PHIL TAYLOR suffered a stunning 6-5 defeat to Mark Dudbridge in the biggest upset of the opening day at the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI.
Taylor, the 13-time World Champion, has never previously lost in a major tournament to Dudbridge but saw his hopes of picking up a fourth Desert Classic title shattered at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
Dudbridge held his nerve to send a tight contest into a deciding 11th leg, and then stepped in to hit double 18 after Taylor was off-target with his one dart for the match.
"Phil has given me plenty of beatings in the past but I'm a new player now," said Dudbridge, who lost to Taylor in the finals of the 2004 World Matchplay and 2005 World Championship.
"I've got so much confidence from this win but I know I’ve got to stay calm, because there are no easy games.
"I played well in the qualifying events and it makes a nice change for me to win a match in Las Vegas – I'm usually around the pool by now!"
Taylor, who was a quarter-final loser in last month's Blue Square UK Open, admitted: "I wasn't good enough today and the better man won."
Three other seeded players were victims on the tournament's opening day, with former world number one Colin Lloyd losing at the first round stage for a second successive year.
He went down 6-3 to Wes Newton - a semi-finalist in 2005 and 2006 in the event who produced the day's most impressive display with a 101 average - while James Wade and Andy Hamilton were 6-5 losers to Colin Osborne and Steve Beaton respectively.
John Part began the defence of his Desert Classic title with a strong 6-4 win over Steve Maish, while Wayne Mardle defied a bout of toothache to see off qualifier John Ferrell 6-3.
World number five Terry Jenkins defeated American Ray Carver 6-3, but the USA were guaranteed one player in the second round as Gary Mawson celebrated Independence Day with a victory over Stuart Holden.
The first round concludes with the remaining eight matches on Thursday, including current World Champion Raymond van Barneveld meeting Kevin Painter and world number four Peter Manley taking on Dutchman Vincent van der Voort.
Las Vegas Desert Classic VI
First Round - Wednesday Results
Colin Osborne 6-5 James Wade
Gary Mawson 6-2 Stuart Holden
Andy Hamilton 5-6 Steve Beaton
Phil Taylor 5-6 Mark Dudbridge
Colin Lloyd 3-6 Wes Newton
Terry Jenkins 6-3 Ray Carver
Wayne Mardle 6-3 John Ferrell
John Part 6-4 Steve Maish
Thursday Fixtures
Gerry Convery v Mervyn King
Dennis Priestley v Dennis Smith
Darin Young v Tony Eccles
Peter Manley v Vincent van der Voort
Raymond van Barneveld v Kevin Painter
John Kuczynski v Alan Tabern
Adrian Lewis v Steve Smith
Roland Scholten v Andy Smith
COLIN OSBORNE 6-5 JAMES WADE
COLIN OSBORNE edged out James Wade 6-5 in a see-saw contest to open the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI in style.
The pair enjoyed a fine battle, with Osborne taking a 4-1 lead before Wade hit back to take the next four legs and move ahead.
But Osborne had the last laugh, levelling the match before punishing five missed darts for victory from Wade to put himself into the last 16.
Wade opened the match well, with scores of 140 and 180 putting him in front in the first leg only for misses at double 16 and double eight to be punished by Osborne taking out double 16 to break throw.
Wade hit back to win the second leg after the Derby man missed two darts at double 12, but Osborne stepped up a gear to win the next three legs without reply.
He landed two maximums and hit an 11-darter in the fourth leg to lift his average to over 104 and leave Wade reeling.
The Stan James World Matchplay runner-up won leg six, hitting the bullseye for an 83 finish, and won the next three legs to move 5-4 up.
Osborne took out double 18 to send the match into a deciding leg.
Wade was first to the double, missing two darts at double four before a 134 score left Osborne sat on 16.
Wade returned to the oche, but after splitting double