Thursday, June 07, 2007

Blue Square UK Open - Night One Report


Report from David Allen
PDC Media Officer

TEENAGE wonderkid Michael van Gerwen powered into round two of the Blue Square UK Open as the tournament began on Thursday - but American Ray Carver was the biggest casualty of the opening night.
Van Gerwen, the 18-year-old third favourite for the event, overcame Chris McTernan 8-1 at the Reebok Stadium to begin his challenge for a first major PDC title.
The Dutchman took command early on by taking a 3-0 lead before McTernan - one of 32 pub qualifiers in the event following a series of knockouts in Punch Taverns houses around the UK - won leg four.
A 121 finish restored van Gerwen's cushion, and he quickly accelerated away to take the win.
He now meets Northern Ireland's Andrew Coulter in round two on Friday night, and said: "I'm happy to be through because it was my first game on a new stage and I know I can play better.
"I don't know much about Andrew so I have to be ready for the game."
American Carver, ranked 45 in the world, suffered the biggest shock of the opening night by losing 8-5 to pub qualifier Mark Hylton in the preliminary round.
Hylton, an airline cabin manager from the West Midlands, sent Carver back to an early flight home to Chicago by winning the final three legs of the match after the opening ten were shared in a close contest.
He went on to lose out in round one, going down to former World Championship qualifier Mark Robinson.
Cliff Lazarenko returned to the big stage and won two matches to progress to Friday's second round, winning 8-1 against Chris Daglish in their preliminary round contest before seeing off Nigel Payne 8-3.
Former World Champion Richie Burnett made an impressive start with an 8-1 defeat of pub qualifier Eddie Hughes.
Friday's play, beginning at 7pm, sees former Lakeside Champion Jelle Klaasen come into the action against one of the remaining pub qualifiers, Dorset's Scott Mitchell.
2005 finalist Mark Walsh takes on Ireland's Garrett Grat, and Bolton favourite Paul Williams will meet Michael Barnard.
The third round will feature former World Champions John Part, Bob Anderson and Keith Deller, while Mark Dudbridge and Ronnie Baxter meet in the biggest game of the night.

Some tickets still remain for Friday’s session, and can be purchased on 0871 871 2932.

2007 Blue Square UK Open Results
Preliminary & First Rounds
Board One (Main Stage)
Chris Daglish 1-8 Cliff Lazarenko (P)
Ray Carver 5-8 Mark Hylton (P)
Chris McTernan 1-8 Michael van Gerwen
Steve Cusick 8-3 Toon Greebe
Eddie Hughes 1-8 Richie Burnett
Paul Knighton 4-8 Alan Green

Board Two (Second Stage)
Ian Gunion 4-8 Sean Dowling (P)
Stuart Holden 8-2 Darrel Thorpe (P)
Mick Savvery 5-8 Ray Farrell
Vernon Sheppard 2-8 Michael Barnard
Paul Whitworth 2-8 Andy Roberts
Rico Vonck 6-8 Gary Noonan

Board Three
Brian Cathcart Bye (James Keogh withdrawn) (P)
Kevin Harris 1-8 Richard McLaughlin (P)
Peter Green 8-5 Dylan Cook
Mark Frost 8-5 Chris Allen
Cliff Lazarenko 8-3 Nigel Payne
Mark Hylton 2-8 Mark Robinson

Board Four
Nigel Payne 8-5 Ross Macken (P)
Barry French 1-8 Ian Branks (P)
John Burton 8-5 Nigel Heydon
Geoff Wylie 2-8 Mark Stephenson
Sean Dowling 4-8 Sam Rooney
Mark Wilson 6-8 Nigel Birch

Board Five
Andrew Gourlay 5-8 Rikki Williams (P)
Geoff Harkup 8-6 Wayne Brown (P)
Dave Blenkarne 1-8 Ian Wise
Ian Walters 8-5 Darrell Townsend
Richard McLaughlin 8-4 Rick Andrews
Aaron Turner v Nicky Turner

Board Six
Johnny Haines 8-3 Steve Hardy (P)
Steve Whitehouse 5-8 Nicky Turner (P)
Jason Crawley 7-8 Mark Pooke
Dale Newton 6-8 Rikki Williams
Simon Craven 8-6 Gary Blades
Geoff Harkup v Johnny Haines

Board Seven
Justin Henshaw 6-8 Gary Blades (P)
Rob Hawker 4-8 James Barton (P)
Stephen Davidson 4-8 Bob Crawley
Andrew Coulter Bye (Ian Whillis wIthdrawn)
James Barton 5-8 Danny Pinhorne
Scott Mitchell 8-4 Brian Cathcart

Board Eight
Nigel Birch 8-2 Alf Turley (P)
Gary Noonan 8-3 Pete Riley (P)
Henry O'Neill 8-2 Matty Dalwood
Mick Rodgers 8-0 Mark Thomson
Stuart Holden 8-6 Kieron Leal
Ian Branks 8-3 Doug Walker

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