BetVictor World Matchplay Day Two

TAYLOR KO'S KELLETT TO BEGIN BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY TITLE DEFENCE IN STYLE
 

PHIL TAYLOR made a winning start to his bid for a 14th BetVictor World Matchplay title by sweeping aside Stuart Kellett in Blackpool on Sunday evening.

Taylor returned to the Winter Gardens stage in typically imperious form, as he began his bid to claim a record sixth successive World Matchplay title, and continue his incredible run of success in the past two decades, with a dominant display.

The World Champion punished Blackpool debutant Kellett for a poor start as he took the game's opening seven legs, hitting a 161 checkout, in ruthless fashion.

The 31-year-old landed a 180 and double nine as he finally got off the mark in leg eight, but Taylor finished 96 to restore his cushion, took out 134 to lead 9-1 and sealed victory with a superb 11-darter which featured two 180s.

"It's a great first round for me and it was more comfortable than I thought it would be," said Taylor, who now meets Terry Jenkins in round two on Tuesday.

"Stuart's a lot better player than he showed tonight - he beat me in a Players Championship a few weeks ago and maybe he had some nerves.

"I've prepared well and I'm happy to be through. My average of 103 was average really, because a lot of players are hitting those types of scores, but I know Terry will test me in the second round."

Number two seed Michael van Gerwen held off a brave fightback from 2005 champion Colin Lloyd before he progressed to a second round clash with Peter Wright courtesy of a 10-7 victory.

Van Gerwen raced into a five-leg lead before Lloyd, aided by a 120 finish, hit back to trail just 7-6 at one stage, but a key bullseye from the Dutchman denied him the chance to pull level
before the Premier League Darts champion edged into the last 16.

"Colin's a brilliant player and he never gave up, so I'm happy to have won that match," said van Gerwen. "I'm really pleased to play so well in the first round because you always want to play well on this stage and I'm proud to do it.

"Winning the game was most important and I hope I can do well in this tournament.

Former Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson knocked out number 13 seed Mervyn King with a fine 10-5 victory, showing flashes of his brilliant best as he returned from the illness which recently saw him miss the European Championship.

The Scot showed no signs of ill-effects as he took the game's first three legs without reply, and he also led 8-2 before King took the next three to threaten a fightback.

Anderson, though, steadied himself with a 177 and an 84 finish as he won a ninth leg, before taking out 76 to progress to a second round clash with 2007 champion James Wade.

"At times it felt pretty good and the trebles were going in and the finishing was fine, but at the back end of the game I started to struggle a bit," said Anderson. "I was telling myself not to throw it away, and I got there in the end.

"My practise has been going brilliant, so if they can get a bit better on stage I'll be a lot happier. James is very steady and you know what you're going to get against him, so I'll have to dig in."

Dave Chisnall, meanwhile, twice hit back from behind before defeating Paul Nicholson 10-8, claiming his first victory at the Winter Gardens in his third World Matchplay appearance.

Nicholson led 3-1 early on before Chisnall took three of the next four to level, before taking out 121 in a three-leg burst as he moved 7-5 up.

Former Players Championship Finals winner Nicholson then took three legs of his own to lead 8-7, but the game had another twist as Chisnall landed the bull to level, double nine to move 9-8 and double eight to seal a narrow victory.

"Paul didn't play his best game and I wasn't at my best, and it was a game where I had to scrap," said Chisnall.

"When I was 4-1 down I thought it was going to be like previous years here, but I dug in, pulled it out of the bag and I'm glad to get the victory.

"Now that I've won here, when I come back on Wednesday I hope I'll be a bit more relaxed and able to play my best darts."

In Sunday's afternoon session, Kevin Painter held off debutant Jamie Lewis with a 10-7 first round win, as Justin Pipe, Peter Wright and Brendan Dolan joined him in picking up victories at the Winter Gardens.

Painter booked his place in the second round against Simon Whitlock on Tuesday with a strong display against the Welsh youngster, who competed well on his first appearance in Blackpool.

Lewis took the game's opening leg, but Painter took five of the next six - hitting a 164 checkout in the process - as he took command of the contest.

The 21-year-old, who reached the final of the recent Gibraltar Darts Trophy to qualify for the World Matchplay, pulled back to trail just 6-5 at one stage, taking out a nerveless 104 for a 12-darter in one leg, but Painter landed a fifth 180 of the game as he sealed victory.

