REIGNING Ladbrokes World Darts Champion Adrian Lewis and Terry Jenkins won through to the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship on Wednesday night.
Lewis followed up his previous wins over Nigel Heydon and Robert Thornton with a clinical display to see off Wayne Jones in straight sets at London's Alexandra Palace.
The Stoke superstar hit 12 from 18 attempts at doubles during the win and dropped only four legs against Jones as he remains on course to become only the second player, after Phil Taylor, to retain the PDC World Championship title.
Lewis will now play Jenkins in the quarter-finals on Friday, after the Ledbury ace overcame Justin Pipe 4-1 with a high-quality display which saw the seven-time major finalist average almost 103.
Jenkins, who has seen off Joe Cullen and Co Stompe so far in the event, impressed with seven 180s as he remains on course to match - if not better - last year's semi-final appearance.
Gary Anderson, who was defeated by Lewis in the final 12 months ago, completed the second round action earlier on Wednesday night by seeing off South African Devon Petersen 4-2.
The emerging star from Cape Town hit back from losing the opening set to win the second, and after Anderson took a 3-1 lead he also took set five to give the Scot a scare.
Anderson, though, completed the win in style with finishes of 134, 98 and 124 for a trio of 12-darters in set six to set up a third round clash with Colin Lloyd on Thursday.
Lloyd had overcome Coventry's emerging star Scott Rand 4-1 earlier on Wednesday, hitting a 167 finish at a key time in the victory, while van Gerwen and Whitlock also progressed with five-set triumps over Mervyn King and Steve Beaton respectively.
The third round will conclude with the remaining six matches on Thursday, split across two sessions at Alexandra Palace.
Three-time World Champion John Part meets in-form Kevin Painter, who won his first major title earlier in December at the Cash Converters Players Championship, before world number three James Wade takes on Steve Farmer and number nine seed Paul NIcholson plays Belgium's Kim Huybrechts.
The evening session opens when 2010 finalist Simon Whitlock meets Holland's Michael van Gerwen, Dave Chisnall looks to follow up his win over Phil Taylor with victory against Andy Hamilton and Anderson plays Lloyd.
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Ladbrokes World Darts Championship
Wednesday December 28
Afternoon Session
Mervyn King 1-4 Michael van Gerwen
Simon Whitlock 4-1 Steve Beaton
Colin Lloyd 4-1 Scott Rand
Afternoon Session
Gary Anderson 4-2 Devon Petersen
Third Round
Adrian Lewis 4-0 Wayne Jones
Justin Pipe 1-4 Terry Jenkins
AFTERNOON SESSION
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN 4-1 MERVYN KING
(3-2, 0-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN secured an excellent 4-1 triumph over the experienced Mervyn King in the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship on Wednesday afternoon.
Van Gerwen, who is now the only Dutchman left in the competition, defied nine maximums from his opponent to reach the third round at the Alexandra Palace for the first time.
King, who reached the last four back in 2009, missed chances to win the first and fourth sets, which proved to be vital in the final outcome.
King, who enjoyed a whitewash victory over Australia's Geoff Kime in the first round, hit a 180 with his first three darts and landed double eight to secure a break of throw after van Gerwen missed three chances to hold in the opening leg.
Van Gerwen hit back superbly by converting a 148 checkout to level and then hit double top at the first time of asking to take the third.
The 22-year-old Dutchman, who defeated Colin Osborne in his first match, missed two darts for the set in the fourth leg and King capitalised by landing double eight to force a decider.
The conclusion to the first set proved to be a dramatic affair, as King missed four darts at double eight to win the set and van Gerwen landed double 16 with his third dart to convert a 74 finish and edge ahead.
King recovered from the loss of the first set to win the second without reply from the young Dutchman to level the match.
The number 12 seed hit a 13-dart finish to win the first leg, and the second followed on double two before King hit double eight to win the set.
Van Gerwen started the third set superbly with a 158 checkout, but King levelled by taking out 86 before the youngster forged ahead again by landing double top with his first dart after the Englishman had missed a dart at the same bed.
The Dutch ace then took out 64 in the next leg to win the set and lead the match for the second time.
Both players held throw in the opening two legs of the fourth set before King landed a fantastic 132 checkout, completed on the bullseye.
King missed two darts to win the set in the fourth leg, and van Gerwen hit a pressure double seven for an 85 finish as he snatched the leg to level.
The deciding leg saw King hit a 180, only for van Gerwen to hit two of his own - but after missing a dart at the bullseye, the Dutchman returned to punish a missed double nine from the world number 12 to square the game and land double eight.
