WES NEWTON hit a stunning nine-dart finish in his Betfair World Matchplay on Thursday night - but went on to lose his second round tie with Justin Pipe as Phil Taylor, Andy Hamilton and Ronnie Baxter also progressed to the quarter-finals in Blackpool.
Fleetwood's Newton delighted a capacity crowd at the Winter Gardens by hitting a nine-darter for the second successive night in the event, as he followed Michael van Gerwen in achieving a perfect leg.
With the scores tied at five-all against Pipe, the world number five hit 180 and 177 to start the 11th leg of the game, and finished 144 on double 12 to land his first televised nine-dart finish.
Newton went on to move into a 10-8 lead, only for rising star Pipe to win five successive legs and win through to his first major quarter-final.
"To do the nine-darter on TV is fantastic," said Newton. "It was an amazing feeling and I'll never forget it.
"I'm really happy to have done it but at the moment it means nothing to me because I'm so disappointed I lost the game. I've got to take my hat off to Justin, he played really well and hung in there, and he did what he had to do."
Pipe, who has risen to 12th in the PDC Order of Merit after winning five ranking events in the past year, will now play Ronnie Baxter in his first televised quarter-final on Friday.
"I'm over the moon with that, I couldn't be happier," he said. "My target this year was to do better than last year, and I want to build slowly which I'm doing at the moment."
Baxter, the 1998 World Matchplay runner-up who hails from Blackpool, won through to his eighth quarter-final in 14 attempts in the event with a 13-8 defeat of Dean Winstanley.
The Yorkshireman hit nine 180s in a heavy-scoring match but was punished for landing only eight of 32 darts at a double, with Baxter's more clinical finishing - which included checkouts of 116 and 110 - seeing him through.
"It's great to be back in the quarter-finals," said Baxter. "At times I struggled to find the treble 20 but Dean made a few mistakes and let me back in, and overall it was good."
Reigning champion Phil Taylor's bid to win a record-equalling fifth successive World Matchplay title, and a 13th since the event began in 1994, continued as he defeated Ian White 13-3 in an all-Stoke battle.
Despite the one-sided scoreline and a 170 checkout from the world number one, Taylor insisted afterwards that he must improve after recording his lowest average in the event for nine years after finishing at 91.71.
"It was a real struggle, a scrappy game," said Taylor, who now faces another all-Stoke battle against Andy Hamilton on Friday night.
"I really like Ian and I couldn't get that aggressive streak in me. I know it will be a different kettle of fish in the quarter-finals and I'll have to be ready for Andy. He's more of a grinder and a determined player."
Taylor has been using a new set of darts in this week's tournament, but shrugged off any suggestions that the change in set-up had any part to play in him hitting his lowest average in Blackpool for nine years.
"It's not the darts, it's me," he said. "It's nothing to do with the darts and in practice I'm hitting nine-darters, but it's just me.
"There's only a fraction of a change in them but I'm going to persevere and I'll get there."
Hamilton won the night's other second round game, sharing the first 12 legs against Welshman Mark Webster before pulling clear by taking seven in a row to storm to victory.
he Stoke ace also reached the same stage last year, where he came from 15-8 down to defeat Simon Whitlock, and he was delighted to be back in the latter stages.
"I think I showed a more professional approach to the game today and I competed well and did what I had to do," said Hamilton. "As the games get longer I'm playing better and I want to continue that on Friday.
"I can't wait for the quarter-finals now. I've got great memories of last year's quarter-finals but I'll have to be focused and ready."
Baxter and Pipe will kick off the quarter-finals in the afternoon session at 1pm on Friday, and will be followed by the clash between World Champion Adrian Lewis and two-time Blackpool finalist Terry Jenkins.
Taylor and Hamilton's meeting will open the evening session before 2007 champion James Wade takes on nine-dart hero Michael van Gerwen in the final match over the best of 31 legs.
