REPORTS from Newcastle from the fifth night of the Whyte and Mackay Premier League Darts.
The Metro Radio Arena hosted the latest league night, including the top-of-the-table battle between Mervyn King and Phil Taylor.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Jelle Klaasen 6-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 7-7 Mervyn King
Wayne Mardle 7-7 Raymond van Barneveld
John Part 8-5 Terry Jenkins
Latest Table (after five weeks)
See match highlights in PDCtv from Friday evening
Click here to purchase the official Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Programme
JAMES WADE 8-6 JELLE KLAASEN
JAMES WADE picked up a third successive Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts win with an 8-6 victory over Jelle Klaasen in Newcastle.
The world number two continued his impressive return to form to leave Dutch ace Klaasen rooted to the foot of the table.
Wade landed a maximum checkout of 170 during the win, and also hit a 120 finish in taking the game's final three legs for victory.
Klaasen won the game's opening leg on double ten, before Wade levelled on double eight and then broke throw with a sensational 170 checkout which brought the 5,000-plus Metro Radio Arena crowd to its feet.
He had a let-off in the fourth, with Klaasen missing double top to punish five misses from Wade before the reigning UK Open champion landed double nine for a 3-1 cushion.
A 180 from Wade left him on a finish in the fifth, but Klaasen clinically took out 76 on double top before hitting double four to make Wade pay for three more misses in levelling at three-all.
Respective two-dart finishes of 98 from Wade and 72 from Klaasen saw the next two legs shared, before Klaasen hit double 16 for a 5-4 lead.
He missed the bullseye for a 124 finish in leg ten, with Wade hitting double top, but the Dutchman responded in style with a 167 checkout to move 6-5 up.
Wade hit a 120 'Shanghai' finish for the 12th leg, and double two ensured he would gain at least a point at 7-6.
A high-quality start to the deciding leg saw both players open with scores of 180 and 140, but Klaasen missed a dart at the bull for a draw and Wade capitalised on double eight.
Match Stats
PHIL TAYLOR 7-7 MERVYN KING
PHIL TAYLOR snatched a draw with Mervyn King to end the newcomer's winning start to the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.
King had won his opening four matches and looked set to pick up a fifth victory when he came from 4-1 down to lead 7-5.
But he missed two darts for the victory as Taylor took the final two legs to grab a draw.
"At 4-1 up I was cruising but Mervyn came back at me well," said Taylor, who had lost to James Wade a week ago.
"I'm determined to get better and I'll be trying everything to get above Mervyn at the top of the table and keep my Premier League title."
King admitted: "I had my chance and didn't take it.
"Phil came back as he does and thats what happens when you don't take your chances against him."
Taylor took the game's opening leg but two missed doubles allowed King to level, following up a 180 with a double six finish.
Taylor, though, won the next three in a powerful burst, which included three 180s, a break of throw and a 12-darter.
A 130 bullseye finish saw King cut the gap to 4-2, and a two-dart 80 checkout punished two missed doubles from Taylor.
He then took out 112 to level, and shared the next two legs before a 90 checkout saw him break throw and move in front for the first time at 6-5.
A 121 bullseye finish put King 7-5 up and ensured he would at least remain unbeaten - although opening darts of 100, 180 and another 180 pushed him clear in the 13th leg.
But two missed darts at double 16 for the game gave Taylor a reprieve, and he took out double two to send the match into a decider.
Taylor found a 180 in the final leg, and double ten for a two-dart 80 finish saw him claim a point.
Match Stats
WAYNE MARDLE 7-7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD grabbed a point from Wayne Mardle in a final-leg thriller in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the Metro Radio Arena.
The pair were both seeking a second win of the year, but had to settle for a share of the spoils in Newcastle as the Dutchman won a deciding leg.
Mardle battled back from 3-1 down with four successive legs, and a pair of bullseye finishes earned him at least a draw when he led 7-6, only to be denied the win.
"I was happy with my finishing and that was good but my scoring was poor and I have to improve that," said Mardle.
"I kept hitting too many fives and Raymond out-scored me, but around the doubles he was off and I felt I was pretty fortunate to get a point - but I took my chances."
It was van Barneveld who opened the game in clinical manner, taking out 112 against the darts in the opening leg before doubling his advantage.
A fine 116 finish got Mardle off the mark, but double 16 put the Dutchman into a 3-1 cushion.
Misses at double 12 and six from van Barneveld allowed Mardle in with a two-dart 90 checkout, and he landed a 177 score before double top levelled the game.
Finishes of double 12 and double eight saw Mardle return from the break to move in front at 5-3, only for van Barneveld to hit back strongly with two breaks of throw in a three-leg burst as he regained the advantage.
A 121 bullseye finish from Mardle levelled, and he also hit the board's centre spot to earn a minimum of a draw at 7-6.
