KING STUNS WADE IN BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY AS ANDERSON CRUISES THROUGH
JAMES WADE was knocked out of the BetVictor World Matchplay in the first round for the first time in his illustrious career as clinical Mervyn King claimed a superb 10-5 success in Blackpool on Sunday evening, as World Champion Gary Anderson cruised past debutant Alan Norris.
Left-hander Wade, the 2007 World Matchplay champion, has never failed to reach at least the quarter-finals in ten previous Winter Gardens appearances, winning through to six finals in the process.
However, he was left stunned as King, the 2009 semi-finalist, produced a brilliant performance to upset the odds and knock out the world number six.
King pounced on missed doubles from Wade to win the first two legs and then finished 82 on the bull for a 3-0 lead, with Wade hitting back on tops only to see his rival take out 120 and 100 as he moved 6-1 up.
Wade claimed two of the next three before King fired in a brilliant ten-darter, and though the left-hander continued to battle he was unable to claim a break of throw as the Norfolk thrower held his nerve to close out victory with ten doubles from 15 attempts.
"James is a fantastic player but he wasn't on top of his game tonight," said King, who now plays either Raymond van Barneveld or Brendan Dolan. "It was nice to win but James was under par and I'm going to take it with both hands and go into the next round.
"It felt good, and from the world go I felt in control of my darts. My finishing was great but I've been playing like that all year and not getting the results so hopefully now it's going to start going my way."
Wade conceded: "Mervyn played by far better for the whole game and I didn't play well, I didn't delivery. He smashed me out of sight and did the job.
"I was feeling really confident about this tournament, but I wasn't good enough."
World Champion Anderson, the number two seed, stormed past Alan Norris 10-1, with the debutant winning the opening leg with a 104 checkout only to see the Scot pull clear.
Anderson reeled off ten straight legs, including a fine 139 checkout, a 108 finish and four 14-darters as he powered into a second round clash with Terry Jenkins with a 101 average.
"I've known Alan for a long time and he's a very good player, but he missed a few big checkouts and it was one of those games where everything went just about to plan," said Anderson.
"I'm enjoying it and I'm in a good place just now. It's going well but I want to win this. Terry's a thorn in my side but I've got a lot of respect for him. He's a classy player and he doesn't give you an inch."
2013 Blackpool finalist Adrian Lewis battled past Mark Webster with a 10-6 win as he came from 5-4 down to win six of the final seven legs and take victory - setting up a revenge mission in round two against another Welshman, Gerwyn Price, who ended his hopes at the Winter Gardens a year ago.
Lewis took out 95 and 121 to win the opening two legs before Webster won three in a row to move ahead, including a 116 checkout, while he also finished 90 with a bullseye, double top combination as he held leads of 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4.
World number four Lewis, though, levelled in leg ten and punished four missed doubles from Webster to regain the edge at 6-5, and though the left-hander responded in the 12th leg, he was powerless to prevent his rival racing through the final four legs without reply.
"That was a tough game so I'm happy to get over the winning line in the first round," said Lewis. "For the first 12 legs it was a fantastic match and then Mark came off the boil, and in the last couple of legs he didn't kick in.
"I can improve probably another 20 percent. I know I've got to play a lot better and I'll just get on with it. Revenge is in the equation and I'll be after him, don't worry about that."
An emotional Webster admitted afterwards that signs of dartitis - which he has battled in recent years - had affected him during the latter stages of the game, but said: "I did okay there and compete with Adrian until the last four legs, but I made him fight.
"Adrian's a brilliant player, one of the best in the world and he could probably win it.
"I'm trying to beat the player and beat myself at the same time. It's tough, really hard and I'm struggling. I'm pretty upset about it - I just want my game to hold up. I've done well for eight months but the last two months have been a struggle - but I'll keep going."
Number five seed Peter Wright was a 10-5 winner against youngster Joe Cullen, who took out finishes of 107 and 124 on his first World Matchplay appearance for four years but was unable to prevent the Scot - a semi-finalist 12 months ago - from progressing.
"It was a good game but there's a lot more to come from me," said Wright, who now meets Ian White. "I was nervous but I always am in the first round of major tournament.
"I've changed things in my throw which didn't go as well as I wanted. I've got a specialist on board. It wasn't a bad performance but I will improve from here.
"Joe didn't show the form on stage that he's had recently, he's found the hunger again and he's always been a fantastic player. He's coming back but maybe I'm his bogey player at the moment."
Wright added: "Ian's a fantastic player and I've got loads of respect for him. It's going to be an awesome game."
Earlier in the day, Price defied three ton-plus checkouts from Kim Huybrechts to win through to the second round with a 10-8 triumph in Blackpool.
The Welsh ace was a sensation on his World Matchplay debut in 2015 as he won through to the quarter-finals, and he enjoyed another high-quality Winter Gardens win as he overcame the Belgian.
The lead changed hands three times during a see-saw contest, with Price landing an 11-darter and a 145 checkout as he moved 4-3 up, only for Huybrechts to finish 124 and 153 to take a 6-4 lead.
Price then hit back to lead 8-7, with a classy 126 finish from Huybrechts seeing him level only for missed doubles in the next two legs to allow the Welshman in to complete the win.
"I did well here last year and I was on a positive coming here, and thankfully I came through the game," said Price, who only turned professional in January 2014. "I'm the underdog in every single game so I'm just going to give it my all.
"I thought I started off pretty well and when I was behind I had to keep going and not let my head drop. It was up and down, but when it mattered I was in front. I'm just glad to get through it but I'll have to improve for the next game.
"Playing with these guys week-in, week-out and knowing that you can beat them gives you confidence and you need that in this game; everybody has the talent but you need that two percent upstairs, and when you've got that it's a much easier game."
Austria's Mensur Suljovic, like Price a quarter-finalist in Blackpool last year, was a 10-8 winner against Stephen Bunting as he moved through to a second round meeting with either Phil Taylor or Robbie Green on Wednesday.
Another fine game saw Bunting average over 102, but the St Helens ace only ever led after winning the opening leg, with Suljovic taking out 134 for a 4-2 lead, a key 96 checkout and hitting five 180s as he edged through.
"Stephen's a World Champion and I didn't know what to expect but I'm very happy," said Suljovic, who is set to break into the world's top 16 for the first time. "I'm focusing on my next game and nothing else at the moment."
Two-time World Matchplay finalist Terry Jenkins punished Justin Pipe for 32 missed doubles as he claimed a 10-7 win from their first round battle.
Pipe opened the contest with a 160 checkout and also hit an 11-darter to lead 4-2 and a 12-dart leg as he moved 6-5 up, but Jenkins finished 66 and 90 to move himself into an 8-6 advantage before closing out the win.
"It was a battle but I got there in the end," said the 52-year-old. "As soon as Justin started hitting some things I started playing with him, and I suppose I followed his game instead of playing my own.
"I relied on him missing a few things and I came out the winner, but it was a very hard struggle. I can relax now and it will be easier for me in the next game. I've done well here before and I relish playing the best players."
Stoke's Ian White landed eight 180s in a fine display as he defeated World Matchplay debutant Daryl Gurney 10-2.
After White roared into a 3-0 lead, Northern Ireland's Gurney claimed back-to-back legs as he reduced the arrears to 3-2 to ignite his challenge.
Maximums in the next two legs helped White to restore his advantage before he punished missed doubles from Gurney in successive legs to open up a 7-2 lead, and a further three 180s in legs of 11, 12 and 14 darts saw the former quarter-finalist complete a strong performance.
"I was expecting a closer game but Daryl missed a lot of doubles and I took my chances," said White. "Maybe that showed my experience up there but I scored well and I know my game's there at the moment and I felt quite good.
