KING CUTS THE POWER IN DUSSELDORF!
MERVYN KING knocked World Champion Phil Taylor out of the European Darts Open with a 6-2 victory in the second round of the £100,000 event on Saturday night, but big guns Michael van Gerwen, Raymond van Barneveld, Adrian Lewis, James Wade & Simon Whitlock all progressed to the last 16 in Dusseldorf.
Taylor, who lost to van Gerwen in Thursday's McCoy's Premier League Darts final, had been bidding to bounced back in the £100,000 European Tour event.
However, the world number one was punished for a string of missed doubles as King picked up a 6-2 victory in their last 32 clash.
After sharing the game's opening two legs, Taylor saw King win the next four as he took out double six, 121 on the bull, 72 and 64 after the Stoke legend missed doubles in three of the legs.
Taylor kept his hopes alive with an 11-darter in the seventh leg, and hit a 168 score to leave 16 in the next, but missed three darts to extend the contest as King posted double eight to seal the win.
King now progresses to play Jamie Caven in Sunday afternoon's third round, after the Derby thrower was a 6-3 winner against Dave Chisnall earlier on Saturday.
Van Gerwen also suffered some double trouble in his last 32 clash with Wayne Jones, who hit an 11-darter and some key doubles as he took the Dutch ace all the way to a deciding leg.
However, van Gerwen - who hit a 158 checkout earlier in the game - produced a superb leg when it mattered most as he scored 140, 140 and 180 before snatching victory with an 11-dart finish.
Number one seed Van Gerwen will play Terry Jenkins in the third round, with the Ledbury ace showing fine form to defeat Ronnie Baxter as he took out finishes of 106 and 104 at key times.
Raymond van Barneveld's bid to win a second successive European Darts Open title continued as he defeated Kevin Painter 6-1 with a strong display, and he meets another form player, Kim Huybrechts, in the last 16.
Belgian ace Huybrechts produced one of the day's most impressive performances as he swept aside UK Masters finalist Stuart Kellett 6-1, hitting two 11-dart legs, four 180s and a 108.51 average to power into round three.
Adrian Lewis won the battle of former World Champions with Richie Burnett 6-4 as he moved into the last 16, where he now meets Justin Pipe after the world number ten defeated Swindon's Mark Cox 6-2.
World number four James Wade defeated Paul Nicholson 6-2 as he won five successive legs in progressing to a third round date with Simon Whitlock, the European Champion who saw off Arron Monk 6-4.
Gary Anderson produced a ton-plus averaged as he continued his impressive start to the event with a 6-3 defeat of Ian White as he set up a clash with Brendan Dolan on Sunday afternoon, with the Northern Irish ace whitewashing John Part as he progressed.
Robert Thornton came from 4-3 down to win a see-saw clash with Alex Roy 6-4, and he now faces Peter Wright after the Scottish World Cup as defeated Mark Webster 6-3.
Colin Osborne produced an upset as he knocked out world number seven Wes Newton 6-3, and his reward is a clash with Andy Hamilton, who was a 6-3 winner against Bristol newcomer Andy Parsons, who had come from 5-2 down to defeat Colin Lloyd in the first round on his European Tour debut but was unable to repeat the feat 24 hours later.
The European Darts Open will conclude on Sunday, with the third round games being played in the afternoon session before the tournament concludes with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in the evening session at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf.
Coverage of the European Darts Open is being streamed exclusively live through www.LIVEPDC.TV, with play commencing at 1pm local time (12pm BST) on Sunday.
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European Darts Open - European Tour Event Three
Saturday May 18
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
Kim Huybrechts 6-1 Stuart Kellett
Peter Wright 6-3 Mark Webster
Ronnie Baxter 3-6 Terry Jenkins
Dave Chisnall 3-6 Jamie Caven
Justin Pipe 6-2 Mark Cox
Ian White 3-6 Gary Anderson
John Part 0-6 Brendan Dolan
Robert Thornton 6-4 Alex Roy
Evening Session
Paul Nicholson 2-6 James Wade
Wes Newton 3-6 Colin Osborne
Andy Hamilton 6-3 Andy Parsons
Adrian Lewis 6-4 Richie Burnett
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Kevin Painter
Phil Taylor 2-6 Mervyn King
Michael van Gerwen 6-5 Wayne Jones
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Arron Monk
See the Third Round Schedule & all tournament results in our NetZone
Match Information
Afternoon Session
Kim Huybrechts made a stunning start to the second round with a brilliant 6-1 win over Stuart Kellett in a high-quality contest. The Belgian hit a 180 as he won the opening leg on tops with a 13-darter, before Kellett took out 125 to level with a 12-darter. Huybrechts, though, took out an 11-darter to edge back in front before breaking with a 12-dart finish, and landed double 16 to move 4-1 up. He added another maximum in a second 11-dart leg of the game before the pair traded 180s in the seventh leg, with Kellett missing double six and three to keep the game alive as Huybrechts wrapped up the win with a 108.51 average to Kellett's 103.03.
