Ladbrokes World Championship Day Two

FORMER Ladbrokes World Darts Championship winners Phil Taylor and John Part eased into the second round of the 2013 tournament with victories over Michael Mansell and Joe Cullen at Alexandra Palace

Taylor swept aside the challenge of Northern Ireland's Michael Mansell with a straight sets victory, dropping only one leg and finishing over 50 percent of his chances at a double.

The 15-time World Champion will now play Dutch debutant Jerry Hendriks in the second round next Friday, and was relieved to get his challenge to claim the £200,000 title and the new Sid Waddell Trophy underway without any problems.

"It wasn't the most convincing performance I've ever had and it was a struggle," admitted Taylor. "I could see Michael was struggling and I played the player.

"I'll need to improve in the next round but I was practising really well and I'm really pleased to have won 3-0, so I can go and prepare for the next round.

"Jerry was superb this afternoon and I had thought I'd be playing Wayne Jones, so I'll be on my guard."

Three-time World Champion John Part also moved into the last 32 without dropping a set in his contest with youngster Joe Cullen, hitting three ton-plus checkouts as he set up a second round clash with Terry Jenkins.

"The first round of any tournament's hard, especially the World Championship, and it was important I got ahead of Joe early," said Part. "Joe's a good opponent and we were pretty even, but I hung in there and my finishing was important.

"It's going to be an interesting match against Terry in the second round and it's a game which is probably worthy of being further in a tournament than the last 32. We've had some great games in the past and I'm looking forward to it."

Dave Chisnall, who knocked out Taylor in the second round of last year's World Championship, was another 3-0 winner as he overcame Australian Shane Tichowitsch, who hit finishes of 144 and 161 but lost two of the three sets in the deciding leg.

"Shane played a really good game and I had to dig in and play well to come through it," said Chisnall. "He played well in the first two sets but I was too strong for him in the deciding legs and that was important.

"I've been working hard on my doubles because that's what's let me down in some recent tournaments, but it paid off today."

Denis Ovens was the other player to progress to the second round on Saturday night, as he defeated German prospect Max Hopp 3-2 to set up a clash next weekend with reigning champion Adrian Lewis.

Hopp, a 16-year-old debutant, impressed with a 4-1 preliminary round win over South African qualifier Charl Pietersen, and threatened an upset against the veteran professional when he led 2-1 in sets.

Ovens, though, took the last six legs without reply to progress, erasing the memory of his disappointment when he had to withdrawn during his first round clash with another German, Kevin Munch, a year ago due to back spasms.

"A week before last year's World Championship I was playing the best darts of my life but then my back went and I've been struggling with thoracic outlet syndrome since," he said.

"It's a struggle but I'm pleased to get through and I'll look forward to playing Adrian next. All the pressure's on him because he's the reigning champion."

Hendriks and Jenkins had been amongst Saturday's afternoon session winners at Alexandra Palace, alongside Northern Irish debutant Daryl Gurney and Welsh ace Richie Burnett.

Hendriks was a straight sets winner on his debut against Wayne Jones, while Jenkins swept aside Steve Brown in the same manner.

Irish Matchplay champion Gurney followed up his 4-3 preliminary round win over Croatia's Robert Marijanovic with a 3-1 defeat of Andy Smith as he moved into the second round, where he meets Chisnall.

Burnett, meanwhile, fended off a rousing comeback from World Youth Champion James Hubbard before sealing his last 32 spot with a narrow 3-2 victory.

The former World Champion had taken the game's opening six legs as Hubbard, on his debut, struggled to settle on the Alexandra Palace stage, before he took the next two sets to level.

The pair shared the first four legs of the decider, only for Burnett to win the next two to take the set 4-2 and victory.

The first round continues on Sunday night, when 2007 World Champion Raymond van Barneveld opens his challenge against youngster Michael Smith.

The tournament's last two beaten finalists, Andy Hamilton and Gary Anderson, are also in action, with the 2012 runner-up meeting James Richardson and the Scottish ace, who lost in the final two years ago, playing either Jarkko Komula or Jani Haavisto, who meet in an all-Finnish preliminary round game.

Former World Grand Prix finalist Brendan Dolan will open the evening's games when he meets debutant Mark Jones as the third day of the tournament is held at London's Alexandra Palace.

