Shanghai Darts Masters Day One

VAN GERWEN DENIES LIM & CHINESE HOPES ARE ENDED IN SHANGHAI DARTS MASTERS
 

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN held off a stern fightback from Paul Lim to move into the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Darts Masters on Saturday, as Phil Taylor, Adrian Lewis and Gary Anderson impressed against Chinese opposition.

World number one van Gerwen looked set to race through in the first round of the PDC World Series of Darts event when he took the opening four legs without reply, including a ten-dart finish, against Singapore's Lim.

However, the 62-year-old hit back to 4-3 and also finished double four in leg nine to stay in the contest before van Gerwen finally secured his spot in Sunday's final day.

"Paul has got so much experience and he showed that tonight, he can do great things and he made me sweat a little," said van Gerwen. "He's done so much in darts but I hit the right shots to get the win.

"I'm feeling good and I'd love to win here in Shanghai. I want to play much better and I believe in my game."

World Champion Gary Anderson kicked off his bid to win a third successive World Series of Darts title, following last month's victory in Dubai and his triumph in Auckland a week ago, as he whitewashed Shanghai's Yunfei Jiang 6-0.

The Scot averaged almost 94 and denied his opponent a dart at a double during a ruthless display, but said: "It wasn't as good as it has been in recent weeks but I got the job done, because you never know how your opponent is going to play."

Adrian Lewis, last week's runner-up in Auckland, was the day's other whitewash winner as he swept past Jianhua Shen without dropping a leg, landing three 180s in the process and also preventing his opponent having a dart at a double.

Six-time World Series of Darts winner Phil Taylor posted the day's highest average of 101.76 as he defeated Yuanjun Liu 6-1, taking the opening leg with an 11-darter and twice finishing 92 as he opened up a 3-0 lead.

Liu - who also faced Taylor in the World Cup of Darts when representing China three weeks ago - took the fourth leg on double 13, but the 16-time World Champion steadied any nerves with back-to-back 13-darters as he sealed victory.

"He was a tough opponent and he threw some good darts, and I was nervous so I'm glad to get through," said Taylor. "I'm playing well and looking forward to tomorrow, and it would be great to get the win."

A stunning 161 finish secured Raymond van Barneveld a 6-2 victory over Lihao Wen in the tournament's opening match as the Dutchman set up a quarter-final tie with van Gerwen.

The five-time World Champion missed 25 darts at a double during the contest, but still had enough to see off his Chinese opponent, who landed one maximum and took out 95 for the only leg he would win.

Peter Wright moved into a quarter-final tie with Taylor with a comprehensive 6-1 victory as he punished Hong Kong's Royden Lam for hitting just one of nine darts at a double.

Wright, though, changed the flights on his darts during a nervy opening leg as Lam took the lead, but the three-time World Series finalist found his range to win the next six legs without reply.

James Wade also overcame Chinese opposition with a comfortable 6-1 win over Yanlai Shi, taking the opening five legs without reply before sealing his place against Anderson in the quarter-finals.

Hong Kong's Scott Mackenzie shared the opening four legs of his tie with Dave Chisnall before the world number nine pulled away to claim a 6-2 victory, with legs of 12 and 14 darts securing a last eight clash with Lewis.

The PDC World Series of Darts tournament concludes on Sunday with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final at the Pullman Hotel Shanghai South.

The tournament will be televised through the PDC's series of international broadcast partners and for LIVEPDC.TV International Pass Subscribers.

ITV4's delayed coverage in the UK will be broadcast at 7.30pm on each night.

Shanghai Darts Masters
Saturday June 25
First Round
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Lihao Wen
Peter Wright 6-1 Royden Lam
James Wade 6-1 Yanlai Shi
Dave Chisnall 6-2 Scott Mackenzie
Phil Taylor 6-1 Yuanjun Liu
Adrian Lewis 6-0 Jianhua Shen
Michael van Gerwen 6-4 Paul Lim
Gary Anderson 6-0 Yunfei Jiang
Best of 11 legs

Sunday June 26 (5pm)
Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Dave Chisnall

Semi-Finals
Anderson/Wade v Taylor/Wright
van Gerwen/van Barneveld v Lewis/Chisnall

Final
v
All games on Sunday are the best of 15 legs and played in draw bracket order as above.

MATCH INFORMATION
Raymond van Barneveld v Lihao Wen
1-0 - Wen misses three darts at a double to break the throw before van Barneveld takes out double two for the lead.
1-1 - Van Barneveld misses five at a double to break before Wen moves in to punish the Dutchman on double 16.
2-1 - Van Barneveld currently two out of 18 on the doubles but still has enough to take a 2-1 lead.
3-1 - The five-time World Champion hits his first maximum and takes out 74 to break the throw.
4-1 - It's a three-leg cushion for van Barneveld who takes out six on double three.
5-1 - 86 on the bullseye for the Dutchman who is now one leg away from victory.
5-2 - Two match darts missed by van Barneveld before Wen takes out 95 to break the throw.
6-2 - After struggling on the doubles all evening, van Barneveld wins the match with a stunning 161 checkout.

Peter Wright v Royden Lam
0-1 - Wright changes his flights mid-leg to a smaller set and misses a dart at tops before Lam breaks the throw on double four.
1-1 - An immediate break back from Wright who takes out 71 on double 16.
2-1 - Wright lands tops at a fifth attempt to take a 2-1 lead.
3-1 - A maximum from Lam puts the pressure on Wright but the Scot answers with a two-dart 86 finish for a break of throw.
4-1 - Four legs in a row for Wright who is now averaging just under 97.
5-1 - Another break for Wright who lands double 19 to move one leg away from victory.
6-1 - Wright needs double one to claim victory but the world number five is through to the quarter-final.

James Wade v Yanlai Shi
1-0 - A comfortable opening leg for James Wade who lands double tops for the lead.
2-0 - Shi misses two darts at a double to draw level before Wade punishes to break the throw.
3-0 - Wade hits double ten for a three leg advantage, averaging 80.
4-0 - Shi misses more doubles to get on the board and Wade again punishes him on double ten.
5-0 - A smiling Wade lands another double ten and is cruising towards victory.
5-1 - Shi is on the board, landing double 11 to keep him in the match.
6-1 - Wade wraps up a comfortable victory with 75 on tops and a 80.01 average.

Dave Chisnall v Scott Mackenzie
1-0 - Chisnall takes the opening leg on double one without being put under any pressure by Mackenzie.
1-1 - Both players missing big numbers but it's Mackenzie who finally finds the double to level the game.
2-1 - Chisnall hits a 177 and lands double eight to take 2-1 lead.
2-2 - Mackenzie level again, taking out 66 on double 20 after Chisnall landed the first maximum of the match.
3-2 - Chisnall averaging just 75 but it's enough for him to take a 3-2 lead on double ten.
4-2 - A break for Chisnall who moves two legs in front of Mackenzie.
5-2 - A 12 dart leg for Chisnall who moves one away from victory.
6-2 - Chisnall took a while to get going but confirms the victory with 60 on tops for a 14-dart finish.

Phil Taylor v Yuanjun Liu
1-0 - Taylor opens the match with a maximum before landing double 16 for a 92 finish.
2-0 - The 16-time World Champion has the early break as he hits double 14.
3-0 - Another 92 finish on double 16 for Taylor, who is currently averaging 102.
3-1 - Liu gets on the board by finishing 54 on double 13.
4-1 - Taylor restores his three leg cushion on double 16.
5-1 - The first 180 of the match for Liu but it's Taylor who takes the leg on tops.
6-1 - 101.76 average for Taylor as he closes out the match against Liu on double six.

Adrian Lewis v Jianhua Shen
1-0 - Lewis lands the first 180 of the match before taking the first leg on double 12.
2-0 - Tops for Lewis as he breaks at the first attempt on tops.
3-0 - Three maximums and three legs so far for Adrian Lewis, he takes out double five for a healthy lead.
4-0 - Very comfortable for Lewis who breaks for a second time to take a four leg lead.
5-0 - Lewis cruising in to the quarter-finals here. The Englishman is one leg away from victory.
6-0 - The first whitewash of the evening as Lewis takes the sixth leg despite missing eight match darts.

Michael van Gerwen v Paul Lim
1-0 - Lim misses two darts at a double to take the opening leg before van Gerwen lands double 16 to break.
2-0 - A 74 finish on double 16 gives the Dutchman a two-leg advantage.
3-0 - Van Gerwen lands a ten-dart leg on double 16 to move three clear of Lim.
4-0 - Class from van Gerwen who takes out 87 for a 4-0 lead, averaging 103.
4-1 - Lim registers his first leg of the match on double 12.
4-2 - Lim breaks the van Gerwen throw, landing his first 180 in the process.
4-3 - It's three in a row for Lim who is putting the world number one under pressure here.
5-3 - Van Gerwen back in control as he lands double eight to move one leg away from the win.
5-4 - Lim asks van Gerwen whether he can close it out on his own throw by hitting double four to reduce the deficit.
6-4 - Van Gerwen comes through a tough test with 58 on tops to seal the deal.

Gary Anderson v Yunfei Jiang
1-0 - Anderson takes the opening leg against the throw on double 12.
2-0 - Tops for the World Champion to take a 2-0 lead.
3-0 - It's three in a row for Anderson who lands a second 25 finish of the match.
4-0 - A lovely 165 leaves Anderson on tops, which he takes out at the third attempt.
5-0 - Anderson extends his lead with a delightful 121 finish on the bull.
6-0 - The Scot seals an emphatic 6-0 win on double ten.

Match Stats