World Grand Prix - Night Two Round-Up
LEWIS AVOIDS UPSET AS WADE & BARNEY LOSE IN PARTYPOKER.COM WORLD GRAND PRIX
WORLD CHAMPION Adrian Lewis avoided an upset by edging out Richie Burnett in the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix on Tuesday night, but two-time winner James Wade and double Dublin finalist Raymond van Barneveld were knocked out of the tournament as the first round concluded.
Lewis, the 2010 runner-up in the double-start tournament, looked set to cruise to victory in his clash with Burnett when he won the game^s opening set without reply.
Burnett, a semi-finalist last year, edged the second set to force a decider, but Lewis was aided by a ten-dart finish as he took the set 3-1 to win his second round place.
"I didn^t make it easy for myself but Richie came back well at me so I^m happy to get over the winning line," admitted Lewis.
"There had been a few results which people classed as shocks last night with the likes of Gary Anderson and Simon Whitlock going out, but the format^s short and that played on my mind.
"If you don^t start well and hit your doubles, you^re out - but I^m through and I know for a fact I^ll up my game. I missed a few times on double top and double 18 where I was dropping short and I^ve got to sort that out."
Two-time winner and world number three James Wade, though, became the highest seed to be knocked out of the event with a shock 2-1 defeat to Colin Osborne.
Wade took five successive legs to move to the brink of victory, winning the opening set 3-1 and edging two legs clear in the second, only to miss a brace of match darts at tops.
Osborne took the second set^s third leg and then finished tops and 108 to snatch the set, before winning the decider without reply for a win which could kick-start his challenge to return to the world^s top 20.
"Nobody apart from my wife believed I could win the game or gave me a chance but I always kept on fighting," said Osborne, who has dropped out of the world^s top 16 in the past 18 months.
"I had a chance to win the third leg of the game but missed three darts at tops and I lost my way for a couple of legs after that, but I never gave up. James missed a couple of doubles and I was there to take full advantage.
"I had a lot of self-belief and hopefully it will be a kick-start for me. A big part of this game is about confidence, and after beating the world number three I^m full of confidence now."
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld also exited as he lost out to Stoke^s emerging star Ian White in straight sets.
Van Barneveld started confidently and took out 121 as he moved 2-0 up in the first set, only for White to finish 144 and 132 as well as whitewash the Dutchman in a leg where he failed to hit a starting double in 12 darts.
White also took out 112 to lead in the second set, and after van Barneveld levelled the world number 37 took the next two on tops to complete a dream debut in the World Grand Prix.
"I^ve played Raymond before and beaten him but everyone on the circuit knows that I^m playing quite well at the moment and working my way up the rankings," said White, who also knocked Lewis out of the European Championship last month.
"I had some good finishes in there and when you^re playing someone like Raymond you have to take your chances when you get them.
"It was my first time playing in the World Grand Prix but I don^t mind the format because I used to play in a local league in Widnes where it was 301 with a double-start, and it^s just another hurdle for us to get over.
"I^m enjoying myself and I^ll look forward to playing Wes. I won the last time we played and I^ll have a chance if I can take my chances on Thursday."
White will now play world number six Wes Newton in the second round, after the Fleetwood ace make a remarkable comeback to see off Ronnie Baxter 2-1.
Baxter had won the game^s first five legs without reply before missing the bull to claim a whitewash victory - and Newton took six of the next seven to book his place in the last 16.
"I lost the first set 3-0 and although I didn^t think I deserved that scoreline, Ronnie took his chances," said Newton. "Then he went 2-0 up in the next set and I knew I had to just take each leg as it went, and I dug in and never gave up.
"I got the three legs on the trot to make it one-all and I had the momentum then to go on and finish the job, and I^m really happy with that.
"Maybe a year or 18 months ago ago I^d have lost that game but I^m learning all the time and getting a lot better as a professional player, and you can^t give in. I kept believing in my current form and got the result in the end.
"I^ve got to kick on from this now and start a bit stronger in the second round. I know I^m playing well and I^ve got to get out of the blocks a bit quicker and not give my opponent a set lead."
Dutch ace Michael van Gerwen also came from a set down to take victory as he saw off 2004 World Grand Prix champion Colin Lloyd 2-1, winning the final set of their showdown without reply to set up a second round clash with Lewis on Thursday.
