Lakeside 08 Review - Day 2
Posted on January 7th, 2008
EDWIN MAX 0-3 SIMON WHITLOCK
Wizard of Oz Simon Whitlock conjured up a spellbinding performance to topple 15th seed Edwin Max of Holland 3-0 in just 33 minutes.
The Aussie number one showed glimpses of the form that had taken him to the last four in 2005 in dashing the title hopes of debutant Max.
For the large band of travelling fans from the Netherlands it has been a disappointing championship with “Mad Max” joining Niels de Ruiter and top ladies seed Francis Hoenselaar from Rotterdam on the sidelines.
Whitlock said after the game: ”I played alright, I’m just glad to get the first one out of the way. He put me under a bit of pressure in the opening set and had me 2-0 down but I felt fairly comfortable.
“The first game is never easy and it is always nice to get it out of the way.Now I can settle,” said the Aussie.
Former port worker Max sailed into the match taking the opening leg against the throw with a superlative 149 finished on double 16 to shake the builder from Down Under.
He added the next but then the Wizard of Oz blazed back with a 180 and 82 checkout, taking the fourth against the throw and then hitting his second maximum as he claimed the first set.
Whitlock who resembles Catweazle with his straggly beard and long pony tail twice trailed in the next but displayed tenacious fighting qualities to level – including notching his third maximum.
Despite throwing second in the deciding leg the 14/1 unseeded Whitlock – a semi finalist in 2005 – edged into a 2-0 match lead after hitting double tops with his second dart.
The cool Aussie kept up the pressure in the third set twice taking the lead, including a show-stopping 106 checkout, finished on double 16.
Battling Max hit double 18 to level but “The Wizard” conjured up his fifth 180 as he won the race to the double, easily finishing the match-winning 60 on double tops.
SHAUN GREATBATCH 1-3 MARTIN PHILLIPS
Proud Welshman Martin Phillips swept into the second round, ruthlessly despatching 13th seed Shaun Greatbatch.
It was a clinical performance from left-hander Phillips who hit three 180s, 12 and 13 darters plus the tournaments top checkout of 161 in the 28-minute mauling.
Phillips fired out a maximum as he raced to a 3-1 first set success, Greatbatch narrowly missing double 10 for a show-stopping 140 first leg finish.
Despite hitting his second maximum, the Welshman was steamrollered 3-1 in the next set with some precision finishing by the strapping Suffolk player.
Phillips hit the tournament’s biggest checkout so far - 161 to charge into the third set, which he annexed on double eight after hitting his third 180.
Sensing victory, Phillips from Dolgellau – and Wales’ most capped player – stole the opening leg of the fourth set against the throw and then added the second with double six, despite Greatbatch firing in his first 180 of the match.
The Suffolk sharpshooter led all the way to the double in the third leg but nervously missed nine attempts before finally exiting on double four, with Phillips poised ominously on 78 for the kill.
But it was only delaying the inevitable, Phillips nailing double 20 to book his passage into the second round.
Delighted Phillips said: “I enjoyed that and was pleased with my performance. It is a shame the draw paired us together and that one of us had to lose as I am big friends with Shaun – I used to play mixed pairs with his mother.
“I just take each game as it comes, I’m too old too worry about who I am playing, you have to make the most of it and enjoy the occasion,” said the veteran Welsh player.
GARY ANDERSON 2-3 FABIAN ROOSENBRAND
World number two and bookies favourite Gary Anderson of Scotland was sensationally dumped out of the world championship by Holland’s new kid-on-the-block Fabian Roosenbrand 3-2.
The 19-year-old 150/1 rank outsider who qualified for the event through the playoffs was simply not fazed by the experienced Anderson who repeatedly missed doubles in the enthralling 42 minute clash.
Anderson, smiling wryly after his defeat, admitted: “The first round is just my voodoo in this tournament. I scored well but snatched my darts when throwing for doubles. My finishing was terrible.
“I don’t know much about Fabian but even the Dutch don’t seem to know much about him but hats off to the lad he did well. I didn’t practice for the tournament but then I never practice, I just turn up so perhaps I deserved to lose.
“I will not lose much sleep over the defeat, I’ll just go on to the next tournament.
The impressive Dutch teenager swept into the match taking the opening set 3-1 after the Scot missed countless doubles.
Two maximums in the opening legs of the second set saw Anderson firmly in the driving seat but further missed doubles saw Roosenbrand level the game.
Finishing the following two legs with his first dart, Anderson breathed a sigh of relief as double four levelled the match.
Roosenbrand, who is little known in darts circles and who comes from the far east of Holland close to the German border and speaks an unusual Dutch dialect fought from 1-0 down in he third set to edge in front the second seed levelling after hitting his third 180.
Despite his first maximum the Dutch player trailed Anderson who fluffed five set-winning doubles to gift the teenager the set and a 2-1 match lead.
Notching his fourth maximum Anderson annexed the fourth set unchallenged to set up a tense deciding fifth set.
The Scot drew first blood but then saw his trademark power-scoring disappear from his game, the Dutch ace edging 2-1 ahead. Anderson blasted in 174 to leave himself a match-winning 32 but Roosenbrand swooped to exit on 100, finished on double tops.
MARTIN ATKINS 2-3 ANDY BOULTON
Karaoke fan Andy Boulton hit the right note to gun down 10th seed Martin The Assassin” Atkins 3-2.
The 42-year-old from Leeds became the sixth seed to crash in the unpredictable first round of the championship, buckling under the pressure of the latest star to emerge from the tungsten-hard darts mecca of the Potteries.
The match became the first to go to a tiebreak and it was the man who sings at county matches who found the winning melody.
Atkins had high hopes of a good run and improve on second round appearances during the past two years but Boulton refused to be overawed.
He battled back from 1-0 down to take the opening set 3-2 hitting a maximum in the deciding leg. Atkins blazed back to take the second, hitting an 11-darter to clinch the fifth leg, with Boulton requiring 44 and then took the third 3-0 including two 16 dart finishes.
The Leeds man fired out his second 180 of the match in the fourth set but on-form Boulton hit a 14-dart finish, exiting on double 16, to take the game into a deciding fifth set.
Atkins moved ominously 2-1 ahead, Boulton overcoming double trouble to level and take the game into a tense tiebreak.
An 18-darter clinched with a 127 checkout eased him into the lead with both players struggling to hit the big scores in the sixth leg, Atkins left himself double tops but saw his title aspirations thwarted once again – this time by Boulton, who was calling the tune with a 74 victory flourish.
MARTIN ADAMS 3-0 PHILL NIXON
Howls of delight echoed round the capacity crowd at Lakeside as defending champ Martin “Wolfie” Adams toppled fellow veteran Phill Nixon 3-0 in a repeat of last years final.
Fourth seed Adams fully justified his pre-tournament 6/1 second favourite odds from the bookies as he ruthlessly repelled the pint-sized father-of-eight from the North East.
Despite a combined age of 102 years, the duo served up some top class darts – including three 180s – in the 12 legs of darts, which lasted a shade under the half hour.
And it left the England skipper weeping with relief.
I am a bit emotional,” admitted Wolfie, wiping away the tears, his voice quivering.
“Walking out on stage brought back all the emotions from last year’s final. If I had played one of the other players it would have been different. I have never been that emotional when I have won, only when I have played absolute garbage.
“I have a lot of sympathy for Phil but at least I haven’t got to play him again. We did not deserve having to play each other in the first round but that’s the way of the draw,” said the defending champion.
Anderson fired out his intentions with a maximum in the opening leg of the clash, following up with a faultless 98 checkout, finished on double 19 but then faltered, missing three doubles for the set.
Nixon, recalling his miraculous comeback from 6-0 down 12 months ago sensed a weakness and posted Adams a warning by levelling, Wolfie holding the throwing advantage to take the fifth leg and set with his second shot at double tops.
Throwing first, the player from County Durham took the opening leg of the second set, Adams blazing in two 180s to steal the advantage. Nixon missed double 18 to save the set, the England skipper hitting double 11 to extend his lead.
The Peterborough-based England skipper shrugged off further double trouble to open up a 2-0 lead and after Nixon missed a match-saving 156, the world champ clinched his place in the next round with his second attempt for double eight.
SCOTT WAITES 3-1 MIKE VEITCH
Halifax’s Scott Waites won a classic England versus Scotland encounter to surge into the second road, unfrocking kilted Mike Veitch 3-1.
After Waites had stormed to a 2-0 set lead, taking six of the seven legs, it seemed that the Scot was condemned to an early finish.
Veitch took the opening leg of the third set only to see player Yorkshire ace move ominously 2-1 ahead but two missed darts for double 18 gave the Scot an escape route and he levelled.
Waites then missed double tops twice and squandered his victory opportunity with two fluffed attempts for double 10, Veitch pouncing to save his title hopes with an impressive pressure 116 checkout.
The fourth seed, boosted by a maximum moved 2-0 ahead, Veitch taking the third.
Waites wired bull, narrowly missing a show-stopping 161 victory flourish, the Scot also missing bull to save the match, as Waites clinched victory on double four.
KARIN KRAPPEN 2-1 RILANA ERADES
Third seed Karin Krappen won a dour all-Dutch encounter toppling Rilanda Erades 2-1.
Nerves dominated the game as both players struggled with missed doubles, struggling to reproduce the form that has given them a string of titles and made them a major force in women’s darts.
The opening set went with the throwing advantage the experience of Krappen steering her to double tops.
But a string of missed doubles plagued World Master Krappen, the 34-year-old from Vlissingen, gifting the bright 23-year-old a 2-0 lead.
Both players missed further opportunities to finish before Erades clinched the set-winning double to level the match.
Krappen seized the opening leg of the deciding third set and boosted by her second 180 of the match edged 2-0 ahead of the fast-throwing Erades.
Krappen blasted in 131 to leave four but then missed three attempts for double two, slamming her next dart into single 15. On her return to the oche she pegged double two to book her semi final spot, jumping in delight – and relief – after her victory.
TRINA GULLIVER 2-1 JULIE GORE
Golden Girl Trina Gulliver continued her remarkable eight year run of never having lost a match, melting Welsh international Julie “The Ice Cube” Gore 2-1.
It took the seven times world champion 36 minutes to book her place in the semi finals repealing a strong challenge from the 49-year-old.
After a year of mixed fortunes there were glimpses of vintage Gulliver as she blasted out a volley of 100 plus scores, including 180 in her quest for an unprecedented eighth world crown.
And it was sweet revenge for the Warwickshire sharpshooter who had lost to the 49-year-old from Llanelli in the Isle of Man championship last year.
“I was pleased with that. I knew I was in for a tough game, Julie has played well all year. I missed a few doubles but I felt I produced some good moments,” said triumphant Gulliver.
Despite missing doubles the defending champ drew first blood to take the opening leg, two 125s steering her to the second, clinching the third after narrowly missing bull for a 126 finish.
The darts went with the throw in the second, Gulliver firing out her first 180 to level the set.
Despite a second maximum from Gulliver it was neck and neck on the race to the double, Gore missing bull for a 132 and then both missing before the Welsh player nipped out on double nine.
The defending champ took the opening leg of the deciding set with the same double. She then took the next on double 16 against the throw.
A 140 steered her to a finish but she wired double 16 for 101 checkout. She missed a further three attempts for the same double, Gore missing two bids to save the game as Gulliver smashed home double 16 to extend her remarkable Lakeside run.
Filed under Lakeside World Professional |
