Van Gerwen and Wade to meet at UK Masters as world's top six advance
Last Updated: March 10, 2013 5:30pm
The top six players in the world advanced to the third round of the UK Masters with Michael van Gerwen and James Wade winning to set up an intriguing last-16 encounter.
The pair will meet for the first time since the Dutchman overtook Wade to move into third place in the PDC Order of Merit a fortnight ago when they go head-to-head again on Sunday.
Van Gerwen dropped only one leg and averaged over 102 in his second round victory over Belgium's Kurt Van De Rijck, while Wade also dropped just one leg as he eased past Mervyn King in the £1000,000 event at Butlins Minehead Resort.
World Champion Phil Taylor was another 6-1 winner in his clash with Jamie Caven, as he averaged 106.97 and took out finishes of 124 and 130 in the victory.
World No 2 Adrian Lewis was also on form as he hit six maximums in a 6-3 win over emerging talent David Pallett.
European Champion Simon Whitlock whitewashed Wayne Jones in their match, while Andy Hamilton's 6-4 win over Brendan Dolan saw the world's top six safely through.
Meanwhile, Raymond van Barneveld averaged an impressive 107.45 in a 6-2 win over Kevin Painter but Wes Newton became the only top-eight player to go out at the last-32 stage when he was beaten 6-3 by Mark Webster.
Former Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson fell 6-3 to John Part, who now faces Mensur Suljovic after the Austrian got the better of Bernd Roith in a deciding leg.
Ronnie Baxter produced the day's highest average of 112.90 in a stunning display against Andy Smith, also hitting five 180s in a 6-3 triumph to set up a clash with Whitlock.
UK Open champion Robert Thornton, Arron Monk, Dave Chisnall, Stuart Kellett and Richie Burnett also advanced, with Burnett now facing Taylor in the next round.
Results
Afternoon Session
Terry Jenkins 2-6 Richie Burnett
Bernd Roith 5-6 Mensur Suljovic
Arron Monk 6-4 Mark Walsh
Colin Lloyd 1-6 Stuart Kellett
Ronnie Baxter 6-3 Andy Smith
Michael van Gerwen 6-1 Kurt Van De Rijck
Robert Thornton 6-4 Tony West
Dave Chisnall 6-5 Nigel Heydon
Evening Session
Wes Newton 3-6 Mark Webster
Andy Hamilton 6-4 Brendan Dolan
John Part 6-3 Gary Anderson
James Wade 6-1 Mervyn King
Phil Taylor 6-1 Jamie Caven
Raymond van Barneveld 6-2 Kevin Painter
Adrian Lewis 6-3 David Pallett
Simon Whitlock 6-0 Wayne Jones
