It was a frustrated Wes Newton and it was an angry Wes Newton as the World No.7 saw his World Championship dream ended in dramatic fashion.
The Unicorn star was beaten a nail-biting deciding set tie-break by Justin Pipe at the Alexandra Palace.
Newton looked to be coasting when he took a two set lead with some terrific finishing, while his opponent really struggled on the doubles.
But he had problems getting to grips with the pace of the match.
“It was a real battle to keep my concentration because of the pace. I should have been able to handle it better and I didn’t take my chances,” Newton acknowledged.
At two sets all and two legs apiece, it went to that tie-break….Pipe held his throw and then hit a sixth 180 but Newton then missed six darts to hold his own throw and D16 for Pipe handed him the win.
A really frustrating night and a terrible way for Newton to bow out of the World Championship, but he will know that he had it there for the taking.
The Unicorn star took out 115 to break the throw but had to rely on Pipe missing two darts at D16 for the set, before hitting ‘tops’ to take it.
Newton averaged 107 in taking set two, with more spectacular finishing….a 125 followed by 86 on the bull to win the set with a 12 darter.
But he appeared to be getting agitated with the pace of the game….Pipe is one of the slowest throwers on the circuit but that is the way he plays and that’s that!
Newton hit a brilliant 161 check-out in the third set, but Pipe took it in a deciding leg despite a fourth 180 from the Fleetwood man.
And as Newton then became more frustrated, Pipe got himself right back in the contest to level it at two sets apiece….
But ‘The Warrior’ was still battling away and a sensational 170 finish (his fourth ton plus finish) won the opening leg of set five!
It wasn’t enough though as Pipe edged ahead…..back came Newton to take set six and we were into the decider…..both players were nervy and the pressure was building.
But it was Newton who cracked with those missed doubles and he was out.
Also on Thursday night, there were wins for World Champion Adrian Lewis and Wayne Jones and the pair will now clash in the last 16.
Lewis was below-par and was made the scrap for his 4-2 victory over Robert Thornton….the highlight was a brilliant 170 finish from Lewis, who won the match only after the Scot had missed three darts to force a deciding set.
Jones had an easy ride as he whitewashed Dutchman Roland Scholten.
Meanwhile, it is a big night for Team Unicorn on Friday with James Wade and Kevin Painter both bidding to book their places in the last 16 against Jelle Klaasen and Mark Walsh respectively.
Thursday 2nd Round results:
Wayne Jones 4-0 Roland Scholten
Adrian Lewis 4-2 Robert Thornton
Wes Newton 3-4 Justin Pipe
Friday 2nd Round matches:
Mark Walsh v Kevin Painter
James Wade v Jelle Klaasen
Steve Farmer v Kevin Munch
By STUART PYKE
Photo courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC