| Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Dates | 17 December 2007–1 January 2008 |
| Venue | Alexandra Palace |
| Location | London |
| Country | England |
| Organisation(s) | PDC |
| Format | Legs (preliminaries) Sets (from Round 1) Final – best of 13 |
| Prize fund | £605,000 |
| Winners share | £100,000 |
| High checkout | Mervyn King Wayne Mardle James Wade (170) |
| Champion(s) | |
| John Part | |
The 2008 Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship, sponsored by Ladbrokes, was the 15th World Championship organised by the Professional Darts Corporation since it separated from the British Darts Organisation. The 2008 event began on December 17, 2007 (a tradition for the event to begin in the previous calendar year) and the final was played on New Year's Day for the second year in succession. There was no play on December 23, 24, 25 or 31. [1]
John Part won his third World Championship, beating the qualifier Kirk Shepherd 7-2 in the final. He joined Phil Taylor, Raymond van Barneveld, Eric Bristow and John Lowe as the only people to have won more than two world titles, although they have since been joined by Martin Adams. He also became only one of two players to have won the PDC World Darts Championship more than once, along with Taylor. In addition, he became the first player to have won World Championships in three different venues; the Lakeside, the Circus Tavern and the Alexandra Palace, although this accolade was matched in 2009 by Phil Taylor.
Raymond van Barneveld was the defending champion having won the PDC World Championship at the first attempt in an epic final against Phil Taylor in 2007. He was knocked out in the third round with a 4-2 loss to Kevin Painter.
Phil Taylor failed to reach the final of the competition, for the first time in PDC World Championship history, after losing 5-4 to Wayne Mardle in the quarter-finals.
After being staged at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet for 14 years, the tournament moved to the Alexandra Palace in London.[2] The championships had been considered to have outgrown the Circus Tavern whose capacity of 800-900 spectators was considerably smaller than some Holsten Premier League darts events in 2007 which saw crowds reaching 5,000. The Alexandra Palace was the venue of the News of the World Darts Championship between 1963 and 1977 and boasts a capacity for 2008 of 2,500.
The televised stages featureD 68 players. The top 32 players in the PDC Order of Merit at November 12, 2007 received an automatic place in the World Championship.[3] They were joined by 16 PDPA members and 20 international qualifiers determined by the PDC and PDPA.
The 16 PDPA members were made up from the top eight players (who hadn't already qualified) in the PDC Pro Tour Events during 2007 (Jelle Klaasen, Mark Walsh, Tony Eccles, Michael van Gerwen, Steve Brown, Dave Askew, Jason Clark and Matt Clark) [4]
The final eight qualifiers were determined at a PDPA Qualifying event which was held on November 17, 2007 in Wolverhampton - prior to the Grand Slam of Darts tournament. The successful players were Steve Maish, Jan van der Rassel, Colin Monk, Steve Evans, Jamie Caven, Steve Hine, Kirk Shepherd and Jason Barry. Former world champions John Lowe, Eric Bristow, Keith Deller and Richie Burnett all played in the qualifying rounds but failed to reach the televised stages.
The 2008 World Championship will feature a prize fund of £600,000 - a rise of £100,000 on the previous year. The prize money for earlier round losers has been increased, whilst the winner and runner-up prize money is all unchanged. [5]
(best of nine legs, played Wednesday 19 December and Thursday 20 December)
(best of five sets, sets are best of five legs)
| Second Round December 22-27 |
Third Round December 27-28 |
Quarter Finals December 29 |
Semi Finals December 30 |
Final January 1 |
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| 1 | Phil Taylor 94.52 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mark Walsh 89.52 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Phil Taylor 96.71 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Alan Tabern 93.42 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Andy Jenkins 80.04 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 17 | Alan Tabern 86.04 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Phil Taylor 92.32 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Wayne Mardle 92.20 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Roland Scholten 93.10 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 25 | Mervyn King 90.31 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Roland Scholten 91.86 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Wayne Mardle 89.28 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Wayne Mardle 89.61 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jamie Caven 82.35 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Wayne Mardle 92.36 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk Shepherd 88.77 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Peter Manley 88.96 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 28 | Alan Warriner-Little 82.55 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Peter Manley 87.75 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jan van der Rassel 86.76 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jan van der Rassel 90.99 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21 | Denis Ovens 90.22 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Peter Manley 94.27 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk Shepherd 89.70 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk Shepherd 87.18 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 29 | Mick McGowan 85.09 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk Shepherd 85.86 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Barrie Bates 85.61 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Barrie Bates 82.36 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Erwin Extercatte 84.00 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kirk Shepherd 85.10 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | John Part 92.86 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Raymond van Barneveld 92.31 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Jason Clark 87.96 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Raymond van Barneveld 90.75 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Kevin Painter 95.20 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Kevin Painter 92.04 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 18 | Chris Mason 83.91 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Kevin Painter 87.51 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Adrian Lewis 86.26 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Adrian Lewis 91.81 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 26 | Vincent van der Voort 96.46 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Adrian Lewis 94.19 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Tony Eccles 97.20 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Steve Maish 87.29 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tony Eccles 91.08 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Kevin Painter 91.94 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | John Part 92.84 | 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Andy Hamilton 90.97 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Alex Roy 91.33 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 27 | Alex Roy 85.16 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | John Part 91.32 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | John Part 99.06 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Mensur Suljovic 91.26 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11 | John Part 94.81 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | James Wade 91.48 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | James Wade 90.92 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 30 | Steve Beaton 87.80 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 | James Wade 84.54 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Mark Dudbridge 84.96 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Ronnie Baxter 91.82 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 19 | Mark Dudbridge 87.92 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Highest Checkouts: 170, Mervyn King, James Wade, Wayne Mardle
180's scored : 478
Most 180s Scored, Individual : 34 John Part, 33 Kirk Shepherd, 24 Wayne Mardle, 24 Kevin Painter, 22 Adrian Lewis.
Highest Tournament Dart Average (In A Single Match): John Part 99.06 vs Suljovic (Second Round).
Scores after player's names are three-dart averages (total points scored divided by darts thrown and multiplied by 3)
| Player | Played | Sets Won | Sets Lost | Legs Won | Legs Lost | 100+ | 140+ | 180s | High Checkout | 3-dart Average [6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Part | 6 | 29 | 10 | 98 | 68 | 202 | 112 | 34 | 160 | 94.42 |
| Kirk Shepherd | 6 | 24 | 23 | 104 | 101 | 237 | 120 | 33 | 160 | 83.92 |
| Phil Taylor | 4 | 15 | 13 | 66 | 59 | 162 | 70 | 19 | 137 | 93.67 |
| Michael van Gerwen | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 29 | 15 | 1 | 106 | 85.99 |
| Adrian Gray | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 12 | 28 | 18 | 3 | 104 | 88.01 |
| Mark Walsh | 2 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 24 | 52 | 38 | 10 | 156 | 88.58 |
| Andy Jenkins | 2 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 19 | 31 | 15 | 9 | 142 | 83.42 |
| Rizal Barellano | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 0 | - | 68.58 |
| Miloslav Navratil | 2 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 81 | 79.04 |
| Alan Tabern | 3 | 10 | 5 | 39 | 30 | 98 | 55 | 9 | 160 | 89.14 |
| Per Laursen | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 30 | 10 | 2 | 68 | 84.17 |
| Roland Scholten | 3 | 10 | 8 | 36 | 40 | 103 | 56 | 19 | 140 | 93.07 |
| Matt Clark | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 10 | 25 | 19 | 4 | 100 | 93.88 |
| Mervyn King | 2 | 5 | 6 | 26 | 24 | 57 | 47 | 10 | 170 | 93.14 |
| Michael Rosenauer | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 13 | 29 | 18 | 3 | 116 | 86.60 |
| Wayne Mardle | 5 | 20 | 16 | 81 | 70 | 183 | 135 | 24 | 170 | 90.92 |
| Ray Carver | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 26 | 7 | 7 | 110 | 90.30 |
| Wes Newton | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 14 | 11 | 2 | 81 | 87.15 |
| Jamie Caven | 2 | 4 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 39 | 16 | 3 | 121 | 85.86 |
| Peter Manley | 4 | 15 | 9 | 57 | 49 | 167 | 80 | 14 | 156 | 90.27 |
| Toon Greebe | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 22 | 17 | 4 | 94 | 89.60 |
| Alan Warriner-Little | 2 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 18 | 46 | 22 | 4 | 108 | 86.77 |
| Ashfaque Sayed | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | 72.03 |
| Shi Yongsheng | 2 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 23 | 13 | 0 | 119 | 77.33 |
| Colin Lloyd | 1 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 14 | 29 | 13 | 1 | 120 | 85.75 |
| Jan van der Rassel | 3 | 8 | 7 | 37 | 37 | 103 | 51 | 10 | 116 | 89.47 |
| Denis Ovens | 2 | 4 | 4 | 18 | 14 | 46 | 20 | 6 | 100 | 87.65 |
| Colin Monk | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0 | - | 69.48 |
| Terry Jenkins | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 32 | 13 | 1 | 56 | 83.62 |
| Mick McGowan | 2 | 6 | 4 | 25 | 24 | 66 | 35 | 6 | 120 | 85.88 |
| Jason Barry | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 1 | 64 | 87.75 |
| Barrie Bates | 3 | 9 | 7 | 36 | 28 | 101 | 34 | 6 | 120 | 83.66 |
| Gerry Convery | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 82 | 79.50 |
| Colin Osborne | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 144 | 90.33 |
| Alan Bolton | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | 60.38 |
| Erwin Extercatte | 3 | 6 | 5 | 27 | 24 | 61 | 18 | 5 | 147 | 79.91 |
| Raymond van Barneveld | 3 | 9 | 5 | 34 | 25 | 73 | 36 | 13 | 120 | 90.73 |
| Akihiro Nagakawa | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 40 | 68.85 |
| Anthony Forde | 2 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 28 | 11 | 2 | 120 | 75.84 |
| Bob Anderson | 1 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 11 | 30 | 16 | 4 | 141 | 91.07 |
| Jason Clark | 2 | 4 | 6 | 19 | 24 | 53 | 32 | 9 | 104 | 88.83 |
| Kevin Painter | 5 | 18 | 10 | 69 | 45 | 159 | 77 | 24 | 137 | 92.23 |
| Gary Mawson | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 9 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 96 | 83.86 |
| Chris Mason | 2 | 3 | 5 | 16 | 15 | 39 | 15 | 2 | 136 | 84.32 |
| Steve Brown | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 67 | 77.61 |
| Adrian Lewis | 4 | 13 | 11 | 46 | 50 | 118 | 55 | 22 | 136 | 92.26 |
| Dave Askew | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 25 | 11 | 3 | 62 | 90.46 |
| Vincent van der Voort | 2 | 5 | 6 | 27 | 28 | 71 | 32 | 19 | 124 | 91.70 |
| Jelle Klaasen | 1 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 36 | 19 | 6 | 104 | 90.27 |
| Dennis Priestley | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 9 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 130 | 92.06 |
| Steve Maish | 2 | 6 | 5 | 25 | 24 | 68 | 17 | 7 | 110 | 89.94 |
| Wayne Jones | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 42 | 83.71 |
| Tony Eccles | 3 | 10 | 7 | 41 | 33 | 96 | 55 | 10 | 156 | 93.15 |
| Andy Hamilton | 2 | 4 | 5 | 19 | 17 | 35 | 20 | 16 | 144 | 90.59 |
| Leroy Kwadijk | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 160 | 74.17 |
| Alex Roy | 3 | 7 | 7 | 35 | 30 | 108 | 41 | 5 | 124 | 87.63 |
| Warren Parry | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 16 | 41 | 13 | 1 | 91 | 83.56 |
| Charles Losper | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 11 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 94 | 85.21 |
| Andy Smith | 1 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 12 | 34 | 16 | 2 | 88 | 81.11 |
| Mensur Suljovic | 2 | 4 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 38 | 15 | 11 | 111 | 87.26 |
| James Wade | 4 | 15 | 6 | 59 | 46 | 134 | 72 | 17 | 170 | 89.19 |
| Steve MacArthur | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 75.66 |
| Steve Beaton | 2 | 6 | 4 | 23 | 18 | 52 | 23 | 7 | 98 | 82.40 |
| Steve Evans | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 20 | 75.56 |
| Ronnie Baxter | 2 | 5 | 6 | 23 | 25 | 71 | 25 | 9 | 137 | 91.07 |
| Dan Olson | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 13 | 23 | 12 | 6 | 120 | 85.17 |
| Mark Dudbridge | 3 | 9 | 7 | 38 | 30 | 71 | 38 | 12 | 113 | 86.11 |
| Steve Hine | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 11 | 17 | 8 | 2 | 100 | 83.07 |
Day Five, Friday 21 December
The tournament went into hiatus for the Christmas period.