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Betfair World Matchplay
Second Round
Thursday July 26
Andy Hamilton 13-6 Mark Webster - Andy Hamilton Video
Wes Newton 10-13 Justin Pipe - Wes Newton hits nine-darter -Justin Pipe Video - Wes Newton Video
Phil Taylor 13-3 Ian White
Dean Winstanley 8-13 Ronnie Baxter
Quarter-Finals - Order of Play
Friday July 27
Afternoon Session
1.10pm Justin Pipe v Ronnie Baxter
3.00pm Adrian Lewis v Terry Jenkins
Evening Session
7.10pm Phil Taylor v Andy Hamilton
9.00pm Michael van Gerwen v James Wade
MATCH INFORMATION
ANDY HAMILTON 13-6 MARK WEBSTER
ANDY HAMILTON produced a brilliant run of winning seven successive legs to book his place in the Betfair World Matchplay quarter-finals with a 13-6 defeat of Mark Webster on Thursday night.
The Stoke ace reached the last eight for a second successive year at the Winter Gardens by virtue of a rousing performance, hitting seven 180s and a key 127 finish to see off the left-hander.
Webster had hit back from 6-3 down to level at six-all, but was unable to match his opponent's high scoring in the latter stages as Hamilton progressed.
"I think I showed a more professional approach to the game today and I competed well and did what I had to do," said Hamilton. "As the games get longer I'm playing better and I want to continue that on Friday.
"Mark came back into the game because I missed a few doubles, but I can't believe I won the last seven legs in a row but my finishes went in for me tonight.
"I can't wait for the quarter-finals now. I've got great memories of last year's quarter-finals but I'll have to be focused and ready."
Webster started well by taking the opening leg on tops, but after Hamilton levelled on double eight a miss from the Welshman allowed him to break in the third leg and then finish 86 on double seven to lead 3-1.
Webster took the fifth leg on tops, but saw a chance to level go begging in the next when he missed the bull to take out 161, allowing Hamilton to finish 96.
Double ten from Webster saw him hit back but Hamilton landed two 180s in an 11-darter to win leg eight and added a further maximum and a 97 checkout to move 6-3 up.
The Stoke ace also hit a 177 in the next leg, but four missed doubles allowed Webster to break back on double 12, and he then hit double ten and tops to level the game as Hamilton began to falter.
Hamilton, though, hit two 134 scores to set up double 18 in the next as he regained the lead, and double one saw him move 8-6 up to regain a key advantage.
He then landed double five and double ten to move 10-6 up before finishing 127 after the pair had traded 180s to lead by five legs.
Double 18 edged him to the brink of victory, and a seventh 180 pushed him clear in the next leg before he finished double one to seal his quarter-final place.
Click here for video interview with Andy Hamilton at the PDC YouTube page
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Webster makes a confident start by landing tops at the first time of asking to finish 60.
1-1 - Hamilton levels by finishing 52 on double eight.
2-1 - Hamilton kicks off the leg with 140 and the game's first 180, and when Webster misses double 14 to take out 145 he returns to finish double five with his third dart to break.
3-1 - Hamilton wins his third successive leg by taking out 86 on double seven.
3-2 - Webster hits back by landing tops to finish 54 and hit back.
4-2 - Webster misses the bull to finish 161, and Hamilton steps in to finish 96 on double 18.
4-3 - Webster lands double ten with his third dart to hit back.
5-3 - Hamilton scores 180, 100 and 180 before finishing 41 on double 16 for a fine 11-darter.
6-3 - Hamilton hits his fourth 180 of the game, and takes out 97 on tops to break throw again.
6-4 - Hamilton lands a 177 and is first to a double, but misses four darts to take the leg and allows Webster back from a missed bullseye for a 164 finish to take out double 12 and break back.
6-5 - Webster takes out double ten to finish 60 to pull back to within touching distance of Hamilton.
6-6 - Hamilton misses tops and Webster makes him pay with a crucial 94 checkout, finishing tops to break throw and level the game.
7-6 - Hamilton breaks back to regain the lead, hitting two 134 scores and double 18.
8-6 - Hamilton chases his doubles around the board before moving two legs clear again on double one.
9-6 - The World Championship finalist lands double five to move three legs clear for a second time.
10-6 - Hamilton wins a fourth successive leg by landing double ten.
11-6 - Both players hit 180s, but Webster fails to get a dart at a double on 85 and Hamilton finishes a key 127 finish.
