2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship - Day Nine Reports

REPORTS, results and reaction from day nine at the 2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship as the third round comes to a conclusion.

The final six third round games will be played in two sessions at Alexandra Palace.

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Friday 28th December 2007
Third Round
Kirk Shepherd 4-2 Barrie Bates
Adrian Lewis 4-3 Tony Eccles
James Wade 4-2 Mark Dudbridge
Evening Session (7pm Start)
Peter Manley 4-1 Jan van der Rassel
Raymond van Barneveld 2-4 Kevin Painter
Alex Roy 0-4 John Part
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KIRK SHEPHERD 4-3 BARRIE BATES
(3-0, 1-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 3-1)

KIRK SHEPHERD continued his superb debut run at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, defeating world number 13 Barrie Bates to reach the quarter-finals.

The 21-year-old has defeated Terry Jenkins and Mick McGowan already in the event, and again took advantage of his opponent's mistakes at Alexandra Palace.

The Kent man started well by taking the first set. He broke throw in the first leg, and landed double top to take a 1-0 lead after Bates missed three darts to take the third leg.

Bates came back well to take the second set, landing checkouts of 86, 96, and 102 to take the set.

The Welshman should have taken a 2-1 lead, but missed a dart at tops in the third leg for a 110 finish.

He then failed to convert three further opportunities to take the set in the deciding leg, and Shepherd pounced, landing double eight to regain the lead.

The opening two legs of the fourth set where shared and both players had a dart to take out big finishes in the third, but it was Bates who landed the winning double to break throw.

Both players missed darts to take the fourth leg, but Bates managed to land double nine to level the contest once again.

Bates opened up a 2-1 lead in the fifth set, converting a 13-dart finish in the third leg.

He had a dart to win the set in the next, but failed to land the bullseye, for a 128 finish, and Shepherd made it 2-2 with an excellent 112 finish.

The former UK Open finalist had three further opportunities to take the lead and go one set away from the match.

But he failed to take his chances, and Shepherd hit double 12 to take lead once again.

The first two legs of the sixth where shared, but Shepherd then managed to take the next two legs in 15 and 13 darts to take victory.

"I'm on top of the world," said Shepherd. "I feel great but I don't think I've brought my 'A Game' here yet.

"I know I can play a lot better but I'm not complaining, because I've won! This is by far the best event I've ever played in, I'm having a great run and I don't want it to end."

Bates said: "He scored well and finished well but I don't know what's wrong with my game at the moment.

"In my last two matches I played dreadfully but finished superbly, today I scoring brilliantly but couldn't finish!

"It's frustrating but fair play to him, he's beaten Terry Jenkins, Mick McGowan and now me. He deserved it."

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Match Stats

Kirk Shepherd	4-2	Barrie Bates
31	100+	42
15	140+	11
3	180	4
28.62	Ave1	28.54
85.86	Ave3	85.61
112	High Finish	102

ADRIAN LEWIS 4-3 TONY ECCLES
(0-3, 0-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-2, 1-3, 4-2)

ADRIAN LEWIS won a dramatic last 16 encounter with Tony Eccles to reach the quarter-finals of the 2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.

Eccles came from three sets down to defeat Steve Maish on Thursday, but was on the receiving of a comeback as Lewis came from 2-0 down in sets and 2-0 in legs to take the win in a decider.

Eccles came out like a train, winning the opening eight legs of the match before Lewis got into the contest.

The Hartlepool man took a 1-0 lead, and then landed a 101 checkout to take the opening leg of the second set.

He then broke throw with a 12-dart finish, hitting an 84 checkout and then wrapped up the set with a 119 finish to double his advantage.

Eccles continued his superb checkout rate, by landing finishes of 72, and 105 to go to the verge of a 3-0 lead.

Lewis took his opening leg of the match in the next with a 106 finish and then survived two missed darts by Eccles to take the set in leg four to level.

