LEWIS THRILLS GERMAN CROWD AS HUYBRECHTS SHOCKS NEWTON
ADRIAN LEWIS turned on the style at the PartyPoker.net European Championship in Dusseldorf, reaching the quarter-final with an electric 10-5 win over Dave Chisnall.
The World Champion was tied at five apiece against the St Helens man, but when they returned from the break Lewis fired in four 180s and took out 146 and 104 as he won five in a row, then clinched the match with a 123 checkout to send a message to the rest of the field with a 105.80 average – with the eight players in action tonight averaging 100.14 between them.
Lewis will face Belgian tournament and PDC debutant Kim Huybrechts in Sunday’s quarter-finals after the Belgian ace won a tense match with World number seven and very in form Wes Newton 10-8. The game went back and forth at great pace, one way then the other before the Belgian made his move, which he took without a second offer from the Fleetwood flyer.
“It was a fantastic match, one that deserved a nine-darter,” said Lewis. “I’ve never played Dave on TV and he’s got a lot of bottle. I’m just happy to get through that. I don’t know much about Kim but he’s done well to get past Wes so I will have to be at the top of my game because he’s bound to be on a high.”
The 25 year-old Belgian was on the edge of the top 100 in the PDC before the match but will make great strides for reaching the last eight, and will be dreaming of going even further after defeating the in-form Fleetwood man.
The eighth leg appeared to be crucial as Newton fired a brilliant 143 checkout having fallen to close the gap to two legs, and won the next two for a share at 5-5. Huybrechts took out 96 to edge ahead again, only to be pegged back by Newton who moved 7-6 ahead. But the young Belgian dug deep and capitalised on a crucial mistake from Wes when he looked set to take out 100, Huybrechts made it 7-7. Huybrechts went in for the kill and made it three on the trot, and although Newton rallied to take the 17th leg, a 13-darter from Huybrechts saw him complete his biggest ever win.
“It was a really tough game, I started well but it started slip away so I had to keep telling myself to concentrate to get it back together,” said Huybrechts. “It was tight the last time I played Wes so I had a bit of confidence going into this, but that was an amazing experience and I can’t wait to get out there again tomorrow. I will take on Adrian like I take on any game – play the board and just enjoy it.”
World number three James Wade admitted Ronnie Baxter let him off in their second round clash, as the Blackpool man missed six darts to move 4-0 ahead. Wade won five legs on the trot to move 8-5 ahead from 5-3 down, Baxter answered back to Wade’s 11-dart leg to stave off the defeat, but the Aldershot ace closed the match out 10-7.
Wade will face Raymond van Barneveld on Sunday after the Dutchman treated the German crowd to a finishing master class in his 10-5 win over Mark Walsh.
Van Barneveld moved 6-3 ahead with a 100 per cent checkout percentage, including back-to-back 121 checkouts. Walsh was playing well himself and at 7-3 behind he closed the gap to two legs and missed the bull to trail 7-6. Van Barneveld’s 70 checkout was the key as he made it 8-5 and the Dutchman – who faced Wade in the quarter-final of the World Matchplay last week – won the match in the grand manner, taking out 161 for a 10-5 triumph.
“Mark started really well so I had to play that well to get through, those 121 checkouts were so crucial,” said Van Barneveld. “Playing James is always 50-50, last week he beat me in the World Matchplay, but I’m feeling confident and relaxed.”
The quarter-finals of the PartyPoker.net European Championship from the Maritim Hotel in Dusseldorf start at 2pm local time on Sunday afternoon, live on ITV4 in the UK.
Second rounds results – evening session
Wes Newton 8-10 Kim Huybrechts
Adrian Lewis 10-5 Dave Chisnall
James Wade 10-7 Ronnie Baxter
Raymond van Barneveld 10-5 Mark Walsh
Sunday July 31
Quarter-Finals
2pm onwards
Adrian Lewis v Kim Huybrechts
Raymond van Barneveld v James Wade
Phil Taylor v Paul Nicholson
Simon Whitlock v Peter Wright
Semi-Finals
8pm onwards
Taylor/Nicholson v Whitlock/Wright
Lewis/Huybrechts v Van Barneveld/Wade
WES NEWTON v KIM HUYBRECHTS
0-1 Newton misses two darts for the opening leg a Huybrechts nicks it
1-1 Huybrechts fires in the first 180 of the match but Wes breaks back
2-1 Newton into the groove as he takes out 78.
2-2 Second attempt at tops levels the match.
2-3 Another 180 for Huybrechts, nearly a second for the Belgian who leaves 64
after nine darts, a Newton 180 pressures Huybrechts but he takes it in two
darts.
2-4 Huybrechts misses double 16 for the leg, but Newton misses tops for 110 and
the Belgian makes it three legs on the spin.
2-5 Great set up to leave Huybrechts with double 16, but three darts for the
leg go astray – Newton follows suit and Huybrechts nails double four to open a
three leg lead.
3-5 Huybrechts third 180 leaves him with 82 – but he misses tops and Newton
clinches a crucial leg against the throw with a 143 checkout.
4-5 And Wes begins to turn the tide with a 60 checkout.
5-5 A brilliant 12-dart leg from Newton levels a classic clash at the break.
