World Matchplay 06 Review
Posted on July 30th, 2006
Day 7 Results (Final)
Phil Taylor beat James Wade 18-11
You just get the feeling that it was never in doubt. Since he burst onto the scene, has Phil Taylor ever gone three majors without lifting the trophy? I doubt it. All week he has raised his game when he’s needed to and no matter how well his opponents play, they have to sustain it for the whole match, as Taylor rarely falters. Miss your doubles and you’re punished mercilessly, hit your doubles and you only inspire him to raise his game.
Wade began well and took early leads to put the fear into Taylor but Taylor knows he can trust his throw and wait for the opportunities to arrive – he doesn’t need to panic and never does. He clawed his way back into this game and overhauled the newcomer with some polished darts. Wade’s finishing power has been evident all week and it kept him alive in the match but once Taylor took the lead, and built a cushion, there was no way back. Taylor said this eighth title, and the thirty grand that goes with it, felt as good as his first and he will be around for a few more years yet.
Day 6 Results (Semi Finals)
James Wade beat Roland Scholten 19-17
James Wade refused to buckle and stunned Scholten by sneaking through to the final with yet more high class darts in a week he will never forget. Scholten had chances to win but couldn’t shrug off the determined younger player and will rue plenty of missed doubles that would have made all the difference. When given an opportunity though, Wade punished his opponent and made the final with three successive legs culminating with a ten darter. Scholten contributed to a high quality game and, double trouble aside, can be proud of his performance. Wade deserves his place in the final for his performances this week – his finishing power has been something else. He will need the big checkouts against Taylor but if he keep this form going and nail the big scores, he has as good a chance as ever.
Phil Taylor beat Andy Hamilton 17-11
Andy Hamilton played as well as he has all week, if not better, and only a few missed doubles early on could be blamed for his defeat. Where Hamilton missed his doubles, Taylor was ruthless. As in his quarter final against Dennis Priestley, he pounced on the slightest mistake to make his opponent pay for anything that was missed. Hamilton now knows he can compete at the very top and that he can compete with the very best. He will be back here again and will be around for a long time to come. The width of the wire denied him double twelve that would have been a nine dart finish against the only player to ever achieve one in this tournament. Taylor could only manage seven perfect darts! It took him 23 legs to hit a maximum but once he did, they started to flow and signs looked ominous for Hamilton. He kept the standard up and averaged over 101 for the match with twelve maximums, but Taylor hit the doubles at the crucial times to produce a result that did not quite reflect the game.
Day 5 Results (Quarter Finals)
James Wade beat Chris Mason 16-4
James Wade produced an almost flawless display of big hitting darts to trounce Chris Mason and reach his first ever televised semi final. Mason had little response to the flow of 180’s and ton plus checkouts and held up his hands after the game to acknowledge the man he says is the future of darts. Wade will meet Roland Scholten next who is also in his first ever semi final at the Winter Gardens. It promises to be a fascinating game and on this form Wade could well sneak it.
Roland Scholten beat Ronnie Baxter 16-13
The Tripod took out The Rocket to reach his first Blackpool semi final after six previous failed attempts. He is on the hunt for his second major title to add to his UK Open crown a couple of years back. It’s been a lean time of late for the Dutchman but he is showing good form and will be confident of putting young upstart James Wade in his place. There was very little to separate these two here but as in so many games this week, Scholten made a move at just the right time to open up some daylight and move from 13-12 to 15-12 up, needing one more leg for victory. Baxter tried to hang in there but Scholten got the leg he craved and left Baxter down and out.
Andy Hamilton beat Wayne Mardle 16-9
Another player to reach his first major semi final and doesn’t The Hammer deserve it! He’s looked ice cool all week in the heat of battle and took out Mardle in a great display. He strived to find his groove for a large part of the match and it all clicked with the pair level at nine all. From there Hamilton reeled off 7 successive legs to dump Hawaii 501 out and leave him totally stunned. There were several breaks of throw early on with each player giving as good as he got and some classy finishing thrilled the packed crowd. In the end the surge that Hamilton was looking for came in spectacular style leaving Mardle applauding the better player on the night – he was magnanimous in defeat.. Phil Taylor up next for Hamilton and the form they are both showing it will be another close one. Can he do the unthinkable?
Phil Taylor beat Dennis Priestley 16-13
These two have had some titanic tussles over the years and this will go down as one of the best. High class throwing throughout saw Taylor having to come from behind three times to get the better of Priestley who turned the match on it’s head going from 6-8 to 10-8. The Power moved up a gear to make it 12-11 and then 14-12. Priestley still wouldn’t give in and made it 14-13 to send the crowd wild, but Taylor found the reserves to pull out two legs and win the game to set an all Stoke clash with Andy Hamilton. We said here yesterday that Priestley would get chances and would have to hit his doubles first time to win. He did get the chances and took most of them but the one or two he did missed proved costly and as ever, Taylor punished any slight mistake. Taylor is certainly not at the top of his game this week – most evident by an uncharacteristic drift into the five on many occasions – and looks like he is feeling the pressure to not go home empty handed for the third consecutive major tournament.
