REPORTS from the 11th night of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts at the Trent FM Arena in Nottingham.
The Premier League continues, but without Wayne Mardle for a second successive week after he was hospitalised on Wednesday evening due to a virus.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night 11 - Trent FM Arena, Nottingham
Jelle Klaasen 7-7 Mervyn King
James Wade 8-1 Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King 7-7 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 7-7 James Wade
2009 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Table
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JELLE KLAASEN 7-7 MERVYN KING
MERVYN KING grabbed a draw from Jelle Klaasen in a dramatic finale to their Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts clash in Nottingham.
Dutchman Klaasen gave himself a chance for only his second win of the season when he took a 7-6 lead and set up a 120 finish in the deciding leg.
But after hitting a treble 20, his dart for a single 20 struck his first arrow and bounced out of the board - meaning he could not check out and allowed King to land double 16 to share the spoils.
Klaasen had the better of the early legs to lead 2-1 before King took four in a row to power into the lead.
He hit 180s in three of the four legs, twice breaking throw and also hitting a 14-darter in pushing 5-2 up.
Klaasen did win the eighth leg against the darts, and kicked off the next two legs to claw his way level.
He landed another 180 in opening leg 11, but a missed bullseye allowed King, who had also hit a maximum, to take out double eight to hit back.
Klaasen posted a sixth maximum of the game in taking the next against the throw to square the match at six-all - and hit a seventh 180 in a 12-darter to ensure a minimum of a draw at 7-6.
He set up a chance to grab a crucial victory - but the bounce-out gave King another chance, which he took for the draw.
"At the end of the game a draw was probably a fair result," said King. "I kept my cool at the end there and am pleased to get another point on the board."
A philosophical Klaasen refused to blame the bounce-out for denying him a win, saying: "I wanted to have a dart for the game but sometimes that happens.
"I'm happy with how I played but Mervyn played well too and it was a good game."
Match Stats
JAMES WADE 8-1 TERRY JENKINS
JAMES WADE produced one of the greatest ever Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts displays with an 8-1 defeat of Terry Jenkins.
Wade powered in a 108 average to deal Jenkins' play-off hopes a hammer blow, hitting eight 180s in a ruthless performance.
Double ten gave Wade the first leg, and the players traded 180s before Jenkins took the second to level with a 13-darter on double 18.
Wade kicked off the third with back-to-back 180s to set up a potential nine-darter, and though that slipped through his fingers he landed double 18 for an 11-darter,
He also landed two maximums in taking the fourth with another 11-darter to break throw, and matched a Jenkins 180 with his sixth of the match in going 4-1 up.
Wade posted another 180 in taking leg six on double ten, and a 120 finish put the world number two into a 6-1 lead without Jenkins having a dart at a double since the second leg.
Scores of 140 and 180 pushed Jenkins clear in the next leg, but he missed five darts at a double before Wade stepped in on double ten.
Jenkins hit his fourth 180 of the match in opening leg nine, but Wade replied in kind to hit a 13-darter in sealing a comprehensive victory and setting up a top-of-the-table clash with Phil Taylor later in the evening.
"Sometimes the game is that easy and other times I make it look really awkward," said Wade. "In this game it looked easy and the 180s flowed.
"It's very pleased to get such a win and I'll look forward to playing Phil next!"
Match Stats
MERVYN KING 7-7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD maintained his Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-off hopes by snatching a draw against Mervyn King at the Trent FM Arena.
The Dutchman joins John Part level on 11 points in the league table with three matches remaining, as the pair battle for fourth place in the table.
Van Barneveld, though, was staring at a fifth defeat of the season when King moved 7-5 up, only to miss his chances for victory in the last two legs.
There was nothing between the pair for much of the game, with King hitting double nine in two of the first three legs but missing a bullseye for a 3-1 lead, before van Barneveld took out double 18.
King hit a second maximum of the game in leg five, with van Barneveld landing a 180 of his own to leave 40 only to see his opponent take out double 16.
Double seven saw the Dutchman level at the break, only for King to respond to a 180 from van Barneveld with a 177 in the next, setting up a double six finish.
Van Barneveld took out 84 on the bull to level at four-all, but missed the bullseye himself to break in the next.
