JAMES WADE came from two sets down to keep alive his hopes of retaining the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix title on Wednesday night, but Raymond van Barneveld, Wes Newton and John Part all exited the double-start tournament.
Reigning champion Wade found himself two sets behind in his second round clash with Vincent van der Voort at the New Citywest Convention Centre, but won nine of the next 12 legs to win through to the quarter-finals.
"Maybe I should have nicked one of the first two sets but I didn't and I gave myself a lot of hard work to do," said Wade, who has won the Dublin title in 2007 and 2010.
"It was great to come back like that and I feel like I'm starting to get back towards my best."
Wade's quarter-final opponent on Friday will be Andy Smith, who won through to the last eight in the World Grand Prix for a third time with a stunning 3-1 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld.
Smith six of the opening seven legs to open up a two-set lead before the Dutchman, a five-time World Champion, took out 160 and 130 to cause him some nervous moments before edging the fourth set 3-2.
"That's a big win for me," said Smith. "I've beaten him a few times before but recently he's had the better of me, but when he's not quite on top of his game you have to jump on him and I did that.
"I owe James Wade a few because he's beaten me a few times, but I'll have to play well on Friday, but I'll enjoy the game. I love being the underdog and I've got nothing to lose.
Northern Ireland number one Brendan Dolan and Scotland's John Henderson will make their debuts in a major quarter-final on Friday night after winning through Wednesday's other second round games.
Dolan knocked out three-time World Champion John Part 3-1, as the Canadian failed to reproduce the comeback which knocked out number two seed Adrian Lewis two days earlier.
Henderson, meanwhile, won a five-set thriller against world number seven Wes Newton, who hit back from two sets down to level before losing the deciding set 3-1.
The second round concludes on Thursday with the remaining four matches, including the eagerly-awaited clash between nine-time World Grand Prix champion Phil Taylor and Paul Nicholson.
The night begins at 7pm when left-handers Mark Webster and Alan Tabern collide, before Australia's Simon Whitlock meets Mark Hylton, while resurgent Richie Burnett takes on Denis Ovens.
Coverage is live for LIVEPDC.TV International Pass subscribers, with highlights available worldwide 24 hours after that session - click here to visit LIVEPDC.TV
Tickets are still available for the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix, either by calling 00353 1401 0505 or visiting the Citywest Hotel Box Office on the night.
PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix
Second Round
Wednesday
Wes Newton 2-3 John Henderson
James Wade 3-2 Vincent van der Voort
Raymond van Barneveld 2-3 Andy Smith
John Part 1-3 Brendan Dolan
JOHN HENDERSON 3-2 WES NEWTON
(3-2, 3-2, 0-3, 2-3, 3-1)
SCOTTISH ace John Henderson secured another PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix shock with a thrilling 3-2 defeat of Wes Newton as the second round at the New Citywest Convention Centre began in dramatic fashion.
Dublin debutant Henderson took the first two sets 3-2 to lead in the first-to-three contest, only for the number seven seed to roar back and level.
Henderson, though, recovered from some nervy moments to prevail in the decider and move into the quarter-finals of the tournament.
The Scot hit back from 2-1 down in the opening set to edge ahead, with a brace of double top finishes seeing him take the lead against the in-form UK Open runner-up.
Newton hit 180s in winning the first two legs of the second set, finishing 105 in the latter, only to miss doubles in the next two as Henderson landed double nine and a 70 finish to level.
Newton landed a 177 in the set's decider, but Henderson was first to a double and posted tops for a 66 checkout to double his advantage.
The Fleetwood ace kicked off the third superbly with a 14-darter to break throw, and he hit double five and a 71 finish to win the set without reply and begin his fightback.
Tops gave him the lead in the fourth set, but Henderson finished 90 on double 15 to level and punished 11 missed starting doubles from Newton to win the third - although he almost allowed his opponent back into the leg by missing five finishing doubles of his own.
The fourth leg saw Henderson struggle to open as Newton levelled the set, hitting a 180 and double 16, before the world number seven took the set in style, opening the fifth leg with a 153 anf finishing double ten for a 13-darter.
Henderson found another gear to win the first two legs of the deciding set, hitting double ten and double top, with Newton missing three darts to level.
Newton hit a 180 in the third and was on hand when Henderson missed double 16 for a 112 game shot, with double eight with his final dart seeing the Fleetwood thrower keep the match alive.
