Issue 52 (December 30, 2016)

Friday 30 December 2016

Darts Weekly

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

“I’m the winning man and that is what matters”

Michael van Gerwen moves into the quarter-finals with a 4-1 triumph against Darren Webster Reports & reaction pages 2-9

Exclusive interview “I don’t see myself as the nearly man. I believe my first major is near.”

Page 12

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Friday 30 December 2016 Darts Weekly

Van Gerwen holds off late Webster charge to advance to the quarter-finals at Ally Pally Going through: Michael van Gerwen progressed through the third round last night

Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Michael van Gerwen Darren Webster

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Michael van Gerwen stormed into the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championship with a 4-1 victory over Darren Webster at Alexandra Palace.

The world number one, and outright favourite to win the tournament, took the opening three sets with the loss of just three legs, before Webster hit back by winning the fourth set.

Webster’s comeback began to gather momentum as he took a 2-0 lead in the next set, but van Gerwen extinguished his hopes by winning three legs on the spin to run out a 4-1 winner.

“I feel good of course, but I was struggling here a bit,” the top seed said. “He (Darren) also played

really well. I think everyone tries 200 per cent against me.

“I know things like that happen but I think with the leg in the end I know I can play under pressure.

“I know what to do. I showed myself I can do anything at the right moments and I’m really glad

“I showed myself I can do anything at the right moments and I’m glad I did” I did.

“It could have been closer, you never know, but I’m the winning man, that’s all I can say.”

Having been given a serious test against Spain’s Cristo Reyes in the previous round, many were expecting Webster to also give van Gerwen a proper examination.

Webster, the only non seed left

stores.ebay.co.uk/Mojo-DARTS

in the tournament, had already knocked out both Stephen Bunting and Simon Whitlock to reach the third round.

The latter of those two games saw the Demolition Man average over 104 as he whitewashed the former World Championship finalist 4-0.

After van Gerwen took the opening leg on double 18, Webster showed his mettle with a 100 checkout to level up the first set.

A 180 in the third leg helped him carve out an early chance to break, but he spurned three darts and van Gerwen took advantage.

A second 180 and a 68 finish from Webster forced the Dutchman to serve out for the set, and again Webster missed two darts at doubles to break, with van Gerwen eventually landing double one to take the first set.

It appeared Webster’s missed opportunity was really going to cost him, as van Gerwen hit his first 180 and took out 81 to break his opponent in the first leg of the

Darts Weekly Friday 30 December 2016

3 LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

FOLLOW THE ACTION WITH DARTS WEEKLY OUR WRITERS Alex Moss, Christopher Kempf, Richard Edwards, Dave South and Dave McNally will be bringing you the latest from the Alexandra Palace throughout the tournament, including match reports, interviews and expert analysis

IN THE MAGAZINE Our weekly magazine will once again be FREE for darts fans to read online from anywhere around the world. Make sure you log on to darts-weekly.com each Friday to read the latest issue, or join our growing subscribers list and get the magazine emailed to you for FREE. Simply send us an email to dartsweekly@gmail.com second set. Webster broke back with double six, but van Gerwen clinched the next two legs to open up a two set lead.

A 3-0 whitewash in the third set left Webster with a mountain to climb, but to his credit the Norwich thrower was not prepared to throw in the towel just yet.

After van Gerwen produced a stunning 170 finish, Webster checked out 96 and 81 to edge in front in the fourth set.

And after van Gerwen levelled, Webster took the fourth set in a deciding leg to stay alive.

The comeback looked to be on for Webster as he won the first two legs of the fifth set on double 10, but van Gerwen had other ideas.

An 88 checkout got the top seed on the board before he threw backto-back 180s as he went seven darts in to a perfect leg and hit double 10 to level the set.

It meant Webster would need to break the van Gerwen throw in the next leg to force a sixth set.

Webster kicked off the leg with

two maximums, but after scoring 81 in his attempt at the 141 finish back came van Gerwen to check out 62 for a 12 darter to clinch the victory.