"I^m very happy with this result because it^s my first win in the World Grand Prix," said van Gerwen, who was a first round loser to Kevin Painter in the 2009 tournament in his only previous appearance.
"Colin played very well from the start and hit his doubles well, but after the break I came into my game and put him under pressure and he started missing.
"It was a good comeback from me and I think a good game for the fans. I was starting well with 80s, 120s and 160s and that gave me a lot of confidence. I^ll look forward to the second round now and hopefully I^ll be good enough to win again."
Paul Nicholson dropped only two legs against Northern Ireland^s Michael Mansell as he secured a clash with Osborne in the last 16.
"Seeing some of the other results made it hard to focus but all the hard work I^ve put in over the last six weeks shone through," admitted Nicholson.
"I was in danger of losing the first set but I pulled out a really great leg, and that gave me a lot of confidence. Michael wasn^t at his best in the second set, but I knew I had to close out the win and I didn^t want to let him back in.
"I enjoyed the game and I^m starting to realise that this is my job - being a bad boy or having the antics isn^t going to win me games, it^s darts matches and form which will and I^m putting the extra work in."
Three-time quarter-finalist Andy Smith saw his dreams of glory ended by Steve Beaton as the former World Champion impressed with a straight sets win in their contest.
"I haven^t been in this tournament for the past two years so it^s great to be back," said Beaton.
"I like the double-start format, it^s a good challenge and it^s nice to play a different format, so I enjoyed being back on stage. I^m feeling relaxed and am geared up for this week."
Beaton now plays Andy Hamilton, who also won in straight sets in his clash with Mark Webster, with finishes of 90 and 96 in the final two legs of the first set proving crucial in giving the Stoke ace the edge.
"Mark beat me here last year in the World Grand Prix so I wanted to turn that score around and I^m happy to be through to the second round," said Hamilton.
"I had a couple of good finishes in the first set - the 90 on the bull and the 96 to win the set - and I had to kick on from that because last year I won the first set but lost the game.
"I kept my composure and my experience pulled me through, and I^m very relieved. I^m looking forward to the second round against Steve Beaton."
The second round begins on Wednesday night with four matches from the top half of the draw, including reigning champion Phil Taylor up against Robert Thornton in a repeat of June^s UK Open final, which the Scot won.
Last year^s World Grand Prix runner-up Brendan Dolan meets Dutchman Vincent van der Voort, Kevin Painter plays Justin Pipe and Dave Chisnall faces Mervyn King, with all games over the best of five sets.
Tickets for the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix are still available in person from the Citywest Hotel Box Office on the day of the event, with only a small number of tickets remaining for Friday^s quarter-finals and Saturday^s semi-finals.
PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix
Tuesday October 9
First Round
Steve Beaton 2-0 Andy Smith
Andy Hamilton 2-0 Mark Webster
Michael van Gerwen 2-1 Colin Lloyd
Wes Newton 2-1 Ronnie Baxter
James Wade 1-2 Colin Osborne
Adrian Lewis 2-1 Richie Burnett
Raymond van Barneveld 0-2 Ian White
Michael Mansell 0-2 Paul Nicholson
Wednesday October 10 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Brendan Dolan v Vincent van der Voort
Justin Pipe v Kevin Painter
Phil Taylor v Robert Thornton
Mervyn King v Dave Chisnall
Thursday October 11 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Andy Hamilton v Steve Beaton
Colin Osborne v Paul Nicholson
Adrian Lewis v Michael van Gerwen
Wes Newton v Ian White
All Second Round games are the best of five sets, the best of five legs per set. Players must hit a double to start and finish each leg.
Match Information
Steve Beaton v Andy Smith
0-0 - Andy Smith wins the bull and throws first
First Set
0-1 - Smith makes the early running and punishes some slow scoring from Beaton to win the opener with double one in his fifth dart for the leg.
1-1 - Beaton opens with a 160 and adds a 140 before taking out 74 to level with a superb 11-darter.
2-1 - Beaton gets straight away with his starting double, adds a 180 and finishes 60 to break.
3-1 - Beaton opens again with an 80 and adds two 180s before finishing double eight for a 13-darter.
Second Set
1-0 - Double 18 sees Beaton move ahead in the second set^s opener.
