Cash Converters Players Championship Night Two

PHIL TAYLOR had to come from 4-1 down to defeat Terry Jenkins 6-4 as he began the defence of his Cash Converters Players Championship title at the Doncaster Dome on Friday night.

The world number one looked on course to crash out of the event, which he has won twice in the previous three years, when Jenkins won four of the opening five legs in their contest and almost hit a nine-darter.

However, Stoke ace Taylor won five successive legs to set up a second round clash with Mervyn King on Saturday evening, sealing victory with a superb 11-dart leg.

"It was a real scrap and a fantastic game," said Taylor. "I think Terry's plan was to hit me as fast as he can.

"At 4-1 I had to take it one leg at a time and when my back was against the wall I relaxed, but that game will be good in getting me prepared for the rest of the tournament."

King took a 6-4 victory over Colin Lloyd in their first round game, despite the former world number one hitting finishes of 102 and 170 in taking a 3-0 lead.

King hit back to lead 4-3 and went on to secure victory with a 170 checkout of his own.

Scottish ace Gary Anderson continued the form which took him to the Grand Slam of Darts final last month with a sensational whitewash of Holland's Michael van Gerwen.

Anderson hit four 180s in the opening three legs and also posted a 161 checkout in storming through to set up a second round clash with Kevin Painter, who defeated Colin Osborne 6-2.

Number one seed Justin Pipe defeated John Henderson 6-1 to move into the second round and will now face Mark Webster on Saturday, after the Welsh left-hander won five successive legs from being 2-1 down to defeat Steve Beaton 6-2.

Dave Chisnall celebrated his debut in the event with a 6-2 win over Alan Tabern and now plays Co Stompe in the second round, with the Dutch ace defeating fellow countryman Vincent van der Voort 6-1.

The second round begins on Saturday afternoon, with play split across two sessions at the Doncaster Dome, with admission available on the door on the day.

Wes Newton opens the afternoon session against Peter Wright at 1pm, with Wayne Jones playing Mark Walsh, Steve Brown taking on world number three James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld meeting Scott Rand.

The evening session follows at 7pm, featuring the winners of Friday night's first round matches.

Tickets are still available for the Cash Converters Players Championship, either by calling the Doncaster Dome Box Office on 01302 370 777 or in person at the venue.

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Cash Converters Players Championship
Friday December 9 (7pm)
First Round
Dave Chisnall 6-3 Alan Tabern
Colin Osborne 2-6 Kevin Painter
Vincent van der Voort 1-6 Co Stompe
Mervyn King 6-4 Colin Lloyd
Justin Pipe 6-1 John Henderson
Phil Taylor 6-4 Terry Jenkins
Mark Webster 6-2 Steve Beaton
Gary Anderson 6-0 Michael van Gerwen

DAVE CHISNALL 6-3 ALAN TABERN
DAVE CHISNALL enjoyed a winning debut in the Cash Converters Players Championship, defeating Alan Tabern 6-3 in their all-St Helens first round contest.

Chisnall has enjoyed a superb debut year on the PDC circuit, winning one Players Championship and reaching three other finals, and continued that form to avenge a World Grand Prix loss to Tabern on the Doncaster stage.

Chisnall hit 180s in the first three legs, but won just won as Tabern firstly punished a missed double ten for a 137 checkout by hitting double 12 and then replying to a maximum with one of his own to set up a 62 finish as he moved 2-1 up.

Chisnall took out double two to win the fourth leg, and moved ahead for the first time in the next by taking out 90 with a bullseye, double top combination.

Tabern replied by punishing a missed double top from Chisnall to land double eight to break and level, but after the pair traded 180s in the next it was the former Lakeside Championship finalist who regained the lead, taking out 81 on double 12.

An 85 finish put Chisnall 5-3 up, and he went on to seal victory when Tabern was unable to follow a 180 by finishing 144, allowing him in to take out 65 on tops.

Match Stats

Dave Chisnall	6-3	Alan Tabern
8	100+	13
7	140+	2
4	180	3
32.23	Ave1	30.26
96.68	Ave3	90.77
90	High Finish	62
3	Breaks of Throw	1
6/16 - 38%	Finishing %	3/5 - 60%

KEVIN PAINTER 6-2 COLIN OSBORNE
KEVIN PAINTER punished a sloppy finishing performance from Colin Osborne to take a 6-2 victory in their Cash Converters Players Championship first round clash.

Osborne missed 13 darts at a double in the eight-leg contest as his hopes of progressing to the last 16 at the Doncaster Dome were ended.

Three of those misses came in the opening leg as Painter stepped in to take out 118, and he then landed double six to move two legs up.

Painter then hit a 180 in the third, but missed double 11 for a 102 finish and Osborne stepped in to land double ten to get off the mark.

He posted a 177 in the fourth, but saw his chance to level go begging as Painter landed double four for a 3-1 cushion.

Painter was punished in the fifth as Osborne hit double five to reduce the gap to one again, but when he missed the bull to square the game in leg six the Daventry ace pounced.

Osborne also missed the bull in the next as double ten pushed Painter to the brink of victory, which he sealed with a classy 14-dart finish on double eight.

"Both of us got bogged down a bit and there's a lot of respect between us but I probably deserved to win it," said Painter. "Colin missed a few doubles and stepped in and took the chances.

"I'm feeling good and have been playing nicely recently and I was a bit edgy tonight but I can relax in the second round."

Match Stats

Colin Osborne	2-6	Kevin Painter
10	100+	15
4	140+	3
0	180	1
28.85	Ave1	30.08
86.56	Ave3	90.23
20	High Finish	118
0	Breaks of Throw	2
2/15 - 13%	Finishing %	6/16 - 38%

CO STOMPE 6-1 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
CO STOMPE produced a clinical performance to win his all-Dutch first round clash against Vincent van der Voort at the Cash Converters Players Championship 6-1.

Stompe reeled off six successive legs to come from 1-0 down to storm to victory, setting up a second round clash with Dave Chisnall on Saturday evening.

Van der Voort won the game's opening leg, hitting double four to lead but only with his sixth dart at a double.

Stompe hit 180s in the next two as he finished 77 on double ten and then took out double 12 to lead 201.

Missed doubles from van der Voort allowed Stompe in to hit tops in the next two legs and lead 4-1, and he finished 84 on the bull to edge towards victory.

Van der Voort gave himself a chance to keep the game alive in the seventh leg, but missed tops for a 145 checkout and Stompe stepped in to land double ten to secure progression to the last 16.

Match Stats

Vincent van der Voort	1-6	Co Stompe
7	100+	11
5	140+	3
0	180	2
28.96	Ave1	31.73
86.89	Ave3	95.19
8	High Finish	84
0	Breaks of Throw	3
1/10 - 10%	Finishing %	6/9 - 67%

MERVYN KING 6-4 COLIN LLOYD
MERVYN KING came from 3-0 down to defeat Colin Lloyd 6-4 in a Cash Converters Players Championship first round thriller, responding to an earlier 170 from the Essex to seal victory by matching that maximum checkout.

Lloyd had stormed out of the blocks, taking out finishes of 102 and 170 to win the first two legs and also edged the third to lead 3-0 - only for King to win four in a row to level.

Lloyd levelled, but King hit a 12-darter to win a fifth leg and then sealed victory in some style by landing a 170 of his own.

"It was a real battle and I made it hard work for myself," said King. "I knew Colin would start well but I had to try and live with him, and I did that.

"We're great mates and I'll be reminding him for many years to come that my 170 was to win the match so it was more special than his!"

He will face either Phil Taylor or Terry Jenkins on Saturday, and added: "I've got a real hurdle to get over but I'm more than capable of that if my darts go well.

"I've reached the final of this event before and I'd love to go one better on Sunday night. I love the game and I love being in a contest, and after a bad 12 months I'm really up for this."

Former world number one Lloyd made a blistering start, finishing 102 on tops to win the opening leg and then taking out the maximum 170 to double his lead.

King opened the third with a 180, but missed five darts to get off the mark and Lloyd posted tops to move 3-0 up.

King regained his range on the doubles in the next two legs, following up a pair of maximums with two tops finishes as he pulled back to within a leg before checking out 107 on double 18 to level.

He then took out double eight to move 4-3 up, and after Lloyd levelled on tops he regained the lead by hitting a 12-dart leg, landing scores of 140, 180 and 140 before taking out double 16.

Lloyd hit three tons as he battled to stay in the game, but he was denied a dart at a finish in the next as King powered home his 170 finish to ensure the triumph.

Match Stats

Mervyn King	6-4	Colin Lloyd
13	100+	17
9	140+	6
4	180	0
32.54	Ave1	31.14
97.61	Ave3	93.42
170,107	High Finish	170,102
3	Breaks of Throw	2
6/13 - 46%	Finishing %	4/6 - 67%

JUSTIN PIPE 6-1 JOHN HENDERSON
NUMBER one seed Justin Pipe swept past John Henderson 6-1 to progress to the last 16 of the Cash Converters Players Championship.

Pipe has celebrated his first three ranking victories amongst six finals in the last ten Players Championship tournaments, and took that form onto the Doncaster Dome to see off Henderson.

The Scot has played only twice in the last five weeks after suffering a nerve problem in his throwing arm, and the lack of match practice told as Pipe progressed.

Pipe finished 82 to win the opening leg but missed the bull in the second as Henderson levelled on double two.

Finishes of 104 - on double 12 - and double ten gave Pipe breathing space, before he showed his quality by hitting a 180 and a 136 checkout for a 12-dart leg in taking a 4-1 lead.

