JAMES WADE began his challenge to win a second Betfair World Matchplay title with a clinical win over Richie Burnett on Sunday night, as Steve Beaton, Mark Walsh and Michael van Gerwen all came from behind to take first round wins in Blackpool on Sunday night.
2007 champion Wade looked in confident mood as he defeated Welshman Burnett 10-6 at the Winter Gardens, finishing ten of 18 attempts at a double during the contest.
Wade led 3-0 and 8-1 before Burnett rallied to threaten a fightback, but the world number three proved too deadly on double top as he progressed to a second round clash with Mark Walsh on Wednesday.
Walsh had to show his battling qualities as he fought back from 6-3 and 7-4 down against Colin Osborne before taking a 10-8 win to progress to the second round for the seventh time.
A night of fightbacks also saw Beaton and van Gerwen hit back to set up a second round clash following their wins over Kevin Painter and Simon Whitlock respectively.
Beaton trailed 2-0 and 3-1 against Painter, but won five successive legs to turn the game in his favour, and even though the number 11 seed fired in a 160 checkout it was not enough to save his hopes.
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, knocked out number six seed Simon Whitlock with a thrilling performance, winning five successive legs to come from 6-5 down to take a 10-6 triumph - hitting finishes of 110, 104 and 99 in that run.
The first round continues on Monday night (7pm) with a further four matches, headed by reigning champion Phil Taylor's clash with Mervyn King as the 12-time champion begins his challenge for a record-equalling fifth successive title.
2005 champion Colin Lloyd plays number nine seed Mark Webster, last year's semi-finalist Andy Hamilton takes on World Grand Prix finalist Brendan Dolan and Vincent van der Voort faces debutant Ian White.
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Betfair World Matchplay
First Round
Sunday July 22
Mark Walsh 10-8 Colin Osborne
Kevin Painter 6-10 Steve Beaton
James Wade 10-5 Richie Burnett
Simon Whitlock 6-10 Michael van Gerwen
MATCH INFORMATION
MARK WALSH 10-8 COLIN OSBORNE
MARK WALSH fought back to edge through to the second round of the Betfair World Matchplay with a 10-8 defeat of Colin Osborne at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Osborne looked set to kick-start his bid to push back towards the world's top 16 when he took a 6-3 lead - only to see Walsh hit back to level at seven-all.
Although Osborne moved 8-7 up, he missed a crucial dart in the next and Walsh levelled before taking the next two to progress into the last 16.
Osborne kicked off the match well, finishing tops for a 14-darter in the opening leg and hitting the same bed to double his advantage before Walsh got himself off the mark in the third with a 12-darter.
Osborne then missed four darts to win leg four to allow the Grand Slam of Darts semi-finalist to level with a 78 finish, only for the Derby man to take the next two and move 4-2 up, punishing misses from his opponent in the next two legs.
Double four from Walsh won him the ninth, but Osborne finished 96 and tops - following his first 180 of the game - to move 6-3 up and take charge.
He had a chance to move four legs clear at the second interval, but missed two darts as Walsh hit back, before double top saw the Hertfordshire man pull back to 6-5 behind.
Osborne landed a 180 and tops to win his seventh leg, but Walsh hit back strongly to level by posting double 16 and then following a 180 with a fine 126 checkout.
Double 16 saw Osborne edge back in front at 8-7, but a miss at the same bed in the next leg proved costly as Walsh turned the game in his favour, and he then landed double 14 to lead for the first time at 9-8.
Walsh then hit his sixth maximum of the contest, and landed double top to complete the comeback and move into the second round for the seventh time in eight years.
"I was happy to get through because it was a really hard game," said Walsh. "I was disappointed with my performance, but at the end of the day it's the result that counts, and I got that.
"I missed doubles early on and Colin took advantage, and I was always chasing the game until it was eight-all.
"I normally get to the second round, which I have done six times before, but this year hopefully I can break that hoodoo and get through to the next round."
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Osborne breaks throw to win the opening leg with a 14-darter, landing tops to take the lead.
0-2 - Osborne doubles his advantage, with Walsh missing a dart at tops to level before the Derby ace hits the same bed.
1-2 - Walsh gets off the mark in style with a superb 12-darter, hitting 140, 100, the game's first 180 and taking out 81 on double six.
2-2 - Osborne misses tops for a 112 finish and then wastes three further darts for the leg to allow Walsh to break and level by taking out 78 in two darts.
2-3 - Walsh hits a 180 to leave 36, but misses seven darts to win the leg to allow Osborne in to finish double 16 and go into the first interval ahead.
2-4 - Walsh again sees a leg slip away, bizarrely scoring 180, nine and 180 before missing three darts to take the leg as Osborne steps in on double eight.
3-4 - Double four from Walsh sees him hit back to take leg seven.
3-5 - Osborne finishes 96 on double eight to regain his two-leg cushion.
3-6 - Osborne lands his first maximum of the game, and posts tops to open up a three-leg lead in the game.
4-6 - Walsh misses double ten and five to take out 80, but Osborne misses double 16 and eight to win a third successive leg and he returns to reduce the arrears on double two.
5-6 - Walsh lands double top to continue his fightback.
5-7 - Osborne posts his second 180 of the game, and tops sees him edge back ahead.
6-7 - The game of cat-and-mouse continues as Walsh hits double 16.
7-7 - Walsh levels the match in style, hitting a 180 before punishing two missed doubles from Osborne to take out 126 on double six.
7-8 - Osborne finishes double 16 to regain the lead in a potentially key leg.
8-8 - Osborne misses double 16 to move a leg away from victory, and Walsh lands tops to level again.
9-8 - Walsh takes the lead for the first time by finishing double 14.
10-8 - Walsh hits his sixth 180 of the game to take charge of the leg, and finishes double top to complete a fine recovery and seal the win.
Match Stats
|
Mark Walsh |
10-8 |
Colin Osborne |
|
29 |
100+ |
25 |
|
10 |
140+ |
8 |
|
6 |
180 |
2 |
|
29.86 |
Ave 1 |
29.55 |
|
89.59 |
Ave 3 |
88.66 |
|
126 |
High Finish |
96 |
|
5 |
Breaks of Throw |
4 |
|
10/31 - 32% |
Finishing % |
8/25 - 32% |
STEVE BEATON 10-6 KEVIN PAINTER
STEVE BEATON recovered from a slow start to defeat Kevin Painter 10-6 and move into the second round of the Betfair World Matchplay.
The former World Champion was punished for missed doubles early in the contest as Painter took an early 3-1 lead - only to win five successive legs to turn the game in his favour before completing the win.
Painter made an ideal start, hitting a 180 and double 18 to break throw in the opening leg before doubling his lead on double four.
Beaton punished two misses from Painter to win the third, only for the roles to be reversed as the Daventry ace hit double eight to move 3-1 up.
Beaton, though, took out tops to take the fifth leg and landed the bullseye to complete a 78 finish in the next, before a pair of double eight checkouts and double 16 saw him move 6-3 up by winning five straight legs.
Painter finished 70 to stop that run, and after Beaton won his seventh leg the McCoy's Premier League Darts star finished 160 to cut the gap to 7-5.
The next two were shared before Beaton took a crucial 15th leg by taking out 72 to move a leg away from the win at 9-6, and he hit a 174 to edge in front in the next before sealing the victory on double 16.
"I'm really pleased with that performance but I made it hard for myself early on," said Beaton. "It's hard not to get frustrated with yourself, and I've got into the first break 3-2 down and you have to forget that and hit him hard.
"I'd have been happy with five-all at the next break, so to go in 6-4 up was a bonus and I took my chances. Kev was geared up for it and the game could have gone the other way if I'd missed a few more doubles, so I'm pleased to come out on top."
Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Painter secures an immediate break of throw, landing a settling 180 before finishing double 18.
2-0 - Beaton misses tops to level, and Painter doubles his lead by finishing double four.
2-1 - Painter misses double top and ten to move further clear, and Beaton lands double ten to hit back.
3-1 - Painter is given a let-off for missing the bull as Beaton again misses his chance, and double eight sees the Daventry ace move two legs clear.
3-2 - Beaton posts tops to settle his nerves and pull back to within a leg.
3-3 - Beaton levels the game by finishing 78 on the bull, hitting treble one, outer bull and the bullseye.
