REIGNING PartyPoker.net European Championship winner Phil Taylor made a winning start to the defence of his title with a 6-2 win over Co Stompe on Thursday night.

Taylor has won the previous two stagings of the European Championship and was in clinical mood at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken as he bids to claim Sunday’s £50,000 first prize.

Stompe gave Taylor some edgy moments in the opening five legs, but three missed darts to level the game in the sixth allowed the Stoke legend to put daylight between the duo before winning the next two without reply to seal victory.

“It was a difficult game but a very good game too,” he said. “I kept putting him under pressure and it worked for me.

“Co played well but I picked up on him missing doubles and under pressure he was doing that.

“The Dutch players are very competitive and Co epitomises that. He works hard at his game and it showed because he made me work very hard.”

Taylor will now face Andy Smith in the second round on Saturday, after the Studley-based thrower knocked out Paul Nicholson 6-3 in Germany.

World number four Mervyn King crashed out of the tournament with a 6-3 defeat to Barrie Bates, who took a 5-0 lead and held off a brief fightback to claim victory.

Bates takes on Jamie Caven in round two, after the Derby man came from 2-0 down to see off Scotland’s Gary Anderson 6-2 in their clash.

Jelle Klaasen also produced a spirited comeback to defeat Vincent van der Voort 6-4 in the battle of the Dutch aces, having included finishes of 142 and 92 in coming from 3-1 down to take the win.

Klaasen meets Mark Walsh in the second round, with the number eight seed having overcome Spanish debutant Antonio Alcinas 6-3, despite trailing the newcomer – who hit a 160 finish – 3-2 midway through the game.

Germany’s Andree Welge also threatened an upset in his clash with world number five Terry Jenkins, coming from 4-2 down to level before the English star took the last two legs in style.

Simon Whitlock set up a tasty last 16 meeting with Jenkins on Saturday with his 6-3 win over two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley.

The first round concludes on Friday night at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken with the remaining eight matches, which include number two seed Raymond van Barneveld’s meeting with Andy Hamilton.

World number three James Wade faces Colin Lloyd, Adrian Lewis takes on Wayne Jones and German pair Bernd Roith and Tomas Seyler are in action on home soil when they take on Denis Ovens and Michael van Gerwen.

PartyPoker.net European Championship
Thursday July 29
First Round
Paul Nicholson 3-6 Andy Smith
Mark Walsh (8) 6-3 Antonio Alcinas
Terry Jenkins (5) 6-4 Andree Welge
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Dennis Priestley
Gary Anderson 2-6 Jamie Caven
Phil Taylor (1) 6-2 Co Stompe
Jelle Klaasen 6-4 Vincent van der Voort
Mervyn King (4) 3-6 Barrie Bates

Friday July 30 (8pm start local time)
Bernd Roith v Denis Ovens
Mark Dudbridge v Robert Thornton
Adrian Lewis (7) v Wayne Jones
Tomas Seyler v Michael van Gerwen
James Wade (3) v Colin Lloyd
Raymond van Barneveld (2) v Andy Hamilton
Colin Osborne v Wes Newton
Ronnie Baxter (6) v Alan Tabern

ANDY SMITH 6-3 PAUL NICHOLSON
ANDY SMITH punished Paul Nicholson’s missed doubles to progress to the second round of the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a 6-3 win.

Smith, opening up the tournament against January’s Players Championship Finals winner, bounced back from a first round exit in the World Matchplay in style to move into the last 16.

He trailed 2-1 early in the game, having won the opening leg with a 70 finish only to miss a dart to take the second as Nicholson levelled on double four and hit a 180 and a bullseye finish to move ahead.

Smith, though, took out 120 to square the match and then followed up a double eight finish – after four misses from Nicholson – with a 12-darter to take a 4-2 lead.

Nicholson took the advantage in the seventh with another maximum, but five more missed doubles allowed Smith in on double five to move a leg away from victory.

Nicholson then hit two 180s in the next leg, but further missed doubles allowed Smith in for a chance to seal the win – only for him to then waste four match darts as double one kept the world number 16 in the game.

The pair traded maximum scores in the next, but four further misses from Nicholson gave Smith another chance, and this time he posted double 16 to take victory.

“I scored really well but missed a lot of doubles,” said Smith, who faces Phil Taylor or Co Stompe in round two.

“I’ve had a bad leg recently and that means I’ve not practised as much as I’d have wanted before this but I was determined to do well and I managed to get through to victory.”

MARK WALSH 6-3 ANTONIO ALCINAS
MARK WALSH survived a scare from newcomer Antonio Alcinas before booking his place in the second round of the PartyPoker.net European Championship.

Walsh, the number eight seed, found himself 3-2 down against the impressive Spanish debutant, who defied any nerves on his debut in a televised event to come from 2-0 behind to lead.

However, Walsh found his clinical range on double top, pinning the bed in four successive legs to move into the last 16.

Walsh took the game’s opening leg and hit a 177 to leave 24 in breaking throw to double his advantage with a 13-darter.

Alcinas got off the mark by taking out 76 to break back, and won the next two to take the lead, the latter with a sensational 160 checkout.

He also hit a maximum in the sixth, but Walsh battled back and landed double top to square the match before hitting the same bed in the next to regain the lead.

Alcinas fought to level in the next, but Walsh’s accuracy on his favoured double top gave him a 5-3 cushion and he repeated the feat to wrap up the win with a superb 127 finish.

TERRY JENKINS 6-4 ANDREE WELGE
TERRY JENKINS held off the spirited challenge of Germany’s Andree Welge to pick up a 6-4 first round win in the PartyPoker.net European Championship.

Jenkins had been a first round loser in the previous two European Championships, but ended that run with a strong finish after Welge hit back from 4-2 down to level as the world number five lost his range on the doubles.

Welge took the game’s opening leg before Jenkins took out finishes of 121 and 78 to take the next two in edging in front, showing no signs of nerves following last week’s first round loss to Steve Brown in the World Matchplay.

Four missed doubles in the next allowed Welge in to level, hitting double ten with his third dart, only for finishes of double six and double eight in the next two to give Jenkins a 4-2 advantage.

However, his finishing deserted him in the next two legs as he missed 12 darts at the double and Welge, courtesy of double five and a two-dart 83 finish, saw the German level.

He also hit five successive treble 20s to kick off the ninth leg, but Jenkins piled on the pressure with a 180 leave 81 and – after Welge missed darts at double 16 and eight – he landed the bull for a 5-4 lead.

Jenkins kicked off the next with hammer blows of 140 and 180 for Welge, and went on to seal victory on double 16.

“Andree is a good player but I was pretty confident I could beat him and I managed to get over the finishing line,” said Jenkins.

SIMON WHITLOCK 6-3 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
AUSSIE sensation Simon whitlock powered into the second round of the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a 6-3 defeat of Dennis Priestley in Dinslaken on Thursday night.

Whitlock, a semi-finalist last week in the World Matchplay, continued his good form to see off Priestley with a near-100 average and hitting five maximums.

The pair traded 180s in sharing the first two legs, before Priestley – after hitting a second maximum of the match – missed one dart at double top to break and Whitlock landed double 12 for a 2-1 lead.

Whitlock then stepped up a gear to reel off back-to-back 13-dart finishes and then landed double 16 for a 5-1 lead.

The two-time World Champion stepped in to keep the match alive after Whitlock missed darts for the game in the next two legs, landing double eight and double 16 to maintain hope of a comeback.

But Whitlock fired in a 180 amongst three ton-plus scores to kick off the next, and sealed the match on double five.

JAMIE CAVEN 6-2 GARY ANDERSON
JAMIE CAVEN reeled off six straight legs to power past Gary Anderson and win a spot in the last 16 of the PartyPoker.net European Championship in Dinslaken.

Scottish ace Anderson took the game’s opening two legs, defying a maximum from Caven to win the first and landing a 180 of his own in the second.

However, Caven landed double five in the next to settle his nerves and fired home a 12-darter – which featured two 180s – to break throw and level.

Anderson, battling a shoulder problem, could do little as Caven won the next for a 3-2 lead before he paid the price for five misses in leg six as the Derby man moved 4-2 up.

Anderson hit another 180 in the next, but Caven posted double eight to move a leg away from the win before punishing three misses from the Scot to seal victory on double top.

PHIL TAYLOR 6-2 CO STOMPE
REIGNING PartyPoker.net European Championship winner Phil Taylor made a winning start to the defence of his title with a 6-2 win over Co Stompe on Thursday night.

Taylor has won the previous two stagings of the European Championship and was in clinical mood at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken as he bids to claim Sunday’s £50,000 first prize.

Stompe gave Taylor some edgy moments in the opening five legs, but three missed darts to level the game in the sixth allowed the Stoke legend to put daylight between the duo before winning the next two without reply to seal victory.

“It was a difficult game but a very good game too,” he said. “I kept putting him under pressure and it worked for me.

“Co played well but I picked up on him missing doubles and under pressure he was doing that.

“The Dutch players are very competitive and Co epitomises that. He works hard at his game and it showed because he made me work very hard.”

Taylor landed a 180 in the game’s opening leg, which he took with double 16, before Stompe replied with a maximum of his own to level.

Taylor landed a 177 and 140 to kick off the third, and had enough breathing space despite another maximum from Stompe to miss two darts at a double before returning to hit double six for a 2-1 lead.

The 15-time World Champion produced another 180 in the fourth, which he won on double 14, before Stompe fired in a maximum and double four for the fifth to pull back to 3-2.

He also had a chance to level in the sixth, but missed darts at the bull, double four and double two as Taylor crucially moved 4-2 up on double eight.

Double 16 put him a leg away from victory, and after the pair traded maximums in the next he landed the same double again to wrap up the win.

JELLE KLAASEN 6-4 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
JELLE KLAASEN battled from 3-1 down to win the all-Dutch first round clash with Vincent van der Voort in the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a 6-4 triumph.

