Day Eight Reports

REPORTS, reaction and stats from Thursday's Third Round action at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, as the last 16 games conclude at the Circus Tavern, Purfleet.


DARREN WEBSTER 4-2 WYNAND HAVENGA
(3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0, 3-1)

DARREN WEBSTER romped into the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship quarter-finals with a 4-2 win over South African Wynand Havenga.

The Norwich thrower had only ever appeared twice on television before this tournament, but is now facing the prospect of a clash with Phil Taylor or Chris Mason at the last eight stage and a record pay-day of £12,500.

The 38-year-old produced some superb darts in taking six of the first seven legs for a two-set lead.

His second set, in particular, was superb, following a 13-darter with two 112 finishes to average 105 for the three legs.

Webster also led 2-0 in set three before Havenga took out 95 to respond and the next two legs to pull back the game to 2-1.

He then levelled matters with a 13-darter, which included his third 180 of the match, in the final leg of the fourth set.

Webster took three legs in a row to win the fifth set without reply and move to within one of the match, before a 14-darter from Havenga gave him the lead in the next.

The Emperors Palace South African Masters champion was then punished for missed doubles in the second set, before a 14-darter from Webster put him 2-1 up.

Havenga then paid the ultimate price for three missed darts to stay in the contest, with Webster finally landing the killer blow with double ten on his final dart to seal victory.

"It's brilliant," said Webster. "I've always believed I could do this but it's about being used to the televised stage.

"I can go up about ten or fifteen points in my average and I will need to in the quarter-finals. I will need to play like I did in the second set throughout!

"I started lovely and had to try and keep my composure. At 2-0 in the third set I thought I was there and suddenly my hands started sweating.

"Wynand got into his game then and wasn't missing much but I knew if I could get to the doubles I would take them."

Havenga overcame Steve Maish and Peter Manley in his Circus Tavern debut, and he said: "It's been a great experience for me and I'll be back.

"I'll be trying to qualify again next year and this has given me lots of confidence."

Match Stats

COLIN OSBORNE 4-2 ROLAND SCHOLTEN
(3-2, 3-0, 2-3, 0-3, 3-1, 3-1)

COLIN OSBORNE kept alive his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship dream with a stunning 4-2 win over world number four Roland Scholten to reach the quarter-finals.

The world number 34, a qualifier from Derby, claimed another big name in a brilliant display.

He led by two sets after overcoming early nerves on the doubles to edge the opener 3-2 and take out two 15-darters and a 110 finish in the second.

He also took out 120 for a 12-darter in the third, but Scholten won the final two legs of the set to pull back to 2-1.

Fine legs of 15, 12 and 15 darts gave Scholten set four and tied the match, but Osborne regained his rhythm in the fifth set.

He landed two maximums and a 13-darter in taking the set 3-1 and moving to within one of victory.

Scholten hit back to level the sixth set at 1-1, but Osborne took the next two for the biggest win of his career.

"It's been a great tournament so far," said Osborne, a 31-year-old railway worker. "I felt very relaxed and comfortable but you still have to hit the big scores and your doubles.

"They don't come much tougher than Roland and he came back at me well.

"I didn't really prepare building up to my first game, against Kevin Painter, because I'm not a person who practises for hours a day, but I'll make sure I prepare properly for the quarter-finals and give it my best shot."

Match Stats

ANDY JENKINS produced a superb comeback to reach the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship for the first time with a 4-3 win over Adrian Lewis.

Jenkins' win over Andy Smith on Wednesday saw him reach round three for the first time in 13 years as a professional.

And a brilliant display saw him end the hopes of number five seed Lewis with a sensational seven-set victory.

Lewis produced some sparkling darts of his own to win six of the first nine legs to establish a two-set lead, including four maximums and legs of 11 and 13 darts.

Jenkins stepped in to win three successive legs and the third set, and included finishes of 92, 160 and 70 in edging the fourth to level matters.

He also led in the fifth set only for Lewis to storm back with a 144 finish for a 12-darter to level matters, before Jenkins landed his sixth maximum of the game on his way to leg three and a 101 checkout to take the set.

Lewis included a 116 finish of his own in taking the sixth set without reply to send the match into a decider.

Jenkins won the opening leg in 13 darts before Lewis levelled matters, but a fine 14-darter with the throw put the number 12 seed within touching distance of the win.

He then threw a superb 177 against the throw in the fourth leg to leave 24, and nailed double 12 at the first attempt for victory.

"I'm overwhelmed," admitted Jenkins, who averaged over 93 and finished at a superb 68%. "Those last four darts were probably the most important of my career.

"I've never been in this situation before, in 13 years I'd never got past the second round and here I am in the last eight.

"It was a quality match played in great spirit. Adrian's a great player but I knew he would have a lull so I had to stay with him and step in when he did.

"I've been practising a lot more this year and maybe that showed in my finishing."

Jenkins will now meet fast-emerging star Colin Osborne in the quarter-finals, and he added: "He's a quality player and has come on leaps and bounds in the last 12 months.

