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REPORTS, results and reaction from Saturday Evening play at the 2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.

Saturday 22nd December 2007 (6 x Second Round)
1pm: Andy Jenkins 0-4 Alan Tabern
2.20pm: Jan van der Rassel 4-1 Denis Ovens
3.40pm: Peter Manley 4-1 Alan Warriner-Little

7pm: Roland Scholten v Mervyn King
8.20pm: Phil Taylor v Mark Walsh
9.40pm: Wayne Mardle v Jamie Caven

Photo album from 22nd December 2007 - World Champs



ROLAND SCHOLTEN 4-2 MERVYN KING
(3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2)

ROLAND SCHOLTEN came through a high quality encounter against Mervyn King 4-2 in the second round of the 2008 Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.

The match was evenly poised at 2-2 but Scholten managed to keep his composure and hit the winning shots when it counted over a tense final two sets.

The Dutchman started off well to open up a 2-0 lead in the first set, but King hit back in the next.

He hit back-to-back 180s at the beginning of the third leg to give himself the opportunity of a nine-dart finish, which went wayward at the seventh dart, although King went on take the leg to reduce the deficit.

He then levelled the set with an 81 checkout, finishing on the bullseyebefore Scholten took advantage of throwing first in the decider to take first blood.

King took the opening leg of the second set and then made Scholten pay for missed doubles in legs two and three, to level up the match.

King opened the third set with a superb 170 checkout and then landed double six to go 2-0 up.

Former UK Open champion Scholten took the next leg, despite a fourth maximum of the game from King.

King had opportunities to take the third set in the fourth leg, but failed to take his chances and Scholten stepped in to take the set to a deciding leg.

He then landed a clinical two-dart 98 checkout to go 2-1 up.

The fourth set was a tight affair that also went to a fifth leg, but King had the throw and managed to level, landing double one, after missing a number of doubles.

Scholten held throw at the start of the fifth, despite King having a dart at the bullseye to take the leg, and then took a 2-0 advantage when he converted a 76 finish.

He then had a shot at the bull for a 111 checkout for the set, but was off-target and King stepped in to keep the set alive.

Scholten took the next leg, with the help of his fifth maximum, to take the lead for the third time in the match.

King started the sixth set in excellent fashion, landing an 84 checkout for an 11-dart finish.

Scholten took the second leg, but King converted another ton plus finish, this time recording a 136 checkout, for a 2-1 lead.

King then had a dart at tops to take out a 117 finish which have taken the game to a deciding set, but he failed to take it and Scholten landed double ten to level up.

King had the advantage of throw in the deciding leg but his normal high scoring deserted him and Scholten took out a 14-dart finish to claim an excellent win.

"Mervyn's such a good player that you don't want to meet him this early in a tournament, so I'm so pleased to have beaten him," said Scholten.

"He never gave in no matter how much I pressured him but I got him in that final set.

"It will hold me in good stead now for the rest of the tournament, although I feel good anyway. I'm practising three or four hours a day and running three times a week."

Match Stats

Roland Scholten	4-2	Mervyn King
37	100+	3
21	140+	20
5	180	6
31.03	Ave1	30.10
93.10	Ave3	90.31
98	High Finish	170,136

PHIL TAYLOR 4-3 MARK WALSH
(0-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-0, 3-0)

PHIL TAYLOR made another remarkable comeback to edge out Mark Walsh 4-3 and book his place in the last 16 of the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.

The 13-time World Champion had to come from behind in his first round clash against Michael van Gerwen, and had to produce another Great Escape to see off Walsh.

Taylor trailed 3-2 after five sets of an enthralling contest, before showing his champion qualities to find an extra gear and take six straight legs for the win.

Taylor now meets Alan Tabern on Thursday in the third round, and admits that he will need to improve if he is to claim another World Championship.

"I don't feel 100 percent right and I don't know why," said Taylor. "I've got to get on the practice board and put it right because I won't win this title if I don't.

"I was vulnerable but it's not easy winning a World Championship and you have to fight hard."

