Aspinall 3-1 Gates
After two brilliant walk-ons, Aspinall was allowed to start the match. Gates missed the chance for the break from 76, but Aspinall did not throw out 110 and so Gates had three more chances. He also missed, however, and the opening leg went to Aspinall via double 16.
The Englishman cashed in on the break by hitting 84 from the bullseye. Gates grabbed the break back as 106 went out via double 16: 2-1. Aspinall also grabbed a break in the fourth leg and with it the set. He then threw out 114 to win the set 3-1.
The second set started with two breaks. Aspinall threw out 79 and took the lead, but Gates answered right away via double 16. Gates threw the first 180 in the second leg, but then threw two very bad visits. He had a chance to keep his leg from 96, but did not throw it out. Aspinall did throw tops (double 20) to make it 2-1 and take the third break of the set.
Gates threw his second 180 in the fourth leg and eventually also provided the fourth break in a row. Thus, only one more leg on the throw was held in two sets. Gates threw out 56 and was allowed to start the fifth leg. Aspinall really could not buy a triple, but Gates also threw nothing at all.
Gates got three darts on the set from double 8, but missed three chances. Aspinall still had 56 left, but he too missed two chances. Gates took the set by throwing double 1. It was indicative of second set, which was far from good.
Aspinall started the first leg of the third set well as 97 went out. He threw out that leg in 14 darts, the best leg of the match. In the second leg, Gates threw out 64 in two darts to make it 1-1. In the third leg, Aspinall threw his first 180 and Gates his third. After nine darts, Aspinall was on 47, Gates on 42.
The Englishman was allowed to start and threw out the leg in 12 darts: 2-1. Gates also threw 180 in the fourth leg, but got away well when Aspinall missed the bullseye for the biggest finish, 170. He was allowed to come back for it, but missed two chances again. Gates had 54 left, but he too missed two chances. Aspinall threw double 4 to take the set 3-1.
And so Aspinall needed one more set. He failed to throw 147, but had three more chances at double 18 for the break. He threw that double 18 as well and took the advantage in the fourth set. Gates grabbed the final straw as 88 went out via the bullseye, while Aspinall was waiting on 8.
Gates opened with 180 and had a chance on 124 via the bullseye to make it 2-1, but he did not throw it. Aspinall did throw double 7 and grabbed the break. He was allowed to throw for the match in the fourth leg. He started with his second maximum score, but Gates had a finish first. He failed to throw out 121, but was allowed to come back for it.
He also failed to throw out 25 and so Aspinall had a chance at 79 to throw out the match. He got one chance, but missed. Gates did throw double 2 and made it 2-2. Aspinall threw 180 to leave 80 and got another chance. That did not go out, but double 18 did and so he won the match.
Razma 3-1 Kist
Kist started the match fine and easily made it 1-0 in the first set via tops. Razma threw the first maximum score in the second leg and was not in trouble either. Kist threw his second maximum score in the third leg and, as in the first leg, threw out tops.
It became a repetitive story, as Razma also threw his second 180 in his own leg and then won it. Fifth leg, same recipe. Kist opened with his third maximum score and threw another right away for six perfect darts. Kist had the chance for the perfect leg and threw it too. The first nine-darter of this year's Ally Pally tournament!
Razma started the second set well and made it 1-0 by throwing double 10. The second and third leg went with the darts and so the Latvian led 2-1 in the set. The fourth leg was the first break of the match. Kist failed to get 125 out and then saw Razma take the set. He threw out 90 via the bullseye.
The same thing happened in the third set. The first two legs went with the darts, but Kist surrendered his in the third leg. Razma threw out double 10 to make it 2-1. So Kist had to take back the break. That didn't work, as Razma threw out 65 handsomely in two darts and took the third set.
Kist needed a break sometime in the fourth set to stay in the match. He did not find it in the first leg, but he kept his own leg by throwing double 16. Kist was very sloppy from 56 and did not throw the break.
