Defending champion Raymond van Barneveld has been knocked out in round two of the Las Vegas Desert Classic by Alan Tabern.
'The Saint' marches into quarter-finals
Defending champion Raymond van Barneveld has been knocked out in round two of the Las Vegas Desert Classic, the Dutchman going down 8-4 to Alan Tabern at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
The result was easily the biggest shock of the tournament so far. However, it was business as usual for Phil Taylor, the 13-times World Champion reaching the quarter-finals thanks to a 6-4 victory over Dennis Priestley.
There was little sign of the upset 'The Saint' had in store as he went 3-2 ahead - the legs going with the throw. However, just missing out on a 136 checkout, the underdog then hit double four to break van Barneveld and go 4-2 up.
But the five-times World Champion responded with a maximum to break back at the first attempt and a 13-darter then enabled van Barneveld to level.
The crunch then came for van Barneveld when he failed to land a 14-darter followed by checkouts of 60 and 10 in the ninth leg - Tabern hitting double 12 to go 5-4 ahead.
And the Lancashire thrower then put the pressure right back on his opponent by hitting a maximum in the next leg, with double top signifying another break and a 6-4 lead.
By now Tabern appeared to be easing through the gears - a 32 checkout seeing him on the threshold of victory. Van Barneveld fought back with a 180 in the next leg, but then followed it up with tired-looking scores of 45 and 50.
Nervous
Needing 55 to win, Tabern appeared nervous - dropping one of his darts on the floor - but nevertheless hit double 10 for the win.
"I wouldn't say it's the biggest win but it is my biggest win on TV," Tabern later said.
Of his dropped dart, he added: "Actually that was planned. Before I came on stage I thought 'Every now and again just drop a dart and compose yourself'. And I think I dropped it twice and I hit it twice."
Meanwhile, Taylor remains on course for a fourth Desert Classic title after another clinical display. A 14-darter, and a 101 finish set the wheels in motion before he broke Priestley's throw in leg four.
Taylor then added a third maximum of the match in leg five before a double eight saw him go 4-1 ahead. Priestley responded with a 14-darter and then checked out 76 on double top to pull back to 4-3.
But two double top finishes then put Taylor 6-3 ahead and, although Priestley took the tenth leg, a 109 finish from Taylor took him to the brink of victory. He then ensured his place in the last eight with double top.
James Wade also booked his place in the last eight thanks to an 8-5 victory over Mark Walsh.
Walsh, who has recovered from a bout of dartitis to rediscover his form, produced a battling display to level at 5-5 from 4-1 behind.
But Wade with the pressure mounting, the man nicknamed 'The Machine', reeled off three legs in a row to book his place in the last eight.
"I'm just glad to get through," said Wade. "I'm not happy with my performance and I know I've got lots of improvement in me.
"Mark fought hard and came back well, but I did enough in the end."
High quality
Peter Manley recovered from 4-1 down to defeat Adrian Lewis 8-6 in a high-quality contest.
After falling behind early, 'One Dart' Manley levelled matters at 4-4 with a run that included two 13 dart legs.
The Carlisle thrower broke to lead for the first time at 6-5 but Lewis immediately drew level again by taking the 12th leg, which included his fifth maximum of the match.
And although Lewis had chances in each of the last two legs, it was Manley who held his nerve to progress.
Elsewhere, Andy Hamilton won the deciding leg to see off Dutch youngster Jelle Klaasen.
There was better news for Klaasen's compatriot Roland Scholten, who beat world number five Terry Jenkins 8-6.
