BetVictor World Matchplay Day Two

CLINICAL ANDERSON SEES OFF BEATON IN BLACKPOOL

RUTHLESS Gary Anderson marched into the second round of the BetVictor World Matchplay with a 10-4 win over Steve Beaton on Sunday night, as James Wade, Brendan Dolan and Mensur Suljovic picked up Winter Gardens victories.

Anderson is aiming to add the prestigious World Matchplay title to the World Matchplay, Premier League and Players Championship Finals trophies he has scooped in the past 12 months, and began that challenge in style in Blackpool.

While Anderson's scoring was not at its explosive best, his finishing was clinical as he landed ten doubles from 21 attempts - punishing 20 misses from Beaton in the process.

The Scot broke throw in the opening leg and then took out 79 and 113 to move three legs up before Beaton got off the mark.

Anderson also took four more legs without reply as he took a 7-1 cushion, and though Beaton won three of the next five legs to stay in the contest, the number three seed fired in his third 180 of the game before sealing the win with a 118 checkout.

"I'm always pleased to get through the first round and I was shaking like a leaf throughout the game because Steve's been a bit of a bogey player for me and I know what he can do," said Anderson, who now meets Suljovic in round two.

"My finishing was alright by my scoring wasn't what I wanted it to be. I was a bit rusty but Steve missed a lot of doubles and I hit mine tonight so I'm happy with that.

"The three-ton plus finishes were important because I think he'd had shots at a double."

Austria's Suljovic, making his second Blackpool appearance, knocked out two-time World Matchplay finalist Terry Jenkins with a thrilling 11-9 victory in the first game of this year's event to head into a tie-break.

A see-saw game saw Suljovic finish 128 to level at two-all before Jenkins took out a brilliant 140 checkout to move 5-2 up - only for the gritty Austrian to take the next four and move ahead.

Double six saw Jenkins level at six-all and he landed two 180s in the next leg, only to fall at the doubling end of the leg as Suljovic regained the lead and took the next two for a 9-6 cushion.

The game took another turn as Suljovic missed the bull for victory in the next leg, with Jenkins hitting back with three in a row to level the game - but double two edged the qualifier 10-9 up and double 16 sealed victory.

"I'm very proud to win this game," said Suljovic. "Terry is a superb player but he wasn't at his best in this game and I played really well.

"This is my second time playing in Blackpool and to win past the first round is one of the greatest moments of my career, up with when I've won games at the World Championship.

"I'm standing in the stars at the moment - to get through to the second round is a bonus really but I will do my best again."

2007 World Matchplay champion James Wade edged out Australian debutant Kyle Anderson 10-7 in a thriller to begin his bid to reach a sixth Blackpool final.

A brilliant contest saw the pair locked together for 15 legs before a crucial break of throw for Wade helped him secure victory following a titanic struggle.

Australian ace Anderson had held throw in two of the opening four legs with finishes of 84 and an 11-darter, before breaking to lead 3-2.

He also led 4-3 following a 12-dart finish, and bettered Wade's 121 finish in the next with a 124 checkout to move 5-4 up.

Wade levelled before holding to move 6-5 up as the pair continued to trade legs, but the crucial moment came with the number six seed 8-7 up as Anderson missed four darts at doubles.

The left-hander stepped in on double five to break for a 9-7 lead before landing a key 180 in the next as he sealed a high-quality victory with an 11-darter, ending with a 103.59 average. despite nine 180s from the Australian ace.

"It was nerve-wracking for me so I'm a happy bunny to come out of the game as the winner," said Wade, who now meets Brendan Dolan in Wednesday's second round.

"I didn't realise that the standard of the game was as high as it was and the comforting thing for me is that I didn't think I played that well.

"I knew it would be a case of waiting for a miss from Kyle, and I did that but I'm so happy to have won. That game was a real nervy one for me and I was so nervous going into it because I knew it was a big game for me.

Northern Irish ace Dolan defied a near-nine-darter from Vincent van der Voort to take a 10-6 win over the Dutchman and move into the last 16.

Van der Voort opened the match in brilliant style with two 180s before wiring double 12 for an incredible nine-dart finish which would have raised the Winter Gardens roof.

The Dutchman went on to take that opening leg, but Dolan won the next four to take command and also led 6-2 before the Dutchman took three out of four to reduce the gap to 7-5.

The 13th leg, though, proved costly as he missed his chances to reduce the gap to one leg, allowing Dolan to restore his breathing space and pull away for the victory.

