BetVictor World Matchplay Night Three

OUTSTANDING LEWIS WHITEWASHES GILDING IN BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY

ADRIAN LEWIS produced a stunning whitewash of BetVictor World Matchplay debutant Andrew Gilding as he stormed into the second round in Blackpool on Monday, as Stephen Bunting, Mervyn King and Gary Anderson completed the first round with victories.

World number three Lewis, last year's beaten finalist at the Winter Gardens, averaged 110 in a ruthless demolition of the newcomer from Suffolk, who was limited to just two darts at a double during the 21-minute contest.

After winning the opening leg on double 19, Lewis hit a 180 as he doubled his lead and posted the first of two 11-dart finishes as he took control at 3-0.

He then punished a miss at tops from Gilding, to complete a 100 finish, in the fourth, hit back-to-back 14-dart legs to lead 6-0 and then took out 97 for a seven-leg cushion.

Lewis then fired in his second 11-darter, which was followed by a brilliant ten-dart finish which featured scores of 180, 134 and 171 before he hit double eight to win his ninth leg - despite Gilding landing his second maximum in reply.

He then secured the victory in style, opening the tenth leg with a 177 score before taking out 83 for a 14-darter to complete a brilliant display.

"I've never played Andrew before but he's beaten some top names and I knew I had to be ready tonight, so I'm really pleased with that," said Lewis, whose pre-tournament odds of 8/1 have been slashed to 13/2 following the win.

"I've been working really hard for the last few weeks and I know my form's fantastic and I'm feeling very confident. That was probably me at about 80 percent and I think I can do better than this.

"It could have been a higher average - I was hitting 140s where I was getting the first two darts perfect in the treble 20 and missing with the third, so if I turn the 140s into 180s I could probably average 130!

"I've lost to Phil Taylor with a 111 average before and I averaged 107 against him and lost in the final last year, so I'm not taking anything for granted, but I believe I can win this tournament."

Lewis now meets Mervyn King in the second round on Wednesday, after the former World Matchplay semi-finalist averaged an impressive 101 in his 10-4 defeat of Kim Huybrechts.

The Belgian was in touch with King at 5-4 following a nip-and-tuck opening half of the game - with King taking out an 82 finish and a pair of 81 checkouts at key times - before the Englishman pulled clear with five straight legs to claim the win.

"I came out to win and did a really good job, and the 101 average is a bonus," said King. "I've been working really hard for the last few weeks and months and it's nice to get up there and show people what I can do.

"Hopefully that can carry on but there's a lot of darts to be played yet and I won't look any further than this.

"Winning one of these major PDC tournaments is my aim. I've been close a few times now, but Adrian is on top of his game. If he carries on like he did tonight when we play on Wednesday then I'll have to really dig in, and it will be a good game."

Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting enjoyed a superb World Matchplay debut as he overcame number six seed Peter Wright, the World Championship finalist and Premier League star who went down 10-6.

Bunting settled any nerves quickly by taking a 2-0 lead - capitalising on a miss at tops from Wright in the opener before taking out 70 on the bull in leg two - and after his opponent cut the gap to 4-3, the St Helens ace took the next three to pull clear.

Bunting landed a 13-darter as he exended his lead to 9-5, and though Wright hit the bull to keep his hopes alive, the fightback was brief as the PDC newcomer finished 72 to complete a memorable Winter Gardens debut.

"I couldn't have asked for much better from my debut game," said Bunting. "It was an achievement just to qualify for this tournament, but to beat a player like Peter is great for me because he's a fantastic player.

"I scored well and just want to sharpen up a bit on my doubles. The crowd got me through that game and the atmosphere was amazing, and even though I was nervous I did the job.

"I've put a lot of hard work in to get here, but now I'm here I want to win the tournament because this is one of the most prestigious titles in the PDC. I've got to raise my game even more to compete at the top level, but this is a good start.

"Nights like this make the switch worthwhile. I was very nervous today but I'm sure that now I've played my first game and my debutant nerves have gone I should be fine."

