Players Championship Day Three

MERVYN KING caused a sensation at the Cash Converters Players Championship by knocking out reigning champion Phil Taylor 8-5 in the second round on Saturday evening, after five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld exited the event earlier in the day.

King claimed only his second televised victory over Taylor with a fine display to end the world number one's hopes of a third Players Championship title in four stagings of the event.

King established an early 3-1 lead and managed to maintain his advantage to seal a place in Sunday's quarter-finals, although he had missed nine match darts before finally hitting double five to inflict a first televised defeat since June for Taylor.

"It's always an honour to play Phil and to beat him is special," said King. "I got the win and that's all that matters, but I did get nervous at the end.

"Most of the match darts which missed were good darts at a double that didn't go in, but it was a big relief to see the double five go in."

King now plays Kevin Painter in Sunday afternoon's quarter-finals, as the pair clash in the first of three matches on the day which would give them their maiden PDC major titles.

Painter progressed to the last four of a televised event for the first time since July 2010 with a clinical 8-4 defeat of Gary Anderson, who was unable to repeat the form which saw him whitewash Michael van Gerwen 24 hours earlier.

World number six Mark Webster and St Helens' rapidly emerging Dave Chisnall were Saturday evening's other winners in contrasting matches.

Chisnall soared into his second PDC quarter-final with an 8-2 defeat of Co Stompe, but Webster was pushed all the way before defeating number one seed Justin Pipe 8-7.

Webster missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish during the contest, while Pipe saw six match darts go begging before the Welshman triumphed in the deciding leg.

The quarter-finals will commence with the clash between Grand Slam of Darts semi-finalist Mark Walsh and UK Open runner-up Wes Newton, before world number three James Wade faces newcomer Scott Rand - who won through to his first major quarter-final with a defeat of Raymond van Barneveld.

Wade saw off Steve Brown 8-6 and Newton came from 4-0 down to defeat Peter Wright by the same score, with Walsh overcoming Jones 8-3.

The £250,000 tournament will climax on Sunday evening, with the semi-finals followed by the final at the Doncaster Dome.

Tickets are still available for both sessions on Sunday, with extra tickets released for the evening session. Tickets can be booked in advance by calling the Doncaster Dome Box Office on 01302 370 777 or in person at the venue.

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Cash Converters Players Championship
Saturday December 10
Afternoon Session
Second Round
Wes Newton 8-6 Peter Wright
Wayne Jones 3-8 Mark Walsh
Steve Brown 6-8 James Wade
Raymond van Barneveld 6-8 Scott Rand
Evening Session
Co Stompe 2-8 Dave Chisnall
Justin Pipe 7-8 Mark Webster
Phil Taylor 5-8 Mervyn King
Gary Anderson 4-8 Kevin Painter
Best of 15 legs

WES NEWTON 8-6 PETER WRIGHT
WES NEWTON produced a stirring comeback from 4-0 down against Peter Wright to reach the quarter-finals of the Cash Converters Players Championship with an 8-6 victory.

Wright had impressed in his first round victory over Denis Ovens and continued the form with a blistering start against Newton, who had to wait five legs to have a dart at a double.

Lowestoft's Wright opened the game with a 180 and hit double ten for the opening leg before the pair traded maximums in the second, which he won against the throw on tops for a 12-darter.

He then added a 13-dart finish in taking the third on double 18 and hit another 180 in a 12-darter to lead 4-0, finishing 105 on tops.

Wright could also have taken the fifth, but missed darts at double 12, six and three to allow Newton in, as the UK Open finalist followed up a 180 by hitting double 18 with his first dart at a double in the game.

Wright also missed tops in the next, for a 135 checkout, and Newton finished 70 on double 16 before maintaining a perfect finishing record with double 18 to pull back to 4-3.

He then levelled on tops before Wright, with the advantage of throw, took two of the next three to lead 6-5, landing double 18 and double top.

Newton won the 12th with a superb 12-darter, which featured a 180 and two 140s before he finished double 12.

He then took a crucial break to lead for the first time at 7-6, with Wright missing two darts at tops to allow the Fleetwood ace in on double ten.

Wright battled to force a deciding leg in the next, but missed double 16 for a 106 checkout and Newton posted tops to move into the quarter-finals.

"Peter started so well and he was awesome for the first four legs," said Newton. "He could have gone five legs up and that would have made it even harder for me.

"After I got my first leg, I had to try hang in there and take one leg at a time. I managed to get some momentum going and I'm both happy and relieved to be through."

Wright admitted: "I'm a bit gutted but Wes never gives up and he was on my heels all the time."

