Match Reports Third Round (2)
Afternoon
Adrian Lewis 4:1 Robert Thornton
(3:0, 3:0, 2:3, 3:2, 3:0)
Adrian Lewis reached his fourth Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship quarter-final in six years with a 4:1 victory over Robert Thornton.
Lewis was once again in excellent form and Thornton was unable to keep up the relentless pace that was set as the Stoke star ended the match with a three-dart average of 101.05. The World Grand Prix runner-up will now face either Simon Whitlock or Vincent van der Voort in Saturday's quarter-finals, as he continued his challenge for a maiden World Championship title.
"I've never usually performed in afternoon matches, so I'm really pleased with what I managed to do today," admitted Lewis. "I've got much more belief in myself now and I am more consistent than I was when I reached the first quarter-final back in 2006."
Lewis won the opening leg of the contest against the darts with a two-dart 64 finish after Thornton missed one dart to take out 107. The fifth seed then hit a fantastic 167 checkout to win the second and then hit double six to win the third leg and with it the first set.
The Stoke ace kept up the momentum in the second set as he won three more legs in succession to double his lead, hitting double top at the first time of asking to win the first leg, breaking throw to win the second and a maximum in the process of winning the third.
Thornton, who defeated Nigel Heydon and Andy Hamilton in his first two matches, managed to win his first leg of the match at the start of the third set with a 76 finish, despite a 180 from Lewis. Lewis levelled with a 101 finish before Thornton led again by taking out 62 to win the leg, which included maximums from both players. The pair hit a maximum apiece again in the fourth leg, which Lewis won on double two before the Scotsman hit double 18 with his last dart to win the set and get back into the match.
The 25-year-old hit a 12-darter to make a winning start to the fourth set, which was completed by landing double 12. Lewis then won the second by hitting double top, but Thornton hit a third 180 in the process of taking the third leg, despite Lewis missing a dart at double 12 for the set. Thornton then took out an excellent 101 finish with Lewis waiting on a two-darter, but the youngster won the deciding leg with the aid of his seventh 180 of the match to regain his two-set advantage.
Lewis hit a 12-dart finish in the first leg of the fifth set and then took out 108 to win the second leg. Both players hit maximums in the third leg, but Thornton missed two vital attempts at doubles and Lewis stepped up to hit double top to end the game.
"I wanted to go out there and hit a ton-plus average to send a warning out and I've done that," said Lewis. "As long as I get myself right, keep calm and prepare right then there's no reason I can't win this tournament. I'm happy being a dark horse, but nobody can bet against me."
Gary Anderson 4:0 Andy Smith
(3:1, 3:2, 3.1, 3:0)
Gary Anderson stormed into the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship by producing an incredible performance to end Andy
Smith's hopes at Alexandra Palace.
Anderson hit ten maximums in a game which lasted just 16 legs and went on to end the match with a three-dart average of 108.39 - the fifth highest in the event's history.
The Scotsman, competing in his second PDC World Championship, will now face either Raymond van Barneveld or Colin Osborne on New Year's Day after following up Wednesday's win over Dennis Priestley with another heavy-scoring display.
"I'm very pleased to follow up my performance from yesterday," said Anderson. "I've always wanted to produce good darts on television. It's taken me some time but I'm getting there now. If I can keep playing like that there's no reason I can't do well here but you never know when the scoring or doubles will desert me."
Anderson started the game just as he did in the previous round against Priestley, winning the first leg with a clinical 121 finish. Smith, who defeated sixth seed Mervyn King on Wednesday, hit the same checkout to win the second on the bullseye before Anderson regained the lead by holding throw in the third leg. The Scotsman, who had averaged over the 100 mark in his first two matches, then won the set in the fourth leg by recording an 83 finish.