12-6 - Hamilton moves a leg away from victory by posting double 18 with his third dart.
13-6 - Hamilton lands his seventh 180 of the game, and seals victory on double one with his third dart for the match.
Match Stats
|
Andy Hamilton |
13-6 |
Mark Webster |
|
23 |
100+ |
21 |
|
7 |
140+ |
8 |
|
7 |
180 |
2 |
|
31.87 |
Ave1 |
29.24 |
|
95.62 |
Ave 3 |
87.72 |
|
127 |
High Finish |
94 |
|
5 |
Breaks of Throw |
2 |
|
13/34 - 38% |
Finishing % |
6/13 - 46% |
JUSTIN PIPE 13-10 WES NEWTON
WES NEWTON hit a stunning nine-dart finish in his Betfair World Matchplay on Thursday night - but went on to lose his second round tie with Justin Pipe 13-10.
Fleetwood's Newton delighted a capacity crowd at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool with a nine-darter for the second successive night as he followed Michael van Gerwen in achieving a perfect leg.
With the scores tied at five-all, the world number five hit 180 and 177 to start the 11th leg of the game, and finished 144 on double 12 to land his first televised nine-dart finish.
Newton went on to move into a 10-8 lead, only for rising star Pipe to win five successive legs and win through to his first major quarter-final, where he will play Ronnie Baxter on Friday.
"To do the nine-darter on TV is fantastic," said Newton. "It was an amazing feeling and I'll never forget it.
"I'm really happy to have done it but at the moment it means nothing to me because I'm so disappointed I lost the game. I've got to take my hat off to Justin, he played really well and hung in there, and he did what he had to do."
Newton made the early running, hitting a 13-darter to break throw in the opening leg and double 16 to win the second, and he also added a 180 in the third only to see Pipe take out 104 to get off the mark.
Pipe missed two darts at tops to win the fourth, but Newton was unable to convert double five to allow the Taunton man in to level the game, before the number five seed hit the bed in the fifth leg to follow a 180 and take a 3-2 lead.
Pipe added a maximum in the sixth, but Newton took out double eight to regain a two-leg lead, only for his opponent to deny him a dart at 40 in the next by finishing a brilliant 132 with two bullseyes and double 16.
Newton hit two 180s in the eighth before landing tops to lead 5-3 - only to see Pipe hit back and level as the standard rose, with both players hitting 180s in leg nine, which he won on double 19 before converting a 100 finish featuring two darts at double top.
Newton returned from the break to hit his nine-darter in stunning fashion, bringing his home crowd to its feet with a 180, a 177 and a 144 checkout on double 12 to edge 6-5 up.
He also had a dart to win the next, but missed double 19 to allow Pipe in to level on double 16 - only for Newton to follow another 180 with double 19 to lead 7-6 and double 16 for a 68 checkout to move two legs clear.
Pipe hit a 180 in taking the 15th leg, but finishes of 126 on the bull and 90 on double 15 saw Newton take a 10-8 lead either side of Pipe finishing 52 to win his eighth leg of the game after the pair traded maximums.
Pipe began his charge with a superb 13-darter in the 19th leg, and held his nerve on double eight to level at ten-all before moving ahead for the first time on double two.
He then posted double 16 to move 12-10 up and, after hitting two 180s in the next leg, overcame his own nervy doubling by punishing four misses from Newton to seal the win with double three.
"I'm over the moon with that, I couldn't be happier," "It was a fantastic game and I dug deep and kept fighting, and I was so focused tonight.
"My target this year was to do better than last year, and I want to build slowly which I'm doing at the moment."
He added: "I was willing the nine-darter in for Wes and I'm really pleased for him. We've had our history but I'm over the moon for him to hit the nine-darter, it's fantastic."
Newton conceded: "I'm hurting all over but maybe tomorrow I'll wake up and be happy with what I've done.
"For two legs after it I was shaking like a leaf. I was trying to calm down and eventually I forgot it, but I don't think I was the same player after that - I've done three nine-darters in a match and lost every one, so it's a bit of a jinx I think!"