"I'm pleased to get through," said Painter. "I expected Jamie to play well and he did, and a couple of times I felt like I had him and he crept back and won a couple of legs, and he made me work hard for it.

"It's great experience for him and it shows the standard of the young lads coming through - I'm 46 now and he's the standard we've got to put up with!

"It will be good to be back in the next round and I'd love to stay here all week. I've been playing okay this year and I'm looking forward to playing Simon Whitlock."

World number nine Justin Pipe progressed to a second round clash with Raymond van Barneveld by defeating Mark Webster 10-4, as the Welshman limped throughout the game after tearing ankle ligaments recently playing five-a-side football.

Webster took out 101 as he led 2-0 and the left-hander was also 3-2 up before Pipe won eight of the next nine legs to sweep to victory with an impressive average of 99.24.

"Mark gave it his all and showed because he played really well and showed that for all the talk of his ankle injury, you throw with your hands not your feet!" said Pipe. "Rather than feel sorry for him, I had to go up there and do a job.

"There's no friends up there and your fighting for your family, and I took advantage. I'm hitting a lovely bit of form again and I can move on prepare for playing Raymond van Barneveld.

"It would be great to beat him and reach another quarter-final in the World Matchplay, but it's going to be tough."

Kim Huybrechts became the first seeded player to be knocked out of this year's World Matchplay as he went down 10-4 to Peter Wright, a UK Open semi-finalist last month who continues to impress on the big stage.

The pair shared the game's first six legs before Wright took two crucial breaks of throw in a four-leg burst which put him 7-3 up.

Belgian ace Huybrechts hit back in leg 11, but Wright landed a 13-darter to regain his edge and took the next two legs to progress to play either Michael van Gerwen or Colin Lloyd.

"I'm very happy with that," said Wright. "Kim's been in great form and it was always going to be a tough game.

"Getting that first break was so important and I knew I had to break him when I did because the game could have gone all the way. I'll have to improve in the second round because whoever I play out of Michael van Gerwen and Colin Lloyd will be tough.

"They're both champions and I know what I'll have to do because they're great players."

Northern Ireland's Brendan Dolan picked up his first World Matchplay win with a narrow 10-8 defeat of former World Champion Steve Beaton in the afternoon session's other game.

Beaton led 3-1 and 5-2 before Dolan won five successive legs to turn the game on its head and move 7-5 up.

The Warwickshire thrower hit back to level, but crucially missed a dart at tops on the 17th leg as Dolan broke to move 9-8 up before he landed a 180 and double eight to seal victory.

"It was a very tough game and it was nip-and-tuck all the way," said Dolan. "Neither of us got into our flow or the way we wanted to play and it was a battle, so it's nice to come through and win when you're not at your best.

"To win like that against an experienced former World Champion like Steve Beaton can only do my confidence the world of good. There was nothing between us and I'm glad to get through it.

"Last year I came here and got beaten by Andy Hamilton in the first round, but every player comes here to win it. It's the 32 players who are the best at the minute, but I've got a lot of confidence in myself and I know I've got a chance of winning this."

Sunday night's results have seen reigning champion Taylor's odds of retaining the BetVictor World Matchplay crown cut to 9/4 with the sponsors, while van Gerwen is now 5/2 to lift the trophy next Sunday - and Anderson's victory has led to his odds being cut from 40/1 to 22/1.

The first round concludes on Monday night with the remaining four matches, headlined by world number three and new European Champion Adrian Lewis taking on Belgian debutant Ronny Huybrechts.

UK Open runner-up Andy Hamilton is up against Blackpool's Ronnie Baxter - the 1998 World Matchplay finalist, while Fleetwood's Wes Newton takes on Jamie Caven and Scottish ace Robert Thornton meets Ian White.

