2011 World Grand Prix Darts: Day Four

Despite there being the other four last sixteen matches tonight, only one of them was highly anticipated. It was the return of Phil Taylor against Paul Nicholson as their rivalry intensifies. But we were made to wait as it was the penultimate match of the four.

Up first was Mark Webster against Alan Tabern. Webby flew straight out of the traps to whitewash Tabern in the first set. Tabern responded with a 3-1 win in the second set despite Webster checking out 142 in the third leg. The Welshman reciprocated the set score to retake the lead and put himself one set away from victory. He then made quick work of the fourth set, producing a second whitewash to put himself right in the frame to possibly win this tournament.

The second match of the night saw Simon Whitlock take on Mark Hylton. The favourite took the first set 3-1 but both players missed darts at the double in that crucial fourth leg, Whitlock secured double four to give himself the advantage. Hylton then responded by equalising in the second set via a tough deciding leg in which he first looked comfortable before Whitlock came close to sneaking it. With the ball in his court, Hylton then took the third set 3-1 to be on the verge of causing yet another upset in this tournament. Whitlock then began to miss doubles before Hylton took out 92 to win the third set 3-1 to keep himself flying high.

Then it was the turn of the grudge match. The action kicked-off from the walk-ons; Nicholson knelt whilst his name was called and then sat on the stage when Taylor did his walk-on. As a contest, unfortunately it didn't live up to expectation. Nicholson didn't really bring his A-game and although Taylor was a little slow to start in most legs, he managed to win all three sets 3-1 to set a quarter-final date against Mark Webster.

The final match of the night saw Richie Burnett take on Denis Ovens for a place against Hylton in the quarter finals. Ovens took the close fought first set via the deciding leg before Burnett fired back instantly, winning the second set 3-1. Ovens then started to miss his doubles to start, leaving the gap too big to come back and Burnett made it 2-1 with a 3-1 set victory. Ovens then pushed Burnett to a deciding leg in the fourth but the Welshman held his nerve to win the leg and the match.