William Hill World Championship Day Three

TAYLOR SAFELY THROUGH BUT WHITLOCK AND WHITE SUFFER SHOCK EXITS

PHIL TAYLOR kicked off his William Hill World Darts Championship campaign with a comfortable victory on Saturday, while Ricky Evans and Dimitri Van den Bergh caused dramatic upsets at London's Alexandra Palace.

Legendary 16-time World Champion Taylor claimed a straight sets success against Japan's Keita Ono, who had seen off Alex Tagarao 2-0 in the preliminary round.

The world number three produced finishes of 167 and 121 as he moved into the second round, dropping just one leg in the process.

"It's all about surviving the first round," said Taylor, who had switched from his usual darts before the contest to a new design of barrel.

"I've only had these new darts for one day and I've been practising brilliantly with them but it was a different atmosphere when I got up there."

Taylor, who surrendered his last remaining major TV title to Michael van Gerwen in last month's Grand Slam of Darts final, added: "I'm sick of losing. I'm sick of Michael van Gerwen.

"It's like someone doing your job better than you. Everything I'm doing is about getting better. I want to improve and I want to win this."

Taylor will play Kevin Painter in round two after the 2004 World Championship finalist recorded a convincing victory against Kim Viljanen, who had earlier come from a set down to defeat Sven Groen in the preliminary round.

"It's all about getting through the first round," said Painter, who progressed in straight sets.

"I knew Kim was a tricky player after watching his first game and I'm grateful to get the win. The standard in the PDC now is so high that nobody is safe in the first round anymore so I'm glad to be through."

Evans, who won the last-chance PDPA Qualifier to secure a World Championship place, shocked world number ten Simon Whitlock with a sensational comeback win in the match of the tournament so far where the duo shared 17 180s.

Whitlock had looked to be strolling through to the last 32 when he led by two sets and two legs but, when the Australian missed two match darts, Evans launched an incredible fightback.

He won six straight legs to level the match at two sets apiece and the pair shared four legs in the decider to force a tie-break, which the 25-year-old eventually won with a fabulous 130 finish.

"I'm not sure how I won that," admitted the former PDC Unicorn World Youth Championship finalist.

"I can hardly speak. Simon battered me for the first two sets but as soon as I won that third set I played my proper game and I'm over the moon to win. This is for all the people that support me."

World Championship debutant Van den Bergh danced through to the second round with an impressive 3-1 win over number nine seed Ian White.

The 21-year-old Belgian prospect treated the crowd to his best moves during his walk-on before producing four finishes of over 100 to make his mark on the sport's biggest stage.

Despite losing the first set, the youngster hit back by taking the next three in an impressive display to set up a second round clash with Benito van de Pas or Max Hopp.

"I'm happy about my game but I know I can do better," said Van den Bergh, who only made his television debut at last month's World Series of Darts Finals.

Steve Beaton saw off the challenge of New Zealander Koha Kokiri with a classy straight sets victory, which he completed with a brilliant 164 checkout.

"I was delighted with that finish because I didn't want it to go to any more sets," said Beaton, who will take on Michael Smith or Jeffrey De Zwaan in the last 32.

"I'm pleased with how I played. I took a holiday before this, which I've never done before. I haven't been getting the results I should so I've tried something different. Now I can enjoy Christmas, practice and give it a good go in the next round."

Vincent van der Voort was Friday's other winner, defeating Laurence Ryder in three sets to set up a second round clash with Kyle Anderson.

"I'm pleased to be through," said the Dutchman, who reached the quarter-finals 12 months ago.

"We've seen a few shocks so I was determined to keep my concentration and get the job done. The first round is out of the way now and the real tournament starts after Christmas."

The first round continues on Sunday, when another double-session includes five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, 2012 runner-up Andy Hamilton and former Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting.

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William Hill World Darts Championship
Saturday December 19
Afternoon Session
Kim Viljanen 2-1 Sven Groen (P)
Steve Beaton 3-0 Koha Kokiri
Ian White 1-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh
Kevin Painter 3-0 Kim Viljanen

Evening Session
Keita Ono 2- 0 Alex Tagarao (P)
Simon Whitlock 2-3 Ricky Evans
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Laurence Ryder
Phil Taylor 3-0 Keita Ono

Preliminary Round - best of three sets
First Round - best of five sets

MATCH INFORMATION
AFTERNOON SESSION
Kim Viljanen 2-1 Sven Groen (P)
SET ONE: 2-3
Viljanen capitalised on missed doubles to break Groen's throw but the Dutch youngster hit back with a 62 checkout. He then pinned double ten to move in front but Viljanen took out 92 to level. Groen, though, produced a brilliant 110 finish to take the set.

SET TWO: 3-2
Finishes of 85 and 40 saw Viljanen race into a two-leg lead but Groen won the next two before the Finnish flinger took out 48 to force a deciding set.

SET THREE: 3-0
Viljanen fired in a 13-darter to break before pegging double ten to move within a leg of the first round. His second 180 then helped him seal the win, which he closed out with a 52 finish.

Match Stats

Steve Beaton 3-0 Koha Kokiri
SET ONE: 3-2
The first three legs all went against the throw to leave Beaton in danger of losing the set but his first 180 and an 85 finish saw him break again. He then pinned tops to go a set in front.

SET TWO: 3-1
Beaton took out a brilliant 121 finish on the bull but Kokiri scored 177 to leave 24, which he finished on double six to level. The New Zealand ace then fired in his first 180 but missed doubles allowed Beaton to edge ahead and he took double 16 to move within a set of victory.

SET THREE: 3-2
The pair exchanged 180s in the first leg, which Beaton won as the first four legs were shared. The 1996 Lakeside Champion then completed the win in spectacular style, taking out 164 to move into round two.

Match Stats

Ian White 1-3 Dimitri Van den Bergh
SET ONE: 3-2
White hit 180s in each of the first two legs, winning both before Van den Bergh hit back with brilliant checkouts of 122 and 107. The Belgian ace kicked off the deciding leg with 177 but missed four darts for the set, allowing White to land double five and snatch it.

SET TWO: 1-3
Van den Bergh took out 72 and then missed the bull when attempting a 170 finish but cleaned up the remaing 39 to double his lead. White pegged double eight but a second 180 from the 21-year-old saw him restore parity at two sets apiece.

SET THREE: 0-3
Van den Bergh fired in a 112 finish to break White's throe before holding and a fourth ton-plus finish, this time 103, sealed the set for the youngster.

SET FOUR: 2-3
Van den Bergh won the first two legs to move within one of victory but White won the following two before the Belgian youngster held his nerve and his throw to move into the second round

Match Stats

Kevin Painter 3-0 Kim Viljanen
SET ONE: 3-0
Painter broke his opponent's throw in the opener before 180s in each of the following two legs saw him take the first set speedily.

SET TWO: 3-1
Viljanen took out 76 to break but Painter replied in kind by executing an 87 finish in two darts. The 2004 finalist then pegged double 16 in each of the next two legs to double his lead in the match.

SET THREE: 3-1
A 180 helped Viljanen take the first leg once again but Painter responded with his fourth 180 and he landed double 16 to level before winning two more legs to seal a comfortable win.

Match Stats

EVENING SESSION
Keita Ono 2-0 Alex Tagarao (P)
SET ONE: 3-0
Ono took out 64 for an immediate break and then pinned double 18 to increase his lead after missing the bull for a 161 finish. The Japanese qualifier then checked out 50 on double 16 to take the first set comfortably.

SET TWO:  3-1
Tagarao hit scores of 180 and 177 before bedding double six to get a leg on the board but finishes of 57, 86 and 47 saw Ono complete an impressive victory.

Match Stats

Simon Whitlock 2-3 Ricky Evans
SET ONE: 3-1
Whitlock took the first two legs before Evans got off the mark by finishing 60. The Australian then hit two 180s and pegged double 16 to take the set but only after Evans had narrowly missed the bull for a 170 finish.

SET TWO: 3-2
Whitlock's third 180 couldn't prevent Evans breaking with a 72 checkout but the 2010 finalist landed double eight to break straight back. He then scored his fourth maximum as he edged ahead before Evans forced a deciding leg, in which Whitlock missed a dart at the bull for a 170 checkout and eventually took the set on double two.

SET THREE: 2-3
Whitlock finished 32 and a brilliant 121 to win the first two legs of the set but Evans' first 180 sparked a run of three straight legs to steal the set, with Whitlock missing two match darts.

SET FOUR: 0-3
Evans broke by pegging double four before the pair exchanged 180s in the following leg, which the former World Youth Championship finalist won on double ten. And, when Whitlock missed the bull for a 170 again, Evans capitalised and levelled the match.

SET FIVE: 4-6
The pair shared four legs to force a tie-break, where a margin of two clear legs was required for victory. Evans edged ahead twice before Whitlock fired in a 12-darter to level in a leg which included an eighth 180 for both players. Evans then took out 78 and fired in his fourth maximum to open the door to a dramatic victory, which he completed in style with a 130 finish.

Match Stats

Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Laurence Ryder
SET ONE: 3-1
Van der Voort hit 180s in each of the first two legs, winning both before Ryder pulled one back with a neat 86 checkout. van der Voort then pegged double four to take the set.

SET TWO: 3-0
Van der Voort pegged double four and double eight to take control of the set before his third 180 followed by a 68 finish saw him double his advantage.

SET THREE: 3-1
The Dutchman landed double 12 to break Ryder's throw and doubled his lead on tops. Ryder pulled a leg back but van der Voort finished the job by taking out 60.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor 3-0 Keita Ono
SET ONE: 3-1
Taylor broke Ono's throw in the opening leg and, when the Japanese qualifier missed four darts to break back, he sank double ten to pull two legs clear. Ono pinned double ten to get off the mark but Taylor took the set on double 16.

SET TWO: 3-0
Finishes of 52, 32 and 81 saw Taylor double his advantage.

SET THREE: 3-0
Taylor fired in the highest checkout of the tournament so far with a brilliant 167 finish. The world number three then scored his first 180 before pegging double nine and taking out 121 to complete a comfortable success.

Match Stats