Match Stats

Wes Newton	8-6	Peter Wright
12	100+	24
12	140+	7
3	180	4
32.64	Ave1	33.27
97.91	Ave3	99.82
70	High Finish	105
3	Breaks of Throw	2
8/10 - 80%	Finishing %	6/15 - 40%

MARK WALSH 8-3 WAYNE JONES
MARK WALSH won through to his second successive major quarter-final, defeating Wayne Jones 8-3 in the Cash Converters Players Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Walsh, a semi-finalist in the Grand Slam of Darts last month, will now meet Wes Newton in the last eight on Sunday as the pair challenge for the £60,000 title at the Doncaster Dome.

He never looked back after taking an early 3-0 lead, replying to an opening 180 from Jones by hitting two maximums of his own to pull clear in the first leg, which he eventually won on double five after the Wolverhampton ace missed two darts to steal.

Walsh won the second leg on double two and finished double 12 to move 3-0 up before missing chances to win the fourth, with Jones hitting tops to get off the mark.

Walsh took the fifth on double ten, but Jones punished three misses from the Hertfordshire ace to pull back to 4-2 by landing double four in the sixth.

However, his hopes of continuing the fightback were dented as Walsh took out 121 on tops, double 15 and a 112 checkout to move to the brink of victory at 7-2.

Jones pushed clear in the next, but missed the bull for a 161 finish and five darts at double eight to give Walsh a chance to seal victory with a 160 finish.

He missed tops, though, for the combination as Jones hit double two to keep the match alive, but his respite was brief as Walsh hit tops in the next leg to progress.

"I'm really happy to have won but I know I can play better," said Walsh. "I feel for Wayne because he's a fantastic player and he didn't turn up today.

"But I did enough to get through and I can look forward to the quarter-finals."

Jones admitted: "I felt good but it was a poor performance from me and I don't know why. I didn't deserve to win it and I'll go away now and prepare for the World Championship."

Match Stats

Wayne Jones	3-8	Mark Walsh
13	100+	10
6	140+	9
2	180	4
27.77	Ave1	30.46
83.32	Ave3	91.39
48	High Finish	121,112
0	Breaks of Throw	2
3/16 - 19%	Finishing %	8/30 - 27%

JAMES WADE 8-6 STEVE BROWN
JAMES WADE moved into the quarter-finals of the Cash Converters Players Championship, defeating Steve Brown 8-6 in their second round contest at the Doncaster Dome.

The world number three took leads of 4-1 and 6-3 before holding off Brown's fightback to move into the last eight.

Although Brown hit a 180 in the opening leg, it was Wade who led courtesy of double ten before the Bristol ace finished 64 in two darts to level.

Brown posted another maximum in the third, but missed darts to break Wade's throw as the left-hander returned from earlier misses of his own to land double two.

Wade then took the fourth and hit a 180 and 106 checkout to move 4-1 up, and paid the price for some sloppy finishing in two visits in the sixth leg as Brown took out double ten to hit back.

Tops saw Brown pull back to within a leg at 4-3, but he missed two darts to level the match before Wade finished 142 on tops and hit the same bed in pushing 6-3 up.

Brown won his fourth leg in the next, being handed a reprieve following seven misses when he returned to hit double one and move back to within touching distance.

Wade posted a 177 to leave 84 in the 11th, with double 12 putting him a leg away from victory at 7-4 before Brown again hit back, albeit aided by missed bullseyes from the UK Open champion in the next two.

Wade was unable to convert chances at 121 and 128 to seal the victory as Brown twice hit tops to stay in the game, but when the Bristol ace also missed the bull - for a 132 checkout - Wade took his chance on double top.

"I'm pleased to be through but I felt a bit lethargic up there and didn't play as well as I wanted to," said Wade.

"It was good enough but I know I've got to improve to win this title on Sunday - I know what I'll need to do and it's up to me to show it."

Brown said: "I'm disappointed to lose but I didn't get out of the blocks well and I was behind from the early stages. James played well and deserved to win."

Match Stats

Steve Brown	6-8	James Wade
10	100+	21
14	140+	10
2	180	1
29.16	Ave1	29.46
87.47	Ave3	88.37
68	High Finish	142,106
2	Breaks of Throw	3
6/25 - 24%	Finishing %	8/25 - 32%

SCOTT RAND 8-6 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
SCOTT RAND enjoyed the biggest victory of his career as he defeated Raymond van Barneveld 8-6 to win through to his first major quarter-final at the Cash Converters Players Championship.

The lorry driver from Coventry is appearing in only his fourth televised tournament at the Players Championship, but followed up Thursday's first round defeat of Jamie Caven with a stunning defeat of the five-time World Champion.

Van Barneveld hit seven 180s in the game, but was unable to break Rand's throw as the emerging star won through to face James Wade at the Doncaster Dome in Sunday's quarter-finals.

Van Barneveld had taken the opening with a 96 finish, but missed two darts to double his lead as Rand posted double 16 to level before breaking in the third with a 96 checkout of his own, following up single 20 with a showpiece double 18 and double top.

He then held throw in the fourth by hitting double 18 with his third dart to lead 3-1 and take what would eventually prove to be a key lead.

The pair traded 180s as van Barneveld hit double two to win the fifth, but Rand won the sixth on double ten before missing the bull to steal the next after the Dutchman landed two 180s and eventually finished 26 with an improvised double four, double nine combination.

Rand won two of the next three on double 16 to move into a 6-4 lead, but that was cut to one leg when van Barneveld hit a 180 and double six.

He also landed a 180 in the next, but double eight moved Rand a leg away from the biggest win of his life as he led 7-5.

Van Barneveld posted a maximum in setting up a double nine finish to win his sixth leg, but was unable to prevent Rand wrapping up the victory in style in the next as he finished 170 to move into the last eight.

"It's brilliant," said Rand, who only became a professional in 2010. "Everything clicked on stage for me there and to beat someone of Raymond's quality is amazing.

"He's such a good player that to hold my throw against him so many times and get the victory is a big achievement.

"I'm still new and I've got high hpoes that I can become more established and become a full-time professional."

Van Barneveld said: "The break in the third leg was important because I was always trailing him after then. I tried everything to get back level but he scored well and the 170 finish was fantastic."

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld	6-8	Scott Rand
12	100+	23
11	140+	8
7	180	2
31.89	Ave1	32.95
95.67	Ave3	98.85
112	High Finish	170
0	Breaks of Throw	1
6/18 - 33%	Finishing %	8/16 - 50%

DAVE CHISNALL 8-2 CO STOMPE
DAVE CHISNALL powered past Co Stompe 8-2 to win through to the quarter-finals of the Cash Converters Players Championship.

The St Helens ace followed up Friday's defeat of Alan Tabern with a strong display to see off Stompe, who hit only two of 15 darts at a double compared to his opponent's 50 percent strike rate during the contest.

Chisnall made the early running, opening with a confident 15-darter which he won on double nine before finishing 90 on double ten to win the second as Stompe struggled with his doubles early on.

Chisnall opened the third with scores of 180 and 140 before posting double seven for a 3-0 lead, although he saw the chance to extend that slip away in the next, missing the single 11 for the bull on a 121 finish to allow Stompe in on double eight to open his account.

Finishes of double eight and 108 from Chisnall put him 5-1 up before Stompe powered in a brilliant 170 checkout to win his second leg.

He was also first to a double in the eighth, but a dart at double top missed into double one, and he saw three subsequent darts at double 19 miss their target as Chisnall took out tops to lead 6-2.

Stompe also hit a 180 but could only watch on as Chisnall landed the same bed to move a leg away from victory, which was sealed in the same manner when the Dutchman missed five darts to keep the game alive.

"I'm really happy with that," said Chisnall. "I'm in the zone and playing well and I think I can go further, so I'll look forward to Sunday."

Stompe admitted: "I had one of those days where I couldn't hit my doubles. The 170 was nice but it was worthless in the end for me because I couldn't back it up!"

Match Stats

Co Stompe	2-8	Dave Chisnall
13	100+	8
9	140+	6
1	180	1
30.03	Ave1	31.20
90.10	Ave3	93.61
170	High Finish	108
1	Breaks of Throw	4
2/15 - 13%	Finishing %	8/16 - 50%

MARK WEBSTER 8-7 JUSTIN PIPE
MARK WEBSTER won a deciding leg thriller with Justin Pipe to move into the quarter-finals of the Cash Converters Players Championship following a tense battle at the Doncaster Dome.

The left-hander twice hit back from behind and also missed double 12 for a nine-dart finish before edging to victory in the 15th leg - after Pipe had missed six darts for the win.

The early exchanges saw Pipe take the opening leg following four missed darts at double top from Webster before the Welshman took out 80 to level and hit a maximum and double ten to lead 2-1.

Pipe opened the fourth with a 180 and levelled in 13 darts before tops edged Webster in front.

However, he missed the same bed to win the sixth as Pipe hit double ten to square the match before finishing 89 on the bull - with Webster waiting on a double - to lead 4-3.

He moved two legs clear in the next, hitting a 180 to set up a 61 finish which was secured on double 18, only for Webster to fight back by landing tops to come back to 5-4 and almost completing a magical nine-darter in leg ten.

He opened with back-to-back 180s and also hit treble 20 and treble 19 on the 141 finish, but missed double 12 by an inch in his bid to land a first televised perfect leg.