Day 4 Results (Round 2)
Dennis Priestley beat Alex Roy 13-8
Dennis Priestley continued to roll back the years with a good victory against the exuberant Alex Roy. Dominating the early stages, Priestley built up a commanding 11-4 lead which Roy narrowed with some good darts. The lead was always sufficient though and Priestley closed out the game to set up another clash with Phil Taylor, a year on from their epic encounter here. That day Priestley nearly won but Taylor managed to overcome him at the end – the performance that day re-ignited a belief and determination in Priestley that now sees him sat a number five in the world and still a force to be reckoned with. Has he got the game to go one better and take out The Power?
Wayne Mardle beat Lionel Sams 13-10
A topsy turvy match in which both players had their moments with each dominating for long periods. Mardle held his nerve to see out the victory but isn’t hitting top form and will have to up his game for the quarter final clash with Andy Hamilton. Sams goes home having beaten by Mardle yet again but can take encouragement from his performances here this week and may have turned the corner in major tournaments.
James Wade beat Kevin Painter 13-9
James Wade continued his sparkling form with some high scoring and clinical finishing. His first ever televised quarter final will be against Chris Mason who was suffering from illness. If Mason can’t recover to full fitness in time, it could be a fairly easy passage to the semis for this rising star. Already in the top 20 in the world and just turned full time professional, his good showing here has further enhanced his growing reputation.
Roland Scholten beat Andy Jenkins 13-8
Roland Scholten has now gone further than he ever has before in this tournament on his sixth appearance. A revival in form has come at just the right time and he had just too much for Jenkins in the sweltering heat on stage. Jenkins’ good opening was pegged back and they both matched each other for much of the game. Scholten his checkouts at crucial times and made his surges to see of Rocky’s challenge and set up a meeting with Ronnie Baxter.
Chris Mason beat Steve Maish 13-7
Mason overcame illness and the heat to knock out the conqueror of Colin Lloyd and set up a clash with rising star James Wade. Mason isn’t hitting top form but managed to grind out a fairly comfortable win and march on.
Ronnie Baxter beat Mark Walsh 13-9
Double trouble threatened to spoil a good performance from Baxter as he let slip a 12-3 lead with Walsh winning six consecutive legs to leave Ronnie doubting he could get over the line. One good leg was all he required and eventually it came and he managed to nail a double at the umpteenth attempt! He always outscoring his opponent and the result was never really a doubt – there was great relief when the all important double finally found it’s target.
Day 3 Results (Rounds 1 and 2)
James Wade beat Dennis Ovens 10-1
Young gun James Wade blew away The Heat in a one sided match that featured some fantastic finishing and a check out percentage of 67%. Ovens could not live with the pace and Wade finished him off with his best ever televised performance. Wade has already hit a nine darter this year and will be full of confidence for the next round.
Andy Jenkins beat Alan Warriner-Little 11-9
The Iceman almost pulled of the comeback of the tournament. Having been six nil down he eventually had too much to do but gave it a good go and had Rocky on the rails. Jenkins found just enough at the right time to see off his opponent but there were signs that Warriner may be finding a little form again.
Roland Scholten beat Andy Smith 10-6
Tripod has never made it past the second round here but he looks like he means business this week. A confident performance, which included seven perfect darts in one leg, saw off The Pieman’s spirited efforts. Next up Andy Jenkins and with Premier League status in both players’ minds, there is a lot at stake.
Mark Walsh beat Dave Askew 10-8
A nervy Mark Walsh had to hold off another spirited comeback from Askew but managed to limp over the line and book his spot in round two. Needing one more leg for victory, Walsh just could not close the game out and Askew came storming back with five successive legs to take it to the wire. Walsh eventually found the one leg he needed to set up a clash with Ronnie Baxter in round two.
Ronnie Baxter beat Dennis Smith 10-4
The Rocket booked the final spot in round two with a win over a fatigued Smith. Smiffy suffered badly in the heat of the Winter Gardens and looked ill up on the stage at times. Baxter never looked in trouble and will be confident of progressing further with Mark Walsh next up.
Andy Hamilton beat Adrian Lewis 15-13
What a game! Hamilton edged it in the tie break with the most decisive break of throw at the perfect time. There was nothing to separate these two rising stars from Stoke but Hamilton possibly just deserved it for being the most consistent over the match. High quality finishes, a raft of 180’s, ninety plus averages and high drama made this a match to remember. Both players traded breaks of throw as the match swung one way and then the other. It was down to the man who seems to have no nerves to close out the match and he made no mistake when given the chance to set up a possible match with Wayne Mardle next.
