2021 World Matchplay Champion Peter Wright reeled off 8 legs successive legs in beating UK Open Champion Andrew Gilding 10-4 in the 1st Round.
Meanwhile Snakebite’s Red Dragon stablemate Jonny Clayton claimed the Final Last 16 place at the 2023 World Matchplay, surviving a late fightback from opponent Gabriel Clemens to win 10-8.
Wright included 3 ton plus checkouts in Blackpool, hitting finishes of 104, 107 and 146 throughout his 8-leg winning streak against Goldfinger.
The 2-Time World Champion missed 6 darts at double to make it 9 but went on to wrap up victory with his 3rd match dart, hitting double 10 in the 14th leg of the match.
Peter averaged 96.41overall in Blackpool and included 7x180s, as he continues his quest for a 2nd World Matchplay crown.
“The fans were brilliant. It’s nice to be back on this stage. Andrew Gilding is a fantastic darts player, he’s beaten me so many times before so I know what he can do. Thankfully for me he didn’t turn up tonight”.
“I didn’t feel comfortable at all up there, but it’s a new day against Ryan, and I will be a better player on Wednesday night.”
The World Number 2 goes through to face Ryan Searle in the Last 16 with Heavy Metal including a 105.19 average, to defeat 2010 World Matchplay Runner Up Raymond van Barneveld 10-4 earlier on in Monday’s evening session.
Jonny Clayton started strong in the Final 1st Round match, going into the first interval 4-1 ahead having broken his opponent twice in the opening mini session. Clemens included the highest checkout of the match, after hitting double 16 to finish 108 in the 9th leg.
The German Giant also hit the higher 180s of the pair at the Winter Gardens, finding 6 of the 10 maximums in the tungsten tussle. Jonny included finishes of 86 and 82 to put him on the cusp of winning, before wrapping up victory with an 11 dart hold of throw after finding double 16 with his 2nd dart to finish 44.
“There were a few nerves, but the crowd were fantastic, and I’ve done the job tonight. That was tough, it wasn’t the best version of Gabriel Clemens, but it wasn’t the best of Jonny Clayton either.”
“The 11 darter was amazing; anybody would take that, and I certainly will.
This is just my second win here in five years, so it means a lot.”
The Ferret goes through to face Dimitri van den Bergh in the Last 16 on Wednesday, with the 2020 winner claiming a 10-8 victory in Monday’s curtain raiser against European Championship Finals winner Ross Smith.
The Dream Maker averaged 101.24 and included 7 180s at the Winter Gardens, as he bids to lift the Phil Taylor trophy for the 2nd time.
The action continues Tuesday night as the 2nd Round of the 2023 Betfred World Matchplay gets underway. Gerwyn Price will face Joe Cullen with Daryl Gurney opening the action against Gary Anderson live on Sky Sports.
2023 World Matchplay: Day 3 Results
Last 32:
Dimitri van den Bergh (10) 10-8 Ross Smith
Ryan Searle (15) 10-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Wright (2) 10-4 Andrew Gilding
Jonny Clayton (7) 10-8 Gabriel Clemens
2023 World Matchplay: Day 4 Order of Play
Last 16:
Daryl Gurney v Gary Anderson
Danny Noppert (8) v Nathan Aspinall (9)
Gerwyn Price (4) v Joe Cullen (13)
Michael Smith (1) v Chris Dobey
—–Ends—–
Images: Taylor Lanning / PDC
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