Cash Converters Players Championship Finals - First Round Round-Up

Cash Converters Players Championship Finals - First Round Round-Up

Please find below a round-up, results and match information from Friday^s first round at the Cash Converters Players Championship.
Attached, free for editorial use, are pictures of Michael van Gerwen, Adrian Lewis and Phil Taylor. Please credit "Lawrence Lustig/PDC" where applicable.

Kind regards

David Allen
PDC Media Manager

VAN GERWEN KNOCKS OUT REIGNING CHAMPION PAINTER AS LEWIS ENJOYS EVENTFUL DAY!

REIGNING champion Kevin Painter was knocked out of the Cash Converters Players Championship Finals by Michael van Gerwen as the tournament began on Friday, while World Champion Adrian Lewis picked up a first round win on a dramatic day.

Painter, who claimed glory 12 months ago by defeating Mark Webster in the final, lost out 6-3 in an entertaining contest against in-form World Grand Prix champion van Gerwen at the Butlins Minehead Resort.

Van Gerwen came from a leg down to lead 4-1, and though Painter finished 76 and 135 to hit back, the Dutchman sealed the win in style with a 13-darter.

"We both enjoyed the game and although I didn^t play as well as I wanted to, the most important thing was to win the game and I did that," said van Gerwen.

"I hit my doubles well later in the game and I^ll look forward to the second round now. It^s a new day and I hope I^ll do better."

The opening day of the £250,000 tournament featured high drama for World Champion Lewis, who had spent 24 hours with wife Sarah after she went into labour ahead of the birth of their baby boy before dashing to Somerset for his game with Richie Burnett.

Lewis then took out 121 and 150 as he led 4-2 and he also moved 5-3 up before trading words with the Welshman, and after the Stoke star finished 116 to seal victory they continued their exchange.

"Richie said I was clicking my darts behind him but there^s 4,000 people in there so how could he hear that?" said Lewis. "I^ve got a lot on my mind with the birth and I think he was trying to play games, but it^s not fair.

"I^ve probably had two hours^ sleep and Sarah^s expecting our son at any time so I^ll be driving straight back to be with her. I^ll be back for the second round tomorrow night whatever happens but hopefully we won^t be waiting much longer!"

Lewis will face two-time champion Phil Taylor in the second round on Saturday evening, after the world number one^s 6-2 win over Mark Webster.

"It will be a cracking game," said Taylor. "I love playing Adrian and I want to play well against him, and I think we^ll both be on top of our game.

"I missed a few doubles against Mark but I^m pleased to get it out of the way. It^s a longer format in the second round and it will be a different game."

Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld came from 4-0 down to lead in his clash with Steve Beaton, only for the Englishman to edge victory in a dramatic deciding leg.

Van Barneveld missed three darts to win the game in the penultimate leg and then missed the bull for a 170 finish in the decider, which Beaton had begun with two 180s before he eventually hit double two for victory.

"I put myself in a great position but I^ve got a tendency to switch off and suddenly Raymond was 5-4 up," admitted Beaton. "I was fighting to stay in the game and I love the pressure.

"You play for the sort of buzz I had in the last couple of legs, when the hairs are standing up on your arms when you know you^ve got to hit the double, and I really enjoyed the game."

Beaton now plays Mervyn King in the second round, with the 2010 finalist having also come through a dramatic deciding leg before taking victory against Terry Jenkins, who missed three darts to win the final leg.

Number one seed Dave Chisnall crashed out of the tournament with a 6-0 whitewash against Wayne Jones, who now plays Peter Wright in the last 16.

"Dave struggled massively but I always thought if I could get ahead of him then I could beat him," admitted Jones. "Once I got a couple of legs up he seemed to capitulate and my finishing was good."

Wright was a 6-5 winner in his clash with Colin Lloyd, with Michael Smith and Ronnie Baxter also progressing in a deciding leg against Ian White and 2010 champion Paul Nicholson respectively.

Robert Thornton, the 2009 runner-up, impressed with a 6-1 win over Mark Walsh and now plays Gary Anderson in an all-Scottish battle after the world number four defeated Wes Newton 6-4.

Andy Hamilton^s 6-2 win over Andy Smith means he now meets van Gerwen, while Baxter^s victory set up a clash with Australian ace Simon Whitlock, who was a 6-3 winner against Jamie Caven.

Northern Ireland^s Brendan Dolan came from 4-2 down against James Wade to win 6-4 and now plays Taunton^s Justin Pipe, who overcame Colin Osborne 6-3.

