Raymond van Barneveld gained revenge for his defeat in Melbourne by beating Corey Cadby in a thrilling 6-5 victory at the Tabtouch Perth Darts Masters, on a night that saw all the favourites progress at the HBF Stadium.
The Dutchman had lost to the young Australian a week earlier in Melbourne but was determined to repay the favour in front of a noisy Perth Crowd.
Van Barneveld opened the match by breaking the Cadby throw, finding double 14 to take the lead.
After a hold in the second leg, Van Barneveld broke again, taking out 100 on double ten to open up a three leg advantage.
A two-dart 96 checkout on double 18 helped Cadby break back and close the gap, before holding two to take the score to 3-2 in the Dutchman’s favour.
A hold and another break, this time 86 on double 7, followed as Van Barneveld punished an out of sorts Cadby, to move within a leg of the victory.
The 22-year-old Australian was not finished there though as he found tops to break the throw and close the gap to two, before a hold of throw put the pressure on the veteran Dutchman.
Van Barneveld then missed two match darts before and incredible 161 checkout saw Cadby level the score and have the opportunity to throw for the match.
A crucial 180 in the deciding leg helped set Van Barneveld up for the victory as he took out 15 on double four to advance, and set up a quarter-final with Phil Taylor.
“It’s good to get a little bit of revenge against Corey, he’s a great talent so that’s a big win for me,” said Van Barneveld.
“I thought I had him the whole way through the match and then he takes out the 161 and I thought it was going to happen all over again,
I’m glad I kept my cool and the 180 in the last leg was massive. That’s a great win for me,” added the 50-year-old.
The 16-time World Champion had to come from behind as he progressed in to the last eight of the Tabtouch Perth Darts Masters, beating Kyle Anderson 6-4.
Anderson started the brighter of the pair, breaking in the opening leg of the encounter.
The Australian was unable to take advantage of Taylor’s poor start as the ‘Power’ broke back immediately to level the score.
Anderson hit his first of four maximums in the match in the third leg, which helped him to break the throw again and move in to the lead.
The pair then traded holds of throw taking the home favourite in to a 4-3 lead.
The crucial leg of the match was the eighth, where Anderson missed a dart to hold throw and take a 5-3 ahead before Taylor pinned double 16 to level the score.
That break seemed to unsettle the rhythm of the Australian and Taylor won the next two legs to progress.
“He had his chances there, he pushed me right up until the end. I had to dig deep there because I was on the brink at one point and wasn’t playing well at the start,
“My record in Australia is brilliant and I want to continue that and win in Perth for the last time,” Said Taylor.
Daryl Gurney produced arguably the performance of the first night at the night, averaging 106 and hitting all his attempts at a double in a 6-0 win over Koha Kokiri.
The match started with Gurney taking out 96 in the opening leg to set the tone of the rest of the encounter.
Back-to-back maximums followed in the next leg before the Northern Irishman took a 2-0 lead.
Checkouts of 80, 68 and 64 took ‘Superchin’ to within a leg of the match, before taking out 130 on the bull to progress in to the last four.
“That didn’t feel like a 106 average, I’ve got a lot more left in the locker,” joked Gurney.
“To not miss a shot at a double is great, carry on like that and I’ll be fine. I’ve been finishing pretty well lately and tonight shows that,” concluded the 31-year-old.
Gurney will now face Peter Wright in the last eight after he sealed his passage in to the quarter-finals of the Tabtouch Perth Darts Masters with a 6-2 win over Rhys Mathewson.
Wright, who had beaten Mathewson by the same scoreline in Melbourne a week earlier, average 100.24 and hit almost 50% of his attempts at doubles spoke of his respect for the Australian after the match.
“I beat Rhys last week and he didn’t play anywhere near as well as he can. He’s a good player and he showed that tonight. I had to play well to beat him.
“It’s good to have a test early in the tournament, hopefully that sets me up for the rest of the weekend.” Said Wright.
Michael Smith progressed in to the final eight of the tournament with a comfortable 6-2 victory over Adam Rowe.
The world number nine hit two maximums and sealed the victory with a 120 checkout as he moved in to the quarter-finals.
“I was trying my best out there tonight. It wasn’t a perfect performance but I’m trying to correct any errors I have been making and improve my game,” said Smith.
“I’m here to win and if I play as well as I can there isn’t any reason why that can’t be my trophy on Sunday night,’ added the Englishman.
James Wade will return on Saturday to face Smith after a crushing 6-0 whitewash victory over Darren Hayes.
A 95.94 average for the ‘Machine’ was more than enough to overcome Hayes, who was clearly unsettled by nerves on his TV debut.
“I didn’t enjoy that at all, I’ve got respect for everyone who picks up a dart and you never like to see anyone that nervous,” Said Wade.
“I’m too nice to people, I know that, but it’s the way I am and that isn’t going to change.
“Not many people have won more than me in this sport and people need to remember that. It’s all still in there and it’s starting to come out again,” summed up the Englishman.
Simon Whitlock’s hopes of winning the Tabtouch Perth Darts Masters were enhanced after a 6-2 win over Justin Thompson.
Whitlock punished Thompson for missing 16 darts at doubles as he moved in to Saturday’s quarter-finals.
“I’ve got a lot of respect for Justin, he’s much better than that but I have a job to do and I did it tonight,” said Whitlock.
The Australian will now face Gary Anderson in the last eight after he cruised past Rob Szabo with a 6-1 win.
The former World Champion, averaged 96.47 and hit seven perfect darts in leg four of the match in a solid performance.
“I fancied the nine tonight! When the seventh went in I was sure I’d get a shot at the double, but but it wasn’t to be,” said Anderson.
The Scot added, “I was happy with the scoring and other than one leg the doubles were good as well. I’m happy with that, ready for the next one now.”
The Tabtouch Perth Darts Masters continues on Saturday with the four quarter-finals taking place at the HBF Stadium.
TABtouch Perth Darts Masters
Friday August 25 (7pm local time, 12pm BST)
First Round x8
Michael Smith 6-2 Adam Rowe
Peter Wright 6-2 Rhys Mathewson
Daryl Gurney 6-0 Koha Kokiri
James Wade 6-0 Darren Hayes
Simon Whitlock 6-2 Justin Thompson
Phil Taylor 6-4 Kyle Anderson
Gary Anderson 6-1 Rob Szabo
Raymond van Barneveld 6-5 Corey Cadby
Best of 11 legs
Saturday August 26 (7pm local time, 12pm BST)
Quarter-Finals
James Wade (4) v Michael Smith
Gary Anderson (1) v Simon Whitlock
Phil Taylor (2) v Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Wright (3) v Daryl Gurney