partypoker.com World Grand Prix - Night Two Round-Up
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD produced a resilient fightback to come from a set down to defeat Dave Chisnall in the partypoker.com World Grand Prix on Tuesday, as Michael van Gerwen won his all-Dutch first round clash with Vincent van der Voort in straight sets.
Five-time World Champion van Barneveld looked set to crash out of the double-start tournament when he lost the opening set 3-0 to last year^s runner-up in Dublin, as Chisnall made a fine start.
Van Barneveld took out 129 and 105 to share the opening four legs of the second set, before a 13-darter from the Dutchman denied Chisnall a match dart as he forced a deciding set.
The two-time World Grand Prix runner-up then took out 109 and 75 to move 2-0 up in the third set, and though Chisnall hit double eight to reply it was van Barneveld who hit the same bed in the next leg to complete a superb comeback.
"After the first set I thought I was dead and buried but I gave it all I had," said van Barneveld. "Maybe I had one or two lucky legs but I nicked it and I^ll be back on Thursday night.
"Dave had a great first set and he^s a fantastic player, but he let me in and I dug in and won. My finishing helped me, big-time, but I^ll have to improve in the second round.
"I believe I^m playing well and I^m happy with this win. I^m trying to get back in the top 16 because I think I belong there, winning key tournaments."
Van Barneveld will now play Mervyn King in the second round on Thursday, with the 2012 World Grand Prix finalist going all the way to a deciding leg in his first round clash with Wes Newton before prevailing.
King edged the first set 3-2 before Newton levelled the game by taking the second 3-1, and though the Fleetwood ace led 2-1 in the decider, King squared the set on double four before winning the sudden-death leg on tops.
"That was a struggle from the word go - I took the first set and had a great chance in the second set to take the game 2-0 but made extremely hard work of it," said King.
"I^m in the next round but there^s room for improvement. The doubles were fine but I^m not scoring as well as I should be at the moment and I^ll work hard on that on the practice board."
Richie Burnett was another winner in a sudden-death leg as he edged out Simon Whitlock in a remarkable contest.
After losing the opening set without reply, Whitlock hit back to win the second 3-1 and shared the first four legs of the third set - but could only watch on as Burnett took the deciding leg in dramatic fashion.
The Welshman initially missed seven opening doubles, before scoring 100, 100 and 180 to set up a 121 checkout, finishing the combination on the bullseye to claim victory with 11 scoring darts.
"In the last leg I was shaking - but the bull couldn^t have been better placed if I^d gone up to the board and stuck it in!" said Burnett. "That^s the pain you have to go through to win.
"Simon didn^t play well in the first set and struggled to get his starting doubles, but I knew he was going to come back because he^s a top-class player, and the second set was really hard.
"If I can get that double top in to start going, I^ll be dangerous because I feel really good scoring-wise and I^m finishing okay. The only thing that^s stopping me being in the top eight of the world is consistency, and I^m working hard on it."
Burnett^s second round opponent will be two-time World Grand Prix finalist Terry Jenkins, who impressed with a straight sets win over Kim Huybrechts, for whom a 170 finish was not enough to prevent a third successive first round exit in Dublin.
"I prepared well and I felt really relaxed and comfortable tonight," said Jenkins. "I know I^m pretty good on the double top, and if that^s going in for me, I can be a danger in this competition."
2012 World Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen was a 2-0 winner over close friend Vincent van der Voort - who was the best man at his August wedding - as he began his bid to win a second World Grand Prix title by dropping only one leg.
"I wasn^t happy with the draw and it was strange because nobody in darts has a relationship like me and Vincent, so it was really difficult," admitted world number one van Gerwen.
"I^m really glad that I won the first set because Vincent started well and had his chances, and I^m happy with my performance - I played really well and I can build on this."
Dean Winstanley progressed to a second round meeting with the World Champion with a three-set victory over Michael Smith, who hit back from a set down to level only to see the Yorkshireman prevail 3-1 in the decider.
"Two years ago I missed two darts to win and blew it against Dave Chisnall and I wanted to prove a point to myself tonight, so I^m ecstatic inside," conceded Winstanley. "I dug deep in the third set and held my nerve.
"My starting was good - there was only one leg where I didn^t hit my starting double in the first three darts - and this is the hardest format we play, but Michael gave me my breaks tonight."
Stephen Bunting enjoyed a winning World Grand Prix debut as he defeated Ronnie Baxter in straight sets to set up a second round meeting with Peter Wright.
"For my debut, I^m really happy with that," said Bunting. "I kept putting too much pressure on myself to get the starting doubles and I was really nervous, but I can relax into the tournament now.
"My record over the last few games against Peter has been good but this is a bit different because it^s double-start, and hopefully I can hit my doubles straight away."
Wright, meanwhile, was a 2-1 winner against Jamie Caven in a see-saw game which saw the pair share the opening two sets with 3-0 scorelines before the World Championship finalist came from a leg down to take the decider 3-1.
"Jamie came flying back at me so I^m glad that it didn^t go all the way and that 180 in the final leg came in handy," admitted Wright, who added: "I^m number four in the world and I^ve got to start playing like that.
"When I was trying to get into this position I was playing really good darts, and I haven^t been this year which is disappointing.
"I^ve got a target on my back and everyone wants to beat you, which I understand because I was doing exactly the same to the top guys."
The second round of the £400,000, Sky Sports-televised event begins on Wednesday, with the four matches including reigning champion Phil Taylor^s clash with Andrew Gilding.
Two-time champion James Wade plays Robert Thornton, Gary Anderson faces Northern Ireland^s Mickey Mansell and Adrian Lewis takes on Kevin Painter.
Tickets for the tournament are still available and can be purchased from the Citywest Hotel Box Office on 00353 (0)1 401 0505 or in person at the venue on the night of the event. Doors open at 6pm, with play commencing at 7pm on each night.
partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Tuesday October 7
First Round
Terry Jenkins 2-0 Kim Huybrechts (3-1, 3-2)
Peter Wright 2-1 Jamie Caven (3-0, 0-3, 3-1)
Mervyn King 2-1 Wes Newton (3-2, 1-3, 3-2)
Dean Winstanley 2-1 Michael Smith (3-0, 2-3, 3-1)
Stephen Bunting 2-0 Ronnie Baxter (3-1, 3-2)
Michael van Gerwen 2-0 Vincent van der Voort (3-1, 3-0)
Dave Chisnall 1-2 Raymond van Barneveld (3-0, 2-3, 1-3)
Simon Whitlock 1-2 Richie Burnett (0-3, 3-1, 2-3)
Wednesday October 8 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Adrian Lewis v Kevin Painter
James Wade v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Andrew Gilding
Gary Anderson v Mickey Mansell
Thursday October 9 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Peter Wright v Stephen Bunting
Richie Burnett v Terry Jenkins
Michael van Gerwen v Dean Winstanley
Raymond van Barneveld v Mervyn King
Format
Second Round - Best of Five Sets
* All Sets are the best of five legs. There will be no tie-break in any set.
* All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.
MATCH INFORMATION
Terry Jenkins 2-0 Kim Huybrechts
First Set 3-1 - Both players miss darts at the bull to win the opening leg before Jenkins takes out double one, with Huybrechts taking out a stunning 170 to level. Jenkins then lands a 180 in the third to set up double eight, before adding another maximum in leg four, with Huybrechts missing double 12 for a 141 finish and three darts at double six to allow the former finalist in for a 75 finish to take the set.
Second Set 3-1 - The pair trade 180s in the opening leg before Huybrechts posts double 18, and after Jenkins levels on double ten, the maximums are repeated in leg three as the Belgian takes out 74 on double eight to move 2-1 up. Jenkins, though, takes out 120 to level and produces a superb deciding leg to the set, leaving 36 after 12 darts before finishing double 18 for a 14-darter.
Peter Wright 2-1 Jamie Caven
First Set 3-0 - Wright enjoys a brilliant opening set as he averages 102 to take the first three legs without Caven having a dart at a finishing double, with the number four seed taking out 96 to break throw in the opening leg before opening the next two legs with 160 scores as a pair of double 16 finishes give him the advantage.
Second Set 0-3 - The roles are reversed in set two, with Caven taking his first leg of the game on double ten before hitting a 180 to set up an 80 finish in leg two - which the Derby ace checks out in two darts - before he lands a 177 and tops to level the game by taking the set without reply.
Third Set 3-1 - The pair kick off the third set by trading 13-darters before Wright moves clear in the third leg, hitting double 16 to move 2-1 up with a break of throw before fnishing 60 on tops to seal his first partypoker.com World Grand Prix win.
Mervyn King 2-1 Wes Newton
First Set 3-2 - King, using a new set of darts, takes the opening leg before Newton wins the next two to edge ahead - but King breaks back on double 16 before finishing tops to claim the set.
Second Set 1-3 - King posts a 180 to leave 68 as he takes the opening leg of set two, but Newton levels on double ten and takes advantage of key missed doubles from his opponent in the next two legs, as double four and double ten secure the set to level the game.
Third Set 3-2 - King finishes 60 to move ahead in the deciding set, but a miss at double 12 in the second leg allows Newton - who hit an earlier 180 - to level on double five before the Fleetwood ace takes out 60 to move 2-1 up. King finished double four to send the game into a sudden-death leg, and is first to a finish before posting tops to edge into the second round.
Dean Winstanley 2-1 Michael Smith
First Set 3-0 - Winstanley makes a flying start to win the opening set 3-0, with both players opening the game with 160 scores before the Yorkshireman edges the first leg on double ten, hits a 180 as he doubles his lead before opening leg three with a 160 before posting double eight to move ahead.
Second Set 2-3 - Smith levels the game in a dramatic second set, finishing double top twice as he moves 2-1 up, with finishes of 76 and double top from Winstanley sending the set into a deciding leg - which both players open with a 160, only for Winstanley to miss his chance to claim victory as Smith finishes double ten to level the game.
Third Set 3-1 - Winstanley edges the final set^s opening leg by finishing 40 with a double five, double 15 combination, and though Smith levels on double five, the Yorkshireman takes out 76 move back ahead before double ten completes a high-quality win.
Stephen Bunting 2-0 Ronnie Baxter
First Set 3-1 - Bunting claims the opening leg against the throw and lands double eight for a 2-0 lead, with Baxter hitting back in leg three only for the Dublin debutant to post a 180 and land double four for the set.
Second Set 3-2 - Baxter finishes tops to move ahead but misses his chance to double his lead in the second as Bunting levels and then hits a 180 and double 16 to move 2-1 up. Baxter replies on double four, after his rival misses a match dart, but Bunting makes no mistake in the next as he follows a 160 start by completing victory on double 16.
Michael van Gerwen 2-0 Vincent van der Voort
First Set 3-1 - van Gerwen posts a 180 and finishes 68 in two darts to take the opening leg, with van der Voort opening the second with a 157 before finishing double eight to level only to then miss his chance to move ahead in leg three, as the World Champion finishes 66 to move 2-1 up and 100 to take the set.
Second Set 3-0 - van Gerwen finishes double 12 to win the second set^s opening leg and then finishes 100 for a second time in the game before taking out double nine to complete the win.
Dave Chisnall 1-2 Raymond van Barneveld
First Set 3-0 - Chisnall erases any memories of last year^s defeat in the final by sweeping through the first set, finishing 85 to win the opening leg, double 16 in the second and double four to take the set without reply.
Second Set 2-3 - van Barneveld wins his first leg of the match by finishing 129, only to see Chisnall take the next two legs to move to the brink of victory - following a 180 with double ten before defying a 177 from the Dutchman by landing tops to lead 2-1. However, a 105 finish kept van Barneveld in the hunt before he took the set with a superb 13-darter, including a 180, to level the game.
Third Set 1-3 - van Barneveld continues his resurgence by taking out 109 and 75 to move two legs up, and though Chisnall finishes double eight to pull back to 2-1, the Dutchman finishes double eight in the next to complete his great escape.
Simon Whitlock v Richie Burnett
First Set 0-3 - Burnett takes the opening set without reply to leave Whitlock trailing, following a double eight finish in the opening leg with a brace of double 16 checkouts to move ahead.
Second Set 3-1 - Whitlock levels the contest by winning the second set 3-1, hitting a 180 and double 18 to take the opening leg and replying to Burnett^s double tops to level by taking out 100 and double top to win the set.
Third Set 2-3 - Burnett takes victory in a dramatic deciding leg to complete a thrilling contest. The Welshman opens the set with a 160 as he takes out a 13-darter to lead before Whitlock levels in style, before Burnett^s double 16 is matched by a 74 checkout from the Australian to send the game into a decider. Burnett, though, misses seven starting doubles only to score 100, 100 and 180 before finishing 121 on the bull to claim a remarkable sudden-death leg win.