Klaasen, fresh from his quarter-final appearance in the World Matchplay, showed great resilience to see off his close friend and set up a second round clash with Mark Walsh in Dinslaken.

Klaasen missed darts to win the opening two legs, with van der Voort twice posting double top to move 2-0 up, and after the youngster took the third on double 16 he finished 103 to move 3-1 up.

That checkout was bettered by a 142 from Klaasen in the fifth, before he landed double eight for a 76 finish to level.

Double ten put Klaasen 4-3 up, although van der Voort posted double three to briefly stem the tide and square the match again.

Klaasen returned from two missed doubles to win a pivotal ninth leg on double ten, and checked out 92 to seal the win in the next.

“It wasn’t my best game and we both struggled with our scoring,” said Klaasen. “I had some good finishes in there and that won me the match.”

BARRIE BATES 6-3 MERVYN KING
BARRIE BATES fended off Mervyn King’s fightback to win a second round place at the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a 6-3 triumph.

Bates produced some of his best-ever darts on the televised stage as he stormed into a 5-0 lead, only for King to win three in threatening a comeback before the Welshman wrapped up the win.

A missed double 16 from King in the opening leg cost him dearly, as Bates finished 56 to win the first leg before powering home a 130 checkout in the next.

A 96 checkout put Bates 3-0 up, and he broke throw for a second time on double four, after hitting a maximum, before landing double 12 for a 5-0 lead against the world number four.

A second maximum of the game helped Bates to leave a finish in the sixth to whitewash King, who replied with a 180 and took out 124 on the bull to stay in the game.

He also picked up 180s in the next two legs as finishes of 70 and 84 kept the match alive, only to see three 140s go to waste in the ninth, with three missed doubles allowing Bates back to take out 84 himself on the bull to seal victory.

“I’ve probably never been 5-0 up before and I took my time getting over the finishing line,” admitted Bates. “Mervyn is a quality player and he did well to come back, but I’m very pleased with my performance.”

Taylor has lifted the European Championship trophy in each of the past two years since the tournament was launched in 2008.

The world number one travels to the Stadthalle in Dinslaken on a high after winning his 11th World Matchplay last Sunday, as he seeks to win a fourth major title inside three months.

“Winning the World Matchplay was great and I’d love to go on and win the European Championship this weekend,” said Taylor. “I’m feeling great and playing well, and winning this would round off a perfect summer.”

Taylor takes on Co Stompe in the first round, with the Dutchman having defeated him in the 2008 German Darts Championship final.

“Co has done brilliantly in the last couple of years and he played superbly when he won the German Darts Championship, but that was a different day,” added Taylor.

“I put it behind me and so has Co, and we’ve played a few times since. He did well in the World Matchplay last week and I know he’ll want that to continue in Germany.”

Stompe followed that German Darts Championship victory with two World Championship quarter-final appearances, as well as winning a Players Championship a month ago and reaching the last eight in Blackpool.

“The win over Phil is in the past and you can’t dwell on that because it’s history,” said Stompe. “It’s a new game on Thursday and I’ve got a hard game against Phil.

“I’ve turned my game around, because I’ve been practising on my doubles and they went alright in Blackpool but my scoring let me down.

“I know I can play better than I did in Blackpool, and I’ll go up there on Thursday and hopefully give Phil a big fight.”

The tournament’s opening night will also feature the eagerly-awaited clash between two of the sport’s fastest throwers, Jelle Klaasen and Vincent van der Voort.

The Dutch pair have both enjoyed strong form in 2010, while Klaasen – a European Championship semi-finalist last year – reached the quarter-finals of last week’s World Matchplay with a slightly slower throwing style.

“I tried to slow down and it felt good,” he said. “I’m always trying to improve my game and I’ve tried something new on stage now, and I played well.

“I think I’ll try to play slower now in every tournament. It will be a hard match to play against Vincent because we travel all the time and are good friends, but when we get on stage we’re enemies and want to beat each other 6-0.”

The players ranked fourth and fifth in the world, Mervyn King and Terry Jenkins, have an opportunity to bounce back from first round exits in the World Matchplay when they face Barrie Bates and Germany’s Andree Welge respectively.

Simon Whitlock, the Australian who has jumped to eighth in the PDC Order of Merit following his run to the semi-finals of the World Matchplay, takes on two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley on his European Championship debut.

The tournament will open when Paul Nicholson, January’s Players Championship Finals winner, faces Andy Smith – who had minor surgery on a leg injury a week ago but has previously won a Players Championship on the Dinslaken stage.

Gary Anderson, the UK Open finalist who has been troubled by a shoulder injury in recent weeks and lost to Klaasen in Blackpool, meets Jamie Caven, and number eight seed Mark Walsh faces Spanish debutant Antonio Alcinas.

World number two Raymond van Barneveld – who hit a nine-darter in the World Matchplay before losing to Taylor in the final – takes on Andy Hamilton on the second night of play on Friday, while number three seed James Wade faces Colin Lloyd.

German pair Tomas Seyler and Bernd Roith are in action on home soil, with Roith taking on Denis Ovens on his televised debut while Seyler meets Michael van Gerwen – the Dutch youngster who has been sidelined for the past month with a broken collarbone.

The PartyPoker.net European Championship is being shown live on Sport1 in Germany and on Bravo in the UK – Bravo can be found at channel 123 on Sky and 136 on Virgin Media.

Coverage on Bravo will be fronted by Dave Gorman and James Richardson throughout the tournament.

PartyPoker.net European Championship
Schedule of Play
Thursday July 29
First Round
Play commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
8.00pm Paul Nicholson v Andy Smith
8.30pm Mark Walsh v Antonio Alcinas
9.00pm Terry Jenkins v Andree Welge
9.30pm Simon Whitlock v Dennis Priestley
10.00pm Gary Anderson v Jamie Caven
10.30pm Phil Taylor v Co Stompe
11.00pm Jelle Klaasen v Vincent van der Voort
11.30pm Mervyn King v Barrie Bates

Friday July 30
First Round
Play commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
8.00pm Bernd Roith v Denis Ovens
8.30pm Mark Dudbridge v Robert Thornton
9.00pm Adrian Lewis v Wayne Jones
9.30pm Tomas Seyler v Michael van Gerwen
10.00pm James Wade v Colin Lloyd
10.30pm Raymond van Barneveld v Andy Hamilton
11.00pm Colin Osborne v Wes Newton
11.30pm Ronnie Baxter v Alan Tabern

Saturday July 31
Second Round
Afternoon Session
Play commences 2pm German time (1pm UK time)
2.00pm Walsh/Alcinas v Klaasen/van der Voort
3.00pm Jenkins/Welge v Whitlock/Priestley
4.00pm Baxter/Tabern v Osborne/Newton
5.00pm Lewis/Jones v Dudbridge/Thornton

Evening Session
Play Commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
8.00pm King/Bates v Anderson/Caven
9.00pm van Barneveld/Hamilton v Roith/Ovens
10.00pm Taylor/Stompe v Nicholson/Smith
11.00pm Wade/Lloyd v Seyler/van Gerwen

Sunday August 1
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals
Play commences 2pm German time (1pm UK time)
2.00pm Jenkins/Welge/Whitlock/Priestley v King/Bates/Anderson/Caven
3.00pm Wade/Lloyd/Seyler/van Gerwen v Baxter/Tabern/Osborne/Newton
4.00pm Taylor/Stompe/Nicholson/Smith v Walsh/Alcinas/Klaasen/van der Voort
5.00pm van Barneveld/Hamilton/Roith/Ovens v Lewis/Jones/Dudbridge/Thornton

Evening Session
Play commences 8pm German time (7pm UK time)
Semi-Finals
8.00pm
9.15pm
Final
11.00pm

Format

Prize Fund

PHIL TAYLOR claimed his 11th StanJames.com World Matchplay title with an 18-12 win over Raymond van Barneveld at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Sunday night.

Taylor picked up his third successive Blackpool win and a £100,000 cheque with a thrilling performance to see off the Dutchman, who played his part in a superb final.

Van Barneveld stayed with Taylor for much of the game, but Taylor crucially pulled from 11-9 to lead by four legs – and held that advantage to close out victory.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” said Taylor. “I love this tournament and no matter how many times I win it it’s a tremendous feeling to get hold of this trophy.

“The final had a bit of everything. I was a brilliant game and there were times when I had to dig in and times when I was cruising.

“Barney gave me a great game but I’ve worked really hard to prepare for this. I love it when Barney challenges me and his career is back on track, so he’s got to see this week as a positive.

“I love this tournament, I love being in Blackpool and I scrapped my heart out to keep this title.”

Taylor landed a 180 in the game’s opening leg, but van Barneveld took out double two to lead, before hitting a 177 in the second only for Taylor to finish 79 in two darts.

Taylor missed double 11 in the next leg as van Barneveld landed double 18 to hold throw, and the cat and mouse continued as the players held for the next three legs to leave the scores tied at three-all.

Taylor secured the crucial first break in the seventh leg to lead 4-3, with van Barneveld hitting a 180 but missing darts at double 18 and double nine before the world number one pounced on tops to break.

Double eight in the next saw Taylor move 5-3 up, and the pair traded the next seven legs – with the Englishman landing an 11-darter and van Barneveld hitting two 13-dart finishes – before another key moment.

Van Barneveld set up a potential break to level in the 16th, with a 180 leaving 24, only for Taylor to finish 105 on double 16 for a 9-7 cushion.

The Dutchman replied with an 11-darter and was waiting on 67 for the chance to break in the next – but this time Taylor took out 135 to thrill the capacity crowd at the Winter Gardens and leave van Barneveld reeling.

Taylor kicked off the next with a maximum and broke once more for an 11-8 cushion, although he was off-target on the bull in the next before the Dutch ace landed a 136 checkout for his first break of throw.