"I'm pleased to have got over the finishing line but there's a lot to improve on in my performance," said Dolan. "When you're playing one-on-one it's all about getting over the line and I did that.

"Vincent missed a few doubles and I cashed in, and I've got a chance now to get better in the second round and produce the goods.

"I'm knocking on the door of the top ten and I have to produce on TV what I produce in the floor tournaments."

Sunday's afternoon session had seen Ian White defeat Stephen Bunting in a high-scoring thriller, as Gerwyn Price, Jamie Lewis and Andrew Gilding also enjoyed first round wins at the Winter Gardens.

White emerged victorious with a 10-6 win over Bunting in a game which saw 17 maximum 180s hit and both players average over 100, although it was three ton-plus finishes for the number nine seed which proved crucial in the final outcome.

White's first big checkout came with a 127 finish in the game's second leg as he came from one down to take a 3-1 lead, and he also took out 118 before Bunting finished a pair of 11-darters in hitting back to 5-4.

Bunting then levelled in a dramatic tenth leg as White was punished for missing darts at doubles across three visits - only to see the tables turned in a crucial 11th leg as a pair of misses at double 16 from the St Helens ace allowed his rival to regain the lead.

White the took out an 11-darter and a 112 finish in moving 9-5 up, with Bunting hitting tops to reply before his rival sealed victory in the next by hitting the same bed to set up a second round meeting with Simon Whitlock.

White ended the game with an average of 103.51 and landed eight 180s, and admitted: "It ranks amongst by best performances on TV and it shows that my game's there, but I've got to be consistent and that's my aim now.

"You have to play well against Stephen and keep the pressure on him. I took some good ton-plus finishes out and you need to do that against a player of Stephen's quality."

Welsh debutant Price caused an upset with a big 10-4 win over former World Youth Champion Michael Smith, who never recovered from falling 5-0 down to the former rugby ace.

Price took out 106 and 120 to surge into the lead, with Smith checking out 121 and 108 as he pulled back to 6-3 in mid-game.

A miss at double 18 from Smith in the tenth leg allowed Price in on tops, and he then finished double six and double 16 to move 9-3 up, and though the St Helens youngster replied on tops in the next, a 14-darter saw the Welshman progress.

"It's the second best tournament of the year and I'm just happy to be in it, so to win a game means the world to me," said Price.

"I played in the World Championship where I scored quite well but missed my doubles and lost; today I didn't score as well but I hit my doubles and won so I prefer that.

"I took my chances and that got me through the game. I've got Adrian Lewis next but he we know what we're both capable of and if I can score and hit my doubles then I think can win the game."

Welsh youngster Jamie Lewis also enjoyed victory on the Winter Gardens stage as he defeated Justin Pipe 10-7 to bounce back from his first round exit in Blackpool two years ago.

Pipe started well with a 13-darter and a 71 finish, but Lewis hit back superbly to take the next five legs without reply to take a 5-2 lead.

Pipe took two of the next three to reduce the arrears, and after Lewis took out 128 to lead 7-4, the Taunton ace's revival continue as he pulled back to 8-6 with a 116 checkout.

Lewis, though, proved too strong as finishes of double top and double four saw him retain his advance to move through to a second round meeting with top seed Michael van Gerwen.

"I'm really chuffed," said Lewis. "It's the first game I've won on TV apart from a game at the UK Open a couple of years ago, it's a massive buzz for me and a good confidence boost.

"A lot of people have been bigging me up but I've never done it on TV and this is where I want to perform, so hopefully I can kick on from today.

"I got a bit edgy towards the end but thankfully I got myself there in the end. I've got Michael van Gerwen next and if I play like I can against him then we'll see what happens."

Suffolk's Gilding had suffered a whitewash defeat to Adrian Lewis 12 months ago, but overcame East Anglian rival Mervyn King 10-8 in a thriller to open the day's action.

King led 2-0 before Gilding finally claimed his first leg on the Winter Gardens stage - but another six followed as he established a 7-2 advantage.

King hit back strongly with three successive legs before Gilding took out 91 - only for the Norfolk thrower, a former Winter Gardens semi-finalist, to finish legs of 11 and 13 darts before levelling with a 90 checkout.

King, for the second tme in the game, set up a possible nine-darter with two 180s to open a crucial 17th leg, but two misses at tops allowed Gilding in to finish 105 to move 9-8 up before he landed six perfect darts of his own in the next before sealing victory on double ten.

"I keep finding myself in exciting games - it's no good for the heart but it's great to be a part of them," said Gilding, who now meets Peter Wright on Tuesday. "It was an amazing experience.

