DEAN WINSTANLEY came from 5-0 down to defeat Gary Anderson 13-11 in an incredible Betfair World Matchplay debut on Tuesday night, as local favourites Wes Newton and Ronnie Baxter and emerging star Justin Pipe joined him in progressing to the second round.
Yorkshireman Winstanley - who only joined the PDC circuit in January - endured a nightmare opening in his early legs on the Winter Gardens stage despite opening the game with a 180, as a string of missed doubles allowed Anderson to take command.
Winstanley then found his range to win eight of the next nine legs and move 8-6 up - only for Anderson to then level and edge back in front, but the Yorkshireman held his nerve on tops to secure a tie-break victory.
"I've never been stuck for words before but I am tonight - I can't believe it," said the 31-year-old. "Gary's a great competitor and a fantastic guy, but at 5-0 down I said to myself that I wasn't going out, and I dug in.
"The crowd were brilliant and they got me through the game, and I'm just so happy to win - it's uneblievable."
Winstanley now plays Blackpool's Ronnie Baxter in the second round on Thursday, after the 1998 runner-up defeated Dave Chisnall 10-7.
Chisnall hit seven 180s and a 170 finish, but never recovered from allowing Baxter to get into a 3-0 lead as the home favourite hit six maximums, finishes of 133 and 108 and two 11-darters in a fine display.
Fleetwood's Wes Newton, the number five seed, overcame World Youth Champion James Hubbard 10-5, with a pair of 91 finishes in two of the final three legs seeing him finally overcome a solid debut on the Winter Gardens stage from the 20-year-old.
Newton's second round opponent will be world number 12 Justin Pipe, who enjoyed a victory when the pair last met on the televised stage at the World Championship.
"I lost my cool on that day and let his style get to me," admitted Newton. "He's not throwing slow to put you off, that's just how he plays, and I'll be ready for that.
"We've played twice since and I've won both games, so hopefully I'll be okay on Thursday."
Pipe was a 10-4 winner against another young star, Bradford's Joe Cullen, who found himself 4-0 down after checkouts of 106 and 112 from the Taunton ace, and even a 170 finish was not enough for the 23-year-old to progress.
The second round begins on Wednesday night with four matches, including World Champion Adrian Lewis up against Andy Smith.
2007 World Matchplay champion James Wade faces Mark Walsh, two-time finalist Terry Jenkins plays five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen plays Steve Beaton.
Tuesday's winners return on Thursday night for their second round games, which will be played alongside the ties involving reigning champion Phil Taylor against Stoke rival Ian White and Andy Hamilton's clash with Mark Webster.
* Fans attending Wednesday night's event at the Winter Gardens are being invited to arrive early to be part of a special feature for Sky One's 'League Of Their Own' programme, with Andrew Flintoff, Jack Whitehall and Johnny Vegas taking to the stage around 6.15pm
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Betfair World Matchplay
First Round
Tuesday July 24
Justin Pipe 10-4 Joe Cullen
Wes Newton 10-5 James Hubbard
Gary Anderson 11-13 Dean Winstanley
Dave Chisnall 7-10 Ronnie Baxter
MATCH INFORMATION
JUSTIN PIPE 10-4 JOE CULLEN
JUSTIN PIPE secured a winning start to his Betfair World Matchplay challenge, defeating Joe Cullen 10-4 to reach round two for the second successive year at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Pipe reached the last 16 on his Blackpool debut last summer, and secured a clash with Wes Newton on Thursday with an assured display against the debutant.
Pipe made the early running to take a 4-0 lead in taking an advantage which he would retain throughout the contest, despite Cullen's efforts.
Pipe hit a 180 and double four to break in the game's opening leg, and finished 106 to double his lead in the second before adding another maximum and double eight to lead 3-0.
Both players traded 180s in the fourth, but Cullen was left waiting on 64 as Pipe powered in a 12 finish to win another leg, with the Bradford youngster finally getting off the mark in leg five, hitting a maximum and double eight.
Cullen landed a 180 for a third successive leg in the sixth, only for Pipe to hit double 16 and then finish tops as he moved 6-1 up.
Cullen recovered from misses in the previous leg to bring the Winter Gardens crowd to its feet with a superb 170 checkout as he won his second leg of the game, but Pipe finished 74 and tops to take the next two and move 8-2 up.
Cullen finished 108 on double 14 to win his third leg, but another 74 checkout from Pipe moved him a leg away from the win at 9-3.
