Blue Square UK Open - Night 2
PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld kicked off their Blue Square UK Open challenges with impressive victories in Bolton on Friday night.
Taylor produced a 104 average in his 9-3 win over John Ferrell, but admitted he was distracted by a night of upsets on the other seven stages at the Reebok Stadium.
While defending champion van Barneveld was a 9-0 victor against Tony Ayres, two-time World Champion Dennis Priestley, 2004 UK Open champion Roland Scholten and former world number one Colin Lloyd crashed out of the event.
"It was a good start for me but I^ll get better as the tournament progresses," said Taylor. "I was looking round at what was happening in the other games so I have to concentrate more on Saturday."
Taylor will meet resurgent, silent Scottish veteran Jamie Harvey - who has lost his voice due to a throat infection - in the last 32, while van Barneveld meets Irishman Jason Barry.
The world number one looked back to his best following a disappointing Whyte & Mackay Premier League Darts campaign, and said: "I played well and my doubles were brilliant. I love this tournament but I^m still only in the last 32."
His fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort took eight successive legs in coming from 4-1 down to knock Lloyd from the tournament, while Stoke qualifier "Nutty" Nigel Birch sent Priestley to a 9-8 defeat.
Scholten was defeated 9-4 by 2005 runner-up Mark Walsh, while former BDO world number one Robert Thornton continued his progression with a narrow 9-7 victory against Michael van Gerwen.
America^s Gary Mawson, who was lucky to be allowed to enter the UK earlier this week after leaving his passport in an airport lounge in New York, moved into round four with a 9-7 win over Alex Roy.
Wayne Mardle paid for missing match darts in two legs as Adrian Lewis came from 8-7 down to win a thrilling contest in a deciding leg, with the Stoke youngster hitting eight 180s in edging out the fans^ favourite.
World Champion John Part included a 167 finish in his comprehensive 9-2 win over Colin Monk, while his rivals in the world^s top five, James Wade and Terry Jenkins, were also impressive in heavy wins over Justin Pipe and Andy Smith.
Teenage Bradford postman Joe Cullen saw his dream ended by Chris Mason, having won through from Thursday^s first round to reach the last 64 before losing 9-5 to the experienced Englishman.
Part and Jenkins were drawn together in the pick of the fourth round games, which will be played on Saturday afternoon at the Reebok Stadium.
Thornton and Waites, the two remaining Holsten Qualifiers, will take on top opposition in Alan Tabern and Ronnie Baxter respectively, while Birch drew Dutch youngster Jelle Klaasen.
Van der Voort and Colin Osborne face off in a repeat of their 2007 semi-final, which the Dutchman won 11-10, while Peter Manley will take on Mark Dudbridge, who came from 6-2 and 8-6 down to defeat Alan Warriner-Little.
World number three Wade drew emerging Bristol talent Steve Brown in round four, while former practice partners Andy Hamilton and Chris Mason also go head-to-head.
Blue Square UK Open
Third Round Results
Robert Thornton 9-7 Michael van Gerwen
Vincent van der Voort 9-4 Colin Lloyd
Phil Taylor 9-3 John Ferrell
Adrian Lewis 9-8 Wayne Mardle
John Part 9-2 Colin Monk
Wes Newton 9-8 Mervyn King
Raymond van Barneveld 9-0 Tony Ayres
Colin Osborne 9-3 Kevin Painter
James Wade 9-3 Justin Pipe
Terry Jenkins 9-1 Andy Smith
Wayne Jones 9-3 Kirk Shepherd
Alan Tabern 9-7 Paul Cooper
Jelle Klaasen 9-6 Dave Askew
Jamie Harvey 9-6 Martyn Turner
Mark Dudbridge 9-8 Alan Warriner-Little
Barrie Bates 9-4 Jason Clark
Peter Manley 9-3 Dave Honey
Simon Whatley 9-8 Steve Evans
Nigel Birch 9-8 Dennis Priestley
Mark Walsh 9-4 Roland Scholten
Jason Barry 9-2 Alan Casey
Steve Brown 9-5 Kevin McDine
Andy Hamilton 9-2 Matt Clark
Steve Smith 9-7 Andy Jenkins
Scott Waites 9-4 Wayne Atwood
Gary Mawson 9-7 Alex Roy
Mark Lawrence 9-4 David Platt
Ronnie Baxter 9-1 Sam Rooney
Brendan Dolan 9-5 John MaGowan
Steve Maish 9-6 Denis Ovens
Chris Mason 9-5 Joe Cullen
Chris Thompson 9-4 Adrian Gray
Fourth Round Draw
Play Commences 1pm Saturday
Main Stage
Jamie Harvey v Phil Taylor
Ronnie Baxter v Scott Waites
Jason Barry v Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Manley v Mark Dudbridge
Board Two
Terry Jenkins v John Part
James Wade v Steve Brown
Andy Hamilton v Chris Mason
Colin Osborne v Vincent van der Voort
Board Three
Alan Tabern v Robert Thornton
Wes Newton v Mark Walsh
Mark Lawrence v Gary Mawson
Jelle Klaasen v Nigel Birch
Board Four
Wayne Jones v Barrie Bates
Adrian Lewis v Brendan Dolan
Steve Maish v Chris Thompson
Steve Smith v Simon Whatley
Best of 17 legs