William Hill World Championship Day Four

BARNEY AND BUNTING BREEZE THROUGH TO SET UP ALLY PALLY REMATCH

DUTCH hero Raymond van Barneveld and Stephen Bunting will meet in round two of the William Hill World Darts Championship after the pair both enjoyed whitewash wins on Sunday evening at Alexandra Palace.

Van Barneveld defeated fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in straight sets in his first round game, but it might have been a tougher contest if the 23-year-old hadn't burst his score of 180 in the deciding leg of set two.

Van Barneveld had edged the first set 3-2 and, thanks to his opponent's fatal error he also won the second by the same margin.

Van Duijvenbode, who was making his World Championship debut, never recovered and the five-time World Champion wrapped up the third set in three legs to progress.

"Busting that 180 destroyed Dirk's game," admitted van Barneveld, who is expecting to become a Grandfather over the Christmas period. "It wasn't nice for him but I have to be professional and be happy with that and I kept my focus well and got through.

"It's a tough road from here with Stephen Bunting next and then maybe Michael van Gerwen - especially for a Grandad. Maybe I'll have grey hair and a walking stick on stage when I come back!"

Bunting defeated Germany's Jyhan Artut in three sets despite a nervous ending to their match. The former Lakeside Champion dropped one leg in the first two sets but surrendered a two leg lead in the third before he finally completed the victory.

"I was very nervous," admitted Bunting, who will face van Barneveld on December 27 in a repeat of last year's quarter-final. "It was such an important game so I'm pleased to get through. Every game is tough in the World Championship and the next one will be no different."

Mervyn King also progressed after he battled back from a two-set deficit to defeat Russian qualifier Aleksandr Oreshkin, who had earlier claimed a 2-1 preliminary round victory against Singapore's Paul Lim.

Oreshkin won the first two sets against King, taking the second with finishes of 116 and a key 134 in the deciding leg.

King stormed back, though, firing in eight 180s as he won nine out of the next twelve legs to set up a last 32 tie against Jelle Klaasen or Joe Cullen.

"I could have been going home but I refused to give up," said King, who reached the semi-finals in 2009. "I am a battler and I never throw in the towel. I shouldn't have let myself get in that position in the first place but I dug in and produced a good performance to get through in the end."

Earlier in the day, Andy Hamilton suffered his first ever round one exit after a dramatic defeat at the hands of World Championship debutant Joe Murnan.

The 2012 runner-up lost out in a tie-break on Sunday afternoon, while Mensur Suljovic and Jamie Caven enjoyed convincing wins.

After winning two of the first three sets, Hamilton missed three match darts in the fourth as Murnan came back from two legs down to force a deciding set.

The final set then went to a tie-break and Murnan, who won a Players Championship event in May, went on to claim his first televised victory.

"It's amazing to be through," said the 32-year-old, who will take on Robert Thornton or Alan Norris in round two.

"I was overwhelmed when I drew Andy because he's an excellent player and to win is incredible. He should've won but I took my chance and I'm really pleased but I do feel bad for him."

Suljovic produced a classy display to see off Holland's Jermaine Wattimena. The Austrian, who has reached the last four in the World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals in 2015, averaged over 99 in a 3-1 triumph.

Caven, meanwhile, claimed a straight sets success against New Zealander Rob Szabo, who had won his preliminary round match with Michael Rasztovits 2-0.

After the first four legs were shared, the world number 23 won seven in a row to move into the second round, where he will take on Ricky Evans.

"The first set wasn't great but after that it felt pretty good," said Caven, who is yet to make it past round two of the sport's biggest event.

"It's not been a great year for me and I knew it was time to roll my sleeves up. I'm coming back after Christmas and that's the main thing. I feel confident and I want to go deep into this tournament."

The first round continues on Monday evening, with James Wade, Michael Smith and World Grand Prix winner Robert Thornton all in action.

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William Hill World Darts Championship
Sunday December 20
Afternoon Session
Michael Rasztovits 0-2 Rob Szabo (P)
Andy Hamilton 2-3 Joe Murnan
Mensur Suljovic 3-1 Jermaine Wattimena
Jamie Caven 3-0 Rob Szabo

Evening Session
Aleksandr Oreshkin 2-1 Paul Lim (P)
Stephen Bunting v Jyhan Artut
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Dirk van Duijvenbode
Mervyn King v Aleksandr Oreshkin

Preliminary Round - best of three sets
First Round - best of five sets

MATCH INFORMATION
AFTERNOON SESSION
Michael Rasztovits 0-2 Rob Szabo (P)
SET ONE: 2-3
Szabo took out 60 to edge ahead and Rasztovits levelled on tops. The New Zealander finished 84 before Rasztovits checked out 121 in an unorthodox fashion, going 60, 57 and double two to complete the combination. But Szabo took the set, pinning tops to move half-way to victory.

