PDC World Championship - Report 10th Day, Afternoon
SCOTTISH DUO PROGRESS ALONGSIDE VAN DER VOORT IN WILLIAM HILL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
PETER WRIGHT and Gary Anderson set up an all-Scottish quarter-final at the William Hill World Darts Championship with wins over Andy Hamilton and Cristo Reyes on Tuesday, as Vincent van der Voort joined them in the last eight by seeing off Dean Winstanley's fightback.Wright, last year's runner-up at Alexandra Palace, enjoyed a comfortable afternoon as he recorded a 4-0 victory over another former finalist, Andy Hamilton, in their third round clash.
Anderson, the 2011 runner-up to Adrian Lewis, joined him the in the last eight as he overcame a brave challenge from Spanish qualifier Cristo Reyes to go through with a 4-1 win.
Wright averaged just over 102, and maintained an average above 100 throughout the contest as he landed five 180s and checked out half of his 24 attempts at doubles to wrap up victory in only 45 minutes. Hamilton picked up only four legs in the contest, with two missed doubles to win the second set proving costly as Wright took a 2-0 lead before taking six of the next seven legs for the win. After a Hamilton 78 finish levelled in leg two, Wright hit a 180s and an 83 finish for an 11-darter before he broke in the fourth on double 16 to win the set.
The second set saw Hamilton hold throw twice as he held a 2-1 lead, with Wright posting a 180 in a 13-darter as he levelled and then took a crucial decider on double 16 - after the 2012 runner-up missed two darts at double 16 to level to game. Wright kicked on to take the third set without reply, finishing 55, 94 for a break of throw - using a single 18, double 18, double top combination - and a 13-darter on tops. Hamilton won the fourth set's opening leg, but Wright levelled with a fine 104 finish, took out 64 to break and then sealed victory on double top.
"In the first two sets he give me chances and I took them," said Wright. "He could have been 2-0 up but I took my chances, and I knew I had to keep him down because Andy Hamilton's a fighter and he can always come back at you. He was a bit down on his usual form but you just have to keep on pushing and make sure you get the win. Now I'm through and starting to play a bit better - I'm mirroring last year with my performances getting better round by round."
Gary Anderson averaged 104.54 in his 4-1 win over Cristo Reyes in the third round, and he needed to be at his best to see off the determined Spanish challenger.
Reyes had enjoyed wins over Christian Perez, Wes Newton and Kevin Painter to become the first Spanish player to reach the tournament's third round - and showed his quality by winning the first set 3-0 with a 115 average with legs of 15, 13 and 11 darts.
Anderson responded in impressive fashionas he hit eight 180s, 17 140-plus scores and continued his run of strong finishing as he took out 12 of his 28 attempts. The Scot, though, needed two 13-darters as he took the second set 3-1 - as Reyes landed a 13-dart finish of his own - before he came from a leg down to win the third set by the same scoreline. Legs of 11 and 12 darts helped Anderson win the fourth set without reply before he came from 2-1 down in the fifth to seal victory and a clash with Wright on New Year's Day.
"I'm really pleased with that because I didn't think that my average was as high as it was," said Anderson, who had come from 3-1 down to defeat Jelle Klaasen in round two. "I was going all right but Cristo played well and in the first set I thought it was going to be one of those games that goes a long way, but I got the job done and that's the main thing. I didn't know a lot about Cristo but I know he played well! There are so many good darts players about nowadays and you don't know too much about some of them, so it does make it easier in a way playing Peter on Thursday because I know what I'm going to get."
Vincent van der Voort had to survive a determined Dean Winstanley comeback before a 4-2 win put him into the quarter-finals at Alexandra Palace for the second time in five years.
Van der Voort put himself in control of the game as he punished a slow start from Winstanley to win the first six legs without reply. The Yorkshireman hit back, but was twice punished for missing his chance to level the game - at two sets apiece and three-all - as van der Voort progressed to meet either Phil Taylor or Kim Huybrechts. The fast-throwing Dutch star averaged 93.90 and hit three 180s, with Winstanley landing eight 180s and a 122 finish but leaving himself too much to do. Van der Voort started like a train, kicking off the game with legs of 13 and 14 darts quickly moving 2-0 up with six legs on the spin, including finishes of 97 and 53 as Winstanley failed to get a foothold in the match.
The Yorkshireman got his first leg on the board at the start of the third set, and although van der Voort then went 2-1 up with a break of throw, Winstanley battled back with a 115 finish followed by a 97 checkout to see him claim the set. Legs of 14 and 12 darts helped van der Voort win set four for a 3-1 lead, but Winstanley hit back again with two 180s and a double 19 finish for a 14-darter giving him the fifth set 3-1. Winstanley took out 122 on the bull and a 14-darter as he moved 2-1 up in the sixth set, but van der Voort replied in kind in leg four with a 72 finish before punishing a miss at tops from the Englishman by landing double ten to seal the win.
"I started really well and after that it was a bit of a struggle but in the end I got over the line and thats what counts," said van der Voort