That put van Gerwen 3-1 up, and he managed to hold throw at the start of the fifth set, after King was guilty of missing two more darts at doubles.
King hit double four to claim the second leg before van Gerwen landed double eight to move a leg away from the match.
The Bradwell thrower hit his ninth 180 of the match in process of winning the fourth leg, but two 180s in the decider from van Gerwen, followed by double eight, ended the match.
"I hit the right shots at the right times and that proved to be really important for me," said van Gerwen, who now faces Simon Whitlock in the third round.
"I feel confident at the moment. I have reached the third round of this tournament for the first time and I hope to go further."
|
Mervyn King |
1-4 |
Michael van Gerwen |
|
26 |
100+ |
23 |
|
18 |
140+ |
18 |
|
9 |
180s |
5 |
|
32.97 |
Ave 1 |
30.53 |
|
98.91 |
Ave 3 |
91.59 |
|
132 |
High Finish |
158, 148 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
3 |
|
10/31 - 32% |
Finishing - % |
12/33 - 36% |
SIMON WHITLOCK 4-1 STEVE BEATON
(3-2, 3-0, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2)
SIMON WHITLOCK continued to defy the pain of his broken ankle by reaching the last 16 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a 4-1 triumph against Steve Beaton.
Beaton missed chances to win the opening set and also wasted chances to win two other sets as Whitlock limped through to the third round.
Whitlock, who reached the final at Alexandra Palace two years ago, will now face Michael van Gerwen for a place in the last eight of the tournament, having followed up his 105 average in a first round win over Dennis Smith with another determined display.
"Steve did miss a few chances which could have changed the course of the match," said Whitlock. "My leg is still hurting, but my throwing arm is absolutely fine, which is the important thing!
"I'm playing Michael next and that will be tough. He's playing some excellent darts and has just beaten Mervyn King, which is no easy feat."
Beaton, who came back from the brink of defeat against Magnus Caris in his first round game, won the first leg with an 80 finish and took the second against the darts.
The third leg saw Beaton miss two darts at double top to win the set, and Whitlock managed to take the leg on double six.
Whitlock then hit an excellent 100 checkout, with his opponent waiting on 32, and the Australian landed double 12 to snatch the set, after Beaton missed a dart at the bullseye.
Whitlock, who averaged over 105 against Dennis Smith in the first round, hit a maximum in the process of taking the first leg of set two, and then broke throw in the next with a 15-dart finish.
Beaton stopped the rot by hitting double ten to win his first leg in nine, after Whitlock had missed a dart at double top for the set.
Beaton then won the fourth leg with a 64 finish, after Whitlock was off-target with two more darts to win the set, and the 1996 Lakeside Champion converted a 108 checkout in the deciding leg to win the set and pull back to 2-1.
Whitlock made a positive start to the fourth set, taking the first two legs with the aid of legs of 14 and 11 darts which both featured a maximum, before Beaton took the third after the Australian missed two chances to win the set.
Beaton hit an excellent 121 checkout to take the fourth leg, but was unable to set up a double when attempting to take out 79, and Whitlock hit tops to restore his two-set advantage.
Beaton started the fifth set well with a 12-dart finish to take the first leg before Whitlock levelled by taking out 81 for another 11-darter.
The third leg fell the way of Beaton before Whitlock hit double top with his first dart in the fourth to move a leg away from victory.
The fifth leg saw Beaton crucially miss a dart at tops to win the set and keep the match alive, allowing Whitlock in to hit the same bed and take the win.
"I'm loving every minute of this," said Whitlock. "It's great to be back playing again and I live for the game, so to be part of matches like that is brilliant because it was a real struggle, despite the scoreline.
"My leg's still a big problem and the ankle is swollen, but when I'm playing it doesn't affect me because the adrenaline takes over.
"I'm only practising for 10-15 minutes at a time, so to play for five sets and longer is a struggle, but when I'm up there I forget about my foot because I'm so focused on the darts.
"I'll have some physio tonight and see how I pull up ahead of Thursday because I've a tough game against Michael van Gerwen. He's playing the best darts I've seen from him for a few years and it should be a great match."
|
Simon Whitlock |
4-1 |
Steve Beaton |
|
29 |
100+ |
35 |
|
18 |
140+ |
8 |
|
5 |
180s |
3 |
|
32.14 |
Ave 1 |
30.25 |
|
96.42 |
Ave 3 |
90.74 |
|
100 |
High Finish |
121, 108 |
|
6 |
Legs Against Throw |
3 |
|
14/33 - 42% |
Finishing - % |
9/22 - 41% |
COLIN LLOYD 4-1 SCOTT RAND
(3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
COLIN LLOYD defeated Scott Rand with an excellent 4-1 win in the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.