But van Barneveld produced an excellent deciding leg, hitting scores of 180 and 135 in moving first to a finish before landing double 12 at the fourth time of asking to claim a draw.
"I was happy with my start and was playing well when I went 3-1 up," said van Barneveld. "The 116 was a good checkout and Wayne finished well, and he showed how tough this competition is."
Match Stats
JOHN PART 8-5 TERRY JENKINS
JOHN PART claimed a second successive Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts win with an 8-5 defeat of Terry Jenkins at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena.
The Canadian grabbed his first victory of the season a week ago, and moved into fourth place in the league table with a strong display against Jenkins.
Part claimed the game's opening four legs to put himself in command with some strong finishing punishing missed doubles from Jenkins.
The Ledbury man produced a superb 11-darter to get off the mark, landing his first 180 to spark a comeback, with an 83 checkout halving the deficit to 4-2 at the break.
Part took the next two, including a 14-darter, to regain his advantage before Jenkins again hit back, following up an 84 checkout with a 101 finish for a 15-darter.
A 76 checkout from the Canadian ensured he would win at least a point from 7-4 up, but he missed double top to seal victory in the next as Jenkins took a fifth leg.
But Part was quick to close out the win, taking out 127 on double eight for the triumph.
"I was lucky because Terry wasn't on his game," said Part. "I did what I had to do and the doubles are going in when I need them at the moment.
"I've plodded along so far but am in a position to benefit now because of my performances, and I feel good."
Match Stats
The Metro Radio Arena hosted the latest league night, including the top-of-the-table battle between Mervyn King and Phil Taylor.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle
Jelle Klaasen 6-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 7-7 Mervyn King
Wayne Mardle 7-7 Raymond van Barneveld
John Part 8-5 Terry Jenkins
Latest Table (after five weeks)
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
+/- |
Pts | |
|
Mervyn King |
5 |
4 |
1 |
0 |
+24 |
9 |
|
James Wade |
5 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
+3 |
7 |
|
Phil Taylor |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
+6 |
6 |
|
John Part |
5 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
+4 |
6 |
|
R v Barneveld |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
-6 |
4 |
|
Wayne Mardle |
5 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
-12 |
4 |
|
Terry Jenkins |
5 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
-5 |
3 |
|
Jelle Klaasen |
5 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
-14 |
1 |
See match highlights in PDCtv from Friday evening
Click here to purchase the official Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Programme
JAMES WADE 8-6 JELLE KLAASEN
JAMES WADE picked up a third successive Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts win with an 8-6 victory over Jelle Klaasen in Newcastle.
The world number two continued his impressive return to form to leave Dutch ace Klaasen rooted to the foot of the table.
Wade landed a maximum checkout of 170 during the win, and also hit a 120 finish in taking the game's final three legs for victory.
Klaasen won the game's opening leg on double ten, before Wade levelled on double eight and then broke throw with a sensational 170 checkout which brought the 5,000-plus Metro Radio Arena crowd to its feet.
He had a let-off in the fourth, with Klaasen missing double top to punish five misses from Wade before the reigning UK Open champion landed double nine for a 3-1 cushion.
A 180 from Wade left him on a finish in the fifth, but Klaasen clinically took out 76 on double top before hitting double four to make Wade pay for three more misses in levelling at three-all.
Respective two-dart finishes of 98 from Wade and 72 from Klaasen saw the next two legs shared, before Klaasen hit double 16 for a 5-4 lead.
He missed the bullseye for a 124 finish in leg ten, with Wade hitting double top, but the Dutchman responded in style with a 167 checkout to move 6-5 up.
Wade hit a 120 'Shanghai' finish for the 12th leg, and double two ensured he would gain at least a point at 7-6.
A high-quality start to the deciding leg saw both players open with scores of 180 and 140, but Klaasen missed a dart at the bull for a draw and Wade capitalised on double eight.
Match Stats
|
Jelle Klaasen |
6-8 |
James Wade |
|
13 |
100+ |
18 |
|
13 |
140+ |
12 |
|
2 |
180 |
3 |
|
31.50 |
Ave1 |
30.49 |
|
94.51 |
Ave3 |
91.46 |
|
2 |
LWAT |
3 |
|
167 |
High Finish |
170,120 |
PHIL TAYLOR 7-7 MERVYN KING
PHIL TAYLOR snatched a draw with Mervyn King to end the newcomer's winning start to the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts.
King had won his opening four matches and looked set to pick up a fifth victory when he came from 4-1 down to lead 7-5.
But he missed two darts for the victory as Taylor took the final two legs to grab a draw.
"At 4-1 up I was cruising but Mervyn came back at me well," said Taylor, who had lost to James Wade a week ago.
"I'm determined to get better and I'll be trying everything to get above Mervyn at the top of the table and keep my Premier League title."
King admitted: "I had my chance and didn't take it.