Belgian ace Kim Huybrechts^ 6-3 win over Dutchman Vincent van der Voort means that he now plays youngster Smith, whose narrow defeat of White was his first televised victory outside of the UK Open.

The second round is split across two sessions on Saturday, with the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final being held on Sunday as the destiny of the £60,000 title is determined.

Cash Converters Players Championship Finals
Friday November 30
First Round
Afternoon Session
Ian White 5-6 Michael Smith
Colin Lloyd 5-6 Peter Wright
Justin Pipe 6-3 Colin Osborne
Kim Huybrechts 6-3 Vincent van der Voort
Robert Thornton 6-1 Mark Walsh
Terry Jenkins 5-6 Mervyn King
Ronnie Baxter 6-5 Paul Nicholson
Andy Hamilton 6-2 Andy Smith

Evening Session
Dave Chisnall 0-6 Wayne Jones
James Wade 4-6 Brendan Dolan
Adrian Lewis 6-3 Richie Burnett
Michael van Gerwen 6-3 Kevin Painter
Raymond van Barneveld 5-6 Steve Beaton
Phil Taylor 6-2 Mark Webster
Wes Newton 4-6 Gary Anderson
Simon Whitlock 6-3 Jamie Caven

Saturday December 1
Second Round
Afternoon Session (1pm)
Justin Pipe v Brendan Dolan
Wayne Jones v Peter Wright
Michael Smith v Kim Huybrechts
Gary Anderson v Robert Thornton
Best of 19 legs

Evening Session (7pm)
Michael van Gerwen v Andy Hamilton
Simon Whitlock v Ronnie Baxter
Phil Taylor v Adrian Lewis
Steve Beaton v Mervyn King
Best of 19 legs

Match Information
Ian White v Michael Smith
0-0 - Ian White wins the bull and throws first
0-1 - Smith makes a fine start, opening with two 140s and landing double ten to break with a 14-darter.
1-1 - White lands a 180 in a 13-dart finish as he levels.
2-1 - White opens with another maximum and eventually lands double eight to move ahead.
2-2 - White misses the bull for a 126 finish, and Smith capitalises by hitting tops to square the game.
2-3 - Smith misses tops to take out 114, but White is off-target with three darts of his own at the same bed and the youngster lands double ten to break throw and lead.
3-3 - White takes out 97 on double ten to break back and level.
3-4 - The see-saw nature of the game continues with Smith hitting back-to-back 180s and finishing 96 on double nine for a 12-darts.
3-5 - Smith crucially holds throw to move a leg away from the win.
4-5 - White keeps the game alive by finishing 52 on double eight.
5-5 - White lands a 180, and when Smith misses double 18 for a 156 finish for the match the Stoke ace steps in to land tops for a 72 checkout to force a decider.
5-6 - Despite throwing second, Smith is first to a finish and posts double five with his third dart to take victory.
Michael Smith: "Ian^s a tough player and that^s the first time I^ve beaten him so I^m very happy. The 12-darter where I hit two 180s was the key leg in this game because it put me 4-3 up and that was where I won it really. It^s my first win on TV outside of the UK Open, and after the World Championship, World Matchplay and World Grand Prix I was starting to worry if it would ever come so it^s a big result for me. Now I^ve got the first one under my belt hopefully there will be plenty more to come. I was nervous being the first game on stage in a new arena but I really enjoyed it and I^m looking forward to the second round now."

Colin Lloyd v Peter Wright
0-0 - Colin Lloyd wins the bull and throws first.
1-0 - Lloyd makes a superb start by hitting a 180 with his first three darts, and he wins the opener by finishing 80 on tops.
1-1 - Wright wins a nervy second leg, with Lloyd initially missing double seven for a 122 finish to steal the leg before missing the bed for a second time to allow his colourful opponent back to hit double four with his third dart.
2-1 - Lloyd finishes double eight to win the third leg.
2-2 - Wright initially misses double 18 but returns to win the leg and level.
2-3 - Both players miss tops for ton-plus finishes, and Wright returns to break and edge ahead.
3-3 - Lloyd finishes tops with his third dart to level the contest.
4-3 - Lloyd takes out 70 in two darts on tops to move back ahead.
5-3 - The Essex star wins a third straight leg by hitting double top, putting himself to the brink of victory.
5-4 - Wright finishes 78 on double top to keep the game alive with a break.
5-5 - Wright forces a deciding leg by following three 140s with double top for a 13-darter.
5-6 - Wright hits a superb 165 to leave 36 after 12 darts, and lands double 18 at the first time of asking to complete a brilliant comeback.
Peter Wright: "I^m really pleased to get through that because neither of us were at our best. I struggled to get used to the stage at first but my scoring came together at the end and I^m happy to get the win. I can build on this now because I^ve been playing some awesome darts recently and am looking to take that form up onto stage now."

