UK Open - First Evening
Phil Taylor and James Wade avoided upsets as they progressed to the third round of the Speedy Services UK Open with victories on Thursday's opening night in Bolton, as Ted Hankey won through to a battle of World Champions with John Part in the last 64 of the event.
World Champion Taylor, a four-time UK Open champion, defeated Kevin Dowling 5-1 in his second round clash at the Reebok Stadium, returning from a break in Tenerife with a 102 average and a 124 checkout in a strong win over the design engineer from Coventry.
Taylor has now drawn Ronny Huybrechts in the third round, with the Belgian facing a baptism of fire on his UK Open debut after earning a last 64 spot by being amongst the top 32 qualifiers following a series of eight events for professionals.
"The break has been great for me and I'm raring to go here, as I showed against Kevin," said Taylor. "It was nervewracking playing on the opening night amongst so many players, so I'm delighted to have got through it. It's a longer format in the third round so I can relax a bit more, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend now."
Two-time UK Open champion Wade, meanwhile, impressed with three victories on the opening night as he moved into the last 64, where he now plays former Bolton quarter-finalist Jamie Caven.
Wade opened the tournament with a strong display to defeat Speedy Qualifier Robbie Green 5-2 on the main stage, hitting three 180s, before whitewashing Matt Gallett and Wayne Jones on the outside boards to move into Friday's third round.
He was joined in the last 64 by two-time World Champion Ted Hankey, who marked his first major event since suffering a minor stroke at the Grand Slam of Darts last November by defeating Germany's Bernd Roith and Bristol's Dave Weston to progress.
Hankey has drawn Canada's three-time World Champion John Part in a high-profile third round game, and said: "It was good to be back on stage and hopefully I can keep moving forward now. It's been a frightening time and I've changed a lot of things in the last six months, but I'm starting to build my game again and I'm excited. I'm scoring well and if I can put my scoring and finishing together, I'll be hard to beat."
Two other former Lakeside Champions, Jelle Klaasen and Richie Burnett, also won through on Thursday night.
Klaasen came from 4-2 down against Gareth Pass to take a 5-4 victory, and he now plays Bolton-based Ross Smith in the third round, while Burnett also went the distance in his victory over Derbyshire-based debutant Ricky Sudale.
Burnett now takes on another Welsh World Champion, Mark Webster, and said: "I dug in really well there and it will give me a lot of confidence. I'm really relieved to be through because I've been struggling a bit of late, but who knows what can happen this weekend now!"
Gillingham-based bricklayer Conan Whitehead enjoyed a dream night as he knocked out 2004 champion Roland Scholten 5-4 on the main stage before seeing off Kevin Thomas 5-1 to reach the third round.
"It feels great," said Whitehead, one of four of the 32 Speedy Amateur Qualifiers who has reached the third round. "It's been a very good night and I can't wait to get back here on Friday night. You can't ask for any more than two great wins like that, and the support I've had with my wife, my dad and friends from my local darts league cheering me on has been superb. It's been a brilliant experience so far."
Whitehead was joined in the last 64 by Scottish-based Andy Boulton, who defeated Paul Whitworth and Scott Robertson on Thursday, Wolverhampton's Dean Stewart, who won three games on the night, and St Helens' Stephen Bunting.
Bunting, the current World Masters winner, was defeated by James Wade on the opening night last year but returned to Bolton with wins over Vernon Shepphard, Darrell Thorpe and Jason Wilson.
Bunting has drawn Portsmouth's Andy Jenkins, who edged out Nigel Heydon 5-4, while Boulton drew world number six Andy Hamilton and Stewart now meets Adrian Gray, who went to a deciding leg against both Steve Brown and Connie Finnan on Thursday.
Former UK Open finalist Vincent van der Voort avoided a preliminary round scare against Scottish qualifier Andy Murray, but later lost to Kirk Shepherd, with the 2008 World Championship finalist also defeating Magnus Caris in progressing to the third round.
Colin Osborne, the 2009 UK Open runner-up, saw off Steve Hine and Mark Dudbridge before losing out narrowly to Northamptonshire's Matthew Edgar, who will play reigning UK Open champion Robert Thornton in Friday's third round.
Man of the moment Michael van Gerwen, the number one seed after winning five of the eight qualifying events, will play Mervyn King in the third round, while two-time champion Raymond van Barneveld plays PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion Michael Smith.