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Ladbrokes World Darts Championship
Saturday December 15
Afternoon Session
1x Preliminary Round, 4x First Round
Wayne Jones 0-3 Jerry Hendriks
Daryl Gurney 4-3 Robert Marijanovic (P)
Richie Burnett 3-2 James Hubbard
Terry Jenkins 3-0 Steve Brown
Andy Smith 1-3 Daryl Gurney

Evening Session
1x Preliminary Round, 4x First Round
Dave Chisnall 3-0 Shane Tichowitsch
Max Hopp 4-1 Charl Pietersen (P)
John Part 3-0 Joe Cullen
Phil Taylor 3-0 Michael Mansell
Denis Ovens 3-2 Max Hopp

Match Reports
Jerry Hendriks 3-0 Wayne Jones
(3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
JERRY HENDRIKS enjoyed a fantastic Ladbrokes World Championship debut as he knocked out the number 32 seed Wayne Jones in straight sets.

The Dutchman edged the opening set after Jones missed chances to win it and also won the second set 3-2 before going to seal a place in the last 32 with a 156 checkout.

Jones started the game well by taking the first leg with an 81 finish, completed on the bullseye, but missed two chances to break in the next, allowing Hendriks to level on double one.

Jones recorded an excellent 11-darter to edge ahead but Hendriks hit double eight to win the fourth, after missing a dart at the bullseye for a 170 checkout.

A tense deciding leg saw Hendriks just fall short of double top for a 102 checkout, but two missed two darts at doubles from the Wolverhampton man allowed him to return and hit double five.

After taking the first set, the Dutchman opened the second with a maximum before converting a 74 finish to take the first leg.

Jones won the next in just 15 darts, before Hendriks won the third thanks to an accurate third dart on double five.

Jones hit double 16 to win the fourth, but the deciding leg again fell the way of the 24-year-old Dutchman, as he landed double 16 at the first time of asking to leave the former semi-finalist in deep trouble.

Hendriks won the first leg of set three against the darts before Jones fought back by taking the second with a 116 finish to break back.

Jones hit a 15-darter to win the third leg before Hendriks took the fourth with a clinical 116 finish to move a leg away from victory.

Hendriks kicked off the deciding leg with a 180 but Jones hit a maximum of his own to leave 36, but Hendriks ended Jones’ hopes as he produced a fabulous 156 checkout to claim a superb victory.

“I was a little bit edgy as it’s my first time on such a big stage as this," admitted Hendriks, who plays either Phil Taylor or Michael Mansell in round two.

“We both had chances but I took mine very well and I’m so happy to have won against such good player like Wayne."

He added: “I would love to play Phil in the World Championship. We have already played on television in the European Championship a couple of months ago and it was a really good game.”

Match Stats

Daryl Gurney 4-3 Robert Marijanovic
DARYL GURNEY came through an entertaining Ladbrokes World Darts Championship preliminary round encounter against Croatian Robert Marijanovic with a 4-3 victory.

Gurney led 2-1 but fell 3-2 down to the Croatian, before taking the last two legs to set up a first round clash against Andy Smith.

Gurney produced the better scoring in the opening leg of the contest, but four missed darts at doubles proved costly as Marijanovic stepped in to hit tops at the first attempt to take an early lead.

The Northern Irishman put that disappointment behind him as he won the second leg on double eight, before converting a clinical 100 finish in two darts to lead the match.

Marijanovic took out 73 to win the fourth leg and won the fifth on double 18 to lead for the second time, after Gurney was off-target with an attempt at bullseye.

Gurney set up a deciding leg by taking out a 61 finish, before wrapping up the game thanks to an accurate third dart at double eight.

Match Stats

Richie Burnett 3-2 James Hubbard
(3-0, 3-0, 1-3, 2-3, 4-2)
RICHIE BURNETT came through an enthralling see-saw encounter against James Hubbard to reach the last 32 of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a narrow 3-2 victory on Saturday afternoon.

Burnett dominated the opening exchanges as he won the first six legs of the contest to establish a 2-0 lead, with Hubbard struggling to settle on his World Championship debut.

However, the World Youth Champion fought back well to win the third set and then took the fourth, after Burnett missed three chances to win the match.

The 1995 Lakeside Champion let three more chances go begging in the decider, before finally crossing the finish line 4-2 in a final set tie-break.

Burnett made a bright start as he hit double nine to win the first leg, and followed that with a 76 finish before wrapping up the first set comfortably by hitting double top at the first time of asking.

Hubbard was struggling to find his range, and Burnett won his fourth leg in a row at the start of the second set by hitting double top to break throw.

Burnett hit double five with his third dart in the second leg, after Hubbard was off-target with two attempts to get a leg on the board, and the former World Champion hit double 12 in the next to establish a two-set lead.

Hubbard won the first leg of set three after being let off the hook by Burnett, who missed a total of 11 darts at doubles to take a seventh straight leg.

