World Matchplay Night Five Preview (24-07-2013)

After a thrilling session last night, the quarter-finals of the World Matchplay will be confirmed later this evening.

Andy Hamilton vs Ian White

The Hammer
The world number 6 demolished hometown hero Ronnie Baxter 10-1 in the first round with a 97.12 average. Hamilton started the match with a 104 checkout and finished the game with a 111 finish and had 29 ton plus scores in between.

Speaking after the game Hamilton said he thought Baxter would've been tougher

''Before the game I was expecting a 10-8, maybe even a sudden-death leg, I wasn't expecting to win so easily, but I finished well, punished Ronnie early on. I stuck to what I had to do on stage, and I've come out on top.''

Looking ahead to tonight's game The Hammer feels a repeat performance will see him through to his second quarter-final in a row

''I'm ready for Ian, it's going to be a tough game, I know that, but if I can do what I can do, I'm sure I'll come out on top''


Diamond

White also had a convincing victory in Round 1, taking advantage of Robert Thornton's doubles trouble, to record a 10-3 victory over the Scot. The experienced 42-year old took the first 4 legs and had a crowd-pleasing 125 finish in the middle session, which had even Thornton applauding

In a post-game interviews, White said that the good start was crucial to his victory

''The early start was the key to it, 4-1 in the first session, that's a good result for me. Them 125's nine out of ten times wouldn't go for you''

White said he was hoping for an all-Stoke clash in the next round

''"It will be nice to have a Stoke derby against Andy Hamilton next and I'm really looking forward to that."

Prediction:  Hamilton looked very good in his demolition of Baxter, and although Diamond will put up a fight, I expect the Hammer to prevail. Andy Hamilton 13-9 Ian White

Adrian Lewis vs Brendan Dolan

Jackpot
Lewis had a comfortable first round win over Ronny Huybrechts, winning 10-5, but that doesn't tell the whole story. The European Champion only averaged 86.94, but wasn't tested by the Belgian, and afterwards acknowledged  that he had won ugly, but remained confident for the rest of the tournament.

''It was an awful game. I expected more from Ronny, but I finished well, my scoring was hit and miss. I seemd to hit the 180's at the right time. I did my job tonight but I wanted to make a statement and I didn't do that. I'm believing in myself again and I'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the tournament.''

Lewis knows he'll have to raise his game for the Irishman.

''I'm in with a shout and I want to go on and win this now. I've got Brendan Dolan next and it's going to be a tough game, he'll try and slow the game down but I'll just play at my own pace and hopefully I'll do the job."

The History Maker
Dolan was involved in a nail-biter against Steve Beaton, and despite trailing 5-2, he took 5 legs on the spin, and a maximum in the last leg helped him to a 10-8 victory. The Fermanagh man hit 50% of his finishes and had 39 ton-plus scores over the 18 legs, including a 112 outshot.

"It was a very tough game and it was nip-and-tuck all the way," said Dolan. "Neither of us got into our flow or the way we wanted to play and it was a battle, so it's nice to come through and win when you're not at your best.

"To win like that against an experienced former World Champion like Steve Beaton can only do my confidence the world of good. There was nothing between us and I'm glad to get through it.''

''I try and make sure that nobody speeds me up, and I don't try and slow anybody down, last year I came here and got beaten by Andy Hamilton in the first round, but every player comes here to win it.  I've got a lot of confidence in myself and I know on my day I can beat the best in the world''

Prediction : Despite a poor first round, Lewis will raise his game. He wants to make a statement, and a comfortable victory over Dolan will do just that. Adrian Lewis 13-5 Brendan Dolan


Michael Van Gerwen vs Peter Wright
MVG
Mighty Mike held off a mini-comeback from 2005 champ Colin Lloyd, to secure his place in Round 2 with a 10-7 victory. The world number 2 raced into a 5-0 lead before Jaws took 4 of the next 5 legs, but Van Gerwen crucially broke Lloyd with an 85 finish, and sealed the win with a 14-darter.

''Colin's a brilliant player and he never gave up, so I'm happy to have won that match," said van Gerwen. "I'm really pleased to play so well in the first round because you always want to play well on this stage and I'm proud to do it.Winning the game was most important and I hope I can do well in this tournament.''

Looking ahead to Wright, the 24-year old is excited about the pace of the game.
''I like to play Pete, he's a fast player so I hope I can use that for my next game''


Snakebite
Wright knocked out the seeded Kim Huybrechts in the first round to continue his good run of form on the big stage this year. With the game level at 3 legs apiece, the Scot broke Huybrechts twice in a four leg spurt, to take a 7-3 lead into the second break, and the Belgian never recovered, as Wright took the match 10-4.

''The break to pull away was important'' said Wright. ''The past couple of times I've played Kim, my throw has sped up to his rhythm, so I've learned, and I played my game.''

Wright was in confident mood ahead of his second round clash
''I'll have to improve in the second round because Michael van Gerwen will be tough. I'll beat him. I will. I've learned my lesson (from the World Championships)

Prediction : This should be routine stuff for Van Gerwen, and Wright hasn't shown enough to me to suggest that he can beat the 2nd best player in the world. Michael Van Gerwen 13-5 Peter Wright


Jamie Caven vs Dave Chisnall

Jabba
Caven came out victorious against Fleetwood's Wes Newton with a brilliant comeback from 7-4 down to win 10-8. Caven (who suffered from a miracle comeback by Simon Whitlock in the Euro's)
hit only 2 180's during the match, but, importantly ,they came in the final two legs.

''I'm over the moon to win'' said Caven. ''Wes looked like he was going to finish me off, but a bit of self-belief got me through, I don't know where it comes from, possibly my wife and my family. I broke him at the right time. As soon as I got it back to eight-all, I knew I had to step in if Wes missed and I did that. It was such a battle and I'm so happy that I managed to get across that winning line first."

Chizzy
Chisnall overcame an emotional Paul Nicholson 10-8 in a thriller of a game. The St.Helens man twice fell behind, but took the final 3 legs to recover from 8-7 down. Back-to-back 140's in the last leg gave Chisnall his first win on the Blackpool stage.

"Paul didn't play his best game and I wasn't at my best, and it was a game where I had to scrap," said Chisnall.

"When I was 4-1 down I thought it was going to be like previous years here, but I dug in, pulled it out of the bag and I'm glad to get the victory.

"Now that I've won here, when I come back on Wednesday I hope I'll be a bit more relaxed and able to play my best darts."

Prediction: This one could go either way, and it wouldn't surprise me if it went to a deciding leg. I think that Jabba just has the edge, as he's been on a superb run of form this year on the Pro Tour Jamie Caven 14-12 Dave Chisnall


Quotes from www.pdc.tv and the PDC YouTube page