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.”

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.”

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.”

Part has endured a tough year after slipping to the edge of the PDC’s top 32, but emerged victorious from the 79-strong field of American and Canadian stars to pick up the £5,000 title at Las Vegas’ Tropicana Hotel.

The three-time World Champion drew on all his experience during the event, but particularly during his semi-final and final wins over Gary Mawson and young respectively.

Part dropped just three legs in defeating Alvin Martin and Greg Lewis in his opening two games, before seeing off Shawn Brenneman and Chris White 6-4 to reach the semis.

However, he stared defeat in the face against Mawson, who hit back from 5-4 down to level a tight match but then missed seven match darts in the decider, before Part took out double top for the win.

Part also had to dig deep to see off American number one Young in the final, although he took the early lead with a two-dart 68 finish to punish a pair of missed doubles from the American in the opening leg.

A 111 checkout doubled Part’s lead, and although Young hit a 137 checkout to get on the scoreboard, an 84 finish gave the former World Champion a 3-1 cushion.

Young took out a fine 104, with Part waiting on double top, to win the fifth leg before levelling on double eight.

Part, though, took out 124 to break throw again with a 12-darter in the seventh before double ten put him a leg away from the win, after Young missed two darts at double top.

The Canadian missed double 16 for a 108 finish which would have give him the win in the next, as Young landed double five to stay in the game at 5-4, before Part landed a 180 to give himself breathing space in the next, with double four securing the triumph.

“It’s hard to put into words what this means,” said an emotional Part afterwards. “In a couple of weeks I might realise the significance of this but I’m going to enjoy this moment.

“Normally I am playing with all the top pros, but this was exclusively a north American event doesn’t happen very often. It does mean a lot and I love to compete and love to win.

“I played a lot of friends who I’ve known for a long time and played many times, like Shawn Brenneman, Chris White, Gary Mawson and Darin Young. It was an emotional day and not easy to play.

“I was very lucky to win the semi-final against Gary Mawson, which was always going to be a hard match because we’ve been friends for so long. He had me dead and buried and I got away with it, and maybe there was a touch of luck that I won – and I haven’t felt lucky all week until now!”

Young had also had to produce some superb darts to reach the final, coming from 3-0 down against Larry Butler in the semi-finals to level at four-all before winning a deciding 11th leg with a 110 checkout, as his opponent waited on a finish.

Young justified his second seeding with wins over Eddie Lawrence, Dan Lauby, Donny Joe and Nico Depaynos to reach the last four, and took home £2,500 as runner-up.

Butler, the 1994 World Matchplay winner, rolled back the years in his run to the semis, defeating another veteran star, Paul Lim, 6-5 in the quarter-finals after his opponent had missed one dart for victory.

Butler also overcame Dave Switzer, Scott Kirchner, John Kuczynski and Bill Davis on a tough route to the latter stages.

Reigning NADC champion Scott Burnett was defeated 6-4 by Mawson in the quarter-finals, with Mawson also seeing off top Canadian Gerry Convery in his run to the last four.

North American Darts Championship
Preliminary Round
Shawn Brenneman 6-1 Mark Blazevich
Al Moskwyn 6-4 Joseph Swick
Dan Zimmerman 6-0 Steve Barlock
Sean Downs 6-0 Bobby Peters
Jason Roker 6-2 Edwin Martin
Don Campos 6-0 Paul DiCecca
Stephen Panuncialman 6-3 Ron Colvard
Dan Lauby 6-1 Joey Narvades
Ross Snook 6-3 Jeff Noble
Ray Carver 6-1 Andrew Penney
Nico Depaynos 6-0 Robert Race
Jim Widmayer 6-2 Wayne Smith
Paul Lim 6-1 Sean Smyth
Brian Jackson 6-3 Martin Hulme
Larry Butler 6-1 Dave Switzer