5-6 The eighth maximum belongs to Huybrechts and he takes out 96 with his
second dart at double 18
6-6 Wes is fired up, and he fires in his fifth 180, Huybrechts misses tops for
a 107 checkout and Newton pounces to level.
7-6 Newton misses tops allowing Huybrechts the chance to pinch it with 81 – he
misses tops too though and Newton registers a rare hold of throw in this match.
7-7 Wes fluffs his lines on tops trying to take out 100 and Huybrechts levels
7-8 And Huybrechts now moves ahead as Newton dwells on the previous leg
7-9 A very solid 13 dart leg sealed on tops as Huybrechts sniffs victory
8-9 Newton not giving up yet, closes the gap.
8-10 Great final leg from Huybrechts who knocks out Wes Newton on double 16.
ADRIAN LEWIS v DAVE CHISNALL
1-0 The World Champion breaks throw in the opening leg.
2-0 And as quick as a flash Lewis moves two-up.
2-1 Both players register maximums, but Lewis trips up on double 12 for 3-0 and
Chisnall gets on the scoreboard.
2-2 And now we’re level as Chisnall hits double 18 at the second attempt.
2-3 Lewis misses the bull to break, and Chisnall takes three in a row
3-3 Lewis back with a 180 which is followed by a 140 as he levels
4-3 Lewis misses the bull for a 121 checkout but he cleans up to move ahead.
4-4 Deafening atmosphere in Dusseldorf, 68 checkout for a share of the eight
legs for Chisnall.
4-5 Lewis’ third maximum to match Chisnall, but he misses tops for the leg and
then two darts at double five – Chisnall nails tops to edge ahead.
5-5 A maximum apiece in the tenth leg, Adrian misses tops for the leg again,
Chisnall needs 100 – misses double ten. Lewis hits double ten at the third
attempt to square a brilliant match.
6-5 Superb 146 checkout from Lewis sees him nudge in front.
7-5 A fantastic 180 from Lewis but Chisnall is on his back – Adrian takes out
104 with Dave lurking.
8-5 Lewis really stepping on the gas here, misses three darts for the leg but
Chisnall lets him off and its four consecutive legs for Lewis.
9-5 Lewis is on a nine-darter – can’t quite get there but it matters not to the
World number two who powers towards victory,
10-5 Lewis hits his eighth 180 and takes out 123 on the bull for a fantastic
win.
JAMES WADE v RONNIE BAXTER
0-1 Baxter breaks in the opening leg.
0-2 Wade yet to wake up and Baxter capitalises with a solid hold.
0-3 The first 180 belongs to Ronnie, who opens a real gap with a 116 checkout.
1-3 Baxter misses six darts for a four leg lead that allows Wade in with an 81
checkout.
2-3 Both men hit 180s – Wade leaves double tops, Baxter can’t make a dent in
164 and Wade hits tops at the third attempt.
2-4 Two 180s in the leg from Wade, misses the big one though and Baxter is
behind him with tops, he hits it to level.
3-4 Tops missed from Wade, but he’s back with double ten.
3-5 Baxter bounces back with a 180, and a clinical 66 checkout restores the
two-leg advantage.
4-5 Wade won’t go away though; his fifth maximum closes the gap.
5-5 Baxter misses the bull for an 86 checkout, Wade nails double top at the
third attempt to level.
6-5 Wade leads for the first time with a hold of throw.
7-5 Tops again for Wade who has put his foot down now.
8-5 Fine 105 checkout from Wade who has won five in a row.
8-6 Baxter stops the rot with a 56 checkout.
9-6 Fourth 180 in as many legs for Baxter but an 11-darter moves Wade to within
one of the win.
9-7 Double 16 for Baxter to stay in the match.
10-7 Wade takes out 61 to march through to the quarter-finals.
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD v MARK WALSH
0-1 Break of throw from Walsh in the opening leg.
0-2 Van Barneveld leaves himself 24 to break back – but Walsh takes out 120 to
deny him the chance.
1-2 The Dutchman lands his first dart at a double to take out 106.
1-3 Walsh holds to reopen the two leg lead.
2-3 The first 180 of the match goes to Van Barneveld, who takes out 46 for the
fifth leg.
3-3 Walsh misses tops for a 110 checkout, and Van Barneveld makes him pay with
a 121 checkout to level.
4-3 Two maximums from Walsh to no avail as Van Barneveld hits the bull for
back-to-back 121 checkouts.
5-3 Van Barneveld is five-out-of-five for his doubles now, four legs in a row.
6-3 180 from Van Barneveld, a 12-dart leg and still 100 per cent on the
doubles.
7-3 Van Barneveld finally misses darts at doubles – three in fact – but he
returns to win six on the spin to take control.
7-4 12 dart leg against the throw from Walsh with an 81 checkout.
7-5 Walsh capitalising on a dip from Van Barneveld, 13 dart leg sealed with
tops.
8-5 Almost a third leg in a row for Walsh, but he misses the bull and the
Dutchman halts the Walsh comeback with a 70 checkout.
9-5 Great pressure on the Walsh throw from Van Barneveld, and he’s rewarded
with a 76 checkout to move to within one leg of victory.
10-5 What a way to finish from the Dutchman – a 161 checkout sees him complete
the quarter-final line-up.