WADE AND BARNEY TO CLASH IN DUSSELDORF QUARTER-FINALS AS HUBBARD WINS BLACKPOOL SPOT
James Wade and Raymond van Barneveld set up a tantalising quarter-final clash at the European Darts Open with wins in Sunday afternoon's third round, as James Hubbard won a Betfair World Matchplay place with his victory over Mark Walsh.
Wade progressed to the last eight of the 82,100 pound European Tour event in Dusseldorf with a strong display to defeat Andy Smith 6-2 in the third round.
The left-hander, who sealed victory with a 120 finish, now plays van Barneveld after the five-time World Champion defeated fellow Dutchman Gino Vos by the same scoreline, taking out 156 and averaging almost 104 in a strong performance.
"I'm looking forward to playing James - we always have cracking matches," said van Barneveld. "To average nearly 104 was fantastic for me,
"Gino is a very talented player. He's done very well in this event and was awesome in the first three or four legs, but I stayed calm."
Popular Australian star Simon Whitlock delighted the German crowd with a 6-3 win over Speedy Services UK Open champion Robert Thornton, setting up another tasty quarter-final against Dave Chisnall.
Chisnall, the German Darts Championship runner-up in Berlin a fortnight ago, defeated Mark Dudbridge 6-2 to win through to the last eight, averaging 100 and hitting five 180s in a strong display.
Colin Osborne also impressed, averaging 101.68 in a whitewash of Swindon's Johnny Haines to claim his second 6-0 victory of the tournament, and he now plays Mervyn King in the opening quarter-final in Dusseldorf after securing his own Betfair World Matchplay place.
King edged past Steve Beaton 6-5 in a deciding leg, although later results meant that Beaton retains his qualifying place for the World Matchplay.
Joe Cullen also held on to his place amongst the 16 qualifiers from the ProTour Order of Merit, but Peter Wright will miss out on a Blackpool place following Hubbard's 6-2 win over Mark Walsh.
The PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion - who only turned professional this year - continued his impressive emergence with a strong display to see off Walsh, and broke down in tears after taking out 110 to seal a significant victory.
Hubbard still has the 15,000 pound first prize in the European Darts Open in his sights first, and will meet Richie Burnett in the last eight, after the Welshman completed a 6-2 win over Michael van Gerwen with a 156 finish.
The tournament will play to a conclusion on Sunday evening, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final at the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf