Wednesday 28 December 2011

Darts' World-Power Out

Whenever Phil Taylor loses in a major TV tournament, it does shock the darting world. It did come as a surprise to see Taylor lose to Dave Chisnall yesterday but the most unusual thing about his defeat was Taylor's post match interview. Normally when Taylor loses, he bounces back and says he will do so. But when asked if this is the beginning of the end for Phil Taylor he replied; 'I don't know, yeah probably.' Not the response anyone was expecting.

Day ten of the World Darts Championships kicked off in the afternoon with Terry Jenkins playing against Co Stompe. Jenkins came flying out of the traps, averaging over 120 in the first set which he won without conceding. Although the average dropped as the match continued, Jenkins was still in full control and won the next two sets 3-1 to lead the match 3-0. Jenkins then had darts to win the match in the fourth set as the pair were locked a 2-2, but Stompe managed to get a set on the board. It could have turned the match as Stompe had taken the fifth set to a deciding leg but Jenkins won it to win the match 4-1 and ease into the third round.

If Jenkins' performance was impressive then John Part's performance over Richie Burnett was off the scale. The Canadian former World Champion only lost five legs throughout the match and led 3-0 after winning the first set 3-1 and the next two sets 3-0. Burnett then took a set of his own without conceding a leg but it didn't change the match as Part won the fifth set 3-1 to progress through.

The final match of the afternoon session saw Andy Hamilton took on Vincent Van Der Voort. The first set was a sign of things to come as it went to the final leg, Van Der Voort took it to lead. Hamilton bounced back and levelled by winning the second set 3-0. The third and fourth sets bout went to the fifth leg as both players took a set to make it 2-2. Van Der Voort again took the lead, this time with a 3-0 set victory but Hamilton again equalised via a deciding leg to make it 3-3. The final set saw Hamilton finally take the lead and win it 3-1 to win the match 4-3.

The evening session began with Belgium's Kim Huybrechts against the Barney killer, James Richardson. The set went the distance with Huybrechts winning the vital fifth leg. Richardson equalised with a 3-1 second set victory but Richardson's day was against Raymond Van Barneveld. The third set again went the distance but the young Belgian to make it 2-1 and then took the fourth set without conceding. The fifth set also went to the fifth leg but Huybrechts took it to win 4-1.

Then the shock came, Phil Taylor losing to Dave Chisnall. The first four sets all went the distance but Chisnall would lead 3-1 after Taylor had equalised to make it 1-1. The fifth set saw Chisnall take double six to win the set 3-1 and win the match 4-1.

The most impressive performance of the day was by Paul Nicholson who only conceded three legs against Alan Tabern. Tabern failed to take a leg in the first two sets as Nicholson took full control of the match. The third set went to the final leg but Nicholson again won it before winning the fourth set 3-1 to secure the comprehensive victory.

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