James Wade headlined Sunday night. The former champion and last year's finalist has great memories of the
World Matchplay and he saw off Jermaine Wattimena.
While
Gian van Veen and
Wessel Nijman faced tricky examinations in Krzysztof Ratajski and Dave Chisnall. Ryan Searle opened against William O'Connor.
Wade found it easy at times and tricky at other junctures as he saw off Wattimena. Wade missed bull for a 121. Wattimena returned for 117 but he went into the treble one which saw Wade back for double 20 to go 1-0 up to start.
A 180 to leave 84. Wade missed double 11 after hitting the treble 14. Wattimena returned but drifted into single 16 to bust. Wade came back for a break on double four for 2-0 as he encountered one way traffic early.
A 180 for Wattimena but it didn't leave a finish as Wade left 75 after a dart fell out. Wade went treble 17, double 12 for 3-0. A 180 for Wade as Wattimena continued to struggle. A 116 checkout saw Wade break and go 4-0 up.
Wade missed treble 18 for 164 and Wattimena looked at 47 to break straight back. He hit double 16 for 4-1 down at the break for his only solace. Wade returned and hit double two post break. Wattimena held for 5-3 and Wade returned to be broken at 5-4 down as the Dutchman hit 76. Wade led at the next break hitting 60 to go 6-4 up.
Wade slips in to treble one for 144. Wattimena back for 64 but he missed double 20. Wade takes aim at 101. Again treble one and he doesn't even get a shot as Wattimena returns but fails to clean up. Wade returned to hold for 7-4.
67 missed by Wade to break but Wattimena misses 80 and Wade returned for double five. Wade missed 120 and Wattimena came back to break back with 76. 180 into 121 for Wade. He missed double 14 and gave Wattimena a shot at 120 but the Dutchman didn't get the requisite treble.
But Wade slipped on double seven and allowed Wattimena back for double 19 but he indeed also hit the single. Wade finally hit double seven to break for 9-5 and was now throwing for it. Wattimena broke again for 9-6 but Wade finally got over the line at 10-7 pinning 64 for the win.
Double Dutch brilliance as Van Veen and Nijman move through
While Van Veen saw off a tricky test on paper in Krzysztof Ratajski. To start, Ratajski missed the bull for 84 and Van Veen was back for double 16.
A brilliant 144 for Van Veen to go 2-0 up to begin. Ratajski holds on double six albeit with Van Veen waiting so the Dutchman could have so easily been ahead 3-0. Another 144 for Van Veen who surged 3-1 ahead. Ratajski missed 124 but he returned to hold for 3-2 down as Van Veen could only pressure.
But it was Van Veen again. He hit a 74 checkout to lead 4-2. Van Veen missed second double 19 to go 5-2 up. Ratajski took aim at 93 but couldn't pin it and Van Veen hit double 16 for 5-2. Van Veen missed double 16 for an 88 checkout. Ratajski took aim at 78 but he missed double 20 and Van Veen returned for double eight for 6-2.
Ratajski couldn't pin 95 and Van Veen returns for 72 as he went 7-3 up. Double 16 for Van Veen to go two away at 8-4. Van Veen produced an incredible 160 checkout to break and he was now throwing for it.
An 88 checkout and Van Veen's break is cancelled. Ratajski missed 129 to hold for 9-6 but returned for double 18. He hit double nine for it. Van Veen can't hit 161 but he hit bull to set up 75. 62 for Ratajski who misses double 16 and GVV returns for double six for a 10-6 win.
Wessel Nijman swept aside Dave Chisnall in what was a great night for the Dutch as he won through 10-5 in a superb statement to end the night.
Nijman led 1-0 early after a nervy start. Albeit he started to motor from there. He had two breaks without hitting a 180 in those legs. He hit a 64 checkout for 2-0. 117 for 3-0 then 4-0 he pinned double 14.
Chisnall fought back breaking on 60 for 6-3 down after Nijman went 6-1 up after breaking on double 20 for 5-1. Double 16 for Nijman followed though as he went 7-3 up in the race to 10. He broke back and was set to throw for 8-3.
Nijman was two away holding throw hitting double 16 and went one away on double eight at 9-4. He aimed to break to seal it or throw for it next time. He would throw for it at 9-5 winning it 10-5 with a 108 checkout.
Searle takes down O'Connor
To open the night, Ryan Searle took down William O'Connor 10-6. He started superbly with two double 20's for a 131 checkout for Searle.
A 67 checkout for back-to-back 15 darters as Searle broke. O'Connor missed double 20 for 94 and double double went begging. Searle went 3-0 up. A sumptuous 127 checkout for O'Connor to get on the board and hold at 3-1 down. But Searle led 4-1 at the break.
An 81 checkout missed by Searle but O'Connor missed 66 and Searle returned for double four to break and go 5-1 up. Searle backed up the break and was three away pinning double 20 again for 7-2.
O'Connor missed two for double 12. Double six though pinned to go 7-3 down. O'Connor broke on double 20 then held to go 7-5 down. Searle back in business with a 56 checkout for 8-5.
Searle missed 170 for 9-5 and O'Connor was back for double 18. Searle missed 110 for 9-6 but he returned for double 20 to go one away and he clinched it with a 54 checkout.