But when he missed six opening doubles in the next, Henderson settled his nerves and hit double top to seal a dramatic win.
"At 2-0 up I wanted to get the third set over with and go and relax but Wes fought back really well," said Henderson, who hails from Huntly in Aberdeenshire.
"All year I've been getting in front of people and I've let them back in, and I'm thinking about it now. Thankfully I got the winning double, but it was hard work.
"Wes didn't get going and I was waiting for him to come back at me because he's been great when we've played previously. Playing guys like this is making me raise my standard.
"Winning a second round game is brilliant - I've not done it too often but I'm getting used to the stage. Since I joined the PDC it's been fantastic, I've qualified for the UK Open and the World Matchplay and now I'm in the quarter-finals of the World Grand Prix.
"It's probably the biggest night of my career on Friday. This is where every player wants to be and whoever I play it will be one of the biggest games of my life and I'm really looking forward to it."
Match Stats
|
Wes Newton |
2-3 |
John Henderson |
|
17 |
100+ |
29 |
|
11 |
140+ |
15 |
|
5 |
180 |
1 |
|
26.90 |
Ave1 |
25.86 |
|
80.71 |
Ave3 |
77.59 |
|
7 |
Breaks of Throw |
7 |
|
105 |
High Finish |
90 |
|
22/52 - 42% |
Starting Doubles |
22/58 - 38% |
|
11/35 - 31% |
Finishing Doubles |
11/28 - 39% |
JAMES WADE 3-2 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
(2-3, 2-3, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2)
REIGNING CHAMPION James Wade produced an outstanding fightback to come from two sets down and win through to the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix quarter-finals with a 3-2 defeat of Vincent van der Voort.
Wade looked on course to join fellow seeds Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson and Wes Newton in being knocked out of the double-start competition when van der Voort edged the first two sets of their last 16 contest.
But after winning the third set without reply, Wade kicked on to take the remaining two in a brilliant comeback as he won a sudden-death leg to keep alive his hopes of a third Dublin title.
Van der Voort opened superbly, winning the game's opening leg on double 12 and finishing 71 to lead 2-0 before Wade landed a pair of double top finishes to level, only to see the Dutchman hit the same bed to win the deciding leg.
The pair traded double 16 finishes in the first two legs of the second set, before Wade punished three misses from van der Voort to lead 2-1 courtesy of double ten.
But the Dutchman took out 75 on double 12 to level, and again prevailed in the decider, this time with a 14-dart finish.
Wade made an immediate response to win set three without replies, with a double top and double ten coming either side of a 12-darter as the two-time Dublin winner got back into the game.
Wade hit a 180 in winning the fourth set's opener, before the duo traded maximums before van der Voort took out 61 to level.
Wade, though, landed double four with his final dart to edge in front and then squared the match by finishing 96 on double 12 to send the match into a deciding set.
Van der Voort kicked off the fifth set with a 160 and hit double ten to lead, before a 76 finish moved him a leg away from the win.
But Wade kept the match alive with a 94 finish which featured two double tops, and double 11 squared the set before he finished tops for a 15-darter to complete a remarkable fightback.
"I felt great at the start but before I knew it I was two sets down," said Wade. "Maybe I should have nicked one of the first two sets but I didn't and I gave myself a lot of hard work to do.
"It was great to come back like that and I feel like I'm starting to get back towards my best. I'd love to retain this title but I'm not getting carried away and I'll look forward to the quarter-finals first and just take one game at a time."
Match Stats
|
James Wade |
3-2 |
Vincent van der Voort |
|
29 |
100+ |
29 |
|
15 |
140+ |
15 |
|
2 |
180 |
2 |
|
29.54 |
Ave1 |
29.90 |
|
88.62 |
Ave3 |
89.70 |
|
6 |
Breaks of Throw |
5 |
|
96 |
High Finish |
84 |
|
22/40 - 55% |
Starting Doubles |
22/48 - 46% |
|
13/26 - 50% |
Finishing Doubles |
9/20 - 45% |
ANDY SMITH 3-1 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
(3-1, 3-0, 0-3, 3-2)
ANDY SMITH'S love affair with the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix continued as he knocked out Raymond van Barneveld from the tournament with a fine 3-1 second round triumph on Wednesday night.
The Studley ace produced a fine performance to win through to his third quarter-final in the double-start format, which remains his most successful major tournament.