The number seven seed then hit a 13-dart finish in the deciding leg to take the set.

Lewis began to find his rhythm and broke throw with a 136 finish in the opening leg of the fourth set after Eccles missed the bullseye for a 170 checkout, and then hit a two-dart 81 checkout to level the match at 2-2.

Eccles managed to win the opening leg, of the fifth set, taking his first leg in six, but Lewis quickly hit back, taking the next two legs to lead.

Eccles pulled back in the fourth leg, landing double 16, but Lewis took out a 70 finish to lead 3-2, going ahead for the first time in the match.

Eccles took the first leg of the sixth set, hitting the bullseye for an 84 finish. He had an opportunity to take the second leg, but Lewis hit a superb 120 finish.

But Eccles took the next two legs to send the match into a deciding set.

Lewis took the opening leg of the deciding set, despite his opponent landing his fifth maxmium of the game.

Eccles then took the next two legs, hitting an 11-darter in the second and breaking throw in the third, to go one leg away from victory.

Eccles had two chances to take the match in the fourth leg, but was unable to take them and Lewis landed a pressure double nine with his last dart to stay alive.

After an unscheduled comfort break, Lewis took the lead with an 81 finish. He then hit his fifth maximum of the match in the sixth leg, and went on to complete it in 15-darts to record a fantastic win.

Lewis will now take on either current PDC World Champion Raymond van Barneveld or Kevin Painter in the quarter-finals.

"I believe I can win this tournament but I'll have to perform better," admitted Lewis. "I believe in myself and even if Tony had gone 3-0 up, I knew he had come back yesterday and I could.

"He never really missed anything and I had to take out a few big shots there. In the first two sets I kept leaving a finish after 12 darts and not getting a shot at it, and you can't do anything about that.

"I think the 136 I took out was the turning point in the game.

"I've never played Tony before, he's difficult to play and I didn't think he was going to perform like he did. It's probably his best performance on TV and he nearly did me."

He added: "As long as I keep digging in there and fighting I'll be okay. I'll need to be straight off the mark in the quarters and I think I can do that."

Eccles admitted: "I knew I had to come out of the traps quick and maybe I was too quick!

"He pulled away and just he thought I'd gone I came back at him and took him to the last set.

"I hit him with some big shots which appeared to lift him up, rather than buckle him. One of the big turning points was when I missed the bull for a 170 and he took out a brilliant 136 - that is top class quality.

"I had two darts for the match, but it wasn't to be. I've had a good run, but I know I have it in me to go a lot further."

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Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	4-3	Tony Eccles
36	100+	37
16	140+	19
4	180	7
31.40	Ave1	32.40
94.19	Ave3	97.20
136,120,106	High Finish	119,105,101

JAMES WADE 4-2 MARK DUDBRIDGE
(2-3, 3-1, 3-0, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2)

JAMES WADE overcame a bout of 'flu and the challenge of Mark Dudbridge in a tough third round match at the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Both players were struggling with illness before, and during the match, but Wade managed to come through to reach his first World Championship quarter-final.

Wade started poorly, failing to convert a number of chances to win the opening leg to allow Dudbridge, who was battling against a stomach bug, to pounce.

Dudbridge also took the second leg before Wade hit a 61 finish to open his account.

Dudbridge missed five darts in the fourth leg to win the opening set and Wade stepped in hitting double nine.

The Bristol man made no mistake in the next leg, landing double 16 to take the set.

Wade started to get into the game in the second set, taking the opening two legs before Dudbridge hit back in third, with the help of his first maximum of the match.

Wade then took the set with an excellent 98 finish, hitting two double tops to complete the checkout and level up at one apiece.

The world number three opened up a 2-0 lead in the third set, and then hit a 14-dart leg to take go ahead for the first time in the match.

Dudbridge took the opening leg of the fourth set, and then broke throw to double his lead, hitting a superb 177 and then returning to the oche to hit double twelve.

Wade took the next leg, despite needing six attempts to land double top, and he also required six further shots to land double top in the next leg, after Dudbridge had one dart at double five to take the set.

Wade then produced some class in the deciding leg of the set to lead 3-1. He hit his third maximum of the match to leave 92, which he duly converted, with Dudbridge waiting on 40.

He took the first leg of the sixth set, but Dudbridge showed great character to take the next three legs in succession to cut the deficit to 3-2.

Wade opened a 2-0 lead in the seventh set, to go one leg away from victory. But Dudbridge hit back again, taking the third leg with a 62 finish, and then produced a 14-dart leg to level.

Both players missed opportunities to take the deciding leg, but it was Wade who held his nerve to land double top to win the match.

"I'm not feeling too good but neither was Mark," said Wade. "I felt a bit dizzy and disorientated when I was moving around on stage but I had to get on with the job in hand."

Dudbridge said: "I'm not making excuses for myself but I've been pretty ill all day. James has been suffering as well and I think that was reflected in the game.

"I never gave up but he pinched a couple of sets. Nobody dominated the game and there were opportunities for both of us.

"He got in front and I was trying to fight back but I had no energy and am really disappointed."

Match Stats

James Wade	4-2	Mark Dudbridge
39	100+	24
13	140+	20
6	180	4
28.18	Ave1	28.32
84.54	Ave3	84.96
98	High Finish	62

PETER MANLEY 4-1 JAN VAN DER RASSEL
(2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1)

PETER MANLEY ended Jan van der Rassel's run at the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 4-1 victory.

Van der Rassel had defeated Colin Lloyd and Denis Ovens in the opening two rounds, but found the three-time finalist too much of an obstacle to overcome in the last 16.

The scoreline flattered Manley, his opponent having opportunities to level the match at 2-2.

The Dutchman won the opening set, which went to a deciding leg. Manley had two darts to win it, but failed to take either of them and van der Rassel hit a superb 116 checkout to take the lead.

Manley took the second set 3-1, which included a 106 finish in the second leg and his favoured double top for the set.

Van der Rassel started well in the third set, taking the opening two legs only for Manley to hit back to take the next three to pinch the set and go ahead for the first time in the match.

Both players hit 12-dart legs at the start of the fourth set and van der Rassel then took the lead, hitting double ten before Manley hit a 117 checkout to level.

The turning point of the match came in the deciding leg, when van der Rassel missed four darts at double nine to level the match and Manley made the Dutchman pay to take a 3-1 advantage.

Manley appeared to grow in confidence and started the fifth set with a maximum, and then won the leg with a 121 finish.

Van der Rassel managed to hit double ten to level, but Manley took a 2-1 lead with a 16-dart finish.

Manley then hit his fourth maximum in the fourth leg and despite the Dutchman having opportunities to take the leg, Manley hit double six to set up a quarter-final against the Kent youngster Kirk Shepherd.

"I found it very hot on stage, hotter than my first round," said Manley. "The Christmas break probably did me good and I was quite fresh.

"Playing in the Premier League probably prepared me for playing in front of over 2,000 people, but it's still hard.

"Jan has done well to get this far but I hit some crucial doubles when it mattered."

Young qualifier Shepherd has battled his way past seeds Terry Jenkins, Mick McGowan and Barrie Bates to reach the last eight, but Manley added: "Kirk has done well but I won't miss doubles like the other players have - he will need to out-score me."

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Match Stats

Peter Manley	4-1	Jan van der Rassel
37	100+	30
13	140+	16
4	180	2
29.25	Ave1	28.92
87.75	Ave3	86.76
121,117,106	High Finish	116

KEVIN PAINTER 4-2 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
(1-3, 3-0, 3-1, 0-3, 3-2, 3-2)

LADBROKES.COM WORLD DARTS CHAMPION Raymond van Barneveld was sent crashing out of the 2008 tournament with a 4-2 defeat to Kevin Painter at London's Alexandra Palace.

The Dutchman had battled past a bout of 'flu to reach the last 16, but saw the defence of his title come to a halt against Painter.

The 2004 runner-up continued his superb form with a scintillating display, landing nine maximums and averaging over 95 to move into the quarter-finals.

"I'm absolutely delighted," said Painter. "Raymond's been a great champion and is a fantastic bloke as well, but it was my day today.

"It's the best win of my career and if I can carry on digging out results like that at the death.

"To play a final leg like that, hitting two 180s and a ten-darter is unbelievable.

"I'm happy to be hitting my doubles on a regular basis and I've been playing well throughout this year so it's not a massive surprise to me."

Painter hit back from losing the first set to take six of the next seven legs and lead 2-1.

Van Barneveld included a 120 finish in taking the opening set 3-1, but was left trailing by Painter in the next two.

The Englishman landed an 11-darter and four legs of 15 darts, including a crucial 101, in moving ahead in the contest.

Van Barneveld levelled by taking set four without reply, but Painter produced an 11-darter to win a tight fifth set and regain the lead.

A 13-darter saw the defending champion break the throw at the start of the next before he doubled his lead, before two 15-darters from Painter - with his opponent sat on a finish - saw him level.

He kicked off the deciding leg with back-to-back 180s, and also hit a seventh treble 20 before a potential nine-darter went begging on treble 19.

But he had enough cushion to set up a double 16 finish and made no mistake in wrapping up the win at the first time of asking.

Painter will now face Adrian Lewis in Saturday's quarter-finals, and he added: "I know what I am capable of doing and that is it, but I've got to do it more consistently.

"Raymond and Phil Taylor do, and it's down to the rest of us to do it on a more regular basis.

"Adrian's playing well but he struggled a bit early on against Tony Eccles but he showed his class to come back and win, and it will be a great game."

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Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	2-4	Kevin Painter
27	100+	32
13	140+	16
5	180	9
30.23	Ave1	31.73
90.68	Ave3	95.20
120	High Finish	101

JOHN PART 4-0 ALEX ROY
(3-1, 3-2, 3-1, 3-1)

JOHN PART moved into the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship with a convincing straight sets display over Alex Roy.

Roy, who upset sixth seed Andy Hamilton in the second round, was unable to put in a similar performance against the two-time World Champion to see his Alexandra Palace dream end.

Part made his mark immediately, breaking throw in the opening leg with a 13-darter.

He then took the next leg with an 86 checkout to double his lead, and though Roy managed to take the third leg Part held his throw to take the opening set on double eight.

The Canadian continued in a similar vein at the start of the second set, taking the first leg, which included his second 180 of the game.

Roy levelled, to make it one apiece, and then broke Part's throw to lead 2-1.

The Watford man then had one dart to take the second set, but missed double 16 for a 102 finish and Part hit a superb 110 to level.

Part then took the deciding leg of set to double his advantage to lead 2-0.

Roy won the opening leg of the third set, but Part took the next two, hitting a maximum in both, to lead 2-1.

He then hit a clinical 105 finish to go to take the third set and go 3-0 up, after Roy missed a dart double nineteen for a 115 finish.

Part won the opening leg of the fourth set, but Roy replied with an 85 finish.

Part was the far stronger player, and landed double sixteen to take a 2-1 lead, and then completed the next leg in 14-darts to set up a quarter-final tie against James Wade.

"I feel really good with my game and just got on with the job tonight," said Part. "I think I won a couple of sets without missing a double and that's pleasing.

"Alex wasn't far off putting me in a lot of trouble but I took out some high finishes and my experience helped me through."

Part's win means he has reached the quarter-finals for the first time since winning the tournament in 2003, and he takes on world number three Wade on Saturday.

He added: "James wasn't 100 percent today but he can rise to the occasion and it should be interesting."

Match Stats