‘The Power’ was super-charged in his 4-1 victory but that doesn’t give a fair reflection on just how well the Irishman played.
Taylor averaged an incredible 109…..McGowan 102 and it was simply brilliant entertainment. Unicorn’s star turn knew he would have to produce his very best and when McGowan raced through the first set, Taylor realised he had to deliver something special.
He won four sets on the spin (3-1, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2) as the up and coming McGowan tested him to the limit. He was forced to power in a 10-darter, two 11-dart legs and several 12 darters to keep the Irishman at bay!
Taylor enthused: “Fantastic! He is a great player and he pushed me all the way. I knew it was going to be tough and he kept coming back at me with 180 after 180.”
Taylor now faces another potential classic in the last 16 against Chris Mason…..but the Boxing Day show from ‘The Power’ proved once again that he is in the mood for that 14th World title.
Andy Hamilton booked his place in the last 16 after a thrill-a-minute ride against Mark Dudbridge – edging a thriller, which produced an amazing 24 180s – a record for a 2nd Round match in the 14 year history of the World Championships at the Circus Tavern.
Hamilton was a relieved man after his gruelling victory in a two-hour marathon. “It’s one of the hardest games I’ve ever played. I felt a few nerves but I loved it up there on the stage and I was really happy that I showed resilience under that sort of pressure.”
He added: “Mark was on top of his game, so I had to pull out all the stops….. So many 180s and so much quality but I am into the last 16 and that’s all that matters.”
There were five maximum’s in the opening set…..in fact, both players started the match with 180s! There was also a brilliant 161 check-out from Dudbridge, as ‘Flash’ went one set up.
The Unicorn Contender is a class act and he stormed back to take the next two, including an 11-darter to clinch the 3rd set, as Dudbridge was let down badly by his finishing. The man from Bristol missed six darts to win set four and Hamilton stepped in…..a delightful double 10 putting ‘The Hammer’ 3 sets to 1 in front.
Somehow we knew this match was going the distance and Dudbridge lived up to his nickname. He won six out of the next eight legs, which included seven more 180s, to take us into a deciding set.
Hamilton though, saved some sizzling darts for the crucial moments. From one leg all in the decider, he hit 180s in consecutive legs and finally nailed double 12 to win a Christmas cracker of a match.
Earlier, Alan Tabern clinched a place in the last 16, after another epic struggle. The man from St.Helens beat Denis Ovens in a final leg shoot-out in the deciding set, after the match reached three sets and five legs apiece.
Amazingly, Ovens missed two darts to win the match in regulation and he also came agonisingly close to becoming the first man to hit a magical 9-darter at the World Championships. Ovens hit eight perfect darts and just missed double 12 on top of the wire!
There is a £15,000 bonus on offer for the first man to nail darts holy grail at the Circus Tavern.
In the final match of a long night, ‘Diamond Dave Askew beat Alan Caves 4-2. There were 12 180s in the game – meaning a staggering total of 61 maximum’s in just four games!
Boxing Day 2nd Round results (best of seven sets):
Denis Ovens 3-4 Alan Tabern
Wednesday’s order of play:
2nd Round (best of seven sets):
James Wade v Dave Ladley
3rd Round (best of seven sets):
Raymond Van Barneveld v Rico Vonck
By Stuart Pyke
Photo : Lawrence Lustig/PDC
