REPORTS from Tuesday's first round games at the stanjames.com World Matchplay.
The opening round continued at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, with the winners including 2007 champion James Wade and debutant Gary Anderson.
stanjames.com World Matchplay
First Round
Tuesday July 21
Andy Hamilton 6-10 Gary Anderson
John Part 6-10 Vincent van der Voort
James Wade 10-3 Jamie Caven
Ronnie Baxter 10-8 Jelle Klaasen
Watch highlights in PDCtv from 7pm on Wednesday
GARY ANDERSON 10-6 ANDY HAMILTON
GARY ANDERSON made an impressive, and victorious, winning stanjames.com World Matchplay debut with a 10-6 victory over Andy Hamilton.
The Scot has flown up the PDC Order of Merit since joining the professional circuit in February, and entered the World Matchplay as the leading Players Championship qualifier.
He justified that status with a fine performance to see off Hamilton, overcoming some early nerves to average almost 99 in securing a second round spot.
Hamilton won the opening leg against the throw with a 77 finish after Anderson had missed darts at double top and double ten.
The Scot also missed the bullseye in the second, with Hamilton following up a 180 with double four to move 2-0 up.
Anderson took out double ten to get his first leg on the board, and then punished two misses from Hamilton to level on double top.
He then took the lead for the first time at 3-2 with a superb 121 bullseye finish - only to then miss four darts at a double in the next as Hamilton levelled on double three.
Anderson posted an 11-darter in leg seven before Hamilton once more levelled, but a 180 from the Stoke star was not enough to keep pace in the ninth leg as a two-dart 87 finish put the newcomer back in front.
He crucially broke once more to lead 6-4 at the next break, and although Hamilton did hit back with a 120 checkout two more double top finishes saw him take an 8-5 cushion.
Double eight from Hamilton saw him take a sixth leg, and he traded 180s with Anderson in the next only to see double top put the Scot on the brink of victory.
Anderson kicked off the next leg with a 25, but a 180 pushed him ahead in the scoring and he punished a missed bullseye from Hamilton to post tops for victory.
"After about the tenth leg I started to settle in but before that I was shaking like a leaf!" admitted Anderson.
"It's my first time here and my first round record in televised events isn't great so it was in the back of my mind.
"But Andy hit a lot of bad shots that you don't usually get from him and I managed to step in and nick it."
Match Stats
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 10-6 JOHN PART
NUMBER four seed John Part was dumped from the stanjames.com World Matchplay at the first round stage with a 10-6 loss to Dutchman Vincent van der Voort in Blackpool.
Part, twice a runner-up in the World Matchplay, battled back from 4-1 down to level - but then allowed the Dutchman to pull away for victory.
Van der Voort made an ideal start, opening the game with a 174 score and taking out double top for the first leg.
Part landed a maximum in hitting back to level before van der Voort won the third leg and then took the first break of the match on double four to move 3-1 up.
Double 13 put him further clear, but Part took the sixth on tops and then broke back in a scrappy seventh leg, where van der Voort hit a 180 but missed seven darts at a double.
Double eight saw Part level, but a brace of double top finishes from van der Voort saw him edge back in front at 6-4.
A miss from Part in the next saw the Dutchman regain a three-leg cushion, before a 13-darter and a double top finish saw van der Voort move 9-4 up and to the brink of victory.
Double 16 kept Part in the contest, and the Canadian began the next leg with a 180 only to miss the bullseye to stay in the match before van der Voort posted tops for the win.
"It's so important to win the first round and then the tournament can start for you," said van der Voort.
"There is so much pressure on you on the tour, there are so many great players and it's always hard.
"John is three-times a World Champion and he's done the business so many times, but I want to do the business too and wins like these are very important for me.
"In the next round I am playing Wayne Mardle and I'll have to play better than I did today. He played very well and nobody beats Tony Eccles easily, but I'll prepare to play well and hopefully perform."
Match Stats
JAMES WADE 10-3 JAMIE CAVEN
JAMES WADE began his bid for a second stanjames.com World Matchplay title by sweeping aside the challenge of qualifier Jamie Caven at Blackpool.
The 2007 champion - a finalist in the last three years at the Winter Gardens - made light work of the World Matchplay debutant to set up a tasty second round clash with Gary Anderson on Thursday.
Wade signalled his intent with a 122 finish in the game's opening leg and led 5-0 and 8-1 before closing out victory.
After a superb opening leg, Wade's accuracy on double top and double ten helped him win the next three to take a commanding lead.
He edged a scrappy fifth on double one, before Caven returned from the break with a 180 before getting off the mark thanks to a 120 checkout.
Wade responded with an 11-darter which featured three successive 140s, before double ten and double 12 moved him 8-1 up.
Caven punished a rare miss from the world number two to double his score for the match, but his comeback stalled with two misses at double 18 to nick the next as Wade took a 9-2 cushion.
A 94 finish from Caven kept him in the contest, but he was again left to rue missed doubls as Wade ensured safe passage on double ten.
"It was a completely different game than I expected but I'll take the win," said Wade. "I expected Jamie to play a good game of darts and he didn't perform.
"It was unlike him but I'll take that and move on to my next game. I've got Gary Anderson next and if I play remotely like that I'll lose.
"I'm a good scorer but I think Gary is the best scorer in the world and possibly I'm a better finisher.
"Hopefully it will be a good game but this is my manor! I've put a lot of work in for this tournament and I'm ready for it."
Match Stats
RONNIE BAXTER 10-8 JELLE KLAASEN
RONNIE BAXTER edged an exciting quick-fire contest with Jelle Klaasen to book his second round spot at the stanjames.com World Matchplay with a 10-8 victory.
Baxter gained revenge for a defeat in the Las Vegas Desert Classic recently to see off the Dutchman.
He led 5-0 before Klaasen cut the gap to one leg - but crucially he never levelled as Baxter edged himself into a second round meeting with either Alan Tabern or Andy Smith.
Klaasen missed two darts to take the first leg, with Baxter securing an immediate break on double 16 before taking out successive 14-darters to lead 3-0.
An 81 checkout extended his lead further before he stepped in on double four to move 5-0 up at the first break.
Klaasen got off the mark on double top in leg six, and punished three misses from Baxter in the next to land double four to trail 5-2.
The pair traded 180s in the next, but Klaasen stepped in to take the leg and then fire in a 12-darter to reduce the gap to just one leg.
He also landed a maximum in the tenth leg, only for Baxter to crucially land double top to hold his throw in 14 darts and move 6-4 up.
The next three legs went with the throw to leave Klaasen 7-6 behind, but he saw his chance to square matters go begging in the next - missing five darts at double top and double ten before Baxter hit a key double six.
Double top from Klaasen gave him the 15th leg, but he was left waiting on a finish once more in the next as double 14 put Baxter a leg away from the win at 9-7.
Double eight saw Klaasen post a 14-darter to stay in the hunt, but it was the local-born favourite who took out double ten for an 80 checkout to secure victory.
"I was delighted to be 5-0 up and eventually just to get through the match!" said Baxter.
"Missing double eight to go 6-1 up gave Jelle the impetus but to go into the second break 6-4 up was a big relief.
"I held in there and managed to keep my nose in front and I'm happy to have won."
Blackpool-born Baxter reached the 1998 final at the Winter Gardens and enjoys a close bond with his home crowd.
"I was born in this town and it holds something dear to me," he added. "The first time I played here I reached the final and beat Phil Taylor on the way.
"I've reached a few quarter-finals since then and it holds good memories for me, but I'm trying to get into that final again and my form is pretty good."
Klaasen admitted: "I missed too many doubles and missed too many darts to break him.
"I've been playing well lately and it's very disappointing for me. I don't have many bad legs and more and I gave myself chances to break Ronnie but missed the doubles.
"But I'll have a break now and then get back on the practice board and hopefully be successful in the rest of the year."
Match Stats
The opening round continued at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, with the winners including 2007 champion James Wade and debutant Gary Anderson.
stanjames.com World Matchplay
First Round
Tuesday July 21
Andy Hamilton 6-10 Gary Anderson
John Part 6-10 Vincent van der Voort
James Wade 10-3 Jamie Caven
Ronnie Baxter 10-8 Jelle Klaasen
Watch highlights in PDCtv from 7pm on Wednesday
GARY ANDERSON 10-6 ANDY HAMILTON
GARY ANDERSON made an impressive, and victorious, winning stanjames.com World Matchplay debut with a 10-6 victory over Andy Hamilton.
The Scot has flown up the PDC Order of Merit since joining the professional circuit in February, and entered the World Matchplay as the leading Players Championship qualifier.
He justified that status with a fine performance to see off Hamilton, overcoming some early nerves to average almost 99 in securing a second round spot.
Hamilton won the opening leg against the throw with a 77 finish after Anderson had missed darts at double top and double ten.
The Scot also missed the bullseye in the second, with Hamilton following up a 180 with double four to move 2-0 up.
Anderson took out double ten to get his first leg on the board, and then punished two misses from Hamilton to level on double top.
He then took the lead for the first time at 3-2 with a superb 121 bullseye finish - only to then miss four darts at a double in the next as Hamilton levelled on double three.
Anderson posted an 11-darter in leg seven before Hamilton once more levelled, but a 180 from the Stoke star was not enough to keep pace in the ninth leg as a two-dart 87 finish put the newcomer back in front.
He crucially broke once more to lead 6-4 at the next break, and although Hamilton did hit back with a 120 checkout two more double top finishes saw him take an 8-5 cushion.
Double eight from Hamilton saw him take a sixth leg, and he traded 180s with Anderson in the next only to see double top put the Scot on the brink of victory.
Anderson kicked off the next leg with a 25, but a 180 pushed him ahead in the scoring and he punished a missed bullseye from Hamilton to post tops for victory.
"After about the tenth leg I started to settle in but before that I was shaking like a leaf!" admitted Anderson.
"It's my first time here and my first round record in televised events isn't great so it was in the back of my mind.
"But Andy hit a lot of bad shots that you don't usually get from him and I managed to step in and nick it."
Match Stats
|
Andy Hamilton |
6-10 |
Gary Anderson |
|
21 |
100+ |
21 |
|
7 |
140+ |
14 |
|
4 |
180 |
4 |
|
30.39 |
Ave1 |
33.25 |
|
91.18 |
Ave3 |
99.74 |
|
120 |
High Finish |
121 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
4 |
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 10-6 JOHN PART
NUMBER four seed John Part was dumped from the stanjames.com World Matchplay at the first round stage with a 10-6 loss to Dutchman Vincent van der Voort in Blackpool.
Part, twice a runner-up in the World Matchplay, battled back from 4-1 down to level - but then allowed the Dutchman to pull away for victory.
Van der Voort made an ideal start, opening the game with a 174 score and taking out double top for the first leg.
Part landed a maximum in hitting back to level before van der Voort won the third leg and then took the first break of the match on double four to move 3-1 up.
Double 13 put him further clear, but Part took the sixth on tops and then broke back in a scrappy seventh leg, where van der Voort hit a 180 but missed seven darts at a double.
Double eight saw Part level, but a brace of double top finishes from van der Voort saw him edge back in front at 6-4.
A miss from Part in the next saw the Dutchman regain a three-leg cushion, before a 13-darter and a double top finish saw van der Voort move 9-4 up and to the brink of victory.
Double 16 kept Part in the contest, and the Canadian began the next leg with a 180 only to miss the bullseye to stay in the match before van der Voort posted tops for the win.
"It's so important to win the first round and then the tournament can start for you," said van der Voort.
"There is so much pressure on you on the tour, there are so many great players and it's always hard.
"John is three-times a World Champion and he's done the business so many times, but I want to do the business too and wins like these are very important for me.
"In the next round I am playing Wayne Mardle and I'll have to play better than I did today. He played very well and nobody beats Tony Eccles easily, but I'll prepare to play well and hopefully perform."
Match Stats
|
John Part |
6-10 |
Vincent van der Voort |
|
19 |
100+ |
23 |
|
5 |
140+ |
11 |
|
4 |
180 |
2 |
|
28.87 |
Ave1 |
30.21 |
|
86.62 |
Ave3 |
90.63 |
|
76 |
High Finish |
40 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
4 |
JAMES WADE 10-3 JAMIE CAVEN
JAMES WADE began his bid for a second stanjames.com World Matchplay title by sweeping aside the challenge of qualifier Jamie Caven at Blackpool.
The 2007 champion - a finalist in the last three years at the Winter Gardens - made light work of the World Matchplay debutant to set up a tasty second round clash with Gary Anderson on Thursday.
Wade signalled his intent with a 122 finish in the game's opening leg and led 5-0 and 8-1 before closing out victory.
After a superb opening leg, Wade's accuracy on double top and double ten helped him win the next three to take a commanding lead.
He edged a scrappy fifth on double one, before Caven returned from the break with a 180 before getting off the mark thanks to a 120 checkout.
Wade responded with an 11-darter which featured three successive 140s, before double ten and double 12 moved him 8-1 up.
Caven punished a rare miss from the world number two to double his score for the match, but his comeback stalled with two misses at double 18 to nick the next as Wade took a 9-2 cushion.
A 94 finish from Caven kept him in the contest, but he was again left to rue missed doubls as Wade ensured safe passage on double ten.
"It was a completely different game than I expected but I'll take the win," said Wade. "I expected Jamie to play a good game of darts and he didn't perform.
"It was unlike him but I'll take that and move on to my next game. I've got Gary Anderson next and if I play remotely like that I'll lose.
"I'm a good scorer but I think Gary is the best scorer in the world and possibly I'm a better finisher.
"Hopefully it will be a good game but this is my manor! I've put a lot of work in for this tournament and I'm ready for it."
Match Stats
|
James Wade |
10-3 |
Jamie Caven |
|
15 |
100+ |
13 |
|
15 |
140+ |
6 |
|
0 |
180 |
2 |
|
31.11 |
Ave1 |
28.98 |
|
93.32 |
Ave3 |
86.95 |
|
122 |
High Finish |
120 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
0 |
RONNIE BAXTER 10-8 JELLE KLAASEN
RONNIE BAXTER edged an exciting quick-fire contest with Jelle Klaasen to book his second round spot at the stanjames.com World Matchplay with a 10-8 victory.
Baxter gained revenge for a defeat in the Las Vegas Desert Classic recently to see off the Dutchman.
He led 5-0 before Klaasen cut the gap to one leg - but crucially he never levelled as Baxter edged himself into a second round meeting with either Alan Tabern or Andy Smith.
Klaasen missed two darts to take the first leg, with Baxter securing an immediate break on double 16 before taking out successive 14-darters to lead 3-0.
An 81 checkout extended his lead further before he stepped in on double four to move 5-0 up at the first break.
Klaasen got off the mark on double top in leg six, and punished three misses from Baxter in the next to land double four to trail 5-2.
The pair traded 180s in the next, but Klaasen stepped in to take the leg and then fire in a 12-darter to reduce the gap to just one leg.
He also landed a maximum in the tenth leg, only for Baxter to crucially land double top to hold his throw in 14 darts and move 6-4 up.
The next three legs went with the throw to leave Klaasen 7-6 behind, but he saw his chance to square matters go begging in the next - missing five darts at double top and double ten before Baxter hit a key double six.
Double top from Klaasen gave him the 15th leg, but he was left waiting on a finish once more in the next as double 14 put Baxter a leg away from the win at 9-7.
Double eight saw Klaasen post a 14-darter to stay in the hunt, but it was the local-born favourite who took out double ten for an 80 checkout to secure victory.
"I was delighted to be 5-0 up and eventually just to get through the match!" said Baxter.
"Missing double eight to go 6-1 up gave Jelle the impetus but to go into the second break 6-4 up was a big relief.
"I held in there and managed to keep my nose in front and I'm happy to have won."
Blackpool-born Baxter reached the 1998 final at the Winter Gardens and enjoys a close bond with his home crowd.
"I was born in this town and it holds something dear to me," he added. "The first time I played here I reached the final and beat Phil Taylor on the way.
"I've reached a few quarter-finals since then and it holds good memories for me, but I'm trying to get into that final again and my form is pretty good."
Klaasen admitted: "I missed too many doubles and missed too many darts to break him.
"I've been playing well lately and it's very disappointing for me. I don't have many bad legs and more and I gave myself chances to break Ronnie but missed the doubles.
"But I'll have a break now and then get back on the practice board and hopefully be successful in the rest of the year."
Match Stats
|
Ronnie Baxter |
10-8 |
Jelle Klaasen |
|
18 |
100+ |
24 |
|
10 |
140+ |
4 |
|
4 |
180 |
4 |
|
30.77 |
Ave1 |
30.73 |
|
92.30 |
Ave3 |
92.19 |
|
81 |
High Finish |
71 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |