TAYLOR WINS EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 01/08/10

Photo courtesy of Chris Sargeant/PDPA.

PartyPoker.net European Championship
Afternoon Session
Quarter-Finals

Terry Jenkins 10-6 Jamie Caven
Colin Lloyd 10-7 Ronnie Baxter
Phil Taylor 10-4 Mark Walsh
Raymond van Barneveld 8-10 Wayne Jones

Semi-Finals
Wayne Jones 11-10 Colin Lloyd
Phil Taylor 11-10 Terry Jenkins

Final
Phil Taylor 11-1 Wayne Jones – latest

TERRY JENKINS 10-6 JAMIE CAVEN
TERRY JENKINS won through to the semi-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship with a polished performance to see off Jamie Caven 10-6 at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken.

Jenkins’ return to form continued in Germany as he followed up victories over Andree Welge and Simon Whitlock to defeat Caven, who was appearing in only his second major quarter-final.

Caven battled back well after Jenkins took the opening three legs, but a 161 checkout from the world number five helped break the deadlock at six-all and proved the knockout blow.

Jenkins punished missed doubles from Caven in the opening two legs as a brace of double ten finishes edged him ahead, and he then hit back-to-back 180s in moving 3-0 up.

Caven got off the mark with an 11-darter, and finished 61 on double 18 for the fifth leg only to then miss four darts to level as double one edged Jenkins 4-2 up.

Caven took out 69 in the seventh, and then capitalised on two misses from Jenkins in the eighth to post double five and level the game.

Jenkins took the next two, hitting double nine and double three, to put himself into a 6-4 lead, only for Caven to again hit back, landing a 13-darter and then a double 16 finish to square the match.

Jenkins, though, produced a killer punch in what proved a pivotal 13th leg, checking out 161 superbly before then hitting double six to move 8-6 up.

Caven wired double ten for a 140 finish in the next as Jenkins moved to the brink of victory on double top before hitting the same bed to ensure his semi-final spot.

“I got off to a good start and was pleased with that because the first leg was important,” said Jenkins. “The 161 was crucial too and I’m delighted to get through to the semis.”

Match Stats

Terry Jenkins 10-6 Jamie Caven
21 100+ 25
13 140+ 8
4 180 3
31.90 Ave1 31.80
95.71 Ave3 95.39
161 High Finish 81
5 Legs Against Throw 3

COLIN LLOYD 10-7 RONNIE BAXTER
COLIN LLOYD’S impressive run in the PartyPoker.net European Championship continued with a 10-7 win over number six seed Ronnie Baxter as he powered into the semi-finals.

Lloyd has already dispatched world number three James Wade and Dutch star Michael van Gerwen, and hit an impressive ten from 14 attempts at a double, as well as averaging 102 to see off Baxter.

Lloyd made a superb start to take the opening leg in 13 darts, hitting a 177 score to set up double 12, and he landed a 180 and double 16 to repeat the feat in the third.

Baxter had taken the second with a neat 89 finish, and recovered from Lloyd moving 3-1 up to take out 120 to go into the first break a leg behind.

A 92 checkout, despite an earlier maximum from Lloyd, saw him level the match, and after the Essex star hit double ten for the seventh it was Baxter who won the next two to lead for the first time at 5-4.

Lloyd responded in style, finishing 160 to level before taking out double five to punish three misses from Baxter in the next and then land a 116 checkout for a 7-5 cushion.

Baxter finished 90 in two darts to win the 13th, but three more misses in the next allowed Lloyd in to take out 70, and he hit a 180 and double 16 in moving a leg away from the win.

Baxter produced a fine 146 checkout on double 13 to stay in the game, but double 16 from Lloyd in the next wrapped up the win.

“I’m very happy with that,” said Lloyd. “Ronnie’s a class act and you have to play well to beat him, and I’ve done that again.

“I can relax now and prepare for the semi-finals. I’m playing well and I’ll keep doing what I do in the semis.”

Match Stats

Colin Lloyd 10-7 Ronnie Baxter
25 100+ 18
16 140+ 10
4 180 1
33.88 Ave1 29.61
101.63 Ave3 88.84
160,116 High Finish 146,120
4 Legs Against Throw 3

PHIL TAYLOR 10-4 MARK WALSH
PHIL TAYLOR swept past Mark Walsh 10-4 to remain on course for a third successive PartyPoker.net European Championship title at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken.

