REPORTS from day three of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The preliminary and first rounds continue at Alexandra Palace - including the eagerly-awaited debut of Anastasia Dobromyslova and five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld in action.
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
First Round (Preliminary Round games denoted by (P))
Afternoon Session
Mark Walsh 3-2 Jamie Caven
Charles Losper 6-4 Sudesh Fitzgerald (P)
Mark Dudbridge 3-2 Nick Fullwell
Wes Newton 3-1 Per Laursen
Denis Ovens 3-0 Steve Maish
Evening Session (7pm)
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Michael Barnard
Remco van Eijden 5-3 Anastasia Dobromyslova (P)
Wayne Mardle 3-0 David Fatum
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Mark Stephenson
Mensur Suljovic 3-2 Peter Manley
Reaction
Audio interviews with selected players are available in PDCtv
Photo Gallery
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Matchroom Bets Blog
A Matchroom Bets blog will be available from Alexandra Palace throughout the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
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MARK WALSH 3-2 JAMIE CAVEN
(3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 4-2)
MARK WALSH came out on top in a high quality first round encounter against Jamie Caven at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Both players were in excellent form and produced 13 maximums between them during a tight five-set contest, before Walsh prevailed.
Caven hit two 180s in the first set, but it Walsh who took command, winning the deciding leg on double six.
Caven, who reached the last 32 before going down to Wayne Mardle in last year's event, made a good start to the second set with a 74 finish.
Walsh replied with a fine 11-darter, before Caven regained the lead in 14 darts.
Walsh hit his third maximum of the game in taking the fourth leg, but Caven levelled with an 80 finish.
Walsh, who has risen back up to 21 in the Order of Merit after making a full recovery from 'dartitis' was on course for a nine-dart finish at the start of the third set - which would have been the first in the PDC's World Championship.
He landed back-to-back 180s, a seventh treble 20 and treble 19, but agonisingly for the Watford man his attempt at double twelve fell short, although he went on to take a 1-0 lead with double three for a somewhat meagre 11-darter.
Walsh followed that up with a 76 finish to break throw for the first time in match, although Caven immediately broke back and took the fourth leg with a 98 finish.
But Walsh hit another maximum in the deciding leg and followed that up a 120 checkout to lead once again.
Caven stormed back in the fourth set, taking the opening two legs, which included a 100 checkout, but then missed six darts to level the game and Walsh came back to take that leg and the fourth to keep the set going.
Caven missed four more darts for the set in the final leg, but eventually landed double five to take the match to the final set.
The final-set was tightly poised at 2-2 before Walsh made a decisive push.
He won took a 3-2 lead with an 89 finish, and then broke throw by hitting double top to end an entertaining match.
"For excitement, that was probably one of the best games I've played on TV," said Walsh. "Jamie's a superb player and I knew it would be a hard game - but didn't realise it would be that hard!
"I am very relieved to get through it and I'm really happy with my form.
"Two years ago I had to I had no confidence, my form was terrible and I couldn't release the dart. I was going to hang my darts up but luckily I had some good people around me to support me and get me through the bad patch."
Had he hit the nine-dart leg, Walsh would have earned a £20,000 bonus, but he added: "On the nine-darter, I was thinking about the £20,000! The double 12 attempt was nearer the treble!"
Match Stats
CHARLES LOSPER 6-4 SUDESH FITZGERALD
SOUTH AFRICAN Charles Losper overcame Sudesh Fitzgerald 6-4 to set up a last 64 clash with Colin Osborne on Tuesday.
Losper, making his second appearance at the World Championship, made a good start and built up a 3-1 lead.
But Fitzgerald, who hails from Guyana and won his place in this event via the Caribbean and South American Masters in November, pulled back by hitting a 64 finish to level at 3-3.
Losper led again with a 95 finish, but Fitzgerald levelled at 4-4, landing double 16 for a 64 finish.
But Losper put in a timely surge to win the match, hitting the first maximum in the ninth leg to lead 5-4 and then a 14 dart finish to seal victory.
"It felt very good to be back and even better to have won on that stage," said Losper, a first round loser to John Part last year.
