Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig/PDC. 
FORMER runner-up Terry Jenkins began his bid to win the 2009 stanjames.com World Matchplay with a stylish 10-4 win over qualifier Peter Wright on Wednesday afternoon.
Jenkins hit seven 180s and averaged almost 97 in a strong start to the tournament, leaving Wright pulling out his multi-coloured hair in despair on the Winter Gardens stage.
Jenkins crucially took a 7-1 lead before Wright fully settled on his World Matchplay debut, and eventually set up a second round clash with Denis Ovens.
“I’ve been practising well at home and hitting a lot of 180s and it’s pleasing to take that on stage with you,” said Jenkins.
“I feel pretty good coming into this event and been preparing well, and I think I’m getting my old self back.”
Ovens produced a strong performance to see off a weary Dennis Priestley 10-5, hitting key finishes of 125, 118 and 116 in progressing to the last 16.
Alan Tabern came from 4-1 down to win 10-5 against Andy Smith with an impressive performance, and now takes on Ronnie Baxter in round two on Thursday.
Mark Walsh was the other winner on Wednesday afternoon, defeating Andy Jenkins 10-5.
He will face the winner of Wednesday evening’s all-Dutch clash between Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen, who clash in the final first round game.
The evening session also features Adrian Lewis against 2005 winner Colin Lloyd and defending champion Phil Taylor against Kevin Painter in the opening two second round matches.
stanjames.com World Matchplay
Wednesday July 22
Afternoon Session (1pm start)
Alan Tabern 10-5 Andy Smith
Terry Jenkins 10-4 Peter Wright
Dennis Priestley 5-10 Denis Ovens
Mark Walsh 10-5 Andy Jenkins
Evening Session (7pm start)
Raymond van Barneveld v Michael van Gerwen
Second Round
Adrian Lewis v Colin Lloyd
Phil Taylor v Kevin Painter
ALAN TABERN 10-5 ANDY SMITH
ALAN TABERN made a brilliant comeback to overcome Andy Smith 10-5 at the stanjames.com World Matchplay.
Tabern found himself 3-1 and 4-2 down as Smith made a superb start to the contest – only for a 126 finish to be followed by three further ton-plus checkouts as he progressed to a second round clash with Ronnie Baxter.
Tabern started well, winning the opening leg in 13 darts after setting up a double 12 finish with a 177 score.
Smith replied with a maximum to set up double 18 in the second, and punished five misses from Tabern to secure the first break of throw and take a 2-1 lead.
Double top put Smith two legs clear, but crucially he missed one dart at the same bed in the next for a 4-1 lead before Tabern finished 126 on the bullseye to kick-start his comeback.
A 14-darter edged Smith into a 4-2 lead, but Tabern took out double 12 in the next and then broke the throw to level – and never looked back.
A 180 helped to set up a double 12 finish in taking a 5-4 lead, and he then made Smith pay for three misses at double top to level by finishin 82 on double 16.
Tabern then took out 111, 150 and 101 in three successive legs to pull clear – with Smith needing to finish 112 on tops to stay in the game.
But Tabern landed another maximum and a two-dart 76 checkout to set up a second round meeting with Ronnie Baxter.
TERRY JENKINS 10-4 PETER WRIGHT
TERRY JENKINS powered into the second round of the stanjames.com World Matchplay with an impressive 10-4 win over Peter Wright.
The 2007 runner-up in Blackpool began his bid this year in strong fashion, hitting seven 180s and averaging close to 97 to progress.
He made a fine start to the contest, kicking off the match with a 180 and landing double top for the first leg.
Wright broke back on double eight to settle any nerves on his Blackpool debut, but Jenkins secured his second leg with a brilliant ten-darter – opening with successive 180s and taking out double 18.
He also hit 180s in the next two legs in taking a 4-1 lead, which was extended with a 92 checkout as Jenkins maintained a 105 average.
Double top and then double five saw him pull clear to 7-1 before Wright landed double five to end the run of six successive legs.
Jenkins added another 180 in taking leg ten, but Wright replied with two maximums in an 11-darter.
