Bodog.com World Grand Prix - Night Four Round-Up
Hamilton sends Whitlock packing in BODOG.COM World Grand Prix
Andy Hamilton knocked highly-fancied Simon Whitlock out of the Bodog.com World Grand Prix on Thursday night, as James Wade, Raymond van Barneveld and Barrie Bates booked quarter-final places.
Hamilton, a semi-finalist 12 months ago at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin, saw off in-form Australian Whitlock in a five-set thriller to maintain his challenge for the £100,000 title.
The pair shared four sets in a high-scoring contest, with Whitlock twice winning a set without reply and Hamilton checking out 154 to win the third set.
The Derby-based star also hit a 130 finish in opening up a 2-0 lead in the decider, before sealing victory with a superb 11-dart finish.
"I^ve been playing well this year and I feel great," said Hamilton, who now faces James Wade on Friday night. "I^m relaxed and my darts are going well.
"The 154 was a massive shot and it spurred me on. I was starting well on double 16 and am excited about playing in the quarter-finals on Friday."
2007 champion Wade won through to the quarters with a 3-1 win over Colin Osborne, as he overcame a loss of concentration in the second set to hit four ton-plus finishes in taking the win.
Raymond van Barneveld, the runner-up to Phil Taylor for the past two years in Dublin, defeated Mark Walsh 3-1 to put himself into the last eight.
The Dutchman trailed 2-0 in the first set but won six successive legs to lead 2-0 before completing the win.
Van Barneveld now faces Barrie Bates in the last eight, after the Welshman produced a superb sudden-death leg to defeat Wes Newton in another tight five-set contest.
The quarter-finals also pit reigning champion Phil Taylor against Scottish ace Gary Anderson, while Adrian Lewis faces in-form Wayne Jones in the other best of seven set match.
Tickets for the Bodog.com World Grand Prix are still available on 0818 33 33 44 or from www.ticketgroup.ie, or in person at the Citywest Hotel Convention Centre.
Bodog.com World Grand Prix
Thursday
Second Round
Raymond van Barneveld 3-1 Mark Walsh
Simon Whitlock 2-3 Andy Hamilton
James Wade 3-1 Colin Osborne
Wes Newton 2-3 Barrie Bates
Best of five sets
Friday October 8
Quarter-Finals - 6pm start
Adrian Lewis v Wayne Jones
Raymond van Barneveld v Barrie Bates
Andy Hamilton v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
Best of seven sets
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 3-1 MARK WALSH
(3-2, 3-0, 0-3, 3-2)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a fine display to defeat Mark Walsh 3-1 and power into the quarter-finals of the Bodog.com World Grand Prix.
The Dutchman made his comeback from a two-month lay-off with a steady win over John MaGowan on Tuesday, but found some of his brilliant best form to see off world number ten Walsh.
Walsh made a superb start to win the opening two legs, but failed to close out the set in a crucial swing which gave van Barneveld the momentum which took him to victory.
Walsh kicked off the game with a superb 12-darter in the first leg, hitting a 180 and a 135 finish, and doubled his lead on tops.
However, Walsh missed the bull for a 124 finish which would have given him the set, and van Barneveld stepped in to hit tops in the next two to level.
Walsh kicked off the deciding leg of the set with a 160 but, after a maximum from the Dutchman, failed to set up a double when needing 80 and van Barneveld returned to land double five for the set.
Van Barneveld found top gear in taking the second set without reply, hitting a 180 and a bullseye finish in the opening leg, a 106 finish in the second and double 18 for the set, after Walsh missed two darts at his trusty double top.
Walsh hit back to take the third set without reply, twice switching down to double eight in getting himself back into the game.
He also led in set four, but van Barneveld took the second with nine sensational darts, with scores of 180 and 170 leaving 75, which he finished on double top.
A 177 in the next left him double 19 as he edged 2-1 up, before Walsh levelled thanks to a 160 starting shot and an 86 finish.
He also hit a 174 in the set^s deciding leg, but missed double top for a 106 finish and another 75 checkout gave van Barneveld the victory.
"The first set was the key thing in the match and it was important for me," said van Barneveld.
"Mark started brilliantly with a 12-darter and in the second leg I gave my leg away and he was steaming away, but I kept my confidence and won the set.
"The second set I had the throw and won that, he won the third and the last set was a thriller, although if I^d lost the last leg I might have gone on to lose the match.
"I was very focused and knew I couldn^t afford to miss much, but I have been practising a lot on doubles and that showed."
Van Barneveld is bidding to reach a third successive World Grand Prix final and will meet Wes Newton or Barrie Bates in Friday^s quarter-finals.
"We all know what Phil Taylor can do but you have to believe every time you go on stage that you can win this tournament," he added. "I^ll have to play a lot better than this, but I^d rather have low averages and win my games than a high average in defeat."
ANDY HAMILTON 3-2 SIMON WHITLOCK
(3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-1)
ANDY HAMILTON held his nerve to win a five-set thriller against Simon Whitlock and progress to the quarter-finals of the Bodog.com World Grand Prix for a third successive year.
The duo traded the first four sets of a high-scoring contest before Hamilton, aided by a 130 finish, took a 2-0 lead in the decider and sealed the win with an 11-dart finish.
Hamilton now progresses to compete in the quarter-finals against either James Wade or Colin Osborne on Friday as he bids to reach the semis for a second year running in Dublin.
He made a strong start by hitting a 15-dart finish to open the game, and also led 2-1 in the first set after the pair traded double eight finishes.
Whitlock hit a 180 and double nine to level and also landed a maximum in the set^s decider, but saw four chances to win the set slip away as Hamilton posted double top for the lead.
Whitlock made light work of the second set, hitting double ten in three successive legs to square the game, and he also led 2-1 in set three.
Hamilton levelled, and then took the decider in sensational fashion, hitting a 180 and then taking out 154 on double 17 to grab the set and a 2-1 advantage.
Whitlock won the fourth set^s opener, and punished nine misses from the Derby-based star with double 16 before securing a second set without reply with a brilliant 160 checkout.
Hamilton kicked off the deciding set with a 130 checkout and also led 2-0 after hitting double 16 before Whitlock cut the gap to 2-1 with double top to break back.
Hamilton, though, pulled clear in the next and finished 76 for a brilliant 11-darter to book his last eight spot.
"I^ve been playing well this year and I feel great," said Hamilton. "I^m relaxed and my darts are going well.
"The 154 was a massive shot and it spurred me on because I was throwing away legs I should have been winning before that.
"I was starting well on double 16 and am excited about playing in the quarter-finals on Friday."
JAMES WADE 3-1 COLIN OSBORNE
(3-0, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1)
JAMES WADE continued his challenge for a second Bodog.com World Grand Prix title with a 3-1 second round win over Colin Osborne at the Citywest Hotel.
Left-hander Wade, the 2007 champion, showed glimpses of brilliant to create a quarter-final with Andy Hamilton on Friday night.
Wade produced a flawless opening set, kicking off the game with a 14-dart finish - ended with a 100 checkout - before finishes of double top and double 12 gave him the set without reply.
Wade also kicked off the second set with a 160 score and double ten, before another tops finish put him 2-0 up and gave him a fifth successive leg.
Osborne landed double eight to get his first leg of the contest in the third, and punished 11 missed starting doubles from Wade to level the set, before edging in front with a 76 checkout.
Wade regained his composure, and concentration, to take out 140 in the third set^s opener before hitting double top for a 2-0 lead.
Osborne finished 100 in the third leg, but Wade pinned double top to secure a second set and a 2-1 lead in the game.
A missed bullseye from Osborne allowed Wade in to hit double ten in the opening leg of set four, before further misses - after a 180 left 24 - allowed the left hander to land double top and move a leg away from victory.
Osborne did land double nine to win leg three, but three more misses at the bull and double eight allowed Wade back once more, and he wrapped up the win as he began with another 100 finish.
"I^m pleased to win but annoyed with myself because I started well in the first set and lost my way," said Wade, who admitted to losing concentration in the second set.
"Once Colin got going he was okay but I struggled with his pace. I should be able to handle that and it was silly darts from me because I should never have let that affect me.
"It was my game all over but it^s only a matter of time before I get it back and a lot of players will be in a lot of trouble. I^m slowly and surely getting back to how I can play at my best and it^s not a million miles away."
BARRIE BATES 3-2 WES NEWTON
(3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-2)
BARRIE BATES edged out Wes Newton in a sudden-death leg to book his quarter-final place at the Bodog.com World Grand Prix.
Bates will now take on world number two Raymond van Barneveld in Friday^s quarter-finals at the Citywest Hotel, having come through ^the hardest game of my life^ against his close friend Newton.
The duo travel around the world together on the PDC circuit and often share a room, but put their friendship aside for the five-set battle, with the Welshman prevailing by the narrowest of margins.
Bates took the opening set in a decider, hitting a 92 finish in the second leg and double top in the fifth as he edged ahead.
Double ten put him ahead in the second before Newton hit his straps, with a 91 finish against the throw being followed by two more legs as he levelled the match.
Bates responded well to take the third set without reply, hitting a 12-darter against the throw in the second leg, before being punished for four misses in the fourth set^s opener as a 78 checkout from Newton put him in front.
Newton missed his chance in the second as Bates replied, before Newton posted a 180 and double eight for the third.
Bates levelled on double top but failed to apply the pressure in the decider as Newton hit double eight to send the game into a fifth set.
Bates, with the advantage of throw, led thanks to double 16 only for Newton to hit a 180 in a fine 14-darter to level before breaking on double two to move a leg away from the win.
However, he would never have a match dart as Bates finished 68 to force a sudden-death leg and hit four ton-plus scores in being first to the finish in the decider, with double four booking his last eight berth.
"That was the hardest game of my life because we^re such close friends," said Bates. "Wes has been playing brilliantly this year, the best I^ve seen from him for a long time, but I managed to get the better of him.
"I^m practising better than two years ago and now I feel confident whoever I come up against. I can look forward to playing Raymond in the quarters and hopefully keep it going."