Peter Wright begins the defence of his World Matchplay title with victory over Madars Razma, as debutant Rowby-John Rodriguez dumps out eighth seed Jonny Clayton on an exciting opening evening on the Winter Gardens in Blackpool; watch each dart stay on Sky Sports activities
Final Up to date: 17/07/22 12:23am
A glance again at the perfect checkouts from Day One of many World Matchplay Darts in Blackpool
A glance again at the perfect checkouts from Day One of many World Matchplay Darts in Blackpool
Defending champion Peter Wright and Dimitri Van den Bergh eased by means of on opening evening on the World Matchplay in Blackpool however Jonny Clayton turned the primary large casualty to fall.
Wright started his defence of the Phil Taylor Trophy with a snug victory in opposition to Latvian debutant Madars Razma earlier than declaring he was going to retain his title.
In the meantime, 2020 champion Van den Bergh loved a convincing win in opposition to Callan Rydz, whereas ‘The Polish Eagle’ Krzysztof Ratajski defeated Stephen Bunting.
However five-time televised title winner Clayton noticed his Blackpool desires washed away at sea for one more 12 months as enigmatic Austrian debutant Rowby-John Rodriguez defeated ‘The Ferret’ with a powerful efficiency on the Winter Gardens stage.
Saturday, July 16 – Outcomes
| First Spherical | Krzysztof Ratajski | 10-6 | Stephen Bunting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimitri Van den Bergh | 10-2 | Callan Rydz | |
| Peter Wright | 10-4 | Madars Razma | |
| Jonny Clayton | 7-10 | Rowby-John Rodriguez |
Rowby-John Rodriguez says he is assured he can beat anybody in his present type at this 12 months’s World Matchplay
Rodriguez delivered the efficiency of the evening, averaging 99 to finish a 10-7 success in opposition to Clayton, who turned the primary seed to exit the match within the first spherical for the fourth time in 5 appearances
Rodriguez, the world No 73, constructed momentum after a vivid begin, opening up a 5-3 lead.
Clayton stopped the rot with an excellent 130 end in leg 9, however that was usurped by a shocking 156 end from Rodriguez moments later, who then held throw in leg 11 to ascertain a three-leg buffer.
Rodriguez landed this unbelievable 156 checkout on his option to a well-known win
The Welshman continued to battle away valiantly, and though Rodriguez spurned two match darts, the previous World Cup runner-up hit again with a tidy 13-dart maintain to seal the deal.
“I’m assured. I am in actually good type in the mean time, and in my thoughts I can beat anyone,” claimed Rodriguez, who will tackle Van den Bergh in a mouth-watering last-16 tie.
“Dimitri is certainly one of my greatest associates. We could have an awesome sport, and the higher participant will win on the day.”
Peter Wright despatched out a powerful message to his opponents following his victory over Madars Razma
Wright, who’s aiming to develop into simply the fourth participant in World Matchplay historical past to retain the coveted Phil Taylor Trophy, eased by means of to spherical two with a routine 10-4 win over debutant Razma.
The world No 1 punished a sluggish begin from the Latvian to race right into a 5-0 lead, touchdown a brace of 13-darters and changing a scientific ton throughout the opening session.
Wright, who averaged 97.42 and fired in seven 180s, stretched his result in 8-2 earlier than Razma hit again with consecutive 14-darters, however a elegant 157 checkout within the penultimate leg catapulted him to a spot within the final 16.
Wright inched nearer to victory along with his enormous 157 checkout
“The gang have been implausible, and it is nice to be again on the Winter Gardens,” stated Wright, who now performs Krzysztof Ratajski for a spot within the quarter-finals.
“There are masses extra 180s to come back, possibly nine-darters as effectively. I consider I’ll win it once more.
“Krzysztof is a implausible participant, but it surely does not matter what participant turns up, they have to be constant from the primary leg till the final, and there is not many gamers on this match that may do this.”
Van den Bergh despatched out an announcement to his title rivals on the Winter Gardens, powering previous Rydz to kick off his bid for a second World Matchplay crown.
The 2020 champion – a runner-up 12 months in the past – landed a World Collection of Darts double in Copenhagen and Amsterdam final month, and he maintained that glowing type with an emphatic 10-2 victory over final 12 months’s quarter-finalist Rydz.
Dimitri Van den Bergh accomplished a 10-2 drubbing in opposition to Callan Rydz with this magnificent 137 checkout
A 116 end from Van den Bergh in leg seven sparked a run of six consecutive legs, earlier than the ninth seed sealed his development with a spectacular 137 end.
“I am very pleased with the way in which I performed right this moment, particularly with the extent of opponent I used to be up in opposition to,” stated the Belgian, who averaged 100 and transformed 71 per cent of his makes an attempt at double.
“The gang are superb. Each time I hear them singing my title, it makes me so blissful. I am right here to do a job, I am right here to chase my dream, and I can’t await my subsequent match.”
Sunday, July 17 – First Spherical Fixtures
| Afternoon Session | Dirk van Duijvenbode | vs | Ryan Searle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danny Noppert | vs | Brendan Dolan | |
| Gary Anderson | vs | Daryl Gurney | |
| Michael Smith | vs | Andrew Gilding |
A glance again at a number of the most memorable moments within the profession of the legendary darts commentator John Gwynne, who sadly died final week on the age of 77
Sunday, July 17 – First Spherical Fixtures
| Night Session | Joe Cullen | vs | Damon Heta |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Wade | vs | Martin Lukeman | |
| Michael van Gerwen | vs | Adrian Lewis | |
| Luke Humphries | vs | Nathan Aspinall |
In Saturday’s opening match, Ratajski, who reached the semi-finals final 12 months, opened this 12 months’s match with a powerful 10-6 win over former Lakeside Champion Stephen Bunting.
“It was sport. Stephen put me below stress all through, however I am actually blissful,” mirrored Ratajski, who averaged 98.43 to proceed his spectacular file on the Winter Gardens.
“I really feel actually good and now I’m enjoying at a excessive degree. I consider I can play a lot better, and I anticipate to provide this within the subsequent few matches.”
Try each day Darts information on skysports.com/darts, our app for cell units and our Twitter account @skysportsdarts. You may watch the World Matchplay on the Winter Gardens in Blackpool – stay on Sky Sports activities over the subsequent 9 days.
