It was billed as the match of the World Championship. It lived up to all expectations as John Part produced some breathtaking darts to beat the talent that is Chris Mason in a thriller. Unicorn’s former World Champ won it 4 sets to 3, after surviving a barrage from Mason in a classic darting drama at The Circus. There were 17 180s and both players averaged around 96. “Chris is so talented,” said Part. “But sometimes he out-thinks himself and I always felt pretty good up there tonight.” The Canadian admitted the turning point came at the end of the fourth set, when Mason missed darts at double top for a 3-1 lead. Part stepped in to nail double 11 and the momentum swung his way. Part started with a 113 check-out in the first leg and took a pulsating first set. We knew then that this was going to be a top tungsten tussle…..and so it proved to be. Back-to-back 12 dart legs saw Mason race through the second set and it was the same story in the third. Then came that pivotal fourth set. Part started with a fantastic 167 finish. Mason replied with a 136 kill. The nerve-ends were jangling as both players missed opportunities. Part prevailed. It just got better and better. In the fifth set, Part produced a magical 127 check-out and a 13-dart leg to move ahead again. Back came ‘Mace the Ace’ to take us into a decider. Part took the darts against the throw in the opening leg and this time there was no way back for Mason. The Canadian nailed double six to start the Part-y! “It is the worst feeling in the world losing on that stage and I was so determined it wasn’t going to happen to me,” he said. Part now faces another big game in the Third Round against ‘Hawaii 501’ Wayne Mardle on Thursday evening. “I have been there, done it and won it. He is still aching to get there, so it will be tough but if I play well, I know I will win.” Elsewhere on day six, St. Helens qualifier Gary Welding was the first man through to the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes.com World Championships. Welding, who beat Unicorn’s Colin Lloyd in the first round, got the better of American John Kuczynski 4 sets to 2. All the Unicorn big-guns are in action on day seven. Phil Taylor faces Andy Hamilton, Adrian Lewis takes on World No.4 Roland Scholten and Kevin Painter plays Mark Dudbridge, while Part hopes to sink Mardle. By Stuart Pyke
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