Phil Taylor made a strong start to his bid for a fourth Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a 6-4 first round win over Kevin Painter.
Taylor battles past Painter in eventful start to Desert Classic
Phil Taylor made a strong start to his bid for a fourth Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a 6-4 first round win over Kevin Painter at Mandalay Bay.
Painter showed plenty of fight and determination, but it was Taylor - averaging 109 who secured a second round passage where he will face old adversary Dennis Priestley.
'The Power' flew into a 3-0 lead with an 112 average and despite a brief fightback from 'The Artist', Taylor's class told as he eventually broke clear.
The rematch of the 2004 World Championship final lived up to its billing and even after 'The Artist' broke Taylor in the seventh and ninth legs to make it 5-4, the 12-time world champion broke back to clinch the win.
Menacing display
Priestley cemented his place in the second round with a ruthless 6-2 victory over Co Stompe.
'The Menace' simply powered past his Dutch opponent with a mixture of high scoring and clinical finishing in the opening game of the night.
Stompe, making his first appearance in Las Vegas after his switch from the BDO flew out of the traps with a high scoring opening leg but Priestley bounced back emphatically.
The Sheffield arrower won five successive legs as he began to show his class - racing into a 5-1 lead.
Stompe took out 102 to make it 5-2, however Priestley clinched victory in the next leg by finishing the match with an 84 checkout to seal a round two clash against old adversary Taylor.
Bull on the charge
The second game of the evening saw Terry Jenkins struggle past Irishman Mick McGowan with a 6-4 success.
After blitzing into a 3-0 lead it looked like a stroll in the desert for 'The Bull', however McGowan responded by winning four of the next five legs to level the match at 4-4.
After rediscovering his finishing touch, Jenkins eventually pulled clear to clinch the next two legs and book his place in the next round.
Gray day for Hawaai 501
Two-time Desert Classic runner-up Wayne Mardle was stunned in Mandalay Bay as qualifier Adrian Gray clinched a dramatic 6-4 win.
Gray started the match with a 180 and that set the tone as the 27-year-old from Hastings overcame 'Hawaii 501' with a superb display of darts.
Mardle failed to find his rhythm, and 'The Conqueror' punished the 2004 and 2005 finalist with 126 and 156 checkouts before breaking Mardle in the sixth leg
Despite missing three darts for the match in the ninth leg, Gray held his nerve to take out double five and book his place in the second round.
King through; Lloyd beaten
In what was billed as the game of the night, 2006 Desert Classic winner John Part was eliminated by Mervyn King in a high scoring encounter.
King relentlessly peppered the trebles and capitalised on some inept finishing from 'Darth Maple' to clinch an impressive 6-4 win.
Former world number one Colin Lloyd was on the receiving end of the shock of the night as he went out at the first hurdle after a 6-5 defeat to qualifier Sam Rooney.
Roland Scholten also progressed - the Dutchman overcame a slow start to beat Barrie Bates 6-4 and secure his place in the last 16.
In the final match of the night, American Darin Young overcame qualifier Martin Burchell 6-4.
