Las Vegas Desert Classic

Mervyn King kicked off the second night of action in the Las Vegas Desert Classic when getting his campaign off to a winning start against Louis Blundell.

The King overcame a slow start to win 6-3 after his opponent had gone into the break with a 3-2 lead.

The world championship semi-finalist missed a clutch of doubles but levelled after the return and then secured the first game against the darts when he nailed double 16.

He then followed up with an 11-dart leg before closing out the win on double four after Blundell had fluffed three out shots.

Stoke Andy Hamilton had little trouble in overcoming Chris White 6-1 after easing into a 4-0 lead early on.

Hamilton never looked back after storming ahead, nailing 180 in the third game, and although the California-based qualifier got on the scoresheet in the fifth, it was only after the Brit had missed three attempts at doubles.

White also had a chance to extend the match in the next, but was again found wanting on the checkout and Hamilton stepped in with double 10.

Maximum
Peter Manley was forced to qualify for the main event after dropping out of the world's top 16 but it did him no harm as he saw off Mark Walsh 6-4.

The 2003 champion took out 100 to win the opening leg although Walsh returned the favour with a 150 checkout against the darts to level it up.

Manley was forced to level with a 106 finish and then went ahead with a bull finish, and extended the lead to 4-2 on double 12.

A maximum set up the next leg for 'One Dart' as he reeled off four games in succession before Walsh finally hit back in the eighth with tops.

But it only delayed the inevitable and Manley hit 171 to set up a double 12 finish to book his place in the second round.

Co Stompe was a surprise winner against the in-form Colin Osborne, with the Players Championship winner never firing.

The Dutchman punished his opponent for missing with four darts at doubles to take a 3-1 lead, but Osborne hung in and brought the scores level at 4-4.

However, Stompe again edged ahead thanks mainly to a 171 in the ninth leg and Osborne appeared on the way to forcing a decider when hitting two successive maximums.

But he missed the seventh treble 20 and he let in Stompe, who sealed victory with a 13 dart finish on double eight.


Missed chance
Raymond van Barneveld set up an all-Dutch second round clash with Stompe when crushing American Bill Davis 6-2.

Barney took the first two sets before Davis responded with a 140 followed by a maximum to narrow the lead.

But he missed a chance to level on double 16 and van Barneveld extended the lead once more before going 4-1 up with a double 16 finish.

Davis pulled one back but the Dutchman began the seventh leg with a maximum and never looked back.

Results:
M King 6-3 L Blundell
A Hamilton 6-1 C White
P Manley 6-4 M Walsh
C Stompe 6-4 C Osborne
R van Barneveld 6-2 B Davis
J Wade 6-3 P Hazel
A Lewis 6-5 V van der Voort
K Painter 6-2 D Young

Phil Taylor needed to be at his best as he saw off the challenge of Gary Anderson to reach the semi-finals of the Las Vegas Desert Classic.

The 14-time world champion eventually won 10-6 and finished with a three-dart average of 105 as he was pushed all the way by the classy Scot.

In the final four Taylor will meet John Part who saw off Terry Jenkins in another close encounter, while Raymond van Barneveld will take on James Wade as they came through matches against Mervyn King and Adrian Lewis respectively.

Taylor served immediate notice of his intentions against Anderson as he produced a maximum with his first visit to the board on the way to taking the opening leg.

Anderson - who produced seven maximums in total - fought back in fine style to take the next three legs, producing a 106 check-out in leg four.

Taylor responded to claim the next three to move ahead once more and then stepped in when Anderson faltered on a double to edge 6-4 clear.

But when Taylor surprisingly failed to check out 52 in the next, Anderson broke back by landing 56 and the contest was back with throw.

However, Taylor moved up a gear to pull into an 8-5 lead and while his opponent responded to close the gap to 8-6, he produced a 14-darter to move to the brink of victory before closing out the contest by finding double-eight after Anderson had missed two darts at the same double.

Part edges thriller
Part edged a cracking contest with Jenkins to book his semi-final berth, eventually seeing of The Bull 10-8.

Part had looked set for a comfortable victory as he forged into a 7-2 lead, but Jenkins fought back bravely to pull back within one at 8-7.

However, Part remained cool and a superb visit of 168 left him double-eight which he coolly took out to edge to within one of the finishing post.

Jenkins took out 36 to stay alive in the next, but a crucial 180 from Part - his sixth of the match - put the Canadian on course and he ended the contest by checking out 65.


Easy for Barney
Van Barneveld claimed the easiest and most convincing win of the night as he dismantled King 10-1, ending with a 104 average in the process.

The writing was on the wall for King as Barney steamed to the first interval with a 5-0 lead, the Englishman having had darts to win the first two legs.

King did manage to avoid the whitewash as he landed double 16 in leg seven, but it proved his only success as van Barneveld cruised through, closing out victory with double 16.


Clinical Wade
Wade produced a thoroughly professional display to see off Adrian Lewis 10-6, The Machine not dropping his throw during the match.

Lewis showed flashes of his undoubted class, taking out 121 with a bull finish in leg three early on, but could not find the consistency to trouble Wade on his own delivery.

Wade always kept his nose in front and, while Lewis hit double 19 to stay in the match at 9-6, it merely prolonged the inevitable as Wade came back after the interval to complete the job.

Phil Taylor produced another darting masterclass to clinch his fifth Las Vegas Desert Classic title with a 13-11 victory over Raymond van Barneveld on Sunday night.

The 14-time world champion was once again in mesmerising touch, scoring heavily and finishing clinically on his way to a third major final victory over his fierce rival.

However Barney can hold his head up high, storming back after a sluggish start in what was another classic match-up between these two heavyweights of their sport.

The Dutchman looked doomed at 11-7 down, however he reeled off three legs on the spin before Taylor showed his class to wipe out 104 and seal the win.

Both men had booked their final places following comfortable semi-final victories earlier in the evening at the Mandalay Bay venue.

Taylor signalled his intent with a staggering 11-1 triumph over former world champion John Part - averaging 107 in an utterly one-sided contest first up on Sunday evening.

Inspired
Barney was made to work harder by James Wade, but he too picked up where he left-off in the previous rounds to seal a 11-6 win over 'The Machine'.

Taylor started the final with his 18th maxiumum of the tournament and quickly wrapped up the opening leg with a 13-darter.

Barney was staring at a 3-0 deficit moments later after failing to capitalise on three missed doubles from Taylor, however the Dutchman recovered with back-to-back legs to head into the first interval 3-2 behind.

From there on there was little to separate these two darting geniuses and it wasn't until the 15th leg that Taylor made his move.

With the scores level at 7-7, the Stoke-on-Trent supremo reeled off four legs on the bounce with an inspired spell of heavy scoring and clinical finishing as Barney looked on in disbelief.

However, with Taylor seemingly cruising towards yet another major triumph, van Barneveld launched an inspired comeback, effortlessly taking out 124 on double 11 in the 21st leg to reduce the deficit to 11-10.

But Taylor showed his class, breaking Barney's throw the very next game before wiping out 104 in style to complete another breathtaking victory