Taylor was left shell-shocked when Walsh took an early 2-1 lead, winning both the first and third sets without reply,

Taylor had edged the second thanks to a 13-darter in the decider, and a fine fourth set - which saw him land legs of 13, 14 and 15 darts - saw him level.

He had a chance to move in front for the first time after taking the fifth set to a decider, but a missed double 16 allowed Walsh back to land double top for a 3-2 lead.

Taylor regained his range on that most trusted of doubles to win five successive legs and move to the brink of victory in the seventh set, before taking out 95 on double five to seal the win.

"It was a strange game," he added. "I was trying everything and changing things - I changed my shirt and some of the shots I was making, anything I could."

Walsh admitted: "I'm gutted with the result.

"When I was 3-2 up in sets I thought I had a really good chance to beat Phil and I was happy with my first five sets.

"He wasn't on top form and it was now or never for me, but unfortunately in the last two sets I wasn't in it at all.

"I kept on throwing high, perhaps I was trying too hard but that I really enjoyed it, and to take the best darts player in the world to the final set is unbelievable."

Taylor has now been eased from 11/8 to 5/4 with sponsors Ladbrokes.com to win the title. Defending champion Raymond van Barneveld is 10/3, with James Wade coming in to 7/2 and Adrian Lewis priced at 9/1.

Match Stats

Phil Taylor	4-3	Mark Walsh
32	100+	25
14	140+	20
3	180	6
31.51	Ave1	29.04
94.52	Ave3	89.52
96	High Finish	100

WAYNE MARDLE 4-1 JAMIE CAVEN
(1-3, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1, 3-2)

WAYNE MARDLE came from a set down against Jamie Caven to set up a third round clash against Roland Scholten at the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.

Caven, who enjoyed a 3-0 victory against Wes Newton in the first round, started well before Mardle found his stride.

Mardle had the advantage of throw at the start but his opponent broke immediately, hitting double 11.

Caven then doubled his lead, making Mardle pay for three missed darts at doubles.

The Leicester man then had a chance to win the set in the third leg, but missed the bull for a 130 finish and Mardle landed double four to get himself into the contest.

Mardle hit his first maximum of the game in the next leg, but missed more doubles and Caven took the set on double nine.

The man from Romford won the first leg of the second set and then produced a 15-dart leg to double his advantage.

He went to level up the match in the next leg landing double 18, despite both players having difficulties once again trying to land the winning double.

The four-time World Championship semi-finalist then started to find his range, hitting a 141 checkout at the start of the third and then followed that with a 13-dart leg to take the set and lead for the first time in the match.

Mardle established a 2-0 lead in the fourth set, but Caven stemmed the tide temporarily, taking his first leg in eight, which included his only maximum of the match.

But Mardle took a 3-1 lead in the contest, hitting his third 13-dart finish in five legs.

The opening two legs of the fifth set where shared, both players hitting 76 checkouts, before Caven took a 2-1 lead in the set, landing double four.

Caven had one dart to take the set in the next, but missed the bullseye for a 108 finish and Mardle hit double 16 to level up.

Mardle then wrapped up victory in the deciding leg, landing double top to complete victory.

"I started slowly for the second game running but was fine after that," said Mardle, who came from behind against Ray Carver in round one.

"Maybe I'm worried when I get up there but when I get into my flow I'm fine.

"I had three 13-darters in the middle of the game and hopefully I can produce that more consistently - if I can I could win this tournament, and in parts I felt like I could beat anyone tonight.

"Jamie's done really well and I'm pleased for him. I've known him for years and he's a fantastic player and a person."

Mardle meets Scholten in the third round next Thursday, and he added: "I'm good friends with Roland and it's going to be a great game.

"I've a good record against him, although he gave me a tonking in the World Matchplay this year, although I played quite well on that day and can live with that!"

Match Stats

Wayne Mardle	4-1	Jamie Caven
22	100+	23
19	140+	5
2	180	1
29.87	Ave1	27.45
89.61	Ave3	82.35
141	High Finish	76