2009 Lakeside World Championship Day 4
Posted on January 7th, 2009
Maxi-man O’Shea sweeps aside “Mad” Max
Veteran Tony O’Shea gave his younger opponent Dutchman Edwin Max a lesson in darts as he whitewashed him 4-0 in just 35 minutes to reach the last eight.
The Stockport grandfather of four fired out eight 180s and never really looked troubled by the player from the Hague who was desperate for a good result after losing his job on the eve of the tournament.
The Cheshire player who reached the quarter finals in 2004 made the perfect opening – a maximum but then set the crowd buzzing when he followed up with his second 180 and the prospect of a nine dart finish. Unfortunately he missed the crucial seventh T20 which would have set him up for the perfect game.
He recovered to finish the leg in 11 darts hitting a further maximum as he annexed the first set in just eight minutes with double nine.
Silverback’s rout continued into the next set as he fired out a further two 180s to notch a 3-1 success the shell-shocked Dutchman struggling to keep pace with the Stockport sharpshooter.
The 47-year-old grandfather of four steamed into the next set with his sixth 180, Max levelled but then O’Shea swept in a superlative 130 checkout, finished on bull.
The Dutchmen swept home his second maximum but then he hit the wrong bed which let in the Cheshire ace.
A further 180 from O’Shea pressurised the man from the Hague, giving him the first leg and then the Cheshire played blasted in his eighth maximum which put further pressure on Max who uncharacteristically missed five doubles, Silverback nipping in to take a 2-0 lead.
The dejected Dutchman missed a further double 16 to save the match in the next as O’Shea pounced to book a place in Thursday’s quarter final – with double 16.
Afterwards O Shea admitted: “I was expecting a tougher match. Edwin is a great player but did not really play well in the second half of the match. I broke him in the first two sets and really enjoyed the match. I believe there is plenty more left in the tank.”
Sparkling display from Dazzler casts out the Wizard of Oz
Fifth seed and Madness fan Darryl Fitton took one step nearer his world title dreams to cast out The Wizard and 12th seed Simon Whitlock 4-2.
It was an absorbing but hard fought encounter lasting 59 minutes but featuring 16 x 180s an 11 and two 12 darters.
The “Wizard of Oz” conjured up 12-darter to take the opening set 3-0, Fitton having just one dart for a double in the second leg.
Both players hit maximums in the opening leg of the second set but it was Fitton with the throwing advantage who recovered from missing double 18 for a 141 out shot to finish with his fourth attempt for double 18.
He added the next on double 12, taking the throw from the Aussie and then fired in his second maximum en-route to clinching the set 3-0 on double tops after just 15 minutes of play.
Throwing first in the third Whitlock added the second against the throw but the Stockport hot shot blitzed in a 124 checkout finished on bull and then defending his throw with his fourth attempt for double 16.
Despite Fitton’s third 180, the Aussie bricklayer drove home double tops to annex the set, opening up a 2-1 lead to lay solid foundations to his game.
Double tops gave the Aussie the advantage in the opening leg of the fourth set, Fitton hitting his fourth maximum as he claimed the advantage back with a superb 12-darter, finished on double 18, pressing home the advantage with a 13 dart finish in the next.
The Wizard conjured up his third 180 of the game to pull level and both players hit maximums in the next but the former undertaker buried the Aussie’s hopes of the set, smashing in an 81 finish with double tops.
Despite a maximum from Whitlock in the opening leg of the fifth set Fitton turned the advantage and then punished the Aussie for two missed doubles in the next to move into a 2-0 set lead. The Wizard produced a magical 11 darter in the next, finished on 81but relentless Fitton, fired in his seventh 18o to clinch the set on his favourite double tops.
The opening four legs of the sixth set went with the throwing advantage, Fitton leaving 81 after nine darts – including his ninth 180 – and clinching victory with his third dart for double 20.
Fitton admitted afterwards: “That was not my best darts and I didn’t feel I played very well actually.
“Last year I tipped Simon to win the title so to beat the runner-up of 12 months ago was extremely satisfying.
“After Simon hit big scores in the last but one leg of the match I did my worrying about the deciding fifth leg and knew what I needed to do. If I had not won that leg, I don’t think I would have won the match,” said victorious Fitton.
Reluctant hero Gary wins thriller against Welshman Hughes
Dreamboy Gary Anderson won a thrilling 47-minute clash with Welsh international Robert Hughes to win through to the last eight.
Anderson had to withstand a determined performance from the debutant from Milford Haven’s whose blistering finishing left Anderson with his back to the wall and fighting to keep his world title dreams alive.
After Anderson stuttered on his double, needing three attempts before clinching double three, he then annexed the opening set in a breathtaking six minutes against the stunned Hughes.
The 42-year-old Welsh international who has been playing for quarter of a century, swept back in the second taking the set 3-1, needing just one dart for each winning double as top seed looked on and gave a wry smile.
Twice he led the third after firing in two 180s, Anderson levelling but a perfect single dart for double tops gave the man from Pembrokeshire a surprise match lead over the top seed.
Twice Anderson – who slowed his game and the tempo of the match – led the next set, scraping the fourth leg on double one after missing two attempts for double two to level the match.
Anderson took the opening leg of the fifth set against the throw and then capitalised on Hughes’ first missed double of the game, when he wired a bull attempt for a 161 checkout. Hughes annexed the third leg with double 20, the Scot firing out a maximum before taking the match to 4-2 with double tops.
Overcoming double trouble in the seventh set, Anderson needed five darts to hit double 16 but a 180 steered him to double eight and move ominously 2-0 ahead.
Hughes coolly despatched 96 on double eight but it was only delaying the agony as Anderson provided an exhibition match-winning finale with two double tops for victory.
After the match the top seed admitted that he played “absolute rubbish.”
“In practice I hit two nine darters. The problem is that I play darts, perhaps I need to take up tiddlywinks.
“Seriously I am a good tournament floor or pub player. I prefer to be in the shadows and really do not being like on stage in the limelight with the cameras but I know I have to do it because it is my job. But trust me I do not enjoy it.
“However once I kick in during a game I do kick in,” warned the top seed.
Scott waits for quarter final after whitewashing top Swede
Fourth seed Scott Waites moved into the quarter finals, whitewashing Swedish number one Alan Norris 4-0.
The two fast-throwing players – who are both carpenters – served up an entertaining encounter with Waites hitting nine 180s in the 33-minute clash.
In a scrappy open match as both players tested each other, Waites drove home two 180s to take the set unchallenged and against the throwing advantage.
Waites fired in a 180 in each of the first three legs to open up a 2-1 lead but missed a couple of attempts for double 18, the Swedish number one leaping in to level. Both players missed doubles in the decisive fifth leg before Waites struck double with his fifth attempt for a set-winning double.
The fourth seed turned the screw as he hit his sixth maximum and annexed three of the next four legs to steam into a resounding 3-0 lead.
Keeping up the barrage on the 60 segment, Waites intensified the onslaught, taking the opening leg of the fourth set on double 16 and then blasted in another 180, Norris nipping in to steal the leg with a bull finish.
The Yorkshire player bounced back to take the third leg on double 18 and then swept home a maximum but barely had time to retrieve his dart as Norris hit double 18 to level the set.
The seed hit his ninth 180, Norris missing a match-saving 127 finish on bull as Waites returned to the oche to win through on double 10.
Tags: Lakeside World Professional, Results, Review
Filed under BDO-WDF, Lakeside World Professional |
