World Championship - Day Nine

PHIL TAYLOR and Adrian Lewis set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with scintillating second round wins on Tuesday night at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Taylor averaged 104 as he saw off Robert Thornton with a clinical 4-1 win to continue his search for a 15th World title, while Lewis fired 10 maximums in his 4-0 win over Kevin McDine with a 103 average.

"I'm not frightened of Phil anymore, I'm really looking forward to playing him," said Lewis. "I won't fold before I go on stage against him liked I might have done in the past and it's going to go all the way. If I beat Phil I think I will go on to win it, I really do."

"I think you are going to see the best quarter-final you've ever seen," said Taylor. "I don't know how it's going to go, normally I beat him convincingly but he seems a different person and he has grown up a lot. I'm going to go at him like I normally do though, so we'll see how he copes with it."

The evening session began with James Wade winning the final second round match 4-2 against Michael van Gerwen.

World number three Wade took the first set 3-1 but the Dutchman replied in kind to level matters. The Premier League champion took the third set 3-1 before edging a high-quality fifth set 3-2, with checkouts of 104 and 121 before clinching the set with a 150 checkout in the fifth leg. Van Gerwen reduced the deficit by taking the fifth set 3-1 but Wade would not be denied and hit tops to win a match where he hit seven 180s and recorded five ton-plus finishes.

Wade now faces Andy Hamilton after the Stoke man saw off Steve Beaton 4-1 in the opening match of the afternoon session, before Terry Jenkins and Simon Whitlock set up a third round clash by beating their opponents in straight sets - Jenkins against American Darin Young and Whitlock versus world number 22 Wayne Jones.

The third round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship continues on Wednesday when 2008 runner up Kirk Shepherd meets 2008 Lakeside champion Mark Webster in the opening match. Jenkins and Whitlock follow before Dutchman Co Stompe faces 2005 runner-up Mark Dudbridge.

The evening session begins with world number seven Ronnie Baxter tackling world number ten Colin Lloyd ahead of the Wade-Hamilton clash. Nine-dart hero Raymond van Barneveld ends the night with Kevin Painter hoping to halt the Dutchman's pursuit of a sixth world title.

Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Second Round
Tuesday December 29
Andy Hamilton 4-1 Steve Beaton
Terry Jenkins 4-0 Darin Young
Simon Whitlock 4-0 Wayne Jones

James Wade 4-2 Michael van Gerwen
Third Round
Phil Taylor 4-0 Robert Thornton
Adrian Lewis 4-0 Kevin McDine
All games best of seven sets

ANDY HAMILTON 4-1 STEVE BEATON
(3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
ANDY HAMILTON booked a place in the last 16 of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 4-1 victory over Steve Beaton.

The Stoke thrower reached the semi-finals of this competition three years ago and will now take either James Wade or Michael van Gerwen in the third round.

Both players held their throw in the opening two legs and Hamilton kept that sequence going by winning third in 15 darts, which included a maximum. Beaton won the fourth leg, despite another maximum from his opponent, but Hamilton held throw for the third time to win the opening set after missed double 12 by the width of the wire for a 141 checkout.

The former World Champion hit back well in the second set. A 14-dart finish gave him the opening leg and he won the second against the darts to double his advantage. Beaton, who defeated Carlos Rodriguez in the first round, then recorded a 76 finish in third leg to level the match.

The opening three legs of the third set all went with the darts which gave Hamilton a 2-1 lead. The Stoke man missed a dart at double top to win the set in the fourth leg and Beaton landed double 16. The deciding leg saw some high quality darts with three maximums, two of which came from Hamilton. And that put the 14th seed to a finish first, and an accurate attempt at double 16 saw him regain the lead.

Hamilton missed chances to win the first leg of the fourth set and Beaton capitalised by hitting double five. Hamilton won the second by landing the same double, and then hit his fourth maximum of the game in the process of winning the third leg. A 177 from Hamilton put him in command of the fourth leg and he hit double eight to go 3-1 ahead and pull further clear of Beaton.

