Tuesday 4 October 2011

2011 World Grand Prix Darts: Day Two

The second day of the World Grand Prix had perhaps more drama than the first but there was still only one big shock. The night was all about comebacks. The first match of the night saw Denis 'The Heat' Ovens win his first Grand Prix match since 2003 against Jamie 'Jabba' Caven. Ovens took the first set 3-1 before winning the deciding leg of the second set to progress into the second round.

Mark Hylton came from a set down to produce a comeback victory against Mark Walsh. Special Brew whitewashed Hylton in the first set and the former air steward required a deciding leg to force a final set shoot out. Hylton then repaid the compliment and took the final set 3-0 to win the match.

Alan Tabern progressed through in similar circumstances against Dave Chisnall. Chisnall took the first set 3-1 and Tabern needed a deciding leg in the second set to keep his hopes alive. The final set then also went to a deciding leg which Tabern managed to win to ensure his comeback.

Mark Webster followed suite as his opponent, Andy Hamilton, took the opening set via a deciding leg. Webster also needed a crucial deciding leg in the second set to equalise. Webby then took full control to win the final set 3-0 and make it into the second round.

Richie Burnett became the latest man to comeback from a set down as he produced the upset of the night against Gary Anderson. Anderson whitewashed Burnett in the first set and looked to be full control. Again the second set was won via a deciding leg which Burnett had to win to survive. The Welshman then took the final set 3-1 to dump Anderson out of the competition.

Even the legend that is Phil Taylor had to come from a set down to see of Snakebite Peter Wright. Wright took the first set 3-1 to start a possible shock. But Taylor reciprocated the scoreline in both of the next two sets to seal his place in the last sixteen.

Simon Whitlock manage to edge to tough tie against Terry Jenkins in the match of the night where neither player deserves to lose in the first round. The match yet again went the distance as Whitlock managed to take the third set. The Aussie took the first set 3-1 before Jenkins saved himself via the deciding leg in the second set to keep himself alive. But Whitlock took whitewashed The Bull to progress.

Paul Nicholson managed to see of Ronnie Baxter in straight sets to comfortably progress. Nicholson took the first set without conceding. Baxter fought Nicholson all the way into a decider in the second set but the Geordie Aussie held his nerve to progress.


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