"After losing 10-0 last year, that first leg was hard to get on the board. I was really nervous trying to hit that first double, but once I did I settled down and held my cool.

"I've got over the nerves now of getting that first leg and getting my first win - I always do things one step at a time and I've achieved what I wanted to do, so we'll see what happens next."

The first round concludes on Monday night with the remaining four matches, including reigning champion Phil Taylor's clash with Scotland's John Henderson.

2010 runner-up Raymond van Barneveld faces two-time semi-finalist Andy Hamilton, while Premier League ace Dave Chisnall meets Jamie Caven and Scottish ace Robert Thornton plays World Youth Champion Keegan Brown.

The BetVictor World Matchplay will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland and worldwide through the PDC's series of broadcast partners, as well as through www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers.

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BetVictor World Matchplay
Sunday July 19
Afternoon Session
First Round
Mervyn King 8-10 Andrew Gilding
Ian White 10-6 Stephen Bunting
Justin Pipe 7-10 Jamie Lewis
Michael Smith 4-10 Gerwyn Price

Evening Session
First Round
Brendan Dolan 10-6 Vincent van der Voort
Terry Jenkins 9-11 Mensur Suljovic
Gary Anderson 10-4 Steve Beaton
James Wade 10-7 Kyle Anderson

MATCH INFORMATION
Mervyn King v Andrew Gilding
1-0 - King kicks off the match with a 180 and breaks throw immediately by hitting double eight for a 14-darter.
2-0 - King lands another maximum before doubling his lead on double ten, although Gilding misses double 15 to finish 90 in reply.
2-1 - Gilding takes out double ten to claim his first leg.
2-2 - A 60 finish on tops sees Gilding level the contest.
2-3 - Gilding takes out 48 on tops to move ahead in the game.
2-4 - Gilding kicks off the leg with a maximum before finishing double 18 to move two legs clear.
2-5 - The Bungay ace claims a fifth successive leg, taking out 64 on double eight.
2-6 - Double ten sees Gilding's charge continue as he moves four clear of King.
2-7 - Gilding wins his seventh leg in a row, landing double eight.
3-7 - King claims his first leg in eight, ending his opponent's run by landing double 16.
4-7 - King continues his revival by taking out 44.
5-7 - Double eight sees King cut the gap to two legs.
5-8 - Gilding finishes 91 to regain his cushion.
6-8 - Both players open with 180s before King adds another maximum to set up a possible nine-darter, and though he is unable to take out 141, he returns to land double 16 to complete an 11-darter.
7-8 - Gilding's miss at tops allows King in to break throw by hitting the same bed.
8-8 - King levels the contest by finishing 90 on double eight.
8-9 - King once again enjoys six perfect darts two two 180s, but after missing out again on a nine-darter then misses two darts at double top, as Gilding steps in to finish 105 on tops to snatch the leg and move ahead.
8-10 - Gilding this time sets up a possible nine-darter by opening with two 180s, and though he is unable to complete a perfect leg he recovers from two missed match darts by landing double ten to complete his first World Matchplay win.

Match Stats

Ian White v Stephen Bunting
0-1 - Bunting opens the game with a 180 before finishing double eight for a 14-darter.
1-1 - White levels by taking out 127 on the bull.
2-1 - White kicks off with a 180 before breaking throw on double four.
3-1 - White follows another 180 by taking out double 18.
3-2 - Bunting lands two 180s in the leg before hitting double six to claim his first leg in four.
4-2 - Bunting kicks off with another maximum, only to see White take the leg with a 118 checkout.
4-3 - The pair trade 180s in the leg - taking their averages above 111 each - before Bunting finishes double 16 for an 11-darter to hit back.
5-3 - White lands a 180 and hits double eight to edge away again.
5-4 - Bunting hits another 11-darter, which features two more 180s, as he cuts the gap once more.
5-5 - White posts his fifth maximum of the game but misses his chance to regain his lead as Bunting punishes him to level on double four.
6-5 - White fires in two 180s - setting up a possible nine-darter - before punishing two misses from Bunting at double 16 by hitting the same bed to finish an 11-darter/
7-5 - White lands another maximum and finishes 86 to move two legs clear.
8-5 - White hits tops to break throw and move three legs clear.
9-5 - White moves a leg away from victory with a 112 checkout.
9-6 - Bunting opens with his ninth 180 of the game before hitting tops to keep the game alive.
10-6 - White is first to a finish, and lands double top to complete victory, setting up a second round meeting with Simon Whitlock.

