COLIN LLOYD sent world number three James Wade packing in the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a 6-4 victory at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken.
Lloyd put his World Matchplay nightmare, where Kevin Painter came from 8-2 down to defeat him 11-9 ten days ago in Blackpool, behind him with a gritty display against Wade.
Left-hander Wade had battled back from 4-2 down to level as Lloyd's doubles deserted him, but he regained his cool to win the next two and set up a tasty second round clash with Michael van Gerwen.
Wade hit a 180 in the opening leg, which he won on double top, but Lloyd posted double five to level and double 18 to break throw in the third leg.
A 100 finish saw the Essex man move 3-1 up, although Wade replied in 11 darts with a superb fifth leg, which featured two 180s amongst seven perfect darts to open the leg.
Double 16 saw Lloyd edge 4-2 ahead, and he hit scores of 140 and 180 to leave 42 in the seventh, only to miss eight darts for the leg as Wade took out double two to pull back into the game.
Two further misses from Lloyd, at double top and double ten, gave Wade the chance to level in the eighth, and he took out 61 on double ten to square the game.
Lloyd, though, kicked off the ninth with a maximum, and he regained his range on double top to move a leg away from the win before posting another 180 and double 14 - at the fourth time of asking - to ensure progression.
Friday 30 July 2010
Saturday 24 July 2010
End of the road for Wade at Blackpool
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD won through to his first StanJames.com World Matchplay final with a 17-8 demolition of James Wade at the Winter Gardens on Saturday night.
World number two van Barneveld continued his dream return to form at the World Matchplay, having returned from a two-month lay-off with a nine-darter in the first round a week ago and swept aside Denis Ovens, Alan Tabern, Co Stompe and now Wade in Blackpool.
Another fine performance, where he hit 43 percent of his chances at a finish, including three ton-plus scores, and five maximums, blew the 2007 champion apart and saw him power into Sunday's final, where he meets Phil Taylor or Simon Whitlock.
"I have a target to win every big PDC tournament and I've not won this so it would be massive to win the World Matchplay," said van Barneveld.
"I still feel pressure, especially from being the number one in Holland and being number two to Phil Taylor but it would be amazing to beat him and win this."
Wade had actually made the brighter start, winning three of the opening four legs to hold the early advantage, taking out 121 for a 12-darter as well as two double ten finishes, although van Barneveld had hit a 174 score in setting up double 18 to get off the mark.
The Dutchman landed a 180 in taking the first, and after Wade checked out 140 to take the sixth with another 12-darter he found another gear to reel off four sparkling legs.
They included one 14-dart finish, two 15-darters and a 136 checkout for a 12-darter in assuming a 6-4 lead.
Wade ended that run with a 14-darter, but three more legs from van Barneveld saw him move 10-6 up as he landed a brace of 13-darters and a 100 finish to take control of the game.
Wade won two of the next three, including a 145 checkout, but a thrilling ten-darter from van Barneveld moved him into an 11-7 advantage.
He then missed five darts to take the next leg, as Wade posted double ten to pull back to within three legs - but he was frustratingly left waiting on a finish without getting a chance as van Barneveld moved 14-8 up with another burst of three legs, including a 101 checkout.
Double nine and double top put him to the brink of victory, and though Wade landed scores of 171 and 170 in the next the Dutch star took out 91 for a 14-darter to ensure his first televised final since the World Grand Prix last October.
World number two van Barneveld continued his dream return to form at the World Matchplay, having returned from a two-month lay-off with a nine-darter in the first round a week ago and swept aside Denis Ovens, Alan Tabern, Co Stompe and now Wade in Blackpool.
Another fine performance, where he hit 43 percent of his chances at a finish, including three ton-plus scores, and five maximums, blew the 2007 champion apart and saw him power into Sunday's final, where he meets Phil Taylor or Simon Whitlock.
"I have a target to win every big PDC tournament and I've not won this so it would be massive to win the World Matchplay," said van Barneveld.
"I still feel pressure, especially from being the number one in Holland and being number two to Phil Taylor but it would be amazing to beat him and win this."
Wade had actually made the brighter start, winning three of the opening four legs to hold the early advantage, taking out 121 for a 12-darter as well as two double ten finishes, although van Barneveld had hit a 174 score in setting up double 18 to get off the mark.