Five-time World Champion van Barneveld looked set to crash out of the double-start tournament when he lost the opening set 3-0 to last year^s runner-up in Dublin, as Chisnall made a fine start.
Van Barneveld took out 129 and 105 to share the opening four legs of the second set, before a 13-darter from the Dutchman denied Chisnall a match dart as he forced a deciding set.
The two-time World Grand Prix runner-up then took out 109 and 75 to move 2-0 up in the third set, and though Chisnall hit double eight to reply it was van Barneveld who hit the same bed in the next leg to complete a superb comeback.
"After the first set I thought I was dead and buried but I gave it all I had," said van Barneveld. "Maybe I had one or two lucky legs but I nicked it and I^ll be back on Thursday night.
"Dave had a great first set and he^s a fantastic player, but he let me in and I dug in and won. My finishing helped me, big-time, but I^ll have to improve in the second round.
"I believe I^m playing well and I^m happy with this win. I^m trying to get back in the top 16 because I think I belong there, winning key tournaments."
Van Barneveld will now play Mervyn King in the second round on Thursday, with the 2012 World Grand Prix finalist going all the way to a deciding leg in his first round clash with Wes Newton before prevailing.
King edged the first set 3-2 before Newton levelled the game by taking the second 3-1, and though the Fleetwood ace led 2-1 in the decider, King squared the set on double four before winning the sudden-death leg on tops.
"That was a struggle from the word go - I took the first set and had a great chance in the second set to take the game 2-0 but made extremely hard work of it," said King.
"I^m in the next round but there^s room for improvement. The doubles were fine but I^m not scoring as well as I should be at the moment and I^ll work hard on that on the practice board."
Richie Burnett was another winner in a sudden-death leg as he edged out Simon Whitlock in a remarkable contest.
After losing the opening set without reply, Whitlock hit back to win the second 3-1 and shared the first four legs of the third set - but could only watch on as Burnett took the deciding leg in dramatic fashion.
The Welshman initially missed seven opening doubles, before scoring 100, 100 and 180 to set up a 121 checkout, finishing the combination on the bullseye to claim victory with 11 scoring darts.
"In the last leg I was shaking - but the bull couldn^t have been better placed if I^d gone up to the board and stuck it in!" said Burnett. "That^s the pain you have to go through to win.
"Simon didn^t play well in the first set and struggled to get his starting doubles, but I knew he was going to come back because he^s a top-class player, and the second set was really hard.
"If I can get that double top in to start going, I^ll be dangerous because I feel really good scoring-wise and I^m finishing okay. The only thing that^s stopping me being in the top eight of the world is consistency, and I^m working hard on it."
Burnett^s second round opponent will be two-time World Grand Prix finalist Terry Jenkins, who impressed with a straight sets win over Kim Huybrechts, for whom a 170 finish was not enough to prevent a third successive first round exit in Dublin.
"I prepared well and I felt really relaxed and comfortable tonight," said Jenkins. "I know I^m pretty good on the double top, and if that^s going in for me, I can be a danger in this competition."
2012 World Grand Prix champion Michael van Gerwen was a 2-0 winner over close friend Vincent van der Voort - who was the best man at his August wedding - as he began his bid to win a second World Grand Prix title by dropping only one leg.
"I wasn^t happy with the draw and it was strange because nobody in darts has a relationship like me and Vincent, so it was really difficult," admitted world number one van Gerwen.
"I^m really glad that I won the first set because Vincent started well and had his chances, and I^m happy with my performance - I played really well and I can build on this."
Dean Winstanley progressed to a second round meeting with the World Champion with a three-set victory over Michael Smith, who hit back from a set down to level only to see the Yorkshireman prevail 3-1 in the decider.
"Two years ago I missed two darts to win and blew it against Dave Chisnall and I wanted to prove a point to myself tonight, so I^m ecstatic inside," conceded Winstanley. "I dug deep in the third set and held my nerve.
"My starting was good - there was only one leg where I didn^t hit my starting double in the first three darts - and this is the hardest format we play, but Michael gave me my breaks tonight."
Stephen Bunting enjoyed a winning World Grand Prix debut as he defeated Ronnie Baxter in straight sets to set up a second round meeting with Peter Wright.
"For my debut, I^m really happy with that," said Bunting. "I kept putting too much pressure on myself to get the starting doubles and I was really nervous, but I can relax into the tournament now.