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BetVictor World Matchplay
First Round
Sunday July 21
First Round
Afternoon Session
Justin Pipe (9) 10-4 Mark Webster - Justin Pipe Video
Kevin Painter (12) 10-7 Jamie Lewis - Kevin Painter Video
Kim Huybrechts (15) 4-10 Peter Wright - Peter Wright Video
Brendan Dolan (14) 10-8 Steve Beaton - Brendan Dolan Video

Evening Session
Mervyn King (13) 5-10 Gary Anderson - Gary Anderson Video
Dave Chisnall (10) 10-8 Paul Nicholson - Dave Chisnall Video
Phil Taylor (1) 10-1 Stuart Kellett - Phil Taylor Video
Michael van Gerwen (2) 10-7 Colin Lloyd - Michael van Gerwen Video

Match Information
Afternoon Session
Justin Pipe v Mark Webster
0-0 - Mark Webster wins the bull and will throw first, with the Welshman playing through the pain of injured ankle ligaments suffered playing football.
0-1 - Webster lands tops to take the game's opening leg.
0-2 - The Welsh ace opens with a 180 and takes out a 12-darter with a 101 finish to break throw.
1-2 - Pipe opens with a 180, and although he misses double 14 for a 121 finish, he returns to land double seven.
2-2 - Pipe wires tops for a 160 checkout, but again returns to win the leg, hitting tops.
2-3 - Pipe lands a 180, but Webster regains the lead by taking out 76 on the bull.
3-3 - Pipe hits his third 180 of the game to leave 24, and double 12 sees him level.
4-3 - The number nine seed posts his fourth maximum, and finishes 68 on double 14 to move ahead for the first time.
5-3 - Webster replies with a maximum, but can only watch on as Pipe takes out 78 on double six to win a third successive leg.
6-3 - Pipe moves three legs clear by landing double 12, moving his average above 100.
7-3 - Pipe adds another maximum, before double six wins him a fifth straight leg.
8-3 - Pipe posts double three to move two legs away from the win.
9-3 - Double two sees Pipe move to the brink of victory.
9-4 - Webster opens with a 180, and when Pipe misses the bull for a 123 finish to take victory, the Welshman hits tops to win his first leg in eight and keep the match alive.
10-4 - Pipe hits his sixth 180, and finishes 80 on tops to seal the win.
Click here for Justin Pipe Video Interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Kevin Painter v Jamie Lewis
0-0 - Kevin Painter wins the bull and throws first.
0-1 - Painter misses four darts at doubles to win the opening leg, and Lewis capitalises to break throw on tops.
1-1 - Painter levels by taking out 96 on double 18.
2-1 - Painter moves ahead by hitting double 12.
2-2 - Double four sees Lewis level the game.
3-2 - Painter edges back ahead by landing double ten with his third dart.
4-2 - Lewis misses the bull to finish 127, and Painter hits the middle double to complete a superb 164 checkout as he breaks throw.
5-2 - Painter opens with a 180, and finishes 80 on tops to move three legs clear.
5-3 - Painter lands another maximum, but misses two darts at double 16 and Lewis posts double eight to hit back.
6-3 - Painter hits a 180 for a third successive leg, and double three sees him regain his three-leg lead.
6-4 - Lewis replies with his first maximum of the game, and finishes double four to remain in touch with the former Players Champion.
6-5 - Lewis lands his second 180, and though Painter replies with a maximum of his own, the youngster holds his nerve with a 104 checkout to break.
7-5 - Painter breaks back by landing double four with his third dart.
8-5 - Painter pulls clear in the leg, but misses the bull to finish 170 and two further darts at double 12 and six, but after Lewis leaves himself 40, returns to land double three with his third dart to sneak the leg.
8-6 - Lewis adds his third 180 of the game, and finishes 72 on tops to stay in the hunt.
9-6 - Painter's third dart again comes to his rescue, as he finishes tops with his final dart to move to the brink of victory.
9-7 - Lewis keeps his hopes alive by landing double eight.
10-7 - Lewis lands a 180, but Painter replies with his fifth of the game before landing double ten to seal the win.
Click here for Kevin Painter Video Interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Kim Huybrechts v Peter Wright
0-0 - Peter Wright wins the bull and throws first.
0-1 - Double 16 sees Wright take the opening leg.
1-1 - Wright misses his chance to double his lead, and Huybrechts steps in to level.
1-2 - Wright finishes 85 to move back ahead.
2-2 - Double nine sees Huybrechts hold throw to level.
2-3 - Wright finishes double eight for a 14-darter to regain his edge.
3-3 - Huybrechts again levels to deny Wright the chance to break throw.
3-4 - Wright lands double nine with his third dart to edge back in front.