Razma took advantage of that and threw out double 8 for a 64 finish and got to match point. Kist still got to 2-2, but lost the match. He got six darts for 100, but threw it in two. Kist did still win £60,000 through the nine-darter, a nice consolation prize.
Williams 2-3 Nebrida
Paolo Nebrida started the match with four perfect darts, but could not make it a magical start in the leg that Jim Williams started. He also had immediate chances for the break and threw it too via double 8: 1-0. He failed to cash in on that break and saw Williams throw out 40 to take the break back.
The third and fourth leg went with the darts and so a fifth and deciding leg had to be made. Williams missed four darts for the set on double 16, giving Nebrida the chance to win the set from 41. He threw that out and so the Filipino won the first set.
In the second set, Williams threw his first maximum score and immediately forced a break in Nebrida's set. The Welshman cashed in on that break by throwing out 91 in two darts. Nebrida did something back in the set. He almost threw out 161, but missed the bullseye. He did get 48 out and made it 2-1. Williams took the set 3-1 by throwing double 9.
The third set was again taken away from the other as Nebrida won the set 3-1. He grabbed the break in the first leg by throwing out 48 via double 8 and cashed in the break from 79. Williams still had a nice finish of 158 to his credit, but could not force another break to stay in the set.
With his fourth chance, Nebrida threw double 10 to make it 2-1. But Williams also took the fourth set from Nebrida again. In the first leg, he grabbed the break by throwing out 25. In the second leg, double 8 also went out and in the third leg 44 went out to make it 2-2 in sets.
In the fifth and deciding set, Williams led 1-0 but Nebrida threw a great 121 finish to move to 1-1. Williams also held the third leg and got to match point. Williams missed five match darts and gave Nebrida the chance to stay in the match. Nebrida threw out tops to make it 2-2, moving to a fifth and deciding leg. Williams left 78 but failed to get another match dart. Nebrida was merciless and threw out 96 to win the match.
Evans 3-2 Mathers
Gordon Mathers, who lost more than 50 kilos going into Ally Pally, failed to grab the break in the first leg. He missed four chances on tops, giving Ricky Evans the break. Evans, who traditionally came up with a Christmas number, threw out 46 for a 1-0 lead.
Tops did go out in the second leg for Mathers, grabbing the break back. Evans threw a good third leg and was out in 12 darts, securing a third break in a row. This allowed Evans to throw for the set. He did, as 60 went out via tops to make it 1-0 in sets.
Mathers grabbed another break in the first leg of the second set by throwing out 16. Evans failed to throw out 76, missing the rebreak. Mathers won his first leg of his own as a result, as double 10 went out for a 2-0 lead. Evans also missed two chances from 60 and so Mathers had chances for the break and he took them via double 4, making it 1-1 in sets.
In the third set, Mathers immediately gave away his first leg. Evans threw out 64 and took the break. Mathers got that break back as Evans could not get 54 out. Tops made it 1-1. Mathers in turn also missed two chances on double 8 and saw Evans take the break via double 4 on 68. Evans took the set by throwing double 10 to make it 2-1.
Evans threw a very important finish of 87 to keep his leg. Via the bullseye it became 1-0. Evans failed to decide the match in the second leg. He had one chance from 65, but missed tops. Mathers hit double 10 to make it 1-1. Mathers needed another break and did just that. He threw out 92 beautifully and could throw for the set. Evans missed a break opportunity from 80 and Mathers took the set from 60 to win 3-1.
In the fifth and deciding set, Mathers missed four chances to win the match and it cost him dearly. Evans hit double 10 to make it 1-0 and take the break. But Evans had been angry with himself throughout the match. He threw 180 at a perfect moment and psyched himself up some more.
He threw that 180 in 2.22 seconds, a personal record. He missed two darts on tops and then got away very well. Mathers narrowly missed out on 129 and Evans made it 2-0 after all. Mathers returned the favour as 62 went out for 2-1. Evans threw out 109 to win the match. Necessary, too, as Mathers was on 38.