"He gave me a few chances and it was a nice comfortable win and I've still not lost in the first round here."
The first round concludes on Monday evening with the remaining four matches, including 15-time World Matchplay champion Phil Taylor taking on qualifier Robbie Green.
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld comes up against Brendan Dolan, former Lakeside Champions Jelle Klaasen and Steve Beaton clash and Michael Smith faces Simon Whitlock.
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BetVictor World Matchplay
Sunday July 17
First Round
Afternoon Session
Stephen Bunting 8-10 Mensur Suljovic
Kim Huybrechts 8-10 Gerwyn Price
Terry Jenkins 10-7 Justin Pipe
Ian White 10-2 Daryl Gurney
Evening Session
James Wade 5-10 Mervyn King
Adrian Lewis 10-6 Mark Webster
Gary Anderson 10-1 Alan Norris
Peter Wright 10-5 Joe Cullen
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. For example, should a First Round game (best of 19 legs) reach 12-12 then the 25th leg would be the final and deciding leg.
MATCH INFORMATION
Stephen Bunting v Mensur Suljovic
1-0 - Suljovic lands a 180, but Bunting wins the opening leg on double eight.
1-1 - Double seven sees Suljovic level.
1-2 - The Austrian hits another maximum before double 18 moves him ahead with a break of throw.
2-2 - Bunting levels with double six to break back.
2-3 - Bunting is unable to finish 145, and Suljovic takes out 76 on tops to regain the lead.
2-4 - Bunting hits a 180, but Suljovic moves two legs clear with a superb 134 checkout.
3-4 - Bunting responds by finishing 64 on double eight.
3-5 - Bunting posts his second 180, but Suljovic takes out 96 as he regains his cushion.
4-5 - Bunting's high scoring sees him fire in a 162 score before double ten sees him pull back a leg.
4-6 - Suljovic this time posts double ten, as he moves two legs up once more.
5-6 - For the second time in the contest, Bunting lands a third-dart double six.
5-7 - Bunting wires the bullseye to complete a tricky 132 finish, and Suljovic lands double four to edge away again.
6-7 - Bunting lands double two to reduce the gap once more.
6-8 - Bunting opens with a 180, but Suljovic posts double eight as he moves two legs away from the win.
7-8 - The pair trade 180s before Suljovic wires double nine, allowing Bunting in on double top to pull back to a leg behind once again.
7-9 - Suljovic lands a fourth maximum, with Bunting then wiring the bullseye for a 161 checkout to allow the Austrian in on double eight as he moves to the brink of victory.
8-9 - Bunting posts a 162 score for the second time in the game, and returns from wiring double 16 for a 146 finish to land double four and keep his hopes alive.
8-10 - Suljovic opens with a 180 before landing tops to seal his second round spot following a high-quality contest.
Match Stats
| Stephen Bunting | 8-10 | Mensur Suljovic |
| 23 | 100+ | 29 |
| 19 | 140+ | 13 |
| 0 | 170+ | 0 |
| 4 | 180 | 5 |
| 102.48 | Average | 98.44 |
| 64 | High Finish | 134 |
| 1 | Breaks of Throw | 2 |
| 8/22 - 36% | Checkout % | 10/20 - 50% |
Kim Huybrechts v Gerwyn Price
1-0 - Huybrechts takes out 86 in two darts to make a confident opening.
1-1 - Tops sees Price level the game.
1-2 - Price produces a superb 11-darter to move ahead, scoring 140, 140 and 180 before landing tops.
2-2 - Double 18 for Suljovic levels the game.
2-3 - Price initially fails to leave himself a double when on 56, but Huybrechts is unable to land double 16 as the Welsh ace returns on tops.
3-3 - Double eight sees Huybrechts level.
3-4 - Price takes out 315 with six brilliant darts, scoring 170 before finishing 145 on tops.
4-4 - Huybrechts replies with a superb 124 checkout.