Phil Taylor beat John Part 13-2
John Part brought his Z game and Phil Taylor punished him with a comprehensive victory. Without playing particularly well himself, Taylor surged into a commanding lead and Part looked like he couldn’t wait to get off the stage. Can anybody stop Taylor now?
Day 2 Results (Round 1)
Lionel Sams beat Terry Jenkins 10-7
The Lion broke his first round duck and goes on to meet Wayne Mardle after a hard fought victory over Jenkins in a match that could have gone either way. Plenty of missed doubles meant that whoever lost would be left kicking themselves but maybe Sams deserves this one after so many early exits. Can he go all the way now?!
Adrian Lewis beat Matt Clark 10-6
Jackpot set up an all Potteries clash with Andy Hamilton by dumping out a determined Clark with a mixed performance. Quarter finalist a year ago Lewis will need to up his game to get past man of the moment Hamilton. Their clash should be one of the highlights of round 2.
Andy Hamilton beat Peter Manley 10-2
We predicted this one and the result is no surprise as the man who seems to have no nerves goes from strength to strength. Hamilton is the reason why Barney is not at this tournament and now he’s accounted for Manley in punishing fashion. Full of confidence and playing well, there won’t be a single player who would want to meet The Hammer at the moment. Drawn to miss Taylor, he’s an outside tip to reach the final and could go all the way. The major obstacle is likely to be Wayne Mardle but in such imperious form Hamilton will have no fears and will be looking to make his mark on another major tournament. We think he already has.
Chris Mason beat Steve Beaton 10-6
Mason progressed with a workman like performance doing just enough to see off Beaton. Both players suffered in the sweltering heat but some nice checkouts from Mason were the difference and he goes on to meet Steve Maish, the shock conqueror of Colin Lloyd.
Kevin Painter beat Barrie Bates 10-8
Was this a minor shock? We think so. The Artist has seen his world ranking suffer due to some indifferent performances and Bates has been electric this year. Full credit to Painter for sticking in there as Bates came roaring back at the end. Painter just had enough in the tank to see him through after building a commanding lead and will be mighty relieved to be in the next round. He will be watching the Ovens v Wade match with keen interest to see who his next opponent will be.
Steve Maish beat Colin Lloyd 10-6
Not a bad debut eh? A win is one thing but to knock out the world number one and defending champion is the stuff of dreams. Maish got his nose ahead and built a good lead and although Jaws picked his game up he always had too much to do and Maish closed the match out to cause a major upset. Chris Mason beware.
Phil Taylor beat Bob Anderson 10-5
A great start by Anderson only shocked Taylor into action and he hit eight out of nine legs to turn the match on its head. From that point there was only one winner and a 100 finish with two double tops put the icing on the win. The Power is looking for his eighth title here but his old nemesis John Part awaits him in the next round – should be a cracker.
Wayne Mardle beat Steve Hine 10-5
Wayne Mardle progressed with a good win against The Muffin Man who played well early on but couldn’t live with the class of Mardle in the end. The draw has been kind to Hawaii 501 this year as he looks to reach his second World Matchplay final. It’s Lionel Sams next and Mardle dumped him out in the first round of three tournaments last year so Sams will be up for revenge…big time.
Day 1 Results (Round 1)
Alex Roy beat Mark Dudbridge 10-6
The Prince of Herts took to the stage with the usual cocky swagger and turned over an out of sorts Dudbridge whose continued run of poor form will see his world ranking suffer. Roy marches into the second round and will face Dennis Priestley on Wednesday with a probable match up with Phil Taylor after that.
John Part beat Wes Newton 10-2
Darth Maple enjoyed some good fortune early on, as Newton missed a host of doubles, and never looked back once he got his nose in front. Newton’s check out average was woeful and basically cost him the match. If he had taken his early chances he would have been looking at a 5-1 or 6-1 lead. Instead he found himself on the end of a 10-2 beating in which Part rarely missed his doubles when given the opportunity. Newton’s fairytale story didn’t materialise and his first World Matchplay on ‘home turf’ became something of a nightmare. He’ll be back here on a regular basis though and will use the experience as a learning exercise. But it’s onwards and upwards for a rejuvenated Part who is looking to add this title to the Las Vegas Desert Classic he won just a few weeks ago.
Dennis Priestley beat Alan Tabern 10-7
It’s been a great twelve months for The Menace. This time last year he was on the receiving end of a defeat to Phil Taylor, but he pushed The Power so close that it appears to have sparked a revival in both form and hunger that has seen Dennis become one of the form players of the year. He is on course to meet Taylor again if he can overcome Alex Roy and he had to dig deep last night to grind out a victory against an in form Tabern. The Saint has a habit of making things difficult for himself and seems to need to go behind to find his best form. He almost clawed Priestley back but three 140’s in a row at just the right time were enough to see Dennis home.
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