World Matchplay - Night Six

PHIL TAYLOR powered into the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay, turning on the style with a 13-4 win over Steve Beaton in Blackpool

Taylor, the ten-time World Matchplay winner, followed up Tuesday's tournament record average in a win over Barrie Bates with a scintillating showing against Beaton.

Former World Champion Beaton led 2-0 and missed four darts to win the third leg - with Taylor winning the leg and reeling off eight in a row to take command before completing victory.

He ended the game having landed nine 180s and finished almost 60 percent of his chances at a double, setting up a tasty quarter-final with long-term rival Kevin Painter on Friday night.

Painter secured his place in the last eight for the first time in ten attempts in Blackpool with a dogged 14-12 win over Mark Walsh, who led 4-1 early on but eventually paid for missed doubles as the former World Championship finalist progressed.

Jelle Klaasen and Simon Whitlock also set up a quarter-final with victories on Thursday night, both reaching the last eight for the first time in Blackpool.

Klaasen edged out Gary Anderson 14-12 in another tight contest, with the Scot overturning a 6-2 deficit to lead 9-7 and 12-11 before the Dutch ace took the final three legs for victory.

Whitlock, meanwhile, defeated plucky Bristol newcomer Steve Brown 13-10 in their last 16 clash, with the world number 49 leading 8-7 before the Australian pulled through to take the win.

Friday's quarter-finals will also feature the all-Dutch affair between Raymond van Barneveld - a loser at this stage for the past three years - and Co Stompe, and 2007 winner James Wade's meeting with Wayne Jones.

Highlights will be available for PDCtv Subscribers on a 24-hour delay, along with live audio commentary - click here to visit PDCtv.

StanJames.com World Matchplay
Second Round
Thursday July 22
Gary Anderson 12-14 Jelle Klaasen
Kevin Painter 14-12 Mark Walsh
Steve Beaton 4-13 Phil Taylor
Simon Whitlock 13-10 Steve Brown

JELLE KLAASEN 14-12 GARY ANDERSON
JELLE KLAASEN edged out Gary Anderson 14-12 in a thriller to win his place in the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay in Blackpool.

The Dutchman produced one of his finest televised displays to see off number four seed Mervyn King in the first round, and this time showed tremendous spirit to survive a rousing comeback from Anderson.

The Scot trailed 6-2 but won six of the next seven legs to hit the front - only for late missed doubles to cost him dear in a dramatic contest.

Anderson made an explosive start, hitting scores of 180 and 168 in setting up double six for the opening leg, only for Klaasen to take the next three without reply moving 3-1 up.

Double two gave Anderson the fifth leg, but he paid for missed doubles in the next two as Klaasen moved 5-2 up, before a 117 finish gave him a four-leg lead.

Anderson fired in a 180 and double top for the ninth leg, and double eight put him 6-4 behind only for three misses at the same bed in the next to allow the Dutchman in on double 16 for a 7-4 advantage.

The Scot, though, produced his best spell of the game to win the next five legs, turning a three-leg deficit into a two-leg lead to suddenly emerge as favourite for victory.

He missed double top for a tenth leg, as Klaasen followed up an earlier 180 with double five to hit back to 9-8.

Anderson landed tops to win a tenth leg, and then replied to two 180s from Klaasen with one of his own in the next, which the Dutchman sensationally took in 11 darts.

Klaasen then took out 40 with double five, double 15 to level the match, only to see Anderson edge ahead 11-10.

However, he missed five darts in the next to move a leg away from the win, as Klaasen posted double 16 to level, before then regaining his lead at 12-11.

Double top from Klaasen saw him level, misses at the bull and double four from Anderson let the Dutchman in to lead 13-12 on double ten and five misses to keep the match alive were punished as the youngster sealed victory on double two.

"It was a great battle," said Klaasen. "It wasn't a game which would break record but it would have been a good game to watch for the fans and I enjoyed playing in it.

"I was 6-2 ahead but Gary played some brilliant darts to get back into it and it could have gone the other way if he'd not missed his doubles later on.

"Maybe I was a little bit lucky that he missed a few doubles and I know he has pain in his shoulder but I stayed calm, got the win and I'm in the quarter-finals so I'm glad with that."

Klaasen had been a first round victim on his World Matchplay debut last summer but will now meet either Simon Whitlock or Steve Brown in the quarter-finals.

"It's my second time here and my first time in the quarter-finals," added Klaasen. "I'll treat it as just another match and look forward to playing.

"In practice I've been playing brilliantly but my darts are going into the board on stage a little differently and it's strange - maybe that's the pressure and I've got to do something to change that."

Match Stats

Gary Anderson	12-14	Jelle Klaasen
38	100+	34
18	140+	10
3	180	4
29.28	Ave1	28.75
87.84	Ave3	86.24
67	High Finish	117
5	Legs Against Throw	6

KEVIN PAINTER 14-12 MARK WALSH
KEVIN PAINTER won through to the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay for the first time following a see-saw battle with Mark Walsh at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Having made a miracle comeback in the first round against Colin Lloyd, Painter overturned a 4-1 deficit against Walsh and recovered from missing eight darts for the match at 12-11 to edge to victory.

Walsh took the opening leg on double eight before landing a 180 and an 81 finish to win the second, while Painter posted a 76 checkout to get off the mark in the third.

Walsh, though, won the next two for a 4-1 lead before Painter mounted a fightback, finishing 68 in the sixth leg, punishing three misses from the number eight seed in the next and then checking out 112 to level.

He also hit a 171 in setting up double top as he hit the front for the first time at 5-4, and although Walsh won the tenth to level matters Painter then posted a brace of double 16 finishes in moving 7-5 up.

Painter landed a maximum and double seven in edging three legs clear, but two double eight finishes saw Walsh cut the gap to 8-7 before Painter finished 81 in two darts to earn a ninth leg.

The duo traded double top finishes in the next two legs, and Walsh battled to stay in the game at 11-10 only for a miss at double 18 to allow Painter in on tops to move a leg away from victory.

Painter posted a 177 in the next, only for Walsh to pile home another maximum followed by an 81 finish in cutting the lead to 12-11.

Painter, though, was first to a double in the 24th leg, only to miss eight match darts as the pair worked around the board before Walsh hit double five to level matters and stay in the game.

However, he missed two chances to move in front in the next as Painter held his nerve on tops to lead 13-12, and he then sealed the win on double eight in the next.

"When I play I seem to make it hard for myself too often and I can't believe I missed those eight darts for the match at the end there," said Painter.

"I thought I might throw it away to be honest. We scored very well but missed a few doubles along the way but I'm happy get through that.

"I've played here for ten years without reaching the quarter-finals but that's not because of my performances because I've played well and been beaten.

"I thought it might happen again in this game. I started badly again but go myself into a nice position and pulled through.

"Until this year I've often come out of the blocks flying and it's been the middle of the game which holds me up, and it's a bit of a worry but I've shown a lot of bottle to come back in two matches."

Match Stats

Kevin Painter	14-12	Mark Walsh
29	100+	49
24	140+	17
3	180	4
30.58	Ave1	30.64
91.75	Ave3	91.91
112	High Finish	81
6	Legs Against Throw	5

PHIL TAYLOR 13-4 STEVE BEATON
PHIL TAYLOR powered into the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay, turning on the style with a 13-4 win over Steve Beaton in Blackpool

Taylor, the ten-time World Matchplay winner, followed up Tuesday's tournament record average in a win over Barrie Bates with a scintillating showing against Beaton.

Former World Champion Beaton led 2-0 and missed four darts to win the third leg - with Taylor winning the leg and reeling off eight in a row to take command before completing victory.

He ended the game having landed nine 180s and finished almost 60 percent of his chances at a double, setting up a tasty quarter-final with long-term rival Kevin Painter on Friday night.

"When I was 2-0 I had to dust myself off and get into it, and the third leg seemed to let me back into the game," said Taylor. "I was well under pressure in those early legs but I fought back and I'm delighted to win."

Beaton made a brilliant start to the game, hitting a 12-darter to take the opening leg and trading maximums with Taylor to win the second on double eight, after the reigning champion missed three darts for the leg.

Taylor landed another 180 in the third, but Beaton missed the bullseye and three darts for a 3-0 cushion as Taylor posted double 16 to get off the mark.

Double top levelled the game, and finishes of double 14 and double 16 were followed by a brilliant 126 checkout as Taylor pulled clear at 5-2.

