ENGLAND AMONGST QUARTET TO COME THROUGH DOUBLES SCRAPS IN BWIN WORLD CUP OF DARTS
ENGLAND overcame a scare against the USA as they moved into the quarter-finals of the bwin World Cup of Darts on Saturday, as Australia, Wales and South Africa also survived Doubles deciders in Hamburg.
The reigning champions had whitewashed Thailand in Friday's first round of the 32-nation event, and when Phil Taylor defeated Larry Butler 4-1 in their opening Singles against the USA they seemed on course to cruise into the last eight.
However, American left-hander Darin Young defeated world number three Adrian Lewis 4-1 in their Singles game to send the game into a Doubles decider - but Taylor showed his class by leading England to a 4-1 win as they progressed.
England now take on South Africa in Sunday afternoon's quarter-finals, as they bid to claim a third successive World Cup of Darts triumph.
"We're on course for the hat-trick and we're feeling good," said Taylor. "Adrian hit some great shots when I asked him to in the Doubles game and if he relaxes a bit on Sunday then he could do anything.
"A couple of years ago I struggled in the Singles and Adrian pulled me through, and last year it was the other way round and I pulled him through, but we're gelling together well and I think it's going to come together on Sunday."
England' quarter-final opponents South Africa also won through in a Doubles decider as they followed up Friday's win over host nation Germany with a narrow defeat of Singapore.
Devon Petersen produced a brilliant performance in his Singles game as he whitewashed Paul Lim 4-0, only for partner Graham Filby to spurn a 3-1 lead in his contest as Harith Lim hit back to win 4-3.
South Africa then led 3-2 in the Doubles clash, only to miss seven match darts in the next leg as Singapore levelled, but Petersen held his nerve to take out 68 as he booked his country's place in the last eight for the second time in three years.
"It's brilliant and we're delighted and proud to be through," said Petersen. "At the end of the day it was about getting over the finishing line and winning ugly if we had to.
"We'll learn frmo this experience and push on from this into the quarter-finals. This is Graham's first time on stage but we showed we had bottle and pushed through."
Former finalists Wales and Australia will also clash in the last eight after coming through tight second round battles at the Sporthalle Hamburg.
Welsh duo Mark Webster and Richie Burnett continued their nations' success story in the World Cup of Darts, as the 2010 runners-up and two-time semi-finalists maintained their ever-present status in the last eight of the event.
However, they were pushed all the way by Polish newcomers Krzysztof Chmielewski and Krzysztof Strozyk during an exciting second round tie.
Webster went down 4-3 to Chmielewski in their Singles tie after spurning 11 match darts whilst 3-2 up, only for Burnett to come from 2-1 down against Strozyk to claim a 4-2 victory as the tie went into a Doubles decider.
Wales led 3-0 as they looked to wrap up the win, only for the pluck Poles, aided by two 180s from Strozyk, to send the game into a decider - but Webster opened the final leg with a maximum before taking out 112, with his opponents on 40, to snatch victory.
"I was devastated after the Singles but that's the beauty of this being a team event, and Richie put in a captain's performance," said Webster.
"I'm struggling with my technique at the moment and Richie gave me a lift, but the 112 at the end was the least I could do for the team.
"I need to work on my rhythm for the quarter-finals and I want to get back to the form which got me to number six in the world, but I know I've got one of the best partners around in Richie.
"Apart from England and the Netherlands we're the most successful team in this event but we want to go one better this year and lift the trophy."
2012 finalists Australia were taken into the Doubles decider by Hong Kong, with Simon Whitlock's impressive 4-2 win over Ting Chi Royden Lam cancelled out by Scott Mackenzie's fine 4-1 defeat of Paul Nicholson.
Nicholson, though, bounced back in the Doubles game as he followed up a 112 finish from Whitlock with a brace of double top checkouts before his partner secured a 4-0 whitewash as they moved into the last eight.
"Even though I've not been at my best so far this weekend, I've hit some key doubles and I'll be working on my game for Sunday," said Nicholson. "The important thing is that we got through.
"Pairs is our domain, we trust each other and Simon is starting to peak at the moment, and his confident is starting to exude on me. We've got a great chemistry as a team and we really want to win this.
"Simon's the captain and I'm the wingman, and I'll do whatever he asks of me to try and win this tournament for Australia."