First Round
John Part (1) 6-1 Alvin Martin
Greg Lewis 6-3 Clint Clarkson
David Flowers 6-2 Peter Schaumann
Shawn Brenneman 6-2 Bob Sinnaeve
Chris White (8) 6-1 Richard Hammond Jnr
Al Moskwyn 6-0 Andrew Bennett
Roger Carter 6-1 Tom Jackowski
Stuart Brown 6-1 Dan Zimmerman
Scott Burnett (5) 6-1 David Kendall
Sean Downs 6-1 Josh Daynes
Gregory Coburn 6-0 Doug Meade
Connley Litton 6-4 Jason Roker
Gary Mawson (4) 6-3 Gerry Convery
Don Campos 6-4 Ryan vander Wiet
Jayson Barlow 6-4 Rick Davis
Stephen Panuncialman 6-1 Drazen Severin
Darin Young (2) 6-2 Eddie Lawrence
Dan Lauby 6-3 Jim Newman
Dieter Schutsch 6-1 Dan Lauby II
Donny Joe 6-4 Ross Snook
David Fatum (7) 6-1 Nick Holmes
Ray Carver 6-3 Dan Olson
Stacy Bromberg 6-1 George Timpone
Nico Depaynos 6-1 Danny Wood
Ken MacNeil (6) 6-5 Howard Meyers
Jim Widmayer 6-4 Frank Hernandez
Mark Nielsen 6-2 Robert Heckman
Paul Lim 6-1 Damien McKenna
! Bill Davis (3) 6-1 Scott Henning
Nick Rivera 6-2 Brian Jackson
John Kuczynski 6-4 Isen Veljic
Larry Butler 6-5 Scott Kirchner
Losers £100

Second Round
John Part 6-2 Greg Lewis
Shawn Brenneman 6-3 David Flowers
Chris White 6-5 Al Moskwyn
Roger Carter 6-1 Stuart Brown
Scott Burnett 6-1 Sean Downs
Connley Litton 6-2 Gregory Coburn
Gary Mawson 6-0 Don Campos
Stephen Panuncialman 6-5 Jayson Barlow
Darin Young 6-3 Dan Lauby
Donny Joe 6-5 Dieter Schutsch
David Fatum 6-5 Ray Carver
Nico Depaynos 6-3 Stacy Bromberg
Ken MacNeil 6-3 Jim Widmayer
Paul Lim 6-0 Mark Nielsen
Bill Davis 6-4 Nick Rivera
Larry Butler 6-3 John Kuczynski
Losers £200

Third Round
John Part 6-4 Shawn Brenneman
Chris White 6-3 Roger Carter
Scott Burnett 6-0 Connley Litton
Gary Mawson 6-4 Stephen Panuncialman
Darin Young 6-1 Donny Joe
Nico Depaynos 6-2 David Fatum
Paul Lim 6-1 Ken MacNeil
Larry Butler 6-1 Bill Davis
Losers £300

Quarter-Finals
John Part 6-4 Chris White
Gary Mawson 6-4 Scott Burnett
Darin Young 6-3 Nico Depaynos
Larry Butler 6-5 Paul Lim
Losers £700

Semi-Finals
John Part 6-5 Gary Mawson
Darin Young 6-5 Larry Butler
Losers £1,250

Final
John Part 6-4 Darin Young
Winner £5,000
Runner-Up £2,500

Final – Leg by Leg
1-0 – Part breaks throw with a two-dart 68 finish, after Young misses double top and double ten
2-0 – The Canadian doubles his lead with an effortless 111 finish
2-1 – Young gets off the mark with a fine 137 checkout
3-1 – Young hits a 180 but Part finishes 84 on double 12 for a third leg
3-2 – The American lands a 104 finish to take a second leg, with Part waiting on 40
3-3 – Young levels the game on double eight
4-3 – Part takes out 124 on double 11 to break throw again, with a 12-darter
5-3 – Young misses two darts at double top and Part clinically hits double ten at the first time of asking
5-4 – Part misses one dart for victory at double 16 for a 108 finish and Young hits double five to stay in the game
6-4 – Double four seals victory for Part

The Dutch star picked up the £6,000 victory during the New Tropicana World Series of Darts Festival to celebrate his recent two-year anniversary since moving onto the PDC circuit.

He produced some outstanding darts during Tuesday’s event in Las Vegas, opening with a whitewash of Edwin Martin and then defeating Wayne Mardle, Adrian Lewis and Steve Beaton to set up an all-Dutch quarter-final with Jelle Klaasen.

After seeing off the former Lakeside Champion 6-4, Stompe whitewashed Matt Clark in the semi-finals before defeating Wade in the decider.

World number three Wade took the final’s opening leg, but Stompe hit back with four successive legs to lead 4-1, twice hitting two maximums in a leg.

