World Championship - Day Nine

PHIL TAYLOR bounced back to top form at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, sweeping past Denmark's Per Laursen in straight sets to move into the third round at Alexandra Palace.

The 15-time World Champion had been below-par in his first round defeat of Gary Mawson before Christmas, but returned to London boosted by the improving health of his recently-born third grandchild and his second place in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

He went on to drop just four legs in a straight sets win over Denmark's Laursen to progress to the third round, where he will now meet Lowestoft's Peter Wright in the last 16 on Wednesday night.

"I feel like I'm ready to win the World Championship now," said Taylor. "I was nice and relaxed because the pressure has been taken off me."

Wright had book defeated Paul Nicholson earlier on Monday and was joined by Rugeley's Mark Hylton as an unseeded qualifier in the third round, after the left-hander knocked out former world number one Colin Lloyd 4-2.

Lloyd hit back from 2-1 down to level superbly and lead in the fifth set, only for Hylton to win the final six legs without reply to secure his place in the last 16, where he faces Wales' Mark Webster, who had seen off Ronnie Baxter in straight sets.

Stoke's Adrian Lewis - a quarter-finalist last year - swept aside Mark Dudbridge 4-1, with the 2005 runner-up taking the fourth set to threaten a comeback from 3-0 down before the 25-year-old wrapped up the win.

Lewis now plays Robert Thornton in the third round, after the Scot brushed off Andy Hamilton in straight sets.

The second round continues on Tuesday with six games set across two sessions at Alexandra Palace, including world number two James Wade against Austria's Mensur Suljovic and last year's World Championship runner-up Simon Whitlock facing Denis Ovens.

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Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Second Round
Monday December 27
Afternoon Session
Ronnie Baxter 0-4 Mark Webster
Paul Nicholson 2-4 Peter Wright
Andy Hamilton 0-4 Robert Thornton

Evening Session
Colin Lloyd 2-4 Mark Hylton
Adrian Lewis 4-1 Mark Dudbridge
Phil Taylor 4-0 Per Laursen

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MARK WEBSTER 4-0 RONNIE BAXTER
(3-2, 3-2, 3-0, 3-2)
MARK WEBSTER recorded an excellent victory over Ronnie Baxter to advance to the third round of the 2011 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Baxter was left to regret missed opportunities to win the second set and from then on Webster, who ended up in third place last year, took command to end the game with an other impressive 97-plus average.

Webster hit double top to win the opening leg after Baxter had missed one dart at double 18, although the Blackpool ace replied to hold his throw despite the Welshman having an opportunity for a two-leg lead.

Baxter hit a two-dart 80 finish to win the third leg against the darts but missed a dart at tops to win the set in the fourth and Webster took out 116 to level the set.

Webster held throw in the deciding leg and made that count by hitting double ten with his last dart to edge a tight opening set.

Baxter won the first leg after Webster missed a dart at bullseye for a 170 checkout, but the Welshman won the second with a fantastic 167 finish to level.

Baxter, who defeated Roland Scholten to reach this stage of the competition, won the third leg on double two after Webster missed two darts at double top.

Webster won the fourth leg after both players had hit maximums and then won the decider to win the set to double his advantage after Baxter missed four darts at doubles to square the match.

The left-hander then hit his third 180 of the game at the beginning of the set which was won in 11 darts and then won the second with a two-dart 100 checkout after Baxter was off-target with one dart at tops.

The set was sealed by the Welshman as he hit double top to win the third leg and leave Baxter, the eighth seed, with a mountain to climb.

Baxter, a quarter-finalist at last year's event, hit a maximum at the start of the fourth set and followed that with a two-dart 93 finish to win the first leg.

Webster won the second by hitting double top to win the second leg but Baxter regained the lead winning the third after a successful attempt at double ten.

Webster won the fourth leg on double five and in the decider he hit scores of 174 and 140 to wrestle advantage of throw away from Baxter.

The Welshman missed two attempts at double top but Baxter was in no position to capitalise and Webster returned to hit double top to seal an excellent victory.

"I think I've got to improve for the rest of the competition, but I'll take a 4-0 win anytime," said Webster. "The priority was to come here and win that's exactly what I did.

"I've hit high averages before but not backed it up and at the moment I'm consistent and that's been the difference."

Baxter said: "Mark played some great darts but I have him chances.

"In the first set I had a dart to win it, and I had three more in the second set and another two for the fourth, and he got what I couldn't - the winning double in each set.

"It would have been different if I'd hit my doubles but he punished me when I missed my doubles and full credit to him."

