Terry Jenkins will face World Champion Adrian Lewis in the quarter-finals of this year’s terrific tournament at the Alexandra Palace.
And Gary Anderson will play Colin Lloyd for a place in those quarter-finals, after he was forced into a real battle before winning the all Unicorn match-up 4-2 against an inspired Devon Petersen.
But Jenkins fired in the second best average of the tournament (102.64) in a brilliant 4-1 3rd Round victory over Justin Pipe.
“I played well didn’t I?!” he said. “I will have to play that well and some more against Adrian, but it was always going to be difficult against Justin and I held it all together.”
He added: “I hit some crucial finishes when it mattered, but saved the best for last and I can’t wait for Friday’s quarter-final!”
Jenkins raced into a two sets lead against Pipe, who of course, had come from two sets down to beat Wes Newton in the last round.
He hit three 180s and two 12 darters in the mix and looked to be coasting…..but it was probably closer than the scoreline suggests.
A 12 dart leg gave Jenkins the advantage at the start of the third set, but back came Pipe, showing what he can do with three consecutive legs of his own and all of a sudden, it was 2-1.
Pipe led 2-1 in set four, but Jenkins hit two more 180s and won the set with a brilliant 11 darter against the throw.
And he raced to victory with some quality tungsten.
A 94 check-out took him within one leg of the win and a brilliant 96 finish sealed it in style….single 20, double 18, double 20….what a way to win the match
And if he plays like that, Jenkins will push Lewis all the way.
But Anderson was pushed all the way by a brilliant Devon Petersen….what a display from the young South African, who produced the performance of his life!
“I loved every minute!” he declared. “I didn’t want to come off the stage and I want more of that please. I know I have to earn the right by performing in the Pro Tour events to reach the TV tournaments, but that will give me a lot of confidence.”
Boy, the Unicorn youngster certainly became a man in darting terms to push the Scot all the way.
Anderson is the new favourite at 7/2 after Phil Taylor’s exit and at times he had to come up with some dazzling darts just to keep pace with Petersen, as the South African banged in 22x140s to add to six 180s!
It could easily have gone to a 7th and deciding set, but a touch of genius from the World No.4 clinched victory with an average of 94…..but there was no sign of what was to come as Anderson won the first set in less than six minutes!
But then the fun started!
After Anderson missed two darts for a two set lead, Petersen hit a brilliant 177 and won it on D7 for a 14 darter…..the Scot hit back and won the third set in some style….needing 83, he hit T3 but made amends with two double ‘tops’!
The fourth set was one of the best of the whole tournament….Anderson hit five 180s but nearly lost it as Petersen kept pressurising….in the third leg, ‘The Flying Scotsman’ hit six perfect darts, but didn’t get a dart at a double! That’s how good it was.
In the fourth leg, Petersen missed one dart at ‘tops’ for the set and watched Anderson nail 81 on the bull and in the deciding leg, the South African missed one at the bull and after hitting a 9th 180, Anderson hit ‘tops’ at the fifth attempt and instead of two sets apiece, it was 3-1
But Petersen wasn’t going anywhere and he raced through to fourth set as he continued to pile in the big scores against arguably the heaviest scorer in world darts!
The sixth set was just brilliant….with Petersen sat on 36 for a 13 darter to break the throw, Anderson produced a slice of magic….darting genius if you like, as he took out 134 with T18 and two double ‘tops’!
But the 25-year-old still forced a deciding leg, when Anderson was forced to be at his very best again and a 12 darter with a classy 124 check-out finally took him into the last 16 and a clash against Colin Lloyd.
“These youngsters are just getting better and better and they seem to save their best when they play me!” Anderson said.
“But I was happy with the way I responded every time he put me under pressure and I came up with some big shots when it mattered.”
He also hit a total of 11x180s….but watch out for a lot more from Devon Petersen in 2012
Wednesday 2nd Round results:
Gary Anderson 4-2 Devon Petersen
Mervyn King 1-4 Michael van Gerwen
Simon Whitlock 4-1 Steve Beaton
Colin Lloyd 4-1 Scott Rand
3rd Round results:
Adrian Lewis 4-0 Wayne Jones
Justin Pipe 1-4 Terry Jenkins
Thursday 3rd Round schedule – 1pm:
John Part v Kevin Painter
James Wade v Steve Farmer
Kim Huybrechts v Paul Nicholson
7pm:
Simon Whitlock v Michael van Gerwen
Dave Chisnall v Andy Hamilton
Gary Anderson v Colin Lloyd
By STUART PYKE at the Ladbrokes World Championship
Photos courtesy Lawrence Lustig / PDC