Belgian brothers Kim and Ronny Huybrechts, who were last year's beaten finalists in Hamburg, dropped only one leg in an impressive 2-0 defeat of Austria, with Kim averaging 105 as he defeated Mensur Suljovic 4-1 before Ronny whitewashed Rowby-John Rodriguez 4-0.
They now face pre-tournament favourites Netherlands in the last eight after the 2010 champions saw off Spain 2-0, with World Champion Michael van Gerwen averaging 103 in a 4-1 win over Antonio Alcinas before Raymond van Barneveld saw off Carlos Rodriguez by the same scoreline.
The other quarter-final sees number three seeds Scotland take on Northern Ireland, whose progress continued with a 2-0 win over Japan as Michael Mansell defeated Haruki Muramatsu 4-1 before Brendan Dolan hit finishes of 104 and 106 in his 4-2 win over Morihiro Hashimoto.
Scotland, meanwhile, swept past Sweden 2-0 as Peter Wright whitewashed Magnus Caris 4-0 before Robert Thornton defeated Peter Sajwani 4-1.
The £200,000 tournament concludes on Sunday, with the afternoon's quarter-finals followed by the semi-finals and final in the evening session in front of a sold-out crowd at the Sporthalle Hamburg.
The quarter-finals and semi-finals feature two Singles games before a Doubles decider, if needed, while the final will feature four Singles games before a potentially title-deciding Doubles game.
To see Sunday's Quarter-Final fixtures, click here to visit the bwin World Cup of Darts NetZone.
The bwin World Cup of Darts will be screened live worldwide through the following territories:
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www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers outside of UK, Ireland & Netherlands
bwin World Cup of Darts
Saturday June 7
Afternoon Session
Second Round
Northern Ireland 2-0 Japan
Singles 1 - Michael Mansell 4-1 Haruki Muramatsu
Singles 2 - Brendan Dolan 4-2 Morihiro Hashimoto
Doubles (not needed) - Mansell/Dolan v Muramatsu/Hashimoto
Belgium 2-0 Austria
Singles 1 - Kim Huybrechts 4-1 Mensur Suljovic
Singles 2 - Ronny Huybrechts 4-0 Rowby-John Rodriguez
Doubles (not needed) - Huybrechts/Huybrechts v Suljovic/Rodriguez
Wales 2-1 Poland
Singles 1 - Mark Webster 3-4 Krzysztof Chmielewski
Singles 2 - Richie Burnett 4-2 Krzysztof Strozyk
Doubles - Webster/Burnett 4-3 Chmielewski/Strozyk
Singapore 1-2 South Africa
Singles 1 - Paul Lim 0-4 Devon Petersen
Singles 2 - Harith Lim 4-3 Graham Filby
Doubles - Lim/Lim 3-4 Petersen/Filby
Evening Session
Second Round
Australia 2-1 Hong Kong
Singles 1 - Simon Whitlock 4-2 Ting Chi Royden Lam
Singles 2 - Paul Nicholson 1-4 Scott Mackenzie
Doubles - Whitlock/Nicholson 4-0 Lam/Mackenzie
Scotland 2-0 Sweden
Singles 1 - Peter Wright 4-0 Magnus Caris
Singles 2 - Robert Thornton 4-1 Peter Sajwani
Doubles (not needed) - Wright/Thornton v Caris/Sajwani
England 2-1 USA
Singles 1 - Phil Taylor 4-1 Larry Butler
Singles 2 - Adrian Lewis 1-4 Darin Young
Doubles - Taylor/Lewis 4-1 Butler/Young
Netherlands v Spain
Singles 1 - Michael van Gerwen 4-1 Antonio Alcinas
Singles 2 - Raymond van Barneveld v Carlos Rodriguez
Doubles (not needed) - van Gerwen/van Barneveld v Alcinas/Rodriguez
The Second Round will be played as two best of seven leg 501 Singles matches, with both nations nominating the order in which their players play. In the event of both nations winning one Singles match apiece, a best of seven leg 501 Doubles match will be played to decide the tie.
MATCH INFORMATION
Afternoon Session
Northern Ireland v Japan
Singles 1 - Michael Mansell v Haruki Muramatsu
0-1 - Mansell misses the bull, and Muramatsu takes out 76 on tops to lead.