The Dutchman’s bid for a second world title is moving along nicely, with 24th seed Daryl Gurney up next in the quarter-finals, who is the last player to have beaten van Gerwen in a competitive match 25 matches ago.

“25 matches, it’s a long time ago,” a confident van Gerwen said.

“For him it’s a huge step up the rankings for himself, for the confidence, he only played Mark Webster (in the third round).

“He didn’t play one of the big boys yet. We’re going to see if he can also do it against me.

“All the quarter-finalists that’s what everyone was hoping for, most of the (top) seeds are still in.

“It’s going to be an incredible quarter-finals.”

M van Gerwen (104.44): 100+ 28; 140+ 16; 180s 8; Checkout % 37.84%; HC 170.

Darren Webster (99.20): 100+ 27; 140+ 21; 180s 8; Checkout % 26.67%; HC 100.

ON OUR WEBSITE Check out our website for the latest results, order of play, reports from each session, as well as reaction from the players and the thoughts of our group of writers

BETTING TIPS Dave South will be posting on the website his top tips each day during the tournament, so if you fancy a flutter be sure to have a look at his recommended bets ahead of the day’s play

PREDICTION LEAGUE During the tournament we will be running our prediction league on Twitter. It is FREE to enter and all you have to do is reply to our pinned tweet each day with your predictions. The winner of the prediction league will win a set of darts from our friends at A180 Darts!

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Friday 30 December 2016 Darts Weekly

Taylor and Barney to face off tonight Got the power: Phil Taylor celebrates during last night’s win against Kim Huybrechts

Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Phil Taylor Kim Huybrechts

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Phil Taylor likens it to when Manchester United play Liverpool.

Raymond van Barneveld prefers to call it the El Classico of darts, whichever one you prefer, when Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld face off it is a match you dare not miss.

Van Barneveld edged past Adrian Lewis 4-3 on Wednesday night, while Taylor got the better of Kim Huybrechts 4-2 last night to set up another meeting between the two multiple-time world champions on the Alexandra Palace stage.

“This is like Man United playing Liverpool in my eyes,” Taylor explained.

“Even though Liverpool and Man United are not the top two teams in the world anymore, it’s still got the attraction I think.

“I think we’re going to go out there and perform. Both of us are going to get massive support.

“It’s going to be very noisy, very hot, very busy. This is probably the hottest ticket in town.”

Taylor looked set to record his third whitewash victory in as many games last night as he eyed tops for a 4-0 victory over Belgium’s Huybrechts.

But after missing two match darts, Taylor was drawn into another two sets, before he got over the line as a 4-2 winner.

The two had played out a sevenset thriller on the same stage two years ago, which Taylor had narrowly edged 4-3, and it was Huybrechts who made the flying start in this one.

Two maximums and a 106 checkout helped the 13th seed establish a 2-0 lead in the first set,

after missing a set dart in leg four he was duly punished.

Taylor levelled the set on tops and then finished off 72 to snatch the opening set.

It was Huybrechts again who made the better start in the second set, breaking the Taylor throw with double eight, before the 16-time world champion responded with three legs on the spin to go two sets in front.

The third set was a similar story as Huybrechts held throw in the first leg, with Taylor then reeling off three legs in succession to take the set and go 3-0 in front.

Huybrechts again won the opening leg of the next set, before checkouts of 100 and 64 put his opponent one leg away from victory.

A 104 finish kept Huybrechts in the match in the next leg, with the deciding leg seeing Taylor miss two match darts at tops and the Belgian landed double eight to get his first set on the board.

For the first time in the match Taylor won the first leg of a set in the fifth set, but Huybrechts was not done yet as he won three legs on the spin to nick another set.

With the throw in the sixth set, Taylor clinched the opening two legs, before Huybrechts checked out on 80 to keep his hopes alive.

