RAY CARVER 3-2 RONNIE BAXTER
(3-2, 3-0, 0-3, 1-3, 5-3)
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AMERICAN qualifier Ray Carver knocked number three seed Ronnie Baxter out of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a sensational 3-2 victory.
The 32-year-old from New Hampshire held off a fightback from highly fancied Baxter to move into the last 32 in a superb contest.
Carver, a first round loser three years ago at the Circus Tavern, stunned the Purfleet crowd by winning the opening two sets.
Baxter responded brilliantly, taking the third set without reply and hitting six darts of a possible nine-dart leg in the first leg of the fourth.
Whilst the elusive perfect finish eluded him, he went on to win the leg and secured the set 3-1 to send the game into a decider.
The Gloucestershire-based star then gave himself the chance of winning the match, going 2-1 up in the final set and leaving himself 58.
Agonisingly, he missed double top before Carver stepped in to save the match - and take the game into a tie break.
He crucially broke Baxter with a 101 finish in the seventh leg and then sealed victory with double 16 for a famous win.
"I had great fun," said Carver. "The only time I've ever played Ronnie before was in Saskatoon in Canada, and I won then on a 32 finish so I guess it's a lucky double!
"I was here in 2003 and played Wayne Mardle in the first round. I didn't do very well then but I've got a couple more years of experience now and reached the quarter-finals in Las Vegas this July.
"It's crazy, the fans here are nuts and I love this place. I'm still a little shaken up to be honest, it's overwhelming.
"I'm very excited and looking forward to the second round now."
Carver is staying in London with fellow first round winner John Kuczynski, and he was also cheered on by the third American qualifier Darin Young, who was knocked out earlier in the night.
"It's incredible," added Carver. "Me, John and Darin are the best of buddies back home, and it's great for darts in the United States that two of us are in the second round."
Baxter admitted that he was disappointed to let the chance of victory slip away after hauling himself back into the match.
"I fought back from 2-0 down and gave myself a chance with the 58 finish, but I didn't nail it," he said.
"I did all the spadework but didn't get the double top. It was a good game, and though I was a bit under par Ray did well."
Match Stats
|
Ronnie Baxter |
2-3 |
Ray Carver |
|
33 |
100+ |
27 |
|
11 |
140+ |
13 |
|
3 |
180 |
3 |
|
29.97 |
Ave1 |
29.24 |
|
89.91 |
Ave3 |
87.71 |