuesday night. Belgian newcomer Huybrechts followed up his first round whitewash of Brendan Dolan by seeing off James Richardson 4-1.
Richardson had caused a sensation of his own with victory over Raymond van Barneveld nine days earlier, but was unable to repeat the performance as Huybrecht's impressive emergence continued.
He now plays Nicholson in the third round, with the number nine seed having seen off Alan Tabern in straight sets, dropping only three legs in a high-quality performance.
Kim Huybrechts 4:1 James Richardson
(3:2, 1:3, 3:2, 3:0, 3:2)
Kim Huybrechts continued his dream Alexandra Palace debut at the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a 4-1 victory over giant-killer James Richardson.
The match was finely balanced at one set apiece before the Belgian powered through the next three sets, taking nine of the next 13 legs to progress, ending the match with three-dart average over 95.
Huybrechts, who has only dropped one set in the tournament so far, will now face Paul Nicholson for a place in the last eight in his first World Championship appearance.
Both players held throw at the start of the match by hitting double 16 before Huybrechts, who recorded an impressive victory over Brendan Dolan in the first round, took out 66 to win the third leg. Richardson hit a pressure double ten in the next, with his opponent waiting on double 16, but the Belgian hit double eight in the fifth leg to win the set, after both players had missed previous opportunities to claim an early lead.
Richardson, who recorded a famous victory against five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld in round one, hit double 16 to make a positive start to the second, before Huybrechts held throw to take the second. The Belgian missed three darts to break throw in the third leg, which Richardson won by landing double four with his third dart. The Northamptonshire player then won the set with a superb 140 checkout as he levelled the match.
Huybrechts hit a maximum in the process of winning the first leg of set three, and then hit a 100 checkout to take the second. Richardson hit back well by taking the next with an 80 finish against the darts, and then won the fourth on double 18. However, Huybrechts hit a clinical 12-dart finish in the deciding leg to lead for the second time, before starting the fourth set with a 14-darter.
Huybrechts hit double 16 to take the second and then won his fourth leg in a row by hitting the same bed to move two sets clear. The Belgian hit double ten to make a winning start to the fifth set before Richardson stopped the rot by taking out 62 to win the second. Huybrechts won the third leg to move within touching distance of victory but Richardson took the fourth, landing double ten with his third dart, after the Belgian missed a dart at double top for the match. Huybrechts missed another dart for victory in the deciding leg, but Richardson was off-target with his attempt at double 16 and the Belgian returned to hit double 12 with his third dart and seal his third round place.
"I was feeling really good out there, and I played well tonight," said a delighted Huybrechts. "The crowd was very much with James, but I kept my head, took my chances and got the win. I'm loving it on stage and I'm really looking forward to my next match now."
Richardson admitted: "Kim was by far the better player tonight, and outplayed me for much of the game. "I wasn't affected after the huge reaction after my win over Raymond van Barneveld. I felt ready for the challenge, but lost to the better player on the night. "If you'd told me when I came through Qualifying School back in January that I'd beat Raymond van Barneveld in the World Championship in my first year I'd have bitten your hand off but it's been great. "My aim is to press on towards the top 32 over the next year, and I've shown that I've got the game to do that in this tournament."
Kim Huybrechts 4:1 James Richardson
(3:2, 1:3, 3:2, 3:0, 3:2)
Kim Huybrechts created one of the biggest shocks in Ladbrokes World Darts Championship history with an amazing 4-1 triumph against Phil Taylor at Alexandra Palace.
The 31-year-old from St Helens stunned the 15-time World Champion with the best display of his career, with Taylor suffering defeat in the last 32 of this event for the first time since its inception in late 1993.
Chisnall took the first set before Taylor hit-back to claim the second, but the former Lakeside Championship finalist won the next three sets for an amazing triumph.
"I fully believed that I could beat Phil tonight," said Chisnall, who now faces Andy Hamilton in the third round on Thursday. "I threw really well, and took my chances when Phil was missing doubles. I did get a bit nervy towards the end but I got the job done and I believe I can win this tournament."
Taylor hit a 180 in the first leg but missed two chances to win it, allowing Chisnall to hit double ten to hold throw. Taylor hit the same double to take the second before Chisnall, who defeated 2004 finalist Mark Dudbridge in the first round, recorded an 88 finish to win the third. Taylor won the fourth leg on double 16, but missed a dart at double top to win the set, and the St Helens man held his nerve to hit double eight and edge a tight opening set.