"My record over the last few games against Peter has been good but this is a bit different because it^s double-start, and hopefully I can hit my doubles straight away."
Wright, meanwhile, was a 2-1 winner against Jamie Caven in a see-saw game which saw the pair share the opening two sets with 3-0 scorelines before the World Championship finalist came from a leg down to take the decider 3-1.
"Jamie came flying back at me so I^m glad that it didn^t go all the way and that 180 in the final leg came in handy," admitted Wright, who added: "I^m number four in the world and I^ve got to start playing like that.
"When I was trying to get into this position I was playing really good darts, and I haven^t been this year which is disappointing.
"I^ve got a target on my back and everyone wants to beat you, which I understand because I was doing exactly the same to the top guys."
The second round of the £400,000, Sky Sports-televised event begins on Wednesday, with the four matches including reigning champion Phil Taylor^s clash with Andrew Gilding.
Two-time champion James Wade plays Robert Thornton, Gary Anderson faces Northern Ireland^s Mickey Mansell and Adrian Lewis takes on Kevin Painter.
Tickets for the tournament are still available and can be purchased from the Citywest Hotel Box Office on 00353 (0)1 401 0505 or in person at the venue on the night of the event. Doors open at 6pm, with play commencing at 7pm on each night.
partypoker.com World Grand Prix
Tuesday October 7
First Round
Terry Jenkins 2-0 Kim Huybrechts (3-1, 3-2)
Peter Wright 2-1 Jamie Caven (3-0, 0-3, 3-1)
Mervyn King 2-1 Wes Newton (3-2, 1-3, 3-2)
Dean Winstanley 2-1 Michael Smith (3-0, 2-3, 3-1)
Stephen Bunting 2-0 Ronnie Baxter (3-1, 3-2)
Michael van Gerwen 2-0 Vincent van der Voort (3-1, 3-0)
Dave Chisnall 1-2 Raymond van Barneveld (3-0, 2-3, 1-3)
Simon Whitlock 1-2 Richie Burnett (0-3, 3-1, 2-3)
Wednesday October 8 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Adrian Lewis v Kevin Painter
James Wade v Robert Thornton
Phil Taylor v Andrew Gilding
Gary Anderson v Mickey Mansell
Thursday October 9 (7pm-11pm)
Second Round
Peter Wright v Stephen Bunting
Richie Burnett v Terry Jenkins
Michael van Gerwen v Dean Winstanley
Raymond van Barneveld v Mervyn King
Format
Second Round - Best of Five Sets
* All Sets are the best of five legs. There will be no tie-break in any set.
* All legs must begin and end with a double, meaning that a player must hit a double before he can begin scoring in each leg.
MATCH INFORMATION
Terry Jenkins 2-0 Kim Huybrechts
First Set 3-1 - Both players miss darts at the bull to win the opening leg before Jenkins takes out double one, with Huybrechts taking out a stunning 170 to level. Jenkins then lands a 180 in the third to set up double eight, before adding another maximum in leg four, with Huybrechts missing double 12 for a 141 finish and three darts at double six to allow the former finalist in for a 75 finish to take the set.
Second Set 3-1 - The pair trade 180s in the opening leg before Huybrechts posts double 18, and after Jenkins levels on double ten, the maximums are repeated in leg three as the Belgian takes out 74 on double eight to move 2-1 up. Jenkins, though, takes out 120 to level and produces a superb deciding leg to the set, leaving 36 after 12 darts before finishing double 18 for a 14-darter.
Peter Wright 2-1 Jamie Caven
First Set 3-0 - Wright enjoys a brilliant opening set as he averages 102 to take the first three legs without Caven having a dart at a finishing double, with the number four seed taking out 96 to break throw in the opening leg before opening the next two legs with 160 scores as a pair of double 16 finishes give him the advantage.
Second Set 0-3 - The roles are reversed in set two, with Caven taking his first leg of the game on double ten before hitting a 180 to set up an 80 finish in leg two - which the Derby ace checks out in two darts - before he lands a 177 and tops to level the game by taking the set without reply.
Third Set 3-1 - The pair kick off the third set by trading 13-darters before Wright moves clear in the third leg, hitting double 16 to move 2-1 up with a break of throw before fnishing 60 on tops to seal his first partypoker.com World Grand Prix win.
