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Stan James World Matchplay
Monday 24 July
Afternoon Session (1.00pm Start)
Terry Jenkins 7-10 Lionel Sams
Adrian Lewis 10-6 Matt Clark
Peter Manley 2-10 Andy Hamilton
Chris Mason 10-6 Steve Beaton
Evening Session (7.00pm Start)
Kevin Painter 10-8 Barrie Bates
Colin Lloyd 6-10 Steve Maish
Phil Taylor 10-5 Bob Anderson
Wayne Mardle 10-5 Steve Hine
LIONEL SAMS 10-7 TERRY JENKINS
LIONEL SAMS progressed to the second round of the Stan James World Matchplay for the first time in his career with a 10-7 win over Terry Jenkins on Monday afternoon.
Sams has suffered a number of disappointing first round exits in recent PDC events, notably going down to Wayne Mardle three times last year.
However, he could now face Mardle in the last 16 after grinding out a win over Jenkins.
The two were locked together throughout the contest until Sams took out a crucial 93 finish in the 16th leg to move 9-7 up - hitting treble 19 and double 18 after his first dart bounced out of the bullseye.
He then took the next leg with double five to secure his place in the last 16.
"It makes a change to get through the first round," said Sams. "Since I reached round four at the World Championship on my debut, I've been out in the first round a lot of times since.
"But I've been playing so well lately and I had no doubt in my mind that I would win that game.
"I nearly threw it away a couple of times but I got there in the end."
The game's opening five legs went against the throw before Sams broke Jenkins in the sixth to open up a 4-2 lead.
Jenkins immediately broke back and led 6-5 before Sams edged himself back in front.
The game swung in a crucial 15th leg, when both players missed a stack of doubles before Sams took the opportunity by landing double two with his final dart.
He then took out a key 93 to put himself within one leg of the match before setting up a possible revenge mission against his 2005 nemesis Mardle on Wednesday.
"It's very tough but you just shirk it off and go to the next competition," he added, of the losses to Mardle in the Las Vegas Desert Classic, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix.
"Wayne's a good player but I know I'm capable of beating him at my best - I've just not played at my best against him, nowhere near.
"I got a bit closer to my best today, I hit a few 180s and was hitting my doubles eventually but gave myself time to hit them.
"It's hard work but it's lovely to get through. I thoroughly enjoyed it and, for a change, I had about half the crowd behind me!"
ADRIAN LEWIS 10-6 MATT CLARK
ADRIAN LEWIS overcame a stubborn resistance from Matt Clark to progress to round two of the Stan James World Matchplay with a 10-6 triumph.
Lewis reached the quarter-finals on his Winter Gardens debut 12 months ago, and produced a solid start to his challenge this time, averaging 95 and hitting five maximums.
After trailing 2-1 early on, he took four successive legs to move clear at 5-2.
Clark lifted his game and won the next two to reduce the gap to just one leg before Lewis took three of his own to take an 8-4 lead.
A neat 77 finish saw Clark pull back the 13th leg before Lewis checked out 94 to move to within one leg of the match.
Clark punished some sloppy play from Lewis - who burst on 98 before missing an audacious attempt at two double 19s - to take the 15th leg and stay alive.
But Lewis regathered himself with three ton-plus scores before checking out double six at the first attempt to seal the win.
"I was a bit disappointed with a few of my doubles," said Lewis. "My scoring was quite consistent but Matt played well and scared me a few times.
"This is my favourite tournament. I love the World Matchplay and everything about it. With reaching the quarter-finals last year I love the place."
Lewis will play fellow Potteries ace Andy Hamilton on Tuesday night, and he added: "Andy's a Stoke lad too so it's good for putting Stoke on the map. I'm looking forward to it."
ANDY HAMILTON 10-2 PETER MANLEY
ANDY HAMILTON roared past Peter Manley to reach the second round of the Stan James World Matchplay with a 10-2 victory.
The emerging star from Stoke produced a nerveless debut in the Winter Gardens, following up his win over Raymond van Barneveld in the qualifiers with a fine display.
After wasting chances to win the first leg, he took the next two to move 2-1 up.
He could have extended that further, but missed six darts at the double in leg four as Manley levelled the game.
That was to be as good as it got for the 1999 finalist as Hamilton pulled away.
He won the next four legs without reply before taking out a brilliant 11-dart leg - which included back-to-back 180s.
Hamilton - a former World Matchplay and Las Vegas Desert Classic quarter-finalist - moved 8-2 up by winning the tenth leg before landing double six in the next two to wrap up the win.
"It's a superb win," said Hamilton. "I started a bit dodgy and missed some doubles in the early legs but I got into my game then and relaxed.
"It went on from there and the longer it went on, the better I was getting. I felt so good and tried to play my own game.
"Once I got into my rhythm I couldn't miss. It's amazing - it's a big scalp and a convincing win.
"My best win was beating Raymond van Barneveld in the qualifiers but I want to prove I am that good still."
Hamilton will play fellow Stoke star Adrian Lewis in Tuesday night's second round, and he added: "I beat him last week so we'll see what happens on Tuesday.
"If I keep playing like I am I can go a long way, without a doubt. I've got nothing to lose and I'm on top of my game at the moment."
CHRIS MASON 10-6 STEVE BEATON
CHRIS MASON powered past Steve Beaton 10-6 to move into the last 16 of the Stan James World Matchplay.
Mason was making his first appearance in Blackpool since losing in the 2002 quarter-final to Phil Taylor, but progressed to the last 16 with a steady, if unspectacular, display.
He admitted afterwards that he struggled to grip his darts in the sweltering summer heat of the Winter Gardens.
"I'm over the moon that I've won but I couldn't throw three darts the same," said Mason. "There was no traction between my darts and my fingers.