The reigning champion failed to hit top gear in seeing off Walsh, but battled from 2-0 down to progress to a semi-final against Terry Jenkins on Sunday evening.

Walsh punished a slow start from Taylor to take out 94 for the first leg, after the world number one missed two darts for the lead, before posting double eight for a 2-0 advantage.

Taylor got off the mark in 13 darts, and broke Walsh’s throw in the fourth on double top – punishing three misses at double 12 from the Hertfordshire man, who had hit a 177 ti keave 24.

Taylor hit a 180 for a third successive leg in takine the fifth, and finishes of double four and double 16 moved him into a 5-2 lead.

Missed doubles from Taylor in the next allowed Walsh in to cut the gap to one leg, but he saw one dart at double top narrowly miss as he squandered the chance to level – with the Stoke ace hitting a 170 to set up double 16.

A 78 finish put Taylor 7-4 up, and after further misses from Walsh he took out double top for an eighth leg, double 12 to move one away from victory and then sealed the win in style, following up a 174 score with a 128 bullseye finish.

“It was a tougher game than the scoreline suggests,” said Taylor. “Mark missed a few doubles and had a couple of bounce-outs, and I was able to step in.

“But I’m into the semi-finals and I’ve got to get myself ready for a tough night now if I’m going to keep hold of the title.”

Match Stats

Phil Taylor 10-4 Mark Walsh
17 100+ 17
13 140+ 12
5 180 2
34.44 Ave1 31.60
103.33 Ave3 94.81
128 High Finish 94
5 Legs Against Throw 2

WAYNE JONES 10-8 RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD
WAYNE JONES took arguably the biggest win of his career with a 10-8 defeat of Raymond van Barneveld as he reached the semi-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship.

The Wolverhampton man will now meet Colin Lloyd in the last four in Dinslaken, having held his nerve to knock out the five-time World Champion and number two seed.

The duo traded legs throughout a high-quality encounter, but it was Jones who made the crucial breakthough when he moved 8-6 and 9-7 up before sealing a famous win on the bullseye.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever beaten Raymond and it feels great,” said Jones. “It was a really good game to be involved in and win or lose I enjoyed it.

“But to win was very special. I’m really having fun at the moment, it was another good performance from me and I can’t wait for the semi-finals now.”

Van Barneveld made a stunning start by checking out 164 for the first leg, and the pair missed chances to break throw in the next three before Jones secured the first break in a superb fifth leg.

Both kicked off the leg with 180s before van Barneveld posted a 177 and Jones hit a 140, and after the Dutchman missed the first treble 20 for a 144 finish and another nine-darter Jones swept up the leg in 11 darts for a 3-2 lead.

Van Barneveld broke back immediately and regained the lead on double ten, only to miss two darts for the next leg as Jones posted the same double before checking out 64 for a 5-4 lead.

Van Barneveld levelled on double four, before Jones took the 11th, and the pair also traded the next two legs as the Wolverhampton man took out a 12-darter to lead 7-6.

He then finished 94 on the bullseye for a key two-leg lead, although a miss at the centre double in the next allowed van Barneveld in on double four.

A brilliant 102 finish of single 20, bullseye and double 16 from Jones put him a leg away from the win.

Double top kept van Barneveld in the game, but Jones secured his first televised semi-final since the 2006 World Championship with a brilliant 81 finish on the bullseye.

Match Stats

Raymond van Barneveld 8-10 Wayne Jones
27 100+ 22
14 140+ 18
3 180 3
33.34 Ave1 31.81
100.02 Ave3 95.43
164 High Finish 102
3 Legs Against Throw 4

WAYNE JONES 11-10 COLIN LLOYD
WAYNE JONES edged past Colin Lloyd in a deciding leg thriller to reach his first major PDC final at the PartyPoker.net European Championship.

The pair had both enjoyed a fine weekend at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken, with Jones enjoying the best victory of his career by knocking out Raymond van Barneveld in the last eight.

Lloyd had seen off number three seed James Wade in the first round and averaged over 100 in wins over Michael van Gerwen and Ronnie Baxter – but crucially missed one match dart, at double seven for a 122 finish, to win the decider against Jones.