"I'm proud to be here. I had a nice experience last year and I promised myself that I'd get back here, which I've done.
"It's up to me now and I'm looking forward to playing Colin Osborne. I've worked hard for so many years to get this far in darts and it's a privilege to be here playing amongst the legends."
Match Stats
MARK DUDBRIDGE 3-2 NICK FULWELL
(2-3, 3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 4-2)
MARK DUDBRIDGE came through a final-set thriller against Nick Fullwell in the first round of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The 20th seed fell one set down and had to go into extra time in the final set before setting up a last 32 clash against either Peter Manley or Mensur Suljovic.
Dudbridge built up a 2-1 lead at the start of the match but wasted nine darts at a double over the course of the next two legs and allowed Fulwell to gain an early lead.
The 2005 runner-up, put that disappointment behind him and led 2-0 in the second set, which included a 100 checkout in the first leg.
Fullwell took the third leg, which included the first maximum of the contest, but double four in the next saw Dudbridge square the game.
Dudbridge took the third set without reply to lead for the first time in match, landing maximums in the first and third leg before Fullwell led in the fourth.
Dudbridge levelled, but the qualifier from Stourbridge, making his World Championship debut, went ahead again by taking the third leg, and then hit a clinical two-dart 98 checkout to take the match into a deciding set.
The final set was finely poised at 2-2 before Dudbridge edged ahead and had two darts at double 16 for the match.
Those chances went begging but Fullwell was unable to capitalise on the opportunity and the Bristolian came back to hit the winning dart by landing double eight.
"The pressure was amazing," said Dudbridge. "I've come into the tournament with form and went up on stage feeling the most relaxed I have on television for two years.
"I thought everything would go in but it was like running uphill, such hard work.
"All credit to Nick, he pushed me all the way even though he probably feels he could have played better, but he hit some big scores at the right time.
"I was expected to win today and that affected my performance. It was difficult but I can look ahead to the second round now.
"I'm feeling good, I'll get back in the gym and on the practice board over Christmas and be ready for the next game."
Match Stats
WES NEWTON 3-1 PER LAURSEN
(2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
WES NEWTON banished his Alexandra Palace blues with a 3-1 victory over Per Laursen in the first round of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Newton suffered a first round exit to Jamie Caven on his Ally Pally debut last year, but bounced back in style to earn his place in the last 32.
The Fleetwood ace wasted a number of opportunities in the opening set, and the Dane held his throw in the deciding leg to take a 1-0 lead.
Newton started the second set well to lead 2-1, hitting a 12-darter in the first leg.
Laursen took out 62 for the fourth leg, but it was Newton who was stronger in the decider to level match at 1-1.
Laursen, making his third consecutive appearance in the World Championship, started the third with a 13-darter to take an early advantage.
But Newton hit back to level and followed that up with the first break of throw in the match, although missed darts in leg four almost cost him when Laursen was off-target on double top for a 150 finish.
Newton took the decider on double five to forge ahead for the first time in the match before Laursen then won the fourth set's opener.
The Englishman swiftly took the next two legs on double four before repeating the trick in the decider to seal his second round spot.
"It's a big relief to be through," admitted Newton. "I lost in the first round last year and haven't got a brilliant record in the World Championship so there was a lot of pressure.
"But I can relax now, enjoy Christmas and prepare for the second round. I'm fairly happy with how I played but I know I can improve.
"I shouldn't have lost the first set but I came back well."
Match Stats
DENIS OVENS 3-0 STEVE MAISH
(3-1, 3-2, 3-0)
DENIS OVENS strolled to a comfortable first round victory over Steve Maish at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Maish had knocked out two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley last year but was unable to repeat the feat this time around in a disappointing display.
Ovens started the match solidly by taking a 2-0 lead in the opening set, before Maish took the third leg, hitting double 16 at the sixth attempt.
But it was Ovens who took the next leg and the set for an early advantage.
Ovens edged ahead in the second set, which included a superb 177, before Maish levelled with a 101 finish, but Ovens led once again with a clinical 15-darter.
The Essex thrower hit his first maximum of the contest in taking the fourth leg and landed another in the decider, but the bullseye for the set and Ovens stepped in for a 2-0 lead.
Ovens was now in total command and landed checkouts of 80 and 120 in building up a 2-0 advantage to go one leg away from the match.
The Hertfordshire man missed five darts at doubles in the next, but Maish was unable to take the rare opportunity given to him and Ovens hit double nine to seal the win.
Match Stats
ANDY HAMILTON 3-0 MICHAEL BARNARD
(3-1, 3-1, 3-2)
ANDY HAMILTON made a superb start to his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship challenge with a straight sets defeat of qualifier Michael Barnard.
The world number seven produced the highest average of the tournament to date at 101.59 with some of his best darts this year.
Hamilton began the match with a 14-dart finish and followed that up with an 80 checkout to establish a 2-0 lead.
Romford postman Barnard opened his account by taking the third after Hamilton had missed a dart at double 16 for the set.
Despite maximums from both players in the next leg it was Hamilton to the double first, and he hit double 18 to seal the first set.
Barnard, who came through the PDPA Qualifiers to earn a World Championship debut, started well in the second set with a fine 114 checkout.
But it was Hamilton who powered through the next three legs, hitting consecutive 13-darters to lead 2-0.
Hamilton hit 180s in each of the opening two legs of set three to move one away from the match.
Despite a fifth maximum from Hamilton it was Barnard who won the third leg with a 96 checkout.
He then went on to win the fourth leg, but Hamilton landed double eight in the decider to wrap up the win, which has seen his odds for the tournament drop from 33/1 to 20/1 with sponsors Ladbrokes.com.
"There's more to come," said Hamilton. "I felt comfortable on stage and didn't think my average was as high.
"I played my own game but I made it easier than it could have been by doing that.
"I'm playing some good darts and in confident mood, and I'm really enjoying myself."
Match Stats
REMCO VAN EIJDEN 5-3 ANASTASIA DOBROMYSLOVA
ANASTASIA DOBROMSYLOVA'S Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship dream was ended by Remco van Eijden on Sunday night.
Russian star Dobromyslova, the reigning Women's World Champion, was making her debut in the PDC tournament's preliminary round - and pushed the Dutch qualifier all the way.
Dobromyslova won the opening leg against the darts on double 16, only for van Eijden to hit back to win three in a row to lead 3-1.
The Russian took out a 13-darter to begin her comeback and levelled on double top, but van Eijden held his nerve to seal victory after taking a 4-3 lead on double top.
Dobromyslova missed one dart at double ten to stay in the game, but a tricky double 17 saw van Eijden set up a first round date with Tony Eccles.
"I'm disappointed but I wasn't good enough on the day," said Dobromyslova. "I felt comfortable on stage but we were both nervous in the first few legs and I felt some pressure.
"But this is just the start for me and I'll be better for the experience. I'll be travelling to all the PDC tournaments next year and hopefully I will qualify again."
Van Eijden admitted: "I've played most of the best players in the game but that was the hardest match I've ever had.
"Everyone wanted to see me lose but I settled down after the first couple of legs and got the win.
"Anastasia is a World Champion and a very good player, and she can play better than this, but she was under pressure and did well."
Match Stats
WAYNE MARDLE 3-0 DAVID FATUM
(3-1, 3-0, 3-0)
WAYNE MARDLE produced a comprehensive performance to defeat David Fatum 3-0 in the first round of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The number eight seed only dropped one leg setting up a mouth-watering last 32 clash against Robert Thornton next week.
Fatum was punished for three missed doubles in the game's opening leg, and fell further behind when Mardle took leg two and then finished 106 for the set.
Mardle continued that form at the start of the second set with a 13-darter, but Fatum replied in kind to level matters.
Fatum, who defeated Shane O'Connor on Saturday night, landed the first maximum of the contest but fell 2-1 behind after missing two darts at double to give Mardle a break of throw.
Mardle, who reached the semi-finals last year before losing to Kirk Shepherd, took the fourth leg to win the set and take firm control in the match.
From then on Mardle coasted to victory. He took the second leg of set three with a 116 finish to go one leg away from the match and landed double 16 in the next for victory.
"I've been struggling for three or four months and I needed a game where I could get up there and play," said Mardle. "It's done me the world of good.
"David's a good player but gave me every chance to express myself and I don't need too many opportunities to do that!
"I'm glad I'm through. I wanted to go up there and do a job, and I've done that.
"Robert's a quality dart player but I've got a great record in the World Championship and I'll be ready for him."
Match Stats
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 3-0 MARK STEPHENSON
(3-0, 3-0, 3-2)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD made a superb start to his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship bid with a straight-sets victory over qualifier Mark Stephenson.
Barneveld produced one his strongest performances of the year to see off Stephenson in style, dropping just two legs and finishing with an average of 100.80 after switching back to the style of darts he used when he joined the PDC in 2006.
The five time World Champion came out firing, hitting legs of 13, 14 and 14 darts to wrap up the opening set in a blink of an eye.
The Dutchman did not let up on Stephenson, who was making his televised debut, beginning the second set with a 102 checkout, and then hitting two-dart finishes of 70 and 80 to double the lead.
Barneveld took his seventh straight leg before Stephenson hit a superb 126 finish to level the third set at one-all.
Barneveld hit double top to move a leg away from the match, but missed two darts at double 16 in the next for victory and Stephenson took the chance to land that same double.
Both players hit a maximum each in the deciding leg, but five missed match darts from van Barneveld gave Stephenson a chance.
However, the Englishman missed three of his own to win the third set and the number two seed hit double two to seal victory.
"I'm very pleased because there's a lot of pressure on your first game," said van Barneveld. "I've worked hard recently and gone back to my old darts.
"There was a voice inside me saying to go back to those darts, I hit a nine-darter with them against Peter Manley, and I did switch.
"It's harder because it's a different size flight but in practice I've been playing really well with them and feel confident.
"I missed a few doubles but am pleased with how I played."
Match Stats
The preliminary and first rounds continue at Alexandra Palace - including the eagerly-awaited debut of Anastasia Dobromyslova and five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld in action.
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
First Round (Preliminary Round games denoted by (P))
Afternoon Session
Mark Walsh 3-2 Jamie Caven
Charles Losper 6-4 Sudesh Fitzgerald (P)
Mark Dudbridge 3-2 Nick Fullwell
Wes Newton 3-1 Per Laursen
Denis Ovens 3-0 Steve Maish
Evening Session (7pm)
Andy Hamilton 3-0 Michael Barnard
Remco van Eijden 5-3 Anastasia Dobromyslova (P)
Wayne Mardle 3-0 David Fatum
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Mark Stephenson
Mensur Suljovic 3-2 Peter Manley
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
MARK WALSH 3-2 JAMIE CAVEN
(3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 4-2)
MARK WALSH came out on top in a high quality first round encounter against Jamie Caven at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Both players were in excellent form and produced 13 maximums between them during a tight five-set contest, before Walsh prevailed.
Caven hit two 180s in the first set, but it Walsh who took command, winning the deciding leg on double six.
Caven, who reached the last 32 before going down to Wayne Mardle in last year's event, made a good start to the second set with a 74 finish.
Walsh replied with a fine 11-darter, before Caven regained the lead in 14 darts.
Walsh hit his third maximum of the game in taking the fourth leg, but Caven levelled with an 80 finish.
Walsh, who has risen back up to 21 in the Order of Merit after making a full recovery from 'dartitis' was on course for a nine-dart finish at the start of the third set - which would have been the first in the PDC's World Championship.
He landed back-to-back 180s, a seventh treble 20 and treble 19, but agonisingly for the Watford man his attempt at double twelve fell short, although he went on to take a 1-0 lead with double three for a somewhat meagre 11-darter.
Walsh followed that up with a 76 finish to break throw for the first time in match, although Caven immediately broke back and took the fourth leg with a 98 finish.
But Walsh hit another maximum in the deciding leg and followed that up a 120 checkout to lead once again.
Caven stormed back in the fourth set, taking the opening two legs, which included a 100 checkout, but then missed six darts to level the game and Walsh came back to take that leg and the fourth to keep the set going.
Caven missed four more darts for the set in the final leg, but eventually landed double five to take the match to the final set.
The final-set was tightly poised at 2-2 before Walsh made a decisive push.
He won took a 3-2 lead with an 89 finish, and then broke throw by hitting double top to end an entertaining match.
"For excitement, that was probably one of the best games I've played on TV," said Walsh. "Jamie's a superb player and I knew it would be a hard game - but didn't realise it would be that hard!
"I am very relieved to get through it and I'm really happy with my form.
"Two years ago I had to I had no confidence, my form was terrible and I couldn't release the dart. I was going to hang my darts up but luckily I had some good people around me to support me and get me through the bad patch."
Had he hit the nine-dart leg, Walsh would have earned a £20,000 bonus, but he added: "On the nine-darter, I was thinking about the £20,000! The double 12 attempt was nearer the treble!"
Match Stats
|
Mark Walsh |
3-2 |
Jamie Caven |
|
32 |
100+ |
31 |
|
16 |
140+ |
16 |
|
8 |
180 |
5 |
|
30.45 |
Ave1 |
30.45 |
|
91.34 |
Ave3 |
91.36 |
|
120,106 |
High Finish |
100 |
CHARLES LOSPER 6-4 SUDESH FITZGERALD
SOUTH AFRICAN Charles Losper overcame Sudesh Fitzgerald 6-4 to set up a last 64 clash with Colin Osborne on Tuesday.
Losper, making his second appearance at the World Championship, made a good start and built up a 3-1 lead.
But Fitzgerald, who hails from Guyana and won his place in this event via the Caribbean and South American Masters in November, pulled back by hitting a 64 finish to level at 3-3.
Losper led again with a 95 finish, but Fitzgerald levelled at 4-4, landing double 16 for a 64 finish.
But Losper put in a timely surge to win the match, hitting the first maximum in the ninth leg to lead 5-4 and then a 14 dart finish to seal victory.
"It felt very good to be back and even better to have won on that stage," said Losper, a first round loser to John Part last year.
"I'm proud to be here. I had a nice experience last year and I promised myself that I'd get back here, which I've done.
"It's up to me now and I'm looking forward to playing Colin Osborne. I've worked hard for so many years to get this far in darts and it's a privilege to be here playing amongst the legends."
Match Stats
|
Charles Losper |
6-4 |
Sudesh Fitzgerald |
|
17 |
100+ |
13 |
|
6 |
140+ |
4 |
|
1 |
180 |
0 |
|
29.00 |
Ave1 |
25.96 |
|
87.00 |
Ave3 |
77.89 |
|
95 |
High Finish |
64x2 |
MARK DUDBRIDGE 3-2 NICK FULWELL
(2-3, 3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 4-2)
MARK DUDBRIDGE came through a final-set thriller against Nick Fullwell in the first round of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The 20th seed fell one set down and had to go into extra time in the final set before setting up a last 32 clash against either Peter Manley or Mensur Suljovic.
Dudbridge built up a 2-1 lead at the start of the match but wasted nine darts at a double over the course of the next two legs and allowed Fulwell to gain an early lead.
The 2005 runner-up, put that disappointment behind him and led 2-0 in the second set, which included a 100 checkout in the first leg.
Fullwell took the third leg, which included the first maximum of the contest, but double four in the next saw Dudbridge square the game.
Dudbridge took the third set without reply to lead for the first time in match, landing maximums in the first and third leg before Fullwell led in the fourth.
Dudbridge levelled, but the qualifier from Stourbridge, making his World Championship debut, went ahead again by taking the third leg, and then hit a clinical two-dart 98 checkout to take the match into a deciding set.
The final set was finely poised at 2-2 before Dudbridge edged ahead and had two darts at double 16 for the match.
Those chances went begging but Fullwell was unable to capitalise on the opportunity and the Bristolian came back to hit the winning dart by landing double eight.
"The pressure was amazing," said Dudbridge. "I've come into the tournament with form and went up on stage feeling the most relaxed I have on television for two years.
"I thought everything would go in but it was like running uphill, such hard work.
"All credit to Nick, he pushed me all the way even though he probably feels he could have played better, but he hit some big scores at the right time.
"I was expected to win today and that affected my performance. It was difficult but I can look ahead to the second round now.
"I'm feeling good, I'll get back in the gym and on the practice board over Christmas and be ready for the next game."
Match Stats
|
Mark Dudbridge |
3-2 |
Nick Fullwell |
|
29 |
100+ |
24 |
|
17 |
140+ |
11 |
|
3 |
180 |
3 |
|
28.43 |
Ave1 |
26.58 |
|
85.29 |
Ave3 |
79.73 |
|
100 |
High Finish |
98 |
WES NEWTON 3-1 PER LAURSEN
(2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
WES NEWTON banished his Alexandra Palace blues with a 3-1 victory over Per Laursen in the first round of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Newton suffered a first round exit to Jamie Caven on his Ally Pally debut last year, but bounced back in style to earn his place in the last 32.
The Fleetwood ace wasted a number of opportunities in the opening set, and the Dane held his throw in the deciding leg to take a 1-0 lead.
Newton started the second set well to lead 2-1, hitting a 12-darter in the first leg.
Laursen took out 62 for the fourth leg, but it was Newton who was stronger in the decider to level match at 1-1.
Laursen, making his third consecutive appearance in the World Championship, started the third with a 13-darter to take an early advantage.
But Newton hit back to level and followed that up with the first break of throw in the match, although missed darts in leg four almost cost him when Laursen was off-target on double top for a 150 finish.
Newton took the decider on double five to forge ahead for the first time in the match before Laursen then won the fourth set's opener.
The Englishman swiftly took the next two legs on double four before repeating the trick in the decider to seal his second round spot.
"It's a big relief to be through," admitted Newton. "I lost in the first round last year and haven't got a brilliant record in the World Championship so there was a lot of pressure.
"But I can relax now, enjoy Christmas and prepare for the second round. I'm fairly happy with how I played but I know I can improve.
"I shouldn't have lost the first set but I came back well."
Match Stats
|
Wes Newton |
3-1 |
Per Laursen |
|
28 |
100+ |
38 |
|
10 |
140+ |
10 |
|
4 |
180 |
0 |
|
28.70 |
Ave1 |
27.89 |
|
86.11 |
Ave3 |
83.68 |
|
56 |
High Finish |
76 |
DENIS OVENS 3-0 STEVE MAISH
(3-1, 3-2, 3-0)
DENIS OVENS strolled to a comfortable first round victory over Steve Maish at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Maish had knocked out two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley last year but was unable to repeat the feat this time around in a disappointing display.
Ovens started the match solidly by taking a 2-0 lead in the opening set, before Maish took the third leg, hitting double 16 at the sixth attempt.
But it was Ovens who took the next leg and the set for an early advantage.
Ovens edged ahead in the second set, which included a superb 177, before Maish levelled with a 101 finish, but Ovens led once again with a clinical 15-darter.
The Essex thrower hit his first maximum of the contest in taking the fourth leg and landed another in the decider, but the bullseye for the set and Ovens stepped in for a 2-0 lead.
Ovens was now in total command and landed checkouts of 80 and 120 in building up a 2-0 advantage to go one leg away from the match.
The Hertfordshire man missed five darts at doubles in the next, but Maish was unable to take the rare opportunity given to him and Ovens hit double nine to seal the win.
Match Stats
|
Denis Ovens |
3-0 |
Steve Maish |
|
20 |
100+ |
18 |
|
6 |
140+ |
4 |
|
2 |
180 |
2 |
|
28.84 |
Ave1 |
27.20 |
|
86.52 |
Ave3 |
81.60 |
|
120 |
High Finish |
101 |
ANDY HAMILTON 3-0 MICHAEL BARNARD
(3-1, 3-1, 3-2)
ANDY HAMILTON made a superb start to his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship challenge with a straight sets defeat of qualifier Michael Barnard.
The world number seven produced the highest average of the tournament to date at 101.59 with some of his best darts this year.
