REPORTS, stats and results from Saturday's play at the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
The afternoon features the eight second round contests, before the quarter-finals are played in the evening session at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet.
You can also watch highlights & listen to live commentary online wherever you are with PDCtv - click here to sign up now
coral.co.uk Players Championship
Second Round
Robert Thornton 6-2 Alan Tabern
Dennis Priestley 6-5 John Part
Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Andy Smith
James Wade 6-5 Kevin Painter
Mervyn King 6-4 Wayne Mardle
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Wayne Jones
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor 6-3 Vincent van der Voort
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session
Robert Thornton 9-5 Dennis Priestley
James Wade 9-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Ronnie Baxter 9-5 Mervyn King
Phil Taylor 9-0 Colin Lloyd
Semi-Finals
Sunday (1pm)
James Wade v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Ronnie Baxter
SECOND ROUND
ROBERT THORNTON 6-2 ALAN TABERN
ROBERT THORNTON romped into the quarter-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship with a 6-2 victory over Alan Tabern.
The only exchanges proved to be a nip and tuck affair, but the Scot pulled clear from 2-2 to reel off four straight legs for the win.
Thornton snatched the opening leg against the darts with a confidence-boosting 103 checkout, with his opponent waiting on double 12.
Tabern, who impressed in defeating Adrian Lewis in the first round, managed to break back immediately to level but lost the third leg after he was unable to convert six darts at doubles and Thornton stepped in by landing double five with his last dart.
The St Helens man hit his second maximum of the game in the fourth leg and managed to level after Thornton missed two darts at double top to complete a 100 finish.
The Scotsman, who won the inaugural Australian Open Players Championship last August, broke his opponent's throw for a third time with a 74 finish to lead 3-2 at the interval.
Thornton then stepped up a gear after the break, landing his first maximum of the game in the process of taking the sixth leg, and then hit double top in the next to move into a 5-2 lead.
And the end was swift as Thornton won the eighth in 13 darts, hitting double 18 at the first time of asking to book a quarter-final berth.
Match Stats
DENNIS PRIESTLEY 6-5 JOHN PART
DENNIS PRIESTLEY produced another incredible comeback to battle from 5-0 down and edge out John Part in a decider to reach the coral.co.uk Players Championship quarter-finals.
After overhauling a 3-1 deficit to win 6-3 in the first round, he climbed an even greater mountain to see off the three-time World Champion.
Part made a superb start to power into a 5-0 lead as Priestley had a nightmare with his finishing, but was pegged back leg by leg as the Yorkshireman set up a quarter-final on Saturday night with Robert Thornton.
Part started in confident mood with a 13-darter to open the game and then doubled his lead after Priestley missed six darts at doubles in the second leg, having hit two maximums earlier in the leg.
The same fate fell upon Priestley again in the third leg as he missed six more darts at doubles and the Canadian hit a two-dart 60 finish to lead 3-0.
A 101 checkout in the fourth leg and double 16 in the fifth took Part into a 5-0 lead and the Canadian appeared to coasting to a straight-forward victory.
Priestley managed to win his first leg of the match in the sixth and then produced a superb 156 checkout to reduce the deficit to 5-2.
Part missed a dart at bullseye which would gave given him the match in the eighth, and Priestley hit a pressure 93 finish on the bull to keep the match alive.
Part missed two further darts for the match at double top in the next, and Priestley won that leg and then broke the Canadian's throw to take the match into a deciding leg.
Priestley had advantage of throw in the decider but Part had another shot for the match after hitting two treble 19s on 126, but was off-target with double six and the Yorkshireman stepped up to land double top and complete an unlikely victory.
Match Stats
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 6-0 ANDY SMITH
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a comprehensive performance to whitewash Andy Smith 6-0 in the second round of the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
Smith enjoyed an excellent victory over Colin Osborne in first round but never got into his stride as the five-time World Champion dominated throughout.
Van Barneveld held throw in the opening leg with a solid 15-dart finish, before breaking Smith to lead 2-0 after the Englishman wasted his chances to level.
Van Barneveld narrowly missed the bullseye for a 170 checkout in the third, but returned to the oche to hit double four and move 3-0 up.