A chance to hit back further passed van Barneveld by in the 21st leg, with a missed double 16 allowing Taylor back to the oche on double top, before he then won the next for a 13-9 lead.

Van Barneveld won three of the next five to give himself hope of a comeback at 15-12, but he could only watch in the next as Taylor landed double 16 before bursting his score on 65 as the Stoke legend moved a leg away from the win.

Opening scores of 140 and 180 from Taylor gave him the upper hand in the next, and he posted double 16 to complete another superb Blackpool triumph.

“As soon as I broke his throw I knew I just had to keep mine. Even when I was under the cosh I went out on some big shots; the 135 was an absolute belter and it hurt him.

“I had a 105 average and I’m over the moon, absolutely made up to win. I’ll celebrate this tonight but the European Championship starts on Thursday and I’m going to prepare for that.”

He added: “England might have lost the World Cup but this was England v Holland tonight and I’m delighted to have won it for my country as well!”

Van Barneveld had returned from a two-month break with a nine-darter in his win over Denis Ovens in the first round, and also saw off Alan Tabern, Co Stompe and James Wade to reach his first Blackpool final.

“He never seemed to miss doubles,” said van Barneveld. “You know that before the game and he just keeps hurting you, and that’s why he is the greatest.

“Phil keeps improving all the time and it’s so disappointing for me. I keep putting in more preparation and it never seems enough.

“I’m the number two at the moment, and players like James Wade, Simon Whitlock and Gary Anderson are all trying but he’s just too good for everyone.

“I hit a nine-darter in the first round and that is an achievement but it’s only one leg. I enjoyed this week but the final was disappointing.”

STACY BROMBERG staged a superb fightback to defeat Tricia Wright 6-5 and win the inaugural PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship Final.

The American found herself 5-3 down in a race to six legs at the Winter Gardens, but showed her fighting spirit to battle back and claim the £10,000 first prize.

Wright held leads of 4-2 and 5-3 but failed to kill off the match, missing four match darts before Bromberg prevailed in the decider to take the £10,000 title – a record for ladies’ darts.

Bromberg had held throw to win the game’s opening leg, taking out 74, but paid for three misses in the second as Wright posted double nine to level.

Double top gave the American the third, but she then missed six darts to again break throw, with Wright taking out double ten.

Wright, who has claimed over 50 titles during her career, stepped in on double four to take the first break of throw in the fifth leg, and a 64 finish, on double 16, moved her 4-2 up.

Bromberg regained her range on the doubles to land double eight in the next, but a two-dart 78 checkout saw Wright move a leg away from the win.

Bromberg posted double 16 to take the ninth leg, and after Wright missed darts at double top, ten and five for victory in the next the American scrambled in double 14 to send the game into a decider.

Wright kicked off the 11th leg with a ton, but Bromberg edged clear and was first to the finish, hitting double eight for a 92 checkout for the biggest win of her career.

“I kept thinking I’ve come too far to not win,” said Bromberg. “I’m thrilled to win this – although there was nothing I could do but hope when Tricia had darts for the match.

“The consistency wasn’t there from us both and we both know we can play a higher calibre of darts, but it was an exciting and close match for the fans.”

The tournament had seen players compete in two stages to reach the final in Blackpool, with qualifiers held in Rileys Darts Zones around the UK alongside a series of International Qualifiers to find the last 32, who then played down to the final in Barnsley in June.

Anastasia Dobromyslova, who competes on the PDC circuit, was a semi-finalist in the event, losing 4-3 to Bromberg, while Bedfordshire’s Fiona Carmichael had also lost in a decider against Wright.

Both Bromberg and Wright will be offered PDC ProTour Cards for 2011 and places in November’s Grand Slam of Darts in Wolverhampton.

“I fully intend, as much as I can, to come over and play in the PDC,” added Bromberg, who turns 54 on Tuesday.

“I’m expected to lose and the pressure would be on the men, but I’ve beaten some of the top men in the past, but if I don’t give it a try I won’t find out.

“Simon Whitlock did well in the World Championship and then gained sponsors and I’m hoping that an opportunity for me to take this up full-time, and in the meantime I’ll the best I can with the resources I have.

“I believe I can compete with the men one-on-one on the same level. I’m not saying I’m going to beat Phil Taylor, but the pressure is on them and I really want to come over and give it a shot.”

PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld will contest the final of the StanJames.com World Matchplay on Sunday following resounding semi-final defeats of Simon Whitlock and James Wade in Blackpool.

Reigning champion Taylor remains on course for an 11th World Matchplay title following a 17-4 defeat of Whitlock in a repeat of the World Championship final the pair contested in January.

While the Australian had given Taylor a fright in that game, he was unable to match the relentless barrage of scoring and clinical finishing from the world number one on the Blackpool stage.

“Simon didn’t play as well as I expected him to but I could only concentrate on winning and I’ve done that well,” said Taylor.

“Winning this is everything for me and I think it’s the final people wanted, especially after Raymond hit that nine-darter last week. He’s played superbly to reach the final and it should be a brilliant game – maybe the best final ever in this event.

“I get excited about playing Barney and I love playing him. He could do a couple of nine-darters in the final and so could I, but he’s a different Barney since his break and it’s great to see.”

Van Barneveld cruised into the final at the Winter Gardens for the first time in four attempts with a 16-8 win over 2007 champion James Wade.

Van Barneveld checked out 44 percent of his chances at a double, including three ton-plus scores, and broke Wade’s throw on ten occasions to win through to face Taylor for the £100,000 title.

“I have a target to win every big PDC tournament and I’ve not won this so it would be massive to win the World Matchplay,” said van Barneveld.

“I still feel pressure, especially from being the number one in Holland and being number two to Phil Taylor but it would be amazing to beat him and win this.”

StanJames.com World Matchplay
Semi-Finals
Raymond van Barneveld 17-8 James Wade
Phil Taylor 17-4 Simon Whitlock

Final
7pm Sunday
Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
Best of 35 legs

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 17-8 JAMES WADE
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD won through to his first StanJames.com World Matchplay final with a 17-8 demolition of James Wade at the Winter Gardens on Saturday night.

World number two van Barneveld continued his dream return to form at the World Matchplay, having returned from a two-month lay-off with a nine-darter in the first round a week ago and swept aside Denis Ovens, Alan Tabern, Co Stompe and now Wade in Blackpool.

Another fine performance, where he hit 43 percent of his chances at a finish, including three ton-plus scores, and five maximums, blew the 2007 champion apart and saw him power into Sunday’s final, where he meets Phil Taylor or Simon Whitlock.

“I have a target to win every big PDC tournament and I’ve not won this so it would be massive to win the World Matchplay,” said van Barneveld.

“I still feel pressure, especially from being the number one in Holland and being number two to Phil Taylor but it would be amazing to beat him and win this.”

Wade had actually made the brighter start, winning three of the opening four legs to hold the early advantage, taking out 121 for a 12-darter as well as two double ten finishes, although van Barneveld had hit a 174 score in setting up double 18 to get off the mark.

The Dutchman landed a 180 in taking the first, and after Wade checked out 140 to take the sixth with another 12-darter he found another gear to reel off four sparkling legs.

They included one 14-dart finish, two 15-darters and a 136 checkout for a 12-darter in assuming a 6-4 lead.

Wade ended that run with a 14-darter, but three more legs from van Barneveld saw him move 10-6 up as he landed a brace of 13-darters and a 100 finish to take control of the game.

Wade won two of the next three, including a 145 checkout, but a thrilling ten-darter from van Barneveld moved him into an 11-7 advantage.

He then missed five darts to take the next leg, as Wade posted double ten to pull back to within three legs – but he was frustratingly left waiting on a finish without getting a chance as van Barneveld moved 14-8 up with another burst of three legs, including a 101 checkout.

Double nine and double top put him to the brink of victory, and though Wade landed scores of 171 and 170 in the next the Dutch star took out 91 for a 14-darter to ensure his first televised final since the World Grand Prix last October.

PHIL TAYLOR 17-4 SIMON WHITLOCK
PHIL TAYLOR powered past Simon Whitlock by dropping only four legs to remain on course for an 11th StanJames.com World Matchplay title with a 17-4 victory at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Taylor, the reigning champion in the £400,000 event, continued his charge towards another title with a thrilling win over the Australian.

Taylor won seven successive legs in moving 7-1 up, and though Whitlock cut the gap to 9-4 there was little he could do as the world number one reeled off another eight in a row to take victory.

Taylor averaged almost 104 and hit eight maximums as well as checking out 44 percent of his chances at a double to set up a tasty final against last week’s nine-dart hero Raymond van Barneveld.

“Simon didn’t play as well as I expected him to but I could only concentrate on winning and I’ve done that well,” said Taylor.

“Winning this is everything for me and I think it’s the final people wanted, especially after Raymond hit that nine-darter last week. He’s played superbly to reach the final and it should be a brilliant game – maybe the best final ever in this event.

“I get excited about playing Barney and I love playing him. He could do a couple of nine-darters in the final and so could I, but he’s a different Barney since his break and it’s great to see.”

Whitlock won the game’s opening leg, but Taylor levelled and then finished on double four for the next two legs in assuming a 3-1 cushion.

He then landed a 177 and double 16 for the fifth leg, and also won the next three in moving 7-1 up before Whitlock, courtesy of a 180 and double 16, finally managed to get a second chalk on the board.

Taylor posted a 180 and took out 76 for an eighth leg, before Whitlock punished a missed double 16 from his opponent to take out double 18 and pull back to 8-3.

Taylor fired in two 180s in an 11-darter to take the next – despite five 180s from Whitlock to begin the leg – before the Australian finished 126 on the bull to take his fourth of the game.

Double top moved Taylor 10-4 up, and when Whitlock wasted two opportunities he moved seven legs clear before finding another gear to land a 12-dart finish, another maximum and double 14 and then double top for a 14-4 advantage.