Lloyd had actually made the running for much of the match, recovering from Jones winning the opening leg to take the next three, following up finishes of double ten and double 16 with an 11-dart finish.

He missed double top for a 4-1 lead as Jones took the fifth on double 16, although Lloyd won the next two to edge into a 5-2 cushion.

Lloyd then hit a second 180 of the game in leg eight, only to see a miss at double 11 punished as Jones took out double 18, before regaining his clinical range on the doubles by taking out 110 for a 6-3 lead.

Jones hit a 180 and double eight to take the tenth, and three misses from Lloyd allowed him back to the oche in the next for the same finish before double 16 saw him level after hitting two 180s in the 12th leg.

He also hit a maximum in the next, but missed double 18 to move into the lead as Lloyd edged 7-6 up on double five.

The next two were shared before a 72 finish from Jones saw him level, and four missed doubles from Lloyd allowed him to regain the lead for the first time since the opening leg by finishing double 16.

Lloyd battled back to take out 104 to level and double top to lead 10-9, only for Jones to check out 86 and force a decider.

The pair traded high scores in the final leg, with a 140 from Jones leaving him 61 before Lloyd returned for 122 – hitting two treble 18s but missing double seven for the win as Jones came back and took out 61 on double eight for the victory.

“I’m really pleased with that and to be in the final is brilliant for me,” said Jones, who reached the 1999 World Masters in his only previous televised final.

“I enjoy playing Colin anyway and this was another good game. It swung both ways and he had a chance at the end, but luckily I got the opportunity and took it.”

Lloyd said: “It was a real battle of a game and Wayne dug in well. It’s nice to see him playing well on the big stage.

“I snatched at the double seven in the decidng leg and it could have been different for me, but I’ve played some good darts this weekend and am happy with how I played.”

Match Stats

Wayne Jones 11-10 Colin Lloyd
29 100+ 27
19 140+ 11
4 180 4
30.66 Ave1 29.55
91.99 Ave3 88.65
86 High Finish 110,104
5 Legs Against Throw 4

PHIL TAYLOR 11-10 TERRY JENKINS
PHIL TAYLOR’S bid for a third successive PartyPoker.net European Championship title continued as he edged out Terry Jenkins in the deciding leg of a thrilling semi-final at the Stadthalle in Dinslaken.

Taylor had looked set to pull clear for victory when he produced a typical mid-game surge to move from four-all to lead 8-5 and 9-6, but Jenkins fought back to take the match all the way.

The world number one, though, took victory with a brilliant 12-darter in the deciding leg of the match to progress to a final with Wayne Jones.

Taylor hit the first of three 180s in taking the opening leg in 13 darts, a feat he repeated in the third leg, while Jenkins hit double top in the second leg and took a 12-darter in the fourth, which featured two maximums.

The next four also went with throw to leave the scores locked at four-all, before Taylor pulled away with legs of 13, 11 and 15 darts to put daylight between the pair.

Jenkins had been waiting on 40 in the 11th leg, and got a chance at the same bed in the next to halt Taylor’s progress and pull back to 7-5.

A 125 finish gave Taylor the next leg, while Jenkins hit his fifth maximum of the contest in an 11-darter to win the 13th and stay in touch at 8-6.

Double four put Taylor two legs away from victory, but Jenkins found his best form to win the next three and level the game, with a 122 bullseye finish for a 12-darter to break throw for the first time instrumental in him getting back into the game.

He then missed the bullseye to take the lead, as Taylor posted double 16 with his third dart to move 10-9 up, only for Jenkins to finish 71 and send the game into a decider.

Taylor kicked off the final leg with a superb 177 – his fourth of the match – before Jenkins could only muster 21 in his first visit, and further scores of 82 and 137 left him 105 for the win, which he clinically took out on double 16.

“Phil was tremendous and it was a great game to be a part of,” said Jenkins. “We both hit lots of big scores but he made it so hard for me to break him because his finishing was great.

“The 177 to start the last leg was great from him and that hurt me, but I’m not too disappointed because I’ve practised hard for the past three or four weeks and my form is coming back.”

Match Stats

Phil Taylor 11-10 Terry Jenkins
16 100+ 22
26 140+ 19
3 180 5
35.12 Ave1 33.32
105.37 Ave3 99.97
125,105 High Finish 122
1 Legs Against Throw 1

 
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