ADRIAN GRAY 3-2 RONNIE BAXTER
(3-1, 2-3, 3-0, 0-3, 3-1)
ADRIAN GRAY celebrated his Circus Tavern debut in style with a superb 3-2 win over Ronnie Baxter.
In the opening game of the 2007 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, the 25-year-old from Sussex show few nerves to defeat the former world number three.
Baxter never led in the contest after losing the opening set 3-1, with Gray making a fine start and landing a 120 finish on his way to the lead.
Baxter hit his first maximum of the match to open the second set, and levelled the match 3-2 after Gray took the set to a deciding leg.
Gray stepped up a gear to race through the third set 3-0, before Baxter replied in kind to send the match into a decider.
The first two legs went with the throw before Gray landed a 12-darter to put himself 2-1 up.
Two 140 scores moved him clear in the next before he missed two darts at double 16 for the match, with Baxter sat on 80.
But the Swindon star failed to land double top to stay in the game, and Gray hit double eight to take the biggest victory of his career.
Click here to listen to an interview with Adrian Gray in DartsTV
"I was a bit nervous at the start but I'm happy with the way I played," said Gray, the world number 44.
"I thought I'd blown it at the end when I missed and he had a shot, but he let me back in.
You know what you have to do when you're playing the likes of Ronnie, or Phil Taylor, Colin Lloyd and Raymond van Barneveld. You have got to play well or you're not going to win.
"I had a dream last night that I won the first set 3-1 and went on to beat him. I woke and told my wife Abbie this morning and she said 'good'.
"Ronnie hit his form in spells but I'm delighted to get through."
Match Stats
|
Ronnie |
2-3 |
Adrian |
|
20 |
100+ |
17 |
|
10 |
140+ |
17 |
|
5 |
180 |
4 |
|
30.03 |
Ave1 |
30.38 |
|
90.09 |
Ave3 |
91.13 |
|
76 |
High Finish |
120 |
WYNAND HAVENGA 3-2 STEVE MAISH
(2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 0-3, 5-3)
SOUTH AFRICAN Wynand Havenga made a winning debut at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a 3-2 tie break victory over Steve Maish.
Havenga won September's Emperors Palace South African Masters to become the first player from the country to appear at Purfleet.
And he stunned local star Maish, from Southend, with a brilliant display to move into round two.
Maish actually won the first set 3-2, coming from 2-0 down to move into the lead.
Havenga again pushed 2-0 up in the second set, including a superb 118 checkout.
Maish hit back with a 13-darter before Havenga took the set, landing his first maximum on the big stage before taking out a neat three-dart 72 finish.
He added a second 180 in taking yet another 2-0 lead in the third set, but Maish fought back to level matters at 2-2 before Havenga punished a missed bullseye from the Essex star to take the lead in the match.
Maish won the fourth set without reply to take the game into a deciding set, with Havegna opening up with a 111 finish to edge ahead.
With the first six legs all going with the throw - including a 126 finish from Havenga and checkouts of 96 and 92 from Maish - the game entered a tie break, with two clear legs needed for victory.
Havenga moved 4-3 up after Maish missed double 12, and he wrapped up the win on double two in the next leg.
"It's hard to put it into words," said an emotional Havenga afterwards. "I'm the first South African to come here and it's amazing.
"I showed what I can do and we'll see what I can do now in the next round.
"I felt I should have been a set up and Steve came back at me at the end. I think I can get better and hopefully I will for the next round.
"I wanted to win this for myself, the people back home and for my sponsors, Emperors Palace and Unicorn. It means a lot to me.
"Darts in South Africa is still very small compared to Britain, Holland and America but I'm so glad I could win this first game and hopefully the game will start to grow.
"This was the ultimate thing for me and I'm delighted to have won."
Match Stats
|
Steve |
2-3 |
Wynand |
|
31 |
100+ |
21 |
|
12 |
140+ |
12 |
|
3 |
180 |
5 |
|
29.73 |
Ave1 |
26.43 |
|
89.19 |
Ave3 |
79.30 |
|
92 |
High Finish |
126, 118, 111 |
TERRY JENKINS 3-1 MARK LAWRENCE
(3-0, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0)
TERRY JENKINS overcame the challenge of Mark Lawrence to book his place in round two of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Jenkins reached the final of the PDC's previous televised tournament, the SkyBet World Grand Prix in October, and produced a solid start to his challenge at the Circus Tavern.
He lost just one of the first seven legs to move two sets up, and was a leg up in the third before qualifier Lawrence found his rhythm.
The Yorkshireman landed back-to-back 180s in the next leg to take a sparkling 13-darter, and came from 2-1 down to win the set in a decider.
Jenkins, though, was not to be denied and took the fourth set without reply to ensure his passage into the last 32.
Click here to listen to an interview with Terry Jenkins in DartsTV
"I'm pleased to get through," said Jenkins. I've been playing well recently and have been practising well so I wasn't nervous.
"I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't hit a 180 but I'm happy with the way I played.
"I was never too worried. I know he's a good player and he was hitting the big scores, but I don't let it get to me."