He edged a scrappy 19th leg on double one before a miss at tops from Whitlock allowed him in for a 16-4 lead, before clinically closing out the win on double four after an eighth maximum.

PHIL TAYLOR cruised into the semi-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay with a 16-4 defeat of Kevin Painter on Friday night, while Raymond van Barneveld ended his quarter-final hoodoo at the Winter Gardens.

Taylor, the reigning and ten-time World Matchplay champion, rarely broke sweat in a clinical demolition of Painter, who was restricted to only four legs and few more chances at a double.

Taylor won seven successive legs to move from 2-1 to 9-1 up, before going on to seal victory in setting up a tasty semi-final with World Championship finalist Simon Whitlock.

“It’s another good win and I’m really looking forward to the semi-finals now,” said Taylor. “Simon’s been great for the past year and I’ll have to be on top of my game.

“My finishing was good against Kevin and I know I can step it up another level. Simon will have to be great and I think it will be a cracker.”

Whitlock had earlier overcome Jelle Klaasen 16-8 to reach the last four on his debut World Matchplay appearance, while James Wade’s win over Wayne Jones means that the 2007 champion takes on van Barneveld in Saturday’s semis.

Van Barneveld erased the memory of quarter-final defeats in the last three years with a 16-12 win over Co Stompe in an all-Dutch affair to remain in the hunt for the £100,000 title.

“There was a lot of pressure on me because for three years I lost in the quarter-finals so I’m really pleased to be in the semi-finals for the first time,” said van Barneveld.

“James is a world-class player but this is a great opportunity and I hope I win because I’m here to win this title.”

Saturday’s semi-finals will be the first darts matches ever to be broadcast in 3D, as around 1,000 pubs in the UK watch the action live on Sky Sports.

To find your nearest 3D pub, visit www.sky.com/3dpubs.

The semi-finals will also be followed by another first, the final of the PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship between America’s Stacy Bromberg and England’s Tricia Wright.

The event sees a £10,000 first prize on offer, the highest ever paid in the women’s game, alongside the inaugural title, while the runner-up will take home £5,000.

StanJames.com World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
James Wade 16-12 Wayne Jones
Jelle Klaasen 8-16 Simon Whitlock
Co Stompe 12-16 Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter 4-16 Phil Taylor

Saturday July 24
Semi-Finals
7.10pm James Wade v Raymond van Barneveld
9.00pm Simon Whitlock v Phil Taylor

Followed by:
PDC Unicorn Women’s World Championship Final
Stacy Bromberg v Tricia Wright
Best of 11 legs

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 16-12 CO STOMPE
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD broke his StanJames.com World Matchplay hoodoo with a 16-12 victory over Co Stompe to reach the semi-finals of the tournament for the first time.

The Dutchman has been a quarter-final victim at the Winter Gardens for the past three years, but won the all-Dutch clash to set up a semi-final on Saturday with world number three James Wade.

Stompe had hit three ton-plus finishes on the way to a 10-9 lead, but van Barneveld took three successive legs to seize command of the game before sealing the win.

“There was a lot of pressure on me because for three years I lost in the quarter-finals so I’m really pleased to be in the semi-finals for the first time,” said van Barneveld.

“James is a world-class player but this is a great opportunity and I hope I win because I’m here to win this title.”

Van Barneveld made an ideal start by breaking throw in the opening leg and then landing double four to double the lead, only for Stompe to reply with a 110 finish.

Stompe punished three misses from his compatriot to level the game before being left waiting on a finish – after a 180 left 56 – as van Barneveld posted double eight for a 3-2 lead.

He won the next on double four, but after the pair traded double top finishes Stompe landed checkouts of 117 and 96 to tie the game at five-all.

He then finished 118 to lead for the first time at 6-5, although the duo traded 180s in the next as van Barneveld squared the match, and the nip and tuck continued as van Barneveld hit back to lead 8-7 and Stompe finished 80 in the 16th leg.

Double ten put the five-time World Champion 9-8 up, but Stompe won the next two for a 10-9 advantage – only to then see van Barneveld level on double 16 and punish two misses to edge 11-10 up.

A 78 finish gave van Barneveld breaking space at 12-10, and though Stompe landed double top in the next a missed bullseye, for a 135 checkout to level, cost him dear as the number two seed took a 13-11 cushion.

Two further misses from Stompe allowed van Barneveld to move three legs clear, and double 16 moved him to the brink of victory.

Stompe landed a maximum and double 16 to stay in the game, but van Barneveld nudged clear to hit the same bed in completing the win.

“Sometimes you win easily and sometimes it’s a battle and this was a very hard battle,” said van Barneveld. “I’ve known Co for 20 years and we’ve travelled the world together, and it’s not easy to play your friends.

“He really performed well but I never felt comfortable on stage and didn’t score as well as I wanted to.

“Co hurt me with his big finishes and made me work hard, and he played a really good match.”

Stompe, appearing in his first World Matchplay quarter-final, said: “It’s not how I wanted the week to end but I didn’t take my chances tonight.

“Every time he went ahead I levelled it up but when it went ten-all but I had a poor leg and you can’t afford to do it against a player as great as Raymond, and he punished me.”

PHIL TAYLOR 16-4 KEVIN PAINTER
PHIL TAYLOR’S charge towards an 11th StanJames.com World Matchplay title continued apace with a superb 16-4 quarter-final win over Kevin Painter at the Winter Gardens on Friday night.

Taylor rarely broke sweat in an emphatic defeat of his long-term rival as he stormed into the semis, where he will face Simon Whitlock on Saturday night.

The world number one proved too clinical for Painter, who battled gamely but was unable to match the scoring power and finishing accuracy of the reigning champion, who hit three ton-plus finishes.

“It’s another good win and I’m really looking forward to the semi-finals now,” said Taylor. “Simon’s been great for the past year and I’ll have to be on top of my game.

“My finishing was good against Kevin and I know I can step it up another level. Simon will have to be great and I think it will be a cracker.”

Taylor landed a 180 in an immediate break of throw to win the first leg, and scored a 171 en route to the second leg, after Painter missed a dart at double top for a 116 finish.

Painter, who had only defeated Taylor once in 24 previous meetings, got off the mark by checking out 90 on the bull in the third leg, but the world number one reeled off seven straight legs to push 9-1 up.

That run was begun with a 13-dart finish, and featured checkouts of 106, 96, 94, 89 and two 68 finishes, with Painter given almost no opportunity in a barrage of sub-15 dart finishes.

Painter halted the charge with a superb 11-darter, which was begun with a 180 and ended with a 96 finish, but Taylor landed double four for the next leg and punished misses from his opponent for an 11-2 cushion.

He then posted a 13-dart finish, double eight and a 101 checkout in moving 14-2 up before a 119 checkout – sandwiched between quality legs of 13 and 14 darts from Painter – moved him to the brink of victory.

Painter hit a fourth maximum of the game in the next, but missed the bullseye for a 121 finish to keep the match alive, and Taylor pounced on double 16.

“Phil never seems to miss anything against me and that was the case again and you can’t compete against that,” he said. “If he doesn’t miss any doubles, with his scoring power, you’ve got no chance but I maybe should have won another four legs.

“I’m obviously happy to make the last eight and if I’d drawn anyone other than Phil then you never know what might have happened. Winning breeds confidence and I got a couple of wins and will go back into the top 16.”

JAMES WADE and Simon Whitlock booked their place in the semi-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay with victories in the opening quarter-final clashes at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Wade, the 2007 champion, remains on course for a second World Matchplay title after defeating Wolverhampton battler Wayne Jones 16-12 in their last eight clash.

Wade held his nerve despite one of Jones’ finest televised performances to put himself into the semis, where he will meet Raymond van Barneveld or Co Stompe.

“It was an exceptionally hard game for me because Wayne has a good record against me and it was psychologically hard,” said Wade. “But there was a bit of the old James Wade there and it’s getting better.

“I made a break early on but didn’t kill him off as quickly as I could, but I know I’ve got three more gears to find yet.

“It would be amazing to win this tournament again and it’s about time I won another big title because it’s over a year, so we’ll see what happens this weekend.”

Whitlock, meanwhile, continued a successful World Matchplay debut by seeing off Holland’s Jelle Klaasen 16-8.

Klaasen hit four ton-plus finishes in the opening nine legs of the game, but Whitlock – playing on despite suffering from ‘flu – took command by winning nine in a row on his way to the win.

“My finishing was very good when I needed it to be and it was the important thing,” said Whitlock.

“I’m still feeling poorly with the ‘flu but hopefully after an early night and some rest I’ll be nearly recovered by the time I go on stage for the semis.”

Whitlock will meet either Phil Taylor or Kevin Painter in the semis, as the two old rivals lock horns in Friday night’s second quarter-final, following the all-Dutch affair between Stompe and van Barneveld.

StanJames.com World Matchplay
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session
James Wade 16-12 Wayne Jones
Jelle Klaasen 8-16 Simon Whitlock

Evening Session (7pm)
Co Stompe v Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter v Phil Taylor

JAMES WADE 16-12 WAYNE JONES
JAMES WADE remains on course for a second StanJames.com World Matchplay title following a 16-12 quarter-final win over Wolverhampton battler Wayne Jones in Blackpool.

The 2007 Winter Gardens champion continued his improvement as the tournament progresses to see off Jones, who had won through to his first quarter-final in Blackpool and matched the number three seed blow for blow.

Wade will now meet Raymond van Barneveld or Co Stompe in Saturday’s semi-finals, as he bids to reach the final for the fourth time in five years.

Wade landed a 180 in taking the game’s opener, only for Jones to reply with a 13-darter and take out double 18 to break for a 2-0 lead.

