World Championship - Day Four

TERRY JENKINS ended his Alexandra Palace hoodoo with a 3-2 victory over Paul Nicholson in the first round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship on Monday night.

Jenkins had never won a game on the Alexandra Palace stage, losing to Kirk Shepherd and Dennis Smith in the two previous World Championships as well as suffering a 2007 Premier League Darts whitewash against Colin Lloyd at the venue.

However, he edged past Nicholson in the deciding set of a thrilling contest to finally claim victory at Ally Pally.

"It's absolutely brilliant," admitted Jenkins, the world number six. "I've played here three times and got bashed three times, so to get through that first round was the hardest thing.

"Being drawn against a tough player, like Paul, made me get in the right sort of mood and concentrate more. We both played well and it was a toss of a coin as to who won it, so I'm glad to get through that one and I can relax and enjoy the next game."

Jenkins will meet either Andy Smith - his practice partner - or American Darin Young in the second round after Christmas, and he was joined in the last 32 on Monday night by John Part, Vincent van der Voort and Ronnie Baxter.

Van der Voort trekked three miles in the snow in north London to ensure he arrived at Alexandra Palace for his game with Gibraltar's Dylan Duo, and whitewashed the World Championship debutant to progress to a meeting with Kevin Painter.

The Dutchman had endured a nightmare journey just to get to England, but was one of a host of players whose preparations for Monday's games were disrupted, while over 1,000 fans braved the conditions to enjoy their visit to Alexandra Palace.

"My plane was cancelled so I drove to Dunkirk, ended up getting the last boat at midnight on Sunday, and arrived at the hotel in the early hours," said van der Voort.

"After having a sleep I left at 3pm to come across to Alexandra Palace but had to walk for the last three miles because of the snow.

"It was my worst preparation ever for a game so it's just good to win, and it didn't matter how well I played, I just wanted to get through and I've done that."

Japan's Haruki Muramatsu enjoyed a dream debut with a 4-1 preliminary round win over Poland's Krzysztof Kciuk, coming from a leg down to set up a first round tie with Baxter.

However, the world number seven proved too strong and dropped just one leg in progressing to the last 32, where he meets Gary Anderson after Christmas.

Part also dropped just one leg in a high-quality 3-0 win over Dutch youngster Toon Greebe, having only arrived at the venue an hour before his clash after being initially finding himself stranded in his north London hotel.

The Canadian will return after Christmas to face Kirk Shepherd in a repeat of the 2008 final, which he won to claim a third World Championship.

Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
First Round (Preliminary Round games denoted by (P))
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Dylan Duo
Haruki Muramatsu 4-1 Krzysztof Kciuk (P)
Terry Jenkins 3-2 Paul Nicholson (not before 9.15pm)
Ronnie Baxter 3-0 Haruki Muramatsu
John Part 3-0 Toon Greebe

VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 3-0 DYLAN DUO
(3-0, 3-0, 3-0)
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT defied the London snow to whitewash Dylan Duo and reach the last 32 of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The Dutchman endured a nightmare journey to the UK on Sunday night after his plane was cancelled, meaning he caught a ferry from France before then having to walk three miles to Alexandra Palace on Monday afternoon after heavy snow in north London.

But he produced a polished display to see off the Gibraltan number one without dropping a leg to book a second round clash with Kevin Painter next week.

Van der Voort started the match with a 92 finish on the bullseye and he doubled the lead in the second leg, which included a maximum and a double four finish.

Double 18 gave the Dutchman the set before he then took the opening leg of the second set by hitting double ten.

The second leg saw van der Voort miss seven darts at doubles, but Duo, making his debut at the World Championships, failed to apply the pressure and the 18th seed landed double four to break.

Van der Voort wrapped up the set in the next leg, and then opened up the third set by hitting double eight with his last dart with Duo waiting to pounce on double ten.

Van der Voort sealed victory in quick fashion by taking the next two legs, hitting a 13-darter which included a 177 score before landing a second maximum in a 12-darter to seal victory.

"My plane was cancelled so I drove to Dunkirk, ended up getting the last boat at midnight on Sunday, and arrived at the hotel in the early hours," said van der Voort.

"After having a sleep I left at 3pm to come across to Alexandra Palace but had to walk for the last three miles because of the snow.

"It was my worst preparation ever for a game so it's just good to win, and it didn't matter how well I played, I just wanted to get through and I've done that.

"I'm pleased to average 95 but I've changed a few things to figure out how to play better on TV after some disappointing performance recently.

"I've got a week now before the next game so I can look forward to that, Kevin is a great player but if I play my best game he'll have to play very well to beat me - no games are easy in the last 32 here.

"I want to go home to my family for Christmas too but I'll see how the weather is!"

Match Stats

Vincent van der Voort	3-0	Dylan Duo
15	100+	5
10	140+	2
2	180s	0
31.75	Ave 1	24.68
93.26	Ave 3	74.04
92	High Finish	-
5	Legs Against Throw	-

HARUKI MURAMATSU 4-1 KRZYSTOF KCIUK
JAPAN'S Haruki Muramatsu overcame the challenge of Krzystof Kciuk with a 4-1 preliminary round victory on Monday night at the Alexandra Palace.

The Polish player started fantastically, winning the first leg with a 140 checkout.

But Muramatsu broke back to win the second leg and then hit a maximum in the process of winning the next for a 2-1 lead.