Third Round (Last 16)
Raymond van Barneveld's reign as PDC World Championship was ended by Kevin Painter in a thrilling match which Painter finished off with a ten-dart leg to clinch the match 4-2. Painter hit seven consecutive treble 20s, en route to a possible nine dart leg before missing a treble 19 before completing a remarkable ten darter to go through to the quarter finals.
Earlier, James Wade overcame flu and Mark Dudbridge 4-2 to go through to his first World quarter-final and Kirk Shepherd defeated Barrie Bates 4-2 to be the surprise quarter-finalist. Peter Manley and John Part both had comfortable wins in their last 16 matches.
The talking point of the day may have been the Adrian Lewis v Tony Eccles clash. Eccles started in sensational fashion winning the first eight legs, but couldn't close out the third set. He missed two darts at a double for a 3-0 sets lead and then Lewis started a fightback winning the next three sets to lead 3-2. Eccles fought back himself to level the match, but controversy came in the final set when the scores were level at 2 legs each. Lewis took an unscheduled comfort break just minutes after a scheduled one and when he came back he found his rhythm to win the next two legs and make the quarter finals.
For the first time in the 15 year history of the event, Phil Taylor failed to make it to the final after losing to Wayne Mardle. Taylor took an early 3-0 lead, but after winning a set Mardle's confidence increased and with the crowd behind him brought it back to 3-3. With the sets tied 4-4 the legs went with throw until 4-4 when Mardle broke Taylor with tops after Taylor missed double sixteen when the dart went the wrong side of the wire. Wayne closed out the match on his own darts with 140 and double 18 to win the final set 6-4 and a 5-4 win. Mardle immediately broke down into tears after the win. After the match Mardle said "it's not being in the semis that's important... it's beating that guy there (Taylor); he didn't play well, but I still had to play at my best to beat him"
Taylor said "When I was 3 sets to nil up, I thought I'm going to beat him 5-0... If he gets his game together now he's got the biggest chance of his life to win it".
World Matchplay champion James Wade also went out in the quarter-finals to two-time former World Champion John Part. It was a close match, but Part always stayed in front after establishing a 2-0 set lead. Wade did fight back from 1-3 to level the match.
Kirk Shepherd continued his amazing run and for the third time in the tournament survived his opponent having darts to win the match. Peter Manley had two darts to win the final set 3-0, but Shepherd came back to win the final set 4-2. After sharing the first four sets, Kevin Painter beat Adrian Lewis 5-2.
Kirk Shepherd's sensational run in the tournament continued as he beat Wayne Mardle in the semi-final to reach the final. Shepherd, the 21-year old qualifier built up a 3-1 set lead and missed five darts to go 4-1 up only to see Mardle come back to take the lead 4-3. Mardle, who had beaten Phil Taylor the previous night in the quarter finals looked to be on his way to his first world final before Shepherd fought back again to take the next three sets and become the first qualifier to reach the PDC World final.
The other semi-final was a more clinical performance as John Part returned to the final always having the edge over 2004 finalist Kevin Painter. The fourth set was potential decisive as Painter missed darts to take a 2-0 leg lead. Part then took out the next two legs and a 13-darter in the fourth leg gave him a 3-1 set lead. Painter missed a dart at bullseye to bring the score back to 2-3, leaving Part a 44 finish to go 4-1 up - then also missed a chance to take the sixth set. Part took the match with a classy 130 finish for a 6-2 win.
John Part became World Champion for the third time with a ruthless 7-2 victory over qualifier Kirk Shepherd. Shepherd had beaten world number four Terry Jenkins, three time world finalist Peter Manley and Phil Taylor's conqueror Wayne Mardle to become the first qualifier to reach the PDC World final - but he had no answer to Part's experience in the final. The early stages of the match were close with both of the first two sets going down to a deciding leg. Part just edged the first set and in the deciding leg of the second started with 140, 180 and a 15-dart leg for a 2-0 lead. Part then ran off the next six legs to find himself 4-0 in front and missed a bullseye for a 5-0 lead before Shepherd took his first set. The sixth set again went to last leg with Part re-establishing a four set lead but Shepherd continued to battle away and took the seventh set with a brilliant 160 finish. Part opened the eighth set with a 139 finish, then Shepherd hit an 88 to level it before checkouts of 52 and 80 from Part took him one set away from victory at 6-2. The Canadian closed out victory in the ninth set with a double ten in the fifth leg.
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