REPORTS from the quarter-finals of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The tournament's last eight battle it out at Alexandra Palace over two days.
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Quarter-Finals
Thursday
Mervyn King 5-2 Barrie Bates
Phil Taylor 5-0 Co Stompe
Friday
James Wade 5-3 Paul Nicholson
Raymond van Barneveld 5-1 Jelle Klaasen
*** Including nine-darter from Raymond van Barneveld
Reaction
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Photo Gallery
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MERVYN KING 5-2 BARRIE BATES
(3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-0)
MERVYN KING reached his first Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship semi-final with a 5-2 victory over Barrie Bates
King capped his impressive first two years in the PDC ranks with a third televised semi-final inside three months - following the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts - and also provisionally moved into the world's top six with the win.
He saw a 2-0 led slip away before putting in a decisive burst to win three sets on the bounce to end the resurgent Welshman's hopes.
King started the game in confident fashion by breaking throw in the first leg before a 14-dart finish gave him a 2-0 lead in the first set.
Bates took out a fine 97 finish to win the third leg, but King wrapped up the set in the next by landing double eight.
King continued to dominate at the start of the second set, landing a 15-darter and then punishing three misses to take leg two, and he took out a fabulous 134 checkout to open up a 2-0 lead in the game.
Bates began to come back into the match in third set, hitting a maximum in the first leg and then a 116 checkout to break in the next.
However, he missed two darts for the set in the third leg, and King hit back to level matters.
In a dramatic deciding leg, Bates missed five darts to take the set, but King wasted four chances of his own before the Welshman landed double ten with his last dart to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
King put those missed opportunities behind him to take a 2-0 lead at the beginning of the fourth set, but Bates broke back with a 96 finish in the third and then held throw in the next by hitting double nine, after King was missed one dart at double 16 for the set.
Bates, who defeated former runner-up Mark Dudbridge in the round three, then hit an excellent 96 finish to square the game at two apiece.
A 101 checkout put Bates ahead in the fifth set, only for King to land a 14-darter to level, his first maximum of the game in taking a 2-1 lead and double top for the set.
He then landed further maximums in legs of 11 and 13 darts to lead in set six, only for Bates to his back and level in 14 darts.
However, Bates missed opportunities to level the set in leg four and King stepped in to land double eight and restore his two-set advantage.
With a scare firmly behind him, King went on to coast to victory, breaking throw on double 12 in the seventh set's opener, landing a 13-darter to lead 2-0 and double 16 for victory.
"I'm happy with the win and my performance was better," said King. "I did enough to get the victory but can still improve.
"I should have been 4-0 up really, or at least 3-1, and at two-all I had to find something, and I did that.
"I'm nowhere near my best but it's there in flashes. I have peaks and troughs in my game anyway and I'm not as consistent as some players, but when I'm at the top of my game I'll beat anybody.
"I'm not here to lose in the semi-final - I'm here to win it. I've got it in me and it's got to come out at the right time."
Bates admitted: "That was my worst performance of the tournament and Mervyn deserved to win.
"He did a professional job. I got back to two-all but didn't deserve that and was beaten by the better player.
"I'll build on this though. Two weeks ago I'd have laughed if someone had said I would reach the quarter-finals but I hope I can kick on from this in 2009."
Match Stats
PHIL TAYLOR 5-0 CO STOMPE
(3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
PHIL TAYLOR'S Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship challenge hit top gear with a sensational 5-0 romp against Co Stompe.
Taylor's bid for a 14th World Championship continued at Alexandra Palace with the third highest average in the tournament's history - 108.80 - as he swept the Dutchman aside.
Stompe had defeated Taylor in the final of the German Darts Championship a month ago, but won just three legs this time around.
Taylor began the match in superb fashion, hitting a 177 with his first three darts and taking the set with legs of 14, 14 and 11 darts without Stompe reaching a double.
Another 14-darter put him ahead in the second set, only for three missed doubles to allow Stompe to get off the mark.