Match Stats

Justin Pipe v Jamie Lewis
1-0 - Pipe lands double ten to break throw immediately with a 13-dart finish.
2-0 - Lewis misses double 16, and Pipe finishes 71 to double his lead.
2-1 - Lewis hits back despite a 180, as double 18 gets the Welsh youngster off the mark.
2-2 - Lewis levels with a superb 13-darter, hitting double 18 once again.
2-3 - Pipe lands a 180 but pays for failing to wrap up the leg as Lewis posts tops to move ahead with a third successive leg.
2-4 - Lewis lands a 180 in an 11-darter to move two legs clear.
2-5 - Double 16 sees the youngster claim his fifth successive leg.
3-5 - Pipe claims his first leg in six by hitting double ten.
3-6 - Lewis finishes 77 on tops to move three legs clear again.
4-6 - Pipe responds with a 180 and double eight.
4-7 - Lewis finishes a superb 128 checkout on double ten to maintain his advantage.
5-7 - Tops sees Pipe hit back to trail by just two legs.
5-8 - Lewis opens with a 180 before finishing double ten to move two legs away from the win.
6-8 - Pipe takes out 116 on double 18 to respond in style.
6-9 - Lewis finishes tops to move to the brink of a memorable win.
7-9 - Lewis misses the bull to take victory, allowing Pipe back in on double ten to keep his hopes alive.
7-10 - Pipe kicks off the leg with two 180s to set up a possible nine-darter, but is unable to finish the perfect leg and then misses four darts at a double to allow Lewis in to seal victory on double four.

Match Stats

Michael Smith v Gerwyn Price
0-1 - Price makes a fine start to his World Matchplay debut, taking out 106 for a break of throw.
0-2 - Double 12 sees the Welshman move two legs up.
0-3 - Price takes out 32 for a second break of throw.
0-4 - Price's strong opening continues with a 120 checkout to claim a fourth successive leg.
0-5 - The newcomer wins his fifth leg, capitalising on a miss at tops from Smith by hitting double ten.
1-5 - Smith gets off the mark by landing double eight - his seventh dart at a double in the contest.
2-5 - Smith's revival continues as he takes out 121 on the bull.
2-6 - Smith misses a dart at tops, and Price capitalises by finishing 73 on double eight.
3-6 - Smith takes out 108 on tops to claim his third leg of the game.
3-7 - Smith misses double 18 for a 110 finish, and is punished once again as Price finishes 50 on tops.
3-8 - Price takes out 72 on double six to move two legs away from a debut victory.
3-9 - Price lands the game's first 180 before taking out double 16 to close in on the win.
4-9 - Smith now hits his first maximum of the contest, with double top seeing him keep his hopes alive.
4-10 - Price responds by opening with a 180 and is first to a finish, initially missing two match darts at tops before returning to seal victory with a 14-darter.

Match Stats

Brendan Dolan v Vincent van der Voort
0-1 - van der Voort makes a sensational start, missing double 12 for a nine-dart finish. He opens with two 180s and adds a seventh treble 20 and treble 19 before wiring the double 12 - but he returns to take the opening leg in 12 darts.
1-1 - Dolan finishes double 16 to level.
2-1 - Double 12 moves Dolan ahead.
3-1 - van der Voort lands a 180, but Dolan throws 177 to leave 24 before mopping up double three to move two legs up.
4-1 - Three misses at tops from the Dutchman are punished by double ten as Dolan wins a fourth straight leg.
4-2 - van der Voort replies by finishing 64 on double eight.
5-2 - Dolan opens with two maximums, and though he misses out on a nine-dart finish he eventually claims the leg.
6-2 - Dolan lands a 180 before finishing double eight to continue his charge.
6-3 - van der Voort hits back, landing a 180 before taking out 68 on double 16.
7-3 - Both players miss their chance to win the leg before Dolan eventually finds tops.
7-4 - The Dutchman takes out 32 to respond.
7-5 - Double ten sees van der Voort hit back to trail by just two legs.
8-5 - van der Voort lands a 174 score but is punished for a host of missed chances across four visits, as Dolan escapes on double two to restore a three-leg lead.
8-6 - van der Voort holds throw to hit back.
9-6 - Double eight moves Dolan to the brink of victory.
10-6 - Dolan seals victory by taking out 50 on double 16.

