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Wayne mardle’s hopes of Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship glory were shattered in a straight sets defeat to Co Stompe on Tuesday afternoon.

The flamboyant world number seven, a five-time World Championship semi-finalist, failed to rekindle the form which saw him defeat Robert Thornton in round two as the Dutchman progressed to the quarter-finals.

Stompe, who has already defeated Andy Jenkins and Alan Tabern on his Alexandra Palace debut, will now take Phil Taylor on New Year’s Day – in a repeat of the German Darts Championship final which he won a month ago.

“The crowd expected him to beat me, especially after the way he beat Robert Thornton, I think the pressure got to him,” said Stompe.

“I had to go out, win the first set and shut the crowd up. You don’t want to play two players – one is hard enough!”

Stompe’s victory came after Australian number one Paul Nicholson booked a quarter-final spot with a 4-2 comeback win over Dennis Priestley.

He had been two sets down to the two-time World Champion before battling back to set up a last eight meeting with James Wade or Vincent van der Voort.

Mervyn King swept past Dennis Smith 4-1 to book his quarter-final place, where he meets Barrie Bates on Thursday.

Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship
Third Round – Tuesday
Paul Nicholson (AUS) 4-2 Dennis Priestley (ENG)
Mervyn King (ENG) 4-1 Dennis Smith (ENG)
Co Stompe (NED) 4-0 Wayne Mardle (ENG)
Evening Session
Andy Hamilton v Jelle Klaasen
Raymond van Barneveld v Ronnie Baxter
James Wade v Vincent van der Voort

PAUL NICHOLSON 4-2 DENNIS PRIESTLEY
(2-3, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0)
PAUL NICHOLSON continued his superb run at the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with an excellent 4-2 victory over Dennis Priestley.

Nicholson came from behind for a second game in succession to end Priestley’s hopes of claiming a third world title.

Priestley had opportunities to take 3-1 lead in the match, but those chances went begging and the Yorkshireman was left to rue those mistakes as Nicholson pushed on to claim victory.

“It’s tremendous to be in the last eight,” said Nicholson, the Australian number one who now meets either James Wade of Vincent van der Voort on Friday.

“I have had one goal, to make the semi-finals and eight James or Vincent had better watch out because I am going to be more aggressive than ever.

“I am going to be dangerous, and I get to play at night-time which means I can practice more before my game, which is even better for me.”

While Nicholson was opened his clash with Priestley with a maximum, he found himself behind after missing one dart at double top in the deciding leg of the first set.

The 58- year-old hit maximums in each of the opening two legs of set two, winning them with 13 and 14 darts respectively to edge clear.

Nicholson managed to hit a 72 finish to win the third leg, but Priestley hit two maximums in a 12-darter to win the next and extend his advantage to 2-0.

Nicholson began the comeback by breaking his opponent’s throw at the start of the third set.

He then won the second leg with a 118 checkout, which was followed by a 13-dart finish to reduce the arrears in style.

Nicholson hit his second maximum of the game at the start of the fourth, but it was Priestley who won the leg by hitting a showpiece 100 checkout, which included two double tops.

The British-born Australian converted a 104 checkout to the level the set, but fell behind once again after he missed three darts at doubles to take the third leg.

But Priestley suffered the same fate in the fourth, missing three darts to take the set, and Nicholson landed a pressure double four with his last dart to keep the set alive.

Nicholson, who defeated Adrian Gray and Adrian Lewis to reach the last 16, then landed double 16 in the deciding leg, with Priestley waiting on a two-dart finish to level the game.

From then on Nicholson only conceded one more leg as he romped home to victory.

He opened up a 2-0 lead in set five before Priestley managed to win the third leg in 13 darts.

But Nicholson replied in kind to win the set and take the lead for the first time in the match.

Nicholson hit a maximum in the course of taking the opening leg of the sixth set and went on to win the second after a tiring Priestley was unable to land the three attempts he had at double top.

That took him one leg away from the match and the end was swift as he managed to hit a 62 finish to claim a quarter-final berth.

“You cannot describe what it is like playing one of your heroes,” said Nicholson. “It is kind-of surreal, a privilege frankly just to be there, and to beat him? I cannot describe that.

“I had a shocking first two sets and when I got used to Dennis’ pace I settled myself down and felt more comfortable.”

Priestley said: “I did alright but I could not keep it going.

“I was disappointed not winning the fourth set because I should have taken that. That was the turning point.

“I did quite well in 2008 but today, 2-0 up and should have gone 3-1 up, knocks all the shine and takes all the gloss of what I have achieved this year.”

Priestley added that he was impressed by Newcastle-born Nicholson, who has won 15 events on the DartPlayers Australia circuit in 2008 and shown his talents on the big stage at Alexandra Palace.

“We have found a good player,” he said. “He has everything by the looks of it, and I am quite impressed.

“If he keeps going like that and does not get any batterings that knocks your confidence, we could be seeing a future World Champion.”

MERVYN KING 4-1 DENNIS SMITH
(3-2, 3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1)
MERVYN KING moved into the quarter-finals of the 2009 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Dennis Smith.

Qualifier Smith, who came from 3-0 down to defeat Kevin McDine in his previous match, found the world number 12 too much of an obstacle to overcome this time around.

The first set proved to be a tight affair with the opening four legs all going with throw, and in the decider King continued that trend with a 14-dart finish to take an early lead.

The Norfolk thrower then took a 2-0 advantage at the start of the second set, hitting a maximum in the second leg.

Smith won the third leg after King missed two darts to win the set, and the Swindon thrower then hit an excellent 121 checkout finishing on the bullseye.

But King hit his third maximum of the game in the deciding leg, which he took in 15 darts to extend his lead to 2-0.

King, who defeated Mark Walsh in his second round game, led the third set 2-1, and then hit a 109 finish in the fourth leg to win the set and move further ahead.

Both players held throw in the opening two legs of the fourth leg, before King had opportunities to break throw in the third.

Those opportunities where off-target and allowed Smith to take a 2-1 lead, before he took the set on double eight.

King took the opening leg of the fifth set before Smith landed double three to level.

King went ahead again to go one leg away from the match and converted a 76 finish to book a quarter-final encounter against Barrie Bates.

CO STOMPE 4-0 WAYNE MARDLE
(3-2, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
WAYNE MARDLE’S hopes of Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship glory were shattered in a straight sets defeat to Co Stompe on Tuesday afternoon.

The flamboyant world number seven, a five-time World Championship semi-finalist, failed to rekindle the form which saw him defeat Robert Thornton in round two as the Dutchman progressed to the quarter-finals.

Stompe, who has already defeated Andy Jenkins and Alan Tabern will now take Phil Taylor on New Year’s Day – in a repeat of the final of the recent German Darts Championship which he won.

Both players hit maximums in the opening leg of the match, but it was Mardle who won it by breaking throw.

Stompe hit back to level and then won the third leg by landing double two to take a 2-1 lead, with Mardle leveling in 13 darts but waiting on a finish when the Dutchman took out double six for the first set.

The five-time world semi-finalist started the second set well with a 14-darter, but missed three chances to break throw in the second and further opportunities in the third to allow Stompe to lead 2-1 before wrapping up the set on double 16.

In the third set Stompe landed double top in consecutive legs to build up a 2-0 before Mardle took out a 106 finish to hit back.

Mardle then won the fourth with a 66 finish, but Stompe survived the mini fight back with an excellent 72 finish to go 3-0 up.

In set four, Mardle won the first leg on double top, but Stompe took the next two with 14-dart finishes to move a leg away from the match.

Mardle managed to win the fourth leg on double 18, but Stompe was not to be denied and hit his third 14-dart finish of the set to claim a famous victory.

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