Ronnie Baxter	0-4	Mark Webster
21	100s	22
16	140s	14
4	180	3
31.67	Ave 1	32.41
95.00	Ave 3	97.22
1	Legs Against Throw	4
93	High Finish	167

PETER WRIGHT 4-2 PAUL NICHOLSON
(3-2, 1-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-1, 3-0)
PETER WRIGHT stunned Paul Nicholson with a 4-2 victory in the second round of the 2011 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Nicholson, who hit nine out of 11 attempts at doubles in his first round win over Steve Farmer, could not repeat the performance and Wright capitalised to seal a last 16 place against Phil Taylor or Per Laursen.

Wright had the led the match twice only for his opponent to come back and level on both occasions, but missed doubles from Nicholson allowed him to win six of final seven legs of the contest and claim the biggest win of his career.

Nicholson began brightly by hitting double top to win the opening leg and secure an early break of throw, before the second was won with a 15-dart finish.

Nicholson then hit the first maximum of the match in the third but Wright landed the winning double to take his first leg.

Nicholson missed six darts at double four to end the set in the fourth leg, and Wright managed to capitalise with an accurate attempt at double eight to begin a pattern which would continue throughout the game.

The deciding leg saw Nicholson miss another dart for the set, when a dart at tops to complete a 120 finish was off-target, allowing Wright to step in and hit double top to pinch the opening set.

Nicholson made a winning start to the second by hitting double top with his first attempt, and then won the second against the darts after the Players Championship Finals winner had missed two more opportunities.

Wright hit back to win the third leg by taking out 80 after Nicholson had missed five darts for the set, but the 16th seed made no mistake in the next as he hit double eight with his last dart to level the match.

Wright won the opening leg of the third set with a 120 finish and took the second by hitting double five with his last dart after Nicholson was off-target with two darts at double nine.

Wright then hit double top for the second time in three legs to complete the set and regain the lead.

A first maximum was hit by Wright in a 13-darter to win the opening leg of the fourth set, but he wasted chances to take the second and Nicholson stole the leg on double eight.

Nicholson hit a 92 finish to win the third, but Wright hit a pressure 90 - with his opponent waiting on a two-dart finish - to keep the set alive.

The deciding leg saw Nicholson produce his best darts of the match as he recorded back-to-back 180s to set up the chance of the nine-dart finish.

His attempt at treble 17 top open a 141 checkout fell just below the wire to end any chance of achieving the feat, but he did return to hit double eight for the set to square the match.

Both players held their throws in the opening two legs of the fifth set and Wright continued that sequence by winning the third leg on double 12 for a 2-1 lead.

The fourth proved to be dramatic as Wright missed three darts at doubles to win the set, but Nicholson could not capitalise on double top and the Lowestoft qualifier took out double five to lead the match for the third time.

Wright missed two at darts at tops for an early break of throw in the sixth but Nicholson missed opportunities at the same double and his opponent returned to hit double ten at the first time of asking.

Nicholson suffered more problems on the doubles in the second leg and Wright cashed in by hitting a 72 finish, before the pattern was repeated in leg three before Wright held his nerve to hit double ten to advance to the last 16.

"It's the biggest win of my career," admitted Wright. "Paul's an excellent player and I knew it would be a tough game but he didn't play to his usual level and I hit the doubles that mattered.

"I need to hit more treble 20s because there have been too many single 20s so far, but I'm still in the tournament and I could go all the way."

Paul Nicholson	2-4	Peter Wright
23	100s	35
26	140s	16
5	180	1
29.98	Ave 1	28.46
89.93	Ave 3	85.39
4	Legs Against Throw	7
92	High Finish	120

ROBERT THORNTON 4-0 ANDY HAMILTON
(3-2, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2)
ROBERT THORNTON booked a place in the third round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace with a straight-sets triumph against Andy Hamilton.

The Scot's return to form continued as he swept into the last 16, where he will now take on either Adrian Lewis or Mark Dudbridge.

Three of the four sets went to a deciding leg and Hamilton had chances to win the third set but those opportunities went begging as he hit just six of 38 attempts at a double in the game.

Thornton kicked off the match with a 180, but it was Hamilton who won the first leg by hitting double 16 with his third dart.

Hamilton hit a maximum himself at the beginning of the second, but Thornton landed the winning double to level and then moved 2-1 up by posting double 19, capitalising on four missed doubles by his opponent.

Hamilton hit his third 180 in the fourth leg and took out double 16 to level, but Thornton won the decider with a clinical 120 checkout to pinch the opening set.

The second set turned out to be a one sided affair as Thornton, who defeated Nigel Heydon in his first round game, won it without reply.

Thornton hit an excellent two-dart 76 to win the opening leg and took out double top to extend his advantage.

The Scotsman, who reached the final of the 2009 Players Championship Finals, then took out 62 in the third leg to win the set and establish a two-set lead.

Thornton won the opening leg of the third set by hitting double top, but the 21st seed missed three chances to win the second, and Hamilton hit double three with his last dart to win it.

Thornton hit double top for the second time in the set to lead again but Hamilton won the fourth on double eight after both players had traded maximums.