Simon Whitlock has drawn Wes Newton, Belgian ace Kim Huybrechts faces Germany's Jyhan Artut and Adrian Lewis will face Walsall-based University student Matthew Dennant.
World Champion Taylor, a four-time UK Open champion, defeated Kevin Dowling 5-1 in his second round clash at the Reebok Stadium, returning from a break in Tenerife with a 102 average and a 124 checkout in a strong win over the design engineer from Coventry.
Taylor has now drawn Ronny Huybrechts in the third round, with the Belgian facing a baptism of fire on his UK Open debut after earning a last 64 spot by being amongst the top 32 qualifiers following a series of eight events for professionals.
"The break has been great for me and I'm raring to go here, as I showed against Kevin," said Taylor. "It was nervewracking playing on the opening night amongst so many players, so I'm delighted to have got through it. It's a longer format in the third round so I can relax a bit more, and I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend now."
Two-time UK Open champion Wade, meanwhile, impressed with three victories on the opening night as he moved into the last 64, where he now plays former Bolton quarter-finalist Jamie Caven.
Wade opened the tournament with a strong display to defeat Speedy Qualifier Robbie Green 5-2 on the main stage, hitting three 180s, before whitewashing Matt Gallett and Wayne Jones on the outside boards to move into Friday's third round.
He was joined in the last 64 by two-time World Champion Ted Hankey, who marked his first major event since suffering a minor stroke at the Grand Slam of Darts last November by defeating Germany's Bernd Roith and Bristol's Dave Weston to progress.
Hankey has drawn Canada's three-time World Champion John Part in a high-profile third round game, and said: "It was good to be back on stage and hopefully I can keep moving forward now. It's been a frightening time and I've changed a lot of things in the last six months, but I'm starting to build my game again and I'm excited. I'm scoring well and if I can put my scoring and finishing together, I'll be hard to beat."
Two other former Lakeside Champions, Jelle Klaasen and Richie Burnett, also won through on Thursday night.
Klaasen came from 4-2 down against Gareth Pass to take a 5-4 victory, and he now plays Bolton-based Ross Smith in the third round, while Burnett also went the distance in his victory over Derbyshire-based debutant Ricky Sudale.
Burnett now takes on another Welsh World Champion, Mark Webster, and said: "I dug in really well there and it will give me a lot of confidence. I'm really relieved to be through because I've been struggling a bit of late, but who knows what can happen this weekend now!"
Gillingham-based bricklayer Conan Whitehead enjoyed a dream night as he knocked out 2004 champion Roland Scholten 5-4 on the main stage before seeing off Kevin Thomas 5-1 to reach the third round.
"It feels great," said Whitehead, one of four of the 32 Speedy Amateur Qualifiers who has reached the third round. "It's been a very good night and I can't wait to get back here on Friday night. You can't ask for any more than two great wins like that, and the support I've had with my wife, my dad and friends from my local darts league cheering me on has been superb. It's been a brilliant experience so far."
Whitehead was joined in the last 64 by Scottish-based Andy Boulton, who defeated Paul Whitworth and Scott Robertson on Thursday, Wolverhampton's Dean Stewart, who won three games on the night, and St Helens' Stephen Bunting.
Bunting, the current World Masters winner, was defeated by James Wade on the opening night last year but returned to Bolton with wins over Vernon Shepphard, Darrell Thorpe and Jason Wilson.
Bunting has drawn Portsmouth's Andy Jenkins, who edged out Nigel Heydon 5-4, while Boulton drew world number six Andy Hamilton and Stewart now meets Adrian Gray, who went to a deciding leg against both Steve Brown and Connie Finnan on Thursday.
Former UK Open finalist Vincent van der Voort avoided a preliminary round scare against Scottish qualifier Andy Murray, but later lost to Kirk Shepherd, with the 2008 World Championship finalist also defeating Magnus Caris in progressing to the third round.
Colin Osborne, the 2009 UK Open runner-up, saw off Steve Hine and Mark Dudbridge before losing out narrowly to Northamptonshire's Matthew Edgar, who will play reigning UK Open champion Robert Thornton in Friday's third round.
Man of the moment Michael van Gerwen, the number one seed after winning five of the eight qualifying events, will play Mervyn King in the third round, while two-time champion Raymond van Barneveld plays PDC Unicorn World Youth Champion Michael Smith.
Simon Whitlock has drawn Wes Newton, Belgian ace Kim Huybrechts faces Germany's Jyhan Artut and Adrian Lewis will face Walsall-based University student Matthew Dennant.