2007 World Matchplay Darts
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Stan James World Matchplay was the 14th annual staging of a professional darts tournament by the Professional Darts Corporation
. It was held at its traditional home, the Winter Gardens, Blackpool
between July 22 and July 29. James Wade
won his first major title, defeating Terry Jenkins
in the final.
Defending and eight times champion, Phil Taylor suffered a semi-final defeat to Jenkins, meaning that he had surrendered both the World Championship and World Matchplay titles for the first time since the PDC began in 1994. Raymond van Barneveld
, who went into this event having won the first three televised majors of the year (World Championship, UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic) saw his hopes of the first ever clean-sweep evaporate with a quarter-final defeat to Adrian Lewis
. Barneveld was making his debut in the event having failed to qualify in 2006.
Both Lewis and Jenkins suffered hangovers from their epic victories over the two favourites as they lost their next matches - with James Wade
capitalising. He beat Lewis in the semi-final and Jenkins in the final. Wade became the youngest winner of a PDC televised title at the age of 24 and also rose to number three in the world rankings
- the highest position of his career to date.
broadcast the event live in the UK & Ireland for the 14th year running. The final between Wade & Jenkins achieved viewing figures of 183,000 - although that was surpassed by the quarter finals on Thursday (188,000) and the semi-finals on Friday received the highest viewing figures with 240,000 (the third highest-rated programme on Sky Sports 1 for that week)
Two of the first night's matches went to the tie-break as Kevin Painter
fought back from 4-6 down to edge Adrian Gray
12-10. Adrian Lewis
hit five 180s and five ton-plus finishes in his first round win over Mark Dudbridge
and the other tie-breaker had Chris Mason
missing a dart at the bullseye and two at double-eight for the match before losing 11-13 to Roland Scholten
Afternoon wins for Terry Jenkins
, Ronnie Baxter
and John Part
were followed by Barrie Bates
battling the symptoms of gout
to overcome Andy Smith
10-8. The evening session saw Dennis Priestley
beat rising talent Colin Osborne
before Michael van Gerwen
beat Peter Manley
in a tie-break 11-9 having led 5-2 and 8-4. Phil Taylor won eight successive legs from 2-2 against Wes Newton
to go through. Mervyn King beat the 2005 champion Colin Lloyd
10-4 with Lloyd having to hit three ton-plus finishes to stay in the match. "Jaws" now faces a slip down the world rankings
as a result of losing ranking points from his title success of two years ago.
It wasn't until the fourth evening that World Champion Raymond van Barneveld
appeared in the tournament - his debut in the World Matchplay having failed to qualify the previous year. A break of throw in the sixth leg against Denis Ovens
saw van Barneveld edge clear and the rest of the match went with the throw as the Dutchman went through 10-7. The second round got underway with Roland Scholten
racing to a 6-1 lead over Wayne Mardle
with some clinical finishing - Mardle was unable to catch up and went out 6-13. Terry Jenkins
continued his fine form coming from 4-5 behind to lead 9-6 against John Part
and three of the next four legs put the Bull clear and he closed out the match 13-8.
The afternoon session saw James Wade
sneak into the quarter-finals as Dennis Priestley
missed a dart at double top to win 13-11. Wade himself missed 11 doubles to take the match before a double 10 sealed a 16-14 win. Mervyn King went through having won 10 out of 11 legs from 3-3 to beat Andy Jenkins 13-4. Ronnie Baxter
was one leg from defeat to Michael van Gerwen
at 10-12 but won four successive legs to beat the Dutch teenage sensation who missed an incredible seven darts to stay in the match in the decisive 26th leg.
The evening session went to the higher seeded players as Adrian Lewis
, Raymond van Barneveld
and Phil Taylor all progressed to the last eight.
Ronnie Baxter
almost produced another superb comeback in the first quarter-final against Terry Jenkins
. He was 15-8 down in a race to 16, but took five successive legs to be within striking distance before Jenkins stumbled over the line 16-13. James Wade
broke Mervyn King's throw in the sixth leg, then led 7-3 and 9-6 and always stayed in front to reach the semi-final 16-11.