The match turned in Lloyd's favour when he hit a superb 167 checkout in the deciding leg of the fourth set, as he denied emerging star Rand the chance to level at two sets all.
Lloyd kicked on from a 3-1 lead to take victory, a decade after he reached the semi-finals in his previous best performance in the World Championship.
Colchester's Lloyd started confidently, hitting a 180 with his first three darts before going on to win the opening leg with a 76 finish to break throw.
Rand, who was hugely impressive in his victory against Andy Smith in the first round, broke back immediately, hitting a 180 of his own in a 14-darter before Lloyd regained the lead by hitting double top with his third dart.
The fourth leg saw Lloyd off-target with four attempts to win the set, but Rand failed to capitalise as he missed four darts at double top to allow him back in on double nine.
Lloyd then took the opening leg of the second set on double top and finished 90 on the bullseye, to win his fourth successive leg before Rand hit double eight to win the next.
Rand hit double 16 to win the fourth leg and then landed double ten with a pressure third dart to level the match, after Lloyd missed a dart at double 14.
The third set began well for Lloyd as he hit double ten to take the first leg, and a 14-dart finish gave him the second.
Rand, who will give up his day job as a lorry driver to become a full-time professional following the World Championship, hit a superb 140 checkout to win the third leg, but a missed dart at double top was costly for the Coventry man, as Lloyd hit double 16 to take the set 3-1.
Rand broke throw at the beginning of set four by hitting double top, but Lloyd claimed the second by landing the same double.
Both players held throw in the next two legs before Lloyd produced a fantastic 167 checkout in the deciding leg to move 3-1 ahead, with Rand waiting on double four to tie the game.
The opening two legs of the fifth set were held with throw before Rand hit back-to-back maximums to leave the opportunity of a nine-dart finish in the third.
The attempt at seventh treble 20 missed its intended target, but the leg was won in 13 darts, as he landed double eight to lead again.
Lloyd took out 64 to win the fourth leg to move a just one away from victory, after Rand was off-target with a dart at bullseye to win the set.
The deciding leg saw Rand miss another dart at the bullseye, and the former world number one hit double five with his third dart to seal victory.
"I'm over the moon with that," said Lloyd. "I'm playing pretty well and although it's not fantastic I'm getting the job done and I can build on this.
"Scott gave me a few chances, but the 167 was a massive shot to move 3-1 up instead of him getting back to two-all, and I know it hurt him.
"I'm enjoying myself and trying to have fun on stage as well but there's also the serious prize at the end of this tournament, and to become Ladbrokes World Darts Champion is what I'm aiming for."
|
Colin Lloyd |
4-1 |
Scott Rand |
|
22 |
100+ |
26 |
|
12 |
140+ |
16 |
|
6 |
180s |
5 |
|
30.26 |
Ave 1 |
30.97 |
|
90.78 |
Ave 3 |
92.90 |
|
167 |
High Finish |
140 |
|
6 |
Legs Against Throw |
4 |
|
14/37 - 38% |
Finishing - % |
9/24 - 38% |
EVENING SESSION
GARY ANDERSON 4-2 DEVON PETERSEN
(3-0, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2)
GARY ANDERSON was fully tested by South Africa's Devon Petersen before claiming a third round place in the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a 4-2 victory.
The Scot, last year's runner-up at Alexandra Palace, looked on course for a comfortable win when he took five of the first six legs, only for Petersen to take the second set to level and threaten to win the fourth before Anderson led 3-1.
Petersen continued to fight and won the fifth set 3-1, but Anderson closed out victory in style in the next by hitting finishes of 134, 98 and 124 for a trio of 12-darters.
"Devon missed a few doubles and let me in early on, but he started to play well and it became very tough for me," admitted Anderson.
"These youngsters are all really good players and their not scared on the big stages, and Devon is no exception. I was impressed by him and I'm relieved to be through that."
The first leg proved tricky for both players as the pair missed early chances before Anderson stepped in on double eight to lead.
The Scot, who defeated Jyhan Artut in an enthralling first round clash, won the next two legs with finishes of 13 and 14 darts to take the first set for an early advantage.
Anderson continued the high standard at the start of the second set with another 14-darter, before Petersen won his first leg of the match on double top.
Anderson, who reached the final 12 months ago, won the third leg on double two after the South African was guilty of missing seven darts at doubles, but then paid for wasting two darts for the set as Petersen took out a 13-darter to level the set and a 14-dart finish to square the match.
