NINE-DARTER NOT ENOUGH FOR SMITH IN GIBRALTAR DARTS TROPHY AS BIG GUNS PROGRESS
ROSS SMITH hit a nine-dart finish at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy on Saturday, but went on to lose his second round clash with Adrian Lewis 6-5, as Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and James Wade all progressed to the last 16 at the Victoria Stadium.
Bolton-based Smith, a winner on the PDC Unicorn Challenge Tour this year, wrote his name into the history books by achieving his perfect leg during Saturday's clash with Lewis.
He trailed 4-2 before opening the seventh leg with back-to-back 180s, and finished 141 with treble 20, treble 15 and double 18 to complete his nine-dart finish, which puts him in line for a £3,600 bonus.
Lewis took the game's eighth leg, but Smith won the next two to force a deciding leg, only for the two-time World Champion to show his class with a 13-darter as he edged into the third round.
"It's a magnificent achievement to hit the nine-darter and it's not sunk in yet," said Smith. "I've missed double 18 a few times before so I'm glad it went in.
"It's obviously disappointing that I went on to lose but it's a learning curve for me and maybe it played on my mind a bit for the rest of the match, but Adrian played some great darts."
Lewis had also been on the receiving end of a nine-darter in the Speedy Services UK Open earlier this month, against Wes Newton, before going on to take the win.
"I'm getting used to this after Wes hit a nine-darter against me in Bolton, and Ross was fantastic tonight," said Lewis. "He pushed me all the way but I found some great darts under pressure in the last leg.
"My performance was a bit patchy in places but I hit the right shots at the right time to get myself out of jail."
Lewis will now play Jamie Caven in Sunday afternoon's third round, after the Derby ace averaged 104.67 in a superb 6-2 win over Ian White earlier in the day.
Michael van Gerwen's bid to win a third successive European Tour title continued as he saw off Scott Rand 6-2, sharing the opening four legs before finding another gear to reel off four in a row to progress.
The Dutch ace will play Colin Lloyd in round three, with the Essex thrower having defeated Finland's Jani Haavisto 6-4 in their last 32 contest.
World Champion Phil Taylor dropped just one leg in his 6-1 win over Dean Winstanley, which sets him up for a last 16 contest with Dutch qualifier Leon De Geus, who knocked out Canadian legend John Part by the same scoreline.
World number four James Wade again impressed as he edged out Ronnie Baxter 6-5, with the Blackpool ace having taken out 131 in moving 5-4 up only for the left-hander to finish 120 to force a decider, which he won in 12 darts with a 108 finish.
Wade will face Kevin Painter in the third round, with the former Players Championship Finals winner in fine form as he defeated Austria's Mensur Suljovic 6-1.
Andy Hamilton edged out Gary Anderson in a high-quality 11-leg contest which saw the Scot come from 3-0 down to lead 5-3 only to miss one match dart before the UK Open finalist finished 95 in the deciding leg.
Hamilton now faces Dave Chisnall, who averaged 104.76 in a superb display to defeat emerging Josh Payne 6-1.
Kim Huybrechts also impressed as he took under 13 minutes to whitewash Richie Burnett 6-0, hitting two ton-plus finishes in the process as he set up a third round date with Peter Wright.
Wright had earlier stared defeat in the face against Paul Amos, who missed one match dart in the tenth leg before seeing last weekend's Players Championship winner progress in a deciding leg.
Steve Beaton and Jamie Lewis were also 6-5 winners, against Connie Finnan and Robert Thornton respectively.
Beaton now meets John Henderson, who defeated Justin Pipe 6-4 in a game which saw the Taunton player compete only hours after learning of the sudden loss of his brother.
Welsh youngster Lewis, meanwhile, now takes on Bristol's Steve Brown, who came from 2-0 down to take a 6-3 win over Paul Nicholson.
Sunday afternoon's third round is followed in the evening session by the decisive quarter-finals, semi-finals and final as the destiny of the £20,000 title is decided.
