The Darts Shop

ADRIAN Lewis headed home to the Potteries today after his bid to conquer the world shattered after a thrilling shoot-out at Alexandra Palace.
The number seven seed from Cross Heath made a second-round exit from the PDC Ladbrokes.com world championship after Paul Nicholson came through a thriller in a seventh set tie break.
Lewis finished the match with an average of 96.33 having hit 10 maximum 180s, but it wasn’t enough to take him through to the last 16.
Lewis led the match for the first time at 3-2 and after the Australian-based Geordie drew level to force a deciding set, both players had their chances to take a grip on the match.
Nicholson missed a dart at double 18 to win the contest in the fourth leg and four more attempts were off target in the next.
Lewis cashed in to send the match into a tie break at 2-2 – and then he missed crucial doubles to lead 3-2 and then 4-3.
Nicholson held his nerve to sink back-to-back finishes of 129 and 121 to win the decisive set 6-4.
Lewis shrugged: “It wasn’t my day and I’m going back to the practice board. Every time I had the chance to go in front I would wire the double and I couldn’t put them any closer.
“He played well and deserved to win. He took out some good shots.”
Nicholson announced his arrival as a force during November’s PartyPoker.net Grand Slam of Darts where he claimed the scalp of BDO number one Gary Anderson and incensed many in the crowd before bowing out in the group stages.
He responded to Lewis starting the match with an 11-darter by taking out 125 and went on to win the opening set.
Lewis levelled with the aid of two maximum 180s and then pegged back to 2-2 after Nicholson won the third before ‘Jackpot’ went ahead for the first time in the match.
Nicholson said: “It was a scrap from start to finish and there wasn’t anything between me and Adie. I had the game in my hands, then let it go and won it back again.”

WELSHMAN Barrie Bates stormed into the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship at Alexandra Palace with a stunning victory over Mark Dudbridge.

Bates followed Phil ’The Power’ Taylor – a 4-1 winner over Kevin Painter – into the last eight with a crushing 4-0 success over his English opponent.

The Bedlinog man, who is enjoying his best run in the Worlds after shaking off a nagging foot injury, was always in control against Dudbridge and afterwards thanked the crowd for supporting him.

“The English fans have been great. I’m the only Welshman up there, but they have stood by me. I wasn’t fancied to get this far, but I know I’ve got the game in me and I’m getting better and better,” said the former lorry driver, who will next meet the winner of the third round clash between Dennis Smith and Mervyn King.

As for Taylor and Painter, the duo memorably met in one of the most enthralling finals of this tournament in 2004, when Taylor won in sudden death, but there was no repeat of that drama as ‘The Power’ ominously swept a nervy-looking 17th seed aside.

Taylor broke the match open with a run of 10 consecutive legs after Painter had won the opening set.

It was a performance to give Taylor hope of claiming his first title at this tournament since 2006 and add to his record tally of 11 PDC crowns.

Taylor will meet the winner of this afternoon’s match between eighth seed Wayne Mardle and Co Stompe in the quarter-finals.

James Wade progressed to the third round with a 4-2 win against Tony Eccles, although it was not a convincing display from the world number three.

Wade struggled for consistency throughout, but held his nerve at the key moments to hold off the challenge of his Hartlepool rival.

Next up for Wade will be Dutchman Vincent van der Voort after he beat Colin Osborne 4-1 in yesterday’s afternoon session.

Paul Nicholson caused a shock when he ousted sixth seed Adrian Lewis 4-3 in their second-round match.