The victory also sent a fourth of the eight seeded players in the event packing, as van Barneveld followed Adrian Lewis, Gary Anderson and Wes Newton in being defeated.
Smith laid the platform for the victory by winning six straight legs after van Barneveld took the opener on double ten.
He traded 180s with the Dutchman in winning the second, and added a further maximum and double 16 to break in the third before hitting the same bed to win the set.
Smith then swept through the second set without reply, with a pair of double top finishes coming either side of a key double four, after van Barneveld failed to set up a double when needing 95 in a tense second leg.
A miss from Smith in the third set's opener, as he was unable to convert double top for a 120 checkout, allowed van Barneveld to win his first leg in seven on tops.
The Dutchman punished a slow start from Smith to win the second on double four, and after the pair once again traded maximums he showed his champion quality with a brilliant 160 checkout to take the set.
Smith, though, took the first two legs of the fourth set to move a leg away from the win, and after a 180 was waiting on a finish as van Barneveld took out 130 to stay in the match.
A 36 finish from van Barneveld sent the set into a decider, but a 180 came too late as Smith took control before hitting double 16 for a famous triumph.
"That's a big win for me," said Smith. "I've beaten him a few times before but recently he's had the better of me, but when he's not quite on top of his game you have to jump on him and I did that.
"I can play a lot better than that, and Barney would say the same, but it's a win and I'll take that.
"I owe James Wade a few because he's beaten me a few times, but I'll have to play well on Friday, but I'll enjoy the game. I love being the underdog and I've got nothing to lose."
On the double-start format used in the World Grand Prix, he added: "I've been brought up with double-start by playing in my local leagues with my dad - I've won the league where you play 301 double-start about 20 times and they don't let me play any more!"
Match Stats
|
Raymond van Barneveld |
1-3 |
Andy Smith |
|
17 |
100+ |
20 |
|
7 |
140+ |
10 |
|
3 |
180 |
4 |
|
27.43 |
Ave1 |
28.02 |
|
82.28 |
Ave3 |
84.05 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
160,130 |
High Finish |
83 |
|
15/38 - 39% |
Starting Doubles |
15/34 - 44% |
|
6/12 - 50% |
Finishing Doubles |
9/24 - 38% |
BRENDAN DOLAN 3-1 JOHN PART
(3-2, 0-3, 3-0, 3-1)
BRENDAN DOLAN won through to his first-ever major quarter-final with a thrilling 3-1 defeat of John Part in the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix on Wednesday night.
The Northern Ireland number one followed up his first round victory over Wayne Jones at the New Citywest Convention Centre with another fine display of doubling as he sent the three-time World Champion packing.
Dolan will now face Scotland's John Henderson on Friday night in his first televised quarter-final after eight years in the professional game - and has his sights on a place in at least the last four.
Dolan, who hails from Fermanagh, delighted his travelling supporters by hitting a 180 in the game's opening leg, which he won with a 48 finish after Part missed double 16 for a 132 checkout.
He then doubled his lead in the second before trading 180s with the Canadian in leg three, with a 165 score leaving 16 for the set. He missed three darts at doubles to lead, and Part finished 81 to get off the mark, before taking out 60 to level the set.
But it was Part who paid the price in the deciding leg of the set, missing double 16 for a 106 finish as Dolan capitalised by taking out 88 on the bull.
Part hit back beautifully, winning the second set without reply by taking out 130 on double five in the first leg, double two in the second following a slow start from Dolan and double two in the third.
But Dolan began the third set by taking out 156 as Part waited on a finish, and he checked out 70 to break throw in the next before hitting double four to win his second set of the game.
Part missed the bull in the opening leg of set four, with Dolan following a 180 with double top before adding a fourth maximum of the game in set two, which he took on double top.
Part finished a pressure double five with his third dart in the next, but Dolan would not be denied and completed the biggest triumph of his career with a fine 13-darter, hitting double 16 with his winning dart.
Match Stats
|
John Part |
1-3 |
Brendan Dolan |
|
19 |
100+ |
22 |
|
7 |
140+ |
10 |
|
1 |
180 |
4 |
|
28.26 |
Ave1 |
29.04 |
|
84.77 |
Ave3 |
87.12 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
130 |
High Finish |
156 |
|
15/38 - 39% |
Starting Doubles |
15/46 - 33% |
|
6/16 - 38% |
Finishing Doubles |
9/17 - 53% |