Skybet World Grand Prix - Tuesday

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD dramatically defeated Alan Tabern in the Skybet World Grand Prix on Tuesday night, as world number two James Wade crashed out of the tournament.

Dutch ace van Barneveld returned from a two-month break since July's World Matchplay to take on Tabern at the Citywest Hotel, but was forced to come from a set down to defeat the left-hander.

He also trailed in the deciding set, but forced a final-leg shoot-out before taking out 130 on double five for a famous win.

Van Barneveld will now meet another Lancastrian in the second round on Thursday, after Wes Newton overcame Jamie Caven 2-0 in their contest.

Newton finished all six attempts at a winning double in a flawless display to continue his resurgence in form, after returning to the world's top 32.

The biggest shock of the night, though, came as 2007 champion James Wade was dumped from the World Grand Prix in the first round for the second successive year.

Wade came from a set down to force a deciding leg with Dennis Priestley, but the veteran two-time World Champion prevailed 2-1.

Priestley takes on Kevin Painter in round two, following the 2004 World Championship finalist's straight sets win over Holland's Michael van Gerwen.

Jacko Barry won the all-Irish clash with Mick McGowan 2-0, the Stamullen-based thrower overcoming his Dublin rival 3-2, 3-2 in sets.

Barry will take on Steve Beaton in the last 16, with the former World Champion dropping just one leg in sweeping past Ronnie Baxter.

Mervyn King overcame Colin Osborne in straight sets, and will face Andy Hamilton on Thursday after the Stoke ace edged out Mark Walsh in a deciding leg.

The second round begins on Wednesday with the opening four games, including reigning champion Phil Taylor against Wayne Jones and the mouth-watering clash between Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson.

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See highlights of this session from Wednesday evening.

Skybet World Grand Prix
First Round
Wes Newton 2-0 Jamie Caven
Andy Hamilton 2-1 Mark Walsh
Kevin Painter 2-0 Michael van Gerwen
Mervyn King 2-0 Colin Osborne
Jacko Barry 2-0 Mick McGowan
James Wade 1-2 Dennis Priestley
Raymond van Barneveld 2-1 Alan Tabern
Ronnie Baxter 0-2 Steve Beaton

WES NEWTON 2-0 JAMIE CAVEN
(3-1, 3-1)
WES NEWTON produced a flawless display of finishing to defeat Jamie Caven 2-0 and reach the second round of the Skybet World Grand Prix.

Newton delivered one of his finest performances on the big stage to power into the last 16, averaging almost 95 in the double-start format and hitting six from six attempts at finishing doubles.

Both players got off to a good start by hitting an opening double on their first visit to the oche, but missed doubles for the leg from Caven allowed Newton to take out 74 in two darts.

Caven landed a 180 and double top to break back, only for Newton to match his 14-darter before then hitting a 180 and double 16 for the first set.

Newton then took out 100 with two double tops to lead in the second set, only for Caven to defy a 180 from the Lancastrian in landing double 16 to level.

Newton importantly kicked off the third leg with a 152 score, and took out 107 to move a leg away from victory, which was sealed with a 94 finish after Caven missed the bull for a 170 checkout.

Match Stats

Wes Newton	2-0	Jamie Caven
8	100+	7
5	140+	5
2	180	1
31.55	Ave1	28.52
94.65	Ave3	85.55
107,100	High Finish	65
3	Legs Against Throw	1

ANDY HAMILTON 2-1 MARK WALSH
(3-1, 2-3, 3-2)
ANDY HAMILTON edged out Mark Walsh in a dramatic final leg to win through to the second round of the Skybet World Grand Prix.

The Stoke star edged a tight contest in a deciding leg - after Walsh miscounted and threw two darts at double 16 for the match when he needed double 18.

Both attempts missed, with Hamilton coming back to the oche to land double eight for the match.

The game hardly looked as close when Hamilton took the opening set 3-1.

Double 16 gave him the first leg, and he also won the second to lead 2-0 before missing six darts for the set in the third leg as Walsh posted double ten.

A 170 from Hamilton left him 112 in the next, and after Walsh missed two darts to level the Stoke ace took out the finish for the set.

Walsh took out 84 in the second set's opener, with double top from Hamilton levelling only for him to miss three darts to break as Walsh landed tops for a 2-1 lead.

Hamilton landed a 180 and a 74 finish to square the set, but Walsh won the decider on tops to send the game into a third set.

Hamilton led 1-0, but missed the bull for the second leg as double five saw Walsh level.

Double top put Walsh in front, only for Hamilton to force a decider on double eight.

Both got off the mark with their second dart and posted 140s, with Hamilton first to a double only to miss three darts for the match.

