Wonderful Whitlock Beats MVG
Despite winning the Queensland Darts Masters last week, Michael van Gerwen was dumped out of the Palmerbet New South Wales Masters at the hands of hometown hero Simon Whitlock despite averaging 101.50, losing a last leg decider in Wollongong.
The battle between the two Winmau men certainly entertained those in attendance as the Wizard finished the match on double eight with his last dart to complete a 74 checkout. The tungsten tussle also consisted of seven maximums with MVG hitting four of them, but the finishing indicated where the match was won.
The 53-year-old missed just five darts at the outer ring and included his highest checkout in the tenth leg to break the Dutchman’s throw, hitting double fourteen to complete an 88 checkout in just two darts sending the home faithful ecstatic.
The Australian is the only man to beat one of the PDC’s best on Friday and will meet another Winmau man Joe Cullen in the Quarter Finals, after the Englishman beat Dave Marland in the opening match of the session 6-3.
The Rockstar reached the Semi Finals in Townsville last week losing to Michael van Gerwen 7-5 but will hope for better fortunes this time around starting with what was a routine win over his Australian opponent hitting one maximum and averaging 91.72 on the oche.
The reigning Masters champion broke throw in the ninth leg to seal victory after being broke himself in the leg prior but knows his performance will need improving come Saturday if he is to go on and win his first World Series event of 2022.
Jonny Clayton gained revenge on Haupai Puha after losing to the New Zealand international last week in Townsville, averaging 95.13 and including two maximums in a 6-1 win in what was the third match of the session.
The Ferret missed seven darts at double on the oche finding double five with his last dart in hand to seal the seventh and final leg, showing clear signs of improvement in Australia as he sets up a Quarter Final clash with Michael Smith after he beat Damon Heta 6-3 with an average of 106.33.
World Number 1 Gerwyn Price wasted no time in taking Koha Kokiri out of the New South Wales Masters, whitewashing the Australian qualifier 6-0 averaging 104.86 and missing just four darts at double.
The Iceman found his favourite double on the board tops in the final leg to finish a 42-checkout sealing a whitewash victory to go through and face Fallon Sherrock in the Quarter Finals. The recent Women’s World Matchplay champion beat Mal Cuming in the fourth tie including an 81 checkout with double eighteen on her last dart in Wollongong.
Elsewhere Dimitri van den Bergh and James Wade will meet in the other Last 8 match after the Machine beat last week’s Semi Finalist Gordon Mathers 6-3, whilst the two-time World Series winner sealed victory in the last match of the night winning 6-3 against Raymond O’Donnell including a 126 checkout in the fifth leg.
The action continues live on PDC TV tomorrow in Wollongong for the Quarter Finals in the second instalment of the triple header down under. You can also catch up with all the action on ITV Sport with coverage being shown of todays action from midnight.
PalmerBet New South Wales Masters Results:
Last 16:
Joe Cullen 6-3 Dave Marland
James Wade 6-3 Gordon Mathers
Jonny Clayton 6-1 Haupai Puha
Fallon Sherrock 6-5 Mal Cuming
Gerwyn Price (4) 6-0 Koha Kokiri
Michael Smith (3) 6-5 Damon Heta
Simon Whitlock 6-5 Michael van Gerwen (2)
Dimitri van den Bergh (1) 6-3 Raymond O’Donnell
Sunday Order of Play:
Quarter Finals:
Dimitri van den Bergh (1) v James Wade
Gerwyn Price (4) v Fallon Sherrock
Simon Whitlock v Joe Cullen
Michael Smith (3) v Jonny Clayton
—–ENDS—–
Images: James O’Connor/PDC.