Adrian Lewis
produced a major shock knocking out world champion Raymond van Barneveld
in the first evening quarter-final. Van Barneveld was 8-5 and 12-11 up but Lewis roared on by the crowd took five of the last seven legs to win 16-14. Phil Taylor was last on stage and stormed past Roland Scholten
taking the first eight legs before Scholten got on the scoreboard. Taylor then took another eight successive legs to win 16-1, the most comprehensive quarter-final win in the history of the tournament.
Terry Jenkins
beat Phil Taylor to set up a final with James Wade
. Jenkins was in superb form en route to a 17-11 victory in a match where Taylor was heavily booed during his walk on, to record his first ever victory over "The power". his first ever against the 13-time world champion. Earlier Wade clinched his place in the final in Blackpool
with a clinical demolition of Adrian Lewis
. Wade hit 70 per cent of his checkouts, including four of over 100, as Lewis failed to build on Thursday's thrilling quarter-final win over Raymond van Barneveld
. Eight successive legs sealed it for Wade, who hoped to go one better than last year when he was vanquished by Taylor in the final.
A new name on the trophy was guaranteed and James Wade
took a 6-1 lead early on in the race for the title. Terry Jenkins
was never able to reach the heights of his semi-final win over Phil Taylor but never gave up including a 120 finish to fight back to 7-15 but that was to be his last leg victory as Wade took the title with a double top for a 18-7 win and his first televised tournament success.
Professional Darts Corporation
The Professional Darts Corporation is a professional darts organization, established in the United Kingdom during 1992, when a group of leading professional players split from the British Darts Organisation to form what was initially called the World Darts Council...
. It was held at its traditional home, the Winter Gardens, Blackpool
Winter Gardens, Blackpool
The Winter Gardens is a large entertainment complex in the town centre of Blackpool, Lancashire, England. It has twelve different venues, including a theatre, ballroom and conference facilities. Opened in 1878, it is a Grade II* listed building, incorporating various elements built between 1875 and...
between July 22 and July 29. James Wade
James Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
won his first major title, defeating Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins is an English professional darts player who is nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the nickname "Tucker" for his matches...
in the final.
Defending and eight times champion, Phil Taylor suffered a semi-final defeat to Jenkins, meaning that he had surrendered both the World Championship and World Matchplay titles for the first time since the PDC began in 1994. Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
, who went into this event having won the first three televised majors of the year (World Championship, UK Open and Las Vegas Desert Classic) saw his hopes of the first ever clean-sweep evaporate with a quarter-final defeat to Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation who is the reigning PDC World Darts Champion...
. Barneveld was making his debut in the event having failed to qualify in 2006.
Both Lewis and Jenkins suffered hangovers from their epic victories over the two favourites as they lost their next matches - with James Wade
James Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
capitalising. He beat Lewis in the semi-final and Jenkins in the final. Wade became the youngest winner of a PDC televised title at the age of 24 and also rose to number three in the world rankings
Darts world rankings
Darts world rankings are a system which should determine a list of the best dart players in the world based on their performances in tournaments...
- the highest position of his career to date.
Prize fund
- Winner: £50,000
- Runner-Up: £20,000
- Semi-finalists: £10,000
- Quarter-finalists: £7,500
- Last 16: £5,000
- 1st round losers: £2,500
- Total: £200,000
- Nine-dart jackpot: £10,000 - not won, becomes £15,000 for World Grand Prix
Draw
Television coverage
Sky SportsSky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
broadcast the event live in the UK & Ireland for the 14th year running. The final between Wade & Jenkins achieved viewing figures of 183,000 - although that was surpassed by the quarter finals on Thursday (188,000) and the semi-finals on Friday received the highest viewing figures with 240,000 (the third highest-rated programme on Sky Sports 1 for that week)
Tournament review
- Day 1, Sunday 22 July
Two of the first night's matches went to the tie-break as Kevin Painter
Kevin Painter
Kevin Painter is an English professional darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation tournaments, where he is known as "The Artist"...
fought back from 4-6 down to edge Adrian Gray
Adrian Gray
Adrian Gray is an English darts player. Previously using the nickname '3 Styler', he is now known as 'The Conqueror'. Adrian made his televised debut at the 2003 UK Open...
12-10. Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation who is the reigning PDC World Darts Champion...
hit five 180s and five ton-plus finishes in his first round win over Mark Dudbridge
Mark Dudbridge
Mark Daniel Dudbridge is an English professional darts player.-Darts career:He started playing in his very early teens, citing Dennis Priestley as one of his heroes...
and the other tie-breaker had Chris Mason
Chris Mason (darts player)
Christopher John Mason is an English darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He uses the nickname Mace the Ace for his matches.- BDO and first PDC spell :...
missing a dart at the bullseye and two at double-eight for the match before losing 11-13 to Roland Scholten
Roland Scholten
Roland Scholten is a Dutch professional darts player who plays for the Professional Darts Corporation and formerly for the British Darts Organisation. He is nicknamed Tripod or The Flying Dutchman and uses Hey Ya by Outkast as his walk-on. He is currently ranked 45th in the PDC...
- Day 2, Monday 23 July
Afternoon wins for Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins is an English professional darts player who is nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the nickname "Tucker" for his matches...
, Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
and John Part
John Part
John Part is a Canadian professional darts player, who is nicknamed Darth Maple.Part is one of only five players in darts history to be a three time World Champion...
were followed by Barrie Bates
Barrie Bates
Barrie Bates is a darts player currently residing in Bedlinog, Mid-Glamorgan. He plays in the Professional Darts Corporation and is a regular on the circuit. His nickname is "Batesy"....
battling the symptoms of gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
to overcome Andy Smith
Andy Smith (darts player)
Andrew Smith is a darts player who competes in Professional Darts Corporation events. He uses the nickname Pieman for his matches...
10-8. The evening session saw Dennis Priestley
Dennis Priestley
Dennis Priestley is an English professional darts player. He has won two world championships, and was the first player to win both the BDO and WDC world championships, in 1991 and 1994 respectively...
beat rising talent Colin Osborne
Colin Osborne
Colin Osborne is an English darts player currently playing in Professional Darts Corporation events.-Darts career:Osborne has won two PDC Pro Tour events and he also managed to hit two perfect nine dart finishes in 2005...
before Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen is a Dutch professional darts player, nicknamed Mighty Mike. He is the youngest player in history to win a major televised tournament in either the BDO or the PDC, winning the 2006 Winmau World Masters at the age of 17...
beat Peter Manley
Peter Manley
Peter David Manley is an English professional darts player who plays in the Professional Darts Corporation. He is nicknamed One Dart as he is known for hitting doubles with his first dart...
in a tie-break 11-9 having led 5-2 and 8-4. Phil Taylor won eight successive legs from 2-2 against Wes Newton
Wes Newton
Wesley "Wes" Newton is an English darts player who plays in Professional Darts Corporation tournaments.-Darts career:...
to go through. Mervyn King beat the 2005 champion Colin Lloyd
Colin Lloyd
Colin Lloyd , nicknamed Jaws, is an English professional darts player on the Professional Darts Corporation circuit. He is a former world number one ranked player and he has won two major television titles in the PDC - the 2004 World Grand Prix and 2005 World Matchplay...
10-4 with Lloyd having to hit three ton-plus finishes to stay in the match. "Jaws" now faces a slip down the world rankings
Darts world rankings
Darts world rankings are a system which should determine a list of the best dart players in the world based on their performances in tournaments...
as a result of losing ranking points from his title success of two years ago.
- Day 4, Tuesday 24 July
It wasn't until the fourth evening that World Champion Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
appeared in the tournament - his debut in the World Matchplay having failed to qualify the previous year. A break of throw in the sixth leg against Denis Ovens
Denis Ovens
Denis Ovens is an English darts player currently ranked number 29 in the PDC Order of Merit. He is nicknamed The Heat and is now based in Stevenage. Ovens is widely regarded as one of the most consistent players in the circuit, though he has as yet failed to convert his form from the circuit to...
saw van Barneveld edge clear and the rest of the match went with the throw as the Dutchman went through 10-7. The second round got underway with Roland Scholten
Roland Scholten
Roland Scholten is a Dutch professional darts player who plays for the Professional Darts Corporation and formerly for the British Darts Organisation. He is nicknamed Tripod or The Flying Dutchman and uses Hey Ya by Outkast as his walk-on. He is currently ranked 45th in the PDC...
racing to a 6-1 lead over Wayne Mardle
Wayne Mardle
Wayne Mardle is a darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation, and former player in the BDO. He now lives in Romford...
with some clinical finishing - Mardle was unable to catch up and went out 6-13. Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins is an English professional darts player who is nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the nickname "Tucker" for his matches...
continued his fine form coming from 4-5 behind to lead 9-6 against John Part
John Part
John Part is a Canadian professional darts player, who is nicknamed Darth Maple.Part is one of only five players in darts history to be a three time World Champion...
and three of the next four legs put the Bull clear and he closed out the match 13-8.