However, Walsh's miscount on 42 cost him dear, hitting a single six but believing he hit ten to leave 32 - with Hamilton making him pay on double eight.

Match Stats

Andy Hamilton	2-1	Mark Walsh
14	100+	23
7	140+	9
3	180	0
29.84	Ave1	29.18
89.53	Ave3	87.55
112	High Finish	84
3	Legs Against Throw	2

KEVIN PAINTER 2-0 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
(3-2, 3-1)
KEVIN PAINTER battled past Michael van Gerwen in straight sets to progress to round two of the Skybet World Grand Prix.

Painter battled from behind to win the first set, and went on to punish the 20-year-old Dutchman and move into the last 16.

Van Gerwen nipped in to win the first leg, with Painter hitting a 180 and 140 but missing a host of chances before double ten put the Dutch ace in front.

Painter levelled but van Gerwen won the third leg on double 18 to lead 2-1.

However, two missed darts for the set cost van Gerwen as Painter took out double eight, and he also wasted a chance on double top in the deciding leg as Painter hit the same bed to lead.

Van Gerwen made a confident start to the second set, opening with a 160 and hitting tops at the first time of asking to lead.

Painter, though, took out 140 to level and then 88 to hit the front, before sealing the win on double eight following four further misses from van Gerwen.

Match Stats

Kevin Painter	2-0	Michael van Gerwen
8	100+	11
8	140+	5
1	180	1
26.79	Ave1	26.41
80.36	Ave3	79.23
140	High Finish	50
3	Legs Against Throw	1

MERVYN KING 2-0 COLIN OSBORNE
(3-2, 3-2)
MERVYN KING took the narrowest of straight sets victories to book his place in round two of the Skybet World Grand Prix against Colin Osborne.

Both sets in the contest went to a deciding fifth leg - but it was King who prevailed on both occasions to set up a last 16 date with Andy Hamilton on Thursday.

Osborne posted a 180 in the opening leg and double nine to break throw, only for King to reply in kind with a maximum and double ten after the Derby man missed double 12 for a 2-0 lead.

King hit double four to lead 2-1, but then missed three darts for the set in the next as Osborne sneaked leg four.

King pulled clear in the decider - but seven misses at double 16 gave Osborne a chance to steal.

However, he missed two darts at double top to take the set, and King returned to hit double eight for the lead.

King hit another 180 and then double ten to lead in set two, with Osborne missing double 16 but then hitting the double in the next leg to level.

Double six put Osborne 2-1 up, but King took out 74 on double 12 to square the set before hitting a 13-darter against the throw to seal victory.

Match Stats

Mervyn King	2-0	Colin Osborne
8	100+	11
7	140+	7
2	180	1
28.45	Ave1	27.20
85.34	Ave3	81.60
76	High Finish	78
3	Legs Against Throw	2

JACKO BARRY 2-0 MICK McGOWAN
(3-2, 3-2)
JACKO BARRY delighted the Citywest Hotel crowd with a 2-0 victory in the all-Irish battle at the Skybet World Grand Prix with Mick McGowan.

Barry made amends for a loss to local rival McGowan in the 2008 World Championship to edge both sets in a deciding leg - earning a last 16 berth for the second successive year in Dublin.

Barry made a brilliant start to open with a 152 score, and broke throw immediately on double 16 before making his lead 2-0 on double 18.

McGowan got off the mark in leg three, hitting double 19, and opened the next with a 160 before taking out a 14-darter to level the set.

But he wasted his chances to take the deciding leg, missing five darts for the set before Garry returned to land double four.

McGowan then won the opening two legs of set two, on double ten and double four, only to allow Barry back in.

Double nine gave the Stamullen-based lorry driver leg three, and four missed darts from McGowan for the set allowed Barry to level on double four.

Both players missed the bullseye in a tense fifth leg, but double 16 for Barry ensured his spot in the second round.

"I've never been as nervous," admitted Barry. "I've played on stage a number of times but for some reason I was really nervous, probably with it being a local derby and a big crowd behind me.

"Myself and Mick are good mates and it's great to see him playing well again.

"He made a bit of a mess of the first set, then in the second set I made a mess of it and gave him a chance, but luckily he missed and I got it.

"I've been playing well for the last month since I qualified and become more consistent. I didn't settle tonight but luckily enough I'm through."

Match Stats

Jacko Barry	2-0	Mick McGowan
17	100+	11
6	140+	7
0	180	0
25.82	Ave1	24.11
77.45	Ave3	72.33
70	High Finish	38
3	Legs Against Throw	2

DENNIS PRIESTLEY 2-1 JAMES WADE
(3-1, 1-3, 3-2)
DENNIS PRIESTLEY won a final-leg thriller to dump world number two James Wade from the Skybet World Grand Prix in the first round for the second successive year.

Wade, the 2007 champion at the Citywest Hotel, was an early victim of Tony Eccles on the defence of his title last year and again failed to find top form in the double-start format.

He fell a set behind to the evergreen Yorkshireman before battling back level, but was edged out in the deciding set as Priestley moved through.

Wade made a confident start to take the first leg, but missed five darts to double his lead as the two-time World Champion levelled, and then took the third leg on tops.

Wade kicked off leg four with a 160 start, but Priestley replied with a 180 and punished four further missed doubles to take out double 18 for a 13-darter in wrapping up the opening set.

Wade landed a 180 and double four to lead in the second, before double ten saw Priestley pull back to one-all.

Wade hit another maximum and double ten in edging 2-1 up, before double four put the left-hander level in the game.

The pair traded the first two legs in the deciding set, before a 58 finish put Priestley 2-1 up.

He also hit a 140 to leave 72 in the next, but missed tops for the game as Wade landed double eight to send the game into a final-leg shoot-out.

Priestley landed scores of 180 and 140 to pull clear, and took out double top for a famous win.

"I enjoyed that," admitted Priestley. "We both played well and it entertained the crowd, and luckily it fell my way.

"To get off with a double in the final leg was the main aim but the 180 was great and I needed that."

Priestley plays Kevin Painter in Thursday's second round, and admits that the shorter formats in the early stages suit him.

"The short format suits me now at age 59," he added. "My energy levels are lower but it's first to three sets next and I'll look forward to that because I'd love to win another televised tournament before I retire.

"It's still lovely to win on stage and I have to enjoy it every time I do because I may not have too many more chances."

Match Stats

James Wade	1-2	Dennis Priestley
17	100+	19
9	140+	14
4	180	2
30.72	Ave1	32.16
92.17	Ave3	96.47
76	High Finish	58
2	Legs Against Throw	2

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 2-1 ALAN TABERN
(0-3, 3-1, 3-2)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a sensational 130 finish to win a deciding leg shoot-out with Alan Tabern and reach round two of the Skybet World Grand Prix.

Tabern punished a slow start from the Dutchman on his return from a two-month break since the World Matchplay in July to win the opening set without reply at the Citywest Hotel IECC.

But van Barneveld clawed his way back into the game, winning the second set and then coming from behind to force a deciding leg and then hit a stunning checkout to take victory.

"After the first set I started to doubt myself and I just couldn't find the double 16 to start," admitted van Barneveld.

"I put myself under pressure but the 130 finish was a huge relief and I'm delighted to be through that."

There was little to suggest that his summer break had done van Barneveld much good as Tabern strolled to the opening set.

The left-hander won the opening leg on double nine, the second against the throw in 14 darts with an 88 checkout and then punishing three missed doubles from van Barneveld to win the set on double eight.

Van Barneveld took the second set's opener on double eight, but a slow start in the next allowed Tabern to level with a 92 finish.

Double 18 put van Barneveld 2-1 up, and he landed a key 180 to take control of the fourth leg, with double 18 seeing him level in sets.

Van Barneveld hit a 180 in the final set's opener, but a missed double top allowed Tabern back in on double 16.

Double eight saw van Barneveld level, but he missed a further two darts to win the third, with double four putting Tabern a leg away from the win.

However, the St Helens man lost his accuracy on the starting doubles - needing 15 to get off the mark in leg four as van Barneveld comfortably posted double 16 to ensure a deciding leg.

Tabern wasted his first visit to the oche, but a timely 180 saw him claw back level in the final leg - only for van Barneveld's 130 checkout to give him the triumph with his opponent waiting on 110.

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	2-1	Alan Tabern
14	100+	17
8	140+	8
3	180	1
29.09	Ave1	27.19
87.28	Ave3	81.56
130	High Finish	92
2	Legs Against Throw	1

STEVE BEATON 2-0 RONNIE BAXTER
(3-0, 3-1)
STEVE BEATON swept into the second round of the Skybet World Grand Prix with a fine 2-0 win over Ronnie Baxter.

Beaton dropped just one leg in an impressive display, setting up a second round clash with Irish star Jacko Barry.

Despite some early missed opening doubles, Beaton took the first set without reply, finishing double top for the opening leg, double eight for the second leg despite a 180 from Baxter and then hitting a maximum of his own and double ten in leg three.

Beaton took out double eight to win the second set's opener, before Baxter finally had a dart at a finishing double in the second - only to miss four darts at double 18 and double nine to level as Beaton went 2-0 up.

Double top got Baxter off the mark, but Beaton was swift in sealing victory on the same bed in leg four.

Match Stats