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

REPORTS, results and reaction from Thursday's play at the 2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.

The tournament continues at Alexandra Palace with the first two Preliminary Round games and four more First Round matches in the afternoon, and four games in the evening session.

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2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship
Preliminary Round
Ashfaque Sayed 0-5 Shi Yongsheng
Alan Bolton 0-5 Erwin Extercatte
First Round
Andy Jenkins 3-2 Miloslav Navratil
Wayne Jones 0-3 Tony Eccles
Andy Hamilton 3-1 Leroy Kwaidjk
Alex Roy 3-2 Warren Parry
Evening Session (7pm Start)
Dennis Priestley 1-3 Steve Maish
Adrian Lewis 3-1 Dave Askew
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Anthony Forde
Vincent van der Voort 3-2 Jelle Klaasen
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SHI YONGSHENG 5-0 ASHFAQUE SAYED

SHI YONGSHENG whitewashed Ashfaque Sayed in the preliminary round stages at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The Chinese qualifier produced a solid display against Sayed to book a clash against Alan Warriner-Little on Friday afternoon.

Despite a 140 from Sayed at the beginning of the match, Yongsheng landed tops to take the opening leg.

He then took a 2-0 lead with a 54 finish, landing double top.

Sayed had opportunities to take the third leg, but missed three darts at double sixteen and Yongsheng made the Indian pay to extend his lead.

Sayed could not improve his scoring and Yongsheng managed to take the next two legs in comfortable fashion to take the victory.

Match Stats

Ashfaque Sayed	0-5	Shi Yongsheng
4	100+	6
2	140+	5
-	180	-
24.01	Ave1	26.09
72.03	Ave3	78.28
-	High Finish	54

ERWIN EXTERCATTE 5-0 ALAN BOLTON

ERWIN EXTERCATTE produced the second whitewash of the day against New Zealand's Alan Bolton in the last of the preliminary round matches at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

Bolton, making his debut at the World Championship never settled on the big stage and could not make any impression during the match.

Extercatte took the first leg of the match landing double sixteen.

Both players struggled to hit the winning double in legs two and three, Extercatte eventually taking both on double one.

Extercatte hit the only maximum of the contest in the fourth leg and took out a 55 finish to go one leg away from the match.

The Dutchman then ended the match with an 80 finish, his highest checkout of the match, to advance to the First Round and a clash against Colin Osborne, on Friday.

Match Stats

Alan Bolton	0-5	Erwin Extercatte
3	100+	7
-	140+	-
-	180	1
20.13	Ave1	21.05
60.38	Ave3	63.15
-	High Finish	80

ANDY JENKINS 3-2 MILOSLAV NAVRATIL
(3-1, 0-3, 2-3, 3-0, 3-0)

ANDY JENKINS came back from 2-1 down to defeat Miloslav Navratil at the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The Czech Qualifier, who won his preliminary round game against Rizal Barellano 5-0 on Wednesday, put in a spirited performance, which included five maximums before being out-gunned by Jenkins' late surge of six straight legs.

Jenkins started the match well and took the first set 3-1, but Navratil hit back in the second set, taking all three legs without reply.

Both players upped their games in the third set, Jenkins taking the first leg with a 94 checkout before Navratil levelled with a fantastic 12-darter finish, which included two maximums.

Jenkins came back with a 15-darter to regain the lead but Navratil levelled the set and then produced two 140s and a 51 checkout in the deciding leg to shock last year's semi-finalist.

But the man from Cosham came to life after that and won six consecutive legs to win the match.

He took out double five to break the throw at the start of the set and a 110 finish to claim it and level the match.

He was in total command in the decider, completing the three legs in 15, 14 and 16 darts to claim victory and book a second round clash against Alan Tabern.

"I won the first set quite convincingly but he came back fantastically well," said Jenkins. "I started to panic when he went 2-1 up, I thought I was going out but I kept fighting and eventually he broke.

"He was very good and it was an impressive performance. It shows the quality around the world because there are no easy games now.

"He outscored me and was up for it. I took it easy at first and shouldn't have, but I've learned that and I can look forward to playing Alan Tabern on Saturday now."

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Match Stats

Andy Jenkins	3-2	Miloslav Navratil
23	100+	17
10	140+	12
3	180	5
28.93	Ave1	27.71
86.80	Ave3	83.12
110,103	High Finish	81

TONY ECCLES 3-0 WAYNE JONES
(3-1, 3-2, 3-0)

TONY ECCLES put in a clinical performance against Wayne Jones to record a 3-0 win on his Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship debut.

Eccles, making his first appearance in the event after qualifying through the Players Championship Order of Merit, started well, breaking the Jones throw in the third leg with an 11-darter and taking the opening set with a 14-darter.

Jones, a World Championship semi-finalist two years ago, missed chances to take the opening leg of the second set and Eccles made the man from Wolverhampton pay for his mistake.

He then doubled his lead in the set, landing double eight but Jones broke the Eccles throw to take the third leg.

Eccles missed six darts at doubles in the fourth leg to take extend his lead and Jones levelled up when he hit double four.

Eccles missed four further opportunities to take the set in the deciding leg, but Jones could not capitalise on the Hartlepool man's errors and Eccles held his nerve to land double five for a 2-0 lead.

Eccles broke the throw at the start of the third after Jones missed two darts at double 16.

He then took complete charge of the match and landed checkouts of 81 and 100 in the next two legs to claim victory.

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Match Stats

Wayne Jones	0-3	Tony Eccles
22	100+	18
7	140+	9
-	180	3
27.90	Ave1	30.39
83.71	Ave3	91.17
42	High Finish	100

ANDY HAMILTON 3-1 LEROY KWADIJK
(3-0, 3-0, 2-3, 3-0)

ANDY HAMILTON overcame the pain of a foot injury to see off Dutch youngster Leroy Kwadijk 3-1 at Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship on Thursday afternoon.

Hamilton was left limping throughout his game after slipping down a flight of stairs at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday, when he visited to get a feel of the PDC's new home ahead of his match.

He landed eight 180s to see off Kwaidjk and book his second round berth, and will now return to his Stoke home for the Christmas break and to have checks on the injury.

"I was going outside last night and I missed the top step, and slipped down the stairs," he revealed.

"I'll go back home and have an X-ray on it to get it checked out, but it didn't affect my performance too much.

"Hopefully it's only a sprained ankle!"

Hamilton, who reached the final of the Grand Slam of Darts last month, hit eight maximums during a strong start to his World Championship challenge.

Hamilton opened his account by landing double top and then increased his lead when the young Dutchman missed eight darts at doubles, landing double ten for the second leg.

Hamilton then took the first set in fine style, winning the third leg with a 142 checkout.

He stepped up his form in the second set, winning it without reply from his opponent, including five maximums in three legs.

Hamilton missed the bull for a 118 finish at the start of the third and Kwadijk hit back with a stunning 160 to take his first leg of the match.

Hamilton levelled the set and then had four chances at doubles to take the lead, but he failed to convert and Kwadijk hit double ten to go one leg away from the set.

Hamilton missed the bull for a 170 finish in the fourth leg but came back to hit double eight and take the set into a deciding leg.

But Kwadijk hit an impressive 72 finish to keep the game alive and take the match into a fourth set.

Hamilton regained the form he showed in the first two sets, hitting two more maximums in the fourth set to wrap up the win without reply.

"It was hard playing Leroy because we've never played before," admitted Hamilton. "I didn't close out the game as soon as I should have but I was always confident I'd get the win."

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Match Stats

Andy Hamilton	3-1	Leroy Kwadijk
12	100+	10
9	140+	6
8	180	-
30.07	Ave1	24.72
90.20	Ave3	74.17
142	High Finish	160

ALEX ROY 3-2 WARREN PARRY
(3-1, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0, 6-4)

ALEX ROY came from behind against New Zealand's Warren Parry to claim a place in the second round of the 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship in a tie break thriller.

Roy took the opening set 3-1, making the Kiwi pay for two missed attempts at double in the fourth leg landing double sixteen.

The opening four legs of the second set where held with throw and it was the New Zealander who got a the vital break of throw in the decider hitting a 165, and then double top to level the match.

Parry then went ahead for the first time in contest but Roy soon levelled up, taking the fourth set without reply.

The local man took the first two legs of the final set, breaking throw with a 72 finish and then landed double top to complete a 60 checkout.

But the Kiwi fought back and levelled up with impressive checkouts of 91 and 72 to take the match into extra time.

The next four legs where shared with both players producing a 14 dart finish each.

Parry missed six doubles in the next leg and Roy pounced to take a 5-4 advantage.

This proved to be crucial and Roy went on to close out the match by landing double six.

Match Stats

Alex Roy	3-2	Warren Parry
39	100+	41
16	140+	13
2	180	1
28.80	Ave1	27.85
86.26	Ave3	83.56
96	High Finish	91

STEVE MAISH 3-1 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
(3-1, 3-1, 0-3, 3-2)

STEVE MAISH upset the form book to end Dennis Priestley's hopes at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 3-1 win.

Priestley started well, hitting a maximum with his first three darts, but it was Maish who took the opener thanks to a 62 checkout as his opponent waited on 32.

The Essex man then doubled his lead but Priestley hit back in the third, landing the bull for an 86 finish.

Maish, though, landed a 180 in the next and converted an 85 checkout to take the set.

The opening two legs of the second set where shared, but Maish secured a break of throw in the third and took a 2-0 lead with a 104 checkout.

Priestley, spurred on by a supportive crowd, came back in the third set, breaking the throw in the opening leg and then hitting a 130 checkout to double his advantage.

The pressure appeared to be get to both players in the next leg, with numerous doubles missed before Priestley hit double two to take the set and reduce the deficit.

Priestley also took the opening leg of the fourth set, but Maish quickly levelled.

The Yorkshireman regained the lead, hitting tops in the third leg, only for Maish to hit back with a two-dart 68 checkout.

Priestley had the advantage of throw in the deciding leg, but his scoring deserted him and Maish took out a two dart 76 finish to claim a famous win.

"It's the biggest win of my career," said Maish. "It's the World Championship at a new venue and an even bigger win for me than when I defeated Colin Lloyd at the World Matchplay last year.

"Dennis is a fantastic player so it's a great result for me."

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Match Stats

Dennis Priestley	1-3	Steve Maish
28	100+	23
7	140+	9
3	180	2
30.69	Ave1	30.86
92.06	Ave3	92.59
130,100	High Finish	104

ADRIAN LEWIS 3-1 DAVE ASKEW
(3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2)

ADRIAN LEWIS made a classy start to his Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship challenge with a 3-1 win over Dave Askew.

The 22-year-old produced the highest average of the tournament so far, 96.79, and landed five maximums to see off Askew's brave challenge.

The PDPA qualifier performed excellently throughout, matching Lewis blow for blow in the opening two sets and forcing a 116 finish from Lewis to finally see him off.

Askew kicked off the match with a 180 and took the first leg on double top before Lewis responded, with legs of 14, 13 and 12 darts giving him the first set 3-2.

Lewis also led in the second after landing double eight, only for Askew to take the next three without reply to square the game.

Lewis took out 115 to open set three, with an 11-darter doubling his lead before Askew replied on double 16.

Lewis was too strong in the next, and took out 92 for a 2-1 lead.

Askew took out a 13-darter as the first four legs of the fourth set went with the throw, leaving Lewis on the brink of victory.

And the youngster completed the win with a fine 116 finish to book his place in round two.

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Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	3-1	Dave Askew
30	100+	25
7	140+	11
5	180	3
32.26	Ave1	30.15
96.79	Ave3	90.46
116,115	High Finish	62

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 3-0 ANTHONY FORDE
(3-0, 3-2, 3-2)

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD began the defence of his Ladbrokes.com World Championship title with a 3-0 defeat of Anthony Forde.