3-5 - Wright fires in his first 180 of the game, and when Huybrechts misses double top and ten, the Lowestoft ace finishes double eight to break for the first time.
3-6 - Wright lands double eight once more to move three legs clear.
3-7 - Wright misses double 18 and double eight, but Huybrechts is unable to land tops and the UK Open semi-finalist finishes double four to move four legs clear with another break.
4-7 - Huybrechts wins his first leg in five by taking out 62 on double 16.
4-8 - The Belgian misses tops and Wright, who opened the leg with a 180, hits the same bed to regain his four-leg lead.
4-9 - Huybrechts hits his first 180 of the game and then hits three treble 18s to leave 16 - but misses two darts at double eight and one at double four to allow Wright in on double five to move to the brink of victory.
4-10 - Wright completes a fine win by taking out tops for a 13-darter.
Click here for Peter Wright Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Brendan Dolan v Steve Beaton
0-0 - Steve Beaton wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - Dolan breaks throw in the opening leg by taking out 112.
1-1 - Beaton hits back immediately by finishing 118.
1-2 - Dolan misses three darts to win the leg - across two visits - and Beaton returns to hit double eight.
1-3 - Beaton breaks again by finishing 76 on double 18.
2-3 - Dolan hits back with a second break of throw, taking out 72 on tops.
2-4 - Beaton breaks throw for a third time in the game, hitting double 16 at the first time of asking.
2-5 - Beaton hits double top to move three legs clear of the former World Grand Prix finalist.
3-5 - Double 16 sees Dolan hit back.
4-5 - Beaton misses the bull for a 124 finish, and Dolan returns to land double four to take out 61.
5-5 - Dolan levels the game by winning a third successive leg, landing double 16.
6-5 - Dolan regains the lead by taking out 88 on double 14.
7-5 - Dolan hits the game's first 180, and lands double eight with his third dart to move two legs up.
7-6 - Beaton wins his first leg in six to hit back, taking out 117 on tops.
7-7 - Beaton is first to a double, and lands double eight to level the contest with a break of throw.
8-7 - Dolan hits a 177 to leave 24, and lands double 12 to regain the lead.
8-8 - Beaton levels again by taking out 76 on tops.
9-8 - Beaton misses tops to move back ahead, and Dolan finishes 48 on double 16 to move a leg away from the win.
10-8 - Dolan lands a timely 180, and though he initially misses the bull for a 121 finish, he returns to land double eight to seal victory.
Click here for Brendan Dolan Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Evening Session
Mervyn King v Gary Anderson
0-0 - Gary Anderson wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - Anderson settles any early nerves by landing a 180 and finishing 101 to take the opening leg.
0-2 - Anderson opens with a 174 and finishes double 18 for a 14-darter to break throw immediately.
0-3 - The Scot adds a second 180 before landing double ten to move three legs up.
1-3 - King initially misses three darts at doubles, but Anderson is unable to land double four to finish 72 and the Norfolk ace returns to land double eight to get off the mark.
1-4 - Anderson finishes 76 in two darts to confidently win his fourth leg of the game.
2-4 - King hits back on double 16.
2-5 - King misses tops for a 120 finish to break throw, and Anderson hits double eight to punish his opponent.
2-6 - Anderson takes out 94 on double 16 to move four legs clear with a break of throw.
2-7 - Anderson's charge continues as he lands tops to move three legs away from the win.
2-8 - Anderson finishes 87 on double 18 to edge closer to victory.
3-8 - King takes out double five to hit back with a break of throw.
4-8 - King misses three darts to take the leg, but when Anderson is unable to land two darts at double 18, his opponent returns on double four to continue his revival.
5-8 - King posts a 180 and, after Anderson misses double 13 for a 106 finish, he posts tops to reduce the gap to three legs.
5-9 - Anderson kicks off the leg with a 177, and finishes 84 on double 12 to move to the brink of victory.
5-10 - Anderson seals a fine win by taking out 76 on double four.
Click here for Gary Anderson Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Dave Chisnall v Paul Nicholson
0-0 - Paul Nicholson wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - Nicholson opens the match with a 13-darter as double 16 gives him the lead.
0-2 - Chisnall misses a dart at tops, and Nicholson takes out 61 on double four to break throw.
1-2 - Chisnall breaks back to get off the mark.