Wade bettered that with a 121 finish for a 12-darter, and then won the next three legs to move into a 5-2 advantage, only for Jones to hit back with legs of 13, 14 and 14 darts to square the match.

The duo traded double top finishes in the next two before Wade again found an extra gear, defying a quartet of 180s from Jones to win four successive legs, twice punishing misses from the Wolverhampton man.

A double 16 finish from Jones ended that run, and was followed by finishes of 83 and 128 as he pulled back to 11-9, only to see Wade edge clear again, taking the next two legs to lead 13-9.

Jones replied with another double salvo, punishing missed doubles from Wade on double 18 and double eight, although double six moved Wade two legs away from the win at 14-11.

The former champion then produced his best leg of the game, an 11-darter, for a 15th leg, and after Jones posted double top to keep the match alive Wade hit the same bed to complete his victory.

“It was an exceptionally hard game for me because Wayne has a good record against me and it was psychologically hard,” said Wade. “But there was a bit of the old James Wade there and it’s getting better.

“I made a break early on but didn’t kill him off as quickly as I could, but I know I’ve got three more gears to find yet.

“It would be amazing to win this tournament again and it’s about time I won another big title because it’s over a year, so we’ll see what happens this weekend.”

Jones said: “I enjoyed the game, and James played well under pressure and deserved to win.

“I had two or three legs where I should have broken his throw and that cost me, and those two or three legs where I should have pressured him more were disappointing.

“I’m pleased I played well and I wasn’t out of it at any stage – even when I was two or three legs I was still in it but couldn’t quite get the breaks of throw.

“I said I’d need a 94 or 95 average to beat him and he had a 98 average so I’ve no complaints there.

“This week my performances have been more like they have been in the floor tournaments and that’s good. I did quite enjoy this game and all the matches this week and this was a decent game of darts.”

SIMON WHITLOCK 16-8 JELLE KLAASEN
SIMON WHITLOCK stormed into the StanJames.com World Matchplay semi-finals with a 16-8 defeat of Jelle Klaasen.

Klaasen held his own with some superb finishing in the early stages, but a run of nine successive legs from the Australian saw him streak away to victory at the Winter Gardens.

He will now meet either Phil Taylor or Kevin Painter as he bids to take the £100,000 title on his World Matchplay debut.

The World Championship runner-up could only watch as Klaasen took the first leg with a 115 finish, but responded well to win the next three, twice punishing missed doubles from the Dutch ace.

Klaasen regained his range with finishes of 132, on the bullseye, and 148 to level the march, only for Whitlock to hit 180s in the next two as a brace of double 18 finishes moved Whitlock 5-3 up.

A fourth ton-plus checkout from Klaasen, this time on 116, gave him the ninth leg, but he missed the bull for a 167 finish in the next as Whitlock hit double four for a 6-4 lead.

Whitlock landed a maximum in the next, only for Klaasen to reply with two of his own in a sparkling 11-darter as he cut the deficit to 6-5.

However, he lost his range on the doubles as Whitlock hit top gear to pull clear, taking nine successive legs to move out to a leg away from the win at 15-5 – including a 114 checkout, a 13-darter and a 14-dart finish.

Klaasen took out double four to end that run before then punishing missed match darts from Whitlock to win the next two and pull back to 15-8.

However, three ton-plus scores from Whitlock pushed him clear in the next and he posted double 16 to wrap up victory.

“Jelle started well but I tried to get a big break on him and it worked out for me,” said Whitlock. “His finishing was great early on but he didn’t keep that up and it was the difference.

“My finishing was very good when I needed it to be and it was the important thing.

“I’m still feeling poorly with the ‘flu but I enjoyed the game a lot more than in the second round and feel a little bit better, and hopefully after an early night and some rest I’ll be nearly recovered by the time I go on stage for the semis.”

Klaasen admitted: “It was close early on but after that every time I missed a double he hit his, and his checking out was superb.

“If he’d not finished as well as he did it could have been a different story because I had a lot of chances but didn’t take them. He fully deserved to win and was the better player.

“I tried something different in this game, I tried to slow down and it felt good. I’m always trying to improve my game and I’ve tried something new on stage now, and I played well.”

PHIL TAYLOR powered into the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay, turning on the style with a 13-4 win over Steve Beaton in Blackpool

Taylor, the ten-time World Matchplay winner, followed up Tuesday’s tournament record average in a win over Barrie Bates with a scintillating showing against Beaton.

Former World Champion Beaton led 2-0 and missed four darts to win the third leg – with Taylor winning the leg and reeling off eight in a row to take command before completing victory.

He ended the game having landed nine 180s and finished almost 60 percent of his chances at a double, setting up a tasty quarter-final with long-term rival Kevin Painter on Friday night.

“When I was 2-0 I had to dust myself off and get into it, and the third leg seemed to let me back into the game,” said Taylor. “I was well under pressure in those early legs but I fought back and I’m delighted to win.”

Painter secured his place in the last eight for the first time in ten attempts in Blackpool with a dogged 14-12 win over Mark Walsh, who led 4-1 early on but eventually paid for missed doubles as the former World Championship finalist progressed.

“Kevin has done fantastically this week, especially to come back like he did against Colin when he was dead and buried,” added Taylor. “He’s rode his luck and played superbly against Mark Walsh, he showed a lot of bottle and it will be a great game.”

Jelle Klaasen and Simon Whitlock also set up a quarter-final with victories on Thursday night, both reaching the last eight for the first time in Blackpool.

Klaasen edged out Gary Anderson 14-12 in another tight contest, with the Scot overturning a 6-2 deficit to lead 9-7 and 12-11 before the Dutch ace took the final three legs for victory.

Whitlock, meanwhile, defeated plucky Bristol newcomer Steve Brown 13-10 in their last 16 clash, with the world number 49 leading 8-7 before the Australian pulled through to take the win.

Friday’s quarter-finals will also feature the all-Dutch affair between Raymond van Barneveld – a loser at this stage for the past three years – and Co Stompe, and 2007 winner James Wade’s meeting with Wayne Jones.

StanJames.com World Matchplay
Second Round – Thursday
Jelle Klaasen 14-12 Gary Anderson
Kevin Painter 14-12 Mark Walsh
Phil Taylor 13-4 Steve Beaton
Simon Whitlock 13-10 Steve Brown

Quarter-Finals – Friday
1pm Start
James Wade v Wayne Jones
Jelle Klaasen v Simon Whitlock

7pm Start
Co Stompe v Raymond van Barneveld
Kevin Painter v Phil Taylor
Best of 31 legs

JELLE KLAASEN 14-12 GARY ANDERSON
JELLE KLAASEN edged out Gary Anderson 14-12 in a thriller to win his place in the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay in Blackpool.

The Dutchman produced one of his finest televised displays to see off number four seed Mervyn King in the first round, and this time showed tremendous spirit to survive a rousing comeback from Anderson.

The Scot trailed 6-2 but won six of the next seven legs to hit the front – only for late missed doubles to cost him dear in a dramatic contest.

Anderson made an explosive start, hitting scores of 180 and 168 in setting up double six for the opening leg, only for Klaasen to take the next three without reply moving 3-1 up.

Double two gave Anderson the fifth leg, but he paid for missed doubles in the next two as Klaasen moved 5-2 up, before a 117 finish gave him a four-leg lead.

Anderson fired in a 180 and double top for the ninth leg, and double eight put him 6-4 behind only for three misses at the same bed in the next to allow the Dutchman in on double 16 for a 7-4 advantage.

The Scot, though, produced his best spell of the game to win the next five legs, turning a three-leg deficit into a two-leg lead to suddenly emerge as favourite for victory.

He missed double top for a tenth leg, as Klaasen followed up an earlier 180 with double five to hit back to 9-8.

Anderson landed tops to win a tenth leg, and then replied to two 180s from Klaasen with one of his own in the next, which the Dutchman sensationally took in 11 darts.

Klaasen then took out 40 with double five, double 15 to level the match, only to see Anderson edge ahead 11-10.

However, he missed five darts in the next to move a leg away from the win, as Klaasen posted double 16 to level, before then regaining his lead at 12-11.

Double top from Klaasen saw him level, misses at the bull and double four from Anderson let the Dutchman in to lead 13-12 on double ten and five misses to keep the match alive were punished as the youngster sealed victory on double two.

“It was a great battle,” said Klaasen. “It wasn’t a game which would break record but it would have been a good game to watch for the fans and I enjoyed playing in it.

“I was 6-2 ahead but Gary played some brilliant darts to get back into it and it could have gone the other way if he’d not missed his doubles later on.

“Maybe I was a little bit lucky that he missed a few doubles and I know he has pain in his shoulder but I stayed calm, got the win and I’m in the quarter-finals so I’m glad with that.”

Klaasen had been a first round victim on his World Matchplay debut last summer but will now meet either Simon Whitlock or Steve Brown in the quarter-finals.

“It’s my second time here and my first time in the quarter-finals,” added Klaasen. “I’ll treat it as just another match and look forward to playing.

“In practice I’ve been playing brilliantly but my darts are going into the board on stage a little differently and it’s strange – maybe that’s the pressure and I’ve got to do something to change that.”

Anderson has battled a shoulder injury recently, and admitted: “To get 12 legs under that pain was a good effort.

“You try to slow him down but he’s got a great rhythm and it was a great game. I’m getting there with my game and feel I’m playing well – I have been for eight months or so and I’ll go back to the practice board from here.”

KEVIN PAINTER 14-12 MARK WALSH
KEVIN PAINTER won through to the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay for the first time following a see-saw battle with Mark Walsh at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Having made a miracle comeback in the first round against Colin Lloyd, Painter overturned a 4-1 deficit against Walsh and recovered from missing eight darts for the match at 12-11 to edge to victory.

Walsh took the opening leg on double eight before landing a 180 and an 81 finish to win the second, while Painter posted a 76 checkout to get off the mark in the third.

