Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters Day One

WRIGHT FINDS HIS 'MOJO' AND VAN GERWEN IS MADE TO WORK AS HOME HOPES END IN JAPAN

COLOURFUL Peter Wright impressed in his opening match of the Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters beating Chiara Fujimori 6-0, as all eight Japanese players were eliminated on the opening day of the PDC World Series of Darts event.

Wright had won through to the final of last year's event in Japan as he became a crowd favourite, with his multi-coloured mohican and outfits matched by his superb darts.

A return to Japan brought the best out of the Scot, who hit 100% of his double attempts moving five legs up against Fujimori, eventually finishing with six from nine as he secured a quarter-final spot.

Having allowed a 7-1 lead to slip against Phil Taylor in the Shanghai Darts Masters recently, Wright believes that he’s got his 'mojo' back after returning to his colourful best.

"They love the darts here and I love them - I can't wait to get back out there," said Wright. "It's great to have all the gear back on, I've gone missing recently but now I feel like the old Peter Wright is back."

Unlike Wright, Michael van Gerwen was made to work for his 6-3 victory over Masumi Chino in the closest of the first round ties.

The world number one saw his opponent break his throw twice, but van Gerwen always felt in control as he aims to pick up back-to-back World Series titles following his Shanghai triumph ten days ago.

Checkouts of 140 and 101 from Chino looked to have put the pressure on van Gerwen, but the Dutchman produced quality moments every time it looked as if Chino was working his way back in to the match.

"I have to give him credit," said van Gerwen. "He did some good things at the right moments but I knew I would have the quality to come through in the end."

Dave Chisnall opened the night with an impressive 6-1 victory over Shintaro Inoue, averaging 96.64 as he moved through to face van Gerwen in the quarter-finals.

The St Helens ace, though, saw his throw broken in the opening leg as Inoue took the lead - to the delight of the crowd inside the Yoyogi Olympic Hall - but then strung together six legs in a row, including an 11-darter, to take the win.

Chisnall, who hit 42% of his double attempts, said he was shocked into life after the first leg, admitting: "I was really nervous during the first leg and couldn’t believe the noise the crowd was making for him. I settled in after that though and really enjoyed it at the end."

Raymond van Barneveld moved comfortably in to the quarter-finals with a 6-1 victory over a tricky opponent in Keita Ono, who competed in the 2016 World Championship and World Cup of Darts and gave the crowd a moment of excellence taking out 116 in the second leg to level.

It was van Barneveld, though, who showed his class by putting together a run of five legs in a row to silence the Japanese crowd and claim the win.

Reigning champion Phil Taylor averaged 97.35 on his way to a 6-2 win over Haruki Muramatsu.

The 16-time World Champion was made to work for his win by Muramatsu, who has appeared in four World Championships and was the first Japanese player to win a PDC Tour Card 18 months ago.

"He was getting to me a little if I'm honest," admitted Taylor. "He's a steady player and I had to play well to beat him."

The reigning Japan Masters Champion also said he is looking forward to trying to retain his title in Thursday's finals day, adding: "They're a great crowd, it's great to be here and I’m looking forward to tomorrow already."

Adrian Lewis moved in to the last eight of the Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters after a comfortable 6-1 win over Tsuneki Zaha.

Lewis averaged 90.18 but hit just 30% of his double attempts and admitted that he'll need to improve going in to tomorrow’s quarter-final against Wright, saying: "I'll have to do a bit better but I'm happy with the win."

The £50,000 bonus for a nine-dart finish and £1,000,000 for two in the same match by one player was playing on the mind of the two-time World Champion, who conceded: "It's on all the players minds, I know it can be done."

A 6-1 victory for James Wade over Masahiro Hiraga saw the Shanghai Darts Masters runner-up move in to the quarter-finals to face Taylor.

Hiraga began the match well, breaking the Wade throw and hitting two maximums in the opening three legs, but he was unable to sustain his level and was punished by the left-hander.

World Champion Gary Anderson rounded the evening off with a 6-1 victory over Seigo Asada.

The first two legs of the match went with throw but after five perfect darts by Anderson in the third leg, the number one seed took control from there and sealed the win by averaging 96.08, hitting six out of 18 double attempts.

The tournament concludes on Thursday with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final in one bumper session at the Yoyogi Olympic Hall.

The Zipang Casino Tokyo Darts Masters will be broadcast live in Japan on JSport and available worldwide through the PDC's series of international broadcast partners, as well as at www.LIVEPDC.TV for International Pass Subscribers.

UK coverage will be shown on ITV4 at 8pm BST on Wednesday and Thursday.

