UK Open Match Reports Third Day
Fourth Round - Afternoon
Paul Nicholson produced a brilliant comeback to knock Gary Anderson out of the Speedy Hire UK Open on Saturday afternoon, and will take on reigning champion Phil Taylor in the Fifth Round at the Reebok Stadium.Nicholson avenged last year's defeat to Anderson in the UK Open with a 9-8 triumph in a thriller, as in-form Anderson swept into leads of 5-1 and 7-4, hitting a ten-darter in the process.
First Group of Games
Paul Nicholson wins a dramatic encounter against Premier League Champion Gary Anderson at the Reebok with a nail-biting final-leg
triumph. The Scotsman had the advantage in the early exchanges establishing a 7-4 lead. But nine missed darts at doubles to move 8-4 clear proved
as Nicholson won the next five legs to go within touching distance of victory. Anderson won the 16th leg to set up the decider which the former
Players Champion took with an excellent 83 finish.
Highly fancied Wes Newton seals a spot in the draw for the Fifth Round with a convincing 9-3 victory over Dutchman Michael van Gerwen. The world number eight started quickly taking the first four legs and built on that advantage to claim the win.
Richie Burnett backs up his dramatic victory over Colin Lloyd on Friday night with a 9-6 triumph over 27-year-old Rileys Qualifier Joe Murnan. The former World Champion was 4-3 down in the early stages but won six of the next eight legs to progress.
38-year-old Rileys Qualifier Andy Boulton, ends the hopes of Daventry's Matthew Edgar with a 9-5 win. The man from Inverness was never behind in the contest and crossed the winning to become the first qualifier through to the last 16 draw.
Second Group of Games
World number one Phil Taylor moves into the last 16 of the UK Open with a relatively comfortable 9-3 win over old rival Dennis Priestley. Taylor was never troubled during the contest and the match with a three-dart average of 105.29.Mark Hylton makes safe progress to the Fifth Round of the 2011 Speedy Hire UK Open with a 9-2 thumping over Rileys Qualifier Andrew Gilding. The 40-year-old Suffolk qualifier had defeated Brendan Dolan, Matt Clark and Andy Hamilton to reach this stage but was no match for his opponent. Hylton who beat Andy Jenkins with a whitewash 9-0 win, won the opening five legs of today's contest and went on to record victory.
Andy Smith overcomes 20-year-old Reece Robinson in a final-leg thriller at the Reebok. The man from Studley appeared to be on course for a comfortable victory having led 8-4 but the highly-rated youngster reeled of the next four legs to set up a decider which Smith managed to take to end Robinson's excellent run.
Denis Ovens ends the hopes of the 2005 Runner-Up Mark Walsh, with an excellent 9-4 victory. Having shared the opening four legs Ovens won seven of the next nine legs to move into the last 16.
Third Group of Games
2008 Champion James Wade reaches the last 16 of the UK Open with a 9-6 victory over Terry Jenkins. The man from Aldershot led 7-3 in the early stages before a mini-revival from Jenkins saw the deficit reduced to 7-5. But Wade stepped up another gear to defeat his Premier League compatriot and progress to the next round.Raymond van Barneveld reaches the last 16 of the 2011 Speedy Hire UK Open with a 9-4 victory over promising youngster Michael Smith. The opening four legs of the contest were shared before the five-time World Champion won seven of the next nine legs to progress.
Scotland's Robert Thornton edges out three-time World Champion John Part in another deciding-leg in the last 16 of the UK Open. Thornton had led the match 7-4 before the Canadian took the next four legs to lead 8-7. Thornton won the 16th leg before Part missed five darts at doubles to win the match in the deciding-leg allowing Thornton stepped in to nick it .
Rileys Qualifier John Bowles continues his incredible run at the Reebok with a dramatic deciding-leg victory over former Lakeside Champion Steve Beaton. The 44-year-old from Widnes who had beaten Peter Manley, Devon Petersen and Vincent van der Voort to reach this stage appeared to be going out when he fell 6-3 and 8-7 down. But Bowles won the final two legs of the match hitting double 15 in the decider to put his name in the hat for the Fifth Round draw.
Final Group of Games
Dave Chisnall keeps his debut appearance at the Reebok alive with a narrow 9-7 victory over the experienced Ronnie Baxter. The match was tight after ten at five all before Chisnall put together back-to-back 11 darters which pushed him to the win and secure a spot in the Fifth Round draw.Welshman Mark Webster produces a remarkable comeback to send Co Stompe out of the 2011 Speedy Hire UK Open. The Dutchman, who had beaten Simon Whitlock in the previous round led 6-0 and 8-4 only to see his opponent win four straight-legs to set up a thrilling final leg which Webster won with a 14-darter completed on double top.
Colin Osborne edges out Kirk Shepherd by a 9-7 scoreline to reach the last 16 stage of the tournament. In a tight contest the 2009 Runner-Up won three of the next four legs from 6-5 down to end the hopes of the former World Championship finalist.
Peter Wright knocks out Bradford youngster Joe Cullen by a 9-5 margin. The match was finely balanced at five legs all before the 41-year-old put together a run of four consecutive legs to advance to the Fifth Round.
Fifth Round - Evening
Paul Nicholson sensationally knocked reigning champion Phil Taylor out of the Speedy Hire UK Open on Saturday night with a 9-8 triumph at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, as Wes Newton sent two-time winner Raymond van Barneveld packing. Nicholson followed up his deciding-leg win over Gary Anderson in Saturday afternoon's Fourth Round with another thrilling performance, edging out the 15-time World Champion to reach Sunday's final stages.First Group of Games
The 2008 Champion James Wade wins through a high-quality encounter against Welshman Richie Burnett with a 9-7 triumph. In a contest that saw 11 maximums hit between the two players Wade held the early advantage leading 5-3 with the aid of two 12-dart-finishes. The six-time major champion continued to keep two legs clear of his opponent and led 8-7 to go one leg away from the match. The 16th leg saw Burnett rue four missed chances at double top to keep the match alive and Wade gratefully accepted the opportunity by hitting double eight to seal a spot in the last eight.Mark Hylton comes out on top in a tight contest to defeat Peter Wright 9-7. Hylton led 4-3 before Wright won the next three legs to move 6-4 clear. Hylton hit-back to win the next three legs to lead again before Wright won the next to square the game at seven apiece. But Hylton stepped up a gear at a vital time to take the next two legs and confirm a Quarter-Final place.
Second Group of Games
Scotland's Robert Thornton edges a tight contest to defeat former Runner-Up Colin Osborne at the Reebok with a narrow 9-7 win. The Scot led 4-2 in the early stages only for Osborne to grab the lead by taking the next three legs. Both players held their throws until the decisive 15th leg which saw Osborne miss two crucial darts at double top for an 8-7 lead. That allowed Thornton in to move one leg away from the match and he crossed over the finish line in fine fashion with a 14-darter.Mark Webster reaches the Speedy Hire UK Open Quarter-Finals for the first time with a 9-4 victory over Rileys Qualifier Andy Boulton. The Welshman, who produced a stunning comeback to defeat Co Stompe in the previous round started the match on fire winning the first two legs with checkouts of 147 and 146 with his opponent waiting on a double on both occasions. That set the pattern for the match as Webster moved further clear at 8-2. Boulton staged a brief revival by winning the next two legs but his tournament came to an end in the next as Webster hit double two to confirm the win.
Third Group of Games
Paul Nicholson backs up his superb win over Gary Anderson by ending Phil Taylor's hopes of a third successive UK Open title with
a dramatic deciding-leg victory. Nicholson produced some fabulous finishing in the process of establishing a 7-3 lead.
Taylor won the next three
legs to get himself back into the contest. Nicholson hit a superb 100 finish to move 8-6 ahead but Taylor won the next two legs to set up a tense
final leg. The 15-time World Champion held advantage of throw, however, Nicholson hit a timely 180 which saw him to a finish first and he hit
double eight to record his second televised victory against the world number one.
Denis Ovens continues his impressive form at the Reebok to defeat Andy Smith 9-6 at the last 16 stage of the 2011 Speedy Hire UK Open. The Hertordshire thrower established a 7-2 lead early on and looked in total control of the contest. But Smith won the next four legs to give the 53-year-old something to think about. However, Ovens stopped his opponent's momentum by winning the next two legs to confirm victory and reach the Quarter-Finals for a second straight year.
Final Group of Games
Dave Chisnall continues his excellent debut at the Reebok with a 9-4 triumph over the sole Rileys Qualifier John Bowles. The match was a nip and tuck affair in the early stages with both players sharing the first six legs. The former Lakeside Championship finalist then won six of the next seven legs to put his name in the hat for the Quarter-Final draw.
Wes Newton produces the best televised performance of his career with a 9-1 trouncing of Dutch ace Raymond van Barneveld. Newton, who defeated fellow Dutch competitor, Michael van Gerwen, in the previous round hit double eight to confirm a Quarter-Final spot in Bolton for a second straight year ending the match with a three-dart average of 100.54