Wade won the next two to reduce the gap to one leg, but Stompe crucially took the eight before securing victory in the next.

Wade’s run to the final bettered his semi-final appearance in Sunday’s PDC US Open Players Championship, as he claimed the £3,000 runner-up prize.

He had defeated Ken MacNeil, Tony Randell and Robert Thornton to reach the last 16, before picking up victories over Vincent van der Voort, Simon Whitlock and Colin Lloyd to move into the final.

Lloyd’s semi-final was his second in successive days at Las Vegas’ Tropicana Hotel, while Clark defeated Phil Taylor 6-5 in the quarter-finals to reach the last four of a PDC ProTour event for the first time in two years.

Clark had also produced a superb finale to his second round clash with Mark Dudbridge, picking off back-to-back 160 finishes to come from 5-4 down and take victory.

Jelle Klaasen, a semi-finalist on Sunday, reached the quarter-finals before losing to Stompe, while Whitlock, Taylor and Wes Newton were the other last 16 losers.

Nigel Heydon went down 6-4 to Taylor in the last 16, ending his hopes of qualifying for the StanJames.com World Matchplay in the last event which counted towards qualification for the tournament.

Paul Nicholson returned to 16th in the PDC Order of Merit after going further than Gary Anderson, who was a second round loser to Wales’ Steve Evans.

With Nicholson securing the final automatic qualifying place via the PDC Order of Merit, Anderson qualifies for the World Matchplay through the Players Championship Order of Merit alongside 15 other players.

Tony Eccles hung on to the last spot, ahead of Heydon and Monday’s semi-finalist Chris Thompson – with the pair both defeating Taylor in Las Vegas but falling short of a World Matchplay spot.

Klaasen, Steve Brown and Mark Webster all qualify for their debuts in Blackpool as a result of their performances in the 21 Players Championships staged so far this year.

The New Tropicana World Series of Darts Festival concludes on Wednesday with the North American Darts Championship, which will feature American and Canadian players battling for the £5,000 first prize.

Las Vegas Players Championship
Preliminary Round
Nick Fullwell 6-0 David Fatum
Ron Colvard 6-5 Chris Loudon
Greg Lewis 6-0 Peter Schaumann
Chris White 6-1 Scott Henning
Dan Olson 6-1 Jim McKevitt
Matt Clark 6-2 Gary Mawson
Bill Davis 6-1 Hiromasa Mochizuki
Larry Butler 6-2 Mark Blazevich
Robert Race 6-5 Sean Smyth
Gerry Convery 6-0 Martin Hulme
Wayne Mardle 6-1 Shintaro Hirai
Dieter Schutsch 6-3 Andy Relf
Stuart Brown 6-0 Gregory Coburn
Ross Snook 6-0 Josh Daynes
Scott Burnett 6-0 Tom Jackowski
Roland Scholten 6-0 Donny Joe
Jim Widmayer 6-1 Doug Meade
Isen Veljic 6-0 Dave Ahmet
Justin Pipe 6-2 Dan Lauby
Dave Honey 6-0 Dan Lauby II
Kevin McDine 6-4 Bob Sinnaeve
William O’Connor 6-0 Mark Nielsen
Par Riihonen 6-4 Steve Grubb
Darin Young 6-0 Masahiko Sano
Scott Kirchner 6-0 Joey Narvades