Click here for video interview with Justin Pipe at the PDC YouTube page
Click here for video interview with Wes Newton at the PDC YouTube page
Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Newton misses double 16 to finish 131, but Pipe also misses the bed to allow the Fleetwood ace in to finish double 16 for a 13-darter.
2-0 - Newton scores 130 to leave 32, and when Pipe misses two darts at double 18 to take out 96 he returns to land double 16 again.
2-1 - Newton lands a 180 to leave 56 but misses two darts at tops, and Pipe punishes him with a 104 checkout on double 16.
2-2 - Pipe levels by edging a tense leg, initially missing two darts at tops before Newton is off-target on double five to finish 90, allowing him back to finish double top.
3-2 - Newton finishes double five to edge ahead.
4-2 - Pipe hits a 180, but Newton lands double eight to edge clear.
4-3 - The roles are reversed as Newton lands a maximum and leaves tops only to see Pipe finish 132 with a superb bull, bull, double 16 finish.
5-3 - Newton hits two 180s and finishes top for an 11-dart finish.
5-4 - Both players hit 180s, with Pipe missing the bull for a 161 finish only to return - after Newton leaves 32 - to land double 19.
5-5 - The pair leave 100, with Newton missing a second double top only to see Pipe take out the finish with single 20 and two double tops.
6-5 - WES NEWTON HITS NINE-DART FINISH! The world number five hits 180, 177 and finishes 144 with treble 20, treble 20 and double 12 to send the capacity crowd into raptures with the second nine-darter in as many nights!
6-6 - Newton misses double 19 to take out 115 and Pipe steps in to level on double 16.
7-6 - Newton hits a maximum and finishes 98 in two darts on double 19 to break throw for a fourth time in the game.
8-6 - Newton now finishes 68 on double 16 to move two legs clear.
8-7 - Pipe lands a 180 and hits double 16 himself to pull back to within a leg once more.
9-7 - The Fleetwood ace takes out 126 on the bull to win his ninth leg of the contest, maintaining an average of 102.
9-8 - The pair trade 180s, and Pipe again hits back by taking out 52.
10-8 - Newton takes a step towards victory with a quality 90 finish - hitting a tricky double 15 with his second dart at the bed.
10-9 - Pipe opens 140, 180 and finishes double 16 for a 13-dart finish.
10-10 - Pipe breaks back to level, hitting double eight with his third dart.
10-11 - Pipe makes the running and although he misses the bull for a 164 finish, he returns to eventually land double two for a third successive leg to hit the front for the first time.
10-12 - Pipe misses the bull to finish 124, but returns to finish double 16 to move to the brink of victory.
10-13 - Pipe opens with a 180, hits a 60 and then another 180 but misses four darts at double 12 and one at double six for the match before Newton misses tops to keep the game alive - only for the Taunton man to miss three darts at double three. Newton, though misses double top, ten and five and Pipe returns to hit double three to reach his first major televised quarter-final.
Match Stats
|
Wes Newton |
10-13 |
Justin Pipe |
|
19 |
100+ |
34 |
|
19 |
140+ |
16 |
|
9 |
180 |
7 |
|
32.33 |
Ave1 |
31.34 |
|
96.98 |
Ave 3 |
94.02 |
|
144,126 |
High Finish |
132,104,100 |
|
4 |
Breaks of Throw |
5 |
|
10/25 - 40% |
Finishing % |
13/37 - 35% |
PHIL TAYLOR 13-3 IAN WHITE
PHIL TAYLOR swept past Ian White 13-3 in their all-Stoke clash at the Betfair World Matchplay as he progressed to the quarter-finals at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
The reigning and 12-time World Matchplay champion will now play another Stoke star, World Championship finalist Andy Hamilton, in the last eight on Friday - but admits that he must improve after averaging just 91.71 against White.
Despite hitting an average which, by his own high standards, was disappointing, Taylor eased to the win by winning ten out of the game's final 11 legs as he pulled clear from only leading 3-2 at one stage.
Taylor took the game's first two legs courtesy of double 16 and double ten, with White hitting a 180 and double four to get off the mark in the third.
Taylor checked out 73 on double nine to take the fourth, but White landed a 171 and finished 90 on the bull in the fifth to pull back to 3-2 at the first interval.
