“I was really happy with the last three legs and it’s a good win
because Dave’s been in great form, especially in the World Grand
Prix,” said van Barneveld. “I’m relaxed and looking forward to
playing Michael on Saturday.”
“We’ve had so many great matches in the past and this will
be good too. I’ve put myself under too much pressure in the
past, but I just want to go out and enjoy my game, which
I’m doing.”
Simon Whitlock and James Wade set up a quarter final clash
after defeating Mervyn King and Kevin Painter respectively.
Whitlock had to come from 4-3 down to see off King, whilst
Wade produced an even more spectacular comeback from 4-2
down to defeat Painter.
Wes Newton booked his place in the quarter finals with a 6-5 win
over Justin Pipe in a match that was tense and nervy throughout.
The pair have a history on stage and it is no secret that Newton
finds Pipe’s pace tough to deal with, all of which meant that the
match was never going to be the best standard.
Newton’s reward for his battling performance was to be a quarter final
clash with 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor.
Perhaps the tie of the round came from Adrian Lewis and Kim
Huybrechts, indeed the Belgian achieved the highest average of the
round (over 106). It was not enough however as Lewis, who had been
suffering with a heavy cold all weekend averaged in excess of 100
himself on the way to a thrilling 6-5 victory.
Quarter Finals
Adrian Lewis carried his superb form over into the quarter finals as he
took on Robert Thornton. The Stoke-based thrower dealt well with the
partisan crowd, he didn’t over react or celebrate and in fact humbly
saluted the crowd after each leg victory. By the end his darts had
thoroughly won them over and the double
World Champion finished the match,
which he won 8-2, with an
impressive 107.93 average.
“It was a tough game
and Robert didn’t do
a lot wrong, but I
hit the right shots
at the right times
and am happy
to get over
the line,” said
Lewis. “I had
to go up there
and attack the
game, and my
finishing
was
great.”
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
Photo: PDC/Lawrence Lustig
“It was a tough
game and Robert
didn’t do a lot
wrong, but I hit the
right shots at the
right times and am
happy to get over
the line”
Adrian Lewis
“I’m a really happy
man”
Raymond van Barneveld