First Round
Phil Taylor (1) 6-0 Drazen Severin
Jayson Barlow 6-2 Andrew Penney
Chris Thompson (32) 6-3 Paul Lim
Nico Depaynos 6-3 Nick Fullwell
Andy Smith (16) 6-2 Joe Swick
Nigel Heydon 6-3 Adrian Gray
Paul Nicholson (17) 6-1 Eddie Lawrence
Ron Colvard 6-4 Greg Lewis
Mark Walsh (8) 6-5 Kirk Shepherd
Joe Cullen 6-0 Richard Hammond Jnr
Terry Jenkins (25) 6-0 Dennis Smith
Dan Olson 6-0 Chris White
Andy Hamilton (9) 6-0 Steve Barlock
Jeff Noble 6-3 Sean Downs
Brendan Dolan (24) 6-2 Dave Ladley
Matt Clark 6-5 Bill Davis
Gary Anderson (5) 6-1 Shawn Brenneman
Steve Evans 6-3 Ray Carver
Jelle Klaasen (28) 6-5 Roger Carter
Larry Butler 6-0 Bobby Peters
Ronnie Baxter (12) 6-2 Aodhagan O’Neill
Alex Roy 6-0 Paul DiCecca
Kevin Painter (21) 6-1 Colin Monk
Gerry Convery 6-1 Robert Race
Adrian Lewis (4) 6-3 Connley Litton
Darren Johnson 6-1 David Flowers
Co Stompe (29) 6-0 Edwin Martin
Wayne Mardle 6! -5 George Timpone
Steve Beaton (13) 6-0 Howard Meyers
Steve Maish 6-3 David Kendall
Barrie Bates (20) 6-1 Robert Heckman
Dieter Schutsch 6-3 Stuart Brown
Simon Whitlock (2) 6-1 Wayne Smith
Arron Monk 6-1 Frank Hernandez
Steve Hine (31) 6-3 Al Moskwyn
Ross Snook 6-3 Damien McKenna
Colin Osborne (15) 6-0 Brian Jackson
Mick McGowan 6-1 Nick Holmes
Alan Tabern (18) 6-0 Dave Switzer
Roland Scholten 6-1 Scott Burnett
Vincent van der Voort (7) 6-1 Akihiro Nagakawa
Scott Rand 6-5 John Part
Mark Webster (26) 6-5 Peter Manley
Richie Burnett 6-5 Jim Widmayer
James Wade (10) 6-4 Ken MacNeil
Tony Randell 6-1 Rick Davis
Robert Thornton (23) 6-4 Nick Rivera
Justin Pipe 6-4 Isen Veljic
Colin Lloyd (6) 6-1 Dan Zimmerman
Ryan vander Wiet 6-1 Danny Wood
Peter Wright (27) 6-1 Stephen Panuncialman
Dave Honey 6-1 Jason Roker
Jamie Caven (11) 6-3 Ian White
Martyn Turner 6-1 Jim Newman
Steve Brown (22) 6-1 Daz Maw! er
Kevin McDine 6-4 William O’Connor
Wes Newton (3) 6-1 ! Clint Cl arkson
John Kuczynski 6-1 Alvin Martin
Tony Eccles (30) 6-5 Andy Jenkins
Stacy Bromberg 6-5 Par Riihonen
Denis Ovens (14) 6-1 Andrew Bennett
Mark Hylton 6-3 Don Campos
Mark Dudbridge (19) 6-2 Ian McFarlane
Darin Young 6-2 Scott Kirchner

Second Round
Phil Taylor 6-0 Jayson Barlow
Chris Thompson 6-0 Nico Depaynos
Nigel Heydon 6-2 Andy Smith
Paul Nicholson 6-3 Ron Colvard
Joe Cullen 6-5 Mark Walsh
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Dan Olson
Andy Hamilton 6-2 Jeff Noble
Matt Clark 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Steve Evans 6-5 Gary Anderson
Jelle Klaasen 6-3 Larry Butler
Ronnie Baxter 6-3 Alex Roy
Kevin Painter 6-2 Gerry Convery
Adrian Lewis 6-2 Darren Johnson
Co Stompe 6-5 Wayne Mardle
Steve Beaton 6-4 Steve Maish
Barrie Bates 6-4 Dieter Schutsch
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Arron Monk
Ross Snook 6-5 Steve Hine
Colin Osborne 6-5 Mick McGowan
Alan Tabern 6-0 Roland Scholten
Vincent van der Voort 6-3 Scott Rand
Richie Burnett 6-3 Mark Webster
James Wade 6-2 Tony Randell
Robert Thornton 6-5 Justin Pipe
Colin Lloyd 6-0 Ryan vander Wiet
Peter Wright 6-1 Dave Honey
Jamie Caven 6-2 Martyn Turner
Kevin McDine 6-3 Steve Brown
Wes Newton 6-0 John Kuczynski
Tony E! ccles 6-0 Stacy Bromberg
Denis Ovens 6-4 Mark Hylton
Darin Young 6-5 Mark Dudbridge
Losers £200