Walsh, though, won the next two for a 4-1 lead before Painter mounted a fightback, finishing 68 in the sixth leg, punishing three misses from the number eight seed in the next and then checking out 112 to level.

He also hit a 171 in setting up double top as he hit the front for the first time at 5-4, and although Walsh won the tenth to level matters Painter then posted a brace of double 16 finishes in moving 7-5 up.

Painter landed a maximum and double seven in edging three legs clear, but two double eight finishes saw Walsh cut the gap to 8-7 before Painter finished 81 in two darts to earn a ninth leg.

The duo traded double top finishes in the next two legs, and Walsh battled to stay in the game at 11-10 only for a miss at double 18 to allow Painter in on tops to move a leg away from victory.

Painter posted a 177 in the next, only for Walsh to pile home another maximum followed by an 81 finish in cutting the lead to 12-11.

Painter, though, was first to a double in the 24th leg, only to miss eight match darts as the pair worked around the board before Walsh hit double five to level matters and stay in the game.

However, he missed two chances to move in front in the next as Painter held his nerve on tops to lead 13-12, and he then sealed the win on double eight in the next.

“When I play I seem to make it hard for myself too often and I can’t believe I missed those eight darts for the match at the end there,” said Painter.

“I thought I might throw it away to be honest. We scored very well but missed a few doubles along the way but I’m happy get through that.

“I’ve played here for ten years without reaching the quarter-finals but that’s not because of my performances because I’ve played well and been beaten.

“I thought it might happen again in this game. I started badly again but go myself into a nice position and pulled through.

“Until this year I’ve often come out of the blocks flying and it’s been the middle of the game which holds me up, and it’s a bit of a worry but I’ve shown a lot of bottle to come back in two matches.”

PHIL TAYLOR 13-4 STEVE BEATON
PHIL TAYLOR powered into the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay, turning on the style with a 13-4 win over Steve Beaton in Blackpool

Taylor, the ten-time World Matchplay winner, followed up Tuesday’s tournament record average in a win over Barrie Bates with a scintillating showing against Beaton.

Former World Champion Beaton led 2-0 and missed four darts to win the third leg – with Taylor winning the leg and reeling off eight in a row to take command before completing victory.

He ended the game having landed nine 180s and finished almost 60 percent of his chances at a double, setting up a tasty quarter-final with long-term rival Kevin Painter on Friday night.

“When I was 2-0 I had to dust myself off and get into it, and the third leg seemed to let me back into the game,” said Taylor. “I was well under pressure in those early legs but I fought back and I’m delighted to win.”

Beaton made a brilliant start to the game, hitting a 12-darter to take the opening leg and trading maximums with Taylor to win the second on double eight, after the reigning champion missed three darts for the leg.

Taylor landed another 180 in the third, but Beaton missed the bullseye and three darts for a 3-0 cushion as Taylor posted double 16 to get off the mark.

Double top levelled the game, and finishes of double 14 and double 16 were followed by a brilliant 126 checkout as Taylor pulled clear at 5-2.

Another double top finish saw Taylor win a sixth leg, and missed doubles from Beaton in the next two in moving 8-2 up with a run of eight straight legs.

Taylor kicked off the next with another 180, but Beaton stemmed the tide with a fine 136 checkout – only for the world number one to hit two maximums in taking the next.

Beaton traded maximums with Taylor in taking a fourth leg with an 11-darter, and they also both landed 180s in the next, but a 121 checkout put the Stoke legend 10-4 up.

A brace of double 16 finishes – one for an 11-darter – saw Taylor move to the brink of victory, and when Beaton saw three darts at double 16 miss their intended target he completed the win on double seven to set up a quarter-final with Painter on Friday.

Taylor whitewashed Painter 9-0 in the UK Open last month, but has been impressed by comeback wins against Colin Lloyd and Mark Walsh by the 43-year-old.

“Kevin has done fantastically this week, especially to come back like he did against Colin when he was dead and buried,” said Taylor.

“He’s rode his luck and played superbly against Mark Walsh, he showed a lot of bottle and it will be a great game.”

SIMON WHITLOCK 13-10 STEVE BROWN
SIMON WHITLOCK held off the brave challenge of Steve Brown to move into the StanJames.com World Matchplay quarter-finals with a 13-10 victory.

Brown had knocked out number five seed Terry Jenkins on his Winter Gardens debut and held his own against the World Chanmpionship finalist before eventually succumbing to defeat.

Whitlock, who was battling the effects of ‘flu, trailed 3-2 and 8-7 before pulling through in the final stages to set up a quarter-final with Jelle Klaasen in his first World Matchplay challenge.

Brown took the game’s opening leg, but a pair of double 15 finishes from the Australian put him into a 2-1 lead.

The Bristol man matched a 13-darter from Whitlock with one of his own to level, and finished 63 to nudge back ahead as the tight opening stages continued.

Whitlock hit a 180 in the sixth leg, with a pair of double top finishes putting him 4-3 up before he landed another maximum in winning a fifth leg.

However, he landed two 180s in the ninth and still lost the leg, as Brown followed a maximum of his own with a 13-dart finish, which was followed by brilliant checkouts of 107 and 118 in successive legs as he moved 6-5 up.

The next four were shared to keep him in the lead, only for whitlock to take the 16th with a fifth 180 of the game and double ten before securing a crucial break on double top in the next.

Double eight gave him a third straight leg and a 10-8 cushion, before Brown took out 96 to remain in the hunt.

He would miss double top for a 136 finish to level in the next as Whitlock moved 11-9 up, although Brown posted his third maximum in winning the next.

Whitlock, though, closed on victory with another 13-darter, and sealed the win on double top.

“Steve played really well,” said Whitlock. “We both started off a bit slow and got better during the game, and once he got into the game he really gave it to me and was a bit unlucky in the end.

“I hit a crucial double ten to go 11-9 up and some of my finishes saved me. I felt good when I was playing but being under the weather with ‘flu takes a lot out of you.

“I’m back for the quarter-finals on Friday afternoon and I don’t know how I’ll be yet. It will depend on how I sleep because I’ve not slept well for the past few days but I’ll give it my all against Jelle.

“I played a bit quick against Steve but I’ll try play more of my own game on Friday and slow Jelle down a bit. It won’t affect me but it might help me out.”

Brown admitted: “I could sense he was a bit tense and I grew in confidence and thought I could do some damage but I didn’t quite do enough to win.

“Simon concentrates a lot on the game and that’s why he doesn’t make many mistakes, and I tried to build that into my game and I’ve learned a bit from him over the past year.”

Brown – a plasterer by trade – is now looking to break into the world’s top 32 in the second half of 2010, and admitted he is determined to challenge for major honours.

“I’ve been on cloud nine all week and now I’ve been brought down to earth, but it’s been a great experience,” said the 29-year-old.

“I’ve never doubted my own ability and the reason I want to play in these big events is to play the best players, and I think I’m up to the task. It didn’t quite go my way tonight but I’ll be back.”

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD’S brilliant start to the StanJames.com World Matchplay continued with a 13-5 demolition of Alan Tabern at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The Dutch star hit a nine-darter in Saturday’s first round win over Denis Ovens, and produced a clinical performance to see off left-hander Tabern with an average of almost 104.

He now faces fellow countryman Co Stompe in the quarter-finals on Friday, as he bids to claim his first major title for three years.

“I’m enjoying myself and it’s great to be on stage again after two months off,” said van Barneveld. “If I keep playing like this I don’t fear anyone.”

Stompe had also continued a strong start to the tournament with a 13-9 defeat of Mark Webster earlier in the night, setting up a tasty quarter-final with the five-time World Champion.

“Before the tournament I looked at the draw and wanted to get through to play Raymond in the quarter-finals,” said Stompe. “We’ve only played once on TV before, when he hammered me in Las Vegas, but Friday will be different.”

World number three James Wade, the 2007 champion, and Wolverhampton’s Wayne Jones also won through to set up a tasty last eight battle on Friday.

Wade overcame another Dutchman, Vincent van der Voort, 13-10 to remain on course for a fourth World Matchplay final, while Jones ended the hopes of local favourite Ronnie Baxter with a 13-9 triumph.

The second round concludes on Thursday with the remaining four games, including reigning champion Phil Taylor up against Steve Beaton and the eagerly-awaited contest between Gary Anderson and Jelle Klaasen.

StanJames.com World Matchplay
Second Round
Wednesday
Wayne Jones 13-9 Ronnie Baxter
Co Stompe 13-9 Mark Webster
Vincent van der Voort 10-13 James Wade
Alan Tabern 5-13 Raymond van Barneveld

Thursday (7pm)
Gary Anderson v Jelle Klaasen
Kevin Painter v Mark Walsh
Steve Beaton v Phil Taylor
Simon Whitlock v Steve Brown

WAYNE JONES 13-9 RONNIE BAXTER
WAYNE JONES won through to the StanJames.com World Matchplay quarter-finals for the first time by knocking out Blackpool favourite Ronnie Baxter 13-9 on Wednesday night.

The Wolverhampton man produced one of his finest displays on the televised stage to progress to the last eight of the £400,000 event, battering Baxter into submission with his heavy scoring.

Jones held leads of 3-0 and 7-4 before Baxter hit back to level, but the 1998 runner-up was unable to edge ahead as he fell to defeat.

Baxter landed a maximum in the game’s opening leg, but Jones got off the mark on double 16 and hit a 180 of his own in doubling the lead, before punishing four misses from the local star to move 3-0 up.

A brace of double top finishes from Baxter saw him cut the gap to one leg, but after landing a third maximum of the game in leg six he missed three darts to level as double four edged Jones 4-2 up.

Baxter also landed a 180 but missed double eight in the next as Jones posted double top for a 5-2 cushion, and the pair shared the next four legs as the Wolverhampton man – the 2006 World Championship semi-finalist – retained his advantage.