"He's one of the young players coming through who keep getting better and better, like James Wade and Adrian. I still think Adrian will be a future World Champion - but not this year!"

Jenkins has had added focus during the tournament following the recent death of his father Chris.

"I did come into the event thinking differently," he said. "When I had to dig deep I did think of my dad.

"Getting through means my mum can come and watch me in the quarter-finals. She's had a bout of 'flu but will be coming up from Portsmouth for the game."

Lewis admitted: "I missed too many doubles and am disappointed with my finishing.

"He dug in deep but I felt I should have gone 3-1 up. Even when it went 3-3 I thought I had him but my doubles let me down and I'm gutted.

"It was a bad day at the office and I'll have to get back on the practice board and work on it because I'm going away thinking I should still be in the tournament."

Match Stats

TERRY JENKINS 4-3 JAMES WADE
(1-3, 3-1, 0-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1)

TERRY JENKINS came from 3-1 down to edge James Wade in a seven-set thriller and remain on course for a second successive major final.

The number six seed reached his first major final at October's World Grand Prix, and was forced to show his class to overcome the rising star.

Wade made a fine start to win the first set 3-1 despite a 97 finish from Jenkins.

Jenkins won set two by the same scoreline after Wade took the opening leg, before the 23-year-old hit the accelerator.

Wade took the next five successive legs to create a 2-1 set scoreline and a 2-0 lead in the fourth set, before Jenkins replied in 16 and 13 darts.

Jenkins then missed three darts to win the set and square the game before Wade took out double four with his final dart to put daylight between the pair.

The Ledbury thrower took the fifth set 3-1, and came from 2-0 down in the sixth to stay in the match.

Jenkins won the first leg of the decider before missing seven darts for the second, as Wade levelled matters.

Wade missed the bullseye to let Jenkins in for the third, and the world number six then wrapped up the victory with a 105 finish.

"That was a real battle," said Jenkins. "I scored well but my finishing was poor.

"I was dead and buried when I was 2-0 down in the fourth set, and I had nothing to lose. I hit a lot of big scores and put the pressure back on James.

"Maybe I'm at my best when I'm behind. I sometimes lose the plot when I'm in front.

"I've done well this year, reaching the last eight in Las Vegas, the final in the World Grand Prix and now the quarter-finals here. Hopefully I can go a little further now."

Match Stats

PHIL TAYLOR 4-0 CHRIS MASON
(3-0, 3-2, 3-1, 3-1)

PHIL TAYLOR powered into the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a straight sets win over Chris Mason.

The 13-time World Champion never looked troubled against the number 15 seed, dropping just four legs in the match and averaging almost 100.

Taylor wasted little time in winning the first set thanks to legs of 15, 14 and 14 darts.

Taylor also took the first leg of the second set before Mason registered his first chalk with a fine 12-darter.

Taylor responded in 14 and took the set in a decider, and only another 11-darter from Mason - including a 100 finish - saw him register a leg in set three.

The duo traded legs at the start of the fourth set before Taylor edged towards victory in the third leg and sealed his last eight spot with double ten.

The match was marred by an exchange of words between the pair following the winning darts, with Mason's quotes in the morning newspapers meaning there was no love lost between the pair.

"I thought it was a good game," said Taylor. "I've been trying my hardest for this and I'm still in the hunt.

"We exchanged words at the end but Chris was a little disrespectful and I don't need that."

Mason said: "I gave it my all but he is the best player in the game and is ruthless up there.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the match but Phil is phenomenal. I averaged 95 and felt I played OK."

Match Stats

ANDY HAMILTON 4-1 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
(3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2)

ANDY HAMILTON romped into the last eight of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with an impressive 4-1 defeat of Dennis Priestley.

The world number 19 from Stoke booked his place in the quarter-finals for the second time in only three years as a professional.

In one of his finest displays yet, the 39-year-old averaged almost 99 and checked out 46% of his doubles to romp past the two-time World Champion.

He opened the match in explosive fashion with an 11-darter, and came from 2-1 down to edge the first set.

Hamilton also won the second set in a decider, before Priestley suggested he could mount a comeback by taking the third set 3-1 with an 11-darter.

The Yorkshireman had hit back from 3-1 down to defeat Per Laursen in round two, but and hopes he had of a repeat were soon dashed by the on-song Hamilton.

Legs of 15, 17 and 11 darts gave him a third set, and he got over the finishing line by edging set five 3-2 on double six.

"It felt great tonight," said Hamilton. "I felt comfortable on stage and enjoyed the match.

"I knew I had the better of him. Dennis is a World Champion and I've come through and beaten him.

"My doubles were tremendous, a 46 percent rate is great but I didn't give him too many chances and it paid off.

"I've proved before that I can hit the 180s and now I can hit the doubles, so who knows what can happen now?

"I'm not scared of Terry Jenkins. He's a fine player and I can't wait to play him. It's all about who takes their opportunities."

Priestley admitted: "Andy was too strong and finished well.

"I didn't perform like I can and wasn't good enough. I didn't start well enough - I lost the first two sets 3-2 and if you want to progress you have to take those sets."

Match Stats