Pipe added a second 180 and a 76 finish for a 14-darter as he moved to the brink of victory, which was sealed when he landed double 16 in the next leg.

Match Stats

Justin Pipe	6-1	John Henderson
10	100+	5
5	140+	4
2	180	0
31.45	Ave1	24.25
94.35	Ave3	72.74
136,104	High Finish	10
2	Breaks of Throw	0
6/13 - 46%	Finishing %	1/6 - 17%

PHIL TAYLOR 6-4 TERRY JENKINS
REIGNING Cash Converters Players Championship winner Phil Taylor came from 4-1 down to take a 6-4 victory over Terry Jenkins in their first round tie at the Doncaster Dome on Friday night.

Jenkins threatened a huge upset when he opened the game with two 180s in setting up a potential nine-darter before moving 2-0 up.

He then led 4-1 but Taylor fired back with five successive legs as he hit top gear to progress to a second round clash with Mervyn King on Saturday night.

"It was a real scrap and a fantastic game," said Taylor. "I think Terry's plan was to hit me as fast as he can.

"It would have been nice if he had hit the nine-darter at the start - it might even have put him off! - but Terry played very well.

"At 4-1 I had to take it one leg at a time and when my back was against the wall I relaxed, but that game will be good in getting me prepared for the rest of the tournament."

Jenkins made a stunning start to the game, opening with back-to-back 180s in setting up a potential nine-dart finish.

He also hit a seventh treble 20, but missed the treble 19 before returning to take the opener in 11 darts.

He then took out 89 for a 14-darter to double his lead as Taylor paid for a slow start, although the defending champion hit a 180 to set up tops as he got off the mark in the third leg.

Jenkins, though, replied with a 180 in setting up a double four finish in taking the fourth and then traded 180s with the world number one in leg five to set up double top in taking a 4-1 lead.

Taylor replied immediately by opening the sixth leg with a 177, and also added a 140 in a 14-darter to begin his fightback.

The seventh leg proved crucial as Jenkins hit a 180 but missed one dart at tops for a 5-2 cushion, with Taylor posting double ten to pull back to 4-3.

He then finished 77 in two darts to level the match, and when Jenkins faltered in the ninth - hitting a 180 but missing two darts at tops - Taylor stepped in to hit double 16 with his third dart and lead for the first time.

Jenkins had the advantage of throw in leg ten, but Taylor opened with scores of 180 and 140 to put himself in control, and finished 83 in two darts for an 11-darter to complete a stunning comeback.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	6-4	Terry Jenkins
9	100+	7
6	140+	8
3	180	6
32.53	Ave1	33.55
97.59	Ave3	100.64
83	High Finish	89
3	Breaks of Throw	2
6/10 - 60%	Finishing %	4/8 - 50%

MARK WEBSTER 6-2 STEVE BEATON
MARK WEBSTER overcame a slow start to win five successive legs in taking a 6-2 victory over Steve Beaton in the Cash Converters Players Championship.

The Welsh left-hander now meets number one seed Justin Pipe in Saturday's second round following the hard-fought victory.

Webster took the early lead by finishing double ten to win the opening leg after Beaton was unable to convert double top for a 120 checkout.

Beaton hit back well with a 13-dart leg to level, posting a 180 and double top in the process, and double 16 in the third saw him move 2-1 up.

He also landed another maximum in the fourth, but missed three darts to extend his advantage as Webster levelled before taking the lead on double ten with an 11-dart finish.

The Welshman then posted tops to move 4-2 up and took out double five - with Beaton waiting on 40 - to edge towards victory.

He handed Beaton a lifeline with a missed double 16 for the match, but Beaton was unable to land the bull and Webster posted double two to seal his last 16 spot.

Match Stats

Mark Webster	6-2	Steve Beaton
8	100+	11
7	140+	6
1	180	2
30.28	Ave1	29.89
90.84	Ave3	89.68
40	High Finish	40
3	Breaks of Throw	1
6/21 - 29%	Finishing %	2/10 - 20%

GARY ANDERSON 6-0 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
GARY ANDERSON stormed into the second round of the Cash Converters Players Championship with a sensational whitewash of Michael van Gerwen, averaging 106.09 in a brilliant display.

The Scot continued the form which took him to the Grand Slam of Darts final last month by restricting the youngster to just one dart at a double in the contest.

That opportunity came in the opening leg as van Gerwen missed the bullseye for an 84 finish, allowing Anderson to follow up an earlier 180 by finishing 80 to take the lead.

Anderson then opened the second with a maximum and took out double five for a 13-darter, and bettered that with a brace of 180s in a 12-dart finish to lead 3-0.

Van Gerwen opened the fourth with a 180 - his second in as many legs - and also added a 140 in leading 32, only to see Anderson finish 68 on tops for a 4-0 cushion.

He extended that lead to five legs in style with a clinical 161 checkout before going on to seal victory by taking out 72 on double six.

Match Stats