Baxter took the next leg on double ten, and punished three misses from Jones to take out double 18 for a sixth leg and double 16 to square the game at seven-all.

Jones, though, replied with three successive legs of his own to move clear once more at 10-7, with a pair of double eight checkouts followed by double ten as he edged towards victory.

Baxter won the next two, but a key 81 finish saw Jones halt the fightback and move 11-9 up, before hitting a 180 and double ten to edge a leg away from victory.

The Wolverhampton ace then powered in another maximum to pull clear of Baxter in the next, with double eight booking his quarter-final place on Friday.

“I’m absolutely delighted with that,” said Jones. “I scored well and if I’d hit more doubles I’d have had an amazing average but I’m not disappointed.

“It’s nice to hit a few 180s and I was hitting the tons for fun, which I do in the non-TV tournaments, so I can’t complain too much because it’s one of the best performances I’ve had for a while.

“I missed too many doubles and thought at one stage that I was going to throw it away because I had so many shots to go far enough in front to win it that they would come back to haunt me.

“My last two legs to win the match were beautiful. I really enjoyed the match and am very pleased with that result.”

CO STOMPE 13-9 MARK WEBSTER
CO STOMPE’S fine form in the StanJames.com World Matchplay continued with a 13-9 win over battling Mark Webster as the Dutch star progressed to the quarter-finals in Blackpool.

Stompe followed up his gritty opening win over Andy Hamilton with a free-flowing display to see off the Welshman, leading 7-2 and 10-3 before Webster hit back to ensure a nervy ending.

Webster paid for four missed doubles in the first leg as Stompe took out 96 for an early blow, only for the left-hander to finish double 12 in the next and take out 91 to lead 2-1.

That was bettered by a 127 bullseye finish from Stompe as he levelled, before hitting a 180 in regaining the advantage.

A pair of double top finishes put Stompe 5-2 up, before double 12 and double ten moved him five legs clear before a clutch of misses in the tenth allowed Webster in on tops to pull back to 7-3.

However, Stompe continued to make the Welshman pay for a below-par display as he won the next three without reply in taking a 10-3 cushion.

A double top finish saw Webster win a fourth leg before he took out 90 and 122 on the bullseye in the next two legs to speak a comeback.

Stompe moved 11-6 up on double 16, but Webster then won the next two, after misses from his opponent, in pulling back to three legs behind.

He also landed a maximum in the next, but a missed double top proved costly as Stompe landed double six to go a leg away from the win.

Webster hit the same bed to keep the match alive in the next leg, but he could do nothing as Stompe finished 87 on the bull to win a quarter-final spot.

“Mark didn’t turn up until halfway through the match and I started messing things up too,” admitted Stompe afterwards. “When I went 8-3 up I started thinking about the win and I knew that I only needed to win three of the next ten legs, and I can’t believe I did that.

“I started to struggle and Mark found some good finishes but I won and I’m happy with that.”

Stompe faces fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld in the quarter-finals, and he added: “Before the tournament I looked at the draw and wanted to get through to play Raymond in the quarter-finals.

“We’ve only played once on TV before, when he hammered me in Las Vegas, but Friday will be different.

“Against Andy Hamilton and Mark Webster I never knew what I was up against because you don’t know which player is going to turn up, but against Raymond you know you have to play, and if you don’t he will thrash you.”

JAMES WADE 13-10 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
JAMES WADE powered into the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay with a 13-10 win over Vincent van der Voort in Blackpool.

Wade, the Winter Gardens champion in 2007, continued his challenge for a second World Matchplay title with an assured display to end the Dutchman’s hopes.

He came from 3-2 down to lead 6-3 and 11-6 before holding off a fightback from van der Voort to set up a quarter-final with Wolverhampton’s Wayne Jones.

However, the world number three said afterwards: “I’ve got to improve if I want to win this title.

“I got my game quite a bit there and started relaxing and playing to the crowd instead of getting on with it and you’re not going to win tournaments like that.

“There were glimmers of my best darts but Vincent missed a lot of doubles and I finished pretty well. I’ve won my first two games and this was an okay day’s work – but I want to bury players and not let them back in.”

Wade hit a maximum in the game’s opening leg but van der Voort edged ahead on the bullseye before landing double top for a 2-0 advantage.

The left-hander hit the same bed to get off the mark, but a 180 was not enough in the fourth leg as van der Voort posted double nine to move 3-1 up.

Wade finished 62 to take the fifth leg, and an assured two-dart 96 checkout saw him level matters.

The Dutchman missed the bull for a 124 finish in the seventh, with Wade following up an earlier maximum with double ten to lead for the first time, and a 96 finish followed by double ten took his run to five successive legs as he took a 6-3 lead.

Van der Voort stopped that with double 16, but Wade won the next three – twice punishing misses from last year’s quarter-finalist – to take a 9-4 advantage.

Van der Voort took out 106 to win a fifth leg, while the pair traded maximums in sharing the next two to leave Wade 10-6 up, with double ten giving him a five-leg cushion.

However, the Dutch star threatened a comeback by cutting the lead to 11-8 by winning the next two legs, forcing Wade to take out 121 in moving a leg away from the win.

Van der Voort posted two double eight finishes to pull back to within two legs and keep the game alive, but Wade sealed victory on double five to set up a quarter-final with Wayne Jones.

“Friday is my biggest game of the tournament,” said Wade. “Wayne’s got a pretty good record against me recently but this is on the TV stage and we’ll see what happens on Friday.”

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 13-5 ALAN TABERN
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD’S brilliant start to the StanJames.com World Matchplay continued with a 13-5 demolition of Alan Tabern at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The Dutch star hit a nine-darter in Saturday’s first round win over Denis Ovens, and produced a clinical performance to see off left-hander Tabern with an average of almost 104.

He now faces fellow countryman Co Stompe in the quarter-finals on Friday, as he bids to claim his first major title for three years.

“I’m enjoying myself and it’s great to be on stage again after two months off,” said van Barneveld. “If I keep playing like this I don’t fear anyone.”

The Dutchman showed why he holds no fear by kicking off the game with a 13-dart finish and then responding in style to a double salvo from Tabern, who won the next two legs with thrilling checkouts of 121 and 156.

Van Barneveld replied with an 11-darter, following by a 14-dart finish and a 90 checkout to lead 4-2, although a missed double top allowed the left-hander in to win the seventh leg.

World number two van Barneveld, though, took the next five without reply to put himself well in command of the game, hitting a second 11-dart leg and twice punishing Tabern’s missed doubles.

The St Helens man landed a third 180 of the game in a 13-darter to take a fourth leg, but missed double top to threaten a fightback as van Barneveld finished double eight for a 10-4 lead.

A 94 finish was followed by a 14-darter as he moved to within a leg of victory, and while Tabern matched that to take a fifth leg the Dutch star powered in a 180 before coolly posting double 16 to complete the win.

“I’m very pleased,” said van Barneveld. “I didn’t miss many doubles tonight and I’m happy with that.

“In the two months I took off after the Premier League I wasn’t doing nothing at home, I practised a lot on my doubles and finishes because I know I’m a high scorer but I’d been giving many legs away because I missed doubles.

“Alan hit some big finishes in the first few legs, 121 and 156, but I was telling myself to relax – in the last few months I’d been panicking but at the moment I’m very laid back.”

Van Barneveld meets Stompe in an all-Dutch quarter-final on Friday night, and he added: “I’m looking forward to playing Co. We’ve known each other for a long time and I’ve got a lot of respect for what he’s done in the last two years in the PDC.

“He stayed in the BDO for a lot of years but I was telling him to join the PDC and he did that, which took a lot of courage.

“He won a big event in Germany, beating Phil Taylor in the final, and has had two good World Championships by reaching the last eight, and now he’s in the quarter-finals here.

“He’s playing well, nice and relaxed and deserves to be in the last eight, but I’ll play my game and if I play like I did tonight against him I don’t have to fear anyone.”

PHIL TAYLOR avoided a scare from Barrie Bates before starting the defence of his StanJames.com World Matchplay title with a 10-5 defeat of the Welshman at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The ten-time World Matchplay winner trailed Bates 5-4 after missing a host of doubles in the early legs.

However, he reeled off five straight legs to assume command of the match, and closed out victory with a tournament record average of 114.99.

“I couldn’t seem to break his throw early on and then I was missing doubles,” said Taylor. “His finishing was superb and he put me under pressure.

“At five-all I had to hold my darts and I did that, broke Barrie and pulled through for the win. It was a really good game to be involved in, the crowd enjoyed it, Barrie played well and pushed me hard.”

Taylor now meets Steve Beaton in the second round on Thursday, after the former World Champion swept aside Blackpool debutant Paul Nicholson 10-3 in his opener.

The night had begun with one of the finest comebacks ever seen on the Winter Gardens stage, as Kevin Painter came from 8-2 down to defeat 2005 champion Colin Lloyd 11-9.

Painter included checkouts of 105 and 104 in pulling back into the game, before punishing one missed match dart from Lloyd to take out 94 under pressure to level at nine-all, and then took the next two for a remarkable win.

“When you’re playing someone like Colin and you’re 9-5 down in a first to ten game, you’re virtually gone,” said Painter. “At 9-5 down a lot of players would have lost 10-5 but I never give up and I kept going, hoping that he’d give me a couple of chances.”

Painter now meets Mark Walsh in the second round, after the number eight seed avoided a scare against Mark Dudbridge.

Dudbridge, the 2004 finalist in Blackpool, hit back from 5-0 down to lead 10-9, but failed to close out the win as Walsh edged through.

The second round begins on Wednesday, with Raymond van Barneveld looking to follow up Saturday’s nine-darter with victory in his clash with Alan Tabern.

Blackpool’s Ronnie Baxter meets Wayne Jones, while left-handers James Wade and Mark Webster meet Dutch pair Vincent van der Voort and Co Stompe.

