World Series of Darts Finals - Day 1

JENKINS STUNS ANDERSON AS UNIBET WORLD SERIES OF DARTS FINALS BEGINS
SCOTTISH hero Gary Anderson was stunned by Terry Jenkins' fightback at the Unibet World Series of Darts Finals in Glasgow last night as he crashed out at the Braehead Arena.

World Champion Anderson was bidding to take the £30,000 title in the 24-player tournament and delight his home support in Scotland, and began in style by racing into a 3-0 lead against Jenkins. However, the nine-time major finalist hit 180s in four straight legs as he edged ahead and took out 121 on the bull for a 5-4 lead. Anderson took out 100 to force a deciding leg, but wasted three match darts as Jenkins escaped from four misses of his own to land double five for the win, silencing the home support.
Jenkins had also defeated Northumberland's Chris Dobey 6-5 earlier in the day, surviving three missed match darts from the TV debutant, but will now compete for the title in Sunday's final day.

"It was tough because you're playing against Gary and the crowd, but he's the local bloke and he deserved the support," said Jenkins. It's hard and going 3-0 down didn't help me, but I knew if I could start scoring a bit better than it would make Gary try harder and that's how it proved. I put four good legs together and he started struggling, but it was a massive relief to see the winning double go in."


Jenkins will now play Adrian Lewis, August's Auckland Darts Masters champion who defeated World Youth Champion Keegan Brown 6-2. Brown had hit four ton-plus checkouts in his first round win over Ian White and also took out 132 and 85 on the bull, but was no match for Lewis as the Stoke ace progressed.

World number one Michael van Gerwen's bid to win a third straight TV tournament began with a 6-1 defeat of Scotland's Robert Thornton, the Ayrshire ace who overcame Devon Petersen in round one. Thornton, though, never recovered from seeing van Gerwen, aided by two 180s and a 177 score, race into a 3-0 lead as the Dutchman sealed victory with a 101 average.

"I'm very happy with this win," said van Gerwen. "I knew what to expect playing Robert in Scotland and it was a good match. This has set up for the tournament and I can't wait for Sunday now. Raymond's always a tough opponent and after playing him so many times on the World Series this year it's fitting that we're playing again tomorrow."

Van Gerwen's quarter-final opponent will be Dutch rival Raymond van Barneveld, who defied a 164 finish from Mark Webster to claim a 6-2 win from their second round game.

Phil Taylor, the top seed following three World Series tournament wins in Japan, Perth and Sydney this year, began his challenge to claim the title by sweeping aside Dave Chisnall 6-1. Chisnall had been in superb form to defeat Kyle Anderson in Saturday afternoon's first round, but never pressured Taylor as the 16-time World Champion cruised through to the last eight.

"My finishing was good but I've got to improve my scoring a bit on Sunday if I'm going to get the job done so I'll knuckle down against Stephen," said Taylor. "It's an exciting event and I'd love to win, but it's going to be a tough day."

Former Sydney Darts Masters finalist Stephen Bunting defied a bout of illness as he came from 4-2 down to defeat Austria's Rowby-John Rodriguez 6-4 and set up a quarter-final against Taylor.

"It was a really nervy game and I'm just glad to get through it because I didn't sleep much last night and I've not been well for a few days," said Bunting. "I'll need to bring my A-game on Sunday if I'm going to win and hopefully I'll have a better preparation."

Peter Wright is aiming to claim his first TV title on Sunday following his impressive opening against German teenager Max Hopp, with his 6-3 win earning a clash with James Wade in the last eight. Wade averaged 103 as he whitewashed Jamie Lewis 6-0 in their second round game, but Wright is confident that he can see off the eight-time major winner before challenging to win his maiden televised tournament.

"It was a tough start," said Wright. "Max is a great young player and I knew I had a tough game against him, but he let me off when he missed a few doubles and I stepped in. The crowd got me through it and their support was great, so I didn't want to let them down and I didn't. The welcome when I got out there was fantastic, especially seeing so many people in the crowd dressed up like me. That's why I like to give it back to them, to show the appreciation, and it would be wonderful if I can go on and win this now on Sunday. That would be amazing but I've got to take one leg at a time because I've got James Wade first and I'll have to play well because James is on form. I've played him many times this year already and he's got the advantage, but I think I'm playing a little bit better. Jamie Lewis didn't turn up so James didn't have any pressure on him, but he'll have pressure on him when we play because I'll battle all the way."

Wade was in top form as he saw off Wales' Lewis, who had only one dart at a double during the 13-minute contest after producing an impressive display earlier in the day to defeat Dutch youngster Benito van de Pas.
South Africa's flamboyant Devon Petersen had entered the stage against Thornton on a hoverboard, but missed doubles cost him against the Scottish favourite.
Australian pair Simon Whitlock and Kyle Anderson were knocked out by Rodriguez and Chisnall, while Hopp took out 142 and 102 in his win over Belgian debutant Dimitri Van den Bergh.
Webster had impressed with a 100 average as he saw off world number eight Michael Smith 6-4, while Brown was a 6-4 winner against Ian White in a game which featured six ton-plus checkouts.


Statistics - First Round
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
95.8604/14Whitlock 4:6Rodriguez90.1526/15
91.0014/7v.d.Pas 4:6J.Lewis86.6306/20
85.8836/17Hopp 6:3v.d.Bergh 83.1503/15
90.6914/14Smith 4:6Webster100.1636/11
89.6016/11Brown 6:4White92.9824/12
90.4444/13K.Anderson 4:6Chisnall94.6026/18
82.8543/19Petersen 3:6Thornton 89.4536/19
97.0546/16Jenkins 6:5Dobey92.5425/11


Statistics - Second Round
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
89.9456/23Bunting 6:4Rodriguez85.7744/26
103.6616/11Wade 6:0J.Lewis80.4610/1
98.0726/13Wright 6:3Hopp 91.8923/11
96.6926/13v.Barneveld 6:2Webster92.7712/3
90.8316/13A.Lewis 6:4Brown82.9312/8
96.0306/19Taylor 6:1Chisnall91.9121/3
101.6146/21v.Gerwen 6:1Thornton 93.4621/7
96.6525/15Anderson 5:6Jenkins91.9046/18







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