It was business as usual at the Alexandra Palace….Phil Taylor booked his place in the World Championship quarter-finals, while Raymond van Barneveld won through to the last 16.
Barney hit 10x180s in his 2nd Round victory over Kevin McDine – so it’s now Barney against Colin Osborne in a huge all Unicorn clash on Thursday for a place in those quarter-finals!
And Taylor was getting back to his best, beating Peter Wright by four sets to one to set up a mouth-watering quarter-final against Mark Webster on New Year’s Day.
‘The Power’ was given a real run for his money by Wright, who was clearly affected by nerves as Taylor won eight consecutive legs at the start of the match.
Taylor was a relieved man at the end: “He played really well and put me under pressure. He kept breaking my throw and a 4-1 win doesn’t tell the whole story. He pushed me that’s for sure!”
So, is he getting close to his ‘A’ game? “I think it’s coming and I will certainly need it for the quarter-final against Mark Webster.”
‘The Power’ was two sets and two legs ahead, before Wright caught fire! He won three legs on the spin and the set!
Taylor had to find some form, because Wright threatened again in the fourth set!
The man they call ‘Snakebite’ missed three darts for a two legs to one lead and he would have been throwing for the set….he paid a heavy price because Taylor levelled and then hit six perfect darts on his way to a three sets to one lead.
Again, set five went the distance….Wright just wouldn’t lie down but he missed two darts at D18 for the set and Taylor finally won it on D19.
But it was just the test Taylor needed.
Barney looked relaxed again, despite being put under a little bit of pressure by McDine. The Dutchman won the first five legs of the match, hitting four 180s and it looked like being an easy day at the office!
Credit though to McDine, who stormed back to win the second set and level the match,
The third set was crucial….it went to a deciding leg and McDine had the darts, but Barney took out a brilliant 121 to clinch it.
In the fourth set, Barneveld hit six perfect darts and the crowd went crazy, wondering if he could nail a magical 9-darter for the third consecutive year! Unfortunately, he couldn’t but he did win the set with a 13 darter!
It was game over. McDine had nothing left and Barney raced through the fifth set….a 177, his 10th maximum, a 94 finish and D18 to win the match with a 98 average.
“”I want another World Championship!” he said. “I am feeling good, enjoying myself and that is important for me.”
Of the clash with Osborne, he added: “It is sure to be a tough one. He is a real fighter and has come back into some form, so I will have to be on my game again.”
Osborne eased through to the last 16, winning a one-sided Team Unicorn clash against Jamie Caven, who just didn’t perform on the big stage.
As for the rest of day 11…..Gary Anderson edged past Dennis Priestley in a classic. There were 22x180s in the match and Anderson nearly blew a three set lead, as the 60-year-old stormed back!
And ‘The Pie Man’ Andy Smith won a last set nail-biter against Mervyn King to set up a clash with Anderson in the last 16. Smith hit six ton plus finishes!
Wednesday night results:
2nd Round:
Raymond van Barneveld 4-1 Kevin McDine
3rd Round:
Mark Webster 4-1 Mark Hylton
Phil Taylor v Peter Wright
Thursday 3rd Round:
Adrian Lewis v Robert Thornton
Andy Smith v Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock v Vincent van der Voort
Raymond van Barneveld v Colin Osborne
Mensur Suljovic v Wes Newton
By STUART PYKE at the Ally Pally
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC