Raymond van Barneveld beaten by Andy Hamilton at World Matchplay Darts
Tuesday 21 July 2015 13:43, UK
Andy Hamilton caused the shock of the 2015 World Matchplay Darts so far by knocking out five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld in the first round on Monday night.
'Barney', a 21-time major title winner, was expected to beat the out-of-form Hamilton but struggled with his average from the start and eventually lost 10-7 at the famous Winter Gardens venue in Blackpool.
'The Hammer' raced into a two-leg lead, hitting a 158 checkout along the way. With the momentum fully with the world No 20, Van Barneveld couldn't find the catalyst needed to recover from his poor throwing.
By the second break in play Hamilton had an 8-2 lead, but the halt in the action helped Van Barneveld focus on staging a comeback.
With the 'Barney Army' in full voice, the Dutchman won four consecutive legs to pile the pressure on Hamilton at a crucial time of the match.
Hamilton managed to stop Barney's momentum in the 14th leg to take him just a hold of throw away from a famous win, but once again Van Barneveld rallied to win another two legs which took him to within a break of levelling the match.
With the nerves visible Hamilton initially missed double nine to finish a 123 checkout, but returned to hit the bed at the second time of asking to secure a last-16 tie with Phil Taylor.
Taylor's winning streak goes on
Taylor continued his incredible winning streak at the World Matchplay with a first round win earlier in the night.
Taylor has not lost at the tournament in eight years and added his 36th consecutive victory on Monday night with a straightforward 10-2 win over John Henderson.
The 15-time Winter Gardens winner started the game in style with four treble 20s and a break of Henderson's throw. But the world No 2 struggled with his doubles early in the game and missed plenty of opportunities to make the match a whitewash.
Despite Taylor's low percentage on the doubles, Henderson had little to challenge the 16-time world champion and Taylor powered his way into a two leg lead at 3-1.
Henderson couldn't find the rhythm of his rocking throwing motion and it wasn't long before the consistent Taylor had run away with victory.
Thornton's Matchplay misery continues
Earlier in the evening, Robert Thornton's miserable Matchplay run continued with a 10-7 defeat to world youth champion Keegan Brown.
Thornton has now equalled Eric Bristow's record of six consecutive first-round exits at the tour's second most prestigious event.
Brown got off to a good start, taking a 5-1 lead against the world No 8, before Thornton fought back to win three legs on the trot. But 22-year-old Brown showed resilience to respond with a break back.
Brown closed out the match with an 87 checkout, finishing on the bull.
Chizzy wins 24-leg thriller
Brown will play Dave Chisnall in the last 16 after the St Helens thrower sneaked past Jamie Caven in an epic 13-11 encounter.
Every time it seemed 'Maximum Man' Chisnall was ready to take the match into his hands, world No 23 Caven would peg him back with some quality finishing.
Chisnall, who lit up this season's Premier League, carried on hitting his trademark maximums and eventually the pressure told on Caven.
The tungsten tussle swung one way then the other before Chisnall broke Caven to win and prevent a sudden-death 25th leg.
World Matchplay Darts night three results:
Keegan Brown 10-7 Robert Thornton
Dave Chisnall 13-11 Jamie Caven
Phil Taylor 10-2 John Henderson
Andy Hamilton 10-7 Raymond van Barneveld