Hamilton began the match with a 14-dart finish and followed that up with an 80 checkout to establish a 2-0 lead.
Romford postman Barnard opened his account by taking the third after Hamilton had missed a dart at double 16 for the set.
Despite maximums from both players in the next leg it was Hamilton to the double first, and he hit double 18 to seal the first set.
Barnard, who came through the PDPA Qualifiers to earn a World Championship debut, started well in the second set with a fine 114 checkout.
But it was Hamilton who powered through the next three legs, hitting consecutive 13-darters to lead 2-0.
Hamilton hit 180s in each of the opening two legs of set three to move one away from the match.
Despite a fifth maximum from Hamilton it was Barnard who won the third leg with a 96 checkout.
He then went on to win the fourth leg, but Hamilton landed double eight in the decider to wrap up the win, which has seen his odds for the tournament drop from 33/1 to 20/1 with sponsors Ladbrokes.com.
"There's more to come," said Hamilton. "I felt comfortable on stage and didn't think my average was as high.
"I played my own game but I made it easier than it could have been by doing that.
"I'm playing some good darts and in confident mood, and I'm really enjoying myself."
Match Stats
|
Andy Hamilton |
3-0 |
Michael Barnard |
|
11 |
100+ |
23 |
|
11 |
140+ |
5 |
|
5 |
180 |
1 |
|
33.86 |
Ave1 |
31.22 |
|
101.59 |
Ave3 |
93.65 |
|
80 |
High Finish |
114 |
REMCO VAN EIJDEN 5-3 ANASTASIA DOBROMYSLOVA
ANASTASIA DOBROMSYLOVA'S Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship dream was ended by Remco van Eijden on Sunday night.
Russian star Dobromyslova, the reigning Women's World Champion, was making her debut in the PDC tournament's preliminary round - and pushed the Dutch qualifier all the way.
Dobromyslova won the opening leg against the darts on double 16, only for van Eijden to hit back to win three in a row to lead 3-1.
The Russian took out a 13-darter to begin her comeback and levelled on double top, but van Eijden held his nerve to seal victory after taking a 4-3 lead on double top.
Dobromyslova missed one dart at double ten to stay in the game, but a tricky double 17 saw van Eijden set up a first round date with Tony Eccles.
"I'm disappointed but I wasn't good enough on the day," said Dobromyslova. "I felt comfortable on stage but we were both nervous in the first few legs and I felt some pressure.
"But this is just the start for me and I'll be better for the experience. I'll be travelling to all the PDC tournaments next year and hopefully I will qualify again."
Van Eijden admitted: "I've played most of the best players in the game but that was the hardest match I've ever had.
"Everyone wanted to see me lose but I settled down after the first couple of legs and got the win.
"Anastasia is a World Champion and a very good player, and she can play better than this, but she was under pressure and did well."
Match Stats
|
Remco van Eijden |
5-3 |
Anastasia Dobromyslova |
|
9 |
100+ |
17 |
|
3 |
140+ |
1 |
|
1 |
180 |
1 |
|
27.49 |
Ave1 |
26.82 |
|
82.46 |
Ave3 |
80.46 |
|
84 |
High Finish |
60 |
WAYNE MARDLE 3-0 DAVID FATUM
(3-1, 3-0, 3-0)
WAYNE MARDLE produced a comprehensive performance to defeat David Fatum 3-0 in the first round of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The number eight seed only dropped one leg setting up a mouth-watering last 32 clash against Robert Thornton next week.
Fatum was punished for three missed doubles in the game's opening leg, and fell further behind when Mardle took leg two and then finished 106 for the set.
Mardle continued that form at the start of the second set with a 13-darter, but Fatum replied in kind to level matters.
Fatum, who defeated Shane O'Connor on Saturday night, landed the first maximum of the contest but fell 2-1 behind after missing two darts at double to give Mardle a break of throw.
Mardle, who reached the semi-finals last year before losing to Kirk Shepherd, took the fourth leg to win the set and take firm control in the match.
From then on Mardle coasted to victory. He took the second leg of set three with a 116 finish to go one leg away from the match and landed double 16 in the next for victory.
"I've been struggling for three or four months and I needed a game where I could get up there and play," said Mardle. "It's done me the world of good.
"David's a good player but gave me every chance to express myself and I don't need too many opportunities to do that!
"I'm glad I'm through. I wanted to go up there and do a job, and I've done that.
"Robert's a quality dart player but I've got a great record in the World Championship and I'll be ready for him."
Match Stats
|
Wayne Mardle |
3-0 |
David Fatum |
|
15 |
100+ |
14 |
|
6 |
140+ |
3 |
|
1 |
180 |
2 |
|
28.92 |
Ave1 |
27.26 |
|
86.77 |
Ave3 |
81.77 |
|
116,106 |
High Finish |
16 |
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 3-0 MARK STEPHENSON
(3-0, 3-0, 3-2)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD made a superb start to his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship bid with a straight-sets victory over qualifier Mark Stephenson.
Barneveld produced one his strongest performances of the year to see off Stephenson in style, dropping just two legs and finishing with an average of 100.80 after switching back to the style of darts he used when he joined the PDC in 2006.
The five time World Champion came out firing, hitting legs of 13, 14 and 14 darts to wrap up the opening set in a blink of an eye.
The Dutchman did not let up on Stephenson, who was making his televised debut, beginning the second set with a 102 checkout, and then hitting two-dart finishes of 70 and 80 to double the lead.
Barneveld took his seventh straight leg before Stephenson hit a superb 126 finish to level the third set at one-all.
Barneveld hit double top to move a leg away from the match, but missed two darts at double 16 in the next for victory and Stephenson took the chance to land that same double.
Both players hit a maximum each in the deciding leg, but five missed match darts from van Barneveld gave Stephenson a chance.
However, the Englishman missed three of his own to win the third set and the number two seed hit double two to seal victory.
"I'm very pleased because there's a lot of pressure on your first game," said van Barneveld. "I've worked hard recently and gone back to my old darts.
"There was a voice inside me saying to go back to those darts, I hit a nine-darter with them against Peter Manley, and I did switch.
"It's harder because it's a different size flight but in practice I've been playing really well with them and feel confident.
"I missed a few doubles but am pleased with how I played."
Match Stats
|
Raymond van Barneveld |
3-0 |
Mark Stephenson |
|
16 |
100+ |
10 |
|
11 |
140+ |
5 |
|
3 |
180 |
1 |
|
33.60 |
Ave1 |
29.50 |
|
100.80 |
Ave3 |
88.50 |
|
102 |
High Finish |
126 |
PETER MANLEY 2-3 MENSUR SULJOVIC
(3-1, 2-3, 1-3, 3-0, 1-3)
MENSUR SULJOVIC shocked three-time Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship finalist Peter Manley with a deciding-set victory at Alexandra Palace.
Austrian ace Suljovic, making his second appearance at the World Championship, will now take on Mark Dudbridge in the second round after coming from behind to claim a superb win over the experienced star.
Manley took the game's first leg and doubled his lead with a 124 checkout before Suljovic got off the mark.
Manley won the set 3-1 and looked on course to double the advantage when he led 2-0 in the second.
But the Austrian took the next three legs, hitting two maximums, to level the match at 1-1.
Suljovic continued his run of winning legs, landing double five for a 1-0 lead in set three before a 118 finish from Manley levelled.
However, the GDC number one hit double top followed by a 101 finish in the fourth leg to go lead for the first time in the match.
Manley quickly brought the game level again, taking the fourth set without reply, which included finishes of 71 and 68.
Both players held their throw in the opening two legs of the final set, but it was the Austrian who made a decisive move by breaking Manley's throw in the third.
Manley had no answer and Suljovic landed double ten in the next leg to make the Englishman the seventh seed to already fall at the first hurdle.
Match Stats
|
Peter Manley |
2-3 |
Mensur Suljovic |
|
30 |
100+ |
33 |
|
14 |
140+ |
13 |
|
1 |
180 |
3 |
|
29.53 |
Ave1 |
30.54 |
|
88.60 |
Ave3 |
91.62 |
|
124,118 |
High Finish |
101 |