BetVictor World Matchplay Day One

WRIGHT KICKS OFF BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY IN STYLE WITH SUPER-SHOW

PETER WRIGHT lit up the BetVictor World Matchplay with a 108 average as he defeated Kim Huybrechts on Saturday, as Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis and Simon Whitlock also enjoyed victories on the tournament's opening night in Blackpool.

World number five Wright was the stand-out performer in front of a capacity crowd at the Winter Gardens as the £450,000 tournament kicked off in entertaining fashion.

Wright condemned Belgium's Kim Huybrechts to a fifth successive first round defeat in the World Matchplay with a 10-5 victory, and was in sparkling form as he began his bid to claim his maiden major title.

The Scot took the game's first six legs without reply and, after Huybrechts won the next three, took out an 11-darter to move 7-3 up.

The Belgian finished 101 as he reduced the gap to 8-5, but Wright was clinical in sealing victory with checkouts of 136 and 161 in successive legs to complete an impressive display.

"I wasn't as consistent throughout the match as I wanted to be but there were patches of brilliance," said Wright, whose tournament odds with sponsors BetVictor were slashed from 33/1 to 18/1 following the win.

"Kim's been playing really well recently but I've got a good record against him and it's great to continue that.

"In the past here I've not necessarily had the right preparation for this tournament but I started working towards this event back in January. I've put in the right work to go a long way and I want to make an impact."

World number one Michael van Gerwen, who lost out to Phil Taylor in last year's final in Blackpool, swept aside debutant Benito van de Pas 10-4 as he began his challenge to take the £100,000 title with a strong performance.

Van Gerwen led 2-0 before the youngster got off the mark, but it was the top seed who pulled clear with seven straight legs - including a 116 checkout - to take a commanding 9-1 cushion.

Van de Pas showed his class by taking the next three to threaten a fightback, but a 100 checkout from van Gerwen sealed his spot against either Justin Pipe or Jamie Lewis in round two.

"I'm happy with my performance and it's a good win for me," said van Gerwen. "Benito is a fantastic player and is someone to look for in the future.

"At the beginning it was anybody's game but I took the lead and I took advantage of his mistakes. I didn't miss doubles and then it was 9-1, and even though he came back at me I knew that he wouldn't win nine legs in a row.

"I've got a lot to improve but it's a good win. Three years ago I was in the quarter-finals, two years ago I was in the semi-finals and last year I was in the final, so I want to win this year and go a step better."

2013 runner-up Adrian Lewis began his challenge to go one better with a 10-7 win over gutsy debutant Joe Murnan.

The Bolton ace - who won his first ranking event at a Players Championship to seal his spot in the World Matchplay - led 2-1 early on before Lewis took the next six legs to establish a 7-2 cushion.

Murnan won the next four to reduce the gap to 7-6 as the number four seed wobbled, but Lewis regained his composure to take three of the next four to complete a hard-fought win.

"This was Joe's first time on TV and I thought he was fantastic - some of his finishing was immaculate," said Lewis.

"The first round games are always tough but especially when you're playing against a relative unknown, and Joe kept coming back at me.

"I was steady but I know that my form's good and I can build on this now. I've been putting in the hours of hard work and I feel like I'm building towards something special, and I think I'm in the form to win this tournament."

Two-time Blackpool semi-finalist Simon Whitlock was the night's other winner as he returned to top form with a 10-4 win over Jelle Klaasen.

The Dutch ace had won his first ranking title for over seven years in the build-up to the World Matchplay, but never recovered from seeing Whitlock take the opening five legs without reply, including key finishes of 70, 72 and 78.

Klaasen took out 108 as he hit back to 6-3 at one stage, only for Whitlock to produce legs of 14 and 13 darts as he pulled away again to claim the win and move into the last 16.

"I'm so happy to have won, especially against such a class player," said Whitlock. "Jelle has been playing some really good darts recently but I've been working really hard in the build-up to this event and it's great to be back winning.

