UPDATES from the fourth round of the Blue Square UK Open at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton on Saturday afternoon.
First set of matches
MERVYN KING made a brilliant start to his Blue Square UK Open challenge with an 11-4 win over Chris Mason in the fourth round on Saturday afternoon.
King made his debut on the PDC stage with a commanding display, averaging 105 in taking an 8-2 lead before holding off Mason's comeback to move into the last 32.
King is appearing in his first major tournament since moving onto the PDC circuit in January, but felt no pressure against Mason - his practice partner in the build-up to the event.
"We've been practising together all week and I stayed at his house in Stoke, and I couldn't believe the draw," he said.
"Chris didn't play his natural game but I hit him hard from the word go and he didn't recover."
Adrian Lewis landed 11 180s in a superb clash with Barrie Bates, the 2006 UK Open runner-up, which saw the Stoke youngster take an 11-9 win.
Terry Jenkins and Kevin Painter both had to come from behind to defeat Punch Taverns qualifiers Andy Roberts and Nigel Birch, leaving Sam Rooney as the remaining amateur player in the last 32.
Rooney, from Hampshire, overcame Gary Welding 11-6 in the fourth round.
2004 UK Open finalist John Part ended the hopes of Ireland's Garrett Gray with an 11-7 win, with Adrian Gray overcoming Steve Beaton by the same scoreline.
Colin Monk was the other winner from the opening block of games on Saturday, winning 11-8 against Tony Randell.
Second set of matches
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN survived a superb fightback from Tony Eccles to move into the last 32 with an 11-8 win.
The teenage prodigy from Holland has now won four matches since entering the event on Thursday, and looked in impressive form by taking a 9-2 lead.
He extended that to 10-3 before Eccles - in his first appearance since moving onto the PDC circuit last week - found his range on the doubles to win five legs in a row.
Van Gerwen regathered himself to eventually get over the finishing line.
James Wade came from 3-0 down to win 11-5 against Roland Scholten, while Steve Hine romped to an 11-1 victory against Alan Tabern.
Andy Jenkins was knocked out by Manchester's Mark Holden, while Steve Smith edged out Alan Reynolds 11-8.
Andy Smith overcame Robbie Green 11-9, and Alan Green was an 11-7 winner against debutant Kevin McDine.
Third set of matches
PHIL TAYLOR'S challenge at the Blue Square UK Open opened with a comfortable 11-3 win over Peter Manley in Bolton.
Taylor moved 3-0 up early on before Manley got off the mark, and he moved 7-2 up to sit in command before sealing the win.
World number three Colin Lloyd won 11-4 against Dennis Smith, while Richie Burnett won the battle of ex-World Champions, defeating Jelle Klaasen 11-9.
Wayne Jones ended Garry Spedding's hopes, Dennis Priestley defeated Mick McGowan and Owen Caffrey was an 11-6 victor against Jason Clark.
Alex Roy's bid for a third successive quarter-final continued with an 11-5 against Lee Palfreyman and David Platt won 11-7 against Mark Lawrence.
Fourth set of matches
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD began the defence of his title in style with an 11-1 win over John MaGowan.
The Dutchman defeated MaGowan in the semi-finals 12 months ago, and dropped just one leg in an impressive display, taking the first four legs without reply and accelerating to the win.
A fightback from Wayne Mardle was not enough for him to see off Denis Ovens in their contest.
Ovens led 7-4 before Mardle hit back to within one leg, but he saw his opponent pull away to and 11-7 win.
Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan kept alive his hopes with an 11-6 win over Yorkshireman Darren Johnson, while Mark Dudbridge edged out Simon Whatley 11-8.
Colin Osborne survived Steve Maish's comeback which sent their game into a decider to move through with an 11-10 win.
US number one John Kuczynski fell in the last 64 with an 11-5 defeat to Vincent van der Voort, and Andy Hamilton was another big-name casualty after losing 11-7 to Darren Webster.
Wes Newton moved into the last 32 with an 11-8 defeat of Jimmy Mann.
Fourth Round
Board One
Chris Mason 4-11 Mervyn King
Tony Eccles 8-11 Michael van Gerwen
Peter Manley 3-11 Phil Taylor
John MaGowan 1-11 Raymond van Barneveld
Board Two
Barrie Bates 9-11 Adrian Lewis
Roland Scholten 5-11 James Wade
Dennis Smith 4-11 Colin Lloyd
Wayne Mardle 7-11 Denis Ovens
Board Three
Kevin Painter 11-6 Nigel Birch
Kevin McDine 7-11 Alan Green
Wayne Jones 11-4 Garry Spedding
Darren Johnson 6-11 Brendan Dolan
Board Four
John Part 11-7 Garrett Gray
Steve Hine 11-1 Alan Tabern
Richie Burnett 11-9 Jelle Klaasen
Colin Osborne 11-10 Steve Maish
Board Five
Terry Jenkins 11-8 Andy Roberts
Andy Smith 11-9 Robbie Green
Dennis Priestley 11-5 Mick McGowan
Mark Dudbridge 11-8 Simon Whatley
Board Six
Sam Rooney 11-6 Gary Welding
Wayne Atwood 7-11 Andy Callaby
Owen Caffrey 11-6 Jason Clark
Vincent van der Voort 11-5 John Kuczynski
Board Seven
Steve Beaton 7-11 Adrian Gray
Mark Holden 11-8 Andy Jenkins
Alex Roy 11-5 Lee Palfreyman
Andy Hamilton 7-11 Darren Webster
Board Eight
Colin Monk 11-8 Tony Randell
Steve Smith 11-8 Alan Reynolds
David Platt 11-7 Mark Lawrence
Wes Newton 11-8 Jimmy Mann
Blue Square UK Open
Fifth Round Draw
Board One
Michael van Gerwen v Colin Osborne
John Part v Raymond van Barneveld
Board Two
Phil Taylor v Wes Newton
Mark Dudbridge v Adrian Lewis
Board Three
Alex Roy v Vincent van der Voort
Brendan Dolan v Dennis Priestley
Board Four
David Platt v Terry Jenkins
Andy Smith v Colin Lloyd
Board Five
James Wade v Darren Webster
Richie Burnett v Sam Rooney
Board Six
Colin Monk v Owen Caffrey
Kevin Painter v Steve Smith
Board Seven
Mark Holden v Wayne Jones
Andy Callaby v Alan Green
Board Eight
Adrian Gray v Steve Hine
Mervyn King v Denis Ovens