ALAN TABERN 4-3 DENIS OVENS
(2-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2, 3-2, 2-3, 6-5)
ALAN TABERN won a sudden-death shootout with Denis Ovens to book his place in the last eight of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
In a thrilling clash to re-open the tournament, the duo enjoyed a ding-dong encounter which went all the way into seven sets - and also saw Ovens miss double 12 for a historic nine-darter.
Tabern only went in front by coming from 2-0 down to win the fifth set, before Ovens hit back to take the game into a decider.
Neither players could wrap up the win in set seven until, with the scores locked at five-all, Tabern took the sudden-death 11th leg to move into round three with a clinical two-dart 61 finish.
"I could have scripted that because I always seem to have close games with Denis," said Tabern. "I didn't enjoy it but it was a war of attrition.
"Denis had a chance to win it and I left it to fate. He missed and luckily enough when I needed a big shot I took it out."
Tabern started with a 106 finish in the second leg, and missed darts to take the first set before Ovens took out double top to take the lead.
Ovens landed a 98 finish to level the second set 1-1 before a 121 finish edged Tabern back in front and he then punished the number nine seed's misses to take the set and level matters.
Ovens began the third set in style, landing eight perfect darts before missing double 12 for a nine-darter which would have earned him a £15,000 bonus and the distinction of being the first player to achieve the feat in the PDC World Championship.
He went on to win the set 3-1 before Tabern edged the fourth set in a decider to level matters once more.
Ovens led 2-0 in the fifth set before missing double 13 for the set, allowing Tabern in to stay alive and then come back to take the set 3-2 and go in front for the first time.
The St Helens ace broke Ovens' throw in the opening leg of set six, but was pegged back as the world number nine took three of the next four to send the game into the final set.
A 101 finish to break Tabern's throw put Ovens 2-1 ahead, and he then missed two darts for the match before the qualifier battled back to lead 4-3.
Both held their throw to leave the scores locked at five-all, with Ovens winning the bull for the sudden-death leg only to see Tabern put in a maximum and two tons before taking out 61 with 25, double 18 for the match.
"Some of the best matches are the ones that are battles and go all the way," Tabern added. "A couple of times I had a chance to kill Denis off I went off in a leg with a poor score.
"I was a case of believing it was going to come right. I'm getting more used to the big stage now and who knows what will happen?
"My goal a month ago was to qualify and everything after that was just a bonus."
Ovens added: "It's heartbreaking. I played so well but couldn't get in front of him at the end.
"Alan's a great player and it was a fantastic match to play in."
Match Stats
|
Denis |
3-4 |
Alan |
|
58 |
100+ |
63 |
|
33 |
140+ |
29 |
|
6 |
180 |
5 |
|
30.64 |
Ave1 |
29.91 |
|
91.92 |
Ave3 |
89.73 |
|
120,101 |
High Finish |
121,106 |
ANDY HAMILTON 4-3 MARK DUDBRIDGE
(2-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 1-3, 3-1)
ANDY HAMILTON survived a comeback from Mark Dudbridge to edge a seven-set thriller at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Hamilton looked set for comfortable passage into the last 16 when he led 3-1 to punish sloppy finishing from Dudbridge.
But the 2005 runner-up showed all his class to hit back and level the match before Hamilton stepped up a gear to take the deciding set to move into the latter stages for the second time in three years.
The scene was set for a classic when both players opened the match with maximums - and they ended the game 30 legs later with 12 180s each.
Dudbridge took the first two legs, including a 161 finish, before only winning the first set 3-2 as Hamilton battled back.
The Stoke star landed a 13-darter in taking the second set without reply, and then hit three maximums in winning set three 3-2.
Dudbridge led 2-0 in the fourth set before a 108 finish kept Hamilton alive and he then punished misses from the Bristolian in the next two legs to take the set and a 3-1 lead.
Dudbridge hit seven perfect darts to begin the fifth set, and although he lost the opening leg the 33-year-old took the next three without reply to stay in the match.
He also came from a leg behind to win the sixth set and send the game into a decidr.
But missed doubles again came back to haunt him as he allowed Hamilton to take the first leg of the seventh set, before he took the second with double one.
Hamilton, though, found the extra gear to produce legs of 11 and 13 darts - and two final maximums - to book his place in the last 16.
"That's one of the hardest games I've ever played," said Hamilton. "I felt a few nerves, which is unlike me, but I loved it.
"Mark was on top of his game and he pushed me all the way but I was hoping he would miss his doubles so I could step in.
"He never game in but I managed to put together two good legs at the end and I'm really happy to have showed resilience."
Dudbridge's first round win over John Kuczynski ended a run of defeats in major tournaments, but he was in positive mood despite the loss to Hamilton.
"I'm shell-shocked," he admitted. "I thought I played well but I missed a lot of doubles and that caused me to have to fight all the way.