StanJames.com World Matchplay
Tuesday July 20
First Round
Colin Lloyd 9-11 Kevin Painter
Mark Walsh 12-10 Mark Dudbridge
Phil Taylor 10-6 Barrie Bates
Paul Nicholson 3-10 Steve Beaton

Second Round
Wednesday July 21 (7pm)
Wayne Jones v Ronnie Baxter
Co Stompe v Mark Webster
Vincent van der Voort v James Wade
Alan Tabern v Raymond van Barneveld

Thursday July 22 (7pm)
Gary Anderson v Jelle Klaasen
Kevin Painter v Mark Walsh
Steve Beaton v Phil Taylor
Simon Whitlock v Steve Brown

KEVIN PAINTER 11-9 COLIN LLOYD
KEVIN PAINTER produced one of the finest comebacks ever seen to overturn an 8-2 deficit against Colin Lloyd to knock the 2005 champion out of the StanJames.com World Matchplay with an 11-9 victory.

Painter looked set to suffer a tame first round exit from the tournament when he allowed Lloyd to move into leads of 5-1 and 8-2, with his missed doubles punished by some clinical finishing from the former Winter Gardens champion.

But, aided by finishes of 104 and 105, he pulled back to 9-8 and then levelled after Lloyd missed one dart for the match – before taking the next two legs to incredibly move into the second round.

Painter endured a nervy opening to the clash of the Essex-born stars, missing six darts to win the opening leg as Lloyd broke throw on double five, although a bullseye finish saw the Daventry-based star level.

Lloyd broke throw again in the third, finishing 40 with double five and double 15, and landed scores of 180 and 140 on his way to a 3-1 lead.

Double four gave him a third successive leg, before two misses from Painter at double top allowed Lloyd in to take out 80 in two darts for a 5-1 advantage.

Painter took out double 16 to end that run of legs, but he then missed doubles in the next two as Lloyd moved 7-2 up.

Lloyd won a third straight leg to move just two away from the win at 8-2, with double 16 sending him towards the winning line.

However, a miss in the next allowed Painter in on double eight before the 2004 World Championship finalist finished 104 and then took out double two to reduce the gap to 8-5.

Misses at double top and double ten in the next from Painter allowed his former room-mate on the circuit to move into a 9-5, but Lloyd was then left waiting on 56 when he checked out 105 to stay in the match at 9-6.

A brace of double 16 finishes saw Painter cut the gap to 9-8, and when Lloyd missed one match dart – for a 120 checkout – in the next leg he took out a pressure 94 to level.

Double top in the 19th leg saw Painter hit the front for the first time, and he completed a remarkable comeback with a 14-darter.

“When you’re playing someone like Colin and you’re 9-5 down in a first to ten game, you’re virtually gone,” he said. “At 9-5 down a lot of players would have lost 10-5 but I never give up and I kept going, hoping that he’d give me a couple of chances.

“Early in the match I think I gave five legs away and when it was 8-2 I thought it should have been five-all at worst, so I kept positive on that and thought if I could hit the doubles instead of missing them that I could get back in it.

“I think the pressure told on him a little bit when I was creeping back, especially when I made it nine-all with that last dart for 94, which I think was a great shot, and I ended up nicking it.

“I’ll take a lot from that and I’m very pleased to have won through.”

MARK WALSH 12-10 MARK DUDBRIDGE
MARK WALSH fended off a brave comeback from Mark Dudbridge to move into the second round of the StanJames.com World Matchplay with a 12-10 victory at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Walsh made a brilliant start to win the opening five legs without reply, only for Dudbridge to hit back and take an 8-7 lead – only for the Hertfordshire man to edge the victory.

Walsh will now meet Kevin Painter in the second round on Thursday night – after the Essex man had produced a comeback of his own in defeating Colin Lloyd.

Three missed doubles from Dudbridge provided the platform for Walsh to break throw on double eight to win the first leg, and he also missed three darts for the third as the number eight seed moved 3-0 up.

A two-dart 65 finish was then followed by a 160 checkout as he moved into the first break with a five-leg cushion.

Dudbridge got himself off the mark in style with a superb 144 finish in leg six, and after the pair traded maximums in the next – which was won by Walsh – a pair of double top finishes saw the Bristol man cut the gap to 6-3.

Dudbridge’s revival continued in the tenth leg, as he hit 177 to leave double 16 in reducing the gap to two legs – and that was closed further when he took out double eight in the next.

Walsh took out 72 for a 7-5 lead, but Dudbridge followed up a double ten finish with double top to level in leg 14 after four misses from his opponent opened the door.

Dudbridge opened the next with a 180 and finished 121 on double 18 to move in front for the first time in the match at 8-7.

Walsh landed two 180s in the next to square the game, before Dudbridge fired in an 11-dart finish – featuring another maximum – to move 9-8 up.

The pair traded the next two legs, with Dudbridge needing just one more leg for victory at 10-9 only for Walsh to power in a timely 12-dart finish and hit a 180 in moving back in front at 11-10.

He wasted two chances to win the match in the 22nd leg, but four missed doubles from Dudbridge gave him a second opportunity, which he took with double five.

Walsh had seen a 5-0 lead slip to Tony Ayres in the UK Open in Bolton a month ago, and he admitted: “I was thinking about it and thought I might be jinxed.

“When you 5-0 up in a game you should never lose it, but maybe you relax a little bit and you can’t afford to let up because the players now are so good.

“I know how good Mark is and I was surprised to be 5-0 up but he didn’t turn up at the start. After the first break he began to play like he can do, and he played some brilliant darts so I’m glad to be in the second round.

“I’ve got Kevin next and he fought back really well against Colin to come from 8-2 down to win. He’s a great player, he battled hard and he got what he deserved, and he’s a class player who seems to play his best in front of the TV cameras.”

PHIL TAYLOR 10-6 BARRIE BATES
PHIL TAYLOR avoided a scare from Barrie Bates before starting the defence of his StanJames.com World Matchplay title with a 10-5 defeat of the Welshman at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

The ten-time World Matchplay winner trailed Bates 5-4 after missing a host of doubles in the early legs.

However, he reeled off five straight legs to assume command of the match, and closed out victory with a tournament record average of 114.99.

“I couldn’t seem to break his throw early on and then I was missing doubles,” said Taylor. “His finishing was superb and he put me under pressure.

“At five-all I had to hold my darts and I did that, broke Barrie and pulled through for the win. It was a really good game to be involved in, the crowd enjoyed it, Barrie played well and pushed me hard.”

Taylor had opened the game brilliantly, kicking off the match with a 180 in an 11-dart finish which was followed by a 12-darter.

However, he missed the bullseye for a 164 finish in the third as Bates posted double four to get off the mark, and the Welshman posted a 96 finish in the fifth leg to go into the first break 3-2 down – with Taylor’s accuracy on double 16 giving him a third leg.

Taylor powered in a 180 and double eight for a 4-2 lead, only for a missed double 16 to let Bates in for an 82 checkout, and five misses in the next gave the Welshman the chance to level, which he took on double top.

Taylor landed a 180 in the next – his fourth maximum score in as many legs – only to miss a further three darts at a double as Bates posted double ten to lead 5-4.

Taylor regained his range with double four in the next, and followed up a double 16 finish with a 98 checkout to lead 7-4.

He posted scores of 140 and 180 plus a 76 finish to win an eighth leg, and opened the next with a 174 before double 16 put him a leg away from the win.

Bates kept the game alive on double top after Taylor missed the bull for a showpiece 127 checkout, but the 15-time World Champion wrapped up victory in the next with the highest average seen in the event’s history.

“To have a record average here is nice but getting victory was all I was focused on and I did that,” added Taylor. “It shows how well Barrie played that I had to do that to defeat him.”

Bates, who has overcome a foot problem to close in on a return to the world’s top 32, said: “Everyone was expecting me to lose heavily but I put a lot of effort in and it showed.

“To play Phil and push him so hard shows that my darts are coming back. It’s great to be back in Blackpool after a hard few years and I know by pushing Phil that if I can play like that against other players then I’ll do quite well.”

STEVE BEATON 10-3 PAUL NICHOLSON
STEVE BEATON condemned Paul Nicholson to a debut defeat in the StanJames.com World Matchplay with a 10-3 victory in their clash at the Winter Gardens.

Nicholson has moved into the world’s top 16 this year after winning the Players Championship Finals in January, but was unable to repeat that form in his Blackpool bow.

Beaton made the early running, winning the opening leg against the throw with a 14-dart finish and doubled his lead before Nicholson finished 108 to get off the mark.

Beaton replied with a 110 finish, but Nicholson landed double 16 to reduce the gap to 3-2 – only for his opponent to up the pace with back-to-back 13-dart legs.

Nicholson then saw a host of chances to win a scrappy eighth leg go begging, before Beaton landed double one to move 6-2 up.

A 180 from Nicholson helped him to take the ninth, but he failed to close out the next as Beaton took out double 16 once more to restore his four-leg cushion.

He hit the same bed to win the next two legs – having hit six perfect darts with a pair of 180s in one – in moving to the brink of victory, which he sealed in style on double top for a 14-darter.

“I was expecting a bit more from Paul and I started to lose concentration halfway through the game, but I pulled myself together and got the job finished,” said Beaton.

“I had some sloppy legs and know I can play a lot better than that. I came out in the last session and finished the job with legs of 13, 15 and 14 darts, and I had to do that.”

Beaton is one of only five players to have defeated Phil Taylor in 2010, and will take on the reigning champion in round two on Thursday night.

“I’ve got to play a lot better than I did against Paul if I’m going to win that but I’m looking forward to it,” he added. “I’ve played him a couple of times in Blackpool but Barrie Bates showed that if you keep with him he can be vulnerable.

“I beat him earlier in the year so he’s probably going to want to kick my backside this time, but we’ll see what happens on Thursday.”