Third Round
Phil Taylor 6-0 Chris Thompson
Nigel Heydon 6-3 Paul Nicholson
Terry Jenkins 6-4 Joe Cullen
Matt Clark 6-2 Andy Hamilton
Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Steve Evans
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Kevin Painter
Co Stompe 6-3 Adrian Lewis
Steve Beaton 6-5 Barrie Bates
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Ross Snook
Colin Osborne 6-5 Alan Tabern
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Richie Burnett
James Wade 6-4 Robert Thornton
Colin Lloyd 6-3 Peter Wright
Jamie Caven 6-1 Kevin McDine
Wes Newton 6-4 Tony Eccles
Darin Young 6-4 Denis Ovens
Losers £300

Fourth Round
Phil Taylor 6-4 Nigel Heydon
Matt Clark 6-4 Terry Jenkins
Jelle Klaasen 6-2 Ronnie Baxter
Co Stompe 6-2 Steve Beaton
Simon Whitlock 6-4 Colin Osborne
James Wade 6-4 Vincent van der Voort
Colin Lloyd 6-4 Jamie Caven
Wes Newton 6-4 Darin Young
Losers £500

Quarter-Finals
Matt Clark 6-5 Phil Taylor
Co Stompe 6-4 Jelle Klaasen
James Wade 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Colin Lloyd 6-4 Wes Newton
Losers £1,000

Semi-Finals
Co Stompe 6-0 Matt Clark
James Wade 6-3 Colin Lloyd
Losers £1,500

Final
Co Stompe 6-3 James Wade
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000

Anderson followed up a quarter-final appearance in Sunday’s PDC US Open Players Championship by taking the £6,000 first prize in the third of five days in the New Tropicana World Series of Darts Festival.

The victory continues a fine month for the Scot – who was the runner-up in the Rileys Darts Zones UK Open and also won a Players Championship in Barnsley.

After needing all 11 legs to defeat Mark Hylton in the first round at the Tropicana Hotel, Anderson then whitewashed fellow Scot Chris Loudon and Wales’ Mark Webster in progressing to the last 16.

Steve Maish and Paul Lim were also defeated before a 6-2 win over Colin Lloyd put him into the decider against Australian star Whitlock.

After Whitlock took the opening leg, Anderson won the next three to lead 3-1, including an 11-dart finish to break his opponent’s throw.

Whitlock won the fourth, but missed one dart at double top to level in the sixth as Anderson maintained his advantage.

Whitlock took the next two to level, but paid for three more missed doubles in leg nine, at double 18 and double nine, as Anderson took out 68 to lead 5-4 before hitting a 177 score and double eight in the next to seal the win.

“I’m really pleased to win this event,” said Anderson. “Simon played well in the final and made it tough for me, but I’m glad I got over the finishing line.”

Whitlock had been targeting his fifth Players Championship win of the year, but had been staring down the barrel of defeat in his quarter-final against Canada’s Ken MacNeil, who led 5-1 but failed to close out the game.

Whitlock then overcame Chris Thompson 6-2 in the semi-finals, and had earlier seen off Sunday’s runner-up Denis Ovens, as well as Sean Smyth, Donny Joe and Colin Monk.

Sunday’s PDC US Open champion Phil Taylor was defeated 6-5 in the quarter-finals by York-based Thompson, who avenged a whitewash loss to the 15-time World Champion earlier this year in a Players Championship semi-final with a gritty 6-5 win.

Colin Lloyd followed up Sunday’s nine-dart finish with a run to the last four on Monday, including a quarter-final defeat of Ronnie Baxter as well as a win over in-form Steve Brown.

MacNeil and American-based veteran Lim celebrated runs to the last eight with £1,000 prize money, while top US player Darin Young whitewashed Adrian Lewis on his way to the last 16.

Thompson’s run saw him close in on a qualification spot for the StanJames.com World Matchplay ahead of a potentially dramatic final Players Championship on Tuesday – after when the 16 Players Championship Order of Merit qualifiers will be confirmed.

Anderson’s win provisionally puts him inside the top 16, which would mean that Paul Nicholson could miss out on the World Matchplay, with Nigel Heydon currently ahead of him in the Players Championship Order of Merit.