3-4 - Beaton fires in a 174 and finishes double eight to lead for the first time.
3-5 - Painter misses the bullseye and Beaton moves two legs clear by landing double eight.
3-6 - Beaton wins a fifth successive leg by landing double 16.
4-6 - Painter hits back going into the second interval, finishing 70 on double 16.
4-7 - Beaton finishes double 12 to regain his three-leg cushion.
5-7 - Painter takes out 160 to hit back.
5-8 - Beaton lands double eight to edge closer to the winning line.
6-8 - Painter posts 78 finish on double 12 to pull back to within touching distance.
6-9 - Beaton finishes 72 to move a leg away from the win.
6-10 - Beaton lands a 177 and fires in double 16.
Match Stats
|
Kevin Painter |
6-10 |
Steve Beaton |
|
23 |
100+ |
28 |
|
12 |
140+ |
11 |
|
1 |
180 |
0 |
|
29.34 |
Ave 1 |
31.86 |
|
88.01 |
Ave 3 |
95.57 |
|
160 |
High Finish |
78 |
|
1 |
Breaks of Throw |
3 |
|
6/16 - 38% |
Finishing % |
10/24 - 42% |
JAMES WADE 10-5 RICHIE BURNETT
JAMES WADE began his challenge for a second Betfair World Matchplay title with a 10-5 win over spirited Richie Burnett at the Winter Gardens on Sunday.
The number three seed, who won the 2007 World Matchplay in a run of reaching the final four times in the last six years, made a confident start to this year's event in Blackpool with the triumph.
The left-hander won the game's first three legs to make a fine start, hitting double top twice and double ten, and he moved 4-1 up at the first break when the pair traded double six finishes.
Wade also won the next four legs - again proving deadly on double top and ten - to move into an 8-1 cushion and edge towards victory.
Burnett finished double seven in the tenth leg to begin his fightback, and hit a 180 in a superb 11-darter to win a third leg of the game.
Wade, though, traded maximums with the Welshman in the next before completing a 12-darter to move 9-3 up and to the brink of victory.
Burnett matched Wade's 180 in the next before finishing double 16 to keep the game alive, and added a 76 finish to win a fifth leg, but he was unable to continue the comeback as Wade took out 83 on tops to set up a second round date with Mark Walsh on Wednesday.
"Richie's been playing well recently so I was nervous going into the game, and I know I can improve but it's great to get through," said Wade.
"Richie threw a little bit back at me but I got there in the end - I actually got more nervous as the game went on, and I haven't quite got the confidence I had a few years ago, but I'm practising hard and hopefully it will come back within time."
Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Wade pins double top at the first time of asking to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Wade posts a 177 score and finishes 72 on tops to remain flawless on his early doubles.
3-0 - Wade posts double ten to move three legs clear.
3-1 - Wade is unable to finish 139 and Burnett takes out double six to get off the mark.
4-1 - Wade misses two darts at double 12, but when Burnett cannot take out 161 he returns to finish double six.
5-1 - Wade hits a 177 and again posts double top to break throw and move further clear.
6-1 - Double ten from Wade, with his third dart, sees him move closer to victory.
7-1 - Burnett lands the first maximum of the game, but Wade finishes double top once more to win his seventh leg.
8-1 - Wade moves two legs away from a place in the second round by, almost inevitably, landing tops.
8-2 - Burnett wins his second leg of the game, finishing double seven with his third dart to hit back.
8-3 - Burnett returns from the break with a 180 and finishes tops for an 11-darter to continue his fightback with a break of throw.
9-3 - Wade kicks off with a 180 before Burnett replies in kind, but Wade adds two more big scores to set up a 12-darter, which he completes on double ten.
9-4 - The players again trade 180s before Burnett adds a 140 and double 16 to break throw again.
9-5 - Burnett finishes 76 to continue the fightback.
10-5 - Wade takes out 83 on tops to secure safe passage into the last 16.
