James Wade eliminated from World Matchplay by Darren Webster
Sunday 23 July 2017 17:38, UK
Former champion James Wade crashed out of the World Matchplay after missing three match darts in defeat to Darren Webster on the opening night on Saturday.
Webster won 13-11 in a marathon first-round encounter at Blackpool's Winter Gardens, a decade since Wade lifted the Matchplay title.
Winning 9-8, Wade blundered with three darts that would have seen him advance into the next round.
World No 6 Wade left the stage at 10 legs apiece for an extended period but, upon his return, was dumped out of the tournament when Webster strung together two legs in a row.
Peter 'Snakebite' Wright survived a difficult night to beat James Wilson 10-8.
Wright took the lead for the first time at 9-8, having seemed likely to join Wade in exiting the tournament earlier than expected.
The world No 3 changed his darts mid-way through the match and eventually scrambled over the line.
Gary Anderson beat Christian Kist 10-7 to begin his challenge for the only major PDC tournament in which he has never reached the final.
World No 2 Anderson stepped up a gear in the closing exchanges after being matched for long periods by former BDO champion Kist.
Michael Smith suffered an upset defeat in the tournament's opening match, losing 10-5 to Steve West.
World No 10 Smith lost seven consecutive legs mid-day through the match and found West's lead to be unassailable.