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins v Mensur Suljovic
0-1 - Double ten puts the Austrian ace ahead.
1-1 - Jenkins finishes 71 on tops to level.
2-1 - Jenkins, a two-time finalist, breaks throw to move ahead as he lands a 180 and tops.
2-2 - Suljovic lands a 180 and secures a break back with a 128 bullseye checkout.
3-2 - Jenkins finishes double two to edge back in front.
4-2 - Jenkins holds throw to open up a two-leg lead.
5-2 - Suljovic lands a 180 but can only watch on as Jenkins takes out a superb 140 finish on double ten.
5-3 - The Austrian ace finishes 57 on tops to reply with a break of throw.
5-4 - Double ten sees Suljovic move to within touching distance of his opponent.
5-5 - Suljovic returns from a miss at tops to land double ten to level the game.
5-6 - Suljovic takes out 56 on double six to move ahead for the first time since the opening leg.
6-6 - Jenkins punishes missed doubles from his opponent by landing double six in reply.
6-7 - Jenkins lands two 180s in the leg, but is made to pay for three missed doubles spread across two visits as Suljovic steps in on double eight.
6-8 - Suljovic takes out a key 70 on tops to put himself two legs clear.
6-9 - Double eight moves Suljovic to the brink of a memorable victory.
7-9 - Suljovic misses the bull for the game, and Jenkins lands double ten to stay in the contest.
8-9 - Jenkins hits his sixth 180 of the game before keeping alive his hopes with a superb 96 finish, hitting single 20, double 18 and tops.
9-9 - Jenkins takes out 81 on the bull to send the game into a tie-break - with either player needing to win by two clear legs up to 12-12, where there would be a sudden-death leg.
9-10 - Suljovic edges ahead in a dramatic leg, landing double two.
9-11 - The tension increases as both players miss chances, before Suljovic returns on 16 to claim a hard-fought win.

Match Stats

Gary Anderson v Steve Beaton
1-0 - Double ten sees Anderson claim the opening leg with a break of throw.
2-0 - The World Champion lands a 180 and finishes 79 on double 11 to move two legs up.
3-0 - Anderson posts his second maximum before finishing 113 on tops to take a three-leg cushion.
3-1 - Double five sees Beaton get off the mark with his opening leg.
4-1 - Beaton misses the bull and two further darts to win the leg, allowing Anderson in for a two-dart 75 checkout.
5-1 - Anderson finishes 11 on tops to pull four legs clear.
6-1 - Beaton wastes his chance to hit back to allow Anderson in on double 16 to steal the leg.
7-1 - Anderson finishes 80 on double ten to move three legs away from victory.
7-2 - Beaton lands his first 180 before taking out double eight to claim his first leg in five.
8-2 - Anderson takes out 83 on double nine to regain his cushion and close in on the win.
9-2 - Anderson lands double eight to move to the brink of victory.
9-3 - Beaton takes out tops to claim his third leg of the game and keep his hopes alive.
9-4 - Anderson is unable to capitalise on missed doubles from Beaton in two visits as the former Lakeside Champion posts double two to continue his challenge.
10-4 - Anderson pins his fourth 180 before taking out 118 to seal his place in the second round.

Match Stats

James Wade v Kyle Anderson
1-0 - Both players land 180s before Wade takes out 12 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Anderson levels by finishing 84 on double 12.
2-1 - Wade lands a 180 and double ten to edge back ahead.
2-2 - Anderson opens with a 180 and finishes an 11-darter on tops.
2-3 - Anderson breaks throw for the first time by finishing tops.
3-3 - Anderson lands another 180, but Wade hits double ten to break back.
3-4 - Anderson hits two maximums in a superb 12-darter to move back ahead.
4-4 - Wade again responds, this time with a fine 121 checkout.
4-5 - Anderson replies with a 124 bull finish to move back in front.
5-5 - Wade hits double six to secure another break of throw to level.
6-5 - Wade finishes double 18 for a 14-darter.
6-6 - For the second time in the game, Anderson lands two 180s in a leg before pinning double five to square the contest.
7-6 - Wade takes out 68 on double ten to regain the edge, as both players maintain averages above 100.
7-7 - Anderson lands a 180, and is given a let-off for a miss at tops when Wade is unable to finish double 15 for a 150 checkout, allowing the Australian back in on double ten.
8-7 - Wade lands a 162 score during the leg before hitting tops to move back in front.
9-7 - Anderson fires in his ninth 180, but pays the price for four missed doubles as Wade takes out double five to break throw and move to the brink of victory.
10-7 - Wade completes victory in style with a superb 11-dart leg, landing a 180 as he seals a high-quality win with a 103.59 average.

Match Stats