The world number one then made a key move by winning the next three legs, with a 109 checkout sandwiched by a pair of double two finishes as he took control of the game at 6-2.
Taylor then opened the ninth leg with 180 and 174 to set up a potential nine-darter, but he missed the treble 20 for a 147 finish and then saw three darts to win the leg go begging as White hit double 14 to win his third leg.
White also landed a 180 in the next, only to miss the bull for an 87 finish and allow Taylor in on double 18, before he then took out 107 on tops and double two to lead 9-3.
White hit his fifth 180 of the game in the 13th leg, but Taylor extended his advantage with a brilliant 170 finish before posting tops and another double two - after a miss from White for a 151 checkout - to move 12-3 up, before sealing a heavy win on tops.
"It was a real struggle," said Taylor. "I really like Ian and I couldn't get that aggressive streak in me.
"It was a weird game, scrappy, and I don't think we liked playing each other.
"I know it will be a different kettle of fish in the quarter-finals and I'll have to be ready for Andy. He's more of a grinder and a determined player."
Taylor has been using a new set of darts in this week's tournament, but shrugged off any suggestions that the change in set-up had any part to play in him hitting his lowest average in Blackpool for nine years.
"It's not the darts, it's me," he said. "It's nothing to do with the darts and in practice I'm hitting nine-darters, but it's just me.
"There's only a fraction of a change in them but I'm going to persevere and I'll get there."
Leg-By-Leg
1-0 - Taylor finishes double 16 with his third dart at the bed.
2-0 - White opens with a 180, but misses tops to punish a miss at the same bed from Taylor, who returns to land double ten.
2-1 - White kicks off with another maximum and adds a 140 before winning the leg on double four.
3-1 - Taylor finishes 73 on double nine to move two legs clear.
3-2 - White hits a 171 to be first to a finish, and takes out 90 on the bull to reduce the gap to one leg.
4-2 - Taylor wins his fourth leg by landing double two with his sixth dart at a double.
5-2 - Taylor finishes 109 on tops to beak throw.
6-2 - White lands a 180, but misses double 16 and eight and Taylor returns to finish double two.
6-3 - Taylor sets up a potential nine-dart finish by opening with 180 and 174, but misses the treble 20 on the 147 finish - and misses three darts to win the leg to allow White back from a miss at double 14 for a 148 finish to hit the same bed at the second time of asking.
7-3 - White misses the bull to finish 87 and Taylor lands double 18 to move four legs clear.
8-3 - Taylor takes out 107 on tops to win a key leg, breaking throw to pull further ahead of his Stoke rival.
9-3 - White is unable to finish 139 and Taylor finishes double two to edge towards the winning line.
10-3 - White posts his fifth 180 of the game, but Taylor wins his tenth leg in style with a brilliant 170 checkout.
11-3 - Taylor takes another step towards victory by finishing 57 on tops.
12-3 - White misses tops for a 151 finish and three further darts for the leg before Taylor steps in on double two to move to the brink of victory.
13-3 - Taylor seals victory on double top and sets up another all-Stoke clash in the quarter-finals, against Andy Hamilton.
Match Stats
|
Phil Taylor |
13-3 |
Ian White |
|
23 |
100+ |
18 |
|
9 |
140+ |
7 |
|
2 |
180 |
5 |
|
30.57 |
Ave1 |
29.59 |
|
91.71 |
Ave 3 |
88.78 |
|
170,109,107 |
High Finish |
90 |
|
5 |
Breaks of Throw |
0 |
|
13/35 - 37% |
Finishing % |
3/19 - 16% |
RONNIE BAXTER 13-8 DEAN WINSTANLEY
RONNIE BAXTER won a place in the Betfair World Matchplay quarter-finals with a hard-fought 13-8 win over Dean Winstanley, who hit nine 180s but saw his debut campaign at the Winter Gardens end in the second round.
Blackpool-based Baxter followed up his first round win over Dave Chisnall on Tuesday with a clinical performance to see off Winstanley - hitting 45 percent of his chances at a double, as opposed to just one in four from the Yorkshireman.
The pattern was set for a thriller early on, with both players hitting 180s in the first leg only for Winstanley to miss two darts at doubles to allow Baxter in on double 16.
He added two further 14-dart finishes, courtesy of double eight and an 83 checkout, to maintain his superb start before Winstanley took the third leg in the same fashion on double eight.
Both players missed doubles in the fifth as Baxter returned to post double eight to win his fourth leg, and after Winstanley took his second on tops it was the 1998 runner-up who took the seventh on double five following five misses from his opponent.
Winstanley hit 180s in taking the game's next two legs as he cut the gap to 5-4, and he punished two misses from Baxter to then level on double five in the tenth leg.
Baxter hit double ten in the next, though, to regain the lead, and then finished 85 on the bull and 110 to move into an 8-5 lead - taking an advantage he would never lose.
Both players hit 180s in the 14th leg, which Winstanley took by finishing 60, before Baxter defied further maximums from his opponent to win the next two, which were followed by a 14-darter as he moved into an 11-6 lead.
Winstanley fought back in style by following a 13-darter with a brilliant ten-dart finish, but three missed doubles in the next proved costly as Baxter finished 74 in two darts to move 12-8 up and then sealed the win with a 116 checkout.
"It's great to be back in the quarter-finals," said Baxter. "At times I struggled to find the treble 20 but Dean made a few mistakes and let me back in, and overall it was good.
"I've always said that 180s don't win you anything - look at Wes, he's hit a nine-darter tonight and it didn't win him the game. It's all about consistency and if you can't get that on doubles then you can't win."
Leg-By-Leg
0-1 - Both players hit 180s in the opening leg, but Winstanley misses two darts to take the leg and Baxter finishes double 16 to win the opener.
0-2 - Double eight from Baxter sees him double his lead with a break of throw.
0-3 - Baxter finishes 83 on double 16 to move three legs clear.
1-3 - Double eight sees Winstanley win his first leg of the game.
1-4 - Baxter misses double eight to take out 96, but Winstanley is unable to make him pay - with the Yorkshireman needing 34 but hitting the double, and not single, two before missing two darts at double 15 to allow the home favourite in on double eight.
2-4 - Winstanley finishes 72 on tops to win his second leg.
2-5 - Winstanley is first to a finish, but misses five darts at doubles across three visits to allow Baxter to finish double five.
3-5 - Winstanley fires in his third 180 and lands double five to hit back.
4-5 - WInstanley opens with a 180, and finishes tops with a fine third dart at the bed after his first two darts had landed on the top wire of the bed.
5-5 - Baxter misses two darts at tops to punish some wayward doubling from Winstanley, who returns to hit double five to level.
5-6 - Baxter hits double ten to regain the lead.
5-7 - Baxter finishes 85 on the bull to move two legs clear with a break of throw.
5-8 - Baxter takes out 110 on tops to win a third successive leg.
6-8 - Despite landing a 180, Baxter is punished for a miss at double 16 as Winstanley lands tops.
6-9 - Baxter returns from three misses to land double five and regain his three-leg cushion.
6-10 - Winstanley hits a 180 but misses tops and Baxter steps in to finish double 16.
6-11 - Baxter lands his third maximum of the game, and finishes 40 by hitting an improvised double one, double 19 combination.
7-11 - Winstanley hits his eighth 180 of the game and finishes double ten.
8-11 - Winstanley produces a superb ten-dart leg, hitting 180, 140, 145 and double 18.
8-12 - Winstanley is first to a finish, but misses one dart at tops and two at double ten to let Baxter in, and he finishes 74 in two darts on double 16 to move to the brink of victory.
8-13 - Baxter finishes 116 on tops to win an entertaining clash and book his quarter-final place.
Match Stats
|
Dean Winstanley |
8-13 |
Ronnie Baxter |
|
26 |
100+ |
41 |
|
13 |
140+ |
11 |
|
9 |
180 |
3 |
|
31.20 |
Ave1 |
31.08 |
|
93.60 |
Ave 3 |
93.23 |
|
72 |
High Finish |
116,110 |
|
2 |
Breaks of Throw |
4 |
|
8/32 - 25% |
Finishing % |
13/29 - 45% |
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