The Taunton ace missed tops to secure victory in the next as Cullen hit the same bed to stay in the hunt, but he was unable to follow another 180 by finishing 104, and he was punished for a miss at double 16 as Pipe sealed victory on the same checkout.
"I'm very happy to get the win under my belt," said Pipe. "It wasn't as easy as the scoreline might suggest so it's great to get through.
"Joe's a great young player and it's only a matter of time before he's getting some big wins, so it's a relief to get past him, but I know it's going to very hard in the second round too."
Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Pipe hits a 180 and secures an immediate break of throw on double four.
2-0 - The world number 12 doubles his lead by taking out 106 on double 13.
3-0 - Pipe adds another 180 and posts double eight to break again and maintain a 100 average.
4-0 - The players trade 180s but Cullen is denied a shot at 64 when Pipe finishes 112 to win a fourth leg.
4-1 - Cullen lands his second 180 of the game and then finally gets a chance to finish 64, which he takes on double four.
5-1 - Cullen hits a 180 for the third successive leg, but misses a dart to break back and Pipe
6-1 - Pipe posts his fourth maximum of the game to leave 125, with Cullen hitting a 165 to leave 16 only to miss three darts for the leg and allow the Taunton ace in on tops.
6-2 - Pipe this time suffers double trouble and Cullen finishes a sensational 170 checkout to hit back.
7-2 - Pipe finishes 74 on tops to edge clear.
8-2 - The number 12 seed lands double eight to move two legs away from the win.
8-3 - Cullen finishes 108 on double 14 to win his third leg.
9-3 - Pipe moves a leg away from victory by taking out 74 on double 16.
9-4 - Pipe misses tops for the match, and Cullen finishes tops to keep the game alive.
10-4 - Cullen lands a 180, but misses double 16 for a 104 finish and Pipe steps in to finish double 16 for victory.
Match Stats
|
Justin Pipe |
10-4 |
Joe Cullen |
|
17 |
100+ |
16 |
|
10 |
140+ |
8 |
|
4 |
180 |
4 |
|
31.72 |
Ave1 |
30.97 |
|
95.15 |
Ave3 |
92.91 |
|
112,106 |
High Finish |
170,108 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
1 |
|
10/22 - 45% |
Finishing % |
4/11 - 36% |
WES NEWTON 10-5 JAMES HUBBARD
WES NEWTON denied James Hubbard a dream 20th birthday present by knocking the youngster out of the Betfair World Matchplay with a 10-5 triumph at the Winter Gardens.
World Youth Champion Hubbard continued his remarkable rise by qualifying for his World Matchplay debut after only six months as a full-time professional, and showed his promise with a solid first appearance on the Blackpool stage.
However, he was unable to match the class of the world number five as Newton progressed to a second round clash with Justin Pipe on Thursday.
Newton took the game's opening leg with a 105 finish, despite a 180 from Hubbard, who also landed a maximum in the second before hitting double one to level.
Newton hit five perfect darts at the start of leg three, which he won on double two, before Hubbard again hit back by finishing 88 on double seven - and the nex two were also shared before the Fleetwood ace found an extra gear.
He firstly hit a 180 and double eight to edge 4-3 up in leg seven, before breaking for the first time on double ten in the next to move two clear.
Hubbard landed two 180s in breaking back to win leg nine following a pair of misses from Newton, who then punished a miss at the bull from the youngster by finishing 65 on tops to move 6-5 up.
The next two legs also went against the throw, with Hubbard finishing 80 before Newton hit tops, to leave the local favourite 7-5 up, and he made a key hold of throw in the 13th leg by taking out 91 on double ten.
Hubbard hit a 180 in the next, but missed tops for a 106 finish to allow Newton in for a 62 finish, and the world number five then repeated the 91 finish to secure his second round place.
"I'm very pleased with that," said Newton. "Coming into the event I was pretty nervous because I'd not done very well in the last three weeks, and James has been in great form.
"I felt under a bit of pressure too because it's my home tournament and I want to do well for my family and all my mates who've bought tickets.
"James has been playing well coming into this event, and he's got the world at his feet. He's a young lad and a really good player, and he showed that there because he pushed me.
"I had to dig in there, and my finishing was good in the second half of the game. I did a good job and got the win, which is all that mattered, and I think that I can kick on from here now."
Newton lost to his second round opponent, Pipe, in the World Championship at Christmas, and admitted: "I lost my cool on that day and let his style get to me.