SET TWO: 2-3
The pair exchanged four breaks of throw, including a 105 finish from Rasztovits to stay in the match but Szabo took out 56 in the set decider to complete victory.

Match Stats

Michael Rasztovits	0 - 2	Rob Szabo
15	100+	7
8	140+	4
0	170+	0
0	180	0
78.83	Average	78.34
121	High Finish	84
2	Breaks of Throw	3
4/17 23.53%	Checkout %	6/19 31.58%

Andy Hamilton 2-3 Joe Murnan
SET ONE: 3-2
The players exchanged breaks of throw in the opening two legs before Murnan threatened a nine-darter, hitting back-to-back 180s but he missed the seventh requisite treble before completing a 12-dart leg.
Hamilton then produced clinical finishes of 64 and 70 to take the first set.

SET TWO: 1-3
Murnan fired in his third maximum as he opened up a two-leg lead but Hamilton responded with his first 180 before taking out 66. The 2012 finalist then missed the chance to level the set, allowing Murnan to restore match parity by landing double ten.

SET THREE: 3-2
The first four legs went with the throw and Murnan put himself in an excellent position to go ahead when his fourth 180 put him in charge of the deciding leg, but he proceeded to miss five set darts and could only watch as Hamilton cleaned up 64 to break and snatch the set.

SET FOUR: 2-3
Hamilton continued his spell of clinical finishes as he took out 73 and 64 before Murnan finished 84 on the bull to keep himself in the match. Hamilton almost won it in style, missing the bull for a 170 finish but, after Hamilton missed two further match darts, Murnan pegged double five to level the set and then landed double ten to force a fifth set.

SET FIVE: 4-6
Four legs were shared, forcing a tie-break, with a two-leg cushion needed for victory. Hamilton missed three darts to break and Murnan produced an 87 finish to edge in front. Hamilton levelled before his third 180 helped him break and leave himself throwing for the match, only to see Murnan take out 70 to make it four legs apiece.
Murnan produced a 112 checkout and celebrated, thinking he had won the match but, when Hamilton missed a dart to take it to sudden death, he could finally celebrate for real after pegging double eight to reach round two.

Match Stats

Andy Hamilton	2-3	Joe Murnan
26	100+	27
19	140+	17
1	170+	0
3	180	5
86.75	Average	86.88
73	High Finish	112
6	Breaks of Throw	7
13/38 34.21	Checkout %	16/38 42.11

Mensur Suljovic 3-1 Jermaine Wattimena
SET ONE: 2-3
Wattimena took out 67 in the opening leg and Suljovic responded with a 70 finish. After Wattimena pinned double eight to move back in front, the Austrian ace produced a 110 checkout to level but he missed four darts to break in the following leg and was punished when Wattimena took out 64 on tops to win the set.

SET TWO: 3-2
Suljovic pegged tops before Wattimena took out 68 on double 18. The next three legs also went with the throw as Suljovic completed the set with a 76 finish.

SET THREE: 3-0
Suljovic began to take control as he fired in 180s in each of the first two legs, which he won before adding a third with a 94 checkout to seal the set in double-quick time.

SET FOUR: 3-1
A 177 helped Suljovic kick off with a 12-darter but Wattimena took out 70 to level. World Grand Prix semi-finalist Suljovic fired in a 174 and landed double ten to move back in front and he completed an impressive win by landing tops after scoring a 177 in the final leg.

Match Stats

Mensur Suljovic	3-1	Jermaine Wattimena
20	100+	18
12	140+	12
5	170+	0
2	180	0
99.44	Average	87.1
110	High Finish	70
3	Breaks of Throw	0
11/25 44%	Checkout %	6/9 66.67%

Jamie Caven 3-0 Rob Szabo
SET ONE: 3-2
The first three legs went with the throw, giving Caven the lead before the pair exchanged 180s in leg four, which Szabo won on double top. Caven then brilliantly hit consecutive scores of 180 and 171 to leave 16 after nine darts and he went on to seal the set by pegging double four.

SET TWO: 3-0
Caven strengthened his grip on the match as two breaks of throw helped him take three legs to double his lead.

SET THREE: 3-0
Caven took out finishes of 64, 99 and 116 to complete a fabulous victory.

Match Stats

Jamie Caven	3-0	Rasztovits/Szabo
22	100+	15
3	140+	4
1	170+	0
3	180	1
96.55	Average	86.5
116	High Finish	48
3	Breaks of Throw	0
9/20 45%	Checkout %	2/4 50%

EVENING SESSION
Aleksandr Oreshkin 2-1 Paul Lim (P)
SET ONE: 3-1
Oreshkin took out 80 to break Lim's throw immediately and he doubled his lead on tops. Lim then finished 117 but the Russian qualifier checked out 78 to take the set.

SET TWO: 2-3
Oreshkin pinned double eight in the first leg. The pair then exchanged 180s before Lim levelled on double ten. He then missed the bull for a 167 finish and Oreshkin took out 51. Lim drew level again despite his opponent's second 180 and ended up taking the set as Oreshkin squandered six match-darts.

SET THREE: 3-2
The Russian missed double eight for a 136 finish but eventually landed double one before Lim levelled. He then broke by bedding double 18, only to see his opponent take out 116 to force a last-leg shoot-out, which went Oreshkin's way after Lim missed two darts for victory.

Match Stats

Aleksandr Oreshkin	2-1	Paul Lim
17	100+	21
9	140+	8
0	170+	0
2	180	1
89.33	Average	88.26
116	High Finish	117
3	Breaks of Throw	2
8/24 33.33%	Checkout %	6/21 28.57%

Stephen Bunting 3-0 Jyhan Artut
SET ONE: 3-0
Bunting wasted no time in taking the first set, scoring a 180 and landing double top, double two and tops again to move ahead.

SET TWO: 3-1
The former Lakeside Champion continued his dominance despite losing the first leg, as he hit back by landing double eight before his second maximum helped him break Artut's throw. The St Helens ace then pegged tops to open up a two-set cushion.

SET THREE: 3-2
Bunting took the first two legs but Artut defied his third 180 with a 76 checkout. The German star then scored a maximum of his own before both players missed string of doubles, with Artut eventually levelling the set. But, after Artut missed to darts to take it to a fourth set, Bunting sank tops to complete a whitewash victory.

Match Stats

Stephen Bunting	3-0	Jyhan Artut
19	100+	10
4	140+	8
0	170+	1
3	180	1
86.72	Average	81.08
68	High Finish	76
3	Breaks of Throw	1
9/26 34.62	Checkout %	3/18 16.67

Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Dirk van Duijvenbode
SET ONE: 3-2
Van Barneveld hit double four to win the first leg before van Duijvenbode took out 100. The five-time World Champion landed tops and van Duijvenbode pegged double 16 but he failed to find a break of throw as van Barneveld took the decider on double eight.

SET TWO: 3-2
Van Duijvenbode took out 110 and then hit his first 180 but van Barneveld pinned tops and found the same bed in the following leg to break. Van Duijvenbode broke straight back but was punished for a remarkable error when he burst his remaining score of 180 in the set decider, which van Barneveld went on to win.

SET THREE: 3-0
Van Barneveld closed out the match with ease, adding a second 180 as he took three straight legs to move into round two.

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	3-0	Dirk van Duijvenbode
20	100+	11
11	140+	9
0	170+	0
2	180	1
91.34	Average	79.77
40	High Finish	110
3	Breaks of Throw	1
9/28 32.14%	Checkout %	4/8 50%

Mervyn King 3-2 Aleksandr Oreshkin
SET ONE: 1-3
Oreshkin broke King's throw and doubled his lead when he landed double 18. King followed his second 180 with a 90 finish but Oreshkin executed the same checkout to take the first set.

SET TWO: 2-3
King won the first two legs, hitting 180s in both, but Oreshkin defied King's fifth maximum with a brilliant 116 finish. He then finished 71 to break before a fabulous 134 checkout gave the Russian a two-set lead.

SET THREE: 3-0
King took out 76 before breaking by pinning double 16. A sixth 180 then saw him halve the deficit as he upped his average to over 102.

SET FOUR: 3-1
King fired in another maximum and bedded double eight in each of the first two legs before his Russian opponent found the same target. King then pegged tops to level the match.

SET FIVE: 3-2
An eighth 180 helped King take the first leg and he moved within one of victory when he nailed double top. And the comeback was complete in the following leg when he landed double 16.

Match Stats