Van Barneveld secured a second break of throw in the fourth leg, before converting a two-dart 96 finish to move one leg away from victory.
Smith had no answer, and the Dutchman wrapped up victory in the next by landing double top to move into the quarter-finals.
Match Stats
JAMES WADE 6-5 KEVIN PAINTER
JAMES WADE edged a final leg thriller to end Kevin Painter's hopes at the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
There was nothing to separate the duo in a tight contest which went all the way to the wire - with Painter missing the bullseye in the decider before Wade set up a quarter-final with Raymond van Barneveld.
Wade hit a maximum in the opening leg of the game, but it was Painter who took the lead on double top.
Wade soon levelled with a 15-dart finish, before Painter converted a two-dart 80 checkout to win the third leg in 14 darts.
Wade won the fourth but missed five opportunities to break Painter's throw in the next and the Daventry-based player managed to hold by landing double four with his third dart.
Wade squared the game in the sixth with a 14-darter, but Painter won the next leg to lead 4-3, before the world number two levelled again.
A 13-darter put Painter a leg away from the match, but double top from Wade ensured a deciding 11th leg.
Painter had the throw in the final leg, and despite a slow start was first to the double - only to miss the bull for a 121 finish before Wade pinned double four.
Match Stats
RONNIE BAXTER 6-4 WAYNE JONES
RONNIE BAXTER came from behind for a second time in two matches to reach the quarter-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship at the Circus Tavern with a 6-4 defeat of Wayne Jones.
Baxter was 3-1 down and again appeared in danger of going out of the tournament, but he produced an excellent performance during the second half of the game to set up a tie with Mervyn King.
Jones broke throw Baxter's throw at the start of the match with 68 finish, and soon doubled his lead by taking the second leg with the aid of a maximum.
Baxter, who came from 4-1 down to defeat Tony Eccles in the first round, reduced the deficit to 2-1 after landing double top, but Jones hit his second 180 in the process of restoring his two leg lead.
Baxter held throw in the fifth leg with a 104 finish, and repeated the same checkout in the next to break Jones' throw and level at three-all.
Baxter continued his winning run of legs by landing double 17 to go 4-3 up and lead for the first time in the match.
An 85 finish took Baxter one leg away from the match before Jones managed to stop the rot by landing double eight.
But a missed dart at double 16 in the next proved costly as Baxter stepped in to hit a 120 'Shanghai' finish to record victory.
Match Stats
COLIN LLOYD 6-2 ANDY HAMILTON
COLIN LLOYD marched into the quarter-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship with an impressive 6-2 defeat of Andy Hamilton.
Lloyd produced one his best televised performances for some time to reach the last eight, ending the match with an average of 100.51.
The local man started match well to take a 1-0 lead with a 14-dart finish before Hamilton held throw after Lloyd missed a dart at double top to break.
Both players held their throws in the next two legs before Lloyd hit his first maximum of the game, followed by a two-dart 64 finish to move 3-2 up.
Lloyd then broke his opponent's throw for the first time in the match with a 14-dart leg, and a 13-darter put the former world number one a leg away from victory.
Lloyd continued the momentum in the eighth leg with a second maximum of the game and then wrapped up victory with a 72 finish to record an excellent win.
Match Stats
PHIL TAYLOR 6-3 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
PHIL TAYLOR came through a high-quality encounter to defeat Vincent van der Voort 6-3 in the second round of the coral.co.uk Players Championship at the Circus Tavern.
Taylor powered past Michael van Gerwen in the first round produced another superb performance to end the match with an average of 108.63 against another Dutch challenger.
Both players started the match in incredible fashion, van der Voort taking the opening leg with a fantastic 161 checkout only for Taylor to reply in kind by hitting the same finish to level the match at 1-1 - potentially earning both a share of the £2,000 high checkout bonus.
The 14-time World Champion then broke throw in the third leg and then hit double 18 in the fourth to move into a 3-1 lead.
The Dutchman won the fifth leg by landing double eight for a 14-darter, but Taylor restored his two leg advantage by holding throw to lead 4-2.
Van der Voort hit two maximums in an 11-darter in taking the seventh, before Taylor landed double 16 to move one leg away from the match.