Muramatsu then broke Kciuk's throw for the second time in the game with a 75 finish to within one leg of victory.

The nerves appeared to get to the Japanese player as he missed three darts to win the match in the fifth leg.

But Kciuk was not in a position to make his opponent pay and Muramatsu returned to the oche to hit double 16 and seal a first round tie with Ronnie Baxter.

Match Stats

Haruki Muramatsu	4-1	Krzystof Kciuk
5	100+	4
2	140+	1
1	180s	1
25.33	Ave 1	25.43
75.98	Ave 3	76.28
75	High Finish	140
2	Legs Against Throw	1

TERRY JENKINS 3-2 PAUL NICHOLSON
(3-1, 0-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
TERRY JENKINS ended his Alexandra Palace jinx with a thrilling five-set victory over Paul Nicholson at the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Jenkins had to lost to Kirk Shepherd and Dennis Smith in the first round of the last two World Championships at the London venue, but advanced this time around.

Nicholson hit a 180 in the opening leg, but it was Jenkins who won by landing double six. Another 180 was recorded by Nicholson in the process of winning the second, but Jenkins regained the lead with an 84 finish.

The next leg saw Jenkins claim the opening set with a 15-darter, completed with an 80 finish.

Jenkins missed chances to break throw in the opening leg of second set, allowing Nicholson to hold, and last year's quarter-finalist then won the second before wrapping up the set with a 76 finish to level the match.

Nicholson won a fourth successive leg by hitting double six to start the third set, but Jenkins broke back to level the set matters.

Jenkins took a 2-1 lead only to see Nicholson level, but recorded a pressure 76 finish to take the set, with his opponent waiting on 40, and regain the lead.

The world number six won the first leg of the fourth set against the darts, but Nicholson fought back to win the next two, hitting a 110 checkout for a 2-1 lead.

Jenkins won the next leg, but Nicholson held throw by landing double four to take the game to a deciding set.

Jenkins took the opening two legs of the fifth set but missed three darts at double 18 for the match in next and Nicholson managed to keep the game alive with a two-dart 60 checkout.

The Ledbury man was guilty of missing more chances in the decider, but Nicholson was unable to capitalise and Jenkins hit double four to record an excellent win.

"I felt under pressure having lost at the opening hurdle the last two years here," said Jenkins. "It was playing on mind quite a bit, but I was determined to win today."

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins	3-2	Paul Nicholson
29	100+	28
17	140+	15
3	180s	6
31.12	Ave 1	31.04
93.35	Ave 3	93.12
101	High Finish	110
5	Legs Against Throw	4

RONNIE BAXTER 3-0 HARUKI MURAMATSU
(3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
RONNIE BAXTER made comfortable progess to the second round of the 2010 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a straight-sets victory over Japanese qualifier Haruki Muramatsu.

The Lancastrian will now take on Scotsman Gary Anderson after the Christmas for a place in the last 16 following a strong start to his challenge.

Baxter broke throw at the start of the match, and won the next two legs in comfortable fashion to wrap up the first set against the newcomer, who had defeated Poland's Krzysztof Kciuk earlier in the evening.

Muramatsu hit a 177 in the opening leg of the second set, but Baxter took the leg and then broke in the second, before a 65 finish put him two sets up.

Muramatsu hit a maximum at the start of the third set and won the leg by hitting double ten to get his first chalk of the game.

However, Baxter recorded a 68 finish to win the second leg and then broke throw in the third, after Muramatsu missed a dart at the bullseye.

That put Baxter a leg away from the match, and he wasted no time in getting over the winning line by hitting double 16.

Match Stats

Ronnie Baxter	3-0	Haruki Muramatsu
11	100+	15
15	140+	3
0	180s	1
31.64	Ave 1	27.95
94.93	Ave 3	83.84
68	High FInish	40
3	Legs Against Throw	0

JOHN PART 3-0 TOON GREEBE
(3-0, 3-1, 3-0)
JOHN PART began his quest for a fourth World Championship title with a straight sets victory over Dutch youngster Toon Greebe.

The world number four will now take on Kirk Shepherd in a repeat of the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship final at Alexandra Palace in a tasty second round contest, having defied Monday's weather conditions to take victory.

Part arrived at Alexandra Palace only an hour before his game after initially being left stranded at his north London hotel due to heavy snowfall on Monday, but was in red-hot form against Greebe.

Part started the match confidently, hitting a 180 with his first three darts, and won it with a 12-dart finish.

The Canadian broke throw in the second leg and then registered a fabulous 167 checkout to take the first set.

Greebe got his first leg on the board at the start of the second set with an impressive 101 finish, but Part replied with a 147 checkout to win the second, and then broke throw for a 2-1 lead after the Dutch youngster was guilty of missing four darts at double.

Part then wrapped up the set by hitting double eight with his last dart to take complete command of the game.

The 2008 World Champion's dominance continued as he won the opening leg of the third set by hitting double 16.

He then broke Greebe's throw once again after the youngster missed several opportunties to level.

Part hit another 180 in the third leg and followed that by landing double 16 to move comfortably into the second round.

"I'm 99 percent happy with this match," admitted Part. "I'm quite happy but not entirely happy but how can I be disappointed because I had some really nice finishes and decent scoring throughout.

"The snow is an omen for me - it snowed in 1994, it snowed in 2003 and it snowed in 2008 [when I won]."

Match Stats