The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsTonight saw the second round of action of the PDC World Matchplay at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool get underway with wins for Peter Wright, Ian White, Michael van Gerwen and Gerwyn Price who sensationally knocked out Adrian Lewis.
The Sports Lowdown brings you all the latest from the Winter Gardens in Blackpool as we follow the World Matchplay, the highlight of the summer darts calendar.
Peter Wright 13-7 Andrew Gilding
If ever a man deserved to win a PDC major title, Peter Wright is that man and he once again put him on the right track to do so with a commanding win over the improving Andrew Gilding. Early exchanges saw both players hold their own serve until ‘Snakebite’ broke to take a 6-4 lead before opening up a four leg gap. By now the momentum was with Wright and he was smashing in the 180s for fun as he extended his lead further before wrapping up a comfortable 13-7 victory with a 95 average and over ten 180s.
Simon Whitlock 9-13 Ian White
In what was always going to be a tight affair between two of the tour’s most consistent players, ‘Diamond’ White came back from a three leg deficit to reel off 7 consecutive legs to reach the quarter-finals of the Matchplay. The beginning of the match saw little between the players, before Whitlock took control with White having double trouble to fall behind 9-6. However the break did wonders for White who reeled off one leg after another to stun a deflated Whitlock to reach the quarter-finals.
Michael van Gerwen 13-2 Jamie Lewis
Michael van Gerwen was in imperious form as he demolished Welshman Jamie Lewis to win 13-2 with a 110 average to put a marker down for the tournament. Lewis battled valiantly and himself hit a 100 average but could do nothing as van Gerwen took a 10-1 lead with the Welshman taking just one more leg before ‘Mighty’ Mike finished off in style with an 82 finish on bull and double 16.
Adrian Lewis 10-13 Gerwyn Price
Both players were nervous as they looked to make it through to the last eight of the competition, losing their own throw before Lewis threw in a 136 finish to seemingly settle. However it was the former Rugby League professional Price that was banging in the 180s for fun, taking a 7-3 lead to stun ‘Jackpot’. Lewis briefly threatened a comeback but Price was in inspired form to once again take charge of the game. Price was visibly nervous as he looked to get across the line but sealed a shock 13-10 victory to seal a quarter-final tie with Peter Wright.
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