Match Stats
|
James Wade |
10-5 |
Richie Burnett |
|
25 |
100+ |
20 |
|
11 |
140+ |
12 |
|
2 |
180 |
4 |
|
32.41 |
Ave 1 |
31.70 |
|
97.24 |
Ave 3 |
95.09 |
|
83 |
High Finish |
76 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
|
10/18 - 56% |
Finishing % |
5/11 - 45% |
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN 10-6 SIMON WHITLOCK
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN reeled off five successive legs to come from behind and celebrate his return to the Betfair World Matchplay stage with a 10-6 defeat of Simon Whitlock.
The young Dutchman last played in the World Matchplay in 2009, but moved through to the second round for the third time with an exciting display in a high-quality clash with Whitlock.
The Australian - a quarter-finalist last year - played his part by coming from 3-0 down to lead 5-4 and 6-5, but was unable to stop van Gerwen's late charge as the 23-year-old finished 110, 99 and 104 in successive legs as he swept to victory.
Van Gerwen now plays Steve Beaton in Wednesday's second round.
The Dutchman made an electric start, hitting a 174 in taking the opening leg in 14 darts, before adding double 12 in the second and tops in the third to lead 3-0.
He also missed darts to win the next two as Whitlock, aided by scores of 180 and 168 in the fourth, firstly got off the mark on double 18 and then won the fifth leg on tops.
Double four from van Gerwen edged him into a 4-2 lead, but Whitlock replied strongly with a 13-darter, featuring another 180, before punishing a miss at tops from the Dutchman to level.
Van Gerwen hit scores of 177 and 174 to leave 32 in the ninth leg, only to see Whitlock power home a 116 finish to lead for the first time at 5-4.
Three misses from the Australian allowed van Gerwen to level, but Whitlock regained the advantage with a fine 12-darter, hitting a 180 and finishing 82 on tops to move 6-5 up.
Van Gerwen levelled on tops and took command of the game with a stunning burst, finishing 110 on double 18 to regain the lead, taking out a 99 combination on double ten and 104 on double 16 to move to the brink of victory, which he sealed with a 14-dart leg on tops.
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - van Gerwen takes the opening leg against the throw.
0-2 - The young Dutchman continues his confident start by landing double 12.
0-3 - Whitlock misses double 13 twice and double four to hit back, and van Gerwen powers in tops to move three legs clear.
1-3 - The pair trade 180s to bring the Winter Gardens crowd to their feet, and Whitlock adds a 168 to leave 36 - with van Gerwen missing a dart at tops to allow him in to finish double 18 and get off the mark.
2-3 - van Gerwen posts a 177, but misses two darts at tops to allow Whitlock back from a miss at the same bed to reduce the gap further.
2-4 - van Gerwen lands double four to put his double troubles aside.
3-4 - Whitlock fires in a 180 and finishes tops for a 13-darter to win leg seven.
4-4 - van Gerwen is punished for a miss at tops as Whitlock lands double four to level.
5-4 - Whitlock moves into the lead for the first time in a dramatic leg, with van Gerwen posting 177 and 174 to leave 32 only for the Australian to power home a 116 checkout.
5-5 - Whitlock misses the bull for a 126 finish and two darts at double eight, but van Gerwen is handed a reprieve for a miss of his own - at double ten for a 137 finish - as he returns to land double five and level.
6-5 - Whitlock lands a 180, and leaves van Gerwen waiting on 81 after hitting three 140s as the Australian finishes 82 on tops.
6-6 - van Gerwen finishes tops at the first time of asking to level.
6-7 - van Gerwen breaks with a brilliant 110 finish, hitting single 20, treble 18 and double 18.
6-8 - The youngster wins a third successive leg, finishing 99 on double ten.
6-9 - Whitlock misses darts at double 12 and six, and van Gerwen now finishes 104 on double 16 to move to the brink of victory.
6-10 - van Gerwen leaves 40 after 12 darts, and hits tops for a 14-darter to seal the win.
Match Stats
|
Simon Whitlock |
6-10 |
Michael van Gerwen |
|
23 |
100+ |
20 |
|
8 |
140+ |
15 |
|
3 |
180 |
1 |
|
30.69 |
Ave 1 |
32.91 |
|
92.08 |
Ave 3 |
98.74 |
|
115 |
High Finish |
110,104 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
4 |
|
6/19 - 32% |
Finishing % |
10/20 - 50% |
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