Bunting will now face former Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson in the second round, after the Scot overcame Jamie Caven 10-8 in a tight contest.

The pair shared the opening six legs before Caven landed double 16 and then took out 132 on the bull to break and move 5-3 up - only for Anderson to break back immediately with a 145 checkout before levelling.

The next four legs also went with the throw before Anderson broke to lead for the first time at 8-7, with Caven missing three darts at tops before seeing his opponent pin double 12 to move ahead for the first time.

He then landed tops for a 9-7 cushion, and though Caven hit back in the next Anderson proved too strong as he finished 80 to progress to the last 16.

"It was one of those games where it was going to be about one break of throw or one mistake," said Anderson. "Jamie broke me early on and I broke him straight back but when it was seven-all and I got the break then I wanted to have a big push.

"Things are going well for me so far this year and it's been a while since I played like this on stage. It's starting to come good again and I'm enjoying it again.

"It should be a great game in the second round against Stephen and I'll just play my own game. Stephen's new in the PDC but he's going to be buzzing."

The second round begins on Tuesday, with World Champion Michael van Gerwen - the 2/1 tournament favourite with sponsors BetVictor - taking on Ian White in a tasty contest.

Andy Hamilton opens up against Dave Chisnall before 2007 champion James Wade meets Richie Burnett, and Australian ace Simon Whitlock, the number four seed, then plays Premier League Darts champion Raymond van Barneveld.

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BetVictor World Matchplay

Monday July 21
Evening Session
First Round
Peter Wright 6-10 Stephen Bunting
Mervyn King 10-4 Kim Huybrechts
Adrian Lewis 10-0 Andrew Gilding
Gary Anderson 10-8 Jamie Caven

First Round - Best of 19 legs
* Each game must be won by two clear legs, with up to a maximum of five additional legs being played before the sixth "extra" leg is sudden-death.

MATCH INFORMATION
Peter Wright v Stephen Bunting
0-1 - Bunting misses the bull for a 164 checkout, but when Wright misses tops for a 119 finish, the debutant lands a nerve-settling 14-darter to break throw immediately.
0-2 - The Lakeside Champion doubles his lead by finishing 70 on the bull.
1-2 - Bunting is first to a double once again, but misses tops to finish 80 to allow Wright to finish double 16 to get off the mark.
1-3 - Both players initially miss the bullseye, before Bunting returns to land double eight to win his third leg.
2-3 - Wright opens with a 180, and pins double six to reduce the gap to one leg.
2-4 - Wright misses double ten to break, and Bunting capitalises on double four.
3-4 - Wright opens with two 180s to set up a potential nine-darter, with Bunting replying with a maximum before the World Championship finalist, needing 141, hits another treble 20 only to miss the treble 19 - but he returns to win the leg.
3-5 - Bunting finishes 96 on double eight.
3-6 - Bunting initially misses tops to break, but when Wright is off-target with two darts at double 16, the debutant returns on double ten to break.
3-7 - Wright lands a 180, but is unable to punish three misses from Bunting when he is off-target on double eight, allowing the St Helens man in on double ten to move four legs clear.
4-7 - Double one sees Wright hit back.
4-8 - A second successive leg ends on double one, with Bunting this time posting the winning double after both players missed a host of chances to claim the leg.
5-8 - Wright replies on double four as he takes a fifth leg.
5-9 - Bunting fires in a second 180 before posting tops for a 13-darter to move a leg away from the win.
6-9 - Bunting misses a dart at tops to complete the win, and Wright takes out 84 on the bull to keep his hopes alive.
6-10 - Bunting finishes 72 on double six to complete a brilliant debut win.

Stephen Bunting Video Interview

Match Stats

Peter Wright	6-10	Stephen Bunting
20	100+	18
13	140+	16
0	170+	0
4	180	2
89.12	Average	92.36
84	High Finish	96
0	Breaks of Throw	2
6/28 - 21%	Checkout %	10/29 - 34%

Mervyn King v Kim Huybrechts
0-0 - Kim Huybrechts wins the bull and will throw first
0-1 - Huybrechts posts double eight to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Double 18 sees King level.
2-1 - King breaks throw for the first time by landing double five.
2-2 - The Belgian breaks back, with King missing the bull to allow him in on double 16.
3-2 - King lands a 180 before finishing 82 on the bull.
4-2 - King completes a 12-dart leg with an 81 finish.
4-3 - Huybrechts replies with a 72 finish on double six.
5-3 - King again takes out 81, posting double six to regain his cushion.
5-4 - Huybrechts posts a maximum before posting tops to hit back again.
6-4 - King lands a 180 and returns to post double 16.
7-4 - King finishes 80 on double 16 to move three legs clear.
8-4 - King posts tops to further extend his cushion.
9-4 - King wins a fourth successive leg, hitting back-to-back 180s before posting double eight.
10-4 - Double 16 secures a fine win for King, who averages 101 and finishes 50 percent of his chances at a double.

Mervyn King Video Interview

Match Stats

Mervyn King	10-4	Kim Huybrechts
11	100+	16
17	140+	6
0	170+	0
5	180	1
101.06	Average	92.53
82	High Finish	72
4	Breaks of Throw	1
10/20 - 50%	Checkout %	4/7 - 57%

Adrian Lewis v Andrew Gilding
0-0 - Adrian Lewis wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - Lewis posts double 19 to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Lewis lands a maximum and finishes tops to break throw immediately.
3-0 - Lewis finishes 87 on double 18 to move three legs clear.
4-0 - Gilding is unable to punish two misses from Lewis, as he misses a second double top to complete a 100 finish, allowing the 2013 runner-up back on double five.
5-0 - Lewis lands a 180 as he takes a fifth successive leg.
6-0 - Lewis posts another maximum before finishing double eight to break for a third time.
7-0 - Lewis takes out 97 on double ten to continue his charge.
8-0 - Gilding opens with a 180, but Lewis replies in kind before finishing double 18 for an eighth straight leg.
9-0 - Lewis moves to the brink of victory with a superb ten-dart leg, opening with a 180 and adding a 177 to mean that a Gilding maximum comes in vain, with the Stoke ace finishing double eight for a brilliant leg.
10-0 - Lewis opens with a 177 score before sealing victory with a 14-dart leg on double nine, ending the game with a stunning 110 average.

Adrian Lewis Video Interview

Match Stats

Adrian Lewis	10-0	Andrew Gilding
11	100+	11
8	140+	7
2	170+	0
5	180	2
110.51	Average	92.55
97	High Finish	-
5	Breaks of Throw	-
10/19 - 53%	Checkout %	0/2 - 0%

Gary Anderson v Jamie Caven
0-0 - Jamie Caven wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - The pair trade 180s as Caven takes the opening leg.
1-1 - Anderson hits back to level the contest.
1-2 - Caven edges back in front by holding throw.
2-2 - Anderson finishes 92 on double 18 to level the game.
2-3 - Anderson opens with a 177 but misses the bull for a 132 finish as Caven steps in on tops to avert a break.
3-3 - The Scot levels on double ten.
3-4 - Double 16 for Caven edges him back in front.
3-5 - Anderson opens with a 180, but Caven breaks throw by brilliantly taking out 132 on the bullseye.
4-5 - Anderson lands another maximum before firing in a 145 checkout to break back.
5-5 - Anderson levels by finishing 87 on double five.
5-6 - Tops sees Caven edge back ahead.
6-6 - Double six for Anderson allows him to level.
6-7 - Caven lands a 180 to be first to a finish, with Anderson scoring 177 to leave 24 only to see his rival land tops to move back in front.
7-7 - Anderson again takes out 85 as he levels.
8-7 - The Scot claims a key break of throw, hitting a 180 before punishing three misses at tops from Caven by landing double 12 to move ahead.
9-7 - Anderson lands tops to move a leg away from the win.
9-8 - Caven takes out double 16 to keep his hopes alive.
10-8 - Anderson takes out 80 on double ten to seal a superb win.

Match Stats