World Matchplay 2016 - 4

Birthday Boys
This year two of the participants in the World Matchplay could celebrate their birthday during the tournament: Robert Thornton (17. July) and Robbie Green (19. July).

Robert Thornton, born 1967, made himself a birthday present by winning his first round match against Josh Payne and progressing for the first time into the second round. On his birthday he had the day off and had time to celebrate. Thornton plays in the PDC since 2008. He switched from the BDO after he had qualified by a pub qualifier for the UK Open and I still remember when he cam on stage in Bolton for the first time. He looked rather strong and played himself under the top 32 where he lost to Alan Tabern. Nobody still talks about Tabern, while Thornton still is around and is ranked 8 in the PDC Order of Merit. A place among the top 16 of the PDC was targeted by Thornton when he joined and said farewell to his not too successful carer in the BDO. Consistency is not really one of Thornton's strengths, often enough a great performance is followed by a weak one similar to what happened now in the World Matchplay. Nevertheless Thornton is an opponent difficult to defeat. But till now he only managed to win two PDC majors: the UK Open 2012 and the World Grand Prix 2015. Thornton never walks on stage without his little teddy which he places during the matches on the small table on stage. And his wife usually accompanies him as well.

Robbie Green, born 1974, was on his birthday already eliminated. But to be sure his strong performance against Phil Taylor was nevertheless a reason to celebrate. Contrary to Thornton Green first was a PDC player till 2007 when he was testes positive of drugs (Marihuana/. After that he had to survive financial troubles as his sponsor left him and he switched to the BDO. He was not really successful there but reached 2014 the semi-finals of the BDO World Championship. After that he decided to return to the PDC and took part in Qualifying School 2015 and got a Tour Card by the ranking. He from time to time impresses with outstanding matches, but success in big tournaments didn't happen so far.


The first day of the second round was a hot day in Blackpool - very hot and the Empress Ballroom was rather heated up as well. I suppose on stage it was even much hotter and both officials and players sweated. Might be that was one of the reasons Robert Thornton had no chance at all against Dave Chisnall. Neither his scores nor his finishes were there what drove Thornton to desperation. Chisnall was just too predominant.


Similar sovereign as Chisnall Peter Wright started in his match against Ian White, And a Thornton white didn't have a chance to build up something like an own game. But when Wright was 10:3 in front he took a break and suddenly all the high scores White had needed were back again. So White managed to win three legs before Wright pulled himself together and crossed the finishing line. It looked it was extremely hot on stage, but while the crowd at least could convert the programs into fans the players could only use their towels.

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And yet another one sided match.. Michael van Gerwen just was much better then Kyle Anderson. Not really surprising as van Gerwen is the number one of the PDC and the reigning champion. And to be sure he wants to defend it. Till no all goes to plan, but his opponents so far were not really demanding.


At the end of the evening Adrian Lewis and Gerwyn Price stood on stage. One heard there was some hassle between them on social media. As they presented them on stage, it can't have been bad only Lewis looked from the beginning very determined to win. All in all it was the weakest match of the evening as Price didn't get going and Lewis did only just enough to win. But it had got hotter and hotter in the ballroom during the evening and probably was unbearable on stage which to be sure affected the matches. Lewis had his opponent throughout the match under control despite Price winning five legs.

Outside the venue it hadn't cooled down at all. There was not even a light breeze and the sky was overcast. The Blackpool Tower was the only which blinked that night.










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