Stan James World Matchplay - Day Four

REPORTS from Wednesday's final six second round games at the Stan James World Matchplay.

The last 16 round concludes on Wednesday with three afternoon games and three matches in the evening session.

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Wednesday 23 July
Afternoon Session
Terry Jenkins 11-13 Dennis Priestley
John Part 7-13 Alan Tabern
Michael van Gerwen 9-13 Wayne Mardle
Evening Session
Matt Clark 13-6 Peter Manley
Raymond van Barneveld 13-3 Tony Eccles
James Wade 13-7 Ronnie Baxter

DENNIS PRIESTLEY 13-11 TERRY JENKINS

DENNIS PRIESTLEY reached his second quarter-final in three years at the Stan James World Matchplay with a tight 13-11 win over Terry Jenkins.

The 58-year-old Yorkshireman produced a typically gritty display to edge out last year's runner-up and remain on course for a fourth Winter Gardens final.

There was never more than two legs between the pair throughout the game, with the lead changing hands four times before Priestley took the win.

A 94 finish from Priestley saw him take the opening leg, before Jenkins took the next two to lead.

A 155 checkout saw Priestley level and, though Jenkins took leg five, he then took three in a row to move 5-3 up, including a fine 13-darter.

Jenkins replied in 12 darts and took advantage of a miscount from Priestley to level at six-all, only for missed a double top to allow the Yorkshireman to go back in front and lead 8-6.

Three straight legs from last year's runner-up, including another 12-darter, saw Jenkins move back ahead at 9-8, with Priestley levelling in 13 darts and stepping in on double top to move 10-9 up.

Jenkins levelled on double top but a miss at the same bed allowed Priestley to edge back in front.

A 116 finish put him a leg away from the win, although Jenkins took out 96 in two darts to stay in the contest as Priestley waited on 32.

But a poor start to the next leg from the Ledbury man allowed Priestley to pull clear, before taking out double ten for a quarter-final place.

"I didn't make it easy for myself," admitted Priestley. "Getting over the winning line was tough and I took my time to do it, but it was exciting for the fans!"

Priestley has undergone prostate cancer surgery this year, and although he tired against Jenkins is confident he can last the pace in the best-of-31 leg quarter-finals.

"I'll be resting now before the quarter-finals but as long as I keep focused I can keep playing decent darts. This game proved I can go 24 legs and and should stand me in good stead."

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins	11-13	Dennis Priestley
27	100+	39
19	140+	16
5	180	4
31.03	Ave1	31.53
93.10	Ave3	94.60
96	High Finish	155,116
4	Legs Against Throw	5

ALAN TABERN 13-7 JOHN PART

ALAN TABERN reached the quarter-finals of a third successive televised tournament with a thrilling 13-7 win over John Part at the Winter Gardens.

The emerging star from St Helens has been in superb form this summer, reaching the last eight at the Blue Square UK Open and PartyPoker.net Las Vegas Desert Classic before heading to Blackpool.

Having come through round one for the first time on Tuesday with a win over Vincent van der Voort, he claimed the scalp of the current World Champion John Part to progress to Thursday's quarter-finals.

Tabern was aided by a brilliant start, taking the first six legs without reply, landing three 180s and averaging 109 at times to leave Part trailing.

Tabern also had a chance to lead 7-0, but a missed bullseye allowed Part to get off the mark on double two, and he also took the next three legs - including a 12-darter - to pull back to 6-4.

Tabern included a 112 finish in taking the next two, but a brilliant 11-darter from Part cut the gap to 8-5.

Missed doubles in the next two legs from the Canadian allowed Tabern to restore a five-leg lead, and double top put him 11-5 up.

He also started the next leg with seven perfect darts, but a failure to land the nine-darter gave Part a chance to step in and take out 100.

The next two were shared to leave Tabern a leg away from victory, and misses from Part gave him a chance to seal the win on double four.

"I knew if I started against John like I finished against Vincent in the first round I could give myself a lead going into the later sessions and luckily I did," said Tabern.

"I took advantage of a lot of slips from John and I couldn't believe some of the chances I got, but taking them needed good darts.

"When I was 6-4 up it could have been 8-2 and to be honest I was pleased with that scoreline, and I managed to push on from that."

Tabern now meets two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley in the quarter-finals on Thursday afternoon.

"I'm delighted confidence-wise that I'm using a new set of darts and they're working for me," he added. "And I'm starting now to believe I belong where I am in the top 16 of the world.

"No player wouldn't be happy to reach a quarter-final of any major and I've done it in three in a row now, so it's great for me.

"Dennis is a legend and in a way I can't lose. If he beats me, I've lost to a legend and if I win I'm in the semi-finals.

"It won't be a shock to people if Dennis gets to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, but it would be a little shock for the public if I got to the semi-final."

Match Stats

John Part	7-13	Alan Tabern
15	100+	29
15	140+	13
6	180	7
30.09	Ave1	31.18
90.26	Ave3	93.53
100	High Finish	112,101
2	Legs Against Throw	5

WAYNE MARDLE 13-9 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN

WAYNE MARDLE bounced into the quarter-finals of the Stan James World Matchplay with a 13-9 win over Michael van Gerwen in a thriller at the Winter Gardens.

The 2003 runner-up produced a mature to come from 8-6 down to win seven of the final eight legs and move into the last eight.

Mardle trailed 2-0 and 5-2 early on as van Gerwen took advantage of missed doubles to edge clear, hitting two 180s and a 112 finish.

Three missed doubles cost him in leg eight as Mardle hit back, and an 86 finish pulled the number ten seed back to 5-4 before five misses at a double allowed the teenage star to land double 15.

Mardle landed a second maximum of the game on his way to the 11th leg, but a 12-darter and a double top finish saw van Gerwen take two of the next three to move 8-6 up.

A two-dart 94 finish sparked Mardle's challenge, and he added a 13-darter to break throw before a 125 finish saw him win five successive legs in a surge that took him 11-8 up.

A second 112 checkout of the game from van Gerwen saw him stop the run, but a 13-darter took Mardle to the brink of the win and five more misses from the Dutchman allowed him to seal the win on double five.

"I'm not known as a grinder but I must be maturing after that performance," admitted Mardle. "I'm a natural player and if I can get on with my game I'm fine, so playing Michael suited me.

"He didn't play well but I knew if it got tight I'd win."

Van Gerwen admitted: "It's very disappointing but I missed too many doubles."

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen	9-13	Wayne Mardle
30	100+	33
12	140+	13
4	180	4
29.38	Ave1	30.57
88.13	Ave3	91.70
112 x2	High Finish	125
3	Legs Against Throw	5

MATT CLARK 13-6 PETER MANLEY

MATT CLARK reached the quarter-finals of the Stan James World Matchplay for a first time with a 13-6 win over Peter Manley at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The Manchester-based thrower had never won a game in Blackpool before his first round win over Roland Scholten, but claimed another major name with an assured win against the 1999 runner-up.

Clark's performance was founded on some superb finishing, taking out 50 percent of his chances at a double.

The game was locked early on, with the first six legs shared and Manley taking out a 156 finish to level at three-all.

Clark then found another level to take four in a row and lead 7-3, and though Manley took out his favourite double top to cut the deficit, four more for the qualifier gave him a 10-4 lead.

Manley won two of the next three to stay in the hunt, but missed doubles gave Clark his chance for victory - and though for once his finishing was wayward he landed double one for the win.

"To reach the quarter-finals of a major tournament in the PDC for the first time is a dream come true," said Clark. "I've been close so many times and tripped at the final hurdle.

"I was determined to do it this week and gritted my teeth. I've worked hard to lose three stones in weight this year and had to change my stance but it's working.

"Peter's a fantastic player and I've known him for a lot of years, but he can't seem to beat me."

Match Stats

Matt Clark	13-6	Peter Manley
22	100+	32
12	140+	9
2	180	4
29.46	Ave1	29.64
88.39	Ave3	88.91
68	High Finish	156
4	Legs Against Throw	1

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 13-3 TONY ECCLES

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD returned to top form to power past Tony Eccles into the quarter-finals of the Stan James World Matchplay.

The Dutchman was unconvincing in a first round win over unknown qualifier Mark Frost at the Winter Gardens on Monday, but showed flashes of his brilliant best to see off Eccles 13-3.

He romped into a 5-0 lead before Eccles got off the mark, and included finishes of 138 and 116 in setting up a quarter-final against Wayne Mardle on Thursday.

"I'm still not scoring as well on stage as I do in practice but my doubles helped me against Tony," said van Barneveld. "I'll have to improve against Wayne because you have to put him under pressure.

"But Tony probably gave me about five legs tonight by missing doubles and let me off.

"This is a very big tournament for me to try to win and I'm very focused on doing that."

The duo traded 180s in the first leg before double 16 put the Dutchman in front, and double top in the second saw him break Eccles' throw immediately.

Van Barneveld landed a second maximum on the way to leg three, and a 116 checkout, finishing on double 18, saw him move 4-0 up.

He hit a third 180 in extending the lead to five legs before Eccles took out double 16 to get off the mark.

A 90 checkout saw van Barneveld restore his lead, and misses from the Hartlepool man in two of the next three allowed the Dutchman to take an 8-1 lead.

Although Eccles took two of the next three, a crisp 87 finish from van Barneveld and two double 12 checkouts - one for a 138 finish - saw him pull to the brink of victory.

And nine missed darts at a double from Eccles were swiftly punished as the Dutchman landed double seven to seal a quality win.

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	13-3	Tony Eccles
19	100+	28
11	140+	5
3	180	2
30.33	Ave1	28.28
90.99	Ave3	84.83
138,116	High Finish	50
5	Legs Against Throw	0

JAMES WADE 13-7 RONNIE BAXTER

DEFENDING champion James Wade booked his place in the last eight of the Stan James World Matchplay with a storming win over Ronnie Baxter.

Wade made an assured start to the defence of his title in the first round against Wayne Jones, and held off a spirited fightback from Baxter before booking a quarter-final place against Matt Clark with a 13-7 win.

He landed a ten-darter in taking a 10-1 lead before Baxter took six successive legs, but Wade regained his composure to seal the win.

Wade opened up a 3-0 lead with three succcessive double top finishes before Baxter got off the mark, and the 25-year-old landed back-to-back 180s in leg six to take out an 11-darter and earn a 5-1 cushion.

He also took out double 14, a 124 checkout finishing on the bullseye and double 12 in effortlessly pulling clear, before a majestic ten-darter made the scoreline 10-1.

Baxter responded with a 14-darter, and broke Wade's throw three times in winning six successive legs to bring his local crowd to its feet.

However, Wade regained his range on the doubles to take double four twice to wrap up the win.

"I couldn't believe I was 10-1 up and thought I was home and dry, but I nearly paid the price," said Wade. "I'm still learning and taking things on board, though.

"All I can do is keep practising and doing what I do best, but I still haven't hit top gear yet."

Match Stats