"He's not throwing slow to put you off, that's just how he plays, and I'll be ready for that. We've played twice since and I've won both games, so hopefully I'll be okay on Thursday."
Hubbard had turned 20 on Tuesday, and admitted that the defeat will be a big learning experience in his young career.
"I felt really good going up there and I showed that with five 180s," he said. "I was scoring well but Wes put me under pressure and played really well.
"I was so pleased just to qualify for the World Matchplay, so I'll learn from this and hopefully be here again next year."
Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Hubbard hits a 180 but Newton takes out 105 for the opening leg.
1-1 - Hubbard lands another maximum and eventually wins the leg on double one to level.
2-1 - Newton opens with a 180 and lands a 140 with five successive treble 20s before posting double to two to lead again.
2-2 - Hubbard finishes 88 on double seven to square the game again.
3-2 - Newton hits a 180 to leave 28, and when Hubbard misses two darts at double 16 to finish 86 the Fleetwood ace steps in to edge ahead at the break.
3-3 - Hubbard lands tops to level the game by winning the sixth leg.
4-3 - Newton opens with another maximum, and eventually lands double eight with a tricky third dart to hold throw once more.
5-3 - Newton secures the first break of the game by landing double ten.
5-4 - Hubbard breaks back, opening with a 180 and adding another maximum to leave 20, and when Newton follows a miss at the bull with two more misses at double eight the youngster steps in to hit double ten to break back.
6-4 - Hubbard misses the bull for an 83 finish to level, and Newton finishes 65 on tops to lead by two legs with a third successive break of throw.
6-5 - Hubbard breaks again by finishing 80 in two darts to cut the gap to one leg again.
7-5 - Newton secures another break, finishing 50 on tops.
8-5 - Newton takes out 91 to hold throw and edge away from the youngster.
9-5 - Hubbard hits a 180 but misses tops to take out 106, and Newton takes out 62 on double 16 to move a leg away from the win.
10-5 - Newton secures victory with another 91 finish, again hitting double ten as he seals a second round clash with Justin Pipe.
Match Stats
|
Wes Newton |
10-5 |
James Hubbard |
|
19 |
100+ |
22 |
|
12 |
140+ |
4 |
|
3 |
180 |
5 |
|
32.74 |
Ave1 |
30.07 |
|
98.23 |
Ave3 |
90.21 |
|
105 |
High Finish |
88 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
|
10/25 - 40% |
Finishing % |
5/16 - 31% |
DEAN WINSTANLEY 13-11 GARY ANDERSON
DEAN WINSTANLEY came from 5-0 down to remarkably win 13-11 in a breathtaking Betfair World Matchplay clash with Gary Anderson at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on Tuesday night.
The Yorkshireman endured a nightmare opening in his early legs on the Winter Gardens stage, with a string of missed doubles allowing Anderson to take command.
Winstanley then found his range to win eight of the next nine legs and move 8-6 up - only for Anderson to then level and edge back in front, but the Yorkshireman held his nerve on tops to secure a tie-break victory.
"I've never been stuck for words before but I am tonight - I can't believe it," said the 31-year-old. "Gary's a great competitor and a fantastic guy, but at 5-0 down I said to myself that I wasn't going out, and I dug in.
"The crowd were brilliant and they got me through the game, and I'm just so happy to win - it's uneblievable."
That elation was a long way from Winstanley's mind during the early stages of the contest, with even a 180 with his first three darts on the Winter Gardens stage unable to ease his early nerves on doubles.
Anderson took the opening leg on tops, the second on double five and then landed a 180 of his own before taking the third on double one, before punishing three misses from Winstanley in the fourth to finish tops.
The Scot then fired in an 84 checkout on double 12 to lead 5-0 at the first interval, before returning with a 180 only for Winstanley to finally get off the mark in style, hitting the bull for a 127 checkout.
Winstanley hit a 180 in the seventh, and after both players initially missed a dart for the leg he finished double 18 to pull back to 5-2.
Anderson responded with back-to-back 180s to open the next leg, and also hit a seventh treble 20 to raise hopes of a nine-darter before missing the treble 19 - although he returned to win the leg in 12 darts on tops.
Anderson added further 180s in the next two legs, only for Winstanley to find his range on tops at last, pulling back to 6-3 and then hitting the bed for an incredible four more successive legs as he took an 8-6 lead in an amazing turnaround.
Anderson won his first leg in seven on tops to halt Winstanley's charge, before the pair traded 180s in an 11-dart finish for the Scot as he levelled the contest.
