William Hill World Championship Day Nine

INCREDIBLE VAN GERWEN LEADS CHARGE AS DUTCH DOMINATE

 

WORLD NUMBER ONE Michael van Gerwen produced an astonishing display as he moved into the last 16 of the William Hill World Darts Championship, while fellow Dutch stars Raymond van Barneveld, Vincent van der Voort and Benito van de Pas also enjoyed wins at Alexandra Palace on Sunday.

Van Gerwen recorded the third highest average in PDC World Championship history, posting 109.23 as he demolished Darren Webster in straight sets in under 20 minutes of playing time.

Van Gerwen, who lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy in 2014, also produced four ton-plus finishes including a 160 as he set up a third round showdown with five-time World Champion van Barneveld.

"I played an excellent game and I'm really happy with my performance," said van Gerwen, who survived a scare in his first round match when German qualifier Rene Eidams took him to a tie-break.

"It was my goal to be good from the start to the end and I managed to do that. After this performance I'm going into the game against Raymond with lots of confidence.

"Everything was perfect in this match but I need to look forward. My eyes are already to looking to Raymond and he knows that."

Van Barneveld came through a seven-set thriller to defeat Stephen Bunting on the Ally Pally stage for the second consecutive year.

The five-time World Champion defied 15 180s from Bunting as he hit five finishes of over 100 in an exciting encounter, which went all the way to a deciding set tie-break.

"I think this was one of the weirdest games of my career," said van Barneveld, who had become a Granddad for the first time earlier in the day.

"He hit so many 180s and I think I am the lucky one tonight. Maybe he should've won and I know that I have to improve my game.

"I can play a lot better than this. My daughter gave birth this morning so I haven't had much sleep and maybe I was lacking a bit of energy but I'm through and it is a very happy day for me."

James Wade enjoyed a straight sets triumph against struggling Wes Newton and is yet to drop a set in this year's tournament ahead of his last 16 clash with Jamie Caven, who has also played and won seven sets so far.

"I played well in the first couple of sets but overall I did enough to win," said Wade, who has won multiple major titles but is yet to be crowned as World Champion.

"It's onwards and upwards now and I'm looking forward to the next match. If I play my game I'll win and if I don't I won't, but that's probably the same for Jamie."

Earlier in the day, Michael Smith displayed his title credentials as he moved into the last 16 with an impressive victory.

The number eight seed averaged over 100 in a 4-2 defeat of former Lakeside Champion Steve Beaton to reach round three for the third time in as many years.

"I'm happy with my performance and to get the win," said Smith, the former PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion. "I'm still in the tournament and I'm getting nearer to my best form so the signs are there for me and that's good.

"Steve hit me with everything at times but I took my chances when he did let me in and I held my nerve. I know I can win this tournament, I just have to keep working hard and improving."

Smith will take on van de Pas in the third round after the 22-year-old Dutch ace saw off Belgium's Dimitri Van den Bergh in six sets.

"What a game - I had to fight so hard for that," said van de Pas, who recovered from losing the first set to win a high-quality encounter.

"I'm playing well at the moment but I really had to produce quality at the right moments to beat Dimitri. Now I need to relax and rest and focus on my match against Michael Smith. I can't let myself look any further than that."

2015 World Championship quarter-finalist van der Voort came from two sets behind to defeat Australia's Kyle Anderson 4-2.

The quick-fire ace hit nine 180s in a fabulous fightback, which he sealed with a spectacular 134 checkout to bring the sell-out Ally Pally crowd to its feet in celebration with the popular Dutchman.

"Mentally, it was a very good performance," said van der Voort, who meets defending champion Gary Anderson in the last 16. "Coming from two sets down is very difficult so I'm pleased with myself for that.

"I felt like I deserved to win at least one of the first two sets and it can be easy to let that get to you but I didn't today.

"Gary is an amazing player and he's not the World Champion for no reason, but I've beaten him before and I can do it again if I can raise my game."

The second round continues with a double session on Monday as legendary 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor, two-time winner Adrian Lewis and number four seed Peter Wright rejoin the action.

William Hill World Darts Championship

Sunday December 27
Afternoon Session
Michael Smith 4-2 Steve Beaton
Dimitri Van den Bergh 2-4 Benito van de Pas
Vincent van der Voort 4-2 Kyle Anderson

Evening Session
Raymond van Barneveld 4-3 Stephen Bunting
James Wade 4-0 Wes Newton
Michael van Gerwen 4-0 Darren Webster

Second Round - best of seven sets

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MATCH INFORMATION
Michael Smith 4-2 Steve Beaton
SET ONE: 2-3
Smith took the first two legs but Beaton responded brilliantly, taking out 108 to pull a leg back before landing double 16 to level. The 1996 Lakeside Champion then produced a sensational 11-dart leg to win the set decider.

SET TWO: 3-0
Smith levelled the match as he reeled off three quick-fire legs, taking out 59, a fabulous 140 and tops.

SET THREE: 3-0
Smith took out 106 to break before his second 180 helped to move him further ahead. The 25-year-old then finished 72 to make it six legs on the spin as he clinched the set.

SET FOUR: 3-2
Smith pegged tops before Beaton levelled with a neat 70 finish. The next two legs were shared before Smith won the decider, pinning double ten to open up a two-set lead.

SET FIVE: 0-3
Beaton kept his hopes alive by winning three straight legs, landing double two, double ten and double 16 to reduce Smith's lead to a single set.

SET SIX: 3-0
Smith pinned double ten and back-to-back 180s in the following leg helped take him within a leg of victory. The St Helens ace made no mistake, landing double top to progress to the last 16 for the third time in as many years.

Match Stats

Dimitri Van den Bergh 2-4 Benito van de Pas
SET ONE: 3-2
Van den Bergh missed the bull for a 170 but cleaned up the remaining 25 for an immediate break of throw. A 177 helped him double his lead but van de Pas hit back, winning the next two legs to level before the Belgian broke again to edge the set.

SET TWO: 1-3
Van den Bergh fired in his first 180 and bedded double eight to take the first leg but his opponent found the same double to level. Van de Pas then pegged tops after a sublime 171 set-up shot and defied Van den Bergh's second 180 with a 174 before landing double eight to break.

SET THREE: 1-3
Van de Pas moved ahead by pinning double eight but his Belgian opponent levelled with the aid of his third maximum. The Dutchman then took out 85 on the bull and then recovered from six missed set darts to land double one and move ahead in the match.

SET FOUR: 3-2
Van den Bergh set up double 18 with a 171 and nailed the finish to move in front. The pair then exchanged 180s as van de Pas levelled before the next two legs were shared, forcing a deciding leg in which the Belgian youngster finished 87 to level the match at two sets apiece.

SET FIVE: 1-3
Van den Bergh hit double eight to break in the opening leg but van de Pas pinned double ten to reply in kind. He then produced a clinical 108 checkout before pegging double five to take the set.

SET SIX: 1-3
Van den Bergh pegged double six but that was to be the last leg he would win as van de Pas landed tops, double 16 and tops again to seal victory.

Match Stats

Vincent van der Voort 4-2 Kyle Anderson
SET ONE: 2-3
Anderson kicked off the match in style by taking out 128 on the bull before van der Voort levelled with a 103 finish. The pair then broke each other's throw - with van der Voort missing four darts to win the set - and exchanged 180s in the deciding leg, which the Australian won on double top after another missed double attempt from the Dutchman.

SET TWO: 2-3
Van der Voort hit double four and opened up a two-leg lead with an 85 finish to break Anderson's throw but the Australian bounced back with checkouts of 60, 87 and 56 to snatch the set and double his lead.

SET THREE: 3-1
Van der Voort took out 57 and 88 to move two legs in front again but his fourth 180 couldn't stop Anderson taking the third leg. The former UK Open finalist sealed the set this time though, as he finished 86 to halve the deficit.

SET FOUR: 3-1
Van der Voort pegged tops before threatening a nine-darter with back-to-back 180s, only to see Anderson win the leg. The Dutchman then took out consecutive finishes of 68 and 58 to level the match.

SET FIVE: 3-2
Anderson took out 56 and van der Voort pegged double eight to level. The Australian landed tops to edge ahead but his opponent finished 57 before taking out 65 to win the set after Anderson had missed a dart for a 158 checkout.

SET SIX: 3-0
Van der Voort fired in his ninth 180 and landed double 16 before pegging double ten to break. The number 15 seed then completed the win in style with a brilliant 134 checkout.

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld 4-3 Stephen Bunting
SET ONE: 1-3
Van Barneveld landed double 16 to take the first leg despite Bunting scoring the first 180 of the match. Bunting then pegged double four to level before punishing the Dutch legend for missed doubles by breaking on double 18. He then fired in two further maximums in the fourth leg as he went on to seal the set by pinning double 16.

SET TWO: 3-0
Van Barneveld sank double 18 to break before taking out 101 on tops. He then landed double 14 to win the second set, in which he completed all three legs in 15 darts or fewer.

SET THREE: 1-3
Both players hit 180s as van Barneveld took the first leg with a 103 finish after Bunting had missed two darts to break. Bunting hit 180s in each of the next three legs, winning them all to regain the lead in the match.

SET FOUR: 3-1
Bunting won the first leg with a 70 checkout but van Barneveld responded brilliantly as consecutive finishes of 74, 121 and 96 saw him restore parity at two sets apiece.

SET FIVE: 3-2
Van Barneveld took out 116 before Bunting replied with a ninth 180 and pegged tops to level. The Dutchman then produced a brilliant 131 finish - his fifth ton-plus checkout of the match. Bunting sank double 12 to force a deciding leg, in which van Barneveld produced a fabulous 11-darter to move within a set of victory.

SET SIX: 0-3
Bunting's tenth maximum helped him edge in front and he punished his opponent for four missed darts at doubles by taking out 61 to break. The St Helens ace then fired in another 180 and finished 57 to set up a deciding set.

SET SEVEN: 6-4
Barney produced a 64 finish but missed a dart to double his lead, allowing Bunting to level on double ten. He then produced back-to-back 180s, upping his tally to 14, only to see van Barneveld finish 71 but Bunting added another maximum before taking out 88 to force a tie-break.
With two clear legs needed as a margin of victory, van Barneveld moved ahead by pegging double 12 and he completed a dramatic victory by landing double top.

Match Stats

James Wade 4-0 Wes Newton
SET ONE: 3-0
Wade took the first set with ease, taking out 74, 100 and 20 to move in front.

SET TWO: 3-0
Wade continued his dominance, landing tops to break before cleaning up 81. The pair then exchanged 180s but Newton missed three darts at doubles, allowing Wade to step in and finish 80 to double his lead.

SET THREE: 3-1
Wade hit his second 180 and took out 71 to go in front before Newton finally got a leg on the board by pinning double eight. Wade finished 60 to go back ahead and the left-hander then punished Newton for further missed doubles by bedding double ten.

SET FOUR: 3-2
Wade hit double six to take the first leg. The pair then exchanged 180s and Newton finished 45 to level before landing tops to take the lead in the set. Wade pegged double ten to level and, when Newton missed a dart to win the set, Wade nailed double ten to move into the last 16.

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen 4-0 Darren Webster
SET ONE: 3-0
Van Gerwen broke Webster's throw immediately with a 75 finish before throwing six perfect darts in the second leg, which he won in 12 darts. The Dutch sensation then took out 117 to wrap up the set.

SET TWO: 3-0
Van Gerwen took out 121 on the bull before adding a third ton-plus checkout, this time finishing 136. He then missed a dart at the bull for a 130 finish before cleaning up the remaining 25 to double his lead in the match.

SET THREE: 3-1
The world number one took out 64 to break and then finished 70 in a leg where both players hit 180s. Webster finally got a leg on the board by taking out 47 and the pair exchanged 180s again as van Gerwen moved within a set of victory.

SET FOUR: 3-0
Van Gerwen produced a stunning 160 checkout to kick-start what proved to be the final set as he landed double 14 and double four to complete an incredible victory, ending with an average of 109.23, his highest ever in the World Championship and the third best in the tournament's history.

Match Stats