Las Vegas Players Championship
Preliminary Round
Nigel Heydon 6-0 Matt Clark
Joey Narvades 6-3 Jason Roker
Greg Lewis 6-4 Jeff Noble
Chris Thompson 6-1 Kirk Shepherd
Gerry Convery 6-0 Nick Holmes
Ron Colvard 6-4 Jim Widmayer
Andy Jenkins 6-3 Arron Monk
Joe Cullen 6-4 George Timpone
John Kuczynski 6-4 Tony Randell
William O’Connor 6-0 Richard Hammond Jnr
Colin Monk 6-1 Scott Burnett
Don Campos 6-3 Dan Zimmerman
Stacy Bromberg 6-2 Eddie Lawrence
Frank Hernandez 6-1 Howard Meyers
Adrian Gray 6-0 Brian Jackson
Dan Olson 6-4 Roger Carter
Peter Schaumann 6-2 Shintaro Hirai
Connley Litton 6-0 Jim McKevitt
Mick McGowan 6-0 Scott Henning
Ross Snook 6-1 Andy Fordham
Ian McFarlane 6-1 Doug Meade
Rick Davis 6-4 Mark Blazevich
Clint Clarkson 6-5 Robert Heckman
Gary Mawson 6-0 Andy Relf
Dieter Schutsch 6-4 Chris White

First Round
Phil Taylor (1) 6-0 Dennis Smith
Stuart Brown 6-2 Dave Switzer
Steve Evans 6-3 John Part (32)
Nigel Heydon 6-3 Larry Butler
Andy Smith (16) 6-0 Joe Custer
Sean Downs 6-5 Dave Ladley
Richie Burnett 6-1 Paul Nicholson (17)
Greg Lewis 6-0 Joey Narvades
Mark Walsh (8) 6-1 Justin Pipe
Peter Manley 6-3 Joe Swick
Terry Jenkins (25) 6-4 Ian White
Chris Thompson 6-1 Gerry Convery
Andy Hamilton (9) 6-0 Damien McKenna
Daz Mawer 6-3 Akihiro Nagakawa
Brendan Dolan (24) 6-4 Aodhagan O’Neill
Andy Jenkins 6-3 Ron Colvard
Vincent van der Voort (5) 6-4 Jayson Barlow
Bill Davis 6-2 Steve Barlock
Jelle Klaasen (28) 6-0 Gregory Coburn
Joe Cullen 6-4 Nick Fullwell
Steve Beaton (12) 6-2 Hiromasa Mochizuki
Ken MacNeil 6-2 Nick Rivera
Kevin Painter (21) 6-3 Par Riihonen
William O’Connor 6-3 John Kuczynski
Simon Whitlock (4) 6-1 Sean Smyth
Donny Joe 6-0 Masahiko Sano
Tony Eccles (29) 6-3 David Flowe! rs
Colin Monk 6-0 Robert Race
Denis Ovens (13) 6-5 Darren Johnson
Roland Scholten 6-0 Drazen Severin
Barrie Bates (20) 6-1 Stephen Panuncialman
Stacy Bromberg 6-5 Don Campos
Wes Newton (2) 6-3 Scott Kirchner
Kevin McDine 6-0 Andrew Bennett
Steve Hine (31) 6-0 Bobby Peters
Paul Lim 6-0 Frank Hernandez
Scott Rand 6-5 Colin Osborne (15)
David Kendall 6-4 Danny Wood
Alan Tabern (18) 6-0 Josh Daynes
Dan Olson 6-3 Adrian Gray
Gary Anderson (7) 6-5 Mark Hylton
Chris Loudon 6-5 Nico Depaynos
Mark Webster (26) 6-5 Bob Sinnaeve
Peter Schaumann 6-3 Dan Lauby
James Wade (10) 6-1 David Fatum
Steve Maish 6-4 Jim Newman
Robert Thornton (23) 6-1 Alex Roy
Mick McGowan 6-5 Connley Litton
Colin Lloyd (6) 6-1 Dan Lauby II
Isen Veljic 6-2 Al Moskwyn
Peter Wright (27) 6-3 Wayne Mardle
Ross Snook 6-0 Edwin Martin
Jamie Caven (11) 6-0 Paul DiCecca
Dave Honey 6-1 Ryan vander Wiet
Steve Brown (22) 6-5 Steve Gr! ubb
Ian McFarlane 6-0 Rick Davis
Darin Young 6-0 Adrian ! Lewis (3 )
Shawn Brenneman 6-1 Dave Ahmet
Co Stompe (30) 6-3 Ray Carver
Clint Clarkson 6-5 Andrew Penney
Ronnie Baxter (14) 6-0 Martin Hulme
Martyn Turner 6-0 Wayne Smith
Mark Dudbridge (19) 6-1 Mark Nielsen
Gary Mawson 6-5 Dieter Schutsch