The tournament is being streamed live through www.LIVEPDC.TV and also through the William Hill website.
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The tournament will also streamed live online worldwide through www.LIVEPDC.TV and also through the William Hill website.
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Gibraltar Darts Trophy
European Tour Event Five
Saturday June 29
Second Round
Afternoon Session
John Part 1-6 Leon De Geus
Peter Wright 6-5 Paul Amos
Robert Thornton 5-6 Jamie Lewis
John Henderson 6-4 Justin Pipe
Jani Haavisto 4-6 Colin Lloyd
Paul Nicholson 3-6 Steve Brown
Ian White 2-6 Jamie Caven
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Josh Payne
Evening Session
Adrian Lewis 6-5 Ross Smith - Ross Smith hits nine-dart finish
Mensur Suljovic 1-6 Kevin Painter
Ronnie Baxter 5-6 James Wade
Michael van Gerwen 6-2 Scott Rand
Connie Finnan 5-6 Steve Beaton
Phil Taylor 6-1 Dean Winstanley
Kim Huybrechts 6-0 Richie Burnett
Andy Hamilton 6-5 Gary Anderson
Third Round
Michael van Gerwen v Colin Lloyd
Jamie Caven v Adrian Lewis
Kevin Painter v James Wade
Jamie Lewis v Steve Brown
Steve Beaton v John Henderson
Leon De Geus v Phil Taylor
Kim Huybrechts v Peter Wright
Dave Chisnall v Andy Hamilton
Match Information
Afternoon Session
Dutch qualifier Leon De Geus knocked out three-time World Champion John Part 6-1, denying the Canadian star a dream birthday in Gibraltar. De Geus took the opener on double eight, and Part hit back to level in the second with a two-dart 96 finish. De Geus edged the third and then punished missed doubles from Part in the next two to lead 4-1. He also took a fourth successive leg to lead 5-1, before taking out 80 in two darts to seal his last 16 place.
Peter Wright edged through to the Gibraltar Darts Trophy third round with a dramatic 6-5 win over Paul Amos, who almost snatched victory himself before being eliminated. In-form Wright looked set to continue his superb recent run as he took the first two legs on tops, and after Amos hit a 180 and double 18 to take leg three, the Lowestoft ace finished 86 on the bull to lead 3-1. However he was punished for three misses in the next as Amos hit back, and after the next two legs were shared the Catford thrower took out 160 to level at four-all. Amos then finished 76 on tops to move ahead, but paid for missing one match dart at tops in the tenth as Wright forced a deciding leg on double eight, and when his opponent was unable to take out 81, he landed double ten to sneak through.
Jamie Lewis produced an upset by coming from 3-1 down to defeat Robert Thornton 6-5 in another 11-leg thriller at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy. Thornton came from a leg down to take three in a row for a 3-1 cushion, hitting an 11-darter which featured back-to-back 180s in the process. However, he missed two darts at tops to win a fourth leg as Lewis hit back in the fifth before the young Welshman levelled. Thornton took the next two to lead 5-3, but Lewis hit back to win the ninth, and when Thornton missed a single 20 when needing 120, the youngster forced a deciding leg, in which he hit two 140s and a 69 checkout.
John Henderson progressed to the third round of the Gibraltar Darts Trophy with a 6-4 win over Justin Pipe, who played in memory of his brother, who had passed away suddenly earlier on Saturday. Henderson made a superb start to the game, hitting two 180s in a 12-darter to open the match before trading maximums with Pipe in leg two, finishing 76 for a 14-darter to double his lead. He also took the next two to move 4-0 up before Pipe took the fifth to get off the mark. Henderson landed double ten in the next for a 5-1 lead, but was unable to close out the win in the next as he missed tops to allow Pipe in on double 16. Pipe then hit two 180s of his own in a 12-darter and took out 127 as he hit back to 5-4, but five missed doubles in the next allowed Henderson to complete the win on tops.
