BetVictor World Matchplay Night Four

VAN GERWEN & WADE CRUISE THROUGH TO BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY QUARTER-FINALS

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN and James Wade romped into the BetVictor World Matchplay quarter-finals with comfortable wins over Ian White and Richie Burnett on Tuesday, as Dave Chisnall and Simon Whitlock joined them in the last eight in Blackpool.

World Champion van Gerwen progressed to the last eight for a third successive year at the Winter Gardens with a 13-4 win over White, the number 16 seed who suffered his third straight defeat in the second round of the tournament.

Van Gerwen capitalised on a slow start from the Stoke ace to power into an 8-1 lead, and though White pulled back to 11-3 at one stage, the Dutchman finished 123 to restore his cushion and went on to seal a comfortable victory.

"It was much easier than I expected, but I got the win and that's what's important," said van Gerwen, who is now the 7/4 favourite with sponsors BetVictor. "I didn't feel comfortable early on, but he didn't hit his doubles and I took advantage.

"I'm quite happy with the performance but sometimes I get frustrated with myself and I think I need to raise my game. I want to outscore and dominate my opponent in every game. but I did what I had to do.

"I'm really looking forward to playing Dave. I've got a good record against him in the last year and he's a fast player, so it should be a great game.

"At some points you need to be tested, and I've not been tested too much yet."

Van Gerwen will now meet Dave Chisnall in the last eight, after the 2013 World Grand Prix finalist defeated Andy Hamilton 13-10 in a thriller.

After a tight opening to the game, Chisnall pulled clear at 7-4 - after his opponent missed six darts to level in leg ten - only for Hamilton to reply with an 11-darter before taking out 160 and 132 as he pulled back to 8-7.

Chisnall finished a fine 134 to win his ninth leg, before Hamilton took out 120 as the pair continued to trade big finishes - but the Stoke ace was never able to draw level as the St Helens man secured his quarter-final place.

"It was a good game and a battle and I'm happy that I came out on top in the end," said Chisnall. "I knew it was going to be tough because I've played Andy before, at the World Championship, and he smashed me 4-0 in sets!

"Andy's a good finisher and I know what I can do, but after he hit the 160 and the 132 finishes I took out the 134 and that was a big shot because he was on a double to level the game."

Chisnall added: "I like playing Michael and I'm looking forward to the quarter-final. He beat me last year but it was a good game and I had my chances, so hopefully this time I can take my chances."

2007 World Matchplay champion James Wade maintained his incredible Winter Gardens record as he reached the quarter-finals for a ninth straight year by sweeping aside Richie Burnett 13-2.

Burnett shared the game's opening two legs, but Wade finished 104 and 102 as he took command at 4-1, and also checked out 98 and 70 as he moved seven legs clear before the Welshman took out 90 to hit back.

Wade, though, replied with a 180 as he regained his cushion and fired in an 11-darter before sealing a comfortable win with a 114 checkout.

"I'm really happy with that," said Wade. "I was always confident that I was going to win the game, but I didn’t expect to have that margin of victory.

"Maybe I was lucky because he didn't play well, but I like to think I didn't allow him to play well so I'm happy.

"I've not been tested yet but I’d quite happily not be tested and win the tournament! It doesn't matter how you play if you win, and if I play how I can then I should come through the quarter-finals.

"I'm getting back to my best and I'm enjoying my darts again – I'm not saying I'm going to win the tournament, but I'll have a good go."

Wade will meet Simon Whitlock in the quarter-finals for a second successive year, after the Australian came from 4-0 down to defeat Raymond van Barneveld 13-8 in a bizarre contest.

Van Barneveld began the game using a new set of darts after changing from the set he had used to defeat Vincent van der Voort in the first round, but after seeing Whitlock come back to lead 9-6 then changed back to his original set.

Whitlock, though, had taken out finishes of 128, 120 and 111 in clawing his way back into the game, and though van Barneveld finished 132 as he pulled back to 11-8, another 120 checkout helped the number four seed to complete the win.

"I'm really happy to be through but I know I'll need to improve on that performance to beat James Wade," said Whitlock. "I was terrible for the first five legs but I came back well and my finishing was what got me through.

"I knew Raymond had changed and it messed my head up a bit at the start of the game, but when it came to the crunch and the pressure darts, it didn't work for him.

"I've been very confident lately but James is a great player and I will need to be somewhere close to a 100 average to beat him, finishing well and outscoring him. We've had so many battles over the last four or five years and I know what I've got to do to beat him."

The second round concludes on Wednesday with the remaining four games, including reigning champion Phil Taylor taking on Michael Smith, the former World Youth Champion who claimed victory when they met last December in the World Championship.

2013 World Matchplay finalist Adrian Lewis - who averaged 110 in his first round whitewash of Andrew Gilding - takes on Mervyn King, Paul Nicholson faces local favourite Wes Newton and Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting meets Gary Anderson.

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BetVictor World Matchplay
Tuesday July 22
Second Round
Andy Hamilton 10-13 Dave Chisnall
James Wade 13-2 Richie Burnett
Michael van Gerwen 13-4 Ian White
Simon Whitlock 13-8 Raymond van Barneveld

MATCH INFORMATION
Andy Hamilton v Dave Chisnall
0-0 - Dave Chisnall wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - Chisnall misses four darts at doubles, and Hamilton breaks throw on double ten.
1-1 - Hamilton is punished for failing to give himself a dart at double 16 - missing the single 20 to leave the double - as Chisnall breaks back on double 16.
1-2 - Chisnall fires in the game's first 180 before landing double two to move ahead.
2-2 - Hamilton lands double 16 as he squares the contest.
2-3 - Chisnall finishes 64 on double eight to move back ahead.
2-4 - Double 12 sees Chisnall break to establish a two-leg lead.
3-4 - Hamilton breaks back immediately on double top.
4-4 - Chisnall opens with a 180 and adds a second maximum in the leg, but misses five darts at double 16 and eight, allowing Hamilton to steal the leg on double top.
4-5 - Hamilton lands his first 180 of the game, but Chisnall finishes 76 on double four to regain his edge.
4-6 - Hamilton opens with five perfect darts of 180 and 140, but is punished for seven misses at double 16 as Chisnall hits the same bed to break and regain some breathing space.
4-7 - Hamilton misses four further doubles, and Chisnall again capitalises as he moves three legs clear for the first time.
5-7 - Hamilton lands his third 180, and finishes double 16 for an 11-dart leg - celebrating by pointing at the board as he regains his range on the doubles.
5-8 - Hamilton lands a 174 score, but Chisnall is again first to a finish as he takes out 87 on double 18.
6-8 - The Stoke ace produces a superb 160 checkout to hit back.
7-8 - Chisnall opens with a 180, but Hamilton takes out a second successive ton-plus finish as he completes a 132 combination on the bullseye.
7-9 - Both players land maximums before Chisnall this time lands a big checkout, finishing 134 on double seven.
7-10 - Chisnall takes out 80 on tops to regain a three-leg lead.
8-10 - Hamilton replies with his third ton-plus checkout of the game, finishing 120 to hit back.
8-11 - Chisnall fires in his sixth 180 of the game before posting double eight to move two legs away from the win.
9-11 - Hamilton posts a 180 before finishing 68 to reply.
9-12 - Chisnall hits a seventh maximum of the game, and double 16 moves him to the verge of a quarter-final spot.
10-12 - Hamilton kicks off the leg with a 180, but Chisnall replies with two maximums to set up a possible nine-darter - landing a seventh treble 20 before missing the treble 19, and Hamilton punishes him by finishing 81 on double 13 to keep his hopes alive.
10-13 - Chisnall hits his tenth 180 of the game, and when Hamilton misses double top for a 72 finish to continue his fightback, the St Helens ace hits double 16 at the first time of asking to claim the win.

Dave Chisnall Video Interview

Match Stats

Andy Hamilton	10-13	Dave Chisnall
23	100+	20
20	140+	17
1	170+	0
6	180	10
97.54	Average	95.19
160	High Finish	134
3	Breaks of Throw	4
10/27 - 37%	Checkout %	13/32 - 41%

James Wade v Richie Burnett
0-0 - Richie Burnett wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - Wade finishes tops to claim the opening leg against the throw.
1-1 - Burnett breaks back on double eight.
2-1 - Burnett hits the game's first 180, but Wade takes out 104 for another break of throw.
3-1 - Double ten sees Wade hold throw as he moves two legs up.
4-1 - Burnett misses the bull for an 86 finish, and Wade takes out 102 to break again and move three legs clear.
5-1 - Wade's accuracy on tops continues as he finishes 70 to win a fourth successive leg.
6-1 - Wade fires in a 180 before taking out 98 on double ten.
7-1 - The number five seed takes a sixth successive leg as he pulls clear.
8-1 - Wade lands another 180 before posting a third-dart double ten to maintain his charge.
8-2 - Burnett wins his first leg in nine a he finishes 90 with a bullseye, double top combination.
9-2 - Wade posts his third 180 of the match, and takes out double ten with his third dart for the second time in the game to regain his cushion.
10-2 - Wade finishes 81 for an 11-dart leg as he continues his push for another quarter-final spot.
11-2 - Burnett lands a 180, but misses nine darts at doubles across four visits as Wade again punishes him, landing double ten to move two legs away from the win.
12-2 - Wade posts a 171 score to leave 50 and cleans up the finish on double ten as he closes in on the winning line.
13-2 - The 2007 champion hits his fourth 180 of the game before sealing victory with a clinical 114 finish.

James Wade Video Interview

Match Stats

James Wade	13-2	Richie Burnett
24	100+	22
13	140+	9
1	170+	0
4	180	2
95.24	Average	87.42
114	High Finish	90
8	Breaks of Throw	2
13/30 - 43%	Checkout %	2/19 - 11%

Michael van Gerwen v Ian White
0-0 - Michael van Gerwen wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - van Gerwen wins an edgy opener on double two.
1-1 - van Gerwen posts a 180, but White holds throw to level.
2-1 - Double 18 sees van Gerwen regain his lead.
3-1 - van Gerwen finishes 64 on double eight to break throw and move two legs up.
4-1 - The World Champion takes out 80 on tops to continue his charge.
5-1 - van Gerwen finishes 104 to move four legs clear with another break.
6-1 - White's double trouble continues as van Gerwen capitalises on double eight.
7-1 - van Gerwen hits a second 180 as he is first to a finish, missing four darts to win the leg before landing double seven.
8-1 - Double 16 sees the world number one claim a seventh successive leg.
8-2 - White wins his first leg in eight as he lands double four.
9-2 - van Gerwen opens with a 180 before restoring his seven-leg lead.
10-2 - White misses double 16 for a 103 finish, and van Gerwen breaks on tops to continue his charge towards the quarter-finals.
11-2 - van Gerwen finishes 56 on double ten as he moves two legs away from the win.
11-3 - White hits his first 180 of the game to leave 36, and takes out double 18 at the first time of asking to reply.
12-3 - van Gerwen lands a 180 and finishes a superb 123 combination on double eight to move to the brink of victory.
12-4 - White replies with a 180 before finishing double two.
13-4 - White adds a third maximum but misses the bull for a 121 finish, allowing van Gerwen to take out 65 to seal the win.

Michael van Gerwen Video Interview

Match Stats

Michael van Gerwen	13-4	Ian White
25	100+	28
15	140+	11
0	170+	0
4	180	3
96.75	Average	92.58
123	High Finish	36
4	Breaks of Throw	0
13/31 - 42%	Checkout %	4/23 - 17%

Simon Whitlock v Raymond van Barneveld
0-0 - Simon Whitlock wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - van Barneveld fires in a 174 score to leave 32, and he takes out double eight to break throw immediately.
0-2 - The Dutchman - using new darts for the first time in competition - lands a 180 as he doubles his lead.
0-3 - Whitlock is punished for three missed doubles, at double 16 and eight, to allow van Barneveld to break again on double 11.
0-4 - The 2010 runner-up finishes 68 on double four.
1-4 - Whitlock posts a 180 and finishes double top to get off the mark.
2-4 - Whitlock lands another maximum, before pinning double 16 to continue his revival.
3-4 - Whitlock wins a third successive leg as he takes out 128 on the bull.
3-5 - Double 16 sees van Barneveld stem the tide.
4-5 - Whitlock opens with a 180 before finishing double four to reduce the gap to one leg again.
5-5 - Double six sees Whitlock level the game.
5-6 - van Barneveld finishes 72 on double 16 to move back ahead.
6-6 - Both players open with 180s, before Whitlock finishes double 18 to square the contest.
7-6 - Whitlock breaks throw by finishing 120.
8-6 - The Australian fires in a fifth 180 of the game before finishing 111 on the bull to move two legs clear.
9-6 - Whitlock posts double ten to win a fourth successive leg, moving three legs clear.
10-6 - van Barneveld returns from the break having returned to his "old" darts which he used in the first round - but Whitlock adds a 180 before finishing double 16 to win a fifth successive leg.
10-7 - Whitlock hits his seventh maximum of the game, but van Barneveld hits back by landing double nine to win his first leg in six.
11-7 - Whitlock restores his four-leg lead by finishing 76 on tops.
11-8 - van Barneveld's mixed evening continues as he scores 15 when needing 147 - only to then return and finish 132 on the bullseye!
12-8 - Whitlock takes out 120 for the second time in the game as he moves to the brink of victory.
13-8 - Double ten seals Whitlock's place in the quarter-finals against James Wade.

Match Stats