Second Round
Phil Taylor 6-0 Stuart Brown
Nigel Heydon 6-2 Steve Evans
Andy Smith 6-2 Sean Downs
Richie Burnett 6-0 Greg Lewis
Mark Walsh 6-0 Peter Manley
Chris Thompson 6-5 Terry Jenkins
Andy Hamilton 6-1 Daz Mawer
Brendan Dolan 6-1 Andy Jenkins
Vincent van der Voort 6-1 Bill Davis
Jelle Klaasen 6-1 Joe Cullen
Ken MacNeil 6-4 Steve Beaton
Kevin Painter 6-5 William O’Connor
Simon Whitlock 6-1 Donny Joe
Colin Monk 6-2 Tony Eccles
Denis Ovens 6-5 Roland Scholten
Barrie Bates 6-3 Stacy Bromberg
Kevin McDine 6-3 Wes Newton
Paul Lim 6-2 Steve Hine
Scott Rand 6-5 David Kendall
Alan Tabern 6-2 Dan Olson
Gary Anderson 6-0 Chris Loudon
Mark Webster 6-0 Peter Schaumann
Steve Maish 6-5 James Wade
Robert Thornton 6-2 Mick McGowan
Colin Lloyd 6-0 Isen Veljic
Peter Wright 6-2 Ross Snook
Jamie Caven 6-1 Dave Honey
Steve Brown 6-1 Ian McFarlane
Darin Young 6-3 Shawn Brenneman
Co Stompe 6-1 Clint! Clarkson
Ronnie Baxter 6-1 Martyn Turner
Mark Dudbridge 6-2 Gary Mawson
Losers £200

Third Round
Phil Taylor 6-2 Nigel Heydon
Andy Smith 6-3 Richie Burnett
Chris Thompson 6-5 Mark Walsh
Andy Hamilton 6-3 Brendan Dolan
Vincent van der Voort 6-4 Jelle Klaasen
Ken MacNeil 6-3 Kevin Painter
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Colin Monk
Denis Ovens 6-4 Barrie Bates
Paul Lim 6-4 Kevin McDine
Alan Tabern 6-5 Scott Rand
Gary Anderson 6-0 Mark Webster
Steve Maish 6-5 Robert Thornton
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Peter Wright
Steve Brown 6-4 Jamie Caven
Darin Young 6-4 Co Stompe
Ronnie Baxter 6-5 Mark Dudbridge
Losers £300

Fourth Round
Phil Taylor 6-5 Andy Smith
Chris Thompson 6-4 Andy Hamilton
Ken MacNeil 6-3 Vincent van der Voort
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Denis Ovens
Paul Lim 6-5 Alan Tabern
Gary Anderson 6-4 Steve Maish
Colin Lloyd 6-3 Steve Brown
Ronnie Baxter 6-4 Darin Young
Losers £500

Quarter-Finals
Chris Thompson 6-5 Phil Taylor
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Ken MacNeil
Gary Anderson 6-2 Paul Lim
Colin Lloyd 6-2 Ronnie Baxter
Losers £1,000

Semi-Finals
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Chris Thompson
Gary Anderson 6-2 Colin Lloyd
Losers £1,500

Final
Gary Anderson 6-4 Simon Whitlock
Winner £6,000
Runner-Up £3,000

Final – Leg by Leg
1-0 – Double ten gives Whitlock the early advantage
1-1 – Anderson levels with double top
1-2 – The pair trade 180s but a missed double top from Whitlock gives Anderson the chance to break, which he does with a two-dart 86 finish
1-3 – Anderson moves two legs clear on double top
2-3 – Whitlock misses the bull for a 170 finish but returns to land double four to hit back
2-4 – Double ten from Anderson makes Whitlock pay for a miss at double top for a 120 finish that would have squared the game
3-4 – Whitlock lands double eight under little pressure from Anderson to win a third leg
4-4 – Anderson is punished for missing single 18 to leave 40, with Whitlock taking out 105 against the throw to level
4-5 – Whitlock hits a 180 but misses three darts at double 18 and nine and Anderson finishes 68 on double top
4-6 – Anderson hits a 177 and then lands double eight for the match