5-4 - Huybrechts breaks throw to regain the lead.
6-4 - The Belgian produces an outstanding 153 checkout to open up a two-leg lead.
6-5 - Price finishes 94 on tops to hit back.
7-5 - Huybrechts lands a 180 before finishing 88 on double seven to regain his cushion.
7-6 - Price lands a 168 score to be first to a finish, only to waste his chances in three visits before two misses from Huybrechts allow him back in on double two.
7-7 - Price finishes 44 on tops to level.
7-8 - The Welsh ace wins a third successive leg, taking out 78.
8-8 - Huybrechts lands his third ton-plus checkout of the game, taking out 126 with a fine treble 20, bullseye, double eight combination.
8-9 - Price opens with a 177 before returning on double two to move a leg away from the win, after Huybrechts gives him a let-off by missing double 18.
8-10 - Huybrechts misses three darts at double 16 to send the game into a tie-break, and Price steps in to finish 88 on double 14 to secure a second round place for the second successive year.
Match Stats
| Kim Huybrechts | 8-10 | Gerwyn Price |
| 22 | 100+ | 22 |
| 15 | 140+ | 12 |
| 0 | 170+ | 3 |
| 1 | 180 | 1 |
| 97.89 | Average | 95.10 |
| 153 | High Finish | 145 |
| 2 | Breaks of Throw | 3 |
| 8/17 - 47% | Checkout % | 10/21 - 48% |
Terry Jenkins v Justin Pipe
0-1 - Pipe makes an ideal start, taking out a 160 checkout to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Pipe misses two darts to break throw, and Jenkins steps in on double ten to level.
2-1 - Further missed doubles from Pipe allow Jenkins back in on tops to break throw and move ahead.
2-2 - Pipe lands a 180 before levelling on double 16, after Jenkins is off-target on double eight.
2-3 - Pipe is handed a reprieve for four missed doubles when Jenkins misses two darts to win leg five, allowing the Taunton ace back in on double eight.
2-4 - Pipe scores 180, 131 and 174 before finishing double four for an 11-darter, with a maximum from Jenkins not enough in reply.
3-4 - Pipe misses a dart at tops to move three legs clear, and Jenkins replies on double nine to win his first leg in four.
4-4 - Further missed doubles from Pipe allow Jenkins to level on double six.
4-5 - Both players miss one dart at a double before Pipe returns on double 16 to regain the lead.
5-5 - Pipe hits his third 180 of the game, but a miss at tops for an 80 finish allows Jenkins in to hit the same bed and level.
5-6 - Pipe opens with a 180 and finishes 81 on double 12 for a 12-darter.
6-6 - Jenkins fires in his second 180 before double ten levels.
7-6 - Jenkins breaks throw by taking out 66 on double 18 to regain the lead.
8-6 - Jenkins finishes 90 on double 15 to open up a two-leg lead for the first time.
8-7 - Jenkins misses three darts at tops to move a leg away from the win, and Pipe returns on double four to cut the gap to one leg.
9-7 - Pipe misses three darts at doubles, and Jenkins lands double six to move to the brink of victory.
10-7 - Three misses at double 18 from Pipe allow Jenkins in to seal victory on double four.
Match Stats
| Terry Jenkins | 10-7 | Justin Pipe |
| 25 | 100+ | 20 |
| 11 | 140+ | 12 |
| 0 | 170+ | 1 |
| 2 | 180 | 4 |
| 85.75 | Average | 87.95 |
| 90 | High Finish | 160 |
| 4 | Breaks of Throw | 2 |
| 10/31 - 32% | Checkout % | 7/39 - 18% |
Ian White v Daryl Gurney
1-0 - White claims the opening leg with a break of throw, after Gurney misses one dart to lead.
2-0 - White hits a 180 and tops to double his advantage.
3-0 - The pair trade 180s before White lands a 174 score to leave tops, and he hits the bed with his third dart to continue his superb start.
3-1 - Double top sees Gurney claim his first leg of the game.
3-2 - Double four allows the debutant to reduce the gap to one leg.
4-2 - White lands a 180 before finishing 60 to claim his first leg in three.
5-2 - Double top sees White restore his three-leg cushion.
6-2 - Gurney misses two darts at double 16 to punish White for five misses at the same bed before the Stoke ace returns to win a third successive leg.
7-2 - Double two sees White continue his run.
8-2 - White lands his sixth 180 of the game as he pulls six legs clear.
9-2 - The pair trade 180s before White finishes 100 on double ten to move to the brink of victory.
10-2 - White lands his eighth maximum before finishing double four to secure the win and a second round spot.
Match Stats
| Ian White | 10-2 | Daryl Gurney |
| 8 | 100+ | 18 |
| 7 | 140+ | 4 |
| 1 | 170+ | 0 |
| 8 | 180 | 2 |
| 91.46 | Average | 84.49 |
| 100 | High Finish | 40 |
| 5 | Breaks of Throw | 1 |
| 10/30 - 33% | Checkout % | 2/15 - 13% |
James Wade v Mervyn King
0-1 - Wade opens the game with a 180, but three missed doubles for an immediate break of throw allow King in on double 16.
0-2 - Wade misses a dart at tops, and King finishes 72 to move two legs up.
0-3 - King lands a 180 before finishing 82 on the bull to continue his brilliant opening.
1-3 - Wade finishes 56 on tops to claim his first leg.
1-4 - King takes out 100 on double ten to regain his three-leg cushion.
1-5 - King claims a second break of throw as he moves four legs clear.
1-6 - King's charge continues with a superb 120 checkout.
2-6 - The pair trade180s before Wade lands a third-dart double five to claim his second leg.
2-7 - Wade opens with a third 180, but King takes out 96 to regain a five-leg lead.
3-7 - King wires the bull, and Wade steps in on double 16 to hit back.
3-8 - King stretches his lead with a brilliant ten-darter, scoring 140, 180 and 165 before finishing double eight.
4-8 - Wade initially misses the bull to finish 167, but returns to claim the leg.
4-9 - Wade produces a 145 score to leave 36, but King lands double eight to move to the brink of victory.
5-9 - Wade's high scoring this time bears fruit, as a 171 score leaves 32 before double eight sees the 2007 champion keep his hopes alive.
5-10 - King initially misses double eight for a 136 finish, but Wade wires the bull to take out 161 and the 2009 semi-finalist returns on double four to seal the win.
Match Stats
| James Wade | 5-10 | Mervyn King |
| 19 | 100+ | 13 |
| 13 | 140+ | 15 |
| 1 | 170+ | 0 |
| 3 | 180 | 3 |
| 95.88 | Average | 99.45 |
| 56 | High Finish | 120 |
| 0 | Breaks of Throw | 2 |
| 5/16 - 31% | Checkout % | 10/15 - 67% |
Adrian Lewis v Mark Webster
1-0 - Lewis lands a 180 before taking out 95 to win the opening leg.
2-0 - Lewis doubles his lead with a 121 checkout.
2-1 - Double ten sees Webster get off the mark.
2-2 - Webster lands a 180 before punishing Lewis for a miss at double 13 with a fine 116 checkout.
2-3 - Lewis lands a 177, but Webster nails double 11 to move ahead.
3-3 - Lewis hits a 180 and tops to level.
3-4 - Webster regains the lead by taking out 90 with a bullseye, double top combination.
4-4 - Webster lands a 180, but Lewis finishes 108 to square the game.
4-5 - Double 12 for Webster moves the left-hander back ahead.
5-5 - Lewis lands double ten to respond/
6-5 - Lewis lands a 180 before punishing four missed doubles from Webster on double 16.
6-6 - Webster breaks back immediately to level.
7-6 - Lewis lands a 180 and double nine for another break.
8-6 - Lewis opens with a 180 before finishing 96 in two darts to move two legs clear.
9-6 - Four missed doubles from Webster allow Lewis back in on double two to move a leg away from the win.
10-6 - Double four sees Lewis secure his spot in the second round and a rematch against his 2015 conqueror Gerwyn Price.
Match Stats
| Adrian Lewis | 10-6 | Mark Webster |
| 19 | 100+ | 23 |
| 10 | 140+ | 6 |
| 0 | 170+ | 0 |
| 5 | 180 | 2 |
| 93.96 | Average | 88.62 |
| 121 | High Finish | 116 |
| 4 | Breaks of Throw | 2 |
| 10/24 - 42% | Checkout % | 6/17 - 35% |
Gary Anderson v Alan Norris
0-1 - Norris finishes 104 to claim the game's opening leg.
1-1 - Double ten sees Anderson level the game.
2-1 - Anderson fires in a 180 to leave 60 before pinning tops to move ahead.
3-1 - Norris lands a 180, but Anderson's double 12 secures a two-leg lead.
4-1 - Anderson secures another break of throw with a second successive double 12 finish, after Norris misses one dart at tops.
5-1 - Norris opens with a 180, but misses a dart at tops and Anderson lands double four to win a fifth successive leg.
6-1 - Anderson lands a 180 and punishes Norris for three missed doubles across two visits by finishing 48 to move five legs clear.
7-1 - Anderson opens with another maximum before finishing 44 on tops for a 14-darter.
8-1 - The World Champion's heavy scoring continues with 140 and 180 before he finishes the tricky 139 combination on tops to break throw for a fourth time.
9-1 - Anderson's charge towards the second round continues with a sixth 180 of the game and a 108 checkout.
10-1 - Anderson takes out 58 on tops to complete a comprehensive win.
Match Stats
| Gary Anderson | 10-1 | Alan Norris |
| 13 | 100+ | 13 |
| 8 | 140+ | 9 |
| 0 | 170+ | 0 |
| 6 | 180 | 2 |
| 101.28 | Average | 91.06 |
| 139 | High Finish | 104 |
| 5 | Breaks of Throw | 0 |
| 10/15 - 67% | Checkout % | 1/7 - 14% |
Peter Wright v Joe Cullen
0-1 - Cullen takes out 107 to win the game's opening leg.
1-1 - Wright finishes 25 to level.
2-1 - Wright takes out 101 on double 16 to break, after Cullen misses two darts at double 16.
3-1 - Wright opens with a 180 before finishing double 16 to move two legs clear.
3-2 - Cullen lands a 180 before finishing double 16, after Wright misses tops.
4-2 - Wright restores his cushion on double four.
5-2 - Wright takes out 96 in two darts to move three legs ahead.
6-2 - Wright lands two 180s to Cullen's one as a 12-darter sees the Scot pull clear.
6-3 - Cullen responds on double eight.
7-3 - Wright opens with a 180 before finishing 116.
7-4 - Double eight sees Cullen hit back once again.
8-4 - Wright posts double five to move two legs away from the win.
9-4 - A 70 finish on double 16 sees Wright edge towards the second round.
9-5 - Cullen opens with a 180 before taking out 124 on double 11 for a 12-darter to keep his hopes alive, with Wright waiting on 40.
10-5 - Wright fires in a sixth maximum before finishing 48 on double 16 for a 14-dart leg to complete a solid display.
Match Stats
| Peter Wright | 10-5 | Joe Cullen |
| 24 | 100+ | 19 |
| 8 | 140+ | 4 |
| 1 | 170+ | 0 |
| 6 | 180 | 4 |
| 99.66 | Average | 87.73 |
| 116 | High Finish | 124 |
| 4 | Breaks of Throw | 1 |
| 10/22 - 45% | Checkout % | 5/15 - 33% |