"I know I've got better than this in the tank, but my finishing was good and my whole game was pretty consistent. I was very solid and all the practice I've done paid dividends today.

"This place has been fantastic for me in the last two years with reaching the semis and the quarter-finals and I've got some good memories here."

Sunday sees the first round continue across two sessions at the Winter Gardens, with 2007 World Matchplay champion James Wade, reigning World Champion and Premier League champion Gary Anderson and two-time Blackpool finalist Terry Jenkins all in action.

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BetVictor World Matchplay
Saturday July 18
First Round
Simon Whitlock 10-4 Jelle Klaasen
Peter Wright 10-5 Kim Huybrechts
Michael van Gerwen 10-4 Benito van de Pas
Adrian Lewis 10-7 Joe Murnan

Format
First Round - Best of 19 legs
* Each game must be won by two clear legs, with up to a maximum of five additional legs being played before the sixth "extra" leg is sudden-death. There will be no re-throw for the bull in this instance. For example, should a First Round game (best of 19 legs) reach 12-12, then the 25th leg would be the final and deciding leg.

MATCH INFORMATION
Simon Whitlock v Jelle Klaasen
1-0 - Klaasen misses tops to finish 108, and Whitlock lands double six to break throw immediately.
2-0 - The Dutchman posts the opening maximum, but Whitlock checks out 70 to double his lead.
3-0 - Whitlock finishes 72 on tops to claim another break of throw.
4-0 - Whitlock claims his fourth successive leg, landing a 180 before taking out 56 on tops.
5-0 - Whitlock's charge continues as he takes out 78 on double 12 to break throw for a third time and win his fifth leg.
5-1 - Klaasen lands tops to claim his opening leg of the game.
5-2 - Klaasen holds throw for the first time to win a second successive leg.
6-2 - Klaasen opens with a 180 but misses the bull to finish 85, allowing Whitlock to take out tops for a 14-darter.
6-3 - Klaasen takes out 108 on double 18 to claim his third leg in four.
7-3 - The Dutchman lands another 180, but can only watch on as Whitlock finishes tops for another 14-dart leg.
8-3 - Whitlock completes a 13-dart finish on tops to move two legs away from victory.
9-3 - Double eight sees the Australian edge towards a place in the second round.
9-4 - Whitlock misses the bull and two darts at double eight to claim victory, with Klaasen posting double two to stay in the game.
10-4 - Whitlock lands his third 180 of the game, and though he initially wires three darts at double six to complete the win, Klaasen's miss at tops for a 120 checkout allows the Australian back in to finally claim victory on double six.

Match Stats

Simon Whitlock	10-4	Jelle Klaasen
12	100+	20
14	140+	3
0	170+	0
3	180	3
98.45	Average	91.46
78	High Finish	108
4	Breaks of Throw	1
10/23 - 43%	Checkout %	4/10 - 40%

Peter Wright v Kim Huybrechts
1-0 - Both players miss the bull for ton-plus checkouts before Wright takes out double eight to win the opener.
2-0 - Double 12 sees Wright double his advantage.
3-0 - Huybrechts misses another bullseye, allowing Wright in to finish double 14 for a second break of throw.
4-0 - The Belgian misses the bull for a third time, and Wright finishes 75 on tops to win his fourth successive leg.
5-0 - Double 16 sees Wright claim his fifth straight leg, maintaining a 101.55 average during a superb start to the contest.
6-0 - Wright lands a 180 as he continues his charge.
6-1 - The pair trade 180s before Huybrechts steps in to punish Wright's two missed doubles by landing tops to get off the mark.
6-2 - Wright lands a 171 score, but the Belgian lands double 18 to pick up his second leg.
6-3 - Wright misses the bull, allowing Huybrechts in on tops for a third straight leg to halve the deficit.
7-3 - Wright restores breathing space with a brilliant 11-darter, landing two 180s in the leg before finishing 81.
7-4 - Both players initially miss one dart to win the leg before Huybrechts returns on double five to continue his revival.
8-4 - Wright edges back into a four-leg lead by finishing double 16 at the first time of asking.
8-5 - Wright misses the bull to finish 121, and Huybrechts capitalises with a 101 checkout.
9-5 - Wright finishes a brilliant 136 checkout to move a leg away from victory.
10-5 - Wright seals victory in stunning fashion with a sensational 161 bullseye finish.