A straight sets scoreline failed to reflect the nature of the game as the five-time World Champion was pushed hard by the Barbados qualifier after taking a one-set lead.

Barneveld started impressively, landing a 177 to set up a double 12 finish in the first leg, and he took the next two to seal the first set without Forde reaching a double.

The Dutchman also hit a 14-dart finish to open the second set before Forde took advantage of misses from the World Champion to win the next two.

The reigning champion continued to miss doubles in fourth leg, but Forde unable to capitalise and van Barneveld managed to land double ten and level the set.

Forde had the opportunity to take the set when going for a 72 finish, but he failed to reach the double and Barneveld took advantage, hitting double eight for a 2-0 lead.

Barneveld appeared to be control of the match in the third set when he took the first two legs, but Forde again hit back strongly.

Cheered on by a supportive crowd, he took out 79 for the third leg and then double two to level after van Barneveld missed darts for the win.

Forde hit a maximum in the fifth leg and had darts to win the set, but was unable to take the chance and Barneveld finally closed out his victory.

"It was always going to be hard," admitted van Barneveld. "I only found out my opponent yesterday and you can't really focus until you know that.

"You know that everyone in the tournament is a good player.

"In the first set I was fine and hit my doubles, but in the second set he got a couple of legs and the crowd got behind him.

"They will always cheer for the underdog and I don't mind that, but it's hard to focus and I miscounted at one stage.

"I will be more focused for the next match against Jason Clark."

Forde, who will return to his job as a docker in Bridgetown on Monday, said: "I enjoyed it. It was an experience and I gave it my best shot, I just missed my doubles at the end.

"I'll go away and work on that, and maybe next time it will be the other way around.

"It was my second time here, the standard was even better than the first and I got to play a World Champion.

"Every dart player wants to play the best and Raymond is the current World Champion.

"I'll use the £4,000 prize money I've won to hopefully travel to some more tournaments overseas, maybe the Las Vegas Desert Classic next summer."

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Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	3-0	Anthony Forde
21	100+	17
8	140+	7
1	180	2
29.71	Ave1	27.28
89.12	Ave3	81.84
86	High Finish	79

VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 3-2 JELLE KLAASEN
(2-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 6-5)

VINCENT VAN DER VOORT won a sudden-death epic against fellow Dutchman and close friend Jelle Klassen in the first round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.

The duo battled out a tremendous five-set contest, landing 18 maximums between them and going all the way to a deciding 11th leg in the final set.

Van der Voort won the bull when the duo faced off, and it was enough advantage for him to seal the win - making Klaasen pay for ten earlier missed doubles for victory.

"It's unbelievable," admitted van der Voort. "He was the better player but I kept fighting and got the win in the end.

"It's hard playing someone who is such a good friend. We travel everywhere together on the circuit and is a tremendous player who has been in great form recently.

"I feel sad for Jelle - he missed ten match darts and I'd have backed him to hit them against anyone normally."

The first set of a game played at a frenetic pace went all the way to a deciding leg and Klassen took it, landing double sixteen to open 1-0 lead.

Van der Voort levelled in the second set, which also went the distance as both players wasted chances in the decider before the UK Open finalist landed double five under immense pressure.

Klassen regained the lead by winning the third set and then went 2-1 up in the fourth to go a leg away from victory.

He had four opportunities at doubles to take a 3-1 victory but missed with all of them and Van der Voort levelled up.

He then hit his tenth maximum and followed that with a 124 finish to take yet another first round encounter to a deciding set.

Klassen once again built up a 2-1 lead in the deciding leg and had a further five darts for the match in the fourth leg.

But he failed again to convert and van der Voort took his opportunity to level.

The next six legs where shared, although Klassen had another dart for the match in the tenth before van der Voort held his nerve to land double eight and take the game into a sudden death leg.

Van der Voort won the throw for the bull and that proved to be decisive, with Klaasen sat on 24 when he landed the winning double.

"I had some poor scoring at times and it wasn't my best game," added van der Voort. "I've never hit 12 180s and had such a low average, so I'll have to play a lot better against Adrian Lewis after Christmas."

Match Stats