Van der Voort hit another maximum in the ninth leg but wasted five darts at doubles to win the leg and the Taylor stepped in to land double top and set up an exciting quarter-final tie against Colin Lloyd.
Match Stats
QUARTER-FINALS
ROBERT THORNTON 9-5 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
ROBERT THORNTON booked a semi-final spot at the coral.co.uk Players Championship with a 9-5 victory over Dennis Priestley.
Priestley came back from 5-0 down to defeat John Part in the second round earlier on Saturday, but was not able to produce the heroics this time around as the Scot advanced to his second televised PDC semi-final.
Thornton started the match well by holding throw to take a 1-0 lead, before Priestley took the second leg and then broke throw in the next by landing double four for a 2-1 cushion.
But the Yorkshireman was unable to maintain the advantage as Thornton immediately broke back by hitting double 16 to take the fourth leg.
The next four legs were held with throw to leave the contest finely poised at 4-4.
Thornton continued the sequence to lead 5-4 and then broke the deadlock by winning the tenth leg for a 6-4 lead after Priestley missed three darts at doubles.
Thornton hit the first maximum of the game in the 11th leg in the process of the moving into a 7-4 lead, but Priestley pulled a leg back by landing double 10 after the Scot had missed a chance to convert a 128 checkout.
Thornton won the next leg in 13 darts to move one away from victory, and then landed his second 180 of the game before making Priestley pay for five missed darts at double 18 to land the winning double and seal the win.
"I think it was a game too far," admitted Priestley. "I've no excuses, Robert played very well, didn't give me any chances and I didn't take them when I was given them."
Thornton said: "He's one of the hardest players to beat and I've never beaten Dennis before. But I was determined to end that and it's great to be in the semi-finals."
Match Stats
JAMES WADE 9-8 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
JAMES WADE edged out Raymond van Barneveld in a deciding leg battle to win a semi-final spot at the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
Wade has overtaken the Dutchman as world number two this year, and extended his psychological advantage in an intriguing contest.
Wade exploded out of the blocks, kicking off the match with back-to-back 180s before seeing a potential nine-darter go beginning, although he did take the first leg in 11.
Three missed doubles from the Dutchman were punished by double top as he doubled his lead and then went 3-0 up on double ten.
Wade then put himself in line for a £2,000 bonus with a sensational 167 checkout, the highest yet so far in the tournament, in going 4-0 up before van Barneveld got off the mark in the fifth.
The Dutchman's ploy of slowing down the keen left-hander worked as he took two further breaks of throw in a run of five successive legs as he took a 5-4 lead.
Wade hit back on double 12 to level and then went 7-5 up with a 106 checkout, finishing on double 13.
Van Barneveld hit the same bed to break back before defying a maximum from Wade to square the contest again.
Wade landed another 180 and double five in taking an 8-7 cushion, before an 11-darter from van Barneveld kept the game alive and ensured a decider.
Both players saw the high scoring which had littered most of the contest desert them as the tension rose, but it was Wade who took out double five to book his semi-final place against Robert Thornton.
"I think I got away with it!" said Wade. "I made the most of my chances and showed plenty of will to win.
"I'm having some close games but I'm winning and can look forward to the semis now."
Match Stats
RONNIE BAXTER 9-5 MERVYN KING
RONNIE BAXTER reached the semi-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship with an impressive performance to end Mervyn King's hopes of a first major PDC title with a 9-5 triumph.
Baxter, who came from behind to defeat Tony Eccles and Wayne Jones in the opening two rounds, put a together a string of five winning legs to from 5-4 down to come through in excellent style.
King took the first leg of the match and then broke throw with a 13-dart finish which included a 177 score.
Baxter broke back with a 14-darter but King immediately restored his two-leg advantage with the aid of a maximum to lead 3-1.
But Baxter stormed back to take the next three legs in a row, landing a 96 finish to level at three-all and then converting a fantastic 167 checkout to lead for the first time in the game - and also give himself a provisional share of the £2,000 high checkout prize.
King, who defeated Wayne Mardle in the second round, took the next two legs to regain the lead, but Baxter won the tenth leg to leave the match in the balance at 5-5.
Baxter broke throw in the 11th leg to lead for the second time in the match, despite King hitting his third maximum of the game.
Both players hit 180s in the next leg, but it was Baxter who landed the winning double to increase his lead to 7-5.
Baxter continued the winning streak in the 13th leg to go within touching distance of victory, and the Lancastrian wrapped up the win in the next leg by landing double top.
"I knuckled down when he came back at me and managed to get through," said Baxter. "It's an unreal game sometimes.
"After hitting the 167 I threw rubbish and I can't explain it. Sometimes I get wayward but I'm hitting my doubles at the right time."
Match Stats
PHIL TAYLOR 9-0 COLIN LLOYD
PHIL TAYLOR set-up a semi-final clash with Ronnie Baxter after defeating Colin Lloyd with a whitewash victory at the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
Taylor never reached top gear during the contest but the Essex ace was unable to produce the kind of form he showed in his victories over Jamie Caven and Andy Hamilton in his previous matches.
The 14-time World Champion won the opening leg with an 88 finish and then broke throw in 13 darts by landing double 12 after Lloyd had missed a dart at tops to level.
The man from Chelmsford missed double seven for a 134 checkout in the next and Taylor landed double two to increase his lead to 3-0.
Taylor converted finishes of 66 and 58 to move 5-0 up, and a 98 finish put the Stoke ace six legs clear.
A deflated Lloyd had no answers as Taylor won the next two to move a leg away from victory, which was secured with a 14-darter.
"I knew I had to get on top of Colin as quickly as I could and I had to be professional and do the job," said Taylor. "I'm not happy about doing that to him but he isn't performing the way he can do.
"His confidence is growing and he'll go back to the practice board. Sometimes when you get beaten it can make you a better player.
"I kept plodding on and did what I had to do to get the win. I'm determined to get this title and have two more hurdles to get over on Sunday."
Match Stats
Semi-Finals
Sunday (1pm)
James Wade v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Ronnie Baxter
The afternoon features the eight second round contests, before the quarter-finals are played in the evening session at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet.
You can also watch highlights & listen to live commentary online wherever you are with PDCtv - click here to sign up now
coral.co.uk Players Championship
Second Round
Robert Thornton 6-2 Alan Tabern
Dennis Priestley 6-5 John Part
Raymond van Barneveld 6-0 Andy Smith
James Wade 6-5 Kevin Painter
Mervyn King 6-4 Wayne Mardle
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Wayne Jones
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Andy Hamilton
Phil Taylor 6-3 Vincent van der Voort
Quarter-Finals
Evening Session
Robert Thornton 9-5 Dennis Priestley
James Wade 9-8 Raymond van Barneveld
Ronnie Baxter 9-5 Mervyn King
Phil Taylor 9-0 Colin Lloyd
Semi-Finals
Sunday (1pm)
James Wade v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Ronnie Baxter
SECOND ROUND
ROBERT THORNTON 6-2 ALAN TABERN
ROBERT THORNTON romped into the quarter-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship with a 6-2 victory over Alan Tabern.
The only exchanges proved to be a nip and tuck affair, but the Scot pulled clear from 2-2 to reel off four straight legs for the win.
Thornton snatched the opening leg against the darts with a confidence-boosting 103 checkout, with his opponent waiting on double 12.
Tabern, who impressed in defeating Adrian Lewis in the first round, managed to break back immediately to level but lost the third leg after he was unable to convert six darts at doubles and Thornton stepped in by landing double five with his last dart.
The St Helens man hit his second maximum of the game in the fourth leg and managed to level after Thornton missed two darts at double top to complete a 100 finish.
The Scotsman, who won the inaugural Australian Open Players Championship last August, broke his opponent's throw for a third time with a 74 finish to lead 3-2 at the interval.
Thornton then stepped up a gear after the break, landing his first maximum of the game in the process of taking the sixth leg, and then hit double top in the next to move into a 5-2 lead.
And the end was swift as Thornton won the eighth in 13 darts, hitting double 18 at the first time of asking to book a quarter-final berth.
Match Stats
|
Alan Tabern |
2-6 |
Robert Thornton |
|
11 |
100+ |
11 |
|
5 |
140+ |
5 |
|
3 |
180 |
2 |
|
32.40 |
Ave1 |
32.02 |
|
97.19 |
Ave3 |
96.05 |
|
32 |
High Finish |
103 |
DENNIS PRIESTLEY 6-5 JOHN PART
DENNIS PRIESTLEY produced another incredible comeback to battle from 5-0 down and edge out John Part in a decider to reach the coral.co.uk Players Championship quarter-finals.
After overhauling a 3-1 deficit to win 6-3 in the first round, he climbed an even greater mountain to see off the three-time World Champion.
Part made a superb start to power into a 5-0 lead as Priestley had a nightmare with his finishing, but was pegged back leg by leg as the Yorkshireman set up a quarter-final on Saturday night with Robert Thornton.
Part started in confident mood with a 13-darter to open the game and then doubled his lead after Priestley missed six darts at doubles in the second leg, having hit two maximums earlier in the leg.
The same fate fell upon Priestley again in the third leg as he missed six more darts at doubles and the Canadian hit a two-dart 60 finish to lead 3-0.
A 101 checkout in the fourth leg and double 16 in the fifth took Part into a 5-0 lead and the Canadian appeared to coasting to a straight-forward victory.
Priestley managed to win his first leg of the match in the sixth and then produced a superb 156 checkout to reduce the deficit to 5-2.
Part missed a dart at bullseye which would gave given him the match in the eighth, and Priestley hit a pressure 93 finish on the bull to keep the match alive.
Part missed two further darts for the match at double top in the next, and Priestley won that leg and then broke the Canadian's throw to take the match into a deciding leg.
Priestley had advantage of throw in the decider but Part had another shot for the match after hitting two treble 19s on 126, but was off-target with double six and the Yorkshireman stepped up to land double top and complete an unlikely victory.
Match Stats
|
Dennis Priestley |
6-5 |
John Part |
|
16 |
100+ |
17 |
|
8 |
140+ |
3 |
|
4 |
180 |
3 |
|
30.47 |
Ave1 |
31.01 |
|
91.42 |
Ave3 |
93.02 |
|
156 |
High Finish |
101 |
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 6-0 ANDY SMITH
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a comprehensive performance to whitewash Andy Smith 6-0 in the second round of the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
Smith enjoyed an excellent victory over Colin Osborne in first round but never got into his stride as the five-time World Champion dominated throughout.
Van Barneveld held throw in the opening leg with a solid 15-dart finish, before breaking Smith to lead 2-0 after the Englishman wasted his chances to level.
Van Barneveld narrowly missed the bullseye for a 170 checkout in the third, but returned to the oche to hit double four and move 3-0 up.
Van Barneveld secured a second break of throw in the fourth leg, before converting a two-dart 96 finish to move one leg away from victory.
Smith had no answer, and the Dutchman wrapped up victory in the next by landing double top to move into the quarter-finals.
Match Stats
|
Andy Smith |
0-6 |
Raymond van Barneveld |
|
9 |
100+ |
8 |
|
4 |
140+ |
9 |
|
1 |
180 |
0 |
|
29.69 |
Ave1 |
33.03 |
|
89.07 |
Ave3 |
99.10 |
|
- |
High Finish |
96 |
JAMES WADE 6-5 KEVIN PAINTER
JAMES WADE edged a final leg thriller to end Kevin Painter's hopes at the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
There was nothing to separate the duo in a tight contest which went all the way to the wire - with Painter missing the bullseye in the decider before Wade set up a quarter-final with Raymond van Barneveld.
Wade hit a maximum in the opening leg of the game, but it was Painter who took the lead on double top.
Wade soon levelled with a 15-dart finish, before Painter converted a two-dart 80 checkout to win the third leg in 14 darts.
Wade won the fourth but missed five opportunities to break Painter's throw in the next and the Daventry-based player managed to hold by landing double four with his third dart.
Wade squared the game in the sixth with a 14-darter, but Painter won the next leg to lead 4-3, before the world number two levelled again.
A 13-darter put Painter a leg away from the match, but double top from Wade ensured a deciding 11th leg.
Painter had the throw in the final leg, and despite a slow start was first to the double - only to miss the bull for a 121 finish before Wade pinned double four.
Match Stats
|
James Wade |
6-5 |
Kevin Painter |
|
12 |
100+ |
15 |
|
9 |
140+ |
6 |
|
3 |
180 |
2 |
|
31.00 |
Ave1 |
28.67 |
|
93.00 |
Ave3 |
86.00 |
|
76 |
High Finish |
80 |
MERVYN KING 6-4 WAYNE MARDLE
MERVYN KING reached the quarter-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship by ending the hopes of local favourite Wayne Mardle with a 6-4 triumph.
The world number six started the match well with a maximum in the process of taking a 1-0 lead, before Mardle hit an excellent 119 checkout - set up by a 177 - to level the game.
King won the third leg despite a maximum from Mardle, who squared matters by landing a pressure double two with his last dart.
King took a 3-2 lead before breaking Mardle's throw in the sixth leg with a clinical 68 finish.
But Mardle, who came back from behind to defeat Mark Walsh, immediately broke back by hitting double eight and then won the eighth leg with the aid of his third maximum of the game to level at four-all.
King went 5-4 up by converting a 76 finish and then broke his opponent's throw for a second time in the tenth leg, hitting double eight to win the match.
Match Stats
|
Mervyn King |
6-4 |
Wayne Mardle |
|
11 |
100+ |
15 |
|
10 |
140+ |
5 |
|
2 |
180 |
3 |
|
32.03 |
Ave1 |
31.97 |
|
96.08 |
Ave3 |
95.92 |
|
76 |
High Finish |
119 |
RONNIE BAXTER 6-4 WAYNE JONES
RONNIE BAXTER came from behind for a second time in two matches to reach the quarter-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship at the Circus Tavern with a 6-4 defeat of Wayne Jones.
Baxter was 3-1 down and again appeared in danger of going out of the tournament, but he produced an excellent performance during the second half of the game to set up a tie with Mervyn King.
Jones broke throw Baxter's throw at the start of the match with 68 finish, and soon doubled his lead by taking the second leg with the aid of a maximum.
Baxter, who came from 4-1 down to defeat Tony Eccles in the first round, reduced the deficit to 2-1 after landing double top, but Jones hit his second 180 in the process of restoring his two leg lead.
Baxter held throw in the fifth leg with a 104 finish, and repeated the same checkout in the next to break Jones' throw and level at three-all.
Baxter continued his winning run of legs by landing double 17 to go 4-3 up and lead for the first time in the match.
An 85 finish took Baxter one leg away from the match before Jones managed to stop the rot by landing double eight.
But a missed dart at double 16 in the next proved costly as Baxter stepped in to hit a 120 'Shanghai' finish to record victory.
Match Stats
|
Ronnie Baxter |
6-4 |
Wayne Jones |
|
13 |
100+ |
13 |
|
5 |
140+ |
8 |
|
1 |
180 |
3 |
|
30.77 |
Ave1 |
31.25 |
|
92.30 |
Ave3 |
93.75 |
|
120,104x2 |
High Finish |
68 |
COLIN LLOYD 6-2 ANDY HAMILTON
COLIN LLOYD marched into the quarter-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship with an impressive 6-2 defeat of Andy Hamilton.
Lloyd produced one his best televised performances for some time to reach the last eight, ending the match with an average of 100.51.
The local man started match well to take a 1-0 lead with a 14-dart finish before Hamilton held throw after Lloyd missed a dart at double top to break.
Both players held their throws in the next two legs before Lloyd hit his first maximum of the game, followed by a two-dart 64 finish to move 3-2 up.
Lloyd then broke his opponent's throw for the first time in the match with a 14-dart leg, and a 13-darter put the former world number one a leg away from victory.
Lloyd continued the momentum in the eighth leg with a second maximum of the game and then wrapped up victory with a 72 finish to record an excellent win.
Match Stats
|
Colin Lloyd |
6-2 |
Andy Hamilton |
|
10 |
100+ |
11 |
|
7 |
140+ |
6 |
|
3 |
180 |
0 |
|
33.50 |
Ave1 |
30.55 |
|
100.51 |
Ave3 |
91.65 |
|
72 |
High Finish |
24 |
PHIL TAYLOR 6-3 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
PHIL TAYLOR came through a high-quality encounter to defeat Vincent van der Voort 6-3 in the second round of the coral.co.uk Players Championship at the Circus Tavern.
Taylor powered past Michael van Gerwen in the first round produced another superb performance to end the match with an average of 108.63 against another Dutch challenger.
Both players started the match in incredible fashion, van der Voort taking the opening leg with a fantastic 161 checkout only for Taylor to reply in kind by hitting the same finish to level the match at 1-1 - potentially earning both a share of the £2,000 high checkout bonus.
The 14-time World Champion then broke throw in the third leg and then hit double 18 in the fourth to move into a 3-1 lead.
The Dutchman won the fifth leg by landing double eight for a 14-darter, but Taylor restored his two leg advantage by holding throw to lead 4-2.
Van der Voort hit two maximums in an 11-darter in taking the seventh, before Taylor landed double 16 to move one leg away from the match.
Van der Voort hit another maximum in the ninth leg but wasted five darts at doubles to win the leg and the Taylor stepped in to land double top and set up an exciting quarter-final tie against Colin Lloyd.
Match Stats
|
Phil Taylor |
6-3 |
Vincent van der Voort |
|
8 |
100+ |
6 |
|
14 |
140+ |
9 |
|
1 |
180 |
3 |
|
36.21 |
Ave1 |
32.70 |
|
108.63 |
Ave3 |
98.11 |
|
161 |
High Finish |
161 |
QUARTER-FINALS
ROBERT THORNTON 9-5 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
ROBERT THORNTON booked a semi-final spot at the coral.co.uk Players Championship with a 9-5 victory over Dennis Priestley.
Priestley came back from 5-0 down to defeat John Part in the second round earlier on Saturday, but was not able to produce the heroics this time around as the Scot advanced to his second televised PDC semi-final.
Thornton started the match well by holding throw to take a 1-0 lead, before Priestley took the second leg and then broke throw in the next by landing double four for a 2-1 cushion.
But the Yorkshireman was unable to maintain the advantage as Thornton immediately broke back by hitting double 16 to take the fourth leg.
The next four legs were held with throw to leave the contest finely poised at 4-4.
Thornton continued the sequence to lead 5-4 and then broke the deadlock by winning the tenth leg for a 6-4 lead after Priestley missed three darts at doubles.
Thornton hit the first maximum of the game in the 11th leg in the process of the moving into a 7-4 lead, but Priestley pulled a leg back by landing double 10 after the Scot had missed a chance to convert a 128 checkout.
Thornton won the next leg in 13 darts to move one away from victory, and then landed his second 180 of the game before making Priestley pay for five missed darts at double 18 to land the winning double and seal the win.
"I think it was a game too far," admitted Priestley. "I've no excuses, Robert played very well, didn't give me any chances and I didn't take them when I was given them."
Thornton said: "He's one of the hardest players to beat and I've never beaten Dennis before. But I was determined to end that and it's great to be in the semi-finals."
Match Stats
|
Dennis Priestley |
5-9 |
Robert Thornton |
|
25 |
100+ |
25 |
|
8 |
140+ |
9 |
|
0 |
180 |
2 |
|
30.23 |
Ave1 |
31.44 |
|
90.69 |
Ave3 |
94.33 |
|
96 |
High Finish |
60 |
JAMES WADE 9-8 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
JAMES WADE edged out Raymond van Barneveld in a deciding leg battle to win a semi-final spot at the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
Wade has overtaken the Dutchman as world number two this year, and extended his psychological advantage in an intriguing contest.
Wade exploded out of the blocks, kicking off the match with back-to-back 180s before seeing a potential nine-darter go beginning, although he did take the first leg in 11.
Three missed doubles from the Dutchman were punished by double top as he doubled his lead and then went 3-0 up on double ten.
Wade then put himself in line for a £2,000 bonus with a sensational 167 checkout, the highest yet so far in the tournament, in going 4-0 up before van Barneveld got off the mark in the fifth.
The Dutchman's ploy of slowing down the keen left-hander worked as he took two further breaks of throw in a run of five successive legs as he took a 5-4 lead.
Wade hit back on double 12 to level and then went 7-5 up with a 106 checkout, finishing on double 13.
Van Barneveld hit the same bed to break back before defying a maximum from Wade to square the contest again.
Wade landed another 180 and double five in taking an 8-7 cushion, before an 11-darter from van Barneveld kept the game alive and ensured a decider.