1-3 - Double four sees Nicholson break again to regain his two-leg cushion.
1-4 - Nicholson finishes 80 on double ten to move three legs up.
2-4 - Chisnall initially slips on his doubles, but Nicholson misses a dart at double 16 to punish his opponent and the St Helens ace returns on double six to hit back.
3-4 - Chisnall breaks by landing tops for an 80 finish.
4-4 - Chisnall is first to a finish, initially missing the bull and two darts at double eight before returning to land double four with his sixth dart to win the leg.
4-5 - Chisnall misses three darts at double 13, and Nicholson regains his range to land double eight and edge back in front.
5-5 - Chisnall produces the game's first 180 and follows that with a 102 checkout to level again.
6-5 - Chisnall finishes 121 on the bull to hit the front for the first time in the game.
7-5 - Chisnall lands his second 180 of the game and hits double eight to move two legs up.
7-6 - Nicholson posts his first maximum of the contest, and although he initially is unable to finish 139, he returns when Chisnall misses the bull for a 121 checkout to take out 80 on double ten.
7-7 - Nicholson levels the game by posting double 18.
7-8 - Double top puts Nicholson back ahead.
8-8 - Chisnall takes out 78 on the bull to level once more.
9-8 - Chisnall moves back ahead and to the brink of victory with a key break on double nine.
10-8 - Chisnall opens with two 140s, and seals a hard-fought victory on double eight.
Click here for Dave Chisnall Video Interview at the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Phil Taylor v Stuart Kellett
0-0 - Phil Taylor wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - Taylor lands double four to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Taylor kicks off the leg with a 180, and though Kellett replies with a 174 the reigning champion takes an immediate break of throw on double 14.
3-0 - Double top sees Taylor win a third successive leg.
4-0 - Taylor finishes 69 on double six to break for a second time and move four legs clear.
5-0 - Taylor continues his charge, taking out 161 to win a fifth straight leg.
6-0 - Kellett fires in his first 180 of the game, but misses two darts at tops, and Taylor punishes him on double four.
7-0 - Taylor misses a dart at tops, but Kellett is off-target on double 18 for a 116 finish to get off the mark, and the World Champion continues his ruthless streak on tops.
7-1 - Both players hit 180s, and when Taylor misses the bull for a 164 finish, Kellett lands double nine to win his first leg of the game.
8-1 - Taylor takes out 96 on double 18 to restore his lead.
9-1 - Taylor finishes 134 on double 16 to move a leg away from the second round.
10-1 - Taylor lands two 180s and finishes double 16 for an 11-darter to seal victory with a 103.18 average.
Click here for Phil Taylor Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen v Colin Lloyd
0-0 - Michael van Gerwen wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - van Gerwen takes out 107 to win the game's opening leg.
2-0 - The Dutch ace finishes double 13 to break throw and double his lead.
3-0 - van Gerwen wins a third successive legs as he continues his fine start, landing double one.
4-0 - van Gerwen posts a maximum and finishes 120 to break for a second time.
5-0 - Double 18 sees the number two seed take a fifth successive leg.
5-1 - Double ten sees Lloyd win his first leg of the game.
5-2 - Lloyd fires in a 180 and finishes tops to break throw.
5-3 - Lloyd's revival continnues as he punishes van Gerwen for a missed bullseye by hitting double five to win a third successive leg.
6-3 - van Gerwen lands a 180 and finishes double 16 to win his first leg in four.
6-4 - The number two seed adds another maximum, but Lloyd takes out 120 to reduce the gap to two legs once again.
7-4 - van Gerwen posts tops to regain his three-leg cushion.
7-5 - Lloyd finishes 96 on double 19 to win his fifth leg of the contest.
7-6 - Lloyd wires the bullseye to finish 122, but when van Gerwen misses double top, ten and five, the 2005 champion returns to land double ten to pll back to just one leg behind his opponent.
8-6 - van Gerwen finishes 85 on the bull to break throw and deny Lloyd the chance to level.
9-6 - van Gerwen moves a leg away from victory by pinning double four.
9-7 - Lloyd opens the leg with a 180, and though van Gerwen replies with a 174, the Essex ace then fires in a 168 score before landing double two to keep his hopes alive.
10-7 - van Gerwen powers in a 171 score - of three treble 19s - to leave 100 after nine darts, and hits tops for a 14-darter to seal victory.
Click here for Michael van Gerwen Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats