NEWTON'S NINE-DARTER NOT ENOUGH AS LEWIS EDGES INTO SPEEDY SERVICES UK OPEN LAST 16
WES NEWTON hit a superb nine-dart finish during the fourth round of the Speedy Services UK Open in Bolton but lost 9-8 to Adrian Lewis in a thriller, as the Stoke ace was joined in the last 16 by Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, James Wade and Robert Thornton.
Newton, who was the victim of a nine-darter from Taylor in 2007, hit his perfect finish in the eighth leg of his clash with Adrian Lewis, an achievement which levelled the game at four-all.
Newton landed two 180s before finishing 141 on double 12, and will earn a £5,000 bonus should no other player achieve the feat this weekend.
However, a high-quality game went all the way as Lewis, who had been 3-1 down, moved 7-5 and 8-7 up before pouncing in the deciding leg when Newton missed three match darts.
"It's brilliant to do the nine-darter, but at the end of the day it was the match I wanted to win," said Newton. "It was an awesome game and we both gave it our all, but if you don't hit your doubles you won't win.
"I'm proud to have been involved in a game like that and I wish Adrian the best of luck."
Both players ended the game with ton-plus averages, and Lewis, who had been a 9-1 winner against Matthew Dennant in Friday's third round, said: "Wes let me in at the end there and I took my chance.
"My form's brilliant and I think if I can keep playing like this then I've got to have a great chance this weekend."
Lewis has now drawn Kevin Painter for Saturday evening's fifth round games, after the former UK Open semi-finalist came from 7-3 down to claim a brilliant 9-7 win over Gary Anderson.
Reigning champion Robert Thornton enjoyed a fine 9-5 win over Kirk Shepherd as he moved into the last 16, and he now plays two-time UK Open champion Raymond van Barneveld.
The Dutchman followed up Friday's dramatic 9-8 win over Michael Smith by defeating another Merseysider, Joey Palfreyman 9-3.
Palfreyman's younger brother Lee, a former Las Vegas Desert Classic semi-finalist, was also defeated in Saturday afternoon's fourth round as he lost 9-6 to Ronnie Baxter.
Blackpool's Baxter now meets Jelle Klaasen, who progressed to the last 16 with an impressive 9-3 win over Cheshire's Stuart Kellett.
Four-time UK Open champion Phil Taylor continued his fine start to the event with a 9-2 win over Adrian Gray, averaging 105 in a clinical performance.
Taylor will now play Brendan Dolan, with the Northern Irish ace having defeated Matt Padgett 9-6 on Saturday afternoon.
Two-time UK Open champion James Wade swept aside 2012 semi-finalist Dave Chisnall with a fine display of finishing in a 9-2 victory, and he now plays Scotland's John Henderson, who was a 9-8 winner against Kevin McDine.
Andy Hamilton came from 3-0 down to defeat former finalist John Part 9-4, and he will face York's Terry Temple in the last 16, with the world number 83 overcoming John Bowles 9-7.
Colourful Peter Wright was a 9-2 winner against the remaining Speedy Qualifier, Stephen Bunting, and he will now face Steve West, whose run in Bolton continued with a high-quality 9-6 win over Richie Burnett.
Follow score and results updates below throughout the afternoon session. Live scores can also be followed at the official PDC Live Scores website: click http://live.dartsdata.com.
Get Involved
Stay in touch with the very latest from the Speedy Services UK Open throughout the weekend through the OfficialPDC Social Media Channels:
Twitter.com/OfficialPDC - use the #SpeedyUKOpen
Facebook.com/OfficialPDC
YouTube.com/OfficialPDC
Also stay connected with Speedy Services through their @SpeedySports Twitter page!
TV Coverage
UK TV coverage live on Sky Sports - alongside international broadcasts through RTL7 in the Netherlands, Sport1 in Germany, OSN across the Middle East, Fox Sports Australia and Sky New Zealand.
LIVEPDC.TV International Pass Subscribers (outside of the UK, Ireland & Holland) can also watch live coverage from the whole tournament in www.LIVEPDC.TV.
Speedy Services UK Open
Saturday June 8
Afternoon Session (1pm)
Fourth Round (Last 32)
Best of 17 legs, played across four boards.
Fourth Round
Main Stage
Dave Chisnall 2-9 James Wade
Phil Taylor 9-2 Adrian Gray
Gary Anderson 7-9 Kevin Painter
Michael van Gerwen 9-3 Michael Mansell
Stage Two
Brendan Dolan 9-6 Matt Padgett
Joey Palfreyman 3-9 Raymond van Barneveld
Terry Jenkins 9-6 Kim Huybrechts
John Part 4-9 Andy Hamilton
Stage Three
Ronnie Baxter 9-6 Lee Palfreyman
Jelle Klaasen 9-3 Stuart Kellett
Kevin McDine 8-9 John Henderson
Wes Newton 8-9 Adrian Lewis - Wes Newton hits nine-dart finish
Stage Four
Terry Temple 9-7 John Bowles
Robert Thornton 9-5 Kirk Shepherd
Stephen Bunting 2-9 Peter Wright
Steve West 9-6 Richie Burnett
Fifth Round (7pm)
Main Stage
Raymond van Barneveld v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Brendan Dolan
Michael van Gerwen v Terry Jenkins
Adrian Lewis v Kevin Painter
Stage Two
Steve West v Peter Wright
Andy Hamilton v Terry Temple
Ronnie Baxter v Jelle Klaasen
John Henderson v James Wade