Justin Pipe v Colin Osborne
0-0 - Colin Osborne wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - Pipe opens with a 180 but misses three darts to break, at double 11, four and two to allow Osborne to hold throw on double 16.
1-1 - Pipe finishes 76 to level.
2-1 - Pipe takes out 60 on tops to move ahead.
3-1 - Pipe hits a 180, and when Osborne misses double 16 to finish 93 he steps in to land double eight and win the leg.
3-2 - Pipe lands his fourth 180 of the game but bursts his score on 64, and Osborne steps in to hit back.
4-2 - Double four for Pipe restores his two-leg advantage.
4-3 - Osborne takes out 82 on tops to win the seventh leg.
5-3 - Osborne lands a 180 but Pipe hits double top to move a leg away from the victory.
6-3 - Pipe misses four match darts at double top and ten, but Osborne is off-target on tops and with three darts at double ten to stay alive and Pipe seals the win on double ten.
Justin Pipe: "It was a bit of a scrappy game for me but the important thing was that I won. Hitting a 180 with my first three darts settled me down, and although I missed a few doubles it was my scoring which helped me through. It^s great to win with all three of my children here for the first time, and it^s nice that they could come and support me. Living in Taunton means I^m only a 40 minute drive home and I can treat the family to dinner, relax in my own bed tonight and come back for the second round nice and fresh tomorrow."

Kim Huybrechts v Vincent van der Voort
0-0 - Kim Huybrechts wins the bull and will throw first
1-0 - Huybrechts wins the opening leg on double 16.
1-1 - Huybrechts misses double six, and van der Voort takes out 46 to level.
2-1 - van der Voort opens with a 177 but Huybrechts finishes 109 on double 16 to edge back ahead.
2-2 - van der Voort posts a 180 and finishes double 16 to hold throw.
2-3 - Huybrechts misses the single 18 which would have left the bullseye on an 88 combination, and van der Voort posts double eight to break.
3-3 - van der Voort misses double 15 to finish 150 and Huybrechts steps in on tops to break back and level.
4-3 - Double six edges the Belgian back ahead.
5-3 - van der Voort posts a second 180 of the game, but Huybrechts lands a key double 16.
6-3 - Huybrechts finishes 68 on tops to seal his second round place.
Kim Huybrechts: "Getting the win was the main thing and I^m really happy with that but it wasn^t a great game and I didn^t think I played too well, so hopefully I can improve for the second round. I was a bit nervous because I^ve a lot of respect for Vincent so it^s good to beat him. I^ve got Michael Smith in the second round, and he beat one of the top players this year, Ian White, so I know he^s playing well and I^ll have to be better against him."

Robert Thornton v Mark Walsh
0-0 - Robert Thornton wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - Thornton finishes 120 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Both players hit 180s, with Walsh landing double 18 to level
2-1 - Thornton lands double ten to edge back ahead.
3-1 - Thornton pins double ten again to break throw and move two legs clear.
4-1 - Thornton takes out tops for a 60 finish to edge closer to the win.
5-1 - Thornton wins his fourth straight leg to move one away from the second round.
6-1 - The UK Open champion opens with a 180 and finishes 28 to seal the win.
Robert Thornton: "I^m very happy with that. Mark^s a tough opponent and the scoreline doesn^t reflect how well he played, but I^ve had some good averages recently on the circuit and it^s good to take that form up on stage. It was a solid performance so I^m very pleased with it."