Colin Lloyd set up a third round clash with either Michael van Gerwen or Scott Rand with a 6-4 win over Finland's emerging star Jani Haavisto. The pair traded 180s as Lloyd broke throw in the opening leg on double four, before he added another maximum and tops in the second. Haavisto fired in a 174 as he got off the mark in the third, but Lloyd responded with another maximum and double 12 before finishing 96 to move 4-1 up. Haavisto punised misses from Lloyd in the next two as he hit back to 4-3, but Lloyd finished 76 to move a leg away from the win. Double eight kept Haavisto's hopes alive in the ninth, but he missed four darts at double 16 and eight in the next to force a decider, as Lloyd hit double two to seal his progression.
Steve Brown produced a fine performance to defeat Paul Nicholson 6-3 in a high-quality clash and set up a third round clash with Jamie Lewis in Gibraltar. Nicholson took the game's first two legs, hitting double 14 in the opener and double eight for a 62 finish in the second. He also opened the third with back-to-back 180s, but missed out on a possible nine-darter and then saw Brown take the leg with a 13-darter on double eight. Nicholson posted another 180 in leg four, but Brown took out tops to level and 101 to lead 3-2. Nicholson finished 116 to square the game, but Brown took the seventh and punished two misses from his opponent in the next to move 5-3 up, before hitting double five to seal his victory.
Jamie Caven was in sensational form as he overcame Ian White 6-2, averaging 104.67 to over 101 from the Stoke ace in a high-quality contest. White opened the game with a maximum and led 2-1 after hitting a pair of 14-dart legs, with Caven replying in kind. Caven also took the fourth in 14 darts to level and added a 180 and double top to break throw in a key fifth leg. Double five gave him a 4-2 cushion, and he then posted another 180 in an 11-darter to move to the brink of victory, which he sealed by taking out 84 for a 14-darter.
Dave Chisnall followed up Friday's fine first round win over Manuel Vilerio with another superb performance to defeat youngster Josh Payne 6-1, averaging 104.76 to the Kent player's 100.50. Chisnall opened the game with a 180 as he took the first leg, and finished 70 in the second for another 14-darter, before moving 3-0 up with a 13-dart leg which included another maximum. He then produced back-to-back 78 checkouts to move 5-0 up before Payne took out double 12 to win a deserved leg. Chisnall, though, added another maximum and took out double four to secure the victory and a place in the last 16.
Evening Session
Ross Smith hit a brilliant nine-dart finish during his clash with Adrian Lewis - but went on to lose in a deciding leg as the two-time World Champion showed his class with a 13-darter in the deciding leg. The pair enjoyed a ding-dong encounter, with Lewis hitting a 171 to leave 40 in the opening leg and, after Smith levelled, the Stoke ace won back-to-back legs to move 3-1 up. He missed his chance to lead by three legs as Smith hit back in the fifth, and he also hit a maximum in the sixth only for the Stoke ace to take out 72 for a 4-2 cushion. Smith kicked off the seventh with a 180 and then added another to set up his nine-dart chance, and he completed the 141 combination with a superb treble 20, treble 15 and double 18 finish - before celebrating his first PDC nine-darter, which may earn him a £3,600 bonus should no other player achieve the feat this weekend. Lewis hit a 180 of his own as he took the eighth leg for a 5-3 lead, but Smith took out 71 and double 16 to force a decider - only for the world number three to hit scores of 180 and 140 in the final leg, landing double ten for a 13-darter to set up a third round game with Jamie Lewis.
Kevin Painter swept into the Gibraltar Darts Trophy third round with a 6-1 victory over Austria's Mensur Suljovic. Painter took out 114 to win the opening leg, hit a 180 in the second and added another maximum and a 96 finish to lead 3-0. A pair of tops finishes moved him to the brink of victory at 5-0, although he would miss four match darts in the next as Suljovic avoided a whitewash by landing double two - but the relief was short-lived as Painter hit double 12 for a comfortable win.