In the fourth leg both players missed a string of doubles, but in the end it was Taylor who hit double seven to advance to the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championship.

“I’m happy,” Taylor said. “Kim’s Kim. He’s predictable, he does all his antics, but who cares? He’s out and now I’ll get ready for Barney.

That’s going to be a cracker.”

Phil Taylor (101.37): 100+ 35; 140+ 22; 180s 7; Checkout % 40.54%; HC 101.

Kim Huybrechts (93.86): 100+ 33; 140+ 15; 180s 7; Checkout % 47.83%; HC 109.

Wright moves into another quarter-final at Alexandra Palace Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Peter Wright Ian White

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Peter Wright cruised into the quarter-finals of the PDC World Championship for the fourth consecutive year after beating Ian White 4-1 in the third round last night.

The third seed won nine out of the opening 10 legs as he took a commanding 3-0 lead in sets, before dropping the fourth set and then getting over the line in a deciding leg in the next set.

Darts Weekly Friday 30 December 2016 s

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Wade: Lady luck was on my shoulder shoulder’ James Wade 4 Michael Smith

“Ian woke up, he started to play darts like he can,” said Wright, who has lost just one set on his way to reaching the quarter-finals in this year’s tournament.

“He was struggling to find the pitch, like a lot of players do and I’ve done in the past, and it was good in the end, what Ian White can do people could see.”

Three years ago Wright made his big breakthrough by getting to the final of the PDC World Championship, and since then it

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has been a rapid rise for the Scot, who is now up to a career-high number three in the world.

“I’m not playing well yet, I’m playing okey dokey,” Wright insists. “I like how the commentators say I’m sneaking under the radar.

“How can I sneak under the radar? Unless I’m in a paint factory!”

James Wade insists he was fortunate to come from behind and beat Michael Smith in the third round of the PDC World Championship yesterday.

The seven-time major winner battled back from 3-1 down to edge past Smith 4-3 and progress to an eighth World Championship quarter-final in 10 years.

Wade won seven straight legs to snatch victory against the 11th seed, but suggested it was having luck on his side which got him over the line.

“Lady luck was sat on my shoulder,” the world number six said. “It wasn’t a good game from either of us, but in English, I showed bigger conkers.

“I panicked from the word go. He played well, in the first set I thought after the second leg ‘I’m going to roll over, we’ll come back out after the break, I’ll restructure my game and we’ll have another go.’

“And I did exactly the same thing in the second set and I was like ‘Jesus, why did you roll over?’

“It’s a bit like tug of war, if you haven’t got your heels deep in it ain’t no good.

“I was a very lucky boy. In the first five sets to be fair I had nothing, I had no hunger.

“I had hunger, I wanted to win obviously, I wanted to win more than anything, that’s why I won.

“But I had no aggression and I couldn’t get it, and I couldn’t understand why I was missing so many trebles, why they was low, why I was missing so many doubles.”

Peter Wright (103.05): 100+ 20; 140+ 25; 180s 3; Checkout % 59.09%; HC 65.

Ian White (96.17): 100+ 20; 140+ 13; 180s 6; Checkout % 54.55%; HC 83.

James Wade (94.01): 100+ 42; 140+ 23; 180s 5; Checkout % 41.18%; HC 121.

Michael Smith (94.52): 100+ 33; 140+ 17; 180s 6; Checkout % 30%; HC 98.

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Friday 30 December 2016 Darts Weekly

Chisnall knocks out Klaasen to progress to first quarterfinal at the Alexandra Palace Into the last eight: Dave Chisnall progressed to the quarter-finals yesterday

Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Dave Chisnall Jelle Klaasen

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Dave Chisnall scraped through to his first-ever PDC World Championship quarter-final yesterday and knows he will have to improve if he is to enjoy further progress at the Alexandra Palace.

The former BDO World Championship finalist progressed past the third round for the first time in his career yesterday, knocking out 2006 Lakeside champion Jelle Klaasen 4-2.

And with reigning PDC world champion Gary Anderson up next for Chizzy in the quarter-finals, he is well aware that he must step it up if he is to have a chance.

“It’s not my best,” reflected Chisnall on his third round performance.

“I’ve played better in (previous) years when I’ve got beat. I’m scrapping, and if I’m scrapping I’m putting them (opponents) down as well.

“But I’m glad to win. When I missed that big 14 I thought Jelle might take out a 140 again to level the set, but he didn’t and I just composed myself and hit the double to win.

“It is a relief. Everybody keeps saying to me ‘do you think you’ll get past him? You’ve got tough players (to play).’

“I can get past them if I play well.

I played ok, I don’t think it was the best darts I played, but ok was good enough today so I’m over the moon.

“I want to play better. I get frustrated at my own game sometimes because I know I can play better.

“But I’m still winning, so let’s see how it goes. I’ll have to step up

against Gary because I watched his game (against Benito van de Pas) and he was unbelievable.

“I can step it up. I can do it, it’s just doing it.

“To be fair I’m going to have to step up because when Gary’s playing well he seems to do it all tournament, and my three games I’ve played I’ve had to fight for it.

“If I play a little bit bad I can put him down a bit. I’ll be giving it my all.”

With a place in his first PDC World Championship quarter-final up for grabs once again, Chisnall made a storming start as he claimed the opening two sets against Klaasen.

The third set went down to a

“I want to play better. I get frustrated at my own game at times” deciding leg where it seemed Klaasen had finally arrived, checking out 140 to win the leg and get his first set on the board.

But the Dutchman was stopped in his tracks in the next set, as Chisnall continued to rack up the 180s and after winning the fourth set in straight legs he had eight 180s to his name.

The seventh seed took the first two legs of the fifth set to move to within a leg of victory, before Klaasen hit back with three successive legs to force another set.

A deciding set looked on the cards when Klaasen claimed the first two legs of set six, but Chizzy returned the favour from the last set and won three straight legs to book his place in the last eight.

Dave Chisnall (93.88): 100+ 33; 140+ 14; 180s 12; Checkout % 41.03%; HC 79.

Jelle Klaasen (88.36): 100+ 18; 140+ 16; 180s 8; Checkout % 42.31%; HC 140.

Darts Weekly Friday 30 December 2016 LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x

x

x x Dave Chisnall (93.88): 100+ 33; 140+ 14; 180s 12; Checkout % 41.03%; HC 79.

Jelle Klaasen (88.36): 100+ 18; 140+ 16; 180s 8; Checkout % 42.31%; HC 140.

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Gurney overcomes the crowd to seal first ever Ally Pally quarter-final Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Mark Webster Daryl Gurney

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As Daryl Gurney spurned match darts and Mark Webster checked out to force a deciding set, it looked like the Northern Irishman was about to blow his chance of securing a place in his first PDC World Championship quarterfinal.

Leading 3-1 in sets, the 24th seed was on the brink of extending his best ever run at Alexandra Palace, before the crowd got involved and helped swing the match into Webster’s favour.

Gurney sarcastically applauded the crowd after their heckling did enough to affect his efforts to seal a 4-2 win, a move which saw the crowd get even louder.

But in the final set Gurney managed to hold his nerve, winning three legs in a row from 10 down, to eventually get the better of Webster.

“I was losing temper with myself,” he said. “When you get so many darts at doubles to win a match, especially a match of this importance, trying to get to the

last eight of the worlds, I was really getting on to myself.

“They (the crowd) turned against me. I really tried to concentrate more instead of looking out to the crowd, I was getting a few gestures.

“I looked to the floor, I looked to my feet. It was me against him (Webster), not me against the crowd and him.

“Whenever you think about it, there’s a lot of people who would have given up on that game, would have lost their temper and let the crowd win the game for the other person.

“But I knew I was still good enough and calm enough to outscore him and still get a shot at a double before him, whether I hit it is another thing.