Another double top finish saw Taylor win a sixth leg, and missed doubles from Beaton in the next two in moving 8-2 up with a run of eight straight legs.

Taylor kicked off the next with another 180, but Beaton stemmed the tide with a fine 136 checkout - only for the world number one to hit two maximums in taking the next.

Beaton traded maximums with Taylor in taking a fourth leg with an 11-darter, and they also both landed 180s in the next, but a 121 checkout put the Stoke legend 10-4 up.

A brace of double 16 finishes - one for an 11-darter - saw Taylor move to the brink of victory, and when Beaton saw three darts at double 16 miss their intended target he completed the win on double seven to set up a quarter-final with Painter on Friday.

Taylor whitewashed Painter 9-0 in the UK Open last month, but has been impressed by comeback wins against Colin Lloyd and Mark Walsh by the 43-year-old.

"Kevin has done fantastically this week, especially to come back like he did against Colin when he was dead and buried," said Taylor.

"He's rode his luck and played superbly against Mark Walsh, he showed a lot of bottle and it will be a great game."

Match Stats

Steve Beaton	4-13	Phil Taylor
13	100+	25
17	140+	10
3	180	9
30.79	Ave1	34.76
92.38	Ave3	104.60
136	High Finish	126,121
1	Legs Against Throw	6

SIMON WHITLOCK 13-10 STEVE BROWN
SIMON WHITLOCK held off the brave challenge of Steve Brown to move into the StanJames.com World Matchplay quarter-finals with a 13-10 victory.

Brown had knocked out number five seed Terry Jenkins on his Winter Gardens debut and held his own against the World Chanmpionship finalist before eventually succumbing to defeat.

Whitlock, who was battling the effects of 'flu, trailed 3-2 and 8-7 before pulling through in the final stages to set up a quarter-final with Jelle Klaasen in his first World Matchplay challenge.

Brown took the game's opening leg, but a pair of double 15 finishes from the Australian put him into a 2-1 lead.

The Bristol man matched a 13-darter from Whitlock with one of his own to level, and finished 63 to nudge back ahead as the tight opening stages continued.

Whitlock hit a 180 in the sixth leg, with a pair of double top finishes putting him 4-3 up before he landed another maximum in winning a fifth leg.

However, he landed two 180s in the ninth and still lost the leg, as Brown followed a maximum of his own with a 13-dart finish, which was followed by brilliant checkouts of 107 and 118 in successive legs as he moved 6-5 up.

The next four were shared to keep him in the lead, only for whitlock to take the 16th with a fifth 180 of the game and double ten before securing a crucial break on double top in the next.

Double eight gave him a third straight leg and a 10-8 cushion, before Brown took out 96 to remain in the hunt.

He would miss double top for a 136 finish to level in the next as Whitlock moved 11-9 up, although Brown posted his third maximum in winning the next.

Whitlock, though, closed on victory with another 13-darter, and sealed the win on double top.

"Steve played really well," said Whitlock. "We both started off a bit slow and got better during the game, and once he got into the game he really gave it to me and was a bit unlucky in the end.

"I hit a crucial double ten to go 11-9 up and some of my finishes saved me. I felt good when I was playing but being under the weather with 'flu takes a lot out of you.

"I'm back for the quarter-finals on Friday afternoon and I don't know how I'll be yet. It will depend on how I sleep because I've not slept well for the past few days but I'll give it my all against Jelle.

"I played a bit quick against Steve but I'll try play more of my own game on Friday and slow Jelle down a bit. It won't affect me but it might help me out."

Brown admitted: "I could sense he was a bit tense and I grew in confidence and thought I could do some damage but I didn't quite do enough to win.

"Simon concentrates a lot on the game and that's why he doesn't make many mistakes, and I tried to build that into my game and I've learned a bit from him over the past year."

Brown - a plasterer by trade - is now looking to break into the world's top 32 in the second half of 2010, and admitted he is determined to challenge for major honours.

"I've been on cloud nine all week and now I've been brought down to earth, but it's been a great experience," said the 29-year-old.

"I've never doubted my own ability and the reason I want to play in these big events is to play the best players, and I think I'm up to the task. It didn't quite go my way tonight but I'll be back."

Match Stats