1-1 - Mansell misses two darts at double ten, but Muramatsu is unable to land double top or double ten to steal the leg, allowing the left-hander back in on double ten.
2-1 - Mansell recovers from further missed doubles by landing double one to break throw and move ahead.
3-1 - Muramatsu lands a 180, but Mansell takes out 60 on tops to move two legs clear.
4-1 - Muramatsu misses three darts at double 18, and Mansell finishes 54 on tops to secure victory for Northern Ireland in the opening Singles game.
Singles 2 - Brendan Dolan v Morihiro Hashimoto
1-0 - Double 18 gives Dolan the opening leg.
2-0 - Dolan doubles his lead with a 104 finish.
2-1 - Dolan misses a dart at tops to extend his lead, and Hashimoto finishes double ten to get off the mark.
3-1 - Hashimoto misses double six to level the game, and Dolan finishes double 16 to move to the brink of securing a place in the quarter-finals for his nation.
3-2 - Dolan misses two match darts at tops, and Hashimoto hits the same bed, with a tricky third dart, to stay in the game.
4-2 - Dolan takes out 106 to seal victory and a quarter-final place for Northern Ireland.
Doubles (not needed)
Result: Northern Ireland 2-0 Japan
Belgium v Austria
Singles 1 - Kim Huybrechts v Mensur Suljovic
1-0 - Suljovic misses two darts at double 16, and Huybrechts breaks throw immediately on tops.
2-0 - Huybrechts finishes 89 in two darts to move two legs up with a 14-darter.
2-1 - Suljovic takes out 78 on tops to get off the mark.
3-1 - Huybrechts finishes double 18 for a 13-darter to regain his cushion.
4-1 - The Belgian ace lands a 180 and finishes 102 to complete the victory with a superb 105.17 average.
Singles 2 - Ronny Huybrechts v Rowby-John Rodriguez
1-0 - Double ten sees the older Huybrechts brother take the lead.
2-0 - Huybrechts this time takes out 64, in two darts, as he breaks throw.
3-0 - Ronny takes out tops to move further clear.
4-0 - Huybrechts secures victory for Belgium on tops.
Doubles (not needed)
Result: Belgium 2-0 Austria
Wales v Poland
Singles 1 - Mark Webster v Krzysztof Chmielewski
1-0 - Both players miss darts at double top before Webster lands double ten to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Chmielewski takes out 80 with an improvised double top, double one, double 19 combination.
1-2 - The Polish ace hits two 180s to set up a possible nine-darter, missing a seventh perfect dart but returning to win the leg on double nine with a 12-darter.
2-2 - Webster finishes 48 on tops to break back and level.
3-2 - Webster moves back ahead on double eight.
3-3 - Webster misses 11 match darts as Chmielewski lands a 180 before eventually snatching the leg on double one to force a decider.
3-4 - Chmielewski opens with a 140 and is first to a finish, against the throw, as he takes out 74 for a 14-darter to snatch a superb win.
Singles 2 - Richie Burnett v Krzysztof Strozyk
0-1 - Strozyk hits a 180 before finishing double ten to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Burnett levels with an excellent 13-dart leg, ending on double 16.
1-2 - Double 12 moves the Polish newcomer back ahead.
2-2 - Burnett opens the leg with a 180, before finishing tops to level.
3-2 - Burnett breaks with a fine 15-dart leg, hitting four tons and a 101 finish to break throw.
Doubles - Webster/Burnett v Chmielewski/Strozyk
1-0 - Webster finishes double top with a confident dart to clam the opening leg.
2-0 - Webster takes ot 94 to double Wales' lead against the throw.
3-0 - Both Burnett and Webster initially miss doubles to take the leg, but Chmielewski misses one dart at tops to steal the leg and Burnett finishes double one to move Wales a leg away from the quarter-finals.
3-1 - Poland keep their hopes alive, with Strozyk hitting a 180 and Chmielewski taking out 97.
3-2 - Strozyk coolly finishes 68 on tops to continue Poland's fightback.
3-3 - Strozyk posts a 180 before finishing double nine to send the tie into a sudden-death leg.
4-3 - Webster opens the sudden-death leg with a 180, only for Strozyk to score 140 and 139 and Chmielewski to land a 140 as Poland leave 40 - but the left-hander steps up to take out 112 to claim victory for Wales in dramatic fashion.
