NEWCOMER MATHEWSON STUNS WADE IN LADBROKES SYDNEY DARTS MASTERS
RHYS MATHEWSON caused a sensation with a stunning 6-5 comeback win over James Wade at the Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters at The Star on Thursday, as reigning champion Phil Taylor denied new sensation Corey Cadby a fairytale debut.
Melbourne-based Mathewson, 28, had never previously competed on TV before qualifying for the PDC World Series of Darts event, and looked set to lose out when world number six Wade took a 5-2 lead in their first-to-six contest.
However, Mathewson capitalised on the left-hander's missed match darts as he won the next three legs to level and force a decider, before hitting his fifth 180 of the game and double top to complete a sensational win.
"It's unbelievable," said Mathewson, who now moves into Saturday's quarter-finals at The Star. "I felt comfortable up there and I wasn't nervous, but usually when you miss your doubles against James you don't get another chance.
"I thought I was in trouble at 5-2, but fortunately he gave me a chance and I took it. It's amazing for me."
New Australian star Cadby, the 21-year-old who has won seven tournaments on the DPA's domestic Australian Grand Prix circuit this year, was aiming to match Mathewson's achievement when he took on three-time Sydney Darts Masters champion Phil Taylor.
Taylor, who turned 56 last Saturday, took the game's opening two legs without reply to take an early lead, and held that cushion throughout as Cadby paid for missing his chance to level in leg six.
"It was steady," said Taylor. "I missed a few doubles but I was a bit tired and I'll get myself ready for the quarter-finals now. Corey's a good young player and how far he can go is up to him."
Taylor now meets World Champion Gary Anderson, who overcame Perth-based David Platt 6-3, while Mathewson will take on Peter Wright in the quarter-finals after the world number five saw off Simon Whitlock 6-2, taking command by winning the opening five legs without reply.
The first round's outstanding performance came from world number one Michael van Gerwen, who averaged 107.89 as he swept past New Zealand's Cody Harris with a 6-2 win.
Van Gerwen landed three 180s in the opening two legs in an explosive start before the Kiwi ace pulled back to 3-2, but there would be no stopping the Dutchman as he powered through to a meeting with Australian ace Kyle Anderson.
Anderson brought a delighted home crowd to its feet at The Star with a brilliant display to see off Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 as history repeated itself following the 28-year-old's win over the Dutchman in Sydney two years ago.
Van Barneveld had started brightly by opening the game with a 180 as he claimed the first leg, but Anderson claimed the next six without reply as he averaged almost 100 in a clinical performance.
Adrian Lewis saw off New Zealand number two Rob Szabo 6-3 as he moved through to a quarter-final against Dave Chisnall, who came from a leg down to claim six in a row as he breezed past Australian youngster Harley Kemp.
The Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters continues on Friday with the quarter-finals at The Star before concluding on Saturday with the semi-finals and final, live on Fox Sports.
A limited number of tickets for Friday August 19 are still available from The Star's Box Office or www.ticketek.com.au.
Following Thursday's opening night, van Gerwen is the 4/6 favourite to win the event with tournament sponsors Ladbrokes, with Gary Anderson and Taylor the 5/1 joint second favourites.
Wright is 10/1 to succeed in his bid for a first televised title, with Lewis 12/1, Chisnall 18/1, Kyle Anderson 40/1 and Mathewson the 150/1 outsider.
Quarter-Final Match Odds
8/11 Adrian Lewis v 11/10 Dave Chisnall
10/1 Rhys Mathewson v 1/25 Peter Wright
10/11 Gary Anderson v 10/11 Phil Taylor
1/12 Michael van Gerwen v 7/1 Kyle Anderson
Odds courtesy www.ladbrokes.com.au and correct at time of writing. Subject to fluctuation.
UK coverage of the Ladbrokes Sydney Darts Masters on ITV4 is delayed to the evenings UK time.
Thursday August 18
First Round
James Wade 5-6 Rhys Mathewson
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Harley Kemp
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Rob Szabo
Phil Taylor 6-3 Corey Cadby
Gary Anderson 6-3 David Platt
Peter Wright 6-2 Simon Whitlock
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Cody Harris
Raymond van Barneveld 1-6 Kyle Anderson
Best of 11 legs
Friday August 19 (7pm)
Quarter-Finals
Adrian Lewis v Dave Chisnall
Rhys Mathewson v Peter Wright
Gary Anderson v Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen v Kyle Anderson
Best of 19 legs
MATCH INFORMATION
James Wade v Rhys Mathewson
1-0 - Mathewson hits the first maximum of the match but it's Wade who hits double 12 to hold in the opening leg.
1-1 - Impressive from Mathewson who opens with two 180s before finally pinning tops to level the score.
2-1 - Double ten for a 62 finish for Wade as he gives himself a 2-1 lead.
3-1 - Mathewson misses four darts to level the score before Wade finds tops for a break of throw.
4-1 - Double 12 again for Wade who opens up a three leg lead.
4-2 - Tops from Mathewson to hold throw and close the gap.
5-2 - Wade holds with an 18 checkout on double five.
5-3 - Wade misses a match dart and Mathewson finds D8 to keep the contest alive.
5-4 - Another match darts comes and goes for Wade and Mathewson hits tops to break back!
5-5 - Yet another match dart missed by Wade and Mathewson finds double eight again and we are going to a decider!
5-6 - HE'S DONE IT! Rhys Mathewson comes back from 5-2 down to beat James Wade!
Dave Chisnall v Harley Kemp
0-1 - An early break for Kemp who takes a 1-0 lead.
