Ladbrokes World Championship Round Two Preview & Head to Heads
Posted on December 26th, 2010
Christmas Day came and went in a flash but I made time to raise a small sherry to the hope of a championship that catches fire when it resumes on Monday. And Flash could be just the guy to do it when Mark Dudbridge faces up to Adrian Lewis in what is arguably the mouth watering tie of the round. Here are the pick of the second round matches…
Tags: Head to Head, PDC World Championship, Preview, Round Two, Stats
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Ladbrokes World Championship Night 8 Review
Posted on December 24th, 2010
TWO-TIME World Champion Dennis Priestley swept aside Germany’s Bernd Roith in straight sets to win through to the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship on Thursday night.
The veteran 60-year-old, appearing in his 21st World Championship, dropped just two legs in seeing off the German debutant to set up a tasty second round clash with Gary Anderson after Christmas.
“When I set off in 1991 I wasn’t as nervous then as I was now, 20 years on,” said Priestley. “I thought it would get easier when I got older but it hasn’t.
“I’m more unpredictable now and I could do a 100 average, but I could be well below that and I’m more inconsistent, and that leaves a doubt in my mind.
“The last time I played Gary I beat him but this is a longer format and I need to bring my A-Game onto stage.”
Priestley was joined in the second round by Andy Smith, Mark Walsh and number six seed Mervyn King, the 2009 semi-finalist who overcame Magnus Caris in straight sets. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: PDC World Championship
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Ladbrokes World Championship Night 7 Review
Posted on December 23rd, 2010
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD overcame a scare against Steve Hine before powering into the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship on Wednesday night.
The five-time World Champion lost the first set against the baker from Coventry, who took out two 76 finishes and an 88 in assuming control.
However, van Barneveld lost only four legs in winning the next three sets without reply as he began his challenge for a third PDC World Championship final in five years in style.
“Steve put me under a lot of pressure and played well but the early rounds are always hard,” said van Barneveld. “I’m happy with the win and I hope the second round will be a better performance.
“I’ll prepare well and we’ll see what happens. I’m very confident and relaxed and it would be a dream to become World Champion again.”
Van Barneveld will now return to Alexandra Palace on December 29 for his second round clash against Kevin McDine, who defeated Barrie Bates 3-1. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: PDC World Championship, Results, Review
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Thompson Is The Original Darts Diva
Posted on December 22nd, 2010
Chris Thompson bowed out at the first round stage of the 2011 Ladbrokes World Championship on Wednesday evening. He went down 3-1 to The Wizard Colin Osborne but it wasn’t for lack of preparation as this fascinating insight into the psyche of a top darts player shows…
Move over Mariah and Madonna, there is a new diva in town!
International darts player Chris Thompson, who is currently competing in the PDC World Championships at Alexandra Palace, has surprised staff at the Best Western Mostyn Hotel with his list of diva-like demands.
Top on the list was a twice daily hand and arm massage from staff at the hotel to ensure his muscles remain supple and in the best condition for the competition.
Freshly squeezed carrot juice must be supplied three times a day to help with his eyesight and to ensure he remains in full health and immune from winter flu.
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Tags: PDC World Championship
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Ladbrokes World Championship Night 6 Review
Posted on December 22nd, 2010
WORLD number seven Terry Jenkins, Bristol’s Steve Brown, Austrian Mensur Suljovic and Holland’s Vincent van der Voort won through to the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship on Tuesday night.
Jenkins and Brown will now clash in the last 32 of the £1 million tournament after Christmas following their victories at Alexandra Palace.
Jenkins held off a brave fightback from 21-year-old Joe Cullen to take a five-set victory against the youngster, who hit back from 2-0 down to force a decider.
Brown, meanwhile, swept aside Holland’s Jelle Klaasen 3-1 to pick up his first victory in three attempts at the World Championship, impressing as he won six of the final seven legs in taking the win.
Brown had defeated Jenkins in the summer’s World Matchplay, and admitted: “It will be great to play Terry again and hopefully I can get the same result. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: PDC World Championship, Results, Review
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Ladbrokes World Championship Night 5 Review
Posted on December 21st, 2010
JAMES WADE powered into the second round of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, sweeping aside Spanish debutant Antonio Alcinas in straight sets at Alexandra Palace on Monday.
Wade, the world number two who won October’s World Grand Prix, dropped only two legs in a clinical win over the newcomer from Majorca.
Alcinas had been part of the Spanish side which dumped English pair Wade and Phil Taylor from the World Cup of Darts recently, but was unable to repeat the performance on his World Championship debut, as the left-hander hit finishes of 121, a brace of 96 checkouts and a 92 on his way to victory.
“I was really nervous beforehand and that was probably my hardest game of the tournament because I only look at one game at a time, and Antonio’s a fantastic player,” said Wade.