Peter Wright booked his third round place at the European Darts Open with a 6-3 defeat of Mark Webster. After Webster took the opening leg on double two, Wright finished 51, 86 and double ten to move 3-1 up before Webster hit back with a 13-darter, ending on tops. Wright took out 136 to move 4-2 up, and although Webster finished 75 to hit back, Wright finished tops for a 13-darter and then landed double 16 to seal the win.
Terry Jenkins defeated Ronnie Baxter 6-3 to win a third round spot in the European Darts Open. Baxter hit a 180 in the opening leg before Jenkins finished tops for a 14-darter, before the Blackpool ace levelled with an 84 finish. Jenkins, though, took the next three to move 4-1 up, following up a 106 finish with two 180s in the fourth leg and a tops finish in the fifth. Baxter replied with a 90 checkout, but Jenkins moved 5-2 up with a 104 checkout after the pair had traded maximums in leg seven. Baxter kept his hopes alive with a 13-darter, but Jenkins posted a fourth maximum of the game and finished 80 to progress.
Jamie Caven set up a third round date with either Phil Taylor or Mervyn King with a fine 6-3 win over Dave Chisnall. The pair shared the opening four legs, with Caven opening the match with a 13-darter which included a 177 before Chisnall hit 180s in both winning legs, but it was the Derby man who took command in mid-game. He took the fifth leg on tops and then broke in the next after landing a maximum, before defying a 180 from Chisnall to take out 60 for a 14-darter and move 5-2 up. Chisnall landed tops in reply and then hit a 180 in the ninth leg, but two misses at double 18 allowed Caven in to secure the win on tops.
Justin Pipe followed up Friday's narrow victory over Germany's Max Hopp with a 6-2 win over Swindon ace Mark Cox. Cox, who saw off Andy Smith on Friday, made a superb start to the game with a 180 in his opening visit and took the first leg on double ten before Pipe levelled after a scrappy second leg and then finished tops for a 14-darter to break. Double 12 saw Cox break back to level, but Pipe took out a 13-darter, 64 and 75 to win the next three and move to the brink of victory. The Taunton thrower then added a 180 in the eighth leg, and sealed victory when Cox missed his chance to stay in the game with missed doubles in two visits.
Gary Anderson continued his impressive start to the European Darts Open with a 101 average in defeating Ian White 6-3. Anderson hit double eight to win the opening leg before White replied with a 13-darter - only for that to be bettered by a 12-darter from the Scot as he hit a 180 and 96 to move 2-1 up. White hit tops to level again, but Anderson defied a 180 from the Stoke ace to win the fifth leg before adding a 121 for a 12-darter, and tops to follow a maximum of his own in the next with a 13-dart finish to lead 5-2. White punished Anderson's misses to win leg eight, but the Scot sealed victory in 14 darts by taking out 86.
Brendan Dolan picked up the first whitewash of the European Darts Open as he swept aside John Part 6-0 to set up a third round game with Gary Anderson. The Northern Irish ace made a good start, winning the first leg with a 91 finish before breaking throw in the second, and he added a 180 in a 12-darter to move 3-0 up. He then took out 56 for another break, finished 88 on the bull to lead by five legs and punished missed doubles from Part by taking out double 16 to complete a strong victory.
Robert Thornton completed the afternoon session's action with a 6-4 win over Alex Roy in a see-saw battle. The UK Open champion - who came from 5-0 down to defeat Kurt Van De Rijck in the first round - started superbly, hitting a 180 and finishing 55 to win the opening leg before landing tops to break his throw, before posting another maximum and a 91 finish to lead 3-0. Roy got off the mark with a 13-darter and then took out 101 to fire his challenge, before levelling by finishing 72 and then landing double three to lead 4-3. Thornton, though, levelled on double four and punished a miss at the bullseye from Roy to land tops to lead 5-4. The pair traded 180s in the next, but Thornton was first to a finish and hit double four to move into the third round, where he plays Peter Wright.
Evening Session
James Wade took five successive legs as he defeated Paul Nicholson 6-2. Wade edged the opening leg, with Nicholson hitting a 180 but missing double 18 for a 144 finish as the let-hander hit double top for a 13-darter, before Nicholson added another maximum in levelling before punishing Wade's missed doubles in the third leg to hit tops and lead 2-1. Nicholson opened the fourth leg with 180 and 140, but Wade finished 127 on the bullseye to complete a 12-darter in a key leg as he levelled. Double five edged Wade back ahead and he punished Nicholson for a miss as he hit tops to lead 4-2, before winning the next two legs to move into the third round.
