PDC World Championship - Match Reports second Day, Afternoon
BURNETT FENDS OFF HUBBARD'S FIGHTBACK AS DEBUTANTS IMPRESS
RICHIE BURNETT held off a spirited fightback from young debutant James Hubbard before edging into the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship on Saturday afternoon, as Jerry Hendriks and Daryl Gurney enjoyed dream introductions to the Alexandra Palace stage.Welsh star Burnett looked set to cruise into the last 32 when he won the first six legs of their first round clash without reply as the World Youth Champion struggled to adapt to his new surroundings. Norfolk's Hubbard won the third set 3-1 to keep his hopes alive before edging a dramatic fourth set as Burnett failed to kill off the game, hitting a pair of 101 checkouts to send the match all the way. The deciding set was also tied at two-all to create the tournament's first tie-break, and it was Burnett who held his nerve to take the next two legs to move through to the second round.
Dutch newcomer Jerry Hendriks was one of two debutants to win through to the last 32 on Saturday afternoon as he defeated former World Championship semi-finalist Wayne Jones in straight sets.
Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney also impressed as he won both his preliminary round clash with Croatian Robert Marijanovic 4-3 before then picking up a first round victory over Andy Smith, the number 21 seed.
Number nine seed Terry Jenkins, a semi-finalist two years ago, was the afternoon's other winner as he picked up a 3-0 victory against Bristol's Steve Brown.
Jerry Hendriks 3-0 Wayne Jones
(3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
JERRY HENDRIKS enjoyed a fantastic Ladbrokes World Championship debut as he knocked out the number 32 seed Wayne Jones in straight sets.
The Dutchman edged the opening set after Jones missed chances to win it and also won the second set 3-2 before going to seal a place in the last 32 with a 156 checkout.
Jones started the game well by taking the first leg with an 81 finish, completed on the bullseye, but missed two chances to break in the next, allowing Hendriks to level on double one. Jones recorded an excellent 11-darter to edge ahead but Hendriks hit double eight to win the fourth, after missing a dart at the bullseye for a 170 checkout. A tense deciding leg saw Hendriks just fall short of double top for a 102 checkout, but two missed two darts at doubles from the Wolverhampton man allowed him to return and hit double five.
After taking the first set, the Dutchman opened the second with a maximum before converting a 74 finish to take the first leg. Jones won the next in just 15 darts, before Hendriks won the third thanks to an accurate third dart on double five. Jones hit double 16 to win the fourth, but the deciding leg again fell the way of the 24-year-old Dutchman, as he landed double 16 at the first time of asking to leave the former semi-finalist in deep trouble.
Hendriks won the first leg of set three against the darts before Jones fought back by taking the second with a 116 finish to break back. Jones hit a 15-darter to win the third leg before Hendriks took the fourth with a clinical 116 finish to move a leg away from victory. Hendriks kicked off the deciding leg with a 180 but Jones hit a maximum of his own to leave 36, but Hendriks ended Jones' hopes as he produced a fabulous 156 checkout to claim a superb victory.
"I was a little bit edgy as it's my first time on such a big stage as this," admitted Hendriks, who plays either Phil Taylor or Michael Mansell in round two. "We both had chances but I took mine very well and I'm so happy to have won against such good player like Wayne." He added: "I would love to play Phil in the World Championship. We have already played on television in the European Championship a couple of months ago and it was a really good game."
Daryl Gurney 4-3 Robert Marijanovic
DARYL GURNEY came through an entertaining Ladbrokes World Darts Championship preliminary round encounter against Croatian Robert Marijanovic with a 4-3 victory. Gurney led 2-1 but fell 3-2 down to the Croatian, before taking the last two legs to set up a first round clash against Andy Smith.Gurney produced the better scoring in the opening leg of the contest, but four missed darts at doubles proved costly as Marijanovic stepped in to hit tops at the first attempt to take an early lead. The Northern Irishman put that disappointment behind him as he won the second leg on double eight, before converting a clinical 100 finish in two darts to lead the match. Marijanovic took out 73 to win the fourth leg and won the fifth on double 18 to lead for the second time, after Gurney was off-target with an attempt at bullseye. Gurney set up a deciding leg by taking out a 61 finish, before wrapping up the game thanks to an accurate third dart at double eight.
Richie Burnett 3-2 James Hubbard
(3-0, 3-0, 1-3, 2-3, 4-2)
RICHIE BURNETT came through an enthralling see-saw encounter against James Hubbard to reach the last 32 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a narrow 3-2 victory on Saturday afternoon.
Burnett dominated the opening exchanges as he won the first six legs of the contest to establish a 2-0 lead, with Hubbard struggling to settle on his World Championship debut. However, the World Youth Champion fought back well to win the third set and then took the fourth, after Burnett missed three chances to win the match. The 1995 Lakeside Champion let three more chances go begging in the decider, before finally crossing the finish line 4-2 in a final set tie-break.
Burnett made a bright start as he hit double nine to win the first leg, and followed that with a 76 finish before wrapping up the first set comfortably by hitting double top at the first time of asking.
Hubbard was struggling to find his range, and Burnett won his fourth leg in a row at the start of the second set by hitting double top to break throw. Burnett hit double five with his third dart in the second leg, after Hubbard was off-target with two attempts to get a leg on the board, and the former World Champion hit double 12 in the next to establish a two-set lead.
Hubbard won the first leg of set three after being let off the hook by Burnett, who missed a total of 11 darts at doubles to take a seventh straight leg. Burnett levelled by landing double five, but Hubbard regained the lead by hitting double 15 with his third dart, after his opponent was off-target with one dart at double four. Hubbard, who won the PDC Unicorn Youth Championship in May, thenhit double five to win the set and get himself back into the match.
Hubbard continued his good form at the start of set four with a 101 checkout, but missed a host of chances in the second leg, allowing Burnett to step in on double ten. Burnett converted an excellent 12-dart finish to move a leg away from the match, but let three chances to win the contest slip by in the next and Hubbard capitalised by hitting double ten with a pressure third dart. The deciding leg of the set saw Hubbard convert an excellent 101 checkout to continue his fightback and send the match into a final set.
The tension began to grow at the start of the fifth set, as both players missed chances to win the opening leg, which Burnett eventually claimed on double six. Hubbard won the second leg on double ten after Burnett was guilty of wasting three opportunities at doubles. The Welshman recorded an excellent 92 finish to move a leg away from the match for a second time, but three more missed darts at doubles allowed Hubbard a chance at double 12, which he duly took. Burnett edged ahead again by hitting double four and consistent scoring in the next leg from Welshman saw him leave 32 after 15 darts, and he hit double 16 at the first attempt to win the match.
"Things were really comfortable for me early on, probably a bit too comfortable and that's when things started to go wrong," said a relieved Burnett. "I should have got through far more easily but the demons in my head took over and it became a really hard battle. "My knees were knocking and my head was spinning but I still believed I would win, which I eventually did, and I can take something good from this experience having come out of it on the right side."
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Steve Brown
(3-0, 3-1, 3-2)TERRY JENKINS put together a strong first round performance to end Steve Brown's hopes of glory in the 2013 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.
The Ledbury ace, a semi-finalist two years ago, dropped just three legs during the course of the match and will now face John Part or Joe Cullen in the second round.
"Once I gained an early advantage I was determined to not let it slip and I managed to do that," said the number nine seed. "A few people have talked me down coming into this tournament and that's given me a bit more motivation but my game's good."
Jenkins fired in a 180 in the process of claiming the first leg of the contest, before breaking his opponent's throw at the first attempt thanks to an accurate dart at double top. Brown hit a maximum in the third leg but it was not enough to stop Jenkins, as he hit tops for the second leg running to claim the first set in clinical fashion.
The Bristol ace won his first leg of the contest by taking out 76 at the start of set two, but Jenkins soon levelled by taking the next in just 13 darts. A missed dart at tops from Brown in the third leg proved costly as Jenkins hit the same bed to secure a break of throw, and he then hit double five in the next to confirm a two-set lead.
Both players held throw in the opening two legs of the third sets, and Jenkins continued that trend as he hit double top once again to move a leg away from victory. Brown continued to fight and hit tops to force a deciding leg, but Jenkins landed double eight to end a fine display
Daryl Gurney 3-1 Andy Smith
(3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0)DARYL GURNEY condemned Andy Smith to his second successive first round exit in the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a four-set victory on Saturday afternoon.
The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland followed up his earlier preliminary round win over Croatian Robert Marijanovic by knocking out the number 21 seed. He put his stamp on the contest by winning the opening two sets before going on claim victory against Smith, who missed a total of 28 darts at doubles in the game.
"My goal at the start of the day was to get through the preliminary round game, so to win and get a place in the second round is a huge bonus," said a delighted Gurney. "I was close to losing to Marijanovic, so when I was walking out to play Andy, I wanted to enjoy the experience. "I did get a bit lucky as he missed a quite a few doubles during the course of the game but I took the chances I was given."
Two missed doubls from Smith in the opening leg allowed Gurney to secure an early break before the newcomer fired in a 180 in the process of winning the second. Smith hit double top in third leg, but the Northern Irishman took the next with an excellent 13-dart finish to wrap up the first set in style.
Gurney hit a 180 in the first leg of the second set, but Smith produced the more consistent scoring and won the leg against the darts thanks to an accurate attempt at tops. However, Smith immediately relinquished the advantage as he missed two darts at double top, which gave Gurney the chance to hit double 18, which he duly accepted. Two more missed darts at doubles were again costly for Smith in the next as Gurney hit double nine with his third dart. Gurney, who defeated Croatia's Robert Marijanovic 4-3 earlier in the afternoon, then won his third straight leg by hitting double 16 to leave the number 21 seed two sets down.
Smith made a winning start to the third set by hitting double nine, but then wasted nine darts at doubles for a break of throw and Gurney managed to level on double one. Smith regained the lead by hitting double four, but Gurney won the fourth leg with a superb 122 checkout to move a leg away from the triumph. A dramatic deciding leg saw Gurney miss a dart for the match as his attempt at the bullseye for a 170 checkout fell just wide, and Smith hit double 14 to keep his hopes alive by sealing set three.
Gurney converted a 74 finish, landing double 16 with his third dart, to win the opening leg of the fourth set after Smith missed three chances at tops to move ahead. Smith was made to pay for more missed doubles in the next as Gurney hit double nine to go a leg from victory for the second time. Smith was unable to his opponent's scoring in the third leg as Gurney produced consistent scoring to leave 68 after 12 darts and he went to his double 16 to confirm an excellent victory.