Terry Jenkins v Mervyn King
0-0 - Terry Jenkins wins the bull and will throw first.
0-1 - Jenkins misses double eight and four to finish 67, and King takes out double nine for a 14-darter.
0-2 - King holds throw to double his lead.
0-3 - Jenkins fires in a 180 but misses two darts at tops, and King punishes him by hitting double 18 to break again.
1-3 - King misses two darts to win a fourth straight leg, and Jenkins accepts the lifeline by hitting double top.
2-3 - King is again first to a finish but misses double 16 and Jenkins posts tops again to hit back to only trail by one leg.
3-3 - Jenkins levels with a superb leg, hitting a 180 and finishing 87 in two darts.
4-3 - Jenkins opens with a 180, and wins a dramatic leg on double five after King misses four darts to punish wayward finishing from the Ledbury ace.
4-4 - King initially misses two darts to win the leg but returns to level the game.
5-4 - Jenkins hits a 180 to leave 40, and when King misses the bull to take out 121 he lands tops to move ahead again.
5-5 - King takes out 101 to send the match into a decider.
5-6 - King scores 134, 140 and 137 to be first to a finish - but misses double eight, then bursts his score on double four and misses three more darts at the bed, but Jeknins is unable to take out 40 with three darts, missing two at tops and one at double ten, to allow King to finish double four for the win.
Mervyn King: "I^m relieved to get through that because it was a tight match. Terry had a lot of darts on the wire and it was that close a game, where one dart either way made the difference."

Ronnie Baxter v Paul Nicholson
0-0 - Paul Nicholson wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - Nicholson misses the bull and Baxter takes out 134 on double seven.
2-0 - Baxter hits a 180 as he doubles his lead.
2-1 - Double top gets Nicholson off the mark.
2-2 - Nicholson lands a maximum as he levels the contest.
2-3 - Nicholson posts double 16 to move ahead for the first time.
2-4 - Nicholson wins his fourth successive leg, hitting double 16 again after Baxter misses two darts at double 17.
3-4 - Baxter hits back by landing double four.
4-4 - Baxter levels by finishing 68 on double 16.
4-5 - Baxter lands a 177, but Nicholson finishes 82 on double eight to move a leg away from victory.
5-5 - Baxter finishes double 16 to force a deciding leg.
6-5 - Nicholson misses tops to finish 120, and Baxter steps in to finish double 14 and seal the win.
Ronnie Baxter: "It was very close and it^s probably what you^d call a dirty win, but I^ll take it! I felt great at 2-0 up but then I couldn^t hit the treble and Paul got ahead of me, but I put in a good leg at the end to win it. I can settle down in the next game now because the format^s longer."

Andy Hamilton v Andy Smith
0-0 - Andy Smith wins the bullseye and throws first.
0-1 - Smith finishes 79 on double 11 to win the opener.
1-1 - Hamilton levels by hitting double eight, atoning for misses in his previous two visits.
2-1 - Hamilton hits a 180 and finishes double 16 to break throw.
3-1 - Hamilton takes out 130 on double five to move two legs clear.
4-1 - Hamilton opens with a 177 and lands double top to move three legs ahead.
4-2 - Smith takes out 100 on tops to hit back with his first leg in five.
5-2 - Smith misses three darts at double nine to reduce the gap to one leg, and Hamilton finishes the same bed to move a leg away from the win.
6-2 - Hamilton posts double 18 to complete the win.
Andy Hamilton: "It was a win and that^s the most important thing. It wasn^t the best game but there had to be a winner, and I did enough without being at my best. It was frustrating to not play my best game but it^s better to win ugly than lose ugly! The first round^s always hard and it will be a different game altogether on Saturday."

Dave Chisnall v Wayne Jones
0-0 - Wayne Jones wins the bull and throws first.
0-1 - Jones hits a 180 and takes the opening leg on double ten.
0-2 - Jones doubles his lead with a break of throw.
0-3 - Double 12 from Jones sees him win a third leg, without Chisnall yet having a dart at a double.
0-4 - Chisnall misses two darts at tops, and Jones finishes the same bed to win a fourth straight leg.
0-5 - Chisnall hits a 180 but Jones lands double ten to move a leg away from a huge upset.
0-6 - Jones kicks off with a 177, with Chisnall responding with a 180 only to miss tops and allow the Wolverhampton ace to complete a whitewash over the number one seed with double ten.
Wayne Jones: "Dave struggled massively but I always thought if I could get ahead of him then I could beat him. Once I got a couple of legs up he seemed to capitulate and my finishing was good. I^d like to play better but I can^t argue with a win, I just feel like I^m going to play a lot better than I am doing at the moment and it^s frustrating but I^ll try to produce that tomorrow. The form^s there somewhere, I^ve just got to find it!"