Result: Wales 2-1 Poland
Singapore v South Africa
Singles 1 - Paul Lim v Devon Petersen
0-1 - Petersen capitalises on one missed double from Lim by finishing double 16.
0-2 - Lim is this time punished for three missed doubles as Petersen steps in on double four.
0-3 - Petersen's fine display continues as he takes out 121 on the bull.
0-4 - Lim misses five more darts at doubles, allowing Petersen in on double eight to claim a whitewash win.
Singles 2 - Harith Lim v Graham Filby
0-1 - Lim misses a dart at tops, allowing Filby in to hit the same bed for a break of throw.
1-1 - Lim takes out 48 on double 16 to level.
1-2 - Filby returns from two initial misses at tops to hit the bed and regain the lead.
1-3 - Lim lands a 180, but misses six darts to win the leg across three visits before Filby also recovers from some dodgy doubling to take out double one.
2-3 - Lim adds a second maximum before taking out double eight to hit back.
3-3 - Lim misses double 18 for a 101 finish, but Filby misses match darts at double top and ten to allow the left-hander back on double 18 to force a deciding leg.
4-3 - Lim is first to a finish as he sends the tie into a Doubles decider.
Doubles - Lim/Lim v Petersen/Filby
0-1 - Petersen misses the bull, but Paul Lim misses two darts to capitalise and Filby posts double eight.
1-1 - Paul Lim opens with a 174, with Filby replying with a 180 only to later cost himself a dart at a double on a 121 finish, allowing Lim back in to finish double 16 to level.
1-2 - Petersen opens the leg with a 180 before finishing double 16 to move South Africa back ahead.
2-2 - Harith Lim lands double 18 to level again.
2-3 - Filby posts double four to take South Africa a leg away from the quarter-finals.
3-3 - The South African duo miss seven match darts across two visits, allowing Harith Lim in on double two to send the game into a decider.
3-4 - Petersen takes out 68 on double 16 to secure South Africa's quarter-final place.
Result: Singapore 1-2 South Africa
Evening Session
Australia v Hong Kong
Singles 1 - Simon Whitlock v Ting Chi Royden Lam
0-1 - Whitlock hits a 180 but misses a dart at tops to break throw as Lam lands tops to take the opener.
1-1 - Whitlock levels with a brilliant 11-darter, landing another maximum before finishing 84 with a bullseye, double 17 combination.
2-1 - Lam misses two darts at double ten to steal the leg, with Whitlock returning from his earlier misses to land double two.
3-1 - Lam opens with a 180 but is again unable to capitalise on missed doubles from Whitlock, who returns to land double ten to move two legs clear.
3-2 - Lam keeps his hopes alive in the Singles tie with a superb 120 checkout.
4-2 - Whitlock misses double 18 for a 156 finish, but returns to land double nine in securing the first Singles win for Australia.
Singles 2 - Paul Nicholson v Scott Mackenzie
0-1 - Mackenzie takes out 100 to break throw in the opening leg.
0-2 - Mackenzie lands a 180 to leave 24 before hitting double 12 for a 13-darter to move two legs up.
1-2 - Nicholson sets up a possible nine-dart finish with back-to-back 180s, and hits a seventh treble 20 before missing the treble 15 of the 141 combination, although he returns to finish tops for an 11-darter.
1-3 - Mackenzie scores 140, 180 and 140 before finishing double 16 - at the fifth attempt - to move a leg away from the win.
1-4 - Mackenzie wires the bull for a 161 finish, but gets the chance to return and land double eight to complete an impressive win and take the tie into a Doubles decider.
Doubles - Whitlock/Nicholson v Lam/Mackenzie
1-0 - Whitlock draws first blood for Australia with a superb 112 checkout.
2-0 - Whitlock misses two darts at tops, but when Lam is unable to finish double 16 for a 128 checkout, Nicholson steps in on double top.
3-0 - Whitlock fires in a 180, and when Mackenzie misses a second double top to complete a 100 combination, Nicholson posts tops again to push Australia a leg away from the quarter-finals.
4-0 - Nicholson misses a match dart at tops, but Mackenzie miscounts and finishes 82 instead of 92, allowing Whitlock in to claim victory on double ten.