Zipang Casino Japan Darts Masters
Wednesday July 6
First Round
Dave Chisnall 6-1 Shintaro Inoue
Raymond van Barneveld 6-1 Keita Ono
Peter Wright 6-0 Chikara Fujimori
Phil Taylor 6-2 Haruki Muramatsu
Adrian Lewis 6-1 Tsuneki Zaha
James Wade 6-1 Masahiro Hiraga
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Masumi Chino
Gary Anderson 6-1 Seigo Asada
Best of 11 legs

Thursday July 7
Quarter-Finals
Gary Anderson v Raymond van Barneveld
Adrian Lewis v Peter Wright
Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
James Wade v Phil Taylor

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

Final
v

FIRST ROUND MATCH INFORMATION
Dave Chisnall v Shintaro Inoue
0-1 - Chisnall is broken in the opening leg as Inoue takes out 50 on tops.
1-1 - An immediate break back for Chisnall, hitting double four to level up.
2-1 - An 11-dart leg for the Englishman gives him the lead for the first time.
3-1 - Chisnall hits his first maximum before hitting tops to extend his advantage.
4-1 - Four in a row for Chisnall who hits tops again.
5-1 - Chisnall now one leg from victory as he takes out 16 on double four.
6-1 - Great way to finish as Chisnall takes out 118 to win the match.

Raymond van Barneveld v Keita Ono
1-0 - Tops for van Barneveld who takes the opening leg.
1-1 - A 116 checkout on double 18 from Ono levels the match up.
2-1 - 18 on double nine for van Barneveld as he moves back in front.
3-1 - Ono misses the bull for a 161 finish before Barney takes out 76 on double eight.
4-1 - Two 76 finishes in a row for van Barneveld as he opens up a three-leg lead.
5-1 - van Barneveld takes out 62 on double 16 with Ono left waiting on 32.
6-1 - Barney closes out the match with a 16 checkout to move in to the quarter-finals.

Peter Wright v Chikara Fujimori
1-0 - A 180 followed by 22 on double 11 gives Peter Wright the opening leg.
2-0 - A break for Wright who takes out 101 on double 16.
3-0 - Three legs on the spin for Wright who hits tops for an 80 finish.
4-0 - A brilliant 140 gives Peter Wright a 4-0 lead.
5-0 - Wright moves one leg away from the whitewash as he takes out 62 on double 16.
6-0 - A 92.97 average and 6/9 on the doubles gives Peter Wright an impressive 6-0 win.

Phil Taylor v Haruki Muramatsu
1-0 - The opening leg goes Taylor's way as he hits double 16.
1-1 - Muramatsu hits a 180 before hitting double ten to level up.
2-1 - Taylor back ahead taking out 32 on double 16.
3-1 - Taylor breaks to extend his lead.
4-1 - A 177 then 40 on tops as Taylor moves three clear.
4-2 - Muramatsu hits double top to hold and move him within two legs of Taylor.
5-2 - Taylor one away from the win as he checks out 74 on tops.
6-2 - Double eight from Taylor gives him the win, averaging 97.35.

Adrian Lewis v Tsuneki Zaha
1-0 - A good start for Lewis who breaks the throw in the opening leg on tops.
2-0 - Lewis backs up the break of throw by holding his own on double two.
3-0 - Zaha misses two darts to get himself on the board before Lewis takes out 36 on double nine.
4-0 - Lewis moves four legs in front hitting tops again.
5-0 - More missed darts at doubles for Zaha and Lewis punishes him on double ten.
5-1 - Zaha keeps himself in the match hitting double two after Lewis misses match darts.
6-1 - Game over, as 25 on double nine seals the deal for Lewis

James Wade v Masahiro Hiraga
1-0 - Wade is straight down to business, breaking the throw with 80 on tops.
1-1 - Hiraga straight back in it hitting a 180 then taking out 70 on tops.
2-1 - Classic Wade as he takes out 108 on tops.
3-1 - Hiraga misses darts at tops to break back before Wade punishes him on double five.
4-1 - A 180 followed by double ten for Wade as he moves three clear.
5-1 - Double ten for Wade, he's one leg away from the win.
6-1 - Wade moves safely in to the quarter-finals hitting tops for a 56 finish.

Michael van Gerwen v Masumi Chino
1-0 - Double 16 for a 32 finish and an opening hold for van Gerwen.
2-0 - A 32 finish again for van Gerwen, this time on double eight for an early break.
2-1 - A brilliant moment for Chino as he takes out 140 to break back.
3-1 - Chino hits a 180 and then misses a dart at tops before van Gerwen hits double eight to restore his two leg lead.
3-2 - Back on throw as Chino breaks again by finishing 66 on double top.
4-2 - Another break for van Gerwen, two legs away from victory.
5-2 - 68 on tops now for van Gerwen who backs up his break of throw.
5-3 - Another ton plus finish for Chino who takes out 101 to keep himself in the contest.
6-3 - Michael van Gerwen seals his win on double 12.

Gary Anderson v Seigo Asada
1-0 - Double tops for Anderson to get the match underway.
1-1 - Double eight for Asada to level up.
2-1 - Five perfect darts from Anderson, who then hits double 20 for a 2-1 lead.
3-1 - A break of throw for Anderson who hits tops for a 60 finish.
4-1 - The World Champion is in his stride now and leads 4-1.
5-1 - Double 13 for Anderson moves him one away from the win.
6-1 - Double 20 for Anderson to seal the win with a 96.08 average.

MATCH STATS