Match Stats
|
Terry |
3-1 |
Mark |
|
19 |
100+ |
20 |
|
13 |
140+ |
8 |
|
- |
180 |
4 |
|
29.58 |
Ave1 |
28.64 |
|
88.75 |
Ave3 |
85.92 |
|
64 |
High Finish |
62 |
MICK McGOWAN 3-1 MATT CLARK
(0-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
IRELAND'S Mick McGowan enjoyed a dream Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship debut, coming from a set down to win 3-1 against Matt Clark.
McGowan has enjoyed a dream year on the PDC circuit, and came through the qualifiers to book his place at the Circus Tavern.
Despite struggling with a bout of 'flu over the weekend, McGowan booked his place in the last 32 - and a potential clash with defending champion Phil Taylor - with a fine win.
Clark began brightly, taking the first set 3-0 and scoring well, but McGowan found his range in set two.
The Irishman hit eight ton-plus scores and two 15-dart legs to respond in kind to Clark and level matters.
Further legs of 13 and 15 darts saw McGowan move 2-0 up in the third set, with Clark hitting back to square the set in 15 and 14 darts before the Ireland Open Classic champion landed double top to edge ahead.
A 117 finish helped McGowan into a 2-0 lead in set four, and though an outstanding 161 finish kept Clark in the game, the debutant held his nerve with a 13-darter - including three 140 scores - to seal the win.
Click here to listen to an interview with Mick McGowan in DartsTV
"I couldn't get my focus in the first set," admitted McGowan. "I got to grips with it after that and to win made it a dream debut.
"I've prepared well for this but when you get on stage it's completely different. Matt played really well, he was steady and didn't give away too many chances.
"I had to bully him to take the third set but I went 2-1 up and am delighted to be through.
"I've been suffering from 'flu for the last week and was in bed for a couple of days. Thankfully I managed to get through."
He added: "It's one thing doing well on the tour, but the World Championship is what every player plays for.
"It's the pinnacle of everybody's year and what Christmas is about for us. I've got Phil next and if you can't look forward to that game, on the biggest stage in the world, then there must be something wrong with you.
"I am flying back to Ireland to spend Christmas there and will go back to work for a couple of days before flying back on Boxing Day morning.
"I'm on the first flight out of Dublin on Boxing Day morning and I can't wait."
Match Stats
|
Matt |
1-3 |
Mick |
|
21 |
100+ |
16 |
|
10 |
140+ |
15 |
|
2 |
180 |
2 |
|
29.44 |
Ave1 |
31.35 |
|
88.31 |
Ave3 |
94.06 |
|
161 |
High Finish |
117 |
CHRIS MASON 3-0 WAYNE ATWOOD
(3-2, 3-1, 3-0)
CHRIS MASON produced one of his best displays of scoring to overpower Wayne Atwood 3-0 in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
Mason landed eight maximums in 12 legs to blow away the Welsh qualifier.
Mason, who recently relocated to the darts hotbed of Stoke, announced his intentions in the opening leg of the match with back-to-back 180s.
Atwood came back to lead the set 2-1, but Mason levelled matters before ending a 12-darter with a 125 finish to take the set.
He also led 2-0 in the second set before missed doubles allowed Atwood to hit back.
Mason, through, took a scrappy fourth leg to move 2-0 up, and regained his composure with a 13-darter to open set three.
An eighth maximum helped him take the second leg before he took out double five for the match.
Click here to listen to an interview with Chris Mason in DartsTV
"It was nice, I really enjoyed it," said Mason, who averaged almost 95 in the match. "It was a good performance and a nice game to play in.
"The darts went well and I've come into the tournament playing well. I'm settled in Stoke now and all the pressure of the move is over.
"I'm practising hard with Andy Hamilton at his pub. He's learning to take a beating from me and I'm learning to lose to him too.
"He wants to practice all the time - from the minute he wakes in the morning. He is a machine and it's great, very enjoyable."
Mason will take on Part in round two, a repeat of his clash with the Canadian in last year's second round.
"We've had some fantastic matches and there's some great history there," added Mason. "John has told me he's put some serious graft in before this and he did that before he won in Las Vegas this year.
"You know that when he works hard he will produce the goods."
Match Stats
|
Chris |
3-0 |
Wayne |
|
19 |
100+ |
10 |
|
1 |
140+ |
10 |
|
8 |
180 |
- |
|
31.65 |
Ave1 |
28.22 |
|
94.96 |
Ave3 |
84.65 |
|
125, 118 |
High Finish |
86 |
JOHN PART 3-2 ALAN GREEN
(3-2, 3-0, 1-3, 1-3, 6-4)
JOHN PART edged out qualifier Alan Green in an epic contest to move into round two at the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The Canadian, the champion at the Circus Tavern four years ago, looked on course for a comfortable win when he opened up a 2-0 lead.
But Merseysider Green, on his Purfleet debut, put up a tremendous fight to pull back and level the match before taking the deciding final set into a tie breaker.
Canadian Part showed all his experience to twice come from behind in winning the first set 3-2.
He then took the second without reply, despite a maximum from Green, to open up a 2-0 lead.
Green, who qualified for the World Grand Prix in October, settled to win the third set 3-1.
And a 136 finish from Part was not enough to prevent the fourth set going to Green by the same scoreline as the match went into the deciding fifth set.
Green moved 2-1 up to move to within one leg of the match, before two for Part swung the momentum his way at 3-2.
But when the Canadian missed his chance to wrap up the win, Green stepped in to level at 3-3 and then edge himself ahead.
Part, needing two win by two clear legs, kicked back into gear to pull square once more and then take out double eight to go back to the brink of victory.
This time, he made no mistake by landing double top at the first time of asking and set up a repeat of last year's epic second round with Chris Mason on Friday.
Click here to listen to an interview with John Part in DartsTV
"I seem to get these matches all the time," joked Part. "Any time I make a mistake, my opponent takes the chance there was no relaxing up there.
"The second set went so smoothly and I thought 'here we go', but then the gremlins came in. He hit a lot of third dart doubles and that can be rough, psychologically.
"He showed composure and some scoring class, so he's someone to look out for in the future. He is capable but I managed to get past him.
"Even if you're missing chances, you have to keep it in perspective and not give up, and I did that.
"I obviously would have preferred to hit certain things during the match but I had the experience to compose myself and get a good run at every leg if I could, and I think that's what got me the match."
Part is looking forward to facing Mason in round two, adding: "We had a fantastic match last year.
"I just hope I can play as well as I did last year, but I don't know if that will be good enough to win it or not.
"I know he's playing pretty well, but I went through a lot of the nerves and highs and lots in the first round that he didn't go through in a 3-0 win.
"Maybe it's better for me, mentally, because I've endured."
Match Stats
|
John |
3-2 |
Alan |
|
33 |
100+ |
35 |
|
13 |
140+ |
16 |
|
4 |
180 |
3 |
|
28.85 |
Ave1 |
26.88 |
|
86.56 |
Ave3 |
80.64 |
|
136 |
High Finish |
102 |
PHIL TAYLOR 3-0 ANTON PEIN
(3-0, 3-0, 3-0)
PHIL TAYLOR began the defence of his Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a crushing 3-0 whitewash of Austria's Anton Pein.
Taylor looked in imperious form against the Purfleet debutant, who was appearing for the first time in front of the television cameras after winning a qualifier in Germany last month.
Taylor failed to drop a leg in the match, and will now take on in-form Irishman Mick McGowan on Boxing Day.
Click here to listen to an interview with Phil Taylor in DartsTV
"It's a relief to get the first game out of the way," said Taylor. "He was an unknown quantity and sometimes it's harder to win these games than the battles.
"He was nervous and is a better player than he showed but it's game on for me now!
"I've got Mick next and I'll have to improve because he beat me the only time we've played.
"He's come through well this year and I know what he can do."
Taylor quickly found his stride against Pein, opening up with a 14-dart leg and wrapping up the first set without being put under pressure.
Pein found a better rhythm in the first two legs of the second set, although Taylor took both in 16 darts before producing an excellent 11-darter for the set.
His heavy scoring, and clinical switching from the 20 to 19 bed, left Pein in the shade as the third set followed the same pattern.
Pein managed to set up a finish in the third leg, but misses at double four allowed Taylor back in to seal the win.
Match Stats
|
Phil |
3-0 |
Anton |
|
18 |
100+ |
16 |
|
5 |
140+ |
- |
|
1 |
180 |
- |
|
32.21 |
Ave1 |
26.70 |
|
96.62 |
Ave3 |
80.11 |
|
48 |
High Finish |
- |
PETER MANLEY 3-0 DAVE JOWETT
(3-0, 3-1, 3-0)
PETER MANLEY made light work of qualifier Dave Jowett to book his place in the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship.
The three-time finalist showed his experience on the big stage against Jowett, a 56-year-old window cleaner from Doncaster whose only previous televised contest came against Manley in the 2004 World Matchplay.
Manley raced through the first set 3-0 to stamp his authority on the match from the off.
He led 2-0 in the second before Jowett got off the mark with double top, before Manley wrapped up the set in the fourth leg.
Jowett landed the first 180 of the match in the third set's opening leg, but it was Manley who hit the crucial double to extend his advantage.
The number seven seed wasted little more time in wrapping up the win, meaning he will now meet South African Wynand Havenga on Friday.
Click here to listen to an interview with Peter Manley in DartsTV
"I've seen Dave beat some good players on the circuit, but it's different on that stage," said Manley.
"I am used to it and I managed to stay one step ahead of him. He will be disappointed because he is a good player but he'll learn from this.
"I'm feeling good and I've got to forget all about Christmas and get on with the darts.
"Wynand did well to beat Steve Maish, who's a top player, so I know it will be a hard game on Friday but I'm enjoying myself at the moment."
Match Stats
|
Peter |
3-0 |
Dave |
|
19 |
100+ |
10 |
|
4 |
140+ |
5 |
|
- |
180 |
1 |
|
26.63 |
Ave1 |
25.16 |
|
79.88 |
Ave3 |
77.29 |
|
80 |
High Finish |
40 |