He did return to win the leg in 11 darts and square the game before regaining the lead on tops.

However, he burst his score on 91 in the 12th leg - hitting double 14 instead of double nine - as Pipe took out 101 to level before then making Webster pay for five misses as he moved 7-6 up.

Pipe, though, missed his first chance to seal victory in the next as he saw one dart at tops for a 117 finish miss its target, along with three subsequent darts as Webster posted double five to force a decider.

Pipe hit a 140 to leave 50 for victory, but missed two darts at double 16 to give Webster his chance, and he finished double ten to scramble into the last eight.

"That was a real scrap and it sets me up nicely for the latter stages on Sunday," said Webster. "Justin has done really well this year and he played well there, but I'm really pleased to go through."

He added: "I was nervous on the nine-darter and my arm started shaking when I was on the double 12, but it's experience and hopefully I'll put it away next time I get a chance!"

Pipe said: "The game was played in great spirits and, although it's a shame to lose, Mark deserved the win. I've had a good year and this is another learning experience for me."

Match Stats

Justin Pipe	7-8	Mark Webster
20	100+	23
9	140+	10
2	180	3
30.72	Ave1	31.09
92.15	Ave3	93.28
101	High Finish	80
3	Breaks of Throw	3
7/21 - 33%	Finishing %	8/26 - 31%

MERVYN KING 8-5 PHIL TAYLOR
MERVYN KING caused a sensation at the Cash Converters Players Championship by knocking out reigning champion Phil Taylor 8-5 in the second round on Saturday evening.

The 45-year-old from Norfolk claimed only his second televised victory over Taylor with a fine display to end the world number one's hopes of a third Players Championship title in four stagings of the event.

King established an early 3-1 lead and managed to maintain his advantage to seal a place in Sunday's quarter-finals, although he had missed nine match darts before finally hitting double five to inflict a first televised defeat since June for Taylor.

Taylor had taken the game's opening leg in 14 darts, landing double eight, but that would prove to be the only time in the contest when he would lead.

King levelled on double top and punished misses from Taylor to win the next two on double eight and take a 3-1 advantage.

Taylor hit a 180 and double eight to win the fifth before King took out 81 for a 4-2 cushion, which was cut by double 16.

The world number one then hit another 180 but missed three darts to level the match as King took out 90 on double 15.

Taylor won the next with a 13-darter, landing a 180 and double 16, but King edged to the brink of victory by punishing further missed doubles from the reigning champion.

King was first to a finish in the 12th, but wired double 16 for a 110 finish and three further darts at double eight before Taylor won his fifth leg on double 16.

King, though, hit his second 180 of the game to edge clear in the next, leaving 40 after 12 darts but missing five more match darts before double five sealed his first televised win over Taylor since the 2009 Premier League Darts semi-finals.

"It's always an honour to play Phil and to beat him is special," said King. "I got the win and that's all that matters, but I did get nervous at the end.

"Most of the match darts which missed were good darts at a double that didn't go in, but it was a big relief to see the double five go in."

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	5-8	Mervyn King
20	100+	20
4	140+	9
3	180	2
31.64	Ave1	31.74
94.93	Ave3	95.23
83	High Finish	90
1	Breaks of Throw	3
5/18 - 28%	Finishing %	8/27 - 30%

KEVIN PAINTER 8-4 GARY ANDERSON
KEVIN PAINTER won through to his first major quarter-final since July 2010 with an 8-4 victory over Gary Anderson in the Cash Converters Players Championship on Saturday night.

Anderson had whitewashed Michael van Gerwen in a superb first round display 24 hours earlier, but was unable to find the heavy scoring which defeated the Dutchman and was punished for hitting only four from 20 attempts at a double.

Painter made an ideal start by hitting double top to win the opening leg and double 16 to win the second - following six missed doubles from Anderson.

The Scot hit back to level, taking out 121 on the bull in the third leg, but was unable to convert two chances to lead in the fifth, with Painter posting double eight to edge 3-2 up.

He also finished 86 for a 12-darter and double ten to take a 5-2 cushion, and after Anderson hit tops he finished 81 to move two legs away from the win.

Double five gave Anderson a fourth leg, but he was to be punished for a missed bullseye as Painter hit double two for a 7-4 lead and for four further misses as double six gave the Daventry ace victory.

"I played well and will give myself a pat on the back after that," said Painter. "My doubles went in nicely and it's nice to have a win.

"I was waiting for Gary to kick in. He's a class act and when he brings his A-game then only Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis can live with him, but it didn't happen and I took my chances."

Anderson admitted: "I don't know what went wrong tonight and it's a strange game, but Kevin did a good job and hit his doubles, and he deserved to go through."

Match Stats