James Wade produced a classy finish to win another 11-leg clash at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy, edging out Ronnie Baxter 6-5. Baxter hit a 180 as he edged the opening leg, before Wade hit double five to take the next two for a 2-1 lead. Baxter levelled as he punished four missed doubles from Wade and then hit a 180 in the fifth as he moved ahead 3-2. Baxter also landed a 174 in the sixth, but Wade finished 80 to level once more and regained the lead with a fine 13-darter, hitting a 177 to set up double 12. Wade also left 38 in the eighth leg, but Baxter produced a sensational 131 finish before taking out 40 to move 5-4 up. Baxter, sensing victory, posted a 180 in leg ten, but Wade superbly finished 120 to force a decider before hitting three ton-plus scores to set up a 108 checkout, which he finished on double 14 for a 12-darter to edge the win.
Michael van Gerwen's bid to win a third successive European Tour continued with a 6-2 win over Scott Rand, with the game following a similar pattern to Friday's win over John Bowles as he shared the opening four legs before pulling clear. Rand hit a 180 as he took the opening leg and he also led 2-1 after finishing 48, with van Gerwen's first leg coming courtesy of a bullseye, double top combination when needing 90. Double two in the next saw van Gerwen level, after he had earlier missed the bull for a 170 checkout, and he took out a key 101 finish in the fifth to hit the front for the first time. He landed two 180s in a 13-darter to move 4-2 up, punished a miss at tops from Rand in the next by taking out 71 before landing a 180 and double ten to complete the win.
Steve Beaton had to hit back from behind to edge past Connie Finnan 6-5 and set up a third round tie with John Henderson at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy. Beaton had looked set to walk away with the game when he took the opening three legs without reply, hitting a 13-darter in the middle, only for Finnan to hit back by winning four of the next five to level at four-all. Finnan then landed double eight to edge ahead 5-4 and hit a 177 in the tenth leg, but Beaton finished 80 on tops to force a decider and landed a maximum before sneaking to victory on double three.
Phil Taylor followed up Friday's win over Gino Vos with a 6-1 win over Dean Winstanley as he moved into the third round of the Gibraltar Darts Trophy. Taylor finished 86 for a 14-darter to open the game, before Winstanley levelled on double five. The Yorkshireman then missed tops for a 154 finish as Taylor hit the same bed to move 2-1 up, before punishing two misses from Winstanley, on the wires of double eight and four, by taking out 68 to lead 3-1. Double ten moved Taylor three legs clear, before he hit scores of 139, 140 and 137 in moving to the brink of victory, which he sealed in the seventh leg by hitting a 180 and double nine.
Kim Huybrechts needed less than 13 minutes to whitewash Richie Burnett with a fine performance, averaging 102.48 and hitting three 180s and a pair of ton-plus finishes. Huybrechts took the game's opening leg, although only after Burnett missed double 19 for a 158 finish, and the Belgian added a 180 and double 16 to move two legs up. Huybrechts then took out 113 for a 3-0 lead, finished 68 in two darts to move four legs clear and powered home a 142 finish for a 12-darter, before sealing the win with a 13-darter which featured two 180s and double eight.
Andy Hamilton won a see-saw game with Gary Anderson 6-5 as he completed the second round action at the Gibraltar Darts Trophy. Hamilton won the opener on double ten, and after Anderson hit a 180 in the second the Stoke ace hit two maximums of his own in an 11-darter to double his lead before punishing two misses from the Scot to take the third on double eight. Anderson kick-started his challenge with a superb 146 finish, and hit tops and double 18 to level, before posting a 180 and finishing 124 on the bull to move ahead 4-3. Anderson then scored 140, 140 and 177 to set up a 12-darter as he moved to the brink of victory at 5-3, with Hamilton taking out 74 in the next to punish one missed match dart from the former Premier League champion. Hamilton then finished 70 to force a deciding leg, which Anderson opened with a 177 only to see his opponent finish 95 on double 16 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.