PDC World Championship - Match Report 1st Day
TAYLOR OVERCOMES SZABO SCARE ON LADBROKES WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP'S OPENING NIGHT
Phil Taylor overcame a scare against New Zealand's Rob Szabo as he opened the defence of his Ladbrokes World Darts Championship title with a 3-1 win over the qualifier on Friday night, as John Part, Peter Wright and Richie Burnett joined him in winning through to the second round at Alexandra Palace.
Reigning champion Taylor was left reeling when Szabo - the New Zealand national champion who had won through his preliminary round game with Ian Moss 4-3 in his televised debut earlier in the night - took the game's first set 3-1, finishing 128 and 105 in the process.
The Kiwi also led in the second set, but missed two darts at tops to lead 2-0 in the set as Taylor took out 115 to kick-start his challenge, winning eight legs in a row before completing victory in four sets.
"It was a really tough game," said Taylor. "I'm pleased to get through that because it was a strange game. Any top player would have struggled tonight because you didn't know what Rob was going to do - he was unpredictable but he's a very good player and he deserved to win that first set. I've got a week now until the second round and I'll be ready for that - I can go away, and get my head down and prepare for next week."
Three-time World Champion John Part also overcame a scare before he defeated Mareno Michels in five sets, despite the Canadian winning the first two sets 3-2. Part also led 2-0 in the third, but Michels finished 136 as he hit back to win the set to keep his hopes alive, before punishing a miss at tops for the match from the 2008 champion in the fourth set's decider by taking out 120 to level the game. Part had seen Andy Hamilton claw back from 5-1 down to win 6-5 in the Players Championship Finals recently, but this time held off the fightback by winning the game's deciding set without reply to secure his spot in the last 32.
"I made hard work of things but I managed to get the win," said Part. "I dug in and I feel pretty good about it, but Mareno hit some pretty good shots at the right time. It was frustrating for me. He took out the 136 as I was about to win 3-0 in sets, and then he had the 120. It's tough knowing that you missed a few doubles and lost a match [against Andy Hamilton] and then you're playing in the World Championship, up two sets to nil and all of a sudden it's two-two. That's hard, but I had to exorcise the demons and I did. I hit the doubles and hopefully that puts that to rest. I'm not quite where I want to be and I know I'll get there, but the good thing is that I get another chance now."
Rising star Peter Wright, who has jumped into the world's top 16 this year, produced a performance to match his colourful attire by seeing off Joe Cullen in straight sets.
Despite Cullen taking out 147 to level the opening set at two-all, Wright won the opener on double eight before taking the second set in a decider with a fine 121 checkout.
The Scot then sealed victory by taking out 151 on tops to win the third set 3-1 and condemn Cullen to a first round loss for a fourth successive year at Alexandra Palace.
"It wasn't easy and I was a bit nervy to be honest, so I feel fortunate to have come through in straight sets," said Wright. "His 147 was great and I knew he was going to get it, but I think my 121 really turned the match. If I had been one set each it would have been a different story. It's good to have a win, and I can go and do some Christmas shopping now before coming back for the second round!"
The opening night's other winner was Welsh ace Richie Burnett, as the former Lakeside Champion saw off Dean Winstanley 3-1. Burnett edged the game's opening two sets in a deciding leg, taking the second with a brilliant ten-dart finish, and though Winstanley won the third without replace, the number 28 seed took the fourth 3-2 to complete the victory.
"I'm over the moon with that," said Burnett. "I was happy to get the winning double but I tried my hardest and played well, because Dean gave me a really good game. If I'm feeling good then I can be really good and I've got the game to trouble anyone, but I've got to be consistent. That's the way I am but that makes me interesting - but I'm more confident now because I've had a win on TV for the first time in six or seven months."