PAUL NICHOLSON produced a brilliant comeback to knock Gary Anderson out of the Speedy Hire UK Open on Saturday afternoon, and will take on reigning champion Phil Taylor in the Fifth Round at the Reebok Stadium.
Nicholson avenged last year's defeat to Anderson in the UK Open with a 9-8 triumph in a thriller, as in-form Anderson swept into leads of 5-1 and 7-4, hitting a ten-darter in the process
However, he missed key doubles to lead by four legs in the 12th as Nicholson began his fightback, taking out 124 and a huge 88 on the bull to put himself 8-7 up, before taking out 83 on double nine to win the deciding leg.
Nicholson now takes on reigning champion Taylor on Saturday night, after the world number one swept aside old rival Dennis Priestley 9-3 with a 105 average as he aims for a third straight Bolton win.
"I'm not scared of anybody and I never have been," said Nicholson. "At 5-1 down against Gary I knew I had to get myself back closer at the second break and I made it 6-4.
"The 88 on the bull was a huge shot and the 83 at the end was brilliant. It doesn't matter to me that I've drawn Phil and I'll relish the challenge."
Van Barneveld, the champion in 2006 and 2007, overcame youngster Michael Smith 9-4, and now takes on in-form world number eight Wes Newton, who powered past Michael van Gerwen 9-3.
Newton was a quarter-finalist in Bolton last year and at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, and is due to become a father for the first time in a fortnight as he bids for a maiden major title.
"My form's been good going into this tournament and I want to keep it going against Raymond," said Newton. "I'm enjoying my darts at the moment and am not worried about anybody.
"When you get to this stage of a tournament there are no easy games, and it's time for me to put up or shut up!"
2008 winner James Wade completed a treble of former winners who are in the last 16 after being a 9-6 victor in his clash against resurgent Terry Jenkins.
Mark Webster, meanwhile, eclipsed Nicholson's comeback by hitting back from 6-0 and 8-4 down to defeat Holland's Co Stompe in a decider, and he will now meet Andy Boulton in the last 16.
Boulton, one of the two remaining Rileys Amateur Qualifiers left in the competition, defeated Daventry newcomer Matthew Edgar 9-5, while Widnes' John Bowles continued his success with a narrow 9-8 win over Steve Beaton, who had led 6-3 at one stage.
Scotland's Robert Thornton was another 9-8 winner in a thriller against John Part, who hit back from 7-4 down but missed five match darts in the deciding leg.
Thornton now plays 2009 runner-up Colin Osborne, who defeated Kirk Shepherd 9-7, while Richie Burnett's reward for a 9-6 win over local amateur Joe Murnan is a clash with Wade.
Andy Smith and Denis Ovens will now clash in the Fifth Round following their respective wins over Hull youngster Reece Robinson and Mark Walsh, while Dave Chisnall's 9-7 victory against Ronnie Baxter means he plays Bowles.
The afternoon's other games saw wins for Mark Hylton, who knocked out amateur qualifier Andrew Gilding 9-2, and Peter Wright, who won the final four legs without reply in a 9-5 defeat of Joe Cullen.
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Speedy Hire UK Open
Fourth Round
Main Stage
Paul Nicholson 9-8 Gary Anderson
Phil Taylor 9-3 Dennis Priestley
James Wade 9-6 Terry Jenkins
Dave Chisnall 9-7 Ronnie Baxter
Board Two
Wes Newton 9-3 Michael van Gerwen
Andy Smith 9-8 Reece Robinson
Raymond van Barneveld 9-4 Michael Smith
Mark Webster 9-8 Co Stompe
Board Three
Richie Burnett 9-6 Joe Murnan
Denis Ovens 9-4 Mark Walsh
Robert Thornton 9-8 John Part
Colin Osborne 9-7 Kirk Shepherd
Board Four
Andy Boulton 9-5 Matthew Edgar
Mark Hylton 9-2 Andrew Gilding
John Bowles 9-8 Steve Beaton
Peter Wright 9-5 Joe Cullen
Fifth Round (7pm)
Main Stage
Richie Burnett v James Wade
Robert Thornton v Colin Osborne
Phil Taylor v Paul Nicholson
Raymond van Barneveld v Wes Newton
Stage Two
Peter Wright v Mark Hylton
Andy Boulton v Mark Webster
Andy Smith v Denis Ovens
John Bowles v Dave Chisnall
First Group of Games
Paul Nicholson wins a dramatic encounter against Premier League Champion Gary Anderson at the Reebok with a nail-biting final-leg triumph. The Scotsman had the advantage in the early exchanges establishing a 7-4 lead. But nine missed darts at doubles to move 8-4 clear proved as Nicholson won the next five legs to go within touching distance of victory. Anderson won the 16th leg to set up the decider which the former Players Champion took with an excellent 83 finish.
