PDC World Championship - Match Reports Day 7

DOUBLE DUTCH DELIGHT AT ALLY PALLY WHILE WALSH & RAND COMPLETE SECOND ROUND LINE-UP
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN made a winning start to his challenge to take the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a defeat of Paul Lim on Thursday night, as Vincent van der Voort, Mark Walsh and Scott Rand brought the first round to a close with victories.
Number seven seed van Gerwen, the second favourite to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy on New Year's Day following a tremendous 2012, took on veteran star Lim in their first round contest at Alexandra Palace. Lim had impressed in his 4-1 preliminary round victory over Malaysia's Mohd Latif Sapup, and shared the first four legs of his clash with van Gerwen before the Dutch ace edged the opening set. Van Gerwen then took the third set 3-1, and although Lim fired in a 170 checkout in the fourth, the Dutchman edged the set to complete the triumph.
Vincent van der Voort gave the Alexandra Palace crowd double Dutch delight with his straight sets defeat of debutant Stuart Kellett. The quick-fire former UK Open finalist lost only four legs as he sealed a second round clash with another Ladbrokes World Championship newcomer, Dean Winstanley, on Sunday.
Coventry's Scott Rand condemned Kim Huybrechts, the recent Players Championship Finals runner-up in Minehead, to defeat in a thrilling five-set encounter. Huybrechts, playing only nine days following the death of his father, won the game's first set in style with a superb 127 checkout and also took the third without reply - hitting legs of 14, 14 and 13 darts - to lead 2-1 in the contest. However, Rand hit back superbly to take the fourth set 3-1 and came from a leg down in the decider to secure a place under the top 32.
Former UK Open runner-up Mark Walsh was the night's other winner, claiming his second round spot against Justin Pipe courtesy of a 3-1 defeat of Darren Webster, a former quarter-finalist who was returning to the big stage. Walsh won six of the game's first seven legs to take command, and although Webster hit back to take the third set, the Hertfordshire ace was too strong in taking the fourth for the triumph.



Mark Walsh 3-1 Darren Webster
(3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1)
MARK WALSH claimed a place in the second round of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship after defeating Darren Webster by a 3-1 margin on Thursday night.
Walsh, who was edged out by Kevin Painter in the second round 12 months ago, won six of the opening seven legs to stamp his authority on the contest. Webster hit back to take the third set before Walsh, making his tenth appearance in the World Championship, won the fourth to secure victory.

Walsh won the first leg on double 16 before securing a break of throw in the next, after Webster let five chances to level go begging. The third leg saw Walsh miss six darts at double The third leg saw Walsh miss six darts at double top, but Webster was in no position to capitalise and the number 22 seed returned to hit double ten and move a set up in comfortable fashion.
Walsh missed a dart at the bullseye to win a fourth leg in a row at the start of set two, and Webster took the chance to get a leg on the board as he hit double top at the first time of asking. Webster, who reached the quarter-finals of this tournament back in 2007, hit a maximum at start of the second leg, but let five opportunities to break throw slip away as Walsh hit tops to level. Webster hit a 180 in the next only for Walsh to reply with one of his own, and the former UK Open finalist won the leg against the throw with a 14-darter. The fourth leg saw Webster hit a third maximum in as many legs, but Walsh took out 76 to establish a two-set advantage.
Webster, who returned the PDC circuit in January, started the third set well with a 76 finish before Walsh took out 85 in the second to level. Webster broke throw in the third leg by hitting tops, and the man from Norwich took out 36 in the next to win the set.
Webster hit his fifth 180 at the beginning of the fourth set, but Walsh took out a clinical two-dart 84 finish to break throw. Walsh won the second leg, with the aid of a maximum, to move a leg away from triumph before Webster took out 72 to keep the match alive. Walsh, though, ended Webster's challenge in the next leg as he posted double ten to set-up a second round clash against Justin Pipe on Sunday afternoon.

