After some brilliant ties in Round 1, The Winter Gardens in Blackpool tonight sees the second round of the World Matchplay get underway . Quotes are from www.pdc.tv
Raymond Van Barneveld vs Justin Pipe
The world numbers 8 and 9 clash at the start of the show, as Raymond Van Barneveld takes on Justin Pipe to kick off the last 16.
Barney:
The big Dutchman won victory on opening night, pwering to a 10-4 victory over Mensur Suljovic. He averaged an impressive 99.8, and had 3 maximums and a 121 checkout along the way. Barney looks like he means business this week, as he goes in chase of a first Matchplay trophy.
"I'm very pleased with the win and a 10-4 scoreline looks comfortable
but it wasn't," said van Barneveld. Mensur's a very good player and he's
played some really good darts in the last six months, so it's good to
beat him.
"My average was pretty good for the first round and I'm pleased with
that, and my finishing was good. I've worked hard on my doubles for the
last two weeks since the European Championship, and it showed.
"I hit some important finishes, especially the 121 finish on the
bullseye, and they're important because if you put the pressure on your
opponent, it affects them.
The Force :Pipe will have something to say about that. He's aiming to reach the quarter-finals for a second successive year. The Taunton native overcame an injured Mark Webster in the first round, but didn't have it all his own way, Webster leading 2-0, only for Pipe to come back with 6 180's to win 10-4.
''Mark gave it his all and showed because he played really well and showed
that for all the talk of his ankle injury, you throw with your hands
not your feet!" said Pipe. "Rather than feel sorry for him, I had to go
up there and do a job.
"There's no friends up there and your fighting for your family, and I
took advantage. I'm hitting a lovely bit of form again and I can move on
prepare for playing Raymond van Barneveld.
"It would be great to beat him and reach another quarter-final in the World Matchplay, but it's going to be tough."
The head to head record reads in Pipe's favour, he's the beaten ''The Man'' twice out of three meetings, however, none of these wins were televised.
Prediction : Over the longer format, and in the intense heat on stage, I expect the 5 time champion of the world to prevail, but Pipe will put up a fight. Raymond Van Barneveld 13-9 Justin Pipe
Simon Whitlock vs Kevin PainterOne of many tasty clashes in the last 16 as Simon Whitlock takes on Kevin Painter.
The Wizard From Oz
After losing his European Championship in Germany, Whitlock came into the Matchplay knowing he had a tough draw, coming up against ex-BDO World Champion Jelle Klaasen. Despite trailing by 5 legs at one point, the Dutch star clawed Whitlock back to 9-7, before a clinical 12-dart leg saw the Australian through. A win tonight would see the Aussie through to his second quarter final in Blackpool
Speaking after the victory over Klaasen, the Beard felt he deserved the win
"I thought I played really well and got a good result there," said
Whitlock. "I was getting a bit shaky towards the end but Jelle took out
two big finishes there and played really well.
"I've played really well for the last month or so and I believe this is
my chance to win this tournament. There's no easy games but I'm feeling
great and I was quite relaxed tonight."
The Artist
Painter was involved with a real battle against young Jamie Lewis, but a crucial 164 C/O helped the Ipswich native to a 10-7 win. Having been knocked out of both majors this year by Adrian Lewis, and lost to the Stokie in the European Championships last month, it will have been a relief for the former world finalist to be in the other half of the draw to the 2 time World Champion. Painter's best appearance at the Matchplay is the quarter final stage in 2010.
Painter was relieved to get through, and is relishing the match against the Aussie.
''I'm pleased to get through," said Painter. "I expected Jamie to play
well and he did, and a couple of times I felt like I had him and he
crept back and won a couple of legs, and he made me work hard for it.
"It's great experience for him and it shows the standard of the young
lads coming through - I'm 46 now and he's the standard we've got to put
up with!
"It will be good to be back in the next round and I'd love to stay here
all week. I've been playing okay this year and I'm looking forward to
playing Simon Whitlock."
Prediction: 13th meeting between the two, each player has 6 wins, and I expect 13 to be lucky for Whitlock. He's had the better year, but Painter will not give in easy. Simon Whitlock 13-7 Kevin Painter
Phil Taylor vs Terry Jenkins
It's a repeat of the 2009 final, as Phil Taylor looks to claim a 14th Matchplay crown, against Terry Jenkins, who is aiming to reach his third Blackpool final.
The Power
It was business as usual for Taylor, destroying Stuart Kellett 10-1 to book his place in Round 2. He had the highest average of the tournament so far, at 103.18, helped greatly by a 161 finish and 4 maximums. The 16-time world champ was disappointed with his exit to Ronny Huybrechts in the European Championship, but he responded in clinical style.
Taylor was happy with his performance but knows Jenkins won't be easy.
It's a great first round for me and it was more comfortable than I
thought it would be," said Taylor, who now meets Terry Jenkins in round
two on Tuesday.
"Stuart's a lot better player than he showed tonight - he beat me in a
Players Championship a few weeks ago and maybe he had some nerves.
"I've prepared well and I'm happy to be through. My average of 103 was
average really, because a lot of players are hitting those types of
scores, but I know Terry will test me in the second round."
The Raging Bull
The world number 16 was comfortable in his win over best friend Andy Smith in the first game of the tournament. He hit the most 180's of the tournament so far, with 7 , and had a 29% checkout percentage. He famously beat Taylor 18-11 in the semi-finals in 2007, but lost in the 2009 final to The Power.
Jenkins said he changes strategy when he plays Smith.
"It's hard to play against your best mate and it's a shame for Andy, but
I had to get up there and pretend I was playing my worst enemy," said
Jenkins. "He's been playing some brilliant darts recently, so I'm
chuffed with the win.
"He made a good start and I couldn't find my range, but when I did the
180s came for me. It was a good second half of the game, I played really
strongly and that put the pressure on Andy.
"I'll go home and relax a bit now before the second round on Tuesday. I
love the Winter Gardens, there's a great atmosphere in this tournament
and I think that helps me play well."
The winner of this game will play either Van Barneveld or Pipe in the quarter finals.
Prediction : As impressive as Jenkins was against Smith, everything points to a Taylor win. Phil Taylor 13-6 Terry Jenkins
James Wade vs Gary Anderson
Match of the night for me, as two ex- Premier League champions go head to head.
The Machine
Wadey had a titanic struggle against John Part, after a middle session surge saw him come from 4-3 down to win 10-8. Hitting almost half of his checkouts, Wade will have been pleased. Having appeared in the final 5 times in the last 7 years, (winning only once), the left handed thrower says he enjoys the trip to the seaside town :
"I'm happy with that," said Wade, "I did enough to win tonight but it
was like an unorganised first day at school for me - I probably made it
harder for myself than I should have.
"In my eyes, it's the best tournament in the world and the most
exciting tournament. I tend to relax a bit in Blackpool and I've got a
great record here."
The Flying Scotsman
Anderson missed the Euros through illness, but showed no signs of it, as he showed glimpses of his brilliant best when he knocked out Mervyn King. So often his Achilles heel, Anderson took out over half of his checkouts, and combined with the power scoring, it was too much for King.
"At times it felt pretty good and the trebles were going in and the
finishing was fine, but at the back end of the game I started to
struggle a bit," said Anderson. "I was telling myself not to throw it
away, and I got there in the end.
"My practice has been going brilliant, so if they can get a bit better
on stage I'll be a lot happier. James is very steady and you know what
you're going to get against him, so I'll have to dig in."
Prediction : Expect a high scoring game here, a possible match of the tournament. If Anderson can hit his doubles, I think he'll beat the world number 4. James Wade 11-13 Gary Anderson
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