Taylor made a winning start to the second set by landing double 16, but then missed two darts to break throw in the next, allowing Chisnall to hit double ten and level. Taylor won the third leg, which included a 180, but he missed a dart at double top to win the set in the fourth, and Chisnall hit double 18 to force a decider. Taylor was first to a finish in the fifth leg, but was off-target with two darts at double top to give Chisnall his chance when needing a 108 finish. However, Chisnall calmly slotted the treble 19 with his first dart, but missed single 19 to leave 32 in denying himself a chance to double his lead, and Taylor returned to hit double eight to level the match.
Taylor secured the first break of throw in the match at the start of the third set, but Chisnall immediately hit back to claim the second leg. Chisnall hit an excellent 119 checkout to take the third leg before missing a dart at double 18 for a 144 finish in the fourth. Taylor stepped in to hit double eight to force another deciding leg, which Chisnall won by landing double four with a pressure third dart to lead the match for the second time.
He then broke Taylor's throw at the start of the fourth set, only for the world number one to bounce back in style by hitting an 11-dart finish to take the second. Taylor won the third leg on double 16 after Chisnall missed three darts to secure another break of throw. Chisnall hit double top to win the fourth leg and landed a timely maximum in the deciding leg, followed by double top to move 3-1 ahead.
Chisnall began the fifth set in positive fashion with a 14-dart finish to win the first leg, before Taylor hit double top at the first time of asking to level. Chisnall took out 67 to win the third leg, again in 14 darts, and then hit back-to-back 180s to leave an opportunity of winning the match with a nine-dart finish. That dream was quashed after his attempt at a seventh treble 20 was off-target, and Chisnall then missed two opportunities at double 12 to win the match. However, Taylor could not accept the reprieve as he missed two darts at double top, and Chisnall returned to land double six to complete a huge upset.
"This is the best night of my career so far," said Chisnall. "It's a great feeling and I'm over the moon. "I've been waiting to play Phil all year and I just took this as another game, I thought I'd play the dartboard and not the player and I didn't think about beating Phil Taylor, just about winning the game." "I thought I'd blown it when I missed the double 12 in the last leg but he missed and I got the double six."
Taylor admitted: "Dave was by far the better player tonight and deserved to win "Missing an 87 finish in the first leg knocked my confidence and I couldn't get it out of my head for a few legs, when I usually forget about it. "Dave finished better than me and took the chances that he had, and he was brilliant. I've got to go away and work to put things right for 2012 and I'm going to work harder than ever to do that."
Dave Chisnall 4:1 Phil Taylor
(3:2, 2:3, 3:2, 3:2, 3:2)
Dave Chisnall produced an impressive display to reach the last 16 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a straight-sets victory over Alan Tabern.
Nicholson won the opening six legs of the match to take full command and dropped just three legs in total during a fine performance.
The 2010 Players Championship Finals winner will now face Belgian Kim Huybrechts for a place in the quarter-finals on Thursday, as he bids to record his second major title.
Nicholson, who defeated Mensur Suljovic in his first match, made an excellent start by taking the opening two legs, which included a break of throw in the second following missed doubles from Tabern. The number nine seed then hit double top at the first time of asking to win the set without reply with a second 13-dart finish of the game, and hit double 16 to make a winning start to the second. Nicholson then hit a 106 checkout to win his fifth successive leg, which was followed by double 20 to seal a 2-0 lead.
The third set began with Nicholson missing six darts to extend his lead further, and Tabern landed double four to finally get a chalk on the scoreboard. The left-hander then missed two darts at double 16 to win the second leg, which Nicholson stepped in to win with a clinical two-dart 80 finish. Both players held their throws in the next two legs before Nicholson recorded a third 180 of the match in the fifth leg, and hit double four to move three sets clear.
Nicholson won the opening leg of set four against the darts, and then hit a clinical 112 checkout to move a leg away from victory. Nicholson hit a maximum at the start of the third leg and left 16 after 12 darts thrown, but Tabern took hit back with a superb 103 checkout to keep the match alive. However, Nicholson was not to be denied as he fired in another 180, followed by landing double 16 at the first time of asking to end the contest.
"I was feeling a little under the weather coming into the game and I rested over Christmas, got my mind right and that showed in my performance," said Nicholson. "I kept my head down and did the job. I knew that Alan was struggling but if I gave him a sniff he could have come back into it, and I didn't do that. "I've got a bit of experience and I've got to utilise that. I was proud of a couple of the ton-plus finishes there and I made the most of my chances."
Nicholson added: "I think the tournament is starting to show the strength in depth in this sport. "I'm the kind of person who wants to take this sport forwards, and people like Kim Huybrechts, Dave Chisnall and myself showed tonight that we can dominate sessions and make the most of our opportunities. "I've got to know Kim quite well since the European Championship in July and he's a nice kid, but I'm going to have to take him out. This tournament is what I want and he's standing in my way."