Winstanley hit a 180 to leave 38 in the next as he sought to regain the advantage, only for Anderson to take out 120 to move 9-8 up in another swing - only for the drama to increase further in the 18th leg.
Winstanley landed a 180, and after Anderson had left himself on a double the debutant took out 82 with a miracle bullseye finish, having obscured the bed when his first dart landed in the single 20, before he hit 12 and moved to the right of the oche to land the middle double.
The pair traded finishes on tops to leave the scores tied at ten-all before Anderson defied a 180 from his opponent to hit the same bed and move 11-10 up - but a final twist was still to come.
Winstanley levelled on double eight and then produced a killer 13-dart leg by landing tops to regain the lead at 12-11, and despite a 180 from Anderson he was first to a finish in the next to seal victory on double top.
"It's an amazing feeling," added Winstanley. "The bull finish in the 18th leg was something special - I don't know where it came from, but in my head I said that Phil Taylor had hit won to win the World Matchplay a few years ago so why couldn't I?
"When it went in, it was like scoring a goal and it was a massive shot to get me into the game. I'll go up now and enjoy the second round on Thursday like I have tonight, and hopefully I'll get another win."
Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Winstanley hits a 180 with his first three darts on the Winter Gardens stage, but Anderson finishes tops to take the lead.
2-0 - Anderson doubles the advantage by hitting double five.
3-0 - Anderson hits a 180 but both players miss doubles before the Scot finishes five with an improvised double one, single one, double one combination.
4-0 - Winstanley misses two darts at tops and one at double ten, and Anderson steps in on tops to move four legs clear.
5-0 - Anderson finishes 84 in two darts to maintain his fine start.
5-1 - Anderson fires in a 180, but Winstanley takes out 127 on the bull to get off the mark - putting aside seven earlier missed doubles to land the middle bed,
5-2 - Winstanley hits another 180, and although he misses the bull for a 121 finish, Anderson's miss at tops to take out 120 allows him back to finish double 18.
6-2 - Anderson begins with successive 180s to threaten a nine-darter - hitting the seventh treble 20 but missing treble 19, only to return and win the leg in 12 darts on tops.
6-3 - Anderson lands his fifth 180 of the game, but missed doubles hand Winstanley a chance to break - only for the newcomer to miss three darts at tops. Anderson, though, misses two darts at double one, and Winstanley lands tops to hit back.
6-4 - Anderson hits another 180, but Winstanley takes out tops to cut the gap to two legs.
6-5 - Winstanley pulls back to within a leg by breaking Anderson's throw on tops.
6-6 - Winstanley lands his third 180 of the game and posts tops once more to level the match - putting his early troubles on the bed aside with a confident finish.
6-7 - Tops for a fifth successive leg sees Winstanley hit the front for the first time in the game.
6-8 - Winstanley hits his fourth 180 of the game to leave 85 and - inevitably - takes out the finish on tops to move two legs clear with his sixth straight leg.
7-8 - Anderson stops Winstanley's run by finishing tops.
8-8 - Both players hit 180s, and Anderson finishes 81 for an 11-darter to amazingly level.
9-8 - Winstanley hits another 180 to leave 38, but Anderson finishes 120 on tops to take the lead once again in dramatic fashion.
9-9 - The drama lifts to another level, with Winstanley hitting a 180 before Anderson - needing 96 - leaves eight, only for the Yorkshireman to finish 82 on the bull, hitting the middle double despite covering the bed with his first dart.
10-9 - Anderson moves back ahead by taking out 68 on tops.
10-10 - Winstanley is first to a finish but misses tops to take out 64, only for Anderson to fail to give himself a dart at a double on 86, and Winstanley returns to land tops to level again.
11-10 - Winstanley opens with a 180 but is unable to take out 122, and Anderson lands tops for a 60 finish to move a leg away from the win.
11-11 - Winstanley fires home double eight to level the match again.
11-12 - Winstanley breaks with a superb 13-darter, with tops putting the debutant a leg away from the victory.
11-13 - Anderson hits a 180 but Winstanley is first to a double - missing tops for the match only for Anderson to miss the same bed to finish 98, and Winstanley lands tops to secure a remarkable win.RO
Match Stats
|
Gary Anderson |
11-13 |
Dean Winstanley |
|
22 |
100+ |
24 |
|
16 |
140+ |
20 |
|
8 |
180 |
8 |
|
29.92 |
Ave1 |
31.67 |
|
89.77 |
Ave3 |
95.02 |
|
120 |
High Finish |
127 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
5 |
|
11/27 - 41% |
Finishing % |
13/30 - 43% |
RONNIE BAXTER 10-7 DAVE CHISNALL
LOCAL favourite Ronnie Baxter delighted the Winter Gardens crowd with a 10-7 Betfair World Matchplay first round win over Dave Chisnall.
Chisnall entered the tournament as the sport's form player following his brilliant run of success this year, but never recovered from seeing Baxter take an early 3-0 lead.
Chisnall hit a 180 in the game's opening leg, but was unable to punish six misses from Baxter before the 1998 finalist took the lad on double two.
Baxter landed a 180 and finished 96 for a superb 11-darter to double his lead, and then took leg three with an impressive 133 checkout to move 3-0 up.
Chisnall replied in style with a 170 checkout - the second of the night - to win leg four, and double 18 saw him break throw in the fifth to pull back to within a leg.
Another 11-darter from Baxter - featuring two 180s - saw him win a high-quality sixth leg, which saw Chisnall open with back-to-back 180s but fail to complete a nine-darter or win the leg in a further visit.
Chisnall did take two of the next three with legs of 14 and 12 darts, the latter being completed by a 136 finish, before Baxter took out double 12 to lead 6-4.
The pair then traded double ten finishes before Baxter took out 108 to lead 8-5 and edge towards victory - inspiring a reply from Chisnall, who took out a 12-darter before following a double top finish from the former finalist to land a 13-dart finish and remain in the hunt at 9-7/
Baxter, though, opened the next leg with a 180 and, although Chisnall replied with his seventh maximum of the game he was unable to prevent the local star landing double 11 to seal his second round place against Dean Winstanley.
"I'd have been satisfied with any win as long as I got to ten first, and I'm glad that I did that," said Baxter. "I went to sleep a bit and let him back after being 3-0 up, and Dave's very good at punishing your mistakes.
"Usually Blackpool's good to me, so if I can set off well like I did tonight it stands me in good stead. It's like home here and I love playing at the Winter Gardens."
Baxter had seen World Matchplay debutant Winstanley come from 5-0 down to defeat Gary Anderson 13-11 earlier in the night, and he said: "He's earned the right to be here and it was a brilliant fightback.
"He's new on the circuit and showed what he can do on the big stage, so I won't be taking him lightly."
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Chisnall hits a 180 in the game's opening leg, with both players missing doubles before Baxter lands double two to lead.
0-2 - Baxter lands his first maximum and finishes 96 in two darts to double his lead.
0-3 - Baxter takes the third leg to maintain his superb start with a 133 finish.
1-3 - Baxter hits a 180, but Chisnall finishes 170 to win his first leg of the match.
2-3 - Double 18 sees Chisnall pull back to within a leg.
2-4 - Chisnall opens with back-to-back 180s to set up a nine-dart chance, but misses a seventh treble 20 before Baxter lands two 180s of his own and tops to win an amazing leg.
3-4 - Double 18 from Chisnall gives him leg seven.
3-5 - Baxter opens with a 180, and when Chisnall misses his chance to level he returns to finish double five.
4-5 - Chisnall opens with a 180 and wins leg nine with a sensational 136 checkout as the high scoring continues.
4-6 - Double 12 sees Baxter regain his two-leg cushion.
5-6 - Chisnall lands double ten to pull back the 11th leg.
5-7 - Baxter is also accurate on double ten, finishing 80.
5-8 - Baxter secures a key hold of throw, finishing 108 on double 16.
6-8 - Chisnall hits a 180 and double 18 to hit back.
6-9 - Baxter finishes tops to move a leg away from the win.
7-9 - Chisnall opens with a 180 and lands double nine to keep the game alive.
7-10 - Baxter opens with a 180, and Chisnall lands one of his own to leave 50 - with Baxter missing double 11 to take the win on 84 only for Chisnall to miss two darts to keep the game alive, and double 11 puts the local favourite through.
Match Stats
|
Dave Chisnall |
7-10 |
Ronnie Baxter |
|
21 |
100+ |
28 |
|
7 |
140+ |
7 |
|
7 |
180 |
6 |
|
31.83 |
Ave1 |
31.51 |
|
95.49 |
Ave3 |
94.52 |
|
170,136 |
High Finish |
133,108 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
5 |
|
7/16 - 44% |
Finishing % |
10/27 - 37% |