REPORTS from the fifth day of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The first phase of the tournament comes to a conclusion with the final eight first round matches across two sessions at Alexandra Palace.
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
First Round
Afternoon Session
Tony Ayres 3-2 Andy Smith
Paul Nicholson 3-0 Adrian Gray
Jan van der Rassel 3-2 Kirk Shepherd
Tony Eccles 3-2 Remco van Eijden
Evening Session
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Marko Kantele
Colin Osborne 3-0 Charles Losper
James Wade 3-0 Brendan Dolan
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Nandor Bezzeg
Reaction
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TONY AYRES 3-2 ANDY SMITH
(3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
TONY AYRES condemned Andy Smith to a second successive first round exit at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a final-leg victory.
Smith, who lost to Mensur Suljovic in last year's event, hit six maximums during the contest but saw the qualifier from Sussex take his chances to advance to the last 32.
Ayres, making his debut in the World Championship after coming through the PDPA Qualifiers in Telford, made a confident start to build up a 2-1 lead in the first set.
But he missed three darts for the set in the fourth leg, and Smith snatched it on double top.
In the deciding leg, though, Ayres made no mistake, managing to hold throw and take a 1-0 lead.
Smith levelled the match in the quick time, taking the second set without reply, which included a 13-darter and two maximums.
Ayres hit back at the start of the third, landing a maximum in the first leg and a 116 checkout in the second leg, before Smith took the next two to level the set.
The 26th seed landed his third 180 of the game in the deciding leg, but it was Ayres who regained the lead thanks to a timely 101 finish.
Smith hit a fantastic 155 checkout to lead 2-1 in the fourth set, but missed two darts for the set in the next and his opponent landed double ten to go a leg away from victory.
Smith missed a dart at double top in the fifth leg, but Ayres was unable to capitalise, missing double top by the finest of margins to win the match and allowed his opponent to hit the same double for the set.
Ayres held throw in the opening leg of the final set, after both players struggled to hit the winning double.
The qualifier then broke in next with the aid of his third maximum of the game, but Smith hit a showpiece 100 finish, which included two double tops, to keep the game alive.
Smith also needed 100 to win the fourth leg, but a missed double top allowed Ayres to step up and land double four to record a debut victory.
Match Stats
PAUL NICHOLSON 3-0 ADRIAN GRAY
(3-0, 3-0, 3-0)
PAUL NICHOLSON produced a fantastic performance to secure a whitewash victory over Adrian Gray in the first round of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The Australian - born in Newcastle but now based in Melbourne, hit 14 scores of 140 or more in nine legs of darts in an impressive Alexandra Palace debut and has now set up an eye-catching last 32 clash against Adrian Lewis next Tuesday.
Nicholson, who competed in last month's Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, broke his opponent's throw in the second leg on double top and he repeated the double in the next to wrap up the set.
The DPA number one was relentless, and hit a two-dart finish of 100 for an 11-darter in opening the second set.
That was bettered by a superb 142 checkout - hitting two treble 17s and double top - to double the lead and then double eight in the third leg to move 2-0 up in the game without Gray throwing at a double.
Nicholson hit two-dart finishes of 64 and 60 in the third set to go one leg away from the match before Gray missed his only double opportunity of the match in the next, which was duly punished by the Australian on double 16.
"I'm delighted with that and proud to have made a good start in the World Championship," said Nicholson.
"I've worked so hard to get here and am proud to be representing DartPlayers Australia, who have harnessed my talent and encouraged me over the past year.
"They are spreading darts across Australia, and although we're mainly in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland at the moment we are breaking into South Australia and the standard is increasing all the time.
"There's a lot of travelling and time away from home and my wife involved but it's all worth it to be here.
"Adrian Lewis hit a lot of 180s in defeating Russell Stewart - another Australian - but I'll see what I can do against him next week."
Match Stats
JAN VAN DER RASSEL 3-2 KIRK SHEPHERD
(3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 4-2)
KIRK SHEPHERD'S bid for glory at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship was ended in a final-set thriller against Jan van der Rassel.
Shepherd became the youngest finalist in the event's history last year when he battled through the field at Alexandra Palace.
But the former sheet metal worker from Ramsgate fell at the first hurdle this time as the Dutchman sneaked a five-set win.
Shepherd missed two darts at doubles to break throw at the start of the match, but led 2-1 with a confidence-boosting 106 checkout.
The Dutchman won the next two legs with finishes of 98 and 97 to take an early advantage with the first set.
Shepherd, who has struggled during 2008 to replicate the form that took him to last year's final, took a 1-0 lead in the second set with a 13-dart finish, and took the set 3-1 to level the game.
The Kent youngster hit his first maximum of the contest at the start of set three to go 1-0 up, but van der Rassel hit-back in 13 darts to level.
Shepherd went 2-1 up, but van der Rassel levelled once again, and held throw in the decider, hitting double ten to regain the lead.
Shepherd fought hard in the fourth set, and took three legs in a row to send the game into a decider, including a bullseye finish for a 126 checkout to take the set.
The opening three legs of the final set went with throw to leave the Dutchman a leg away from the match.
Shepherd missed double 14 for a 105 finish in the fourth, but van der Rassel was unable to convert any of the three darts he had for the match to let the youngster back in on double 14 to keep the match alive.
In the fifth leg, Shepherd missed double 18 for 106 finish and the Dutchman held throw to regain the lead before taking out 106 for the match.
After the match a disappointed Shepherd said. "I feel sick. I was confident that I was going to win today, as I have beaten Jan the two times we have met before.
"But with an average of 83 you are not going to win many matches, and I am gutted to lose. I will have to put in a lot more practice, watch the game again and see where I went wrong."
The Dutchman, who defeated Colin Lloyd and Denis Ovens on his way to the last 16 last year, will now play fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen in the last 32.
Match Stats
RONNIE BAXTER 3-1 MARKO KANTELE
(2-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-1)
RONNIE BAXTER came from a set down to end the hopes of Finland's Marko Kantele at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Baxter - who has reached four major finals without success in his career - was a leg away from falling two sets down to the newcomer before making a sterling recovery.
The Finnish player, who defeated Philippines number one Lourence Ilagan on Monday, started the match superbly with a 124 finish in the opening leg.
He fell 2-1 behind in the opening set, but levelled in the next leg when he hit a 164 checkout - equalling the best so far in the tournament.
Baxter missed three darts in the deciding leg to win the set, and Kantele stepped in to a convert a 56 finish for an early advantage.
Baxter went 2-0 up in the second set, which included a 14-dart finish, but another bullseye finish from Kantele - this time with a 122 checkout - gave him the third leg and a 14-darter levelled to take the Finn a leg away from a 2-0 lead.
Baxter managed to hold throw, hitting double two with his last dart to bring the game back level before stepping up a gear.
He rattled through set three to take the lead for the first time in the match, hitting a second maximum of the game in leg two and defying a 180 from Kantele in the third.
Baxter won the opener in set four with an 86 checkout before Kantele stopped the rot in the next winning his first leg in six.
However, the number 15 seed powered to victory, hitting a maximum in the third leg, and a 100 checkout which included two double tops to seal victory and a last 32 tie against fellow Englishman Denis Ovens.
"Marko started well and made the game hard for me," said Baxter. "I had to stick in there and pull something out of the bag, and I did that."
Match Stats
COLIN OSBORNE 3-0 CHARLES LOSPER
(3-0, 3-1, 3-2)
COLIN OSBORNE banished his Alexandra Palace blues with a 3-0 defeat of Charles Losper to kick off his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship challenge last night.
The 33-year-old was a first round loser in last year's World Championship on his debut at the London venue, but made amends against the South African qualifier this time.
He dropped just three legs in a comprehensive display to see off Losper, including the highest finish in the tournament yet with a 167.
Osborne won the game's opening set without reply, escaping after two missed darts from Losper at double top for the first leg before taking out a 121 finish for a 12-darter in the third.
Losper shared the first two legs of the second set before Osborne landed his brilliant 167 to lead and took out 110 for a two-set lead.
Losper hit impressive legs of 14 and 16 darts to go 2-0 up in the third, and was sat on 40 when Osborne took the third leg.
It proved a hammer blow, with Osborne taking out 96 to move a leg away from victory and sealing the win with a 13-darter.
"I'm very pleased because my preparation has been good," he said. "I've been practising well, building myself up and am ready for this event.
"Last year I had a bad experience, I was playing well going into it but missed doubles against Erwin and he took his chances - but I felt I lost the game.
"I wasn't going to make the same mistake again and I took every leg as it came - and the turkey will taste a lot nicer this Christmas!
"I believe I've got the game to trouble anybody and if I can produce it on stage then anything could happen."
Osborne has also recently given up smoking, and admitted: "It's six weeks and counting now, and I'm feeling a lot better.
"My concentration levels are higher and I'm more focused because when I'm practising I'm not going for breaks. So far it's working for me."
Match Stats
JAMES WADE 3-0 BRENDAN DOLAN
(3-2, 3-0, 3-1)
WORLD number three James Wade avoided a scare against Brendan Dolan before beginning his challenge in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a win on Tuesday night.
Wade has endured a torrid autumn since winning the UK Open and reaching the finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Matchplay in the summer - but avoided a first round exit at Alexandra Palace.
Northern Irish qualifier Dolan held the early advantage, but missed six darts for the first set before Wade escaped to take the lead.
He then won six of the next seven legs to power to a straight sets victory, which earns him a date with Tony Eccles in round two.
"Brendan started well but he gave me the first set if I'm honest," said Wade. "There was a lot of pressure on me and I'm glad to get through that but I didn't play as I should have done."
Dolan, who came through the PDPA Qualifiers in Telford earlier this month to win a place in the event, started the better of the two and built-up a 2-1 lead in the opening set.
But he preceeded to miss a total of six darts at doubles in the next two legs and Wade punished his opponent for those errors by landing a crucial 106 checkout to snatch a 1-0 lead.
After that first set scare, Wade stormed through the second, taking it without reply to double his advantage.
He hit double ten to win the first leg, and won the next with a 90 finish, despite the Northern Irishman registering his second maximum of the game.
And he duly wrapped up the set in the third, landing double ten for the second time in the set to move clear.
The world number three then opened up a 2-0 lead in the third set to go to within touching distance of victory.
Dolan stemmed the tide in third by hitting double 16 to end a run of seven straight legs from Wade, who replied with a 13-darter to ensure a second round clash with Eccles.
Eccles - a 3-2 winner against Remco van Eijden earlier on Tuesday - had knocked Wade out in round one of the World Grand Prix in October, but he added: "Lightning won't strike twice.
"I've been under par lately but I've been practising hard and am feeling good."
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 3-0 NANDOR BEZZEG
(3-2, 3-1, 3-0)
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT strolled to a comfortable first round victory over Hungary's Nandor Bezzeg in the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The Dutchman began the match with a confidence-boosting maximum, but missed numerous opportunities to win the opening leg, before misses from Bezzeg leg hit back in for the lead.
A 13-darter in the second leg helped settle van der Voort before Bezzeg, the first Hungarian to play in the World Championship, won the next with an impressive 96 finish.
Van der Voort had a dart at double top to win the set in the fourth leg, but a miss allowed Bezzeg in on double 16 to level matters.
However, van der Voort made no mistake in the deciding leg, holding throw with a two-dart 60 finish for a 1-0 lead.
Both players held their throws at the start of the second set, before a 14-darter against the throw put the Dutchman in front and a 106 finish gave him a 2-0 cushion.
Despite strong resistance from Bezzeg, van der Voort swept through the third set to seal victory, hitting a maximum in three successive legs before double four set up a second round clash with Colin Osborne.
"With us being the last first round game there was a lot of pressure but after the first set I settled down," said van der Voort.
"I wasn't brilliant but I did enough to get the win and I can look forward to Christmas back in Holland and coming back to play Colin."
Match Stats
The first phase of the tournament comes to a conclusion with the final eight first round matches across two sessions at Alexandra Palace.