However, the qualifier from Lowestoft was unable to maintain the pressure as Jenkins missed six darts at a double in the next before finally landing double eight for a 9-3 lead.
Double top from Wright gave him a fourth leg, but Jenkins sealed the win on double 19 to ensure safe passage to the last 16.
“I’m happy with that,” said Jenkins. “I’ve been practising well at home and hitting a lot of 180s and it’s pleasing to take that on stage with you.
“Peter has been playing brilliantly in the floor tournaments and has beaten some top players comprehensively, so I knew if I gave him chances he’d take them.
“I had keep my head and take my chances to keep him under pressure, and I managed to do that.
“I feel pretty good coming into this event and been preparing well, and I think I’m getting my old self back.”
DENIS OVENS 10-5 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
DENNIS PRIESTLEY’S stanjames.com World Matchplay hopes were devastated by Denis Ovens at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Priestley has made three previous finals in the World Matchplay during his illustrious career, but a nightmare summer continued with a 10-5 defeat.
The Yorkshireman was whitewashed by Phil Taylor in the recent Las Vegas Desert Classic, and never recovered from going 4-1 down as Ovens set up a second round clash with Terry Jenkins on Thursday.
“Dennis is a legend but that wasn’t the real Dennis Priestley up there,” said Ovens, who hit three key finishes of 118, 125 and 116 in the match.
“He did not perform and I took my chances. I knew he would come back at me when I went 4-1 up but I held on and am delighted to be through.”
Ovens made the ideal start, punishing three missed doubles from Priestley to take the opening leg and then landed double nine to go 2-0 up.
Double top saw Priestley get off the mark, but a miss at the same bed in the next allowed Ovens to move 3-1 up.
Priestley began leg five with a maximum, but Ovens hit a 12-darter to move three legs clear – only to again miss his chances in the next as double 18 gave the Yorkshireman a second leg.
Ovens took the eighth leg with a key 118 checkout, before Priestley landed double four and double eight to win two successive legs and pull back to 6-4.
He missed three darts at a double in the next before double eight allowed Ovens to hit back, only for a bullseye finish to keep Priestley in the game at 7-5.
But Ovens found an extra gear, taking out 125 on tops in the next, double 16 for a 9-5 cushion and a 116 checkout to wrap up victory.
“It wasn’t my best performance overall but I did my best and am through to the next round,” added Ovens.
“Against Dennis you have more time to think about things and I took my time. It will be different against Terry Jenkins in the second round, he’s a different type of player and I know I can beat him.”
MARK WALSH 10-5 ANDY JENKINS
MARK WALSH kicked off his stanjames.com World Matchplay challenge with a 10-5 win over Andy Jenkins.
Walsh made amends for a defeat to Jenkins at the Winter Gardens two years ago to progress to the last 16, where he will meet either Raymond van Barneveld or Michael van Gerwen.
Although Jenkins took the opening leg with a 96 finish, Walsh settled the quickest to land a 180 in the next, double ten and then break Jenkins’ throw on double four to lead 3-1.
A missed double top from Jenkins in the next allowed Walsh to move 4-1 up by hitting the same bed.
Jenkins took successive legs after the break to reduce the gap to 4-3, but Walsh crucially took the next leg – breaking throw on double top – to restore his cushion.
He landed a 180 in taking leg nine before a 64 checkout put him 7-3 up.
Portsmouth’s Jenkins took two of the next three to remain in the hunt at 8-5, but Walsh landed a key 171 to set up a 36 finish in moving a leg away from the win.
He then wrapped up victory in style, taking out 121 for a 12-dart leg to move into the second round.
“I’m relieved and happy to get the win,” said Walsh. “It was a hard game because Andy’s a good friend and it’s always tough playing him, I know what a battler he is.
“Being 4-1 didn’t mean a lot to me because I know what he is capable of but I managed to edge through.
“I’m in a mindset where it doesn’t worry me who I play next. I’ve beaten Raymond van Barneveld and Phil Taylor in finals this year and beaten James Wade twice, so it doesn’t matter who I play. If I produce my darts, I’ll win it.”