World Darts Championship: Phil Taylor triumphs as Simon Whitlock makes rapid exit
Aussie Whitlock exits in epic encounter
Sunday 20 December 2015 15:35, UK
Phil Taylor produced a confidence-boosting 3-0 win against Japanese qualifier Keita Ono with new arrows to successfully overcome the first hurdle at the World Darts Championship.
'The Power', aiming for his 17th World title, took the decision to change his equipment for his opening match of the tournament.
Taylor, 55, who could end the darting calendar year without a major title for the first time since 2004, opted for arrows 2mm shorter and four grams lighter - 22 grams instead of his usual 26 - in an unusual move.
And although he made hard graft of the first set - averaging just 88 - against the Japanese qualifier, he moved through the gears to claim the next and then fired in a 167 checkout to open the third set in style.
The world's best soft-tip player Ono, who turned 28 two days ago, had eased past Filipino Alex Tagarao in the preliminary match by hitting 75 per cent of his doubles, but was no match for Taylor who finished things off with a 121 finish.
The king of darts, who last won this crown in 2013, averaged 98.39 and hit 60 per cent on the doubles. He will next take on Kevin Painter in a repeat of their classic 2004 final, which Taylor won in a sudden-death leg.
In a tungsten tear-up of the highest order, 'Rapid' Ricky Evans came roaring back to upset Simon Whitlock 6-4 in the deciding set at a raucous Alexandra Palace in north London.
The former European champion and world finalist was two sets up and two legs up before the 25-year-old Kettering thrower came flying back to level things up in dramatic fashion.
Evans, who is one of the quickest players on the planet, then seized his opportunity - just as the match looked to be heading for a sudden-death deciding leg - with a magnificent 130 checkout.
Vincent van der Voort continued his impressive record of having never lost in the first round of the World Championship by whitewashing Australian Laurence Ryder 3-0 to set up a meeting against Ryder's fellow Aussie Kyle Anderson in the next round.
'The Dutch Destroyer' averaged 95.70 as he cruised past the 48-year-old from Perth.
Saturday night results:
Keita Ono 2-0 Alex Tagarao (preliminary match)
Simon Whitlock 2-3 Ricky Evans
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Laurence Ryder
Phil Taylor 3-0 Keita Ono
You can watch the PDC World Darts Championship live on the Sky Sports Darts channel.
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