"I'm pretty pleased with my performance tonight, considering it's the first round of the biggest tournament in the game," said a delighted Walsh. "My finishing was pretty good and I was happy with my scoring in the first two sets. "I dipped off in the third set and let him back into the game a bit, so I'm glad I closed it off at the end and I'm happy with how it went. "Justin will be tough opponent in the next round. He's been very impressive over the last couple years, so I know that I'm in for a hard game."
Webster admitted: "It was my first time up there for five years and I struggled to get my first dart pitched right. I loved it and I'll look forward to next year, because this has been a learning curve for me. "I want to try and get into the top 32 over the next 12 months and this is good experience for me."



Paul Lim 4-1 Mohd Latif Sapup
PAUL LIM sealed a first round clash against Dutch superstar Michael van Gerwen, thanks to a 4-1 victory over the South-East Asia Qualifier, Mohd Latif Sapup. Lim, who hit the first nine-darter in a World Championship back in 1990, produced a run of three straight legs from one-all to end the hopes the Malaysian.
Lim, competing in his 19th World Championship and his first since 2002, hit double ten to win the first leg but let three chances to win the second go begging, and Sapup levelled on double five. Lim hit double ten with an accurate third dart to move a leg away from victory, which he duly completed in the next as he landed tops.

"I really enjoyed the atmosphere and I'm excited to play here after such a long time away from the big stage," said a delighted Lim. "Coming into the tournament at the preliminary round was good for me. It's given me a chance to acclimatise to the surroundings and I think that I will play better against Michael."



Scott Rand 3-2 Kim Huybrechts
(0-3, 3-0, 0-3, 3-1, 3-1)
SCOTT RAND came out on top to defeat Belgium's Kim Huybrechts 3-2 in a high-quality encounter in the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
Rand fell 2-1 down before winning six of the next eight legs in the last two sets - averaging over 106 in that spell - to set-up a last 32 clash against number six seed Wes Newton on Saturday night. Huybrechts, who was one of the stars of last year's competition, competed only nine days after the death of his father and played his part in a fine contest as he averaged over 98, but was unable to halt Rand's late charge.

"I've timed this performance very well as I don't think I've played anywhere near that level this year, said a delighted Rand. "I had a car crash in January and it's only recently that I've been able to throw without pain again. "I enjoyed the experience here last year, and I feel that helped me. I love playing on the big stages and I feel that's where I produce my best game."

The game took a couple of legs to get going as Huybrechts edged a nervy opener and then broke throw in the second, before Rand opened the third leg with scores of 180 and 174 to set up a potential nine-darter He hit another treble 20 to begin the 147 combination, but was unable to land treble 17 as the perfect leg slipped away - and he could only watch on as Huybrects then took the set in style with a fabulous 127 checkout on the bullseye.
The start of set two saw Huybrechts miss two chances to win a fourth leg in a row as Rand got off the board by posting double eight. Both players hit 180s in the next, before the former lorry driver from Coventry, hit a 104 finish to double his lead with a break of throw, and a clinical 14-darter from Rand levelled the match at one set apiece.
Huybrechts won the first leg of the third set with the aid of a 180 and then broke throw in the next thanks to an accurate attempt at double top for a second successive 14-darter. The Belgian, who was the runner-up in the Players Championship Finals in Minehead recently then hit a 13-dart finish to take the set and lead the match for a second time.
Rand won the opening leg of the fourth set on double 16 before Huybrechts recorded another 13-darter to claim the second leg. Rand took out 64 in two darts to win the third leg and then hit double 16 to force a deciding-set, after the Belgian was just off-target on the same double for a 156 checkout.
The final set began with Huybrechts wasting three chances to win the first leg, but Rand was unable to make his opponent pay as he missed one dart at tops and the number 27 seed returned to hit double nine. Rand hit back as he took the second leg with an accurate third dart at double eight and the 37-year-old converted an excellent 90 finish in the third to break throw. That put Rand a leg away from victory, and he hit double 16 to end a thrilling encounter and earn his place in the last 32.



Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Stuart Kellett
(3-1, 3-2, 3-1)
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT secured a last 32 meeting with Dean Winstanley in the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship after overcoming debutant Stuart Kellett with a straight-sets triumph.
Kellett, who secured his place in the event by winning the PDPA Qualifier in Barnsley last month, was left to rue 21 missed attempts at doubles as van der Voort progressed.