1-1 - Beaton misses the bull and Smith finishes tops to level.
2-1 - Smith hits a 177 but Beaton replies with a 180, his fourth, as he moves a leg away from the win.
3-1 - Beaton takes out 104 on double 16 to complete a fine win.
Andy Hamilton v Mark Webster
0-0 - Andy Hamilton wins the bull and throws first
First Set
1-0 - Hamilton takes the opening set by landing double 12.
1-1 - Hamilton leaves 40, but sees Webster take out 140 with treble 20 and two double tops.
1-2 - Webster initially misses tops but returns to win the leg against the throw and edge ahead.
2-2 - This time Webster is left waiting on 40 as Hamilton finishes 90 on the bull to level the set.
3-2 - Hamilton edges the set, finishing 96 in an improvised fashion with treble one, treble 19 and double 18.
Second Set
1-0 - Hamilton opens with a 152 score and finishes tops to win the opener.
2-0 - Both players hit 180s, and Hamilton has an escape for initial misses by returning to hit double five to move a leg away from the victory.
2-1 - Hamilton lands his second 180 of the game, but misses four match darts and double ten sees Webster stay alive.
3-1 - Another 180 pushes the World Championship finalist clear, and he finishes double 16 for a 13-darter to seal the win.
Michael van Gerwen v Colin Lloyd
0-0 - Michael van Gerwen wins the bull and throws first
First Set
1-0 - van Gerwen wins the opening leg on double four with his first dart.
1-1 - Lloyd finishes tops at the fourth time of asking to level.
1-2 - Both players hit 180s, with Lloyd initially missing tops only to be allowed back by three misses from the young Dutchman at double 12, six and three - with the 2004 champion finishing double five with his third dart to break.
1-3 - Lloyd opens with a 160 and, despite a maximum from van Gerwen, is first to a double, initially missing three darts at tops but returning to hit the bed for the set.
Second Set
0-1 - Lloyd finishes tops to win the opening leg.
1-1 - van Gerwen posts a 110 checkout to level the set.
2-1 - van Gerwen fires in a 174, and leaves Lloyd waiting on 16 by landing double top for a 14-darter.
2-2 - Lloyd fires in his second 180 of the game, and finishes double 18 for a 13-darter to level the set and move a leg away from the win.
3-2 - van Gerwen sets up a potential nine-dart by opening with 160 and 171, and although he misses a seventh perfect dart when needing 170, he lands double ten for a 13-darter to take the set.
Third Set
1-0 - Double 18 from van Gerwen sees him take the lead in the final set.
2-0 - van Gerwen moves a leg away from the win in a dramatic leg, with Lloyd initially missing double 13 for a 146 finish before missing five further darts to win the leg, allowing the Dutch ace in to finish double four.
3-0 - Lloyd misses two darts at double top to keep the game alive, and van Gerwen takes out 101 on tops for the win.
Wes Newton v Ronnie Baxter
0-0 - Ronnie Baxter wins the bull and throws first
First Set
0-1 - Newton opens with a 152 score but misses tops to break, and Baxter finishes double six to hold throw.
0-2 - Newton is again unable to land his finishing double, and Baxter steps in on tops to double his lead.
0-3 - Baxter seals the set in style, finishing double four.
Second Set
0-1 - Baxter fires in a 180 and finishes double six to win the second set^s opener.
0-2 - Double top with his third dart moves Baxter a leg away from a whitewash.
1-2 - Newton keeps the game alive by firing in tops at the first time of asking after Baxter misses the bull for an 88 finish.
2-2 - Newton pins double 16 to level the set.
3-2 - Newton takes out 109 on double 16 to turn the game around, winning the set.
Third Set
1-0 - Newton wins a fourth successive leg by posting double 16.
2-0 - Newton misses double 16 for a 149 finish but returns to take out the double to move a leg away from the win.
2-1 - Baxter keeps the match alive by posting double 14 to win his first leg in six.
3-1 - Newton hits 180 and 140 in successive throws before landing double eight to complete an incredible comeback - having been one dart away from a whitewash in the second set.
James Wade v Colin Osborne
0-0 - Colin Osborne wins the bull and throws first.
First Set
0-1 - Wade misses one dart at tops and Osborne finishes 129 on the bull to lead.