Beaton hit double 20 to win the opening leg of the fifth set and then doubled his advantage by hitting double nine after Hamilton was off-target with three attempts to level. Hamilton was on course for the second nine dart finish of the tournament after hitting a 180 followed by a 177. That feat was not achieved but he won the leg in 12 darts.

Hamilton then won the fourth leg against the darts and then produced another fantastic 12-dart finish to seal the win in style.

"I felt really comfortable towards the end of the that game and I knew that I was going to win," said Hamilton. "I've started to believe in myself again and I've played consistently over the last six months."

Match Stats

Andy Hamilton	4-1	Steve Beaton
23	100+	27
13	140+	18
8	180s	3
31.56	Ave 1	31.91
94.69	Ave 3	95.72
86	High Finish	76
2	Legs Against Throw	2

TERRY JENKINS 4-0 DARIN YOUNG
(3-1, 3-1, 3-0, 3-0)
TERRY JENKINS reached the third round of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a convincing 4-0 win over Darin Young.

The sixth seed only dropped two legs in the match and will now take on Simon Whitlock or Wayne Jones for a place in the quarter-finals.

Jenkins landed double top to win the first leg of the match but Young replied in the second by hitting double four. Jenkins won the third despite a 180 from his opponent and the Ledbury man then broke throw with a 91 finish to seal the first set.

Double top gave Jenkins the first leg of the second set and he then doubled his lead by hitting double 10. Young kept the set alive by winning the third leg after hitting double 16 but Jenkins established a two sets lead after hitting double five.

Jenkins, who survived a five set tussle against the talented Paul Nicholson in the first round, hit a 100 checkout to open the third set, which was followed by double four to win the second. A successful attempt at double five gave Jenkins a three sets lead before taking the opening leg of the fourth set.

Jenkins won the second leg after both players recorded maximums and the 46-year-old hit double ten for the third leg in succession to confirm victory.

"I feel a bit sorry for Darin," said Jenkins. "He's a good friend and spent Christmas at my house. So that was a bit difficult today.

"I'm happy with the way I'm playing at the moment. My only target for the tournament was to get past Paul Nicholson in the first round, so I'm enjoying things at the moment."

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins	4-0	Darin Young
25	100+	19
11	140+	2
3	180s	2
30.06	Ave 1	25.32
90.18	Ave 3	75.96
100	High Finish	48
5	Legs Against Throw	0

SIMON WHITLOCK 4-0 WAYNE JONES
(3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
SIMON WHITLOCK ended Wayne Jones hopes at the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 4-0 win in the second round.

The Australian, making his debut at Alexandra Palace, will now take on Terry Jenkins in the last 16 of the competition.

Whitlock got out of the blocks quickly, winning the first leg by hitting double 10 and then the second against the darts. Jones hit a 101 checkout to win the third leg after Whitlock missed an opportunity to win the set. But the Australian hit double eight in the fourth to wrap up the set and open an early lead.

Whitlock hit the first maximum of the game at the start of the second set but Jones won the leg by hitting double eight with his last dart. The second leg followed a similar pattern as Whitlock hit another 180, before Jones won it by hitting double 12, for a break of throw. Jones, who defeated Alex Roy in the first round, missed four darts at double 12 to win the set in the third leg, and that allowed Whitlock to nick it on double nine and then he hit a two-dart 74 to win the fourth, after Jones wasted another chance to win the set.

The deciding leg saw Whitlock hit his fourth maximum of the set and he went on to hit double four to seal a set that he seemed unlikely to win.

Whitlock, who defeated 11th seed Colin Osborne, in a high quality first round encounter, won the opening leg of the third set with a 13-dart finish. Jones managed to win the second with an 80 finish after Whitlock missed three darts at doubles for a 2-0 lead. Jones went into the lead by winning the third leg but Whitlock won the fourth by hitting a pressure double 16 with his last dart, after Jones missed a dart at bullseye for the set.