Match Stats

Peter Wright	10-5	Kim Huybrechts
21	100+	30
16	140+	6
1	170+	0
4	180	1
108.13	Average	95.82
161	High Finish	101
4	Breaks of Throw	1
10/20 - 50%	Checkout %	5/12 - 42%

Michael van Gerwen v Benito van de Pas
1-0 - Double top sees van Gerwen take the game's opening leg.
2-0 - van Gerwen lands a 180 before finishing double eight to move two legs up.
2-1 - Debutant van de Pas lands a 180 and finishes 53 to get off the mark.
3-1 - van de Pas lands another 180 but misses three darts at doubles across two visits as van Gerwen returns on double five to restore his cushion.
4-1 - van Gerwen takes out a brilliant 116 finish on double 18 to move three legs clear.
5-1 - Double eight sees van Gerwen continue his fine start.
6-1 - van Gerwen takes out 71 on double eight.
7-1 - van Gerwen opens with a 177 before finishing double eight to claim the leg.
8-1 - The world number one kicks off the leg with a 180 and lands double 16 to win his sixth successive leg.
9-1 - van Gerwen completes a 13-darter in unconventional fashion, hitting a 180 to leave two before hitting double one to move just one leg away from the win.
9-2 - Double ten sees van de Pas claim his second leg of the game.
9-3 - van de Pas claims back-to-back legs by finishing 66 on double 18.
9-4 - van de Pas opens with a 180 before completing a 13-darter on double nine.
10-4 - van Gerwen ends his rival's fightback by taking out 100 to secure his place in the second round.

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen	10-4	Benito van de Pas
18	100+	12
9	140+	8
1	170+	0
3	180	3
99.19	Average	93.62
116	High Finish	66
6	Breaks of Throw	3
10/18 - 56%	Checkout %	4/10 - 40%

Adrian Lewis v Joe Murnan
0-1 - Murnan lands double 12 to win the opening leg on his World Matchplay debut.
1-1 - Lewis lands a 180 as he levels the game.
1-2 - Murnan moves back ahead by finishing double ten for an impressive 14-darter.
2-2 - Lewis htis a 180 before finishing 77 on double five to level.
3-2 - Lewis breaks throw by finishing 68.
4-2 - Lewis lands a 180 before taking out 50 to move two legs clear.
5-2 - The pair trade 180s as Lewis wins his fourth straight leg.
6-2 - Lewis' charge continues as the pair again swap maximums before the Stoke ace finishes double eight.
7-2 - Lewis kicks off the leg with a 177 before finishing 91 to move five legs clear.
7-3 - Lewis wires the bull to finish 170, and Murnan steps in to finish double 12 to claim his first leg in seven.
7-4 - Lewis lands a 180 but misses darts at double 18 and nine, allowing Murnan in to finish 86 on the bull.
7-5 - Murnan's fightback continues as he punishes four missed doubles from Lewis by hitting double five.
7-6 - Murnan wins his fourth successive leg to cut the gap to one, taking out 78 on tops.
8-6 - Lewis regains his range with a 13-darter, hitting a 180 and double 16 to halt his rival's fightback.
9-6 - Lewis finishes 79 on double 11 to move a leg away from victory.
9-7 - Lewis posts his eighth 180 of the game, but misses tops for the match as Murnan hits the same bed to keep his hopes alive with a 62 checkout
10-7 - Murnan misses the bull to continue his challenge, and Lewis fires in double top to seal his second round spot.

Match Stats