Anderson wasted four chances to make a winning start to the second set and Smith took the opportunity by landing double five to elad. Anderson won the second leg with the aid of a maximum before Smith won the third on double 16, which also included a 180 for the 27th seed. Anderson hit an 11-dart finish to win the fourth leg and then double five with his third dart in the deciding leg after Smith had missed a dart at double 16 to win the set himself.
The Scotsman stepped up another gear at the start of the third set as he won the first leg with the aid of two maximums. A 12-dart finish gave Anderson the second leg and he then posted two more maximums in the third leg, although five missed doubles allowed Smith in to win his first leg in five on double eight. In the fourth leg Anderson made no mistake and won the leg in 13 darts to win a third set in a row and leave his opponent with a mountain to climb.
The fourth set followed a similar pattern and despite Smith continuing to fight he was unable to keep up with Anderson as he won the opening two legs of the fourth set in 13 and 14 darts. The third leg saw Anderson move ahead to set up the chance for victory, and after Smith missed tops for a 160 finish to keep the game alive the Scot hit the same bed to seal the win.
Terry Jenkins 4:0 Mark Walsh
(3:2, 3:2, 3:1, 3:0)Terry Jenkins reached his first Ladbrokes.com World Championship quarter-final since 2007 after ending the challenge of Mark Walsh with a 4:0 victory.
The first set proved to be vital in the final outcome, with Walsh missing opportunities for an early lead before Jenkins took charge to set a last eight clash against either Wes Newton or Mensur Suljovic.
Jenkins started the match well by breaking throw with a 98 finish to win the opening leg and then hit double 18 to win the second. Walsh won his first leg of the match in the third by hitting a 124 finish, which was completed on the bullseye. He then took out 76 to win the fourth leg but wasted two vital chances at double top to win the set and Jenkins stepped in to hit double four and edge ahead.
Jenkins, who defeated Steve Brown in the second round, hit a 180 at the start of the second set but Walsh won the first leg by recording a 106 finish. Jenkins put an excellent 11-dart finish together to win the second and then took out 76 to win the third leg. Walsh won the next leg on double four after Jenkins missed three opportunities to win the set, but the man from Ledbury made no mistake in the deciding leg as he hit double top to extend his lead. Double top was successfully hit again at the start of the third set by Jenkins and he put Walsh under more pressure when he hit a 120 finish to win the second leg. Walsh hit a second maximum in the process of winning the third leg but Jenkins posted double ten in the next leg to win the set and leave the Hertfordshire ace's hopes hanging by a thread.
Jenkins did not let up and won the opening leg of the fourth set by holding throw before kicking off the second with back-to-back 180s. His hopes of a nine-darter were ended when an attempt at a seventh treble 20 was off-target, but he won the leg in 14 darts to edge towards a victory which was completed in the next when he hit double ten to wrap up a comprehensive win.
"I felt much happier with my game today and I'm getting better as each round goes by," said Jenkins. "My first two games against Joe Cullen and Steve Brown were tough and I didn't feel as comfortable in those games as I did today. When the pressure is on me I seem to be more determined and that showed against Mark, and I'm looking forward to the quarter-finals."
Evening
Vincent van der Voort 4:2 Simon Whitlock
(1:3, 3:2, 3:2, 3:0, 0:3, 3:2)
Vincent van der Vloort caused a sensational upset by knocking out 2010 runner-up Simon Whitlock with a 4:2 win at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts
Championship.
Whitlock took the game's opening set, but van der Voort took the next three sets to lead 3:1, hitting six 180s in a brilliant third set as he blew the Australian apart.
Whitlock regathered himself to win the fifth set, but van der Voort punished his missed doubles in the deciding leg of the sixth to seal the biggest win of his career and set up a quarter-final with Adrian Lewis.
"It's unbelievable for me and nobody can ever take that moment away from me," said van der Voort. "If it had gone three-all, I'm not sure I'd have won so I knew it was now or never to finish him off at the end. I'm in the quarter-finals and you have to improve in every game. Simon was a very tough opponent for me but I got through it and if I can beat the world number four I can beat anybody. Adrian is a very quick player and a great player, and I will have to be better than this to beat him but I think I have a good chance."
Whitlock started the match brilliantly, hitting a 180 with his first three darts and taking the opening leg in 15 darts by landing double 16. The Australian hit another maximum in the second leg but van der Voort managed to take it to level before Whitlock won the third by hitting double eight. In the fourth leg Whitlock secured the first break of throw of the match with an 80 finish to seal the set and establish an early lead.
Van der Voort won the opening leg of the second set by hitting double four but missed one dart at double top in the next leg for a break of throw. Whitlock capitalised by hitting double 12 to level and then hit double top to win the third leg, only to then miss a dart at double 16 which would have given the set, as the Dutchman hit 96 in two darts to steal the leg. The deciding leg saw van der Voort miss three darts at double top for the set, but Whitlock could not land double 16 and the 20th seed returned to hit double five to edge the set and square the match.
Both players held their throws in the opening two legs of the third set before van der Voort hit back-to-back maximums to leave himself on double eight after nine darts. However, he missed three darts at double eight and Whitlock made the Dutchman pay by taking out 104 to win the leg. The fourth leg went to van der Voort on double eight before he took the deciding leg with an 11-darter to lead the match for the first time after Whitlock narrowly missed the bullseye for a 170 finish.
Set four saw van der Voort continue the momentum of the third set as he won it by three legs to nil, landing double two in the opener before breaking throw on double 16 after Whitlock missed two attempts at doubles. In the third leg van der Voort, who defeated Wayne Jones in the second round, hit an 80 finish in two darts to seal the set and extend his lead.
In the fifth set Whitlock fought back well as he hit double 16 to win the first leg and double top in the next, capitalising on the Dutchman's five missed darts at doubles. Whitlock then won the third leg to seal the set before hitting two more maximums in the opening leg of the sixth set. Van der Voort, though, was also producing high scores and won the leg by landing double top before taking the second in 13 darts to go one leg away from the match. Whitlock survived to win the third leg after his opponent missed six match darts, and then won the fourth with the aid of his seventh maximum of the contest. The Australian hit three straight 140s to take command of the deciding leg, but went to miss four darts at doubles and van der Voort managed to keep his nerve to hit 76 in two darts to record the biggest win of his career.
"I'm working really hard on my game and it looks like what I am doing is starting to pay off," he added. "My level of scoring is the same as the best players in the game but my doubles has been the thing that has let me down in the past. I just hope to continue this level of form."
Raymond van Barneveld 4:3 Colin Osborne
(3:1, 2:3, 2:3, 3:2, 1:3, 3:1, 3:0)
Raymond van Barneveld came from behind on two occasions to defeat Colin Osborne in an epic seven-set tussle in the last 16 of the Ladbrokes.com
World Darts Championship.
After losing the first set, Osborne won three of the next four to lead 3-2 and leave the 2007 World Champion on the brink of defeat.
But van Barneveld stormed through the next two sets by winning six of the final seven legs to join his fellow countryman Vincent van der Voort in the quarter-finals, where he will now face Gary Anderson.
The start of the match saw van Barneveld miss four darts at doubles which allowed Osborne to step in and hit double ten to take the first leg. Van Barneveld won the second to break back immediately, defying a 180 from Osborne, and then won went on to the third leg. Osborne hit another maximum in the next leg but van Barneveld took out a 104 finish to seal the first set and establish an early lead.
The start of the second set saw van Barneveld miss two darts at doubles and Osborne duly accepted the invitation to take the leg by landing double ten. Osborne then hit a superb 139 checkout to win the second leg but the five-time World Champion fought back to win the next two legs. In the deciding leg, van Barneveld was first to the finish but he missed three darts at doubles for a 2-0 lead and Osborne hit double eight to edge the set and level the match.