“I still did enough scoring wise and eventually I fell over the line.”

Both players had upset the seedings for the tournament in the previous round, with Gurney knocking out ninth seed Robert Thornton and Webster seeing off eighth seed Mensur Suljovic.

The latter’s possible Premier League place may be in jeopardy now after his early exit, could Gurney be the man now to take his spot?

Mark Webster (89.10): 100+ 29; 140+ 22; 180s 4; Checkout % 24.53%; HC 103.

Daryl Gurney (92.33): 100+ 33; 140+ 26; 180s 7; Checkout % 28.57%; HC 103.

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Friday 30 December 2016 Darts Weekly

CHRISTOPHER KEMPF MATCH OF THE WEEK - M VAN GERWEN 4-2 C REYES (PDC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP)

Mighty Mike survives Spanish inquisition After the first set, anyone would have been forgiven for thinking that Tuesday evening’s run of blowout victories would continue.

Despite averaging less than 100, Michael van Gerwen was strolling through his second round match.

His opponent, Cristo Reyes, had not attempted a single finish in his first three legs, looking totally out of sorts against the best player in the world.

With the first leg of the second set, however, Reyes threw only the second 10-dart leg of the tournament, and then by winning the set in a total of 39 darts for a 115 average proved his mettle.

Thus began a match that initially looked as though it would be over in half an hour’s time, but stretched on to 25 thrilling legs.

This was a performance so out of the ordinary for Reyes, the number one ranked Spanish player, as to seem positively miraculous.

This was a player who, in the 2016 PDC World Championship, lost 3-1 to a Wes Newton averaging 77.8 in his worst ever televised performance.

Statistically speaking, for a player of Reyes’ history to average 106 over 25 legs, hit 60 per cent of his doubles, and score on par with van Gerwen, was perhaps a one-inone-thousand proposition.

But players up and down the PDC Order of Merit seem to relish the opportunity to play MVG. They have nothing to lose and everything to win.

So Reyes began asking questions of MVG which even the Dutch master could not answer.

He was certainly not expecting a

sort of Spanish inquisition. The fifth set of the match saw van Gerwen throw first, aiming to win the match 4-1.

Reyes pressurised MVG with three consecutive two-treble visits, reaching a score of 87 after nine.

Van Gerwen responded with an emphatic 164 checkout to move within two legs of winning the match.

In the second leg, Reyes again laid the trebles on thick, with three more scores of 140.

But this time the Dutchman blinked, busting his score on an attempted four checkout.

Reyes cleaned up from 81 within five darts, and very nearly broke back in the next leg, coming within millimetre of a 170 finish that would have blown the doors off the Palace.

Two maximums in the fourth leg from van Gerwen could not hold back the man from Tenerife, who threw an 11-dart leg that thoroughly unnerved the world number one, and by holding his nerve in the fifth leg Reyes accomplished a nearly impossible task, winning a set in which van Gerwen threw first, scored four maximums, landed a 164 finish and averaged 103.

With the score at three sets to Reyes’ two, the crowd began to cheer nearly every dart from the underdog and the Spaniard rewarded that support with more and more legs of sublime darts.

After 15 and 12-dart legs won on throw, Reyes looked to be in an ideal position to force a deciding seventh set.

Two darts to force an epic final set appeared for Reyes.

Van Gerwen, in a variation on a common theme of his performances throughout 2016, LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

missed just enough doubles for his opponent to see his way through a narrow opening towards victory, but enjoyed the advantage of playing an opponent unaccustomed to hitting doubles under extreme pressure.

That inexperience proved costly for Reyes’ underdog run as he missed them both.

Reyes will surely be able to look back on his third appearance at the Alexandra Palace with great pride in his accomplishments and in his record losing average.

But in a more reflective moment, he might ask himself, with good reason, ‘if my 106 average couldn’t topple Mighty Mike, what can? Who can stop Michael van Gerwen?’

Darts Weekly Friday 30 December 2016

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No fear for Barney as he marches into quarter-finals LAWRENCE LUSTIG/PDC

Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER

3 Raymond van Barneveld 4 Adrian Lewis

Raymond van Barneveld says he wants to play the best players in each round as his latest campaign to win a sixth world title enters the quarter-final stage.

The Dutchman battled back from 3-2 down in sets to see off fellow former world champion Adrian Lewis 4-3 in the third round on Wednesday night.

And with potential matches with Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson still to come if he is to go all the way, Barney is embracing the challenge.

“To play Phil Taylor in the quarter-finals, that’s my dream,” the five-time world champion said.

“Phil is the best player ever in the world. I knew when that draw came out it was Robbie Green (first round), it was Alan Norris (second round) and then probably Adrian Lewis, Phil Taylor, Michael van

Anderson going through the gears as title defence reaches last eight Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER Gary Anderson Benito van de Pas

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Three down, three to go now for Gary Anderson in his bid to become only the third man to win three consecutive World Championships, and based on his

Gerwen and Gary Anderson.

“I can’t wait to play them all. I want to play every round. I want to play the best players in the world.

“I don’t want them to lose, I want to play them.”

For the third consecutive year, van Barneveld and Lewis clashed on the Alexandra Palace stage in the PDC’s biggest tournament,

with Lewis winning their semifinal encounter 6-3 last year, while Barney defied a nine darter from Jackpot to win 4-3 in the third round the year before.

This time round it was van Barneveld who claimed the spoils.

high-class performance in beating Benito van de Pas in the third round on Wednesday night, he is going to take some stopping.

A final average of 107.68, 11 180s and 58.33 per cent on the doubles for the Scot helped him overcome 15th seed van de Pas, who was equally as impressive in winning the fourth and fifth sets before eventually losing 4-2.

Van de Pas had lost his previous two last 16 games in the PDC World Championship 4-0, but looked on course to avoid another third round whitewash when he took the opening two legs, which included a 121 checkout.

Anderson had other ideas though, as he reeled off three legs on the spin to snatch the first set

from the young Dutchman’s grasp, before winning the next two sets with a perfect record of nine out of nine on the doubles.

Van de Pas survived a match dart in the deciding leg of the fourth set to keep the match alive, and his unlikely comeback continued to gain momentum with a 112 checkout giving him the fifth set.

Having seemingly blocked the treble 20 bed with his first dart in the single 20, van de Pas showed real maturity to land treble 18 and double 19 to take the set.

But his race was run in the next set, with Anderson taking it 3-1 to advance to the quarter-finals.

Adrian Lewis (98.05): 100+ 38; 140+ 19; 180s 6; Checkout % 65%; HC 117.

R van Barneveld (95.00): 100+ 29; 140+ 24; 180s 3; Checkout % 38.46%; HC 75

Gary Anderson (107.68): 100+ 30; 140+ 24; 180s 11; Checkout % 58.33%; HC 96.

Benito van de Pas (102.30): 100+ 27; 140+ 15; 180s 9; Checkout % 50%; HC 143

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Friday 30 December 2016 Darts Weekly

bobby George int here EXCLUSIVE Alex Moss CHIEF DARTS WRITER x

x

“x x x x” x

New plans: PDC chairman Barry Hearn speaking at Monday’s press conference x

Darts Weekly Friday 30 December 2016

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BROUGHT TO YOU BY LOCKUP DAVE @LockupTipster Dave South DARTS WRITER The business end of the PDC World Championship starts today, as we will discover the semi-final line up which will take place on New Year’s Day at the Alexandra Palace.

Gary Anderson will have the pleasure of looking to seal another semi-final, but will have Dave Chisnall to compete with in order to progress to the last four.

Chisnall will come into this after quite the battle with Jelle Klaasen in the third round, with a 93.88 winning average and a mammoth dozen maximums in the process.