Highly fancied Wes Newton seals a spot in the draw for the Fifth Round with a convincing 9-3 victory over Dutchman Michael van Gerwen. The world number eight started quickly taking the first four legs and built on that advantage to claim the win.
Richie Burnett backs up his dramatic victory over Colin Lloyd on Friday night with a 9-6 triumph over 27-year-old Rileys Qualifier Joe Murnan. The former World Champion was 4-3 down in the early stages but won six of the next eight legs to progress.
38-year-old Rileys Qualifier Andy Boulton, ends the hopes of Daventry's Matthew Edgar with a 9-5 win. The man from Inverness was never behind in the contest and crossed the winning to become the first qualifier through to the last 16 draw.
Second Group of Games
World number one Phil Taylor moves into the last 16 of the UK Open with a relatively comfortable 9-3 win over old rival Dennis Priestley. Taylor was never troubled during the contest and the match with a three-dart average of 105.29.
Mark Hylton makes safe progress to the Fifth Round of the 2011 Speedy Hire UK Open with a 9-2 thumping over Rileys Qualifier Andrew Gilding. The 40-year-old Suffolk qualifier had defeated Brendan Dolan, Matt Clark and Andy Hamilton to reach this stage but was no match for his opponent. Hylton who beat Andy Jenkins with a whitewash 9-0 win, won the opening five legs of today's contest and went on to record victory.
Andy Smith overcomes 20-year-old Reece Robinson in a final-leg thriller at the Reebok. The man from Studley appeared to be on course for a comfortable victory having led 8-4 but the highly-rated youngster reeled of the next four legs to set up a decider which Smith managed to take to end Robinson's excellent run.
Denis Ovens ends the hopes of the 2005 Runner-Up Mark Walsh, with an excellent 9-4 victory. Having shared the opening four legs Ovens won seven of the next nine legs to move into the last 16.
Third Group of Games
2008 Champion James Wade reaches the last 16 of the UK Open with a 9-6 victory over Terry Jenkins. The man from Aldershot led 7-3 in the early stages before a mini-revival from Jenkins saw the deficit reduced to 7-5. But Wade stepped up another gear to defeat his Premier League compatriot and progress to the next round.
Raymond van Barneveld reaches the last 16 of the 2011 Speedy Hire UK Open with a 9-4 victory over promising youngster Michael Smith. The opening four legs of the contest were shared before the five-time World Champion won seven of the next nine legs to progress.
Scotland's Robert Thornton edges out three-time World Champion John Part in another deciding-leg in the last 16 of the UK Open. Thornton had led the match 7-4 before the Canadian took the next four legs to lead 8-7. Thornton won the 16th leg before Part missed five darts at doubles to win the match in the deciding-leg allowing Thornton stepped in to nick it.
Rileys Qualifier John Bowles continues his incredible run at the Reebok with a dramatic deciding-leg victory over former Lakeside Champion Steve Beaton. The 44-year-old from Widnes who had beaten Peter Manley, Devon Petersen and Vincent van der Voort to reach this stage appeared to be going out when he fell 6-3 and 8-7 down. But Bowles won the final two legs of the match hitting double 15 in the decider to put his name in the hat for the Fifth Round draw.
Final Group of Games
Dave Chisnall keeps his debut appearance at the Reebok alive with a narrow 9-7 victory over the experienced Ronnie Baxter. The match was tight after ten at five all before Chisnall put together back-to-back 11 darters which pushed him to the win and secure a spot in the Fifth Round draw.
Welshman Mark Webster produces a remarkable comeback to send Co Stompe out of the 2011 Speedy Hire UK Open. The Dutchman, who had beaten Simon Whitlock in the previous round led 6-0 and 8-4 only to see his opponent win four straight-legs to set up a thrilling final leg which Webster won with a 14-darter completed on double top.
Colin Osborne edges out Kirk Shepherd by a 9-7 scoreline to reach the last 16 stage of the tournament. In a tight contest the 2009 Runner-Up won three of the next four legs from 6-5 down to end the hopes of the former World Championship finalist.
Peter Wright knocks out Bradford youngster Joe Cullen by a 9-5 margin. The match was finely balanced at five legs all before the 41-year-old put together a run of four consecutive legs to advance to the Fifth Round.
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