Both players saw the high scoring which had littered most of the contest desert them as the tension rose, but it was Wade who took out double five to book his semi-final place against Robert Thornton.
"I think I got away with it!" said Wade. "I made the most of my chances and showed plenty of will to win.
"I'm having some close games but I'm winning and can look forward to the semis now."
Match Stats
|
James Wade |
9-8 |
Raymond van Barneveld |
|
28 |
100+ |
22 |
|
13 |
140+ |
23 |
|
4 |
180 |
1 |
|
32.53 |
Ave1 |
33.36 |
|
97.58 |
Ave3 |
100.07 |
|
167,106 |
High Finish |
91 |
RONNIE BAXTER 9-5 MERVYN KING
RONNIE BAXTER reached the semi-finals of the coral.co.uk Players Championship with an impressive performance to end Mervyn King's hopes of a first major PDC title with a 9-5 triumph.
Baxter, who came from behind to defeat Tony Eccles and Wayne Jones in the opening two rounds, put a together a string of five winning legs to from 5-4 down to come through in excellent style.
King took the first leg of the match and then broke throw with a 13-dart finish which included a 177 score.
Baxter broke back with a 14-darter but King immediately restored his two-leg advantage with the aid of a maximum to lead 3-1.
But Baxter stormed back to take the next three legs in a row, landing a 96 finish to level at three-all and then converting a fantastic 167 checkout to lead for the first time in the game - and also give himself a provisional share of the £2,000 high checkout prize.
King, who defeated Wayne Mardle in the second round, took the next two legs to regain the lead, but Baxter won the tenth leg to leave the match in the balance at 5-5.
Baxter broke throw in the 11th leg to lead for the second time in the match, despite King hitting his third maximum of the game.
Both players hit 180s in the next leg, but it was Baxter who landed the winning double to increase his lead to 7-5.
Baxter continued the winning streak in the 13th leg to go within touching distance of victory, and the Lancastrian wrapped up the win in the next leg by landing double top.
"I knuckled down when he came back at me and managed to get through," said Baxter. "It's an unreal game sometimes.
"After hitting the 167 I threw rubbish and I can't explain it. Sometimes I get wayward but I'm hitting my doubles at the right time."
Match Stats
|
Ronnie Baxter |
9-5 |
Mervyn King |
|
15 |
100+ |
14 |
|
10 |
140+ |
13 |
|
1 |
180 |
4 |
|
31.62 |
Ave1 |
31.86 |
|
94.87 |
Ave3 |
95.59 |
|
167 |
High Finish |
90 |
PHIL TAYLOR 9-0 COLIN LLOYD
PHIL TAYLOR set-up a semi-final clash with Ronnie Baxter after defeating Colin Lloyd with a whitewash victory at the coral.co.uk Players Championship.
Taylor never reached top gear during the contest but the Essex ace was unable to produce the kind of form he showed in his victories over Jamie Caven and Andy Hamilton in his previous matches.
The 14-time World Champion won the opening leg with an 88 finish and then broke throw in 13 darts by landing double 12 after Lloyd had missed a dart at tops to level.
The man from Chelmsford missed double seven for a 134 checkout in the next and Taylor landed double two to increase his lead to 3-0.
Taylor converted finishes of 66 and 58 to move 5-0 up, and a 98 finish put the Stoke ace six legs clear.
A deflated Lloyd had no answers as Taylor won the next two to move a leg away from victory, which was secured with a 14-darter.
"I knew I had to get on top of Colin as quickly as I could and I had to be professional and do the job," said Taylor. "I'm not happy about doing that to him but he isn't performing the way he can do.
"His confidence is growing and he'll go back to the practice board. Sometimes when you get beaten it can make you a better player.
"I kept plodding on and did what I had to do to get the win. I'm determined to get this title and have two more hurdles to get over on Sunday."
Match Stats
|
Phil Taylor |
9-0 |
Colin Lloyd |
|
10 |
100+ |
9 |
|
8 |
140+ |
5 |
|
1 |
180 |
0 |
|
30.88 |
Ave1 |
27.94 |
|
92.65 |
Ave3 |
83.83 |
|
98 |
High Finish |
- |
Sunday (1pm)
James Wade v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Ronnie Baxter