“Double 18 was my saviour in a way because I didn’t score as well as I can do, but I got the win, which was the important thing. I can go away, enjoy Christmas and practice for the second round.”
Wade will now face either Michael van Gerwen or Mensur Suljovic in the second round after Christmas, and he was joined in the last 32 by Alan Tabern, Denis Ovens and Brendan Dolan on Monday night. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: PDC World Championship, Results, Review
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Ladbrokes World Championship Night 4 Review
Posted on December 20th, 2010
THREE-TIME World Champion John Part was sent crashing out of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship by Denmark’s Per Laursen on Sunday night.
Part, who had been laid low by an ear infection in the build-up to the first round contest at London’s Alexandra Palace, paid the price for missed doubles as the Dane followed up his preliminary round win against Boris Krcmar with a second victory on the evening.
Laursen will now face reigning champion Phil Taylor when the tournament resumes after its Christmas break on Monday, following a clinical straight sets win over the Canadian, who had hit seven 180s in defeat.
“I think it’s the biggest win I’ve had,” said Laursen. “He had a lot of darts at doubles and I punished him.
“Phil’s the best in the world and I will enjoy playing him. I saw his first round game and he wasn’t at his best, but the longer format is better for Phil, and I will enjoy playing him.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: PDC World Championship, Results, Review
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Ladbrokes World Championship Night 3 Review
Posted on December 19th, 2010
SIMON WHITLOCK began his challenge for Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship glory with a straight sets win over Steve Evans at Alexandra Palace on Saturday night.
Australian ace Whitlock, along with eight other players and over 1,000 fans, braved the snow in north London to arrive at Alexandra Palace for his opening game, and dropped only two legs against Evans.
He hit a 110 finish and a 13-darter in taking the victory, although he admitted: “I was really nervous but thankfully I came through with the win.
“There’s a lot of pressure on the first round and I know how Phil Taylor felt on Thursday now. The important thing is that I’m back after Christmas and I will be able to relax and enjoy the second round.”
Meanwhile, 2005 finalist Mark Dudbridge ended a 12-month gap without a televised victory by coming from a set down to defeat Alex Roy 3-1.
Dudbridge will now take on Adrian Lewis in the second round after Christmas, while Andy Hamilton and Gary Anderson also progressed to the last 32. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: PDC World Championship, Results, Review
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Ladbrokes World Championship Night Two Review
Posted on December 18th, 2010
COLIN LLOYD avoided a huge upset in the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship on Friday night as he battled to a 3-2 win over Germany’s Andree Welge, as Adrian Lewis, Ronnie Baxter and Peter Wright won through to the second round at Alexandra Palace.
Lloyd, the former World Matchplay and World Grand Prix champion, looked on course to coast into the second round when he took a 2-0 lead in his clash with Welge.
However, the German won eight successive legs to level the game and lead 2-0 in the deciding set, only to miss three match darts as Lloyd regained his composure after a show of frustration to reel off four successive legs and take a tie-break victory.
“It’s a massive relief to get through but I was 2-0 up and Andree threw some great darts to get back into the match,” said Lloyd.
“I keep letting players back in and I have to sharpen up, but it also showed how important this tournament is. It means a massive amount to me and I want to be the Ladbrokes.com World Champion in January.”
Number five seed Adrian Lewis began his bid for a first World Championship with a straight sets victory over Tony Eccles, who hit eight 180s and a 170 finish in vain. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: PDC World Championship, Results, Review
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Ladbrokes World Championship Night One Review
Posted on December 17th, 2010
PHIL TAYLOR’S defence of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship title began in steady fashion at Alexandra Palace, overcoming American ace Gary Mawson in straight sets on Thursday night.
The 15-time World Champion will now return to London after Christmas for a potential second round clash with Canadian legend John Part, and admitted he will use his week-long break to put a below-par display behind him.
Taylor has hit two nine-darters during 2010 and a record televised average of 118, but failed to find that form against American ace Mawson, who had won through his preliminary round clash with Philippines’ Juanito Gionson earlier in the night.
“The most important thing was that I won, and I can put it behind me and get ready for the next round,” said Taylor, who can now look ahead to Sunday’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards in Birmingham, where he has been nominated in the top ten.
“This was a tough game to prepare for but people will only look at the scoreline and that I won 3-0. The format gets longer in the second round and I can go and relax over Christmas and prepare myself for what lies ahead.” Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: PDC World Championship, Results, Review
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Both poker and darts are highly popular pursuits. The games are available online, in fact, that there are organizations dedicated to making sure the rules of video poker and online darts are conformed. Similar to darts having the World Darts Federation, among others, and poker has the Tournament Directors Association. These rules are put into place in highly competitive tournaments, in which as many as hundreds or even thousands of people compete for cash prizes as well as prestige.