King took out double 18 and then set up a double two finish with a 168 score in securing the game's first break of throw in taking a 6-4 cushion.
Van Barneveld hit back immediately, beginning leg 11 with a 180 and taking out 68 in two darts to cut the gap.
The duo also traded 180s in the next leg, but King was the stronger to hit double nine and ensure a point at 7-5.
King missed double top for the win in the next, with van Barneveld taking out double 14 with his third attempt to send the match into a decider.
A fourth maximum of the match from King left him 58 for victory in the final leg - but the pair both lost their range on the doubles as the Englishman missed seven darts for the win, and van Barneveld hit double two in his ninth dart at a double to grab a draw.
"I didn't show up but at least I've got a point," said van Barneveld.
"Mervyn had a great chance to beat me but my best legs were against the throw and I struggled a bit with the darts."
The draw was the second of the evening for King as he stepped in for the ill Wayne Mardle, and he admitted: "I created the chances and didn't take it so it's my own fault.
"Raymond wasn't at his best but I've picked up two points on the night and they could prove crucial at the end of the league phase."
Match Stats
PHIL TAYLOR 7-7 JAMES WADE
PHIL TAYLOR battled from 7-3 behind to claim a draw with James Wade in a scintillating battle of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts' top two in Nottingham.
Wade had leap-frogged Taylor to head the table with his 8-1 win over Terry Jenkins earlier in the evening, and looked set to take a three-point advantage into the final three weeks of the league campaign.
But Taylor showed his class to take the final four legs without reply in grabbing a point.
As well as Wade had played against Jenkins, hitting eight maximums in a 108 average to win 8-1, the world number two struggled to regain the form in the early stages of the clash with Taylor.
Taylor took the first and third legs in 12 darts with the throw - but failed to take advantage against the throw as Wade took two to level.
Taylor landed scores of 140 and 180 in winning the fifth, but Wade followed up a 14-darter in the next with a 12-darter to break throw and lead 4-3.
A superb 145 checkout saw him move clear, and also ensure a £1,000 bonus as the night's highest finish, before another break of throw and double top put him 7-3 up.
The pair traded maximums in the next, with Taylor hitting double eight to cut the gap.
Both left a double with 180s in leg 12, but Wade was left waiting on 12 when Taylor checked out tops to reduce the arrears to 7-5.
Double 16 from Taylor sent the match into a deciding leg, but two misses from the defending champion gave Wade his chance to complete a Premier League double over his great rival.
But misses at double four and two gave Taylor a second chance, which he took on double top to claim a point.
"James' scoring and finishing was superb," said Taylor. "I was leaving doubles and he was finishing on me and he was brilliant.
"His first game was awesome and I knew I was up against a tough game but I kept battling and noticed a chink in him towards the end.
"I thought I'd blown my chance but he let me back in."
Wade admitted: "I've only got myself to blame for being 7-3 up and not finishing the job.
"I let myself down in the last few legs and Phil was better than me there."
Match Stats
The Premier League continues, but without Wayne Mardle for a second successive week after he was hospitalised on Wednesday evening due to a virus.
Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts
Night 11 - Trent FM Arena, Nottingham
Jelle Klaasen 7-7 Mervyn King
James Wade 8-1 Terry Jenkins
Mervyn King 7-7 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 7-7 James Wade
2009 Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts Table
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
+/- |
Pts | |
|
James Wade |
12 |
7 |
3 |
2 |
+16 |
17 |
|
Phil Taylor |
11 |
6 |
4 |
1 |
+23 |
16 |
|
Mervyn King |
12 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
+25 |
15 |
|
R v Barneveld |
11 |
4 |
3 |
4 |
+2 |
11 |
|
John Part |
11 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
-6 |
11 |
|
Terry Jenkins |
11 |
2 |
4 |
5 |
-8 |
8 |
|
Jelle Klaasen |
11 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
-19 |
6 |
|
Wayne Mardle |
9 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
-33 |
4 |
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JELLE KLAASEN 7-7 MERVYN KING
MERVYN KING grabbed a draw from Jelle Klaasen in a dramatic finale to their Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts clash in Nottingham.