Burnett levelled by landing double five, but Hubbard regained the lead by hitting double 15 with his third dart, after his opponent was off-target with one dart at double four.

Hubbard, who won the PDC Unicorn Youth Championship in May, thenhit double five to win the set and get himself back into the match.

Hubbard continued his good form at the start of set four with a 101 checkout, but missed a host of chances in the second leg, allowing Burnett to step in on double ten.

Burnett converted an excellent 12-dart finish to move a leg away from the match, but let three chances to win the contest slip by in the next and Hubbard capitalised by hitting double ten with a pressure third dart.

The deciding leg of the set saw Hubbard convert an excellent 101 checkout to continue his fightback and send the match into a final set.

The tension began to grow at the start of the fifth set, as both players missed chances to win the opening leg, which Burnett eventually claimed on double six.

Hubbard won the second leg on double ten after Burnett was guilty of wasting three opportunities at doubles.

The Welshman recorded an excellent 92 finish to move a leg away from the match for a second time, but three more missed darts at doubles allowed Hubbard a chance at double 12, which he duly took.

Burnett edged ahead again by hitting double four and consistent scoring in the next leg from Welshman saw him leave 32 after 15 darts, and he hit double 16 at the first attempt to win the match.

“Things were really comfortable for me early on, probably a bit too comfortable and that’s when things started to go wrong," said a relieved Burnett.

“I should have got through far more easily but the demons in my head took over and it became a really hard battle.

"My knees were knocking and my head was spinning but I still believed I would win, which I eventually did, and I can take something good from this experience having come out of it on the right side.”

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins 3-0 Steve Brown
(3-0, 3-1, 3-2)
TERRY JENKINS put together a strong first round performance to end Steve Brown’s hopes of glory in the 2013 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

The Ledbury ace, a semi-finalist two years ago, dropped just three legs during the course of the match and will now face John Part or Joe Cullen in the second round.

“Once I gained an early advantage I was determined to not let it slip and I managed to do that," said the number nine seed.

“A few people have talked me down coming into this tournament and that’s given me a bit more motivation but my game's good.”

Jenkins fired in a 180 in the process of claiming the first leg of the contest, before breaking his opponent’s throw at the first attempt thanks to an accurate dart at double top.

Brown hit a maximum in the third leg but it was not enough to stop Jenkins, as he hit tops for the second leg running to claim the first set in clinical fashion.

The Bristol ace won his first leg of the contest by taking out 76 at the start of set two, but Jenkins soon levelled by taking the next in just 13 darts.

A missed dart at tops from Brown in the third leg proved costly as Jenkins hit the same bed to secure a break of throw, and he then hit double five in the next to confirm a two-set lead.

Both players held throw in the opening two legs of the third sets, and Jenkins continued that trend as he hit double top once again to move a leg away from victory.

Brown continued to fight and hit tops to force a deciding leg, but Jenkins landed double eight to end a fine display.

Match Stats

Daryl Gurney 3-1 Andy Smith
(3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0)
DARYL GURNEY condemned Andy Smith to his second successive first round exit in the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a four-set victory on Saturday afternoon.

The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland followed up his earlier preliminary round win over Croatian Robert Marijanovic by knocking out the number 21 seed.

He put his stamp on the contest by winning the opening two sets before going on claim victory against Smith, who missed a total of 28 darts at doubles in the game.

“My goal at the start of the day was to get through the preliminary round game, so to win and get a place in the second round is a huge bonus," said a delighted Gurney.

“I was close to losing to Marijanovic, so when I was walking out to play Andy, I wanted to enjoy the experience.

"I did get a bit lucky as he missed a quite a few doubles during the course of the game but I took the chances I was given.”

Two missed doubles from Smith in the opening leg allowed Gurney to secure an early break before the newcomer fired in a 180 in the process of winning the second.

Smith hit double top in third leg, but the Northern Irishman took the next with an excellent 13-dart finish to wrap up the first set in style.

Gurney hit a 180 in the first leg of the second set, but Smith produced the more consistent scoring and won the leg against the darts thanks to an accurate attempt at tops.

However, Smith immediately relinquished the advantage as he missed two darts at double top, which gave Gurney the chance to hit double 18, which he duly accepted.

Two more missed darts at doubles were again costly for Smith in the next as Gurney hit double nine with his third dart.

Gurney, who defeated Croatia’s Robert Marijanovic 4-3 earlier in the afternoon, then won his third straight leg by hitting double 16 to leave the number 21 seed two sets down.

Smith made a winning start to the third set by hitting double nine, but then wasted nine darts at doubles for a break of throw and Gurney managed to level on double one.

Smith regained the lead by hitting double four, but Gurney won the fourth leg with a superb 122 checkout to move a leg away from the triumph.

A dramatic deciding leg saw Gurney miss a dart for the match as his attempt at the bullseye for a 170 checkout fell just wide, and Smith hit double 14 to keep his hopes alive by sealing set three.

Gurney converted a 74 finish, landing double 16 with his third dart, to win the opening leg of the fourth set after Smith missed three chances at tops to move ahead.

Smith was made to pay for more missed doubles in the next as Gurney hit double nine to go a leg from victory for the second time.

Smith was unable to his opponent’s scoring in the third leg as Gurney produced consistent scoring to leave 68 after 12 darts and he went to his double 16 to confirm an excellent victory.

Match Stats

Evening Session
Dave Chisnall 3-0 Shane Tichowitsch
(3-2, 3-2, 3-1)
DAVE CHISNALL set up a last 32 clash against Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney courtesy of a straight-sets victory over s Shane Tichowitsch in the first round of the 2013 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

The scoreline did not tell the whole story of the match as the Australian left-hander produced a fine performance which included checkouts of 144 and 161.

Chisnall, however, hit the vital doubles to edge the first two sets before ending the Australian’s hopes of progression.

Tichowitsch, making his second appearance at Alexandra Palace, won the first leg against the darts before Chisnall immediately broke back by hitting double 12.

Both players produced high-quality darts in the third leg as they began with 180s, and Tichowitsch left 28 after 12 darts only to see Chisnall convert an excellent 93 finish.

The St Helens ace kicked-off leg four with another maximum, but two missed darts at double top to win the set proved costly as the Australian managed to hit double ten.

Chisnall, who was conqueror of Phil Taylor in last year’s event, made no mistake in the deciding leg as he completed a 13-dart finish on double 18 to secure an early advantage.

Tichowitsch fired in a superb 144 checkout to begin the second set before Chisnall levelled by taking the second leg on double nine.

Chisnall finished 65 in two darts to win the third leg, before Tichowitsch produced more fantastic finishing by taking out a 161 checkout to force a deciding leg.

The Australian held the advantage of throw in the fifth leg, but Chisnall gained the initiative and a successful attempt at double 18 put the number 12 seed two sets clear.

Chisnall defied a 180 from Tichowitsch to win the first leg of the third set on double four before the Australian levelled by hitting tops at the first time of asking.

Chisnall completed an 85 finish on the bullseye to move a leg away from victory, which was duly secured as he hit double eight at the first attempt to progress to round two.

“Shane played a really good game tonight, and I had to dig in and play well to come through it,” said Chisnall.

“The 161 checkout he produced was brilliant and he probably deserved more than he got, but I’m happy to get the win and I’ll look forward to playing Daryl in the next round.”

Match Stats

Max Hopp 4-1 Charl Pietersen
MAX HOPP produced an eye-catching debut performance in the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a 4-1 victory over South Africa’s Charl Pietersen in their preliminary round.

The German teenager, who impressed at the Dutch Darts Masters in October by knocking out Terry Jenkins and Steve Beaton, started confidently by winning the first leg on double four.

The second soon followed with the aid of a 180 before Pietersen reduced the deficit to 2-1 by landing double five.

Hopp hit double 16 to move a leg away from victory and then capitalised on two missed darts at double top from South African as he converted a 96 finish to win the match in style.

“I’m delighted that I won with a good performance, considering it’s my first time here,” said Hopp, who will now face Denis Ovens in the first round later on Saturday evening.

“I really enjoyed the whole experience and coming out on to a stage like this is incredible. I’m looking forward to taking on Denis Ovens now and I’ll enjoy it, whatever happens.”

Match Stats

John Part 3-0 Joe Cullen
(3-1, 3-2, 3-1)
JOHN PART overcame talented youngster Joe Cullen with a 3-0 victory in the first round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship, and will now face Terry Jenkins for a place in the last 16 at Alexandra Palace.

The three-time World Champion produced some clinical finishing throughout the game and recorded three ton-plus checkouts as he made a strong start to his challenge.

"Joe outscored me tonight and hit more 180s but my finishing has been my strength recently, as I showed in the Grand Slam of Darts," said the Canadian.

"I'll look forward to playing Terry in the last 32. We've played each other numerous times in the past and no doubt the game next Friday will be a good one.

"He's playing very well right now, but I've got a lot of experience in televised tournaments and know how to get the job done."

Part started well by breaking his opponent’s throw at the first opportunity with an accurate dart at double 16.

Cullen secured an immediate break back by hitting double eight before Part regained the advantage with a 108 finish.

The fourth leg saw Cullen guilty of missing six opportunities at doubles, and in typical fashion Part took the chance to claim the opening set by hitting double eight.

Cullen fired in a 180 in the first leg of set two before Part won the opener with a superb 127 checkout to continue his fine start.

The youngster levelled by landing double 16 after Part failed with three darts at doubles, before returning to form by taking out 85 in two-darts to win the third leg.

Cullen hit double 19 to force a deciding leg, but Part posted double four to complete a 64 finish and increase his lead to 2-0.

The Bradford thrower hit his third 180 of the game at the start of set three, but a missed dart at double ten proved costly as Part continued his clinical finishing by taking out 70 in two darts.

Part hit double ten to move a leg away from victory, before Cullen landed double 16 at the first attempt to keep the match alive.

Cullen produced the better scoring in the fourth leg, but a missed dart at double top allowed Part a chance of a 108 finish, which he duly converted for the second time in the game to seal victory in style.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor 3-0 Michael Mansell
(3-1, 3-0, 3-0)
PHIL TAYLOR made smooth progress through to round two of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a straight-sets victory over Northern Ireland’s Michael Mansell.

The 15-time World Champion dropped just one leg in the contest and will now face Dutch youngster Jerry Hendriks, who recorded an impressive victory against Wayne Jones, in the second round next Friday.

“I wasn’t very pleased with my game tonight, but I got the 3-0 win and that's what matters,” admitted Taylor. “I think I was under-par but Michael was struggling quite a lot, and I’m into the tournament now so I can up my performance for the next round.”

Taylor hit double one to claim the opening after struggling to find the winning double, before Mansell won the second with an 82 finish to level.

The world number one secured a second a break of throw by hitting double ten and then hit the same double to seal an early advantage by wrapping up the first set.

Taylor hit double 12 to make a winning start to the second set before stepping up a gear in the next leg as he hit a 180 followed by a two-dart 63 finish and then took out 76 for the set.

Taylor continued to pile the pressure on Mansell as he hit a 13-darter win the first leg of set three, before hitting double top at the first attempt after the Northern Irishman was off-target with two attempts at double ten.

The end was swift for Mansell, as Taylor converted a 68 finish in two-darts to progress to the last 32, ending the game with a 53 percent checkout percentage.

Match Stats

Denis Ovens 3-2 Max Hopp
(2-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0, 3-0)
DENIS OVENS came from behind on two occasions to end the hopes of exciting German youngster Max Hopp with a five-set victory in the first round of the 2013 Ladbrokes World Darts Championship.

The three-time UK Open semi-finalist, the older of the two players by almost 40 years, had seen his Alexandra Palace challenge end 12 months earlier when he had to withdraw due to back spasms during his clash with another German, Kevin Munch.

And Hopp threatened to add further agony for the veteran when he won two of the first three sets to put himself within touching distance of a last 32 spot.

Ovens, though. used his years of experience to put together a run of six straight legs to win the final two sets without reply and set up a second round clash against reigning champion Adrian Lewis.

Both players held their throw in the opening two legs of the contest before Ovens secured a break of throw thanks to landing double 16.

Hopp hit double eight to force a deciding leg, which the German teenager won on double two to draw first blood.

Ovens won the opening leg of set two before Hopp landed double 12 in the second, despite a 180 from his opponent.

Ovens hit double 16 to win the third leg, but missed a dart at the same double to win the set and Hopp stepped in to force a deciding leg.

The Stevenage thrower then produced his best darts of the match as he hit scores of 140 and 135, followed a two-dart 62 finish to level the match at one set apiece.

Ovens converted a 91 finish to make a winning start to the third set, before Hopp hit back to win the second leg on double eight.

Hopp hit double top to win the third leg and then repeated the trick in the next to the lead the match for the second time, after Ovens missed one dart at the same bed.

Ovens hit a 180 at the start of set four and won the first leg on double four before breaking the German’s throw in the next, with an accurate attempt at double 18.

Two missed darts at doubles from Hopp in the next leg allowed Ovens an opportunity to take out 80, which he duly converted to send the match into a deciding set.

Ovens broke Hopp’s throw at the start of the final set by landing double eight and followed that by hitting tops in the next, to win his fifth leg in a row, before wrapping up the match in the next by landing double 18.

"A week before last year's World Championship I was playing the best darts of my life but then my back went and I've been struggling with thoracic outlet syndrome since," he said.

"It's a struggle but I'm pleased to get through and I'll look forward to playing Adrian next. All the pressure's on him because he's the reigning champion."

Match Stats