"Phil came back as he does and thats what happens when you don't take your chances against him."
Taylor took the game's opening leg but two missed doubles allowed King to level, following up a 180 with a double six finish.
Taylor, though, won the next three in a powerful burst, which included three 180s, a break of throw and a 12-darter.
A 130 bullseye finish saw King cut the gap to 4-2, and a two-dart 80 checkout punished two missed doubles from Taylor.
He then took out 112 to level, and shared the next two legs before a 90 checkout saw him break throw and move in front for the first time at 6-5.
A 121 bullseye finish put King 7-5 up and ensured he would at least remain unbeaten - although opening darts of 100, 180 and another 180 pushed him clear in the 13th leg.
But two missed darts at double 16 for the game gave Taylor a reprieve, and he took out double two to send the match into a decider.
Taylor found a 180 in the final leg, and double ten for a two-dart 80 finish saw him claim a point.
Match Stats
|
Phil Taylor |
7-7 |
Mervyn King |
|
19 |
100+ |
21 |
|
8 |
140+ |
10 |
|
6 |
180 |
7 |
|
35.45 |
Ave1 |
34.32 |
|
106.36 |
Ave3 |
102.97 |
|
2 |
LWAT |
2 |
|
80 |
High Finish |
130,121,112 |
WAYNE MARDLE 7-7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD grabbed a point from Wayne Mardle in a final-leg thriller in the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the Metro Radio Arena.
The pair were both seeking a second win of the year, but had to settle for a share of the spoils in Newcastle as the Dutchman won a deciding leg.
Mardle battled back from 3-1 down with four successive legs, and a pair of bullseye finishes earned him at least a draw when he led 7-6, only to be denied the win.
"I was happy with my finishing and that was good but my scoring was poor and I have to improve that," said Mardle.
"I kept hitting too many fives and Raymond out-scored me, but around the doubles he was off and I felt I was pretty fortunate to get a point - but I took my chances."
It was van Barneveld who opened the game in clinical manner, taking out 112 against the darts in the opening leg before doubling his advantage.
A fine 116 finish got Mardle off the mark, but double 16 put the Dutchman into a 3-1 cushion.
Misses at double 12 and six from van Barneveld allowed Mardle in with a two-dart 90 checkout, and he landed a 177 score before double top levelled the game.
Finishes of double 12 and double eight saw Mardle return from the break to move in front at 5-3, only for van Barneveld to hit back strongly with two breaks of throw in a three-leg burst as he regained the advantage.
A 121 bullseye finish from Mardle levelled, and he also hit the board's centre spot to earn a minimum of a draw at 7-6.
But van Barneveld produced an excellent deciding leg, hitting scores of 180 and 135 in moving first to a finish before landing double 12 at the fourth time of asking to claim a draw.
"I was happy with my start and was playing well when I went 3-1 up," said van Barneveld. "The 116 was a good checkout and Wayne finished well, and he showed how tough this competition is."
Match Stats
|
Wayne Mardle |
7-7 |
Raymond van Barneveld |
|
22 |
100+ |
17 |
|
6 |
140+ |
13 |
|
1 |
180 |
2 |
|
30.25 |
Ave1 |
31.90 |
|
90.76 |
Ave3 |
95.70 |
|
3 |
LWAT |
3 |
|
121,116 |
High Finish |
112 |
JOHN PART 8-5 TERRY JENKINS
JOHN PART claimed a second successive Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts win with an 8-5 defeat of Terry Jenkins at Newcastle's Metro Radio Arena.
The Canadian grabbed his first victory of the season a week ago, and moved into fourth place in the league table with a strong display against Jenkins.
Part claimed the game's opening four legs to put himself in command with some strong finishing punishing missed doubles from Jenkins.
The Ledbury man produced a superb 11-darter to get off the mark, landing his first 180 to spark a comeback, with an 83 checkout halving the deficit to 4-2 at the break.
Part took the next two, including a 14-darter, to regain his advantage before Jenkins again hit back, following up an 84 checkout with a 101 finish for a 15-darter.
A 76 checkout from the Canadian ensured he would win at least a point from 7-4 up, but he missed double top to seal victory in the next as Jenkins took a fifth leg.
But Part was quick to close out the win, taking out 127 on double eight for the triumph.
"I was lucky because Terry wasn't on his game," said Part. "I did what I had to do and the doubles are going in when I need them at the moment.
"I've plodded along so far but am in a position to benefit now because of my performances, and I feel good."
Match Stats
|
John Part |
8-5 |
Terry Jenkins |
|
22 |
100+ |
20 |
|
5 |
140+ |
11 |
|
1 |
180 |
1 |
|
30.71 |
Ave1 |
30.87 |
|
92.14 |
Ave3 |
92.62 |
|
3 |
LWAT |
2 |
|
127 |
High Finish |
101 |