The Stoke star hit a 120 'Shanghai' finish to take the third leg, and landed double top for the set after Stompe levelled again.
Stompe's first maximum of the game was not enough at the start of the third set, as Taylor hit double nine to break throw.
Taylor hit back to back maximums in the second leg, winning it in 11 darts, and then won the third in 12 darts to increase his lead to 3-0.
Taylor's domination continued in set four, hitting two 13-darters in taking the set without reply, and a 14-dart finish to open set five put him two legs from victory.
A 71 finish took Taylor 2-0 up before Stompe capitalised on two misses at double four for the win to take just his third leg of the game.
Taylor, though, made no mistake in the fourth leg, as he hit his sixth 14 dart-finish of the match to complete the rout and set up a semi-final clash against Mervyn King.
"I'm delighted with that performance," said Taylor. "When he kicked in with a good shot I seemed to follow him.
"I actually played better against Co in Germany when he beat me, but he didn't reproduce that tonight.
"It's a longer format in the semis and I can relax a little bit more. There's no pressure on me now and Mervyn has to come out and have a massive game.
"He's a good player and he has got a scrap on his hands."
Stompe said: "He was brilliant, he really turned up.
"I turned up a month ago when we played in the final and I won, but this time he was the only player on the stage.
"Maybe he has had a few better displays but not many."
Match Stats
JAMES WADE 5-3 PAUL NICHOLSON
(3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 0-3, 3-0, 3-1)
JAMES WADE reached his first ever Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship semi-final with a 5-3 victory over Paul Nicholson.
The world number three was again below-par, but edged a nervy affair to book his place in the last four on Saturday.
Wade saw a 3-1 lead slip away against newcomer Nicholson, but took six of the final seven legs in a strong finish to secure victory.
Nicholson, who had knocked out Dennis Priestley and Adrian Lewis in reaching the quarters - had his opportunities to win the three of the opening four sets, and those errors eventually proved costly.
The opening three legs of the match where held with throw, giving Wade a 2-1 advantage.
He then missed a dart for the set in the fourth leg, allowing Nicholson to level as he landed double top.
In the deciding leg both players missed opportunities to win the set, and it was Wade who landed double ten to take an early lead.
Nicholson hit his first maximum of the game to win the first leg of the second set, but he then missed three darts at doubles to break his opponent's throw in the second leg and Wade managed to hold.
Wade missed two darts of his own to break throw in the third leg, allowing Nicholson to lead again.
But the world number three hit a two-dart 66 finish to level the set at 2-2.
In the deciding leg the British-born Australian suffered the same fate as the first, missing five darts for the set as Wade capitalised to double his lead.
Nicholson secured his first break of throw at the start of the third set, but Wade hit back immediately to win the second leg before missing six darts to win the third.
Nicholson went on to take the fourth leg, and the set, on double five before defying a maximum from Wade to lead in set four.
Wade hit a superb 135 finish to take the second leg, before Nicholson won the third, hitting his third maximum in the process.
The UK Open Champion then managed to hold throw in the fourth leg, and then won the decider after Nicholson missed five chances to win the set.
Nicholson won the first leg of the fifth set with a 60 finish, and then broke throw to lead 2-0 after missed a couple of darts to win it.
Nicholson then wrapped up the set in the third leg, before continuing the winning run of legs in the sixth set.
He broke with a 50 finish in the second leg to lead 2-0 after Wade was off-target with five attempts at doubles and then hit double 14 to square the match after extending his run to six successive legs.
Wade stopped the rot in the set seven, hitting back with three successive legs to move 4-3 up, landing a 65 finish to secure the first leg, hitting back-to-back maximums in the second and a 64 finish in the third.
Wade started the eighth set a fine 116 checkout, before landing double top in the second leg to go one leg away from victory.
Nicholson took the third to keep the match going, but Wade landed his seventh maximum in the next, which proved decisive when he landed double two for the win.
"I'm obviously pleased to get through but it was a poor performance, much below the standard I set myself," said Wade.