Anderson stormed into a commanding lead over Benito van de Pas, who played one of the best games of his career with a 102 average, managing to take two sets over Anderson, who set the top average of the event with a 107.68 performance.

Anderson leads the head-to-head

12-4, with Chisnall winning the last meeting after six successive defeats.

Anderson is just 2/9 with Chisnall 75/19 with Marathonbet.

Anderson fired in the maximums from the word go and it’s interesting in arguing against who will get the most 180s from this game.

Hills bet 5/6 Chisnall wins the race, with Skybet laying 6/4 on Anderson and 9/1 for the 180 tie.

That is fairly interesting, as I view this more a 6/1 shot although over a shorter distance would be more realistic.

Looking at potential betting markets I do anticipate Anderson not being able to maintain such a three-dart average, despite the 107.68 over six sets in the last round.

Bwin have the line set at 101.50 or less at 11/13 with 101.51 or better at the same price.

Chisnall highest checkout is set at 120.50 at 10/11 either way with Skybet.

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FIXTURES

DARTS WEEKLY DOZEN (29/12/2016) Data compiled by Christopher Kempf

xxx The overall checkout line is set high by Premier League sponsors at 140.50 at 5/6, but the bet that has caught our eye is Chisnall three-dart average at 97.50 at 11/3 with Bwin and I will have a small bet on the unders.

With the game potentially going some distance, and the 35.29% checkout conversion in the last round, the average will be shaved downwards at that rate.

Today’s recommendation Chisnall - under 97.50 average 11/13 Bwin Prices correct at time of publication

Database PDC WILLIAM HILL WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP (Alexandra Palace) Second round - I White (92.60) bt J Clayton (86.38) 4-1; M Smith (93.83) bt M King (94.24) 4-3; B van de Pas (95.79) bt T Jenkins (94.70) 4-3; D Webster (104.64) bt S Whitlock (99.50) 4-0; G Anderson (102.58) bt A Gilding (86.21) 4-0; A Lewis (102.65) bt J Cullen (82.74) 4-0; M Webster (92.79) bt M Suljovic (91.23) 4-3; D Gurney (95.35) bt R Thornton (90.74) 4-3; D Chisnall (92.88) bt C Dobey (90.71) 4-2; R van Barneveld (103.59) bt A Norris (97.03) 4-0; P Taylor (92.73) bt K Painter (90.52) 4-0; M van Gerwen (105.24) bt C Reyes (106.07) 4-2; K Huybrechts (92.76) bt M Hopp (87.57) 4-0; J Wade (99.39) bt S Beaton (97.74) 4-1; J Klaasen (93.32) bt B Dolan (93.34) 4-0; P Wright (103.53) bt J Lewis (91.35) 4-0.

Third round - G Anderson (107.68) bt B van de Pas (102.30) 4-2; R van Barneveld (95.00) bt A Lewis (98.05) 4-3; D Gurney (92.33) bt M Webster (89.10) 4-3; D Chisnall (93.88) bt J Klaasen (88.36) 4-2; J Wade (94.01) bt M Smith (94.52) 4-3; P Wright (103.05) bt I White (96.17) 4-1; P Taylor (101.37) bt K Huybrechts (93.86) 4-2; M van Gerwen (104.44) bt D Webster (99.20) 4-1.

PDC WILLIAM HILL WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP (Alexandra Palace) TODAY (1pm) - Quarter-finals -J Wade v P Wright; G Anderson v D Chisnall; M van Gerwen v D Gurney; R van Barneveld v D Gurney.

SUNDAY (7pm) - Semi-finals MONDAY (8pm) - Final BDO LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP (Surrey) JANUARY 7 (1pm) - G Durrant v N Kenny; T Gulliver v C Brookin; D Nilsson v R Joyce; D Fitton v W Vaes; S Asada v J Smith; R Janssen v M McGrath; A de Graaf v R Brooks; J Williams v T O’Shea.

JANUARY 8 (1pm) - M Adams v Nilsson/ Joyce; T Sawyer v P Hogan; L Ashton v S Prins; S Mitchell v Janssen/McGrath; K Ratajski v W Mandigers; F Sherrock v O Byamukama; R Smith v D van Baelen; J Hughes v M Atkins.

JANUARY 9 (1pm) - D Cameron v J Hendriks; C Caldwell v D Harbour; D Reynolds v P Blackwell.

Player M van Gerwen P Taylor R van Barneveld J Klaasen M Suljovic S Whitlock D Gurney B van de Pas S Beaton A Norris M King J Cullen

LLE 15.599 16.110 16.623 17.364 17.392 17.644 17.736 18.118 18.216 18.232 18.728 18.844

Change 0.024 -0.081 -0.012 0.073 -0.259 -0.098 0.178 0.323 0.352 0.082 0.034 -0.532

◊ The Darts Weekly Dozen is a statistical index tracking 12 top PDC players according to leg length estimates for their most recent 180 televised and streamed legs. ◊ Gurney continues improved form with victory over Thornton: fewest darts at double on average in the PDC over last 180 legs. ◊ Amazing scoring from van de Pas: 11.035 darts from 501 to a finish, down from 11.288 ◊ Cullen scoring debacle vs Lewis causes largest single-week increase in leg length estimate in DW12 history ◊ Above is the leg length estimates for 12 selected players and the changes in the

12

Friday 30 December 2016 Darts Weekly

DAVE McNALLY DARTS WRITER

Chizzy is motivated to win his first major title This week I managed to get a word with Dave Chisnall, who was well into his practice and preparation for the PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace.

“I feel that a combination of practice, being on the big stage and experience are the reason for more consistency, there is no substitute for experience,” Dave points out when talking about his form over the last few years.

“I don’t see myself as the nearly man, I am improving all the time and I believe that my first major is near.

“I have reached four major finals and have lost only to Phil Taylor and MVG. My motivation is to win a major.”

Chizzy is well known for his trademark yellow colours on the oche, which he suggests was a strategic move on his behalf.

“Me and my manager agreed that no one else was in this colour, so it made sense, in the same way as MVG plays in green, I am now recognisable as the player in yellow,” he said.

Chisnall admits to supporting Liverpool, so are darts players like footballers where they feel they will do well at a certain stadium, or feel more confident at certain venues?

“My favourite venue is the Winter Gardens in Blackpool,” he said.

“Up until last month I did not enjoy Minehead, however I enjoy venues where I have good memories, that is to say a venue where I have performed well.

“Nothing can match Alexandra Palace though as it is the most

x important competition of the year.”

The staged televised venues and floor events are totally different though.

“Obviously the crowd make a huge difference and the sense of occasion,” Chisnall said.

“Also there are far more tour events, so maybe I don’t practice as hard for those as I do for a TV event.”

Chisnall is well aware that many well known TV regulars are now falling by the way side and becoming stars of yesteryear, but he doesn’t want to become one of those players just yet.

“I practice hard, try to eat a reasonably balanced diet and try to keep fit, me and my manager go running when we can,” he explains.

So, is that why you don’t eat crisps, Dave?

“Yes they are bad for you,” he says.

St Helens has become a bit of a hotbed for darts players over the last few years, so is there something in the water?

“I don’t really know but they have some great players from there, Stephen Bunting, Michael Smith, and in the past Gary Welding and Alan Tabern,” he said.

“I think people want to emulate their success.”

And what about the BDO players in the Grand Slam, this has often been a bone of contention with some players considering it offers ranking points?

“I think the Grand Slam is a great and unique tournament,” he says.

“I really enjoy it. I am a dart player, it is for the PDC to decide whether it should be ranking or not.”

And finally, Dave, one stun gun, one bullet, which player? “(laughs) I couldn’t possibly say,” he says.

“I love them all.”