BetVictor World Matchplay Night Three

NEWTON & BAXTER SUFFER BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY DISAPPOINTMENT
 

LOCAL HEROES Wes Newton and Ronnie Baxter suffered BetVictor World Matchplay heartbreak on Monday night with defeats to Jamie Caven and Andy Hamilton, as Adrian Lewis swept into the second round at the Winter Gardens.

Fleetwood ace Newton went down 10-8 to Caven in a dramatic contest as the first round of the £400,000 event came to a close with the final four matches in Blackpool.

Newton took a 2-0 lead before Caven took out 70 and 104, but the world number seven took the next three to pull clear at 5-2 and also led 7-4.

However, he missed a dart to move four legs clear and Caven seized his chance as he drew level, and though Newton took an 8-7 advantage, the Derby ace squared the match once more before hitting his only two 180s in timely fashion to take victory.

"I'm overwhelmed," said Caven, who now plays Dave Chisnall on Wednesday. "Wes was in control early on and I knew I had to dig in when it wasn't going my way.

"As soon as I got it back to eight-all, I knew I had to step in if Wes missed and I did that. It was such a battle and I'm so happy that I managed to get across that winning line first."

Blackpool favourite Baxter, who lives just a couple of miles from the Winter Gardens, won only one leg as he crashed out 10-1 to UK Open finalist Andy Hamilton, who produced a fine performance to romp into round two.

Hamilton took out 104 to win the game's opening leg, and when Baxter missed double 11 in the second he capitalised to extend his advantage and hit four doubles from as many attempts in taking control of the game.

He led 8-0 before Baxter finished 76 on double four to win his first leg, but any hopes of a comeback were short-lived as Hamilton powered in a 14-darter and then took out 111 to complete the triumph.

"It makes a change for me to win a game by a formidable score and it's probably the first time I've wanted to whitewash another player!" admitted Hamilton.

"I was so focused, I concentrated on my own game and it worked out for me, so it's superb. I've shown what I can do today and I know I can get through to this final, so I'm looking forward to the next few days."

World number three Adrian Lewis overcame Belgian debutant Ronny Huybrechts 10-5 as he set up a second round clash with Brendan Dolan on Wednesday.

Lewis led 4-1 and 8-3 despite being below his best, with a 127 finish being the highlight, and though Huybrechts briefly threatened a comeback, the Stoke star had enough breathing space to seal the win.

"I'm happy with the win but not my performance," said Lewis. "I expected a lot more from Ronny and when it didn't happen my own level dropped.

"I checked out well early on by my scoring wasn't great - but to be through is the aim and I'll take that. When Ronny put a bit of pressure on me I seemed to hit some 180s at the right time and that was what won me the match.

"I did my job tonight but I wanted to make a statement and I didn't do that. I'm believing in myself again and I'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the tournament.

"I'm in with a shout and I want to go on and win this now. I've got Brendan Dolan next and it's going to be a tough game, but I'll just play at my own pace and hopefully I'll do the job."

Ian White completed a Stoke treble on the night as he swept past Scottish ace Robert Thornton 10-3 as the former UK Open finalist suffered a fourth successive first round defeat in Blackpool.

Thornton's nightmare on the Winter Gardens stage continued as he lost the game's opening four legs, missing a host of doubles in the process, before cutting the gap to 4-2.

White took the next two to regain command before finishing a crowd-pleasing 125 checkout with bullseye, outer bull and bullseye - a shot which left even Thornton applauding.

The Scot hit back to win the tenth leg, but White showed no mercy as he took out 97, 64 and 81 in successive legs to complete a superb win.

"I'm glad to be through and it's a very good result for me," said White. "Getting off to a good start was probably the key, winning the first session 4-1, and I couldn't have asked for much more than that.

"I wanted to get ahead of him early on and make him start thinking, and I think I did that. Once I got ahead I had to keep it going, and the 125 was great - nine out of ten of those probably don't go in but it did this time and it was good.

"It will be nice to have a Stoke derby against Andy Hamilton next and I'm really looking forward to that."

The second round begins on Tuesday evening with four matches, including reigning champion Phil Taylor taking on Terry Jenkins in a repeat of the 2009 World Matchplay final.

Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld plays Justin Pipe, number five seed Simon Whitlock faces Kevin Painter and world number four James Wade, the 2007 champion, takes on Gary Anderson.

TV Coverage
The BetVictor World Matchplay will be screened live in the following areas:
Sky Sports HD across the UK & Ireland
RTL7 in the Netherlands
Sport1 in Germany
OSN across the Middle East
FOX SPORTS Australia
Sky New Zealand
LIVEPDC.TV - live for International Pass Subscribers, highlights for all subscribers

Live Scores
Follow Live Scores from the BetVictor World Matchplay through the PDC Live Scores website at http://live.dartsdata.com/

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Join in the conversation during the BetVictor World Matchplay through the PDC's Social Media channels:
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BetVictor World Matchplay
Monday July 22
First Round
Robert Thornton (11) 3-10 Ian White - Ian White Video
Wes Newton (7) 8-10 Jamie Caven - Jamie Caven Video
Adrian Lewis (3) 10-5 Ronny Huybrechts - Adrian Lewis Video
Andy Hamilton (6) 10-1 Ronnie Baxter - Andy Hamilton Video

Match Information
Robert Thornton v Ian White
0-0 - Ian White wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - Thornton misses tops for a 120 finish to break throw, and White finishes 52 on double 16 to lead.
0-2 - The pair trade 180s and Thornton adds a 177 to leave 24 - but misses three darts to win the leg as White returns from an earlier missed bullseye to post double four.
0-3 - Thornton adds a second maximum, but pays for three further missed doubles as White finishes 64 in two darts on double eight.
0-4 - Thornton's incredible run without winning a leg in this event - having been whitewashed in his last two appearances before this game - continues as he misses two darts at double five and one at double two, and White again capitalises on double ten to move four legs up.
1-4 - White misses the bull to win a fifth successive leg, and Thornton finally gets off the mark by posting double ten.
2-4 - Thornton wins a second successive leg, punishing White for four missed doubles - after he had earlier hit a 180 - by landing tops.
2-5 - Thornton adds a maximum in leg seven, but White finishes double eight to regain a three-leg lead.
2-6 - White opens with a 180 and finishes double six to win his sixth leg of the game.
2-7 - White produces a crowd-pleasing 125 checkout of bullseye, outer bull and bullseye - with Thornton joining in the applause of the finish.
3-7 - White misses the bull for an 81 finish, and Thornton hits double ten with his third dart to to hit back.
3-8 - White fires in a 177 before taking out 97 on double ten/
3-9 - Thornton's missed doubles prove costly again as White finishes 64 on double 16 to move a leg away from the win.
3-10 - White seals victory with an 81 finish on the bullseye.
Click here for Ian White Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Wes Newton v Jamie Caven
0-0 - Wes Newton wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - Caven misses a dart to break in the opener, and Newton finishes double eight to win an edgy opener.
2-0 - Caven is again punished for missed doubles as Newton takes out 64 on double 16 to double his lead.
2-1 - Caven takes out 70 on double 16 to win his first leg of the game.
2-2 - The Derby ace levels with a fine 104 checkout.
3-2 - Newton adds a 180 as he edges back ahead.
4-2 - Newton fires in two 180s in a 13-darter to break throw and regain his two-leg lead.
5-2 - Double ten from Newton sees him move three legs clear.
5-3 - Newton again kicks off with a maximum, but misses darts at double top and ten to allow Caven back in on double eight.
6-3 - The Fleetwood ace again opens with a maximum, and posts double ten to edge away from Caven.
6-4 - Newton misses tops to take out 82, and Caven hits the same bed to hit back to trail by two legs once more.
7-4 - Newton pins 87 in two darts to move three legs away from victory.
7-5 - Newton fires home a sixth maximum, but misses tops for a 78 finish to break and Caven finishes double ten to hit back.
7-6 - Caven breaks for the second time in the match, finishing tops for a 14-darter.
7-7 - Caven levels the game by taking out 68 on double 16.
8-7 - Newton pins double four to regain the lead in a tense leg.
8-8 - Caven lands double four to level the match.
8-9 - Caven opens with a 180 - his first of the game - and adds a 120 before taking out 56 for a 14-darter to break and move a leg away from the win.
8-10 - Caven hits his second maximum to kick off the leg, and lands tops for a 13-darter to seal the win.
Click here for Jamie Caven Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis v Ronny Huybrechts
0-0 - Adrian Lewis wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - Lewis posts double ten to win the game's opening leg.
1-1 - Huybrechts finishes 80 to level.
2-1 - Lewis edges back ahead by winning the third leg.
3-1 - Lewis takes out 52 to break throw and move clear.
4-1 - Lewis lands a 180 and double ten to extend his advantage.
4-2 - Huybrechts hits back with a 180 as he edges a scrappy leg.
5-2 - The Belgian misses double 14 to reduce the gap to one leg, and Lewis makes him pay with a brilliant 127 bullseye finish.
5-3 - Huybrechts finishes double 16 to hit back.
6-3 - Lewis lands a 180 before initially missing doubles, but when Huybrechts is unable to land two darts at double 11, the Stoke ace finishes double five to hold throw.
7-3 - Lewis adds another maximum and finishes 90 for a break of throw to take command.
8-3 - Lewis fires in a fourth 180 of the game and hits tops for a five-leg cushion.
8-4 - Lewis this time lands a 171, but missed doubles cost him as Huybrechts hits back on double ten.
9-4 - Double five puts Lewis a leg away from the second round.
9-5 - Huybrechts returns to finish 16 as he keeps his hopes alive, with Lewis waiting on 40.
10-5 - Lewis finishes 70 on tops for the match, setting up a clash with Brendan Dolan on Wednesday.
Click here for Adrian Lewis Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats

Andy Hamilton v Ronnie Baxter
0-0 - Ronnie Baxter wins the bull and throws first
1-0 - Hamilton finishes 104 on double 16 to break throw in the opening leg.
2-0 - Baxter misses double 11 for a 142 finish, and Hamilton takes out double 16 again, for a 70 checkout, to double his lead.
3-0 - Hamilton breaks again by taking out 68 on double 16.
4-0 - The UK Open finalist continues his flawless display of finishing by following a 180 with a 42 finish.
5-0 - Baxter misses a chance to hit back, and Hamilton posts double five to win a fifth successive leg.
6-0 - Hamilton hits his second 180 and wins the leg on double two to continue his superb display.
7-0 - Baxter misses two darts at double eight and one at double four to win his first leg, and Hamilton lands double ten to win his seventh leg.
8-0 - Hamilton hits a maximum, and when Baxter's double troubles continue with a miss at tops, the Stoke ace finishes double eight to move two legs away from the win.
8-1 - Baxter finally gets a let on the board, taking out 76 on double four.
9-1 - Hamilton restores his advantage, kicking off the leg with a 177 before finishing double 16 for a 14-darter.
10-1 - Hamilton seals victory in style with a 111 finish.
Click here for Andy Hamilton Video Interview on the OfficialPDC YouTube Page

Match Stats