Dutchman Klaasen gave himself a chance for only his second win of the season when he took a 7-6 lead and set up a 120 finish in the deciding leg.
But after hitting a treble 20, his dart for a single 20 struck his first arrow and bounced out of the board - meaning he could not check out and allowed King to land double 16 to share the spoils.
Klaasen had the better of the early legs to lead 2-1 before King took four in a row to power into the lead.
He hit 180s in three of the four legs, twice breaking throw and also hitting a 14-darter in pushing 5-2 up.
Klaasen did win the eighth leg against the darts, and kicked off the next two legs to claw his way level.
He landed another 180 in opening leg 11, but a missed bullseye allowed King, who had also hit a maximum, to take out double eight to hit back.
Klaasen posted a sixth maximum of the game in taking the next against the throw to square the match at six-all - and hit a seventh 180 in a 12-darter to ensure a minimum of a draw at 7-6.
He set up a chance to grab a crucial victory - but the bounce-out gave King another chance, which he took for the draw.
"At the end of the game a draw was probably a fair result," said King. "I kept my cool at the end there and am pleased to get another point on the board."
A philosophical Klaasen refused to blame the bounce-out for denying him a win, saying: "I wanted to have a dart for the game but sometimes that happens.
"I'm happy with how I played but Mervyn played well too and it was a good game."
Match Stats
|
Jelle Klaasen |
7-7 |
Mervyn King |
|
17 |
100+ |
12 |
|
4 |
140+ |
11 |
|
7 |
180 |
5 |
|
32.41 |
Ave1 |
31.93 |
|
97.23 |
Ave3 |
95.80 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
3 |
|
7/16 - 44% |
Checkout % |
7/15 - 47% |
|
87 |
High Finish |
40 |
JAMES WADE 8-1 TERRY JENKINS
JAMES WADE produced one of the greatest ever Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts displays with an 8-1 defeat of Terry Jenkins.
Wade powered in a 108 average to deal Jenkins' play-off hopes a hammer blow, hitting eight 180s in a ruthless performance.
Double ten gave Wade the first leg, and the players traded 180s before Jenkins took the second to level with a 13-darter on double 18.
Wade kicked off the third with back-to-back 180s to set up a potential nine-darter, and though that slipped through his fingers he landed double 18 for an 11-darter,
He also landed two maximums in taking the fourth with another 11-darter to break throw, and matched a Jenkins 180 with his sixth of the match in going 4-1 up.
Wade posted another 180 in taking leg six on double ten, and a 120 finish put the world number two into a 6-1 lead without Jenkins having a dart at a double since the second leg.
Scores of 140 and 180 pushed Jenkins clear in the next leg, but he missed five darts at a double before Wade stepped in on double ten.
Jenkins hit his fourth 180 of the match in opening leg nine, but Wade replied in kind to hit a 13-darter in sealing a comprehensive victory and setting up a top-of-the-table clash with Phil Taylor later in the evening.
"Sometimes the game is that easy and other times I make it look really awkward," said Wade. "In this game it looked easy and the 180s flowed.
"It's very pleased to get such a win and I'll look forward to playing Phil next!"
Match Stats
|
James Wade |
8-1 |
Terry Jenkins |
|
9 |
100+ |
9 |
|
4 |
140+ |
8 |
|
8 |
180 |
4 |
|
36.06 |
Ave1 |
31.90 |
|
108.17 |
Ave3 |
95.71 |
|
3 |
Legs Against Throw |
0 |
|
8/14 - 57% |
Checkout % |
1/6 - 17% |
|
120 |
High Finish |
36 |
MERVYN KING 7-7 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD maintained his Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts play-off hopes by snatching a draw against Mervyn King at the Trent FM Arena.
The Dutchman joins John Part level on 11 points in the league table with three matches remaining, as the pair battle for fourth place in the table.
Van Barneveld, though, was staring at a fifth defeat of the season when King moved 7-5 up, only to miss his chances for victory in the last two legs.
There was nothing between the pair for much of the game, with King hitting double nine in two of the first three legs but missing a bullseye for a 3-1 lead, before van Barneveld took out double 18.
King hit a second maximum of the game in leg five, with van Barneveld landing a 180 of his own to leave 40 only to see his opponent take out double 16.
Double seven saw the Dutchman level at the break, only for King to respond to a 180 from van Barneveld with a 177 in the next, setting up a double six finish.
Van Barneveld took out 84 on the bull to level at four-all, but missed the bullseye himself to break in the next.
King took out double 18 and then set up a double two finish with a 168 score in securing the game's first break of throw in taking a 6-4 cushion.
Van Barneveld hit back immediately, beginning leg 11 with a 180 and taking out 68 in two darts to cut the gap.
The duo also traded 180s in the next leg, but King was the stronger to hit double nine and ensure a point at 7-5.
King missed double top for the win in the next, with van Barneveld taking out double 14 with his third attempt to send the match into a decider.
A fourth maximum of the match from King left him 58 for victory in the final leg - but the pair both lost their range on the doubles as the Englishman missed seven darts for the win, and van Barneveld hit double two in his ninth dart at a double to grab a draw.
"I didn't show up but at least I've got a point," said van Barneveld.
"Mervyn had a great chance to beat me but my best legs were against the throw and I struggled a bit with the darts."
The draw was the second of the evening for King as he stepped in for the ill Wayne Mardle, and he admitted: "I created the chances and didn't take it so it's my own fault.
"Raymond wasn't at his best but I've picked up two points on the night and they could prove crucial at the end of the league phase."
Match Stats
|
Mervyn King |
7-7 |
Raymond van Barneveld |
|
17 |
100+ |
16 |
|
14 |
140+ |
11 |
|
4 |
180 |
5 |
|
32.54 |
Ave1 |
32.28 |
|
97.62 |
Ave3 |
96.84 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
7/25 - 28% |
Checkout % |
7/21 - 33% |
|
48 |
High Finish |
84 |
PHIL TAYLOR 7-7 JAMES WADE
PHIL TAYLOR battled from 7-3 behind to claim a draw with James Wade in a scintillating battle of the Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts' top two in Nottingham.
Wade had leap-frogged Taylor to head the table with his 8-1 win over Terry Jenkins earlier in the evening, and looked set to take a three-point advantage into the final three weeks of the league campaign.
But Taylor showed his class to take the final four legs without reply in grabbing a point.
As well as Wade had played against Jenkins, hitting eight maximums in a 108 average to win 8-1, the world number two struggled to regain the form in the early stages of the clash with Taylor.
Taylor took the first and third legs in 12 darts with the throw - but failed to take advantage against the throw as Wade took two to level.
Taylor landed scores of 140 and 180 in winning the fifth, but Wade followed up a 14-darter in the next with a 12-darter to break throw and lead 4-3.
A superb 145 checkout saw him move clear, and also ensure a £1,000 bonus as the night's highest finish, before another break of throw and double top put him 7-3 up.
The pair traded maximums in the next, with Taylor hitting double eight to cut the gap.
Both left a double with 180s in leg 12, but Wade was left waiting on 12 when Taylor checked out tops to reduce the arrears to 7-5.
Double 16 from Taylor sent the match into a deciding leg, but two misses from the defending champion gave Wade his chance to complete a Premier League double over his great rival.
But misses at double four and two gave Taylor a second chance, which he took on double top to claim a point.
"James' scoring and finishing was superb," said Taylor. "I was leaving doubles and he was finishing on me and he was brilliant.
"His first game was awesome and I knew I was up against a tough game but I kept battling and noticed a chink in him towards the end.
"I thought I'd blown my chance but he let me back in."
Wade admitted: "I've only got myself to blame for being 7-3 up and not finishing the job.
"I let myself down in the last few legs and Phil was better than me there."
Match Stats
|
Phil Taylor |
7-7 |
James Wade |
|
17 |
100+ |
12 |
|
15 |
140+ |
9 |
|
5 |
180 |
6 |
|
34.62 |
Ave1 |
31.39 |
|
103.85 |
Ave3 |
94.18 |
|
2 |
Legs Against Throw |
2 |
|
7/25 - 28% |
Checkout % |
7/9 - 87% |
|
81 |
High Finish |
145 |