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
First Round
Afternoon Session
Tony Ayres 3-2 Andy Smith
Paul Nicholson 3-0 Adrian Gray
Jan van der Rassel 3-2 Kirk Shepherd
Tony Eccles 3-2 Remco van Eijden
Evening Session
Ronnie Baxter 3-1 Marko Kantele
Colin Osborne 3-0 Charles Losper
James Wade 3-0 Brendan Dolan
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Nandor Bezzeg
Reaction
Audio interviews with selected players are available in PDCtv
Photo Gallery
Click here for a Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship Photo Gallery
Matchroom Bets Blog
A Matchroom Bets blog will be available from Alexandra Palace throughout the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Click here to visit MatchroomBets.com
TONY AYRES 3-2 ANDY SMITH
(3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
TONY AYRES condemned Andy Smith to a second successive first round exit at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a final-leg victory.
Smith, who lost to Mensur Suljovic in last year's event, hit six maximums during the contest but saw the qualifier from Sussex take his chances to advance to the last 32.
Ayres, making his debut in the World Championship after coming through the PDPA Qualifiers in Telford, made a confident start to build up a 2-1 lead in the first set.
But he missed three darts for the set in the fourth leg, and Smith snatched it on double top.
In the deciding leg, though, Ayres made no mistake, managing to hold throw and take a 1-0 lead.
Smith levelled the match in the quick time, taking the second set without reply, which included a 13-darter and two maximums.
Ayres hit back at the start of the third, landing a maximum in the first leg and a 116 checkout in the second leg, before Smith took the next two to level the set.
The 26th seed landed his third 180 of the game in the deciding leg, but it was Ayres who regained the lead thanks to a timely 101 finish.
Smith hit a fantastic 155 checkout to lead 2-1 in the fourth set, but missed two darts for the set in the next and his opponent landed double ten to go a leg away from victory.
Smith missed a dart at double top in the fifth leg, but Ayres was unable to capitalise, missing double top by the finest of margins to win the match and allowed his opponent to hit the same double for the set.
Ayres held throw in the opening leg of the final set, after both players struggled to hit the winning double.
The qualifier then broke in next with the aid of his third maximum of the game, but Smith hit a showpiece 100 finish, which included two double tops, to keep the game alive.
Smith also needed 100 to win the fourth leg, but a missed double top allowed Ayres to step up and land double four to record a debut victory.
Match Stats
|
Andy Smith |
2-3 |
Tony Ayres |
|
35 |
100+ |
30 |
|
8 |
140+ |
15 |
|
6 |
180 |
3 |
|
29.17 |
Ave1 |
28.71 |
|
87.51 |
Ave3 |
86.12 |
|
155 |
High Finish |
116,101 |
PAUL NICHOLSON 3-0 ADRIAN GRAY
(3-0, 3-0, 3-0)
PAUL NICHOLSON produced a fantastic performance to secure a whitewash victory over Adrian Gray in the first round of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The Australian - born in Newcastle but now based in Melbourne, hit 14 scores of 140 or more in nine legs of darts in an impressive Alexandra Palace debut and has now set up an eye-catching last 32 clash against Adrian Lewis next Tuesday.
Nicholson, who competed in last month's Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton, broke his opponent's throw in the second leg on double top and he repeated the double in the next to wrap up the set.
The DPA number one was relentless, and hit a two-dart finish of 100 for an 11-darter in opening the second set.
That was bettered by a superb 142 checkout - hitting two treble 17s and double top - to double the lead and then double eight in the third leg to move 2-0 up in the game without Gray throwing at a double.
Nicholson hit two-dart finishes of 64 and 60 in the third set to go one leg away from the match before Gray missed his only double opportunity of the match in the next, which was duly punished by the Australian on double 16.
"I'm delighted with that and proud to have made a good start in the World Championship," said Nicholson.
"I've worked so hard to get here and am proud to be representing DartPlayers Australia, who have harnessed my talent and encouraged me over the past year.
"They are spreading darts across Australia, and although we're mainly in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland at the moment we are breaking into South Australia and the standard is increasing all the time.
"There's a lot of travelling and time away from home and my wife involved but it's all worth it to be here.
"Adrian Lewis hit a lot of 180s in defeating Russell Stewart - another Australian - but I'll see what I can do against him next week."
Match Stats
|
Adrian Gray |
0-3 |
Paul Nicholson |
|
10 |
100+ |
13 |
|
6 |
140+ |
14 |
|
0 |
180 |
0 |
|
28.21 |
Ave1 |
32.21 |
|
84.63 |
Ave3 |
96.62 |
|
- |
High Finish |
142,100 |
JAN VAN DER RASSEL 3-2 KIRK SHEPHERD
(3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 4-2)
KIRK SHEPHERD'S bid for glory at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship was ended in a final-set thriller against Jan van der Rassel.
Shepherd became the youngest finalist in the event's history last year when he battled through the field at Alexandra Palace.
But the former sheet metal worker from Ramsgate fell at the first hurdle this time as the Dutchman sneaked a five-set win.
Shepherd missed two darts at doubles to break throw at the start of the match, but led 2-1 with a confidence-boosting 106 checkout.
The Dutchman won the next two legs with finishes of 98 and 97 to take an early advantage with the first set.
Shepherd, who has struggled during 2008 to replicate the form that took him to last year's final, took a 1-0 lead in the second set with a 13-dart finish, and took the set 3-1 to level the game.
The Kent youngster hit his first maximum of the contest at the start of set three to go 1-0 up, but van der Rassel hit-back in 13 darts to level.
Shepherd went 2-1 up, but van der Rassel levelled once again, and held throw in the decider, hitting double ten to regain the lead.
Shepherd fought hard in the fourth set, and took three legs in a row to send the game into a decider, including a bullseye finish for a 126 checkout to take the set.
The opening three legs of the final set went with throw to leave the Dutchman a leg away from the match.
Shepherd missed double 14 for a 105 finish in the fourth, but van der Rassel was unable to convert any of the three darts he had for the match to let the youngster back in on double 14 to keep the match alive.
In the fifth leg, Shepherd missed double 18 for 106 finish and the Dutchman held throw to regain the lead before taking out 106 for the match.
After the match a disappointed Shepherd said. "I feel sick. I was confident that I was going to win today, as I have beaten Jan the two times we have met before.
"But with an average of 83 you are not going to win many matches, and I am gutted to lose. I will have to put in a lot more practice, watch the game again and see where I went wrong."
The Dutchman, who defeated Colin Lloyd and Denis Ovens on his way to the last 16 last year, will now play fellow Dutchman Jelle Klaasen in the last 32.
Match Stats
|
Kirk Shepherd |
2-3 |
Jan van der Rassel |
|
25 |
100+ |
32 |
|
13 |
140+ |
8 |
|
2 |
180 |
3 |
|
27.75 |
Ave1 |
28.13 |
|
83.25 |
Ave3 |
84.40 |
|
126,106 |
High Finish |
106 |
TONY ECCLES 3-2 REMCO VAN EIJDEN
(3-0, 3-2, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1)
TONY ECCLES survived a spirited comeback from Remco van Eijden to advance to the last 32 of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Eccles, who has risen into the top 32 within two years of joining the PDC, was in complete control of the match after initially taking a two-set lead, only to have to win through a decider.
Eccles started the match with a fabulous 164 checkout in the opening leg, and went on take the first set without reply.
The Hartlepool man then hit a maximum at the start of the second set to win his fourth successive leg before van Eijden got off the mark with two of his own to lead.
But Eccles, who reached the last 16 in his debut at World Championship last year, won the next two legs to take the set and double his advantage.
The opening four legs of set three where shared before van Eijden won the decider thanks to an excellent 116 checkout.
Eccles lost his throw in the first leg of the fourth set, but won the next two to go to the brink of victory.
But van Eijden, who defeated Women's World Champion Anastasia Dobromyslova in the preliminary round on Sunday night, hit his third maximum of the match in the fourth leg and landed double six to keep his hopes alive.
In the deciding leg, Eccles missed five darts at doubles to take the match and the Dutchman hit double ten to complete the comeback and send the match into a fifth set.
Van Eijden hit a 91 finish to take the opening leg of the decider, but Eccles won the next two to go ahead, which included a 14-dart finish.
This time he made no mistake and closed out the match by converting a 51 checkout and will now play James Wade or Brendan Dolan in the next round.
"The 164 was a great start for me but I wish it had been that easy all the way through!" said Eccles. "I got nervous half-way through the game and Remco started to put me under pressure.
"He relaxed and started to play some good darts, and I'm relieved I got myself back together and won through.
"I saw the winning post too early but I won't play like that again."
Match Stats
|
Tony Eccles |
3-2 |
Remco van Eijden |
|
29 |
100+ |
22 |
|
14 |
140+ |
15 |
|
1 |
180 |
3 |
|
28.89 |
Ave1 |
28.53 |
|
86.67 |
Ave3 |
85.60 |
|
164 |
High Finish |
116 |
RONNIE BAXTER 3-1 MARKO KANTELE
(2-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-1)
RONNIE BAXTER came from a set down to end the hopes of Finland's Marko Kantele at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Baxter - who has reached four major finals without success in his career - was a leg away from falling two sets down to the newcomer before making a sterling recovery.
The Finnish player, who defeated Philippines number one Lourence Ilagan on Monday, started the match superbly with a 124 finish in the opening leg.
He fell 2-1 behind in the opening set, but levelled in the next leg when he hit a 164 checkout - equalling the best so far in the tournament.
Baxter missed three darts in the deciding leg to win the set, and Kantele stepped in to a convert a 56 finish for an early advantage.
Baxter went 2-0 up in the second set, which included a 14-dart finish, but another bullseye finish from Kantele - this time with a 122 checkout - gave him the third leg and a 14-darter levelled to take the Finn a leg away from a 2-0 lead.
Baxter managed to hold throw, hitting double two with his last dart to bring the game back level before stepping up a gear.
He rattled through set three to take the lead for the first time in the match, hitting a second maximum of the game in leg two and defying a 180 from Kantele in the third.
Baxter won the opener in set four with an 86 checkout before Kantele stopped the rot in the next winning his first leg in six.
However, the number 15 seed powered to victory, hitting a maximum in the third leg, and a 100 checkout which included two double tops to seal victory and a last 32 tie against fellow Englishman Denis Ovens.
"Marko started well and made the game hard for me," said Baxter. "I had to stick in there and pull something out of the bag, and I did that."
Match Stats
|
Ronnie Baxter |
3-1 |
Marko Kantele |
|
24 |
100+ |
20 |
|
9 |
140+ |
9 |
|
3 |
180 |
2 |
|
30.98 |
Ave1 |
27.95 |
|
92.93 |
Ave3 |
83.84 |
|
118,100 |
High Finish |
164,124,122 |
COLIN OSBORNE 3-0 CHARLES LOSPER
(3-0, 3-1, 3-2)
COLIN OSBORNE banished his Alexandra Palace blues with a 3-0 defeat of Charles Losper to kick off his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship challenge last night.
The 33-year-old was a first round loser in last year's World Championship on his debut at the London venue, but made amends against the South African qualifier this time.
He dropped just three legs in a comprehensive display to see off Losper, including the highest finish in the tournament yet with a 167.
Osborne won the game's opening set without reply, escaping after two missed darts from Losper at double top for the first leg before taking out a 121 finish for a 12-darter in the third.
Losper shared the first two legs of the second set before Osborne landed his brilliant 167 to lead and took out 110 for a two-set lead.
Losper hit impressive legs of 14 and 16 darts to go 2-0 up in the third, and was sat on 40 when Osborne took the third leg.
It proved a hammer blow, with Osborne taking out 96 to move a leg away from victory and sealing the win with a 13-darter.
"I'm very pleased because my preparation has been good," he said. "I've been practising well, building myself up and am ready for this event.
"Last year I had a bad experience, I was playing well going into it but missed doubles against Erwin and he took his chances - but I felt I lost the game.
"I wasn't going to make the same mistake again and I took every leg as it came - and the turkey will taste a lot nicer this Christmas!
"I believe I've got the game to trouble anybody and if I can produce it on stage then anything could happen."
Osborne has also recently given up smoking, and admitted: "It's six weeks and counting now, and I'm feeling a lot better.
"My concentration levels are higher and I'm more focused because when I'm practising I'm not going for breaks. So far it's working for me."
Match Stats
|
Colin Osborne |
3-0 |
Charles Losper |
|
17 |
100+ |
12 |
|
7 |
140+ |
7 |
|
4 |
180 |
2 |
|
31.60 |
Ave1 |
28.34 |
|
94.80 |
Ave3 |
85.03 |
|
167,121,110 |
High Finish |
50 |
JAMES WADE 3-0 BRENDAN DOLAN
(3-2, 3-0, 3-1)
WORLD number three James Wade avoided a scare against Brendan Dolan before beginning his challenge in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a win on Tuesday night.
Wade has endured a torrid autumn since winning the UK Open and reaching the finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic and World Matchplay in the summer - but avoided a first round exit at Alexandra Palace.
Northern Irish qualifier Dolan held the early advantage, but missed six darts for the first set before Wade escaped to take the lead.
He then won six of the next seven legs to power to a straight sets victory, which earns him a date with Tony Eccles in round two.
"Brendan started well but he gave me the first set if I'm honest," said Wade. "There was a lot of pressure on me and I'm glad to get through that but I didn't play as I should have done."
Dolan, who came through the PDPA Qualifiers in Telford earlier this month to win a place in the event, started the better of the two and built-up a 2-1 lead in the opening set.
But he preceeded to miss a total of six darts at doubles in the next two legs and Wade punished his opponent for those errors by landing a crucial 106 checkout to snatch a 1-0 lead.
After that first set scare, Wade stormed through the second, taking it without reply to double his advantage.
He hit double ten to win the first leg, and won the next with a 90 finish, despite the Northern Irishman registering his second maximum of the game.
And he duly wrapped up the set in the third, landing double ten for the second time in the set to move clear.
The world number three then opened up a 2-0 lead in the third set to go to within touching distance of victory.
Dolan stemmed the tide in third by hitting double 16 to end a run of seven straight legs from Wade, who replied with a 13-darter to ensure a second round clash with Eccles.
Eccles - a 3-2 winner against Remco van Eijden earlier on Tuesday - had knocked Wade out in round one of the World Grand Prix in October, but he added: "Lightning won't strike twice.
"I've been under par lately but I've been practising hard and am feeling good."
Dolan said: "Neither of us got going and if I'd won the first set it may have been a different story.
"I was chasing the game after that but it's been a great experience and I'll be better for it. I've enjoyed the year overall and am looking forward to 2009."
Match Stats
|
James Wade |
3-0 |
Brendan Dolan |
|
24 |
100+ |
16 |
|
5 |
140+ |
6 |
|
3 |
180 |
3 |
|
29.54 |
Ave1 |
28.54 |
|
88.63 |
Ave3 |
85.61 |
|
106,101 |
High Finish |
32 |
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 3-0 NANDOR BEZZEG
(3-2, 3-1, 3-0)
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT strolled to a comfortable first round victory over Hungary's Nandor Bezzeg in the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The Dutchman began the match with a confidence-boosting maximum, but missed numerous opportunities to win the opening leg, before misses from Bezzeg leg hit back in for the lead.
A 13-darter in the second leg helped settle van der Voort before Bezzeg, the first Hungarian to play in the World Championship, won the next with an impressive 96 finish.
Van der Voort had a dart at double top to win the set in the fourth leg, but a miss allowed Bezzeg in on double 16 to level matters.
However, van der Voort made no mistake in the deciding leg, holding throw with a two-dart 60 finish for a 1-0 lead.
Both players held their throws at the start of the second set, before a 14-darter against the throw put the Dutchman in front and a 106 finish gave him a 2-0 cushion.
Despite strong resistance from Bezzeg, van der Voort swept through the third set to seal victory, hitting a maximum in three successive legs before double four set up a second round clash with Colin Osborne.
"With us being the last first round game there was a lot of pressure but after the first set I settled down," said van der Voort.
"I wasn't brilliant but I did enough to get the win and I can look forward to Christmas back in Holland and coming back to play Colin."
Match Stats
|
Vincent van der Voort |
3-0 |
Nandor Bezzeg |
|
16 |
100+ |
10 |
|
9 |
140+ |
6 |
|
5 |
180 |
1 |
|
30.00 |
Ave1 |
26.97 |
|
90.00 |
Ave3 |
80.91 |
|
106 |
High Finish |
96 |