Van Barneveld managed to secure a break of throw at the start of the third set by hitting double four after Osborne was off-target with four attempts at doubles. However, the Dutchman then failed to win the second leg after he missed four darts at double 18, which allowed Osborne in to hit double six. Both players posted double top to share the next two legs before Osborne won the deciding leg by hitting double six for the second time in the set to lead the match for the first time.
Van Barneveld produced a fabulous 156 checkout to make a winning start to the fourth set but missed two darts at doubles for the second leg and Osborne won it on double ten. Both players traded 14-dart-finishes to leave Osborne one leg away from a 3-1 lead, but the world number three showed his champion qualities by kicking off the deciding leg with a 180 and winning it with a 96 finish.
At the start of the fifth set, Osborne hit a 111 checkout to win the first leg before van Barneveld held throw to level in the second. In the third leg, van Barneveld missed a dart at double 16 and Osborne made his opponent pay by hitting the same bed for a 2-1 lead. Osborne then won the deciding leg by landing double three to regain the lead after the Dutchman missed three darts at doubles.
Van Barneveld put the disappointment of losing the fifth set behind him by starting the next set by winning the first leg on double nine and then breaking throw in the second. Osborne managed to win the third leg by taking out 90, but van Barneveld landed double nine for the second time in the set to send the game into a decider.
Buoyed by winning that set van Barneveld kicked-off the final set with back-to-back maximums to leave the possibility of a nine-darter for the second time in successive nights. The attempt at a seventh treble 20 was again unsuccessful, but the leg was won in 11-darts before he then won the second leg by hitting double 16 and an accurate attempt at double eight confirmed victory.
"At some stages in the game I wanted to give up and I was so tired, but I fought for my life in the last set," said van Barneveld. "I played seven good legs in the last set and got the win, but I will need to be better on Saturday. I'm a big fan of Gary. He's a big scorer and a fantastic player, he's been brilliant so far and maybe this could be his year - but he's got me in his way!"
Wes Newton 4:0 Mensur Suljovic
(3:2, 3:1, 3:1, 3:1)
Wes Newton won through to his first Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship quarter-final, ending the hopes of Mensur Suljovic with a straight-sets
victory.
Newton, who had failed to get past the last 32 before in this competition, has yet to drop a set in victories over Darin Young, Brendan Dolan and Suljovic, who had knocked out number two seed James Wade on Tuesday but failed to repeat the form in the third round.
Newton won the first leg with a 78 finish before Suljovic won the next leg by hitting double 16 to get off the mark. Newton held throw to win the third leg but missed two darts at double top to win the set in the next and Suljovic took the opportunity to win the leg by hitting double 14 and level. The Fleetwood ace, though, put that disappointment behind in the deciding leg with a 13-dart finish to win the set.
Newton started the second set impressively by winning the first leg against the throw, which included his second maximum of the match. The next two legs were shared, leaving Newton 2-1 up, and he won the fourth leg by hitting double top to win the second set and take command of the game.
Newton hit a 180 in the process of winning the first leg of set three before Suljovic managed to take the second by landing double 14 with his final dart. The Fleetwood man regained the lead by winning the third with a 64 finish and then hit double top in the next to increase his lead to 3-0.
Newton hit the bullseye to complete the 90 finish to win the first leg of the fourth, and a clinical 71 finish put him one leg away from the match. Suljovic continued to fight and hit a 180 at the start of the third leg before posting double two to keep the game alive, after Newton missed a dart at bullseye for the match. Newton, though, held throw in the fourth leg and he made that advantage count by hitting double 16 to record victory.
"This is the biggest tournament in the world and I know I am capable of doing well here," said Newton. "Sometimes you try too hard and I think that's been why I've never been past the second round and not produced my best in the World Championship before. I'm treating it as just another tournament and trying to enjoy myself, which I'm doing. Mensur is hard to play because he's so slow, but I did what I needed to. There's a lot more to come from me. I've got the game inside me and I know it's going to come out some time and it will be a good game against Terry."