"I'm going to go and see Phil Taylor because he uses some kind of wax or resin and I need something. I always look to him because he's the best, and I'll be finding him later.
"I think I must have forgotten how hot it is up there. I'm buzzing and I really felt good today.
"I just love playing well and want to do myself justice. I honestly believe if I play really well no-one can beat me."
Beaton was certainly in with a good chance of doing just that, with the opening nine legs all going with the throw to leave Mason ahead 5-4.
But Beaton was the first to miss his chance, wasting four darts at the double in the tenth leg before Mason took out double five to finally put daylight between the pair.
After seeing so many legs to with the throw, amazingly the next four legs also went against the throw to put Mason 8-6 up.
Mason then checked out 120 - to complement his 133 in the third legs - to move to within a leg of the match, and he wrapped up the win with double 18.
KEVIN PAINTER 10-8 BARRIE BATES
KEVIN PAINTER grabbed a much-needed victory to edge out Barrie Bates 10-8 in the first round of the Stan James World Matchplay.
Painter has slipped to 11th in the world rankings after first-game losses at the Budweiser UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic this summer.
But he returned to form to see off plucky Welsh qualifier Bates, who produced a spirited comeback to leave Painter a relieved man when he finally crossed the finish line in the 18th leg - as he celebrated with a dive across the stage.
"It meant a lot," said Painter, who has yet to get past the second round in Blackpool.
"I've been practising really hard since Las Vegas. In the UK Open I played really well but lost to John MaGowan, who was outstanding, and Andy Hamilton was brilliant in Las Vegas, but I was very disappointed after that.
"I've been on the practice board ever since then and I just needed to get through that first round and that's why I dived across the stage - I wish I hadn't done it as I've got carpet burns now!
"I've got a poor record here but it's not just that. Recently I've dropped down the rankings and things are going against me at the moment so it's nice to get that win under my belt."
Budweiser UK Open finalist Bates began solidly, holding his throw to lead 3-2 at the first break, but Painter returned in clinical mood.
He won the next six legs, including a 100 finish in the 11th leg, to move 8-3 up.
Bates took the next with double two, but Painter was on target with double one in the 13th to move to within one leg of the match.
He could have sealed the win in the next leg, missing one dart at double 18 for a 116 finish before Bates kept himself in the game with a neat two-dart 62 checkout.
The Welshman also took the next three to set Painter's nerves jangling, but the 2004 World Championship finalist regathered himself to hit double 18 and book his place in the last 16.
STEVE MAISH 10-6 COLIN LLOYD
DEFENDING CHAMPION Colin Lloyd was sent packing by Steve Maish with a stunning 10-6 defeat in the Stan James World Matchplay.
Maish, on his Winter Gardens debut, stunned the world number one by racing into leads of 3-0 and 8-3.
Although Lloyd responded - hitting seven perfect darts in one leg - he left himself with too much to do as fellow Essex player Maish charged over the finishing line.
"I'm over the moon," said Maish. "Colin didn't play his best game, he gave me some chances and I took them.
"To beat the defending champion and world number one is brilliant. To be here without having to qualify was an achievement for me, but to draw Colin and then beat him is great.
"Two years ago I had a good run in the World Championship but I've not taken my floor game onto the big stage since, and this could be the turning point."
Maish broke Lloyd's throw in two of the opening three legs on his way to a 3-0 lead, before Lloyd sparked into gear with two maximums on his way to levelling the game at three-all.
But Maish broke his opponent again in the seventh leg and then took the next four - twice punishing missed doubles from Lloyd - to open up a five-leg lead.
Lloyd produced a superb ten-darter in the 12th leg, hitting seven perfect darts before missing treble 19.
He also won the next two legs to reduce the arrears to 8-6, but three more missed doubles gave Maish the chance to hit double top and edge closer to the win.
He repeated the feat in the next to complete a remarkable win and set up a second round clash with Chris Mason.
PHIL TAYLOR 10-5 BOB ANDERSON
PHIL TAYLOR survived an early scare before overcoming Bob Anderson 10-5 in the first round of the Stan James World Matchplay.
The seven-time World Matchplay champion was rocked when Anderson opened the game with a 180 and took the first three legs without reply.
But Taylor showed all his class with a strong showing from that point onwards.
He won eight of the next nine legs, hitting three maximums and an 11-dart leg to put himself in control.
Anderson won the 13th leg with a 121 finish, but Taylor took the next before taking out a 100 finish with two double tops to seal the win.
"It was a tough match," said Taylor. "It's the first round, Bob kicked in with a 180 and came straight out at me.
"It shocked me a little bit but it was the first to ten so you can relax a little.
"If I'd gone 5-0 or 6-0 down it's panic stations but you've got to stay in there and put him under pressure."
WAYNE MARDLE 10-5 STEVE HINE
WAYNE MARDLE bounced back into form with a 10-5 win over Steve Hine to begin his challenge for a second final at the Stan James World Matchplay.
Mardle was the beaten finalist at the Winter Gardens three years ago, but arrived in Blackpool looking to respond to his first round exit at the Las Vegas Desert Classic last month.
Hine, making his Blackpool debut, gave as good as he got in the early stages but Mardle's class eventually told as he moved into the last 16.
"Steve played pretty well but it was a big game for me," said Mardle. "It's up to me now - I've got Lionel Sams next and our part of the draw is opening up."
Hine won the opening leg of the game before two 15-darters from Mardle edged him in front.
Hine levelled the game by taking out double 14 for the fourth leg, but Mardle crucially won five of the next six to move 7-3 up.
A brilliant 129 finish saw Hine stop the rot, but Mardle hit back by taking the 12th leg with a 116 checkout.
And he sealed the win on double ten to set up a fourth meeting in the past year with Sams inside the past 18 months on stage.