James Wade v Brendan Dolan
0-0 - Brendan Dolan wins the bull and will throw first.
1-0 - Wade finishes double four to win the opening leg against the throw.
2-0 - Wade doubles his lead by edging the second, with Dolan missing three darts at tops and then hitting double 15 instead of double ten - with the left-hander landing double ten with his third dart to win the leg.
2-1 - Dolan finishes double 16 to get off the mark.
2-2 - Dolan repeats the finish to level the game.
3-2 - Wade finishes 62 on double ten to edge back ahead.
4-2 - Wade takes out 129 with a superb treble 19, double 18, double 18 combination.
4-3 - Dolan opens with a 180, and after Wade misses the bull to finish 164 he steps in on double 18 to hit back.
4-4 - Dolan finishes 83 for a 14-darter to level the game.
4-5 - Dolan misses double four twice, but when Wade misses double top, ten and five the Northern Irishman returns to move ahead for the first time.
4-6 - Dolan is off-target on the bullseye for a 170 finish, but when Wade misses two darts at double 15 for a 90 finish, he returns to post double eight for the match.
Brendan Dolan: "I^m delighted to get the win and it was a gritty win. I dug in and stuck with James, and my finishing pulled me through. James didn^t play as well as he can do and he missed some doubles, but he^s a great player. I let some early legs slip and I was disappointed with that, but I hung in there and took my chances."

Adrian Lewis v Richie Burnett
0-0 - Richie Burnett wins the bull and throws first
0-1 - Burnett finishes 64 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Lewis - who has driven 200 miles today to get to the event after wife Sarah went into labour on Thursday, without yet giving birth to their son - takes out 121 to level the contest.
1-2 - Burnett hits a 180, and when Lewis misses the bull to take out 86 he eventually lands double one for the third leg.
2-2 - Burnett posts another maximum, but Lewis levels on double top.
3-2 - Burnett misses three dart at double 16, and Lewis lands double ten to lead for the first time.
4-2 - Lewis finishes a brilliant 150 on double 15 to move two legs clear.
4-3 - Burnett initially misses double six and three, but when Lewis is unable to finish 118 the Welshman posts double one again.
5-3 - Lewis misses three darts for the leg, but Burnett misses two darts at double top for a 94 checkout and the World Champion hits double five to move a leg away from the win.
6-3 - Lewis fires in a 180 - his first of the match - and then seals the win by taking out 116, with the game ending on a sour note as the pair exchange words on stage.
Adrian Lewis: "Richie said I was clicking my darts behind him but there^s 4,000 people in there so how could he hear that? I^ve got a lot on my mind with the birth and I think he was trying to play games, but it^s not fair. I^ve probably had two hours^ sleep and Sarah^s expecting our son at any time so I^ll be driving straight back to be with her. I^ll be back for the second round tomorrow night whatever happens but hopefully we won^t be waiting much longer!"

Michael van Gerwen v Kevin Painter
0-0 - Kevin Painter wins the bull and throws first.
0-1 - van Gerwen lands a 180 in the opening leg, but misses nine darts to take the lead as Painter steps in on double 16.
1-1 - van Gerwen hits a 171 and, with his fifth dart to win the leg, lands tops to get off the mark.
2-1 - van Gerwen posts a 180 as he breaks throw to lead.
3-1 - The Dutchman wins a third straight leg.
4-1 - van Gerwen finishes a superb 123 checkout on the bullseye to move three legs clear.
4-2 - Painter finishes 76 in two darts to hit back.
4-3 - Painter takes out a superb 135 with a bullseye, treble 15, double top combination.
5-3 - van Gerwen fires in a 180 and takes out double 16 to move a leg away from the win.
6-3 - Painter opens with a 180, but van Gerwen seals victory by posting double 12 for a 13-darter.
Michael van Gerwen: "We both enjoyed the game and although I didn^t play as well as I wanted to, the most important thing was to win the game and I did that. I hit my doubles well later in the game and I^ll look forward to the second round now. It^s a new day and I hope I^ll do better."