The Dutchman landed a 180 in taking the first, and after Wade checked out 140 to take the sixth with another 12-darter he found another gear to reel off four sparkling legs.
They included one 14-dart finish, two 15-darters and a 136 checkout for a 12-darter in assuming a 6-4 lead.
Wade ended that run with a 14-darter, but three more legs from van Barneveld saw him move 10-6 up as he landed a brace of 13-darters and a 100 finish to take control of the game.
Wade won two of the next three, including a 145 checkout, but a thrilling ten-darter from van Barneveld moved him into an 11-7 advantage.
He then missed five darts to take the next leg, as Wade posted double ten to pull back to within three legs - but he was frustratingly left waiting on a finish without getting a chance as van Barneveld moved 14-8 up with another burst of three legs, including a 101 checkout.
Double nine and double top put him to the brink of victory, and though Wade landed scores of 171 and 170 in the next the Dutch star took out 91 for a 14-darter to ensure his first televised final since the World Grand Prix last October.
Friday 23 July 2010
Wade into World Matchplay semi-finals
JAMES WADE remains on course for a second StanJames.com World Matchplay title following a 16-12 win over Wolverhampton battler Wayne Jones in Blackpool.
The 2007 Winter Gardens champion continued his improvement as the tournament progresses to see off Jones, who had won through to his first quarter-final in Blackpool and matched the number three seed blow for blow.
Wade will now meet Raymond van Barneveld or Co Stompe in Saturday's semi-finals, as he bids to reach the final for the fourth time in five years.
Wade landed a 180 in taking the game's opener, only for Jones to reply with a 13-darter and take out double 18 to break for a 2-0 lead.
Wade bettered that with a 121 finish for a 12-darter, and then won the next three legs to move into a 5-2 advantage, only for Jones to hit back with legs of 13, 14 and 14 darts to square the match.
The duo traded double top finishes in the next two before Wade again found an extra gear, defying a quartet of 180s from Jones to win four successive legs, twice punishing misses from the Wolverhampton man.
A double 16 finish from Jones ended that run, and was followed by finishes of 83 and 128 as he pulled back to 11-9, only to see Wade edge clear again, taking the next two legs to lead 13-9.
Jones replied with another double salvo, punishing missed doubles from Wade on double 18 and double eight, although double six moved Wade two legs away from the win at 14-11.
The former champion then produced his best leg of the game, an 11-darter, for a 15th leg, and after Jones posted double top to keep the match alive Wade hit the same bed to complete his victory.
"It was an exceptionally hard game for me because Wayne has a good record against me and it was psychologically hard," said Wade. "But there was a bit of the old James Wade there and it's getting better.
"I made a break early on but didn't kill him off as quickly as I could, but I know I've got three more gears to find yet.
"It would be amazing to win this tournament again and it's about time I won another big title because it's over a year, so we'll see what happens this weekend."
Jones said: "I enjoyed the game, and James played well under pressure and deserved to win.
"I had two or three legs where I should have broken his throw and that cost me, and those two or three legs where I should have pressured him more were disappointing.
"I'm pleased I played well and I wasn't out of it at any stage - even when I was two or three legs I was still in it but couldn't quite get the breaks of throw.
"I said I'd need a 94 or 95 average to beat him and he had a 98 average so I've no complaints there.
"This week my performances have been more like they have been in the floor tournaments and that's good. I did quite enjoy this game and all the matches this week and this was a decent game of darts."
The 2007 Winter Gardens champion continued his improvement as the tournament progresses to see off Jones, who had won through to his first quarter-final in Blackpool and matched the number three seed blow for blow.
Wade will now meet Raymond van Barneveld or Co Stompe in Saturday's semi-finals, as he bids to reach the final for the fourth time in five years.
Wade landed a 180 in taking the game's opener, only for Jones to reply with a 13-darter and take out double 18 to break for a 2-0 lead.
Wade bettered that with a 121 finish for a 12-darter, and then won the next three legs to move into a 5-2 advantage, only for Jones to hit back with legs of 13, 14 and 14 darts to square the match.
The duo traded double top finishes in the next two before Wade again found an extra gear, defying a quartet of 180s from Jones to win four successive legs, twice punishing misses from the Wolverhampton man.
A double 16 finish from Jones ended that run, and was followed by finishes of 83 and 128 as he pulled back to 11-9, only to see Wade edge clear again, taking the next two legs to lead 13-9.
Jones replied with another double salvo, punishing missed doubles from Wade on double 18 and double eight, although double six moved Wade two legs away from the win at 14-11.
The former champion then produced his best leg of the game, an 11-darter, for a 15th leg, and after Jones posted double top to keep the match alive Wade hit the same bed to complete his victory.
"It was an exceptionally hard game for me because Wayne has a good record against me and it was psychologically hard," said Wade. "But there was a bit of the old James Wade there and it's getting better.
"I made a break early on but didn't kill him off as quickly as I could, but I know I've got three more gears to find yet.
"It would be amazing to win this tournament again and it's about time I won another big title because it's over a year, so we'll see what happens this weekend."
Jones said: "I enjoyed the game, and James played well under pressure and deserved to win.
"I had two or three legs where I should have broken his throw and that cost me, and those two or three legs where I should have pressured him more were disappointing.
"I'm pleased I played well and I wasn't out of it at any stage - even when I was two or three legs I was still in it but couldn't quite get the breaks of throw.
"I said I'd need a 94 or 95 average to beat him and he had a 98 average so I've no complaints there.
"This week my performances have been more like they have been in the floor tournaments and that's good. I did quite enjoy this game and all the matches this week and this was a decent game of darts."
Wednesday 21 July 2010
Blackpool ride continues for Wade
JAMES WADE powered into the quarter-finals of the StanJames.com World Matchplay with a 13-10 win over Vincent van der Voort in Blackpool.
Wade, the Winter Gardens champion in 2007, continued his challenge for a second World Matchplay title with an assured display to end the Dutchman's hopes.
He came from 3-2 down to lead 6-3 and 11-6 before holding off a fightback from van der Voort to set up a quarter-final with Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones.
However, the world number three said afterwards: "I've got to improve if I want to win this title.
"I got my game quite a bit there and started relaxing and playing to the crowd instead of getting on with it and you're not going to win tournaments like that.
"There were glimmers of my best darts but Vincent missed a lot of doubles and I finished pretty well. I've won my first two games and this was an okay day's work - but I want to bury players and not let them back in."
Wade hit a maximum in the game's opening leg but van der Voort edged ahead on the bullseye before landing double top for a 2-0 advantage.
The left-hander hit the same bed to get off the mark, but a 180 was not enough in the fourth leg as van der Voort posted double nine to move 3-1 up.
Wade finished 62 to take the fifth leg, and an assured two-dart 96 checkout saw him level matters.
The Dutchman missed the bull for a 124 finish in the seventh, with Wade following up an earlier maximum with double ten to lead for the first time, and a 96 finish followed by double ten took his run to five successive legs as he took a 6-3 lead.
Van der Voort stopped that with double 16, but Wade won the next three - twice punishing misses from last year's quarter-finalist - to take a 9-4 advantage.
Van der Voort took out 106 to win a fifth leg, while the pair traded maximums in sharing the next two to leave Wade 10-6 up, with double ten giving him a five-leg cushion.
However, the Dutch star threatened a comeback by cutting the lead to 11-8 by winning the next two legs, forcing Wade to take out 121 in moving a leg away from the win.
Van der Voort posted two double eight finishes to pull back to within two legs and keep the game alive, but Wade sealed victory on double five to set up a quarter-final with Wayne Jones.
"Friday is my biggest game of the tournament," said Wade. "Wayne's got a pretty good record against me recently but this is on the TV stage and we'll see what happens on Friday."
Wade, the Winter Gardens champion in 2007, continued his challenge for a second World Matchplay title with an assured display to end the Dutchman's hopes.
He came from 3-2 down to lead 6-3 and 11-6 before holding off a fightback from van der Voort to set up a quarter-final with Wolverhampton's Wayne Jones.
However, the world number three said afterwards: "I've got to improve if I want to win this title.
"I got my game quite a bit there and started relaxing and playing to the crowd instead of getting on with it and you're not going to win tournaments like that.
"There were glimmers of my best darts but Vincent missed a lot of doubles and I finished pretty well. I've won my first two games and this was an okay day's work - but I want to bury players and not let them back in."
Wade hit a maximum in the game's opening leg but van der Voort edged ahead on the bullseye before landing double top for a 2-0 advantage.