The deciding leg saw Hamilton miss three crucial darts at doubles to win the set and Thornton stepped in to hit a two-dart 86 to move one set away from victory.

Hamilton, who defeated Dennis Smith in a straight-sets win in the opening leg, hit an impressive 14-darter to win the first leg of the fourth set.

Thornton pinched the second leg by hitting double seven after Hamilton missed opportunities to extend his lead.

Hamilton won the third with another 14-dart finish before Thornton hit a 125 checkout to win the fourth leg and go within touching distance of victory.

Hamilton had the advantage of throw in the deciding leg but he was unable to reach the double and Thornton hit double top at the first time of asking to end his hopes.

"I'm really pleased with that," said Thornton. "My finishing was good and I hit some good shots at the right time."

Andy Hamilton	0-4	Robert Thornton
20	100s	26
7	140s	10
6	180	4
28.83	Ave 1	30.05
86.49	Ave 3	90.16
1	Legs Against Throw	4
56	High Finish	125

EVENING SESSION

MARK HYLTON 4-2 COLIN LLOYD
(3-2, 2-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-1, 3-0)
MARK HYLTON continued his giant-killing feats at the 2011 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship by dumping out former world number one Colin Lloyd with a 4-2 victory.

With the match all-square at two sets apiece, former airline cabin manager Hylton produced some high class darts to win six successive legs and see off Lloyd, who became the fourth member of the top 16 to fall on day nine of the competition.

Hylton had knocked out Steve Beaton in the first round, and is rewarded with a clash against Mark Webster in the last 16 on Wednesday as his dream World Championship debut continued.

Lloyd won the opening leg against the darts by hitting double top, after Hylton had missed a dart at the same double.

Lloyd, who defeated Andree Welge in an extraordinary five-set encounter in the first round, won the second leg by hitting double 16 to extend his lead.

Hylton won his first leg of the contest in the next by hitting double ten and then hit the same double to win the fourth leg for a break of throw.

Both players began a dramatic deciding leg with a maximum before Hylton had the first opportunity to win the set, but he missed two darts at doubles to allow Lloyd in.

Lloyd, though, was unable to take the chance as three darts at double 18 were just off-target and Hylton hit double ten for the third successive leg to edge a tight set.

Lloyd won the opening leg of the second set by hitting double eight before Hylton levelled in the second and then broke throw by hitting double top after the Essex ace missed a dart at bullseye for a 170 checkout.

In the fourth leg, Hylton missed a dart at bullseye for a 126 checkout, which would have given him the set, and Lloyd hit double four to break back.

Lloyd had the advantage of throw in the deciding leg and hit a fantastic 136 checkout to seal the set in style and square the match at one apiece.

Hylton hit his second maximum of the game in the opening leg of third set, and won it in 15 darts before breaking throw in the second by taking out 66 after Lloyd had missed two darts at tops.

In the third leg Hylton hit double ten to win the set and lead the match for the second time.

Lloyd made a winning start to the fourth set with an 86 finish but Hylton won the second with a clinical two-dart 64.

Hylton then won the third leg against throw before Lloyd produced some class to win the next two legs in 12 and 14 darts to win the set and leave the match finely balanced.

Lloyd kept that excellent form going with another 12-dart finish to win the opening leg of the fifth set, but replied in the same manner to stop his run before posting a 12-dart finish to win the third leg.

Hylton hit another maximum in the fourth, his third in successive legs, and then returned to the oche to produce a fabulous 138 checkout to win the set and move ahead in the match for a third time.

Hylton hit his seventh maximum at the start of the sixth set but missed a dart at double top to win the leg, although two misses at tops from Lloyd allowed him back on double ten to break.

Hylton then hit back-to-back 140s at the beginning of the second leg and won it on double 12, with his third dart, to move one leg away from victory.

In the third leg, Lloyd missed one dart at double 16 for a 102 checkout and Hylton hit double top to complete a 68 finish and secure a famous victory.

"I'm over the moon - I can't believe what's happened but I am delighted with this victory," said Hylton. "I was really up for the game and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the key was that I took my doubles out

"I know how good I can be but in the past my mind wandered and I lost focus. I feel that I can improve in the longer formats and they will suit me better."

Colin Lloyd	2-4	Mark Hylton
28	100s	34
15	140s	15
4	180	7
30.38	Ave 1	31.17
91.14	Ave 3	93.52
4	Legs Against Throw	8
136	High Finish	138

ADRIAN LEWIS 4-1 MARK DUDBRIDGE
(3-2, 3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 3-2)
ADRIAN LEWIS sealed a third round place at the 2011 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 4-1 victory over Mark Dudbridge.

Lewis was in scintillating form to win the first three sets of the match before Dudbridge staged a brief revival.

However, Lewis closed out the game in a tight fifth set to set up a clash against Robert Thornton in the last 16 on Wednesday.

Both players held their throws in the opening two legs of the contest and Lewis continued that trend when he won the third leg, with the aid of a maximum.

Dudbridge, who defeated Alex Roy in the first round, hit a 180 of his in the fourth leg and won it 12 darts to force a decider.

Lewis had the advantage of throw in the final leg and hit a clinical 171 to leave 36 before posting double nine to win the leg and secure a high-quality first set.

The number five seed stepped a gear in the second set with some fabulous finishing, hitting 94 to break throw in the first leg and an effortless 111 checkout to take the second, before posting his second maximum and an 84 finish to seal the set and leave Dudbridge two sets down.

Lewis hit double ten to win the opening leg of the third set before Dudbridge won the second with an impressive 13-dart finish.

Both players hit maximums in the third leg, which was won by Lewis after the Bristolian missed two chances to break his opponent's throw.

The fourth leg saw both players kick-off with back-to-back 180s but it was won by Lewis 12 darts to win the set and leave Dudbridge with a mountain to climb.

Dudbridge was off-target with three attempts at doubles at the start of the fourth set, and Lewis stepped in to hit double for a break of throw.

But Dudbridge showed great character to hit back and win the second by hitting double eight with his first dart and the third by landing double four.

Dudbridge hit his sixth maximum of the game at the start of the fourth leg and went on to win in 13 darts to win the set.

The opening leg of the fifth set proved to be a dramatic affair as both players struggled to find the winning double, and it eventually went to Dudbridge, who hit double one with his last dart to break throw to continue the revival.

Dudbridge, though, missed a dart at the bullseye to win the second leg and Lewis hit double top to level before landing the same double to win the third.

That put Stoke ace one leg away from the match, but Dudbridge kept his hopes alive with a 107 finish to force a deciding leg to fifth set.

Lewis then missed one dart at double top to seal victory, but Dudbridge could take the chance given to him as he missed two darts at double 19 and eight, and Lewis made no mistake to hit double top at the first time of asking.

"I should have probably won the match 4-0 but I lost a little bit of focus and it cost me the fourth set, admitted Lewis.

"If Mark had taken that chance to win the last set I could have been trouble, but I've won and I can look forward to the next round."

Adrian Lewis	4-1	Mark Dudbridge
29	100s	23
5	140s	10
6	180	6
30.09	Ave 1	29.22
90.28	Ave 3	87.66
5	Legs Against Throw	3
111	High Finish	107

PHIL TAYLOR 4-0 PER LAURSEN
(3-1, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0)
PHIL TAYLOR bounced back to top form at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, sweeping past Denmark's Per Laursen in straight sets to move into the third round at Alexandra Palace.

The 15-time World Champion had been below-par in his first round defeat of Gary Mawson before Christmas, but returned to London boosted by the improving health of his recently-born third grandchild and his second place in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

He went on to drop just four legs in a straight sets win over Denmark's Laursen to progress to the third round, where he will now meet Lowestoft's Peter Wright in the last 16 on Wednesday night.

"I feel like I'm ready to win the World Championship now," said Taylor. "I was nice and relaxed because the pressure has been taken off me.

"My little grandson is out of intensive care, which was a massive pressure on me, and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year was one of the greatest days of my life, one of my proudest ever days.

"It's been a humbling week for me and the crowd were incredible to me tonight. I was a bit worried before the match but I've got through it and I've not dropped a set yet."

Taylor broke his opponent's throw at the start of the match with an 80 finish, which was soon followed by a 100 checkout to win the second leg.

Laursen won the third leg by landing double four after Taylor had missed an opportunity for the set, but the world number one hit double 16 to establish an early lead.

Taylor won the first leg of the second set hitting double top at the first time of asking before Laursen produced an excellent 13-darter to win the second and level.

Taylor won the third leg, hitting double top for the second time in the set before hitting three consecutive 140s in the fourth.

But two uncharacteristic errors by Taylor, who missed two darts at double 12, allowed Laursen, who beat three-time world champion John Part in the first round, to hit double eight.

Taylor had advantage of throw in the deciding leg and made that count by reaching a finish first and hit double top again to extend his lead.

Taylor, who defeated Gary Mawson on the opening night of the event, won the first leg of the third against the darts and then recorded a 107 checkout to win the second.

Laursen won the third leg with a 14-dart finish and had a chance to win the fourth, but his attempt at double top was off-target and Taylor hit a 68 finish to win the set and move 3-0 ahead.

Taylor hit his first maximum of the contest in the first leg of the fourth set and returned to the oche to hit double 16 before a break of throw moved him within touching distance of victory after Laursen missed a dart at double 12.

Laursen hit a maximum in the third - but that was his last visit to the oche as Taylor hit double top at the first time of asking to wrap up the match.