Raymond van Barneveld v Steve Beaton
0-0 - Steve Beaton wins the bull and throws first.
0-1 - Beaton finishes 106 on double 16 to win the opening leg.
0-2 - Beaton lands a 180 and double eight to break throw.
0-3 - Beaton finishes 96 on double 12 to win a third successive leg.
0-4 - van Barneveld misses four darts to get off the mark, and Beaton finishes double nine to move four legs clear.
1-4 - van Barneveld lands a 180 and posts double eight to hit back.
2-4 - Beaton posts a 180 to leave 139, but van Barneveld takes out double eight to win his second successive leg.
3-4 - van Barneveld finishes double ten with his third dart to continue his fightback.
4-4 - Beaton opens with a 180, but is unable to convert a 121 finish as van Barneveld levels the game on double eight.
5-4 - van Barneveld kicks off the leg with 140 and 180 and posts tops to put himself ahead with a fifth successive leg.
5-5 - Beaton misses double eight for a 136 finish, but van Barneveld misses double 12 and two darts at double six for the game to allow him back to finish double four to force a decider.
5-6 - Beaton opens with two 180s, and after missing out on a possible nine-darter he also misses two match darts to allow van Barneveld a chance at 170 - but the Dutchman wires the bull for the checkout and the English ace returns to snatch the win on double four.
Steve Beaton: "I put myself in a great position but I^ve got a tendency to switch off and suddenly Raymond was 5-4 up. I was fighting to stay in the game and I love the pressure. You play for the sort of buzz I had in the last couple of legs, when the hairs are standing up on your arms when you know you^ve got to hit the double, and I really enjoyed the game."

Phil Taylor v Mark Webster
0-0 - Phil Taylor wins the bull and throws first
1-0 - Webster hits a 180 but misses the bull for a 164 finish, and Taylor lands double six for a 14-darter.
2-0 - Taylor doubles his lead on tops.
3-0 - Double 16 sees the world number one move three legs clear.
3-1 - Both players open the leg with a 177, and Webster posts tops to get off the mark.
4-1 - Taylor finishes tops to restore his three-leg cushion.
5-1 - Taylor opens with a 180 and finishes 87 on double five.
5-2 - Taylor hits a 177 but misses six match darts and Webster posts tops to keep his hopes alive.
6-2 - Webster misses six darts to keep the game alive and Taylor eventually seals the win on double four.
Phil Taylor: "I missed a few doubles against Mark but I^m pleased to get it out of the way. It^s a longer format in the second round and it will be a different game. It will be a cracking game, I love playing Adrian and I want to play well against him, and I think we^ll both be on top of our game."

Wes Newton v Gary Anderson
0-0 - Gary Anderson wins the bull and will throw first
0-1 - Anderson posts tops to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Double ten sees Newton level the contest.
1-2 - Anderson finishes double 16 for a 64 finish to move back ahead.
1-3 - Newton is unable to finish 139, and Anderson takes out 84 in two darts.
2-3 - Anderson fires in a 180 but misses two darts at tops, and Newton hits the same bed to take out 74 to hit back.
3-3 - Newton finishes tops to level.
3-4 - Anderson edges back in front by hitting double 18.
4-4 - Newton squares the contest by firing in an 11-darter.
4-5 - Anderson hits a 180 to leave 40, and when Newton wires the bullseye for a 170 finish the Scot posts double ten to move to the brink of victory.
4-6 - Anderson takes out 130 on double five to seal the victory and a place in the second round.
Gary Anderson: "We has been phenomenal in the last couple of years so it^s great to win against him. I^m still rusty by my standards and it^s not been a great year for me, and I^m still getting back to my best. My knee^s a problem, and although it^s fine when I^m stood straight on at the oche, it^s when I turn that I get pain in it so I^m being careful and hopefully it won^t be too painful on Saturday. Robert^s back to how we know he can play this year and it was great to see him win the UK Open, and it will be great for us that there^s a Scottish player in the quarter-finals - hopefully it^s me!"

Simon Whitlock v Jamie Caven
0-0 - Simon Whitlock wins the bull and throws first
1-0 - Whitlock finishes double 16 to win the opening leg.
1-1 - Whitlock opens with 140 and 180 but Caven lands tops to level.
2-1 - Caven misses two darts at double 16 to break, and Whitlock posts double ten to win the third.
2-2 - Whitlock hits a 180 but Caven levels.
3-2 - Whitlock wins the fifth to edge back ahead.
3-3 - Caven kicks off the leg with a 180 and finishes 80 on double ten to level.
4-3 - Whitlock fires in double 16 to move back ahead.
5-3 - The Australian breaks by landing double 16 once again.
6-3 - Whitlock seals the victory by taking out 111 on double 16.
Simon Whitlock: "Jamie played really well there and the game came down to a couple of finishes at the end. You need to take out your finishes under pressure, and I did a couple there which made a big difference to the match. I^ve been working very hard lately and it^s paying off, I^ve been very consistent this year, I^ve won a few tournaments and had a very good year and I put that down to my hard practice and thinking positively."