American ace Ray Carver continued his terrific run of form to qualify for the Las Vegas Desert Classic on a dramatic day at the Mandalay Bay.
From a field of over 250 players, Carver will be joined by Kevin Painter, Colin Osborne and Wes Newton, who all battled through a testing day.
The rest – including Bob Anderson, Barrie Bates, Mick McGowan and Robbie Green – all get another chance with a second day of qualifying on Tuesday, when a further eight prized places in the main draw are up for grabs.
The televised stages start on Wednesday evening (UK time) with all the matches featured live on Sky Sports.
Carver, who reached the quarter-finals of the Las Vegas Players Championship on Sunday, had a testing time before clinching his place in the 1st Round draw. He won last leg deciders against Jason Clark and Team Unicorn stablemate Barrie Bates but saved his best for last. In the final match to get through, he whitewashed Unicorn’s former World Champion Bob Anderson.
Painter – forced to qualify in Vegas for the first time after slipping down the rankings – beat Michael Van Gerwen 4-3 in the last 32, then beat Welshman Dale Pinch to win his place in the 1st Round.
Team Unicorn’s Wes Newton loves Vegas! He has reached the semi-finals in the last two years and he qualified at the first attempt, with victory over Alan Tabern. Colin Osborne looked in good form throughout the day and was probably the most convincing qualifier of day one.
Mervyn King, Dennis Smith, Steve Maish and Steve Beaton were the other four to qualify.
Results – last 32:
Richie Burnett 4-3 Steve Bentley
Dennis Smith 4-3 Kevin McDine
Alan Tabern 4-0 Vincent van der Voort
Wes Newton 4-0 Brad Wethington
Mark Dudbridge 4-0 Alan Caves
Steve Maish 4-1 Mark Walsh
Kevin Painter 4-3 Michael Van Gerwen
Dale Pinch 4-1 Alan Green
Tony Eccles 4-3 Steve Smith
Steve Beaton 4-0 Alex Roy
Colin Osborne 4-2 Scotty Burnett
Andy Smith 4-2 John Ferrell
Joseph Swick 4-2 David Fatum
Mervyn King 4-3 Alan Warriner-Little
Ray Carver 4-3 Barrie Bates
Bob Anderson 4-2 Jim Widmeyer
Last 16:
Dennis Smith 4-3 Richie Burnett
Wes Newton 4-2 Alan Tabern
Steve Maish 4-1 Mark Dudbridge
Kevin Painter 4-1 Dale Pinch
Steve Beaton 4-3 Tony Eccles
Colin Osborne 4-1 Andy Smith
Mervyn King 4-0 Joseph Swick
Ray Carver 4-0 Bob Anderson
The winner’s go into Tuesday night’s draw for the 1st Round of the Las Vegas Desert Classic. The last match losers collect £200.
BY STUART PYKE