Another batch of second round matches, another nine dart finish. Wes Newton managed to match Michael Van Gerwen who managed the feat just 24 hours earlier in yet another magical day in Blackpool. The opening match of the night saw Andy Hamilton take full advantage of a lacklustre and despondent Mark Webster. After taking the opening leg of the match, the Welshman found himself 3-1 which then turned to 6-3.
Webster did show some fight by coming back to level the match at 6-6. But any hopes of Webster kicking on and making a battle of it were left wanting after the inconsistent Welshman returned. Hamilton managed to go onto take the next seven legs to win the match 13-6, the highlight being a 127-checkout in leg-17.
The last time Newton and Justin Pipe met on stage, Newton got so frustrated with Pipe's slow throw he had a mini tantrum that turned the game sour. This time, we were treated to that colossal nine darter but unlike Van Gerwen, Newton failed to win the match despite leading 10-8.
Two 32 finishes from the Fleetwood man were cancelled out by a 104 and a 40 from the Taunton man. Legs five and six went in the way of Newton before a 132 finish via bull bull double-16 from Pipe made the score 4-3. It then went to 5-3 but Pipe again fought back with a 38 and a ton via two double tops to level the match.
The 180, 177 and then the 144-checkout saw the nine darter come for Newton in leg-11. But again Pipe equalised before Newton finally scored a break and hold of throw in legs 13 and 14, making it 8-6. A 126 finish from Newton soon made it 9-7 before it became 10-8 with a 90-checkout. But the energy seemed to have left Newton as Pipe managed to roar back with four legs on the trot to win the game 13-10 and steal that last eight place.
Phil Taylor's new darts looked to playing havoc with him for most of his match against Ian White. But it didn't stop him from heaping a 13-3 thrashing on Diamond. White did have darts at the double in all three opening legs, yet found himself 2-1 down. That became 5-2 when Taylor secured a 109-checkout. White's final leg win in this tournament came in leg nine to make it 6-3 before Taylor reeled off seven consecutive legs to romp home, setting up a quarter final tie against Hamilton. Taylor's highlights were a 107 finish in leg-11 before a majestic 170 two legs later. Not Taylor's greatest performance but still had his usual flashes of brilliance to keep hold of his number one spot.
The final quarter-final place was taken by local hero, Ronnie Baxter, who ran out a 13-8 winner over Dean Winstanley. Baxter started in fine form, quickly taking a 3-0 lead. Winstanley's problem throughout the match was his doubles, but he did pull it back to 4-2. Legs 8-10 were also taken by Winstanley to then level the match 5-5.
But Baxter responded with three consecutive legs of his own, including a 110-checkout in leg-13. That soon became six legs in seven to give him an 11-6 lead, capped off with a 40 finish via double one double-19. Winstanley held off the procession for a further two legs before a 52-finish followed by a 116 secured the Blackpool man's progression into the last eight.
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