Half of the quarter finalists were confirmed as the 2013 World Matchplay moved on to day four yesterday. After reaching that stage last year, Justin Pipe secured a career high victory to take him to the last eight again this year. The reigning Champion, Phil Taylor, managed to continue his defence with a very close fought victory. There were also victories for Simon Whitlock and James Wade as the draw becomes ever more exciting.
Pipe was the first man in to the quarter finals after a match that had a lot at stake. It was eighth versus ninth as Raymond Van Barneveld took on the man from Taunton. Barney did miss a dart to instantly break the throw before Pipe missed two darts to go 3-0 in front. Van Barneveld managed to level before a fantastic 170-checkout put Pipe 3-2 ahead at the first break. Pipe missed another three darts to make it 4-2 but was able to make it 4-3 after Barney missed two darts of his own to win the seventh leg. The Dutchman did manage to level with a 117-checkout but another great 129-checkout from Pipe meant that he was now 6-4 in front at the second break.
Pipe managed to extend his lead again with a 90-checkout on the bull. But Van Barneveld retaliated with a ton checkout followed by a 90-finish before levelling the match after Pipe missed another five darts at the double. A win in leg-15 meant the Dutchman managed to take the lead for the first time in the match. That did become 9-7 to Van Barneveld until he hit the proverbial wall, allowing Pipe to take the following six legs to win 13-9. Not only does it put Pipe in to the last eight, it also means he overtakes Van Barneveld in the world rankings.
Whitlock managed to overcome Kevin Painter in a slightly tempestuous affair. The first three legs all went against throw before Whitlock managed to hold in the fifth to only be 3-2 behind at the break. The first three legs of the second session also went against throw and this time it was Painter who held in the tenth leg to level the match at 5-5. The theme continued as the first two legs of the third session went against throw before Whitlock held to move 7-6 in front. At this point, Painter had dropped off and in frustration within his own game, he seemed to take offence at something the Aussie said and it only harmed his game more.
Whitlock would end up winning the final four legs of the third session to lead 9-6 at the third and final break. Painter did look slightly rejuvenated at the beginning of the fourth session but the players would only trade legs. Painter did manage to hit a 122-checkout to make it 12-10 before Whitlock put the game to bed with a huge 91-checkout.
The first tie break of the tournament came in a fantastic match between Taylor and Terry Jenkins. After Taylor took the opening two legs, Jenkins needed to win the fifth leg to only be 3-2 behind at the first break. Taylor would extend that advantage by winning the following three legs before Jenkins found a 118-checkout. But Taylor looked ever more likely to win the match when he responded with a colossal 127-checkout to lead 7-3 at the second break.
Jenkins began to fight back during the third session, bringing it back to 7-5 before missing seven darts to move within a leg of Taylor. Jenkins did manage to win the 15th leg to make it 9-6 at the third break. But The Bull wasn't finished and he would win the next three legs to level the match, including an 88-checkout on the bull in leg-17. Taylor was slightly rattled and missed four darts to move back in front and Jenkins would take the lead for the first time in the match at 10-9. Taylor levelled with a 109-checkout and would then find a crucial break to end up throwing for the match at 12-11. But The Power would uncharacteristically miss five match darts and Jenkins forced the tie break. Jenkins would miss two crucial darts to hold the throw, again allowing Taylor to throw for the match. This time Taylor wasn't going to be denied and he managed to squeak through to the quarter finals with a 14-12 win.
The final match of the night was just as big as Wade took on Gary Anderson. The first four legs went against the throw including a fantastic 121-checkout from Anderson in the third leg. Wade finally managed to hold his throw to leave the stage 3-2 in front. The Machine didn't return from the break and Anderson was able to reel off four consecutive legs, with another great 120-checkout in leg seven, to take a 6-4 lead in to the second break after Wade managed to stop the rot in the tenth leg.
Wade did manage to pull it back to 6-5 before Anderson took the next two legs with a 99-checkout which included two double 19's in the 13th. But Wade again began to fight back and took the remaining two legs, with a 110-checkout in leg-15, in the third session to only be 8-7 behind. This time it was Anderson who failed to come back from the break and this time it was catastrophic. Wade was able to reel off four consecutive legs this time to move 12-8 in front. Anderson couldn't come back and Wade would progress with a 13-8 victory.
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