The third set began with Anderson holding throw before Petersen hit a superb 11-dart finish to take the second, finishing 100 in two darts.
The Scot won the third leg by checking out 90 and then took out 83 to win the set, with the aid of an improvised route of single three and two double tops.
Anderson secured a break of throw at the start of the fourth set with a 70 finish, and after the pair traded maximums as Petersen levelled in the second it was the Premier League Darts champion who kicked off the third with back-to-back 180s.
His hopes of a nine-darter were quashed when an attempt at seventh treble 20 was off-target, and he was unable to close out the leg as Petersen finished 61 to lead 2-1.
The 25-year-old South African then missed a dart at double top for the set in the fourth leg, and Anderson made him by recording an 81 finish, completed on the bullseye, to level.
A dramatic deciding leg saw Anderson miss two darts at double top, but Petersen could not capitalise as his dart at the bullseye for a 128 checkout was off-target, allowing the Scot back in to hit double top for a 3-1 cushion in the game.
Anderson also led in the fifth set, courtesy of double five, and hit his tenth 180 in the second leg, but it was not enough as Petersen levelled on double top before recording a 70 finish to break.
Petersen then took the fourth leg by hitting double eight to win the set and reduce the deficit to 3-2.
Anderson started set six with a showpiece 134 checkout, hitting treble 18 and two double tops, although Petersen was unfazed by that slice of brilliance as he levelled with a 13-darter.
Anderson regained the advantage by taking out a 98 finish for his second 12-darter of the set to move one leg away from the win, and after Petersen finished 64 to level again he took out a classy 124 to secure victory.
"I'm not making it easy for myself but Devon played well and it was a good match," said Anderson. "I've put a lot of work in over Christmas and it's not quite clicking on stage yet.
"I scored well again but then started snatching my darts and I've got to fight through that. It will be a good game with Colin Lloyd on Thursday, because we're both pretty direct in how we play and it will be a quick pace.
"We're getting to the nitty gritty end of the tournament now and there are 16 class players in the tournament, and I've just got to focus on my next game and making sure I hit enough doubles to win."
Petersen, who hails from Cape Town but is based in Bradford as he emerges on the PDC circuit, said: "I was really enjoying myself and wanted take the game to a deciding set, but Gary showed his class.
"This is just the start for me because I don't feel like I lost, I feel like inexperience beat me. I will go away, work hard, take the positives from this and come back a better player.
"I think there's a time where you learn not to lose, and I think I'm close to that. The next 12 months could possibly be life-changing for me because I feel confident and stronger."
|
Gary Anderson |
4-2 |
Devon Petersen |
|
30 |
100+ |
26 |
|
13 |
140+ |
22 |
|
11 |
180s |
6 |
|
31.20 |
Ave 1 |
30.58 |
|
93.61 |
Ave 3 |
91.75 |
|
134, 124 |
High Finish |
100 |
|
9 |
Legs Against Throw |
6 |
|
15/36 - 42% |
Finishing - % |
11/36 - 31% |
ADRIAN LEWIS 4-0 WAYNE JONES
(3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1)
DEFENDING CHAMPION Adrian Lewis became the first player to reach the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a straight-sets victory over Wayne Jones.
Lewis, who struggled through his opening two matches, lost just four legs in the match and will now face Terry Jenkins on Friday night for a place in the semi-finals.
"It's a great feeling to be through to the quarter-finals, and I'm on course to retain my title," said Lewis, who ended the match with a 67 percent checkout ratio after hitting 12 from 18 attempts at doubles.
"I felt it was a good performance tonight, and I was particularly sharp on the doubles which was the key to the win."
Lewis won the opening two legs of the match, which included a 106 checkout in the second, before finishing 72 for a 14-darter to win the opening set without Jones having a dart at a double.
Jones got off the mark with double eight to win the opening leg of the second set, but Lewis took out 56 to level and an 84 finish to break in the third, after the Wolverhampton man missed a dart at double 18.
The fourth leg saw Lewis fire in two maximums, and he hit double 19 to record a 13-dart finish and take the set.
Lewis, who defeated Robert Thornton in the second round, made a winning start to the third set after Jones was guilty of missing two darts at doubles.
Jones recovered to take the second with a 62 finish and the Wolverhampton man secured a break of throw in the third leg on double 18.
Lewis, though, won the fourth leg with an excellent 109 checkout and the deciding leg also fell in favour of the Stoke star, courtesy of a 14-darter, as he moved three sets clear.
Jones held throw to take the first leg of the fourth set with an 11-darter, but Lewis won the next two by landing double eight as he moved to within touching distance of victory.
The world number two then his fifth 180 in the fourth leg before landing double top at the first time of asking to seal the match in clinical fashion.
|
Adrian Lewis |
4-0 |
Wayne Jones |
|
21 |
100+ |
23 |
|
10 |
140+ |
13 |
|
5 |
180s |
2 |
|
31.98 |
Ave 1 |
31.20 |
|
95.94 |
Ave 3 |
93.60 |
|
109, 106 |
High Finish |
81 |
|
4 |
Legs Against Throw |
1 |
|
12/18 - 67% |
Finishing - % |
4/10 - 40% |
TERRY JENKINS 4-1 JUSTIN PIPE
(3-1, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 3-0)
TERRY JENKINS set up a quarter-final clash against reigning champion Adrian Lewis with a 4-1 triumph against Justin Pipe in the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship third round on Wednesday night.
Jenkins, a semi-finalist last year at Alexandra Palace, won the first two sets to take an early advantage, before Pipe took the third to hit back led led 2-1 the fourth.
However, Jenkins, put together a run of five straight legs to win the match and end Pipe's brave challenge.
"I'm very pleased to win that match and reach the quarter-finals," said Jenkins, who ended the match with a three-dart average of 102.64.
"I wasn't put off by Justin's style of play. I adapted well, kept concentrating on my own game and it paid dividends in the end."
Jenkins won the first leg of the game in 13 darts with the aid of a 180 before Pipe took out 72 in two darts to edge the second, which also included a 180 from the Taunton man.
Jenkins hit double ten with his third dart to take the third and a trio of 140 scores from the Ledbury man followed in the next, which he won with an 81 finish to take the set and establish an early lead.
Pipe, who came through a titanic two-hour battle against Wes Newton in the second round, won the first leg of the set two with an 80 finish, before Jenkins claimed the second in 14 darts.
Pipe hit an excellent 121 checkout, finishing on the bullseye, to win the third leg, but Jenkins levelled again by landing double seven to take the fourth.
The deciding leg proved to be a dramatic affair, as Jenkins missed two darts at doubles before Pipe was off-target with four chances to level, and the seven-time major finalist returned to land double ten to lead 2-0.
The tenth seed continued his excellent form at the start of the third set, hitting a 12-darter to win the opening leg before Pipe claimed the second in the same manner with an 81 finish.
Pipe took the third leg against the darts by taking out 71, after Jenkins was off-target with two attempts at double top, and the fourth soon followed, as Pipe recorded a 79 finish to reduce the gap to 2-1.
Jenkins, who defeated Co Stompe in the second round, broke throw at the start of the fourth set, but missed two chances to double his advantage, and Pipe cashed in by hitting double top at the first attempt.
Pipe hit his fifth 180 of the match in the process of winning third leg, but Jenkins posted double top to complete a 14-darter in taking the fourth leg.
The deciding leg saw Jenkins hit another 180 to forge ahead, and he hit double top at the first time of asking, to restore his two-set advantage with a fine 11-darter.
Jenkins hit a 14-dart finish to take the first leg of the fifth set and then made Pipe pay for three missed darts at doubles by converting a 94 finish in the second.
That put Jenkins a leg away from the quarter-finals, and after Pipe missed a dart at double 16 he stepped up to take out 96 with single 20, double 18 and double top to seal victory in excellent fashion.
"I'm always confident and I know what I can throw like, and it was great to perform like that on stage," added Jenkins. "Hopefully I can do it again on Friday.
"I'm playing the World Champion and there will be a buzz in the game, and that's what's gets me going."
Pipe, who has jumped into the world's top 32 in an impressive 2011, said: "Terry played fantastic darts, and I'd love to see him carry on playing like that and win his first major. He showed why he's a great darts player.
"I'm very disappointed at the moment but it's only my second time at the World Championship and I've made it to the last 16, so I've got to be happy.
"I missed my chance to win the second set and level and that was the turning point early on, but I was missing treble 20 a lot with my first dart and that cost me."
|
Justin Pipe |
1-4 |
Terry Jenkins |
|
30 |
100+ |
24 |
|
12 |
140+ |
21 |
|
5 |
180s |
7 |
|
32.22 |
Ave 1 |
34.21 |
|
96.65 |
Ave 3 |
102.64 |
|
121 |
High Finish |
96 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
5 |
|
8/19 - 42% |
Finishing - % |
13/30 - 43% |