"I'm not disheartened, it's my best performance for a long time so I'm hopeful for the future. I'll take the positives from this because although I'm disappointed I'm happy to compete like that at the top level.
"If I'd finished like Andy did I could have run away with it but he was great. I've got to work on my doubles and if I'm going to be one of the top players in the world I have to work hard at it.
"But it's rare that anybody comes from a couple of sets down to win in this tournament and I'm proud of myself."
Match Stats
|
Mark |
3-4 |
Andy |
|
38 |
100+ |
33 |
|
23 |
140+ |
16 |
|
12 |
180 |
12 |
|
31.17 |
Ave1 |
31.76 |
|
93.52 |
Ave3 |
95.29 |
|
161, 120 |
High Finish |
108 |
PHIL TAYLOR 4-1 MICK McGOWAN
(1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2)
PHIL TAYLOR produced a darting master-class to defeat Mick McGowan 4-1 and continue his march towards the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship title.
Irish qualifier McGowan stunned the 13-time World Champion by winning the opening set with a 110 average.
But Taylor left the rising star applauding a superb showing by taking 12 of the next 17 legs, finishing on a 109 average with a 50 percent checkout ratio,
"It's one of the hardest games I've played," said Taylor afterwards.
"Mick's a cracking player with a great attitude to the game and if he'd been in the other half of the draw he would probably have reached the final on that showing.
"He came out in the first set and whacked me. I had no choice but to dig in because if I didn't he'd have carried on whacking me.
"I've probably won some finals easier than this game. He missed only a couple of chances and that's where I had to get in and hit him."
McGowan made a stunning start, taking the first leg in 14 darts before breaking Taylor with a superb 11-darter - including six perfect darts - to lead 2-0.
Taylor hit back to win leg three in 14 darts before a 12-darter from McGowan saw him take the opening set.
A stung Taylor began the third leg with a 125 finish, and he responded after McGowan levelled to take the set 3-1 and square the game.
Superb legs of 12 and ten darts put Taylor in command before he won set three by the same scoreline, and winning legs of 13, 11 and 13 darts saw him take also set four.
Taylor took out 98 for a brilliant 11-darter to begin the fifth set, and led 2-0 before McGowan pulled back an 11-darter of his own and then took out six perfect darts in the fourth leg.
Taylor, though, had the final say to wrap up the win in the deciding leg to progress to the last 16.
"I played pretty well," said McGowan, who averaged 102 and landed ten maximums in the game. "I said I had to pick up my game and I did that but Phil is pure quality.
"When he goes to work with you there's not a lot you can do about it. I missed a couple of shots but he has no mercy.
"I wanted to go out there and win the first set and see how it went - but it backfired and he murdered me for the next couple of sets!
"This is his office, where he does his best work and even trying to hold on to his shirt-tails is a hard job.
"God help the other guys now because he just doesn't grant you any chances."
Taylor will play Chris Mason in the third round on Thursday, and he added: "Chris has been superb.
"His first round display was brilliant and he beat John Part in the second round. It will be tough and he will have to play well again or he'll go out."
Match Stats
|
Phil |
4-1 |
Mick |
|
26 |
100+ |
19 |
|
21 |
140+ |
13 |
|
4 |
180 |
10 |
|
36.33 |
Ave1 |
33.94 |
|
109.00 |
Ave3 |
101.82 |
|
125 |
High Finish |
81 |
ALAN CAVES 2-4 DAVE ASKEW
(0-3, 1-3, 2-3, 3-0, 3-2, 2-3)
DAVE ASKEW held off Alan Caves' fightback to set up a third round clash with Alan Tabern at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Askew was forced to battle in his opening game with qualifier Martin Burchell last week, and produced another mixed performance to see off Caves.
Caves had defeated Wayne Mardle in round one, but was on course for a comfortable defeat when Askew roared into a three-set lead with some superb darts.
Askew included a maximum and a 14-darter in winning the first set without reply, and took the second 3-1 with legs of 12, 13 and 14 darts to leave Caves - who had a 157 finish - reeling.
He came from behind to win the third set in a decider, before Caves - who landed ten maximums in the match - took six of the next seven legs to pull back to within one set.
He also led 2-1 in the next before Askew regained his composure and took back-to-back legs to seal the win.
"I got there in the end but I fell asleep once again," said Askew.
"Alan played well but I made hard work of it. In the first round I was 2-0 up against Martin and he came back to 2-2.
"Thankfully I managed to keep it going and got there in the end. I know what it's like to be under pressure but tomorrow's another day."
Match Stats
|
Alan |
2-4 |
Dave |
|
26 |
100+ |
35 |
|
14 |
140+ |
14 |
|
10 |
180 |
2 |
|
29.35 |
Ave1 |
28.39 |
|
88.04 |
Ave3 |
85.16 |
|
157 |
High Finish |
76 |