Mervyn King 2-1 Wes Newton
First Set 3-2 - King, using a new set of darts, takes the opening leg before Newton wins the next two to edge ahead - but King breaks back on double 16 before finishing tops to claim the set.
Second Set 1-3 - King posts a 180 to leave 68 as he takes the opening leg of set two, but Newton levels on double ten and takes advantage of key missed doubles from his opponent in the next two legs, as double four and double ten secure the set to level the game.
Third Set 3-2 - King finishes 60 to move ahead in the deciding set, but a miss at double 12 in the second leg allows Newton - who hit an earlier 180 - to level on double five before the Fleetwood ace takes out 60 to move 2-1 up. King finished double four to send the game into a sudden-death leg, and is first to a finish before posting tops to edge into the second round.
Dean Winstanley 2-1 Michael Smith
First Set 3-0 - Winstanley makes a flying start to win the opening set 3-0, with both players opening the game with 160 scores before the Yorkshireman edges the first leg on double ten, hits a 180 as he doubles his lead before opening leg three with a 160 before posting double eight to move ahead.
Second Set 2-3 - Smith levels the game in a dramatic second set, finishing double top twice as he moves 2-1 up, with finishes of 76 and double top from Winstanley sending the set into a deciding leg - which both players open with a 160, only for Winstanley to miss his chance to claim victory as Smith finishes double ten to level the game.
Third Set 3-1 - Winstanley edges the final set^s opening leg by finishing 40 with a double five, double 15 combination, and though Smith levels on double five, the Yorkshireman takes out 76 move back ahead before double ten completes a high-quality win.
Stephen Bunting 2-0 Ronnie Baxter
First Set 3-1 - Bunting claims the opening leg against the throw and lands double eight for a 2-0 lead, with Baxter hitting back in leg three only for the Dublin debutant to post a 180 and land double four for the set.
Second Set 3-2 - Baxter finishes tops to move ahead but misses his chance to double his lead in the second as Bunting levels and then hits a 180 and double 16 to move 2-1 up. Baxter replies on double four, after his rival misses a match dart, but Bunting makes no mistake in the next as he follows a 160 start by completing victory on double 16.
Michael van Gerwen 2-0 Vincent van der Voort
First Set 3-1 - van Gerwen posts a 180 and finishes 68 in two darts to take the opening leg, with van der Voort opening the second with a 157 before finishing double eight to level only to then miss his chance to move ahead in leg three, as the World Champion finishes 66 to move 2-1 up and 100 to take the set.
Second Set 3-0 - van Gerwen finishes double 12 to win the second set^s opening leg and then finishes 100 for a second time in the game before taking out double nine to complete the win.
Dave Chisnall 1-2 Raymond van Barneveld
First Set 3-0 - Chisnall erases any memories of last year^s defeat in the final by sweeping through the first set, finishing 85 to win the opening leg, double 16 in the second and double four to take the set without reply.
Second Set 2-3 - van Barneveld wins his first leg of the match by finishing 129, only to see Chisnall take the next two legs to move to the brink of victory - following a 180 with double ten before defying a 177 from the Dutchman by landing tops to lead 2-1. However, a 105 finish kept van Barneveld in the hunt before he took the set with a superb 13-darter, including a 180, to level the game.
Third Set 1-3 - van Barneveld continues his resurgence by taking out 109 and 75 to move two legs up, and though Chisnall finishes double eight to pull back to 2-1, the Dutchman finishes double eight in the next to complete his great escape.
Simon Whitlock v Richie Burnett
First Set 0-3 - Burnett takes the opening set without reply to leave Whitlock trailing, following a double eight finish in the opening leg with a brace of double 16 checkouts to move ahead.
Second Set 3-1 - Whitlock levels the contest by winning the second set 3-1, hitting a 180 and double 18 to take the opening leg and replying to Burnett^s double tops to level by taking out 100 and double top to win the set.
Third Set 2-3 - Burnett takes victory in a dramatic deciding leg to complete a thrilling contest. The Welshman opens the set with a 160 as he takes out a 13-darter to lead before Whitlock levels in style, before Burnett^s double 16 is matched by a 74 checkout from the Australian to send the game into a decider. Burnett, though, misses seven starting doubles only to score 100, 100 and 180 before finishing 121 on the bull to claim a remarkable sudden-death leg win.