"It's great to be back in London again and to play in front this crowd, who give me so much support," said the former UK Open finalist. "I've had a difficult year with a combination of injury and a loss of form, so to win tonight takes a great deal of pressure of my shoulders. "I feel much more relaxed now and feel that I will play better against Dean Winstanley in my next match, as Dean is playing great and is always up for a battle."

Kellett, making his debut at Alexandra Palace, missed four chances to win the first leg of the match and van der Voort stepped in by taking out 68 to break throw. Kellett won the next on double eight after van der Voort wasted eight chances to move 2-0 up, but the Dutchman secured a second break of throw in the next, by landing double four. The Dutchman, who reached the quarter-finals of this event two years ago, then took out a clinical 76 finish in the fourth leg to take the opening set.
Kellett broke throw at the start of the second set, thanks to a 70 finish, before van der Voort hit back in the second leg as he posted double eight to level. Van der Voort hit double top at the first attempt to take the third leg, defying a 180 from his opponent, before the 31-year-old from Northwich hit double eight to force a deciding leg. Kellett fired in a 180 in the fifth leg, but two darts at double 18 to win the set were off-target, and the Dutchman made him pay as he landed double top with a pressure third dart to extend his lead.
Both players missed two chances to take the opening leg of set three before van der Voort edged ahead on double 12. The Dutchman then hit double top to move a leg away from victory, but Kellett produced a fabulous 11-darter, completed with a two-dart 84 finish, to stay in the game. The fourth leg saw van der Voort miss three chances to win the match on tops, but Kellett's attempt at double five was high of the target and the number 19 seed returned to hit tops and seal his last 32 spot.



Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Paul Lim
(3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN opened his campaign for a maiden Ladbrokes World Darts Championship title with a straight-sets victory over a spirited Paul Lim in the final first round encounter at Alexandra Palace.
The Dutch superstar, who is the second favourite with the title sponsors to lift the Sid Waddell Trophy on January 1, will now face Peter Wright in the second round. Lim produced an admirable display as he 12 scores over 140, which included a fabulous 170 checkout in the third set, before falling victim to the World Grand Prix champion.

"I'm not overly impressed with my performance, but I won in straight sets, so that's a good feeling," said van Gerwen. "Paul played well and put me under quite a bit of pressure and we enjoyed the game. "It's good to get the first round out of the way and I will now prepare for my next game against Peter Wright on Sunday."

Lim, who defeated Mohd Latif Sapup 4-1 in the preliminary round earlier in the evening, kicked-off in superb fashion with a trio of 140 scores, before going on to the first leg in 12 darts. Van Gerwen hit back with a 14-darter in the next, but four missed darts at double 11 from the Dutchman allowed Lim to break throw for a second time on double ten. The Dutchman, who has rocketed up to seventh in the world this year hit an 84 finish to win the fourth leg, and a 170 score pushed van Gerwen ahead in the decider before he hit tops to end an entertaining set.
Lim hit an excellent 120 finish to start the second set in fine style but let two chances to take the next go begging and van Gerwen accepted the opportunity to hit double eight. The 23-year-old then produced an accomplished 13-darter to claim the third leg and went to win the fourth by hitting double eight to leave his opponent trailing by two sets.
Van Gerwen won the first leg of third set with the aid of maximum, before Lim won the second with a fantastic 170 checkout - the first of the tournament - to level. The world number seven hit a 116 finish to move a leg away from the match, but missed two darts to win the game in the next, and Lim hit tops to keep his hopes alive. The fifth leg saw van Gerwen hold throw as he produced consistent scoring to reach a finish first and land double ten to end the contest.

Lim - the DARTSLIVE World Soft-Tip Champion - said: "I'm proud of the way I played against Michael and it was a good game to be involved in." "To hit the 170 checkout was a terrific feeling and it's just to added to my whole enjoyment of the evening. I'd love to be back here next year.



Pictures with kind permission from Lawrence Lustig, PDC





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