1-1 - Wade finishes 45 to level the set.
2-1 - Osborne hits a 180 but is unable to capitalise on a miss from Wade as he is off-target with three darts on tops to allow the two-time champion in on double five.
3-1 - Wade pins double top to take the set - and shows his delight as he moves halfway towards the second round.
Second Set
1-0 - Wade finishes 96 on double 18 to win a fourth successive leg.
2-0 - Wade lands double ten to move a leg away from the victory.
2-1 - Osborne initially misses four darts at double top and ten, but two misses from Wade at tops for the match allow him back to post double ten.
2-2 - Osborne opens with a 160 and, despite a maximum from Wade, he lands tops to level the set.
2-3 - Wade leaves 40 but Osborne takes out 108 on double 16 to win the set and square the game.
Third Set
0-1 - Osborne posts tops to move ahead for the first time since the game^s opening leg.
0-2 - Osborne amazingly moves a leg away from the win, hitting a 180 to leave 41 and stepping in after Wade misses tops to hit the same bed.
0-3 - Osborne completes a remarkable win by hitting double ten to win six straight legs.
Adrian Lewis v Richie Burnett
0-0 - Adrian Lewis wins the bull and throws first
First Set
1-0 - Lewis makes a confident start to win the opener on double 16.
2-0 - Burnett hits a 180 but is unable to close out the leg as Lewis steps in to finish 26.
3-0 - Lewis wins a third successive leg to take the set without reply.
Second Set
0-1 - Burnett hits a 180 and goes on to win his first leg of the game.
1-1 - Lewis finishes tops with his third dart to level.
1-2 - Lewis lets Burnett off the hook as the Welshman steps in to finish double 18.
2-2 - Lewis fires in a 171 to leave 36 and posts double 18 to move a leg away from the win.
2-3 - Burnett misses two darts at tops but returns to win the set and level the match.
Third Set
1-0 - Lewis opens with 160 and 180 to set up a potential nine-darter, missing a seventh perfect dart but leaving 24 after nine darts. Burnett fires in a maximum, but Lewis lands double 12 for a ten-darter.
2-0 - Lewis moves a leg away from the match, with Burnett missing 15 starting doubles to give the World Champion an easy passage before landing double ten.
2-1 - Burnett hits a 180 as Lewis this time struggles to start, and the Welshman keeps the game alive.
3-1 - Burnett posts his fifth 180 but is unable to take out 148 and Lewis steps in to complete a hard-fought win on tops.
Raymond van Barneveld v Ian White
0-0 - Raymond van Barneveld wins the bull and throws first
First Set
1-0 - Double eight gives van Barneveld the first leg.
2-0 - White hits a 180 but misses tops and van Barneveld takes out 121 on double 14 to move two legs up.
2-1 - van Barneveld misses four darts at tops to win the set, and White steps in to take out 144 on double 12.
2-2 - White produces the first whitewash of the event as van Barneveld misses 12 darts to open the leg and the Stoke ace pulls clear to land double four to square the set.
2-3 - The Stoke star completes a stunning three legs, hitting a 177 to leave 132 before taking out the combination on the bull.
Second Set
0-1 - White finishes 112 on double eight to move ahead in set two.
1-1 - van Barneveld scores 162 to leave 16 and hits double eight to win his first leg in five.
1-2 - van Barneveld misses darts at double top and ten to finish 85 and White steps in to post tops.
1-3 - White seals victory by posting tops to send the two-time finalist out of the tournament.
Michael Mansell v Paul Nicholson
0-0 - Paul Nicholson wins the bull and throws first.
First Set
0-1 - Nicholson takes out 67 on double 16 to win the opener.
0-2 - Nicholson breaks to win the second leg.
1-2 - Nicholson sees a golden chance to win the set slip away, bursting 93 and then unable to finish at the second time of asking to allow the Northern Irish ace in on tops.
2-2 - Mansell levels the set by finishing 80 on double ten.
2-3 - Nicholson wins the set in style with a brilliant 156 checkout.
Second Set
0-1 - Nicholson hits a 180 and double eight to break in the second set^s opener.
0-2 - Double 16 moves Nicholson a leg away from the last 16.
0-3 - Nicholson progresses to a second round game with Colin Osborne by posting double 16.