"I don't know what went wrong, because I felt fine before the game, but I've got 24 hours to put it right."
Nicholson admitted: "Neither of us played to our best and it was one of those days.
"I felt great in my preparation but maybe a long game like that was too much of a step for me. I didn't have much energy in the tank and maybe I was trying too hard.
"But I'll learn from this. The longer format on the game stage was foreign for me but I can use this experience.
"I'll kick myself when I wake up tomorrow but I'll also look ahead and come back stronger."
Match Stats
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 5-1 JELLE KLAASEN
(1-3, 3-0, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD hit the first nine-darter in the history of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in a sensational 5-1 quarter-final win over Jelle Klaasen.
The five-time World Champion had never beaten Klaasen in their previous televised contests, but won through to a semi-final against James Wade in style at Alexandra Palace.
His nine-darter was the peak of a brilliant display from the resurgent Dutchman, who averaged 106.68 and sealed victory with a 161 checkout.
"Winning the game means more to me than hitting the nine-darter, but it's an unbelievable achievement," said van Barneveld.
"I'm so proud to become the first player to hit a nine-darter in the PDC World Championship."
Van Barneveld started the match well with a 14-dart finish, before Klaasen took three successive legs - including a 13-darter against the throw - to win the opening set.
Van Barneveld, who survived a nail-biting contest against Ronnie Baxter in the previous round, stormed back in the second set, taking it without reply.
A 112 checkout was followed by an 11-dart finish in the second leg before the world number two hit his fourth maximum in the next and went on to hit double five and square the game.
He continued in similar fashion in the third set, landing a 116 checkout in the first leg, a second successive 12-darter and then a 13-darter for the set and a 2-1 lead.
Klaasen ended the run of six successive legs from van Barneveld to take the fourth set's opener with a 99 finish, and the players traded the next two before successive 11-darters from van Barneveld saw him surge to the set.
Both players held their throws at the beginning of the fifth set, before van Barneveld hit a 116 checkout to take the third leg.
Klaasen hit his fifth maximum of the game and followed that with a 64 finish to take the fourth leg, but a 96 finish for a 14-darter in the deciding leg pushed van Barneveld a set away from the match.
Klaasen kicked off the sixth set with a 107 checkout, only for van Barneveld to reply with a perfect leg, his third in PDC competition and second on television, matching his feat in the 2007 Premier League.
He followed up back-to-back 180s with a seventh treble 20, treble 19 and double 12, to earn him a £20,000 bonus should no other player landed nine-darter during the remainder of the event.
Klaasen took the third leg with ease, but van Barneveld regained his composure to land double 16 in the next and then took out a sensational 161 checkout to wrap up victory.
"It wasn't going to be easy because Jelle has beaten me twice before on TV so I was very focused," he added. "I had to look at it as just another game, not a revenge mission, and that's what I did.
"After the first set I played absolutely brilliantly and now I'm dreaming I can go all the way.
"My worst opponent is myself. If I start believing in myself I can beat everyone, including Phil Taylor. Phil is a fantastic player but I've beaten him a couple of times.
"James Wade is a fantastic player too, and I have to be focused on my next match."
Klaasen said: "I didn't play a great game and twice in sets where I had the throw, in the fourth and sixth sets, I didn't have a good deciding leg.
"Against me on stage it's the best Raymond has played and the nine-dart finish was brilliant, and the 161 for the match. He was the better player.
"I'm a little bit disappointed now but very pleased to have reached the quarter-finals."
Match Stats
The tournament's last eight battle it out at Alexandra Palace over two days.
Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Quarter-Finals
Thursday
Mervyn King 5-2 Barrie Bates
Phil Taylor 5-0 Co Stompe
Friday
James Wade 5-3 Paul Nicholson
Raymond van Barneveld 5-1 Jelle Klaasen
*** Including nine-darter from Raymond van Barneveld
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
MERVYN KING 5-2 BARRIE BATES
(3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-0)
MERVYN KING reached his first Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship semi-final with a 5-2 victory over Barrie Bates
King capped his impressive first two years in the PDC ranks with a third televised semi-final inside three months - following the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam of Darts - and also provisionally moved into the world's top six with the win.
He saw a 2-0 led slip away before putting in a decisive burst to win three sets on the bounce to end the resurgent Welshman's hopes.
King started the game in confident fashion by breaking throw in the first leg before a 14-dart finish gave him a 2-0 lead in the first set.
Bates took out a fine 97 finish to win the third leg, but King wrapped up the set in the next by landing double eight.
King continued to dominate at the start of the second set, landing a 15-darter and then punishing three misses to take leg two, and he took out a fabulous 134 checkout to open up a 2-0 lead in the game.
Bates began to come back into the match in third set, hitting a maximum in the first leg and then a 116 checkout to break in the next.
However, he missed two darts for the set in the third leg, and King hit back to level matters.
In a dramatic deciding leg, Bates missed five darts to take the set, but King wasted four chances of his own before the Welshman landed double ten with his last dart to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
King put those missed opportunities behind him to take a 2-0 lead at the beginning of the fourth set, but Bates broke back with a 96 finish in the third and then held throw in the next by hitting double nine, after King was missed one dart at double 16 for the set.
Bates, who defeated former runner-up Mark Dudbridge in the round three, then hit an excellent 96 finish to square the game at two apiece.
A 101 checkout put Bates ahead in the fifth set, only for King to land a 14-darter to level, his first maximum of the game in taking a 2-1 lead and double top for the set.
He then landed further maximums in legs of 11 and 13 darts to lead in set six, only for Bates to his back and level in 14 darts.
However, Bates missed opportunities to level the set in leg four and King stepped in to land double eight and restore his two-set advantage.
With a scare firmly behind him, King went on to coast to victory, breaking throw on double 12 in the seventh set's opener, landing a 13-darter to lead 2-0 and double 16 for victory.
"I'm happy with the win and my performance was better," said King. "I did enough to get the victory but can still improve.
"I should have been 4-0 up really, or at least 3-1, and at two-all I had to find something, and I did that.
"I'm nowhere near my best but it's there in flashes. I have peaks and troughs in my game anyway and I'm not as consistent as some players, but when I'm at the top of my game I'll beat anybody.
"I'm not here to lose in the semi-final - I'm here to win it. I've got it in me and it's got to come out at the right time."
Bates admitted: "That was my worst performance of the tournament and Mervyn deserved to win.
"He did a professional job. I got back to two-all but didn't deserve that and was beaten by the better player.
"I'll build on this though. Two weeks ago I'd have laughed if someone had said I would reach the quarter-finals but I hope I can kick on from this in 2009."
Match Stats
Mervyn King |
5-2 |
Barrie Bates |
41 |
100+ |
44 |
25 |
140+ |
19 |
4 |
180 |
1 |
32.27 |
Ave1 |
29.24 |
96.80 |
Ave3 |
87.72 |
134 |
High Finish |
116,101 |
PHIL TAYLOR 5-0 CO STOMPE
(3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
PHIL TAYLOR'S Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship challenge hit top gear with a sensational 5-0 romp against Co Stompe.
Taylor's bid for a 14th World Championship continued at Alexandra Palace with the third highest average in the tournament's history - 108.80 - as he swept the Dutchman aside.
Stompe had defeated Taylor in the final of the German Darts Championship a month ago, but won just three legs this time around.
Taylor began the match in superb fashion, hitting a 177 with his first three darts and taking the set with legs of 14, 14 and 11 darts without Stompe reaching a double.
Another 14-darter put him ahead in the second set, only for three missed doubles to allow Stompe to get off the mark.
The Stoke star hit a 120 'Shanghai' finish to take the third leg, and landed double top for the set after Stompe levelled again.
Stompe's first maximum of the game was not enough at the start of the third set, as Taylor hit double nine to break throw.
Taylor hit back to back maximums in the second leg, winning it in 11 darts, and then won the third in 12 darts to increase his lead to 3-0.
Taylor's domination continued in set four, hitting two 13-darters in taking the set without reply, and a 14-dart finish to open set five put him two legs from victory.
A 71 finish took Taylor 2-0 up before Stompe capitalised on two misses at double four for the win to take just his third leg of the game.
Taylor, though, made no mistake in the fourth leg, as he hit his sixth 14 dart-finish of the match to complete the rout and set up a semi-final clash against Mervyn King.
"I'm delighted with that performance," said Taylor. "When he kicked in with a good shot I seemed to follow him.
"I actually played better against Co in Germany when he beat me, but he didn't reproduce that tonight.
"It's a longer format in the semis and I can relax a little bit more. There's no pressure on me now and Mervyn has to come out and have a massive game.
"He's a good player and he has got a scrap on his hands."
Stompe said: "He was brilliant, he really turned up.
"I turned up a month ago when we played in the final and I won, but this time he was the only player on the stage.
"Maybe he has had a few better displays but not many."
Match Stats
Phil Taylor |
5-0 |
Co Stompe |
20 |
100+ |
18 |
20 |
140+ |
10 |
5 |
180 |
1 |
36.27 |
Ave1 |
28.86 |
108.80 |
Ave3 |
89.58 |
120 |
High Finish |
58 |
JAMES WADE 5-3 PAUL NICHOLSON
(3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 0-3, 3-0, 3-1)
JAMES WADE reached his first ever Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship semi-final with a 5-3 victory over Paul Nicholson.
The world number three was again below-par, but edged a nervy affair to book his place in the last four on Saturday.
Wade saw a 3-1 lead slip away against newcomer Nicholson, but took six of the final seven legs in a strong finish to secure victory.
Nicholson, who had knocked out Dennis Priestley and Adrian Lewis in reaching the quarters - had his opportunities to win the three of the opening four sets, and those errors eventually proved costly.
The opening three legs of the match where held with throw, giving Wade a 2-1 advantage.
He then missed a dart for the set in the fourth leg, allowing Nicholson to level as he landed double top.
In the deciding leg both players missed opportunities to win the set, and it was Wade who landed double ten to take an early lead.
Nicholson hit his first maximum of the game to win the first leg of the second set, but he then missed three darts at doubles to break his opponent's throw in the second leg and Wade managed to hold.
Wade missed two darts of his own to break throw in the third leg, allowing Nicholson to lead again.
But the world number three hit a two-dart 66 finish to level the set at 2-2.
In the deciding leg the British-born Australian suffered the same fate as the first, missing five darts for the set as Wade capitalised to double his lead.
Nicholson secured his first break of throw at the start of the third set, but Wade hit back immediately to win the second leg before missing six darts to win the third.
Nicholson went on to take the fourth leg, and the set, on double five before defying a maximum from Wade to lead in set four.
Wade hit a superb 135 finish to take the second leg, before Nicholson won the third, hitting his third maximum in the process.
The UK Open Champion then managed to hold throw in the fourth leg, and then won the decider after Nicholson missed five chances to win the set.
Nicholson won the first leg of the fifth set with a 60 finish, and then broke throw to lead 2-0 after missed a couple of darts to win it.
Nicholson then wrapped up the set in the third leg, before continuing the winning run of legs in the sixth set.
He broke with a 50 finish in the second leg to lead 2-0 after Wade was off-target with five attempts at doubles and then hit double 14 to square the match after extending his run to six successive legs.
Wade stopped the rot in the set seven, hitting back with three successive legs to move 4-3 up, landing a 65 finish to secure the first leg, hitting back-to-back maximums in the second and a 64 finish in the third.
Wade started the eighth set a fine 116 checkout, before landing double top in the second leg to go one leg away from victory.
Nicholson took the third to keep the match going, but Wade landed his seventh maximum in the next, which proved decisive when he landed double two for the win.
"I'm obviously pleased to get through but it was a poor performance, much below the standard I set myself," said Wade.
"I don't know what went wrong, because I felt fine before the game, but I've got 24 hours to put it right."
Nicholson admitted: "Neither of us played to our best and it was one of those days.
"I felt great in my preparation but maybe a long game like that was too much of a step for me. I didn't have much energy in the tank and maybe I was trying too hard.
"But I'll learn from this. The longer format on the game stage was foreign for me but I can use this experience.
"I'll kick myself when I wake up tomorrow but I'll also look ahead and come back stronger."
Match Stats
Paul Nicholson |
3-5 |
James Wade |
43 |
100+ |
48 |
15 |
140+ |
14 |
4 |
180 |
7 |
27.51 |
Ave1 |
27.25 |
82.53 |
Ave3 |
81.75 |
84 |
High Finish |
135,116 |
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 5-1 JELLE KLAASEN
(1-3, 3-0, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD hit the first nine-darter in the history of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in a sensational 5-1 quarter-final win over Jelle Klaasen.
The five-time World Champion had never beaten Klaasen in their previous televised contests, but won through to a semi-final against James Wade in style at Alexandra Palace.
His nine-darter was the peak of a brilliant display from the resurgent Dutchman, who averaged 106.68 and sealed victory with a 161 checkout.
"Winning the game means more to me than hitting the nine-darter, but it's an unbelievable achievement," said van Barneveld.
"I'm so proud to become the first player to hit a nine-darter in the PDC World Championship."
Van Barneveld started the match well with a 14-dart finish, before Klaasen took three successive legs - including a 13-darter against the throw - to win the opening set.
Van Barneveld, who survived a nail-biting contest against Ronnie Baxter in the previous round, stormed back in the second set, taking it without reply.
A 112 checkout was followed by an 11-dart finish in the second leg before the world number two hit his fourth maximum in the next and went on to hit double five and square the game.
He continued in similar fashion in the third set, landing a 116 checkout in the first leg, a second successive 12-darter and then a 13-darter for the set and a 2-1 lead.
Klaasen ended the run of six successive legs from van Barneveld to take the fourth set's opener with a 99 finish, and the players traded the next two before successive 11-darters from van Barneveld saw him surge to the set.
Both players held their throws at the beginning of the fifth set, before van Barneveld hit a 116 checkout to take the third leg.
Klaasen hit his fifth maximum of the game and followed that with a 64 finish to take the fourth leg, but a 96 finish for a 14-darter in the deciding leg pushed van Barneveld a set away from the match.
Klaasen kicked off the sixth set with a 107 checkout, only for van Barneveld to reply with a perfect leg, his third in PDC competition and second on television, matching his feat in the 2007 Premier League.
He followed up back-to-back 180s with a seventh treble 20, treble 19 and double 12, to earn him a £20,000 bonus should no other player landed nine-darter during the remainder of the event.
Klaasen took the third leg with ease, but van Barneveld regained his composure to land double 16 in the next and then took out a sensational 161 checkout to wrap up victory.
"It wasn't going to be easy because Jelle has beaten me twice before on TV so I was very focused," he added. "I had to look at it as just another game, not a revenge mission, and that's what I did.
"After the first set I played absolutely brilliantly and now I'm dreaming I can go all the way.
"My worst opponent is myself. If I start believing in myself I can beat everyone, including Phil Taylor. Phil is a fantastic player but I've beaten him a couple of times.
"James Wade is a fantastic player too, and I have to be focused on my next match."
Klaasen said: "I didn't play a great game and twice in sets where I had the throw, in the fourth and sixth sets, I didn't have a good deciding leg.
"Against me on stage it's the best Raymond has played and the nine-dart finish was brilliant, and the 161 for the match. He was the better player.
"I'm a little bit disappointed now but very pleased to have reached the quarter-finals."
Match Stats
Raymond van Barneveld |
5-1 |
Jelle Klaasen |
37 |
100+ |
29 |
22 |
140+ |
11 |
10 |
180 |
5 |
35.56 |
Ave1 |
31.76 |
106.68 |
Ave3 |
95.28 |
161,141, 116x2 |
High Finish |
107 |