The Australian then produced an excellent 120 checkout in the deciding leg to establish a 3-0 lead and take complete command of the match.

The man from Wolverhampton began the fourth set well by winning the first two legs, which included a 116 finish to move 2-0 ahead. But Whitlock hit his fifth maximum of the game in the process of winning the third leg, and then won the fourth to go within touching distance of victory. And he got over the winning line by recording a 62 checkout record a straight-sets victory.

"I've been hitting 180s when I need and taking out big finishes at the right times," said Whitlock who will play Jenkins on Wednesday afternoon. "I played Terry in Las Vegas earlier this year, and he thrashed me then, so I hope to give him a better game this time.

"To win this tournament would be unbelievable. I've come close to winning a world title before and I really hope I can go all the way here."

Match Stats

Simon Whitlock	4-0	Wayne Jones
18	100+	28
22	140+	18
5	180s	1
33.08	Ave 1	30.97
99.24	Ave 3	92.92
120	High Finish	116,101
7	Legs Against Throw	4

EVENING SESSION

JAMES WADE 4-2 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
(3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2, 1-3, 3-1)
JAMES WADE ended the hopes of Michael van Gerwen with a 4-2 triumph in the last second round match of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The 20 year-old Dutchman put up an excellent fight but it was not enough to take out the Premier League champion, who will now take on Andy Hamilton in the last 16.

Van Gerwen won the opening leg of the match with an impressive 14-dart finish before Wade levelled courtesy of a two-dart 81. Wade broke throw with a 71 finish in the third leg, and then recorded a 114 checkout in the fourth to win the set and open up an early lead.

Van Gerwen hit back early in the second set by winning the first two legs with the aid of a two-dart 64, followed by his second 14 dart-leg of the game. The Dutch youngster missed two darts for the set in the third leg and Wade won it by hitting double top but van Gerwen made no mistake in the next landing double 16 to level the game.

Wade began the third set well by breaking throw but missed chances to double his lead after three opportunties went begging and van Gerwen cashed in by hitting double top. The man from Aldershot regained the lead by converting a 112 finish and then hit double 16 to lead the match for a second time.

The fourth set saw some high quality finishing from both players. Wade hit 104 to win the first leg before van Gerwen replied with a 125 checkout. Wade hit a 121 finish to take the third leg but van Gerwen won the fourth with an 88 completed with an accurate attempt at the bullseye. But Wade converted a 150 checkout in the deciding leg - his third ton plus finish of the set.

That put the third seed 3-1 ahead and he hit his fifth maximum of the game in the first leg of the fifth set but van Gerwen managed to hold throw by hitting double 16. Wade won the second leg with an 11-dart finish but van Gerwen regained the lead with a 76 finish. The Dutchman then hit an 84 checkout in the fourth leg to reduce the deficit after Wade had missed five attempts at doubles.

At the start of the sixth set Wade hit a maximum in the process of taking the first leg before van Gerwen won the second by landing double 18. Wade regained the lead hitting double five with his last dart to go one leg away from the match. A dramatic deciding leg saw Van Gerwen miss two attempts at double top to keep the match alive and Wade hit the same double to confirm victory.

"I knew this game with Michael was going to be a tough one, and so it proved," said Wade. "Reaching the semi-finals last year was a bit more by luck, than judgement. I feel better this year and my two matches have shown that."

Match Stats

James Wade	4-2	Michael van Gerwen
37	100+	37
18	140+	14
7	180s	0
32.60	Ave 1	31.31
97.79	Ave 3	93.92
150,121,114,112,104	High Finish	125
4	Legs Against Throw	3

PHIL TAYLOR 4-1 ROBERT THORNTON
(3-1, 3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0)
PHIL TAYLOR continued his quest for a 15th world title after defeating Robert Thornton 4-1 in the third round of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Taylor ended the match with a three-dart average of 104.26 and will face either Adrian Lewis or Kevin McDine, in the quarter-finals, on New Year's Day.

Taylor broke throw immediately by hitting double 16 but Thornton was not phased and won the second leg, which included a maximum from the Scotsman.

The world number one regained the lead after Thornton missed an opportunity at double 11. And Taylor wrapped up the first set in the next, with a 98 finish.

Taylor won the first leg of the second set, defying a 180 from his opponent and won the next leg with a superb 11-dart finish, which included two maximums.

Unusually, Taylor missed three darts at doubles to seal the set in the third leg and Thornton capitalised by converting a 61 finish. Thornton missed a dart at tops to take the set to a deciding leg and Taylor hit a 66 checkout to double his advantage.

Taylor, who defeated Colin Monk and Steve Hine with ease, in his first two matches, continued his dominance by winning first two legs of the third set with 14, and 12 dart finshes.

Thornton won the third leg by hitting double 16 after the Stoke star was off-target with an attempt at double 18, for the set. But Taylor registered his fourth maximum of the game in the fourth, which saw him to a finish first and he hit double 20 to establish a 3-0 lead.

The fourth set began with Taylor hitting a 103 checkout with his opponent waiting on 40 but the Scot hit back to win the second with an impressive 121 checkout, completed on the bullseye.

Taylor regained the lead with a 68 finish to go one leg away from the match but Thornton hit a two-dart 56 finish, rounded off by hitting double top to win the fourth leg.

The deciding leg saw Taylor in command, but he missed three chances to seal a straight-sets victory and Thornton managed to hit double 10 with a pressure last dart to keep his hopes alive.

That saw Taylor drop a set for the first time in this year's championship but he soon put the match to bed with some fabulous darts in the fifth set. He won the first leg against the darts by hitting double top and then stormed to victory with 13, and 12 dart finishes in the next two legs to complete the win.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	4-1	Robert Thornton
30	100+	27
16	140+	13
6	180s	3
34.75	Ave 1	30.14
104.26	Ave 3	90.42
103,100	High Finish	121
6	Legs Against Throw	3

ADRIAN LEWIS 4-0 KEVIN McDINE
(3-1, 3-2, 3-1, 3-1)
ADRIAN LEWIS set up a dream quarter-final clash against Phil Taylor on New Year's Day after a convincing 4-0 victory over Kevin McDine in the last 16 of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The Stoke star ended the match with a three-dart average over 100 for the third successive game in this event to continue his impressive form at Alexandra Palace.

McDine started the better of the two players by hitting a 104 checkout to win the opening leg against the darts. But Lewis hit back by firing three maximums in the next two legs to take a 2-1 lead.

Both players hit 180s in the fourth leg but it was Lewis won it in fantastic fashion with a 164 checkout to win the first set.

The opening two legs of the second set were held with throw and that sequence continued when McDine hit an excellent 64 finish, with his opponent waiting on 40 to win the third. But Lewis put together two fabulous of darts, winning them both with 12-dart finishes to win the set and double his advantage.

Lewis hit his ninth maximum of the game in the process of winning the first leg of the third set, but McDine won the second, despite his opponent registering another 180 - his 10th in the match.

McDine was off-target with two darts at double eight in the third leg and Lewis hit that double to take a 2-1 advantage. He then won the fourth leg against the darts with a 13-dart finish to move three sets clear.

Lewis then hit a 70 finish to make a winning start to the fourth set and then doubled his lead by hitting double eight in the next leg, which included a maximum from McDine.

That put the eighth seed one leg away from the match but McDine continued to fight and took out a 105 to win the third leg but Lewis ended the contest in the next, courtesy of a 14 darter.

'The Premier League experience helped me when the crowd started to get a bit loud, and I felt a bit sorry for Kevin, said Lewis.

'I'm really looking forward to playing Phil in the next round. I won't fold before I go on stage against Phil and he knows his in for a tough match.'

Match Stats