Result: Australia 2-1 Hong Kong
Scotland v Sweden
Singles 1 - Peter Wright v Magnus Caris
1-0 - Caris misses three doubles to win the opening leg, allowing Wright in to lead on double 16 for a 74 finish.
2-0 - Tops sees Wright double his advantage.
3-0 - Wright moves three legs clear with a superb 12-darter, hitting two 180s and taking out double 16.
4-0 - Wright opens with two 140s and completes a whitewash victory on double five.
Singles 2 - Robert Thornton v Peter Sajwani
1-0 - Sajwani opens with a confident 140 and 180, but misses double top and two darts at double ten to allow Thornton in on double six.
1-1 - Thornton this time misses his chance as Sajwani hits tops to level.
2-1 - Thornton misses more doubles but has enough cushion to return and win the leg on double one.
3-1 - Thornton breaks throw on double ten as he moves a leg away from victory for Scotland.
4-1 - Thornton secures victory and a quarter-final place for Scotland by landing double five.
Doubles (not needed) - Wright/Thornton v Caris/Sajwani
Result: Scotland 2-0 Sweden
England v USA
Singles 1 - Phil Taylor v Larry Butler
1-0 - Both players open the game with 180s before Taylor holds throw on double eight.
1-1 - Butler levels the game on double 16.
2-1 - Taylor misses a dart at double 16, but Butler is off-target with one dart at tops for a 110 finish to break throw to allow the English ace back in, and he nails double 16 with his third dart to move back ahead.
3-1 - Taylor breaks throw by landing double top.
4-1 - Taylor finishes 70 on double four to secure victory for England in the opening Singles game.
Singles 2 - Adrian Lewis v Darin Young
0-1 - Young takes out 81 on double 12 to claim the opening leg.
0-2 - Lewis hits a 180 to leave 82, but misses two darts at double 16 to allow Young in to finish tops for a 14-darter to break throw.
1-2 - Lewis fires in another 180 before finishing 104 on tops to get off the mark.
1-3 - Young finishes 70 on tops for another break of throw as he moves a leg away from taking the tie into a Doubles decider.
1-4 - Young misses tops for a 120 finish - his first mised double of the game - before Lewis fires in a 174 score to leave 16 and apply the pressure, but the American returns to pin double ten to claim victory and ensure a pairs contest to decide the tie.
Doubles - Taylor/Lewis v Butler/Young
1-0 - Taylor and Butler trade 180s before Lewis fires in a 171 to leave 24 - with Taylor missing three darts at double 12 only for Butler, needing 71, to fail to set up tops and allow Lewis back in on double six.
1-1 - Taylor opens the leg with a 180, but misses double 16 to finish 102 to allow Young in to finish 60 on tops to level.
2-1 - Taylor finds his range on the doubles as he takes out 76 on double eight to move England back ahead.
3-1 - England are first to a finish and have enough breathing space to fail to finish 96 in two visits - including Taylor bursting his score - before Lewis pins double nine.
4-1 - Taylor lands double 16 to seal victory for England and progression to the quarter-finals.
Result: England 2-1 USA
Netherlands v Spain
Singles 1 - Michael van Gerwen v Antonio Alcinas
1-0 - van Gerwen opens with a 14-darter as double four puts him ahead.
2-0 - The World Champion doubles his lead with a brilliant 128 checkout.
2-1 - van Gerwen fires in a 180, but Alcinas finishes tops to hit back.
3-1 - van Gerwen adds another maximum before tops sees him complete a 13-darter.
4-1 - Alcinas misses the bull to keep the game alive, and van Gerwen finishes 70 on double eight to complete the win with a 103 average.
Singles 2 - Raymond van Barneveld v Carlos Rodriguez
1-0 - van Barneveld hits double 11 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Rodriguez hits tops to level the game.
2-1 - The Spanish ace lands a 180, but van Barneveld is first to a finish and lands double ten to move back in front.
3-1 - van Barneveld replies with a maximum before hitting tops to move a leg away from the victory.
4-1 - Double eight sees van Barneveld complete the win and seal the 2010 winners' place in the quarter-finals.
Doubles (not needed) - van Gerwen/van Barneveld v Alcinas/Rodriguez
Result: Netherlands 2-0 Spain