- Day 5, Wednesday 25 July
The afternoon session saw James Wade
James Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
sneak into the quarter-finals as Dennis Priestley
Dennis Priestley
Dennis Priestley is an English professional darts player. He has won two world championships, and was the first player to win both the BDO and WDC world championships, in 1991 and 1994 respectively...
missed a dart at double top to win 13-11. Wade himself missed 11 doubles to take the match before a double 10 sealed a 16-14 win. Mervyn King went through having won 10 out of 11 legs from 3-3 to beat Andy Jenkins 13-4. Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
was one leg from defeat to Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen
Michael van Gerwen is a Dutch professional darts player, nicknamed Mighty Mike. He is the youngest player in history to win a major televised tournament in either the BDO or the PDC, winning the 2006 Winmau World Masters at the age of 17...
at 10-12 but won four successive legs to beat the Dutch teenage sensation who missed an incredible seven darts to stay in the match in the decisive 26th leg.
The evening session went to the higher seeded players as Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation who is the reigning PDC World Darts Champion...
, Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
and Phil Taylor all progressed to the last eight.
- Day 6, Thursday 26 July Quarter Finals
Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter
Ronnie Baxter is an English darts player. He uses the nickname The Rocket for his matches. Baxter is known for his fast, robotic throwing action...
almost produced another superb comeback in the first quarter-final against Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins is an English professional darts player who is nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the nickname "Tucker" for his matches...
. He was 15-8 down in a race to 16, but took five successive legs to be within striking distance before Jenkins stumbled over the line 16-13. James Wade
James Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
broke Mervyn King's throw in the sixth leg, then led 7-3 and 9-6 and always stayed in front to reach the semi-final 16-11.
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation who is the reigning PDC World Darts Champion...
produced a major shock knocking out world champion Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
in the first evening quarter-final. Van Barneveld was 8-5 and 12-11 up but Lewis roared on by the crowd took five of the last seven legs to win 16-14. Phil Taylor was last on stage and stormed past Roland Scholten
Roland Scholten
Roland Scholten is a Dutch professional darts player who plays for the Professional Darts Corporation and formerly for the British Darts Organisation. He is nicknamed Tripod or The Flying Dutchman and uses Hey Ya by Outkast as his walk-on. He is currently ranked 45th in the PDC...
taking the first eight legs before Scholten got on the scoreboard. Taylor then took another eight successive legs to win 16-1, the most comprehensive quarter-final win in the history of the tournament.
- Day 7, Friday 27 July Semi-finals
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins is an English professional darts player who is nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the nickname "Tucker" for his matches...
beat Phil Taylor to set up a final with James Wade
James Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
. Jenkins was in superb form en route to a 17-11 victory in a match where Taylor was heavily booed during his walk on, to record his first ever victory over "The power". his first ever against the 13-time world champion. Earlier Wade clinched his place in the final in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
with a clinical demolition of Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis
Adrian Lewis is an English professional darts player for the Professional Darts Corporation who is the reigning PDC World Darts Champion...
. Wade hit 70 per cent of his checkouts, including four of over 100, as Lewis failed to build on Thursday's thrilling quarter-final win over Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld
Raymond van Barneveld , nickname Barney is a professional darts player. He is a five time World Darts Champion, and two time UK Open Champion. From January to June 2008, he was the PDC world number one ranked player...
. Eight successive legs sealed it for Wade, who hoped to go one better than last year when he was vanquished by Taylor in the final.
- Day 8, Saturday 28 July Final
A new name on the trophy was guaranteed and James Wade
James Wade
James Wade is an English professional darts player, currently playing in the Professional Darts Corporation . He became the youngest player ever to win a major PDC title at the World Matchplay in July 2007...
took a 6-1 lead early on in the race for the title. Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins
Terry Jenkins is an English professional darts player who is nicknamed The Bull, having previously used the nickname "Tucker" for his matches...
was never able to reach the heights of his semi-final win over Phil Taylor but never gave up including a 120 finish to fight back to 7-15 but that was to be his last leg victory as Wade took the title with a double top for a 18-7 win and his first televised tournament success.