The left-hander hit the same bed to get off the mark, but a 180 was not enough in the fourth leg as van der Voort posted double nine to move 3-1 up.
Wade finished 62 to take the fifth leg, and an assured two-dart 96 checkout saw him level matters.
The Dutchman missed the bull for a 124 finish in the seventh, with Wade following up an earlier maximum with double ten to lead for the first time, and a 96 finish followed by double ten took his run to five successive legs as he took a 6-3 lead.
Van der Voort stopped that with double 16, but Wade won the next three - twice punishing misses from last year's quarter-finalist - to take a 9-4 advantage.
Van der Voort took out 106 to win a fifth leg, while the pair traded maximums in sharing the next two to leave Wade 10-6 up, with double ten giving him a five-leg cushion.
However, the Dutch star threatened a comeback by cutting the lead to 11-8 by winning the next two legs, forcing Wade to take out 121 in moving a leg away from the win.
Van der Voort posted two double eight finishes to pull back to within two legs and keep the game alive, but Wade sealed victory on double five to set up a quarter-final with Wayne Jones.
"Friday is my biggest game of the tournament," said Wade. "Wayne's got a pretty good record against me recently but this is on the TV stage and we'll see what happens on Friday."
Sunday 18 July 2010
Tough World Matchplay opener for Wade
FORMER StanJames.com World Matchplay champion James Wade began his bid to lift the trophy for a second time with a battling 10-8 win over Andy Smith.
The 2007 winner made hard work of victory, with Smith holding an early lead and remaining ahead until missing nine darts for a 9-7 lead, with Wade taking the final three legs without reply to sneak victory.
Smith took the opening leg before doubling his lead against the darts with a brilliant 151 checkout, only for Wade to fire in a 168 score in taking the third and a 180 plus a 124 bullseye finish to level.
The next six legs were shared to leave the scores tied at five-all before the pair traded 180s in the 11th, with Wade missing at double ten and double five to hit the front, as Smith held throw to lead 6-5 and then took out 116 for a 7-5 cushion.
Wade broke back on double top, and defied a maximum from Smith to win the 14th and square the game.
However, Smith again nudged himself back in front, with Wade hitting a 180 only to see his opponet post double top for an 8-7 lead.
When Wade lost his range on double top in the next, Smith saw his chance to move a leg away from the win arrive - only to then miss nine darts to win the leg as double five allowed the left-hander to square matters.
Wade then moved in for the kill, powering a 180 and double four to move 9-8 up - leading for the first time - before hitting his sixth maximum of the game in an 11-darter, secured with a bullseye-double top 90 finish, to seal the win.
"I'll take the win but I'm not happy with my performance," said Wade. "Everything I did didn't seem to work - I was throwing low of the treble and high of the treble - and Andy probably should have beaten me.
"What I did in the last two legs I probably expected to do for 15 to 20 legs and it's puzzling, but I've got three days to try and put it right now."
The 2007 winner made hard work of victory, with Smith holding an early lead and remaining ahead until missing nine darts for a 9-7 lead, with Wade taking the final three legs without reply to sneak victory.
Smith took the opening leg before doubling his lead against the darts with a brilliant 151 checkout, only for Wade to fire in a 168 score in taking the third and a 180 plus a 124 bullseye finish to level.
The next six legs were shared to leave the scores tied at five-all before the pair traded 180s in the 11th, with Wade missing at double ten and double five to hit the front, as Smith held throw to lead 6-5 and then took out 116 for a 7-5 cushion.
Wade broke back on double top, and defied a maximum from Smith to win the 14th and square the game.
However, Smith again nudged himself back in front, with Wade hitting a 180 only to see his opponet post double top for an 8-7 lead.
When Wade lost his range on double top in the next, Smith saw his chance to move a leg away from the win arrive - only to then miss nine darts to win the leg as double five allowed the left-hander to square matters.
Wade then moved in for the kill, powering a 180 and double four to move 9-8 up - leading for the first time - before hitting his sixth maximum of the game in an 11-darter, secured with a bullseye-double top 90 finish, to seal the win.
"I'll take the win but I'm not happy with my performance," said Wade. "Everything I did didn't seem to work - I was throwing low of the treble and high of the treble - and Andy probably should have beaten me.
"What I did in the last two legs I probably expected to do for 15 to 20 legs and it's puzzling, but I've got three days to try and put it right now."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)