Colin Osborne picked up a 6-3 win over Wes Newton as he moved into Sunday's third round. Newton broke in the opening leg with double 16 before Osborne took out 63 to level and traded 180s with his rival before finishing 56 to move 2-1 up. Newton took out 82 to leel before the next two were shared, but the game's key moment came in the seventh leg, when the Fleetwood ace opened with two 180s but was unable to complete a nine-darter and missed two darts at double four before Osborne stepped in to take out 48. Further misses from Newton allowed Osborne in to move 5-3 up, and the Derby ace finished double eight to complete the win.
Andy Hamilton defeated newcomer Andy Parsons 6-3 to set up a third round clash with former Derby neighbour Colin Osborne at the European Darts Open. Bristol's Parsons, who turned professional in January and came from 5-2 down to defeat Colin Lloyd on his European Tour debut 24 hours earlier, held throw to win three of the game's first five legs, before Hamilton hit his third maximum of the game in leg six as he levelled on double ten. The Stoke star broke on double ten in the seventh, and took a vital eighth after Parsons missed six darts at doubles, before Hamilton hit another double ten finish to seal the win.
Adrian Lewis set up a last 16 clash with Justin Pipe by seeing off fellow former World Champion Richie Burnett 6-4. The game enjoyed a see-saw nature, with Brunett finishing double 18 to win the opener before Lewis took out 100 to level and a 13-darter to move 2-1 up. Burnett took the next two to move 3-2 up and hit a maximum in the sixth leg, but Lewis finished 85 for a 14-darter to level. Double six gave Burnett a 4-3 cushion, but he missed double 11 for a 142 finish in the next as Lewis finished 60 to level before further misses from the Welshman allowed the Stoke ace in for a key break as he hit double eight to move 5-4 up, and Lewis then sealed the win in style by taking out 98 for a 12-darter.
Raymond van Barneveld swept past Kevin Painter 6-1 to create a tasty third round game with Kim Huybrechts in the European Darts Open. The game enjoyed a dramatic and bizarre opening leg, with Painter hitting two 180s as he left 41 after nine darts, only to miss five darts at a double to allow van Barneveld a shot at 100, which he burst after following two single 20s with a treble 20. Painter, though, missed three more darts to win the leg before the Dutchman took out 100 on double ten at the second attempt to lead. Painter hit back to level on tops, but van Barneveld finished 68 to win leg three, landed a maximum and double two to break and finished 91 for a 12-darter to move 4-1 up. Painter added a maximum in the sixth leg, but missed three further darts at doubles as van Barneveld hit double nine before defying another 180 from the Englishman to seal the victory on double two.
Mervyn King knocked World Champion Phil Taylor out of the European Darts Open at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf. King took advantage of two misses at tops from the world number one in the opening leg before hitting double six, although Taylor replied by landing tops in the second. However, the Stoke star missed three darts to win the third as King posted double six again, and he was off-target on the bull for a 122 finish in the fourth - after opening with a 180 - as King moved 3-1 by hitting the bullseye himself for a 121 checkout. King then finished 72 to lead 4-1 and moved a leg away from victory by taking out 64 after Taylor missed his chance on the same finish. Taylor landed a third maximum of the game in an 11-darter to keep his hopes alive, and hit a 168 score to leave 16 in the next, only for three further misses to allow King in to seal the win on double eight.
Michael van Gerwen produced a superb 11-dart finish in the deciding leg of his tight clash with Wayne Jones as he moved into the third round of the European Darts Open. Van Gerwen took the opening leg on double 18, but Jones punished misses from the new McCoy's Premier League Darts champion by hitting double 16 in the second leg. The Dutchman produced a 13-darter to win leg three, but Jones replied in 11 darts by hitting a 180 and finishing 81 in two darts. Jones also landed a 180 in the fifth leg, but missed his chance to break as van Gerwen posted tops, only for the world number two to suffer the same fate in the sixth leg with seven missed doubles as the Wolverhampton man levelled again on double 18. Van Gerwen took out 158 to lead 4-3, only for Jones to continue his strong form with another maximum in a 12-darter which also featured two 140s and a double 16 finish. Jones then had another chance to break in leg nine, but missed double 16 to finish 101 as van Gerwen hit tops to move 5-4 up, and the Dutch ace hit a 174 in the next as he sought victory, only for his opponent to take out 61 to force a deciding leg. Van Gerwen, though, ssaved his best for last as he scored 140, 140 and 180 before finishing 41 on tops for an 11-darter to progress to the third round and a clash with Terry Jenkins.
Simon Whitlock completed the field for the European Darts Open's third round with a 6-4 win over former housemate and practice partner Arron Monk. Whitlock took out 86 to win the opening leg, and after Monk levelled in a scrappy second, the Australian took the next two, including a break of throw, to lead 3-1. Monk hit a 180 as he broke back in the fifth leg, before punishing three missed doubles from Whitlock to level on tops in leg six. Whitlock, though, hit a 180 of his own as he took the seventh on double four, and after Monk finished 70 to level the Australian posted another maximum and double eight for a 13-darter to move 5-4 up. Whitlock then scored 140, 180 and 180 before taking out double 16 for a 12-darter which sealed the win.