1-1 - Kemp has a dart in double top but it drops out, allowing Chisnall to move in and level the score.
2-1 - The first hold of the game goes to Dave Chisnall, who hits tops.
3-1 - Three on the spin for Chisnall who hits tops again for a two leg lead.
4-1 - Chisnall on a roll here, double top again the target and again he hits his mark.
5-1 - It's five in a row now for Chisnall who hits tops yet again!
6-1 - It had to be tops that sealed the deal for Chisnall, he wins 6-1 with a 93 average.
Adrian Lewis v Rob Szabo
1-0 - Lewis finds double four to finally win the first leg and hold throw.
2-0 - Lewis hits the first 180 of the match on his way to doubling his lead.
3-0 - Three in a row for Lewis, Szabo in a spot of bother.
3-1 - Szabo on the board as he takes out 126 to reduce the deficit.
3-2 - Szabo back in the contest as he finds double 12.
4-2 - Szabo misses four darts to level the score before Lewis moves in to hit double three at the third attempt.
5-2 - Lewis is one leg away as he punishes Szabo again.
5-3 - Szabo keeps himself in the hunt as he hits tops.
6-3 - A 12-darter from Lewis seals the deal as he moves in to the next round.
Phil Taylor v Corey Cadby
1-0 - A break of throw for Taylor who finds tops for the lead.
2-0 - Double eight for Taylor who opens up a 2-0 lead.
2-1 - Taylor misses the chance to go 3-0 up before Cadby gets himself on the board.
3-1 - Taylor up by two again as he finds double three.
3-2 - Cadby hits double 16 to move to within one of Taylor.
4-2 - Cadby misses a dart to level the score before Taylor moves in to double his lead.
4-3 - Double six for Cadby who is currently averaging 92.
5-3 - 75 out on double 12 and Taylor is one away from the next round.
6-3 - Tops wins it for Taylor who finishes with a 95 average.
Gary Anderson v David Platt
1-0 - Double 16 for Anderson as he holds in the opening leg.
2-0 - Double ten this time for the World Champion as he breaks the throw.
2-1 - An immediate break back for Platt who hits double ten.
2-2 - We are level here as Platt takes out 78.
3-2 - Anderson opens up with two maximums before finally taking the leg on double ten.
3-3 - Double 16 for Platt and we are level again.
4-3 - 92 on double eight for Anderson who moves back in to the lead.
5-3 - Missed opportunities for Platt and Anderson will now throw for the match.
6-3 - Gary Anderson in to the quarter-final, taking out 20 on double five.
Peter Wright v Simon Whitlock
1-0 - 96 on double 18 as Wright breaks the Whitlock throw in the opening leg.
2-0 - Double five as Wright doubles his lead.
3-0 - Another break of throw for Peter Wright, who hits double 18 for a 3-0 lead.
4-0 - Four in a row for Wright who takes out 72 on double 16.
5-0 - 105 on double 16 to move one away from a whitewash.
5-1 - No 6-0 for Wright as Whitlock hits double five.
5-2 - Tops for Whitlock as he keeps the game alive.
6-2 - Wright in to the quarter-finals as he takes out 46 for comfortable win with a 99 average.
Michael van Gerwen v Cody Harris
1-0 - van Gerwen straight in to his stride breaking in the first leg in 12 darts.
2-0 - 84 out this time for the world number one as he cruises in to a 2-0 lead.
2-1 - van Gerwen currently averaging 126 but Harris finds tops to close the gap.
3-1 - 118 average and a 3-1 lead for the Dutchman.
3-2 - 86 on the bull for Harris as he moves back to within one of van Gerwen.
4-2 - 72 on double 12 for the world number one.
5-2 - 71 on double 16 for van Gerwen, he's one away from the quarter-final.
6-2 - A superb win for the Shanghai Darts Masters winner, who averages almost 108.
Raymond van Barneveld v Kyle Anderson
1-0 - van Barneveld opens with a 180 before taking out 71.
1-1 - Double ten for Anderson as he levels the score.
1-2 - A break for the Aussie who pins double four for the lead.
1-3 - 52 out for Anderson who moves two in-front.
1-4 - Another break for Anderson who finds double 16 for a three leg lead.
1-5 - Anderson moves one leg away from a quarter-final clash with Michael van Gerwen as he takes out 80 on double ten.
1-6 - Double tops seals the win for Anderson who averaged almost 100.
MATCH STATS
| Ave | 180s | Finishing | Ave | 180s | Finishing | |||
| 88.53 | 1 | 5/17 | James Wade | 5-6 | Rhys Mathewson | 84.49 | 5 | 6/19 |
| 93.19 | 4 | 6/13 | Dave Chisnall | 6-1 | Harley Kemp | 78.08 | 0 | 1/9 |
| 93.13 | 5 | 6/20 | Adrian Lewis | 6-3 | Rob Szabo | 87.75 | 2 | 3/13 |
| 95.06 | 2 | 6/19 | Phil Taylor | 6-3 | Corey Cadby | 92.24 | 3 | 3/12 |
| 79.64 | 3 | 6/29 | Gary Anderson | 6-3 | David Platt | 74.77 | 0 | 3/8 |
| 99.61 | 4 | 6/12 | Peter Wright | 6-2 | Simon Whitlock | 92.00 | 3 | 2/11 |
| 107.89 | 4 | 6/11 | Michael van Gerwen | 6-2 | Cody Harris | 87.36 | 2 | 2/4 |
| 91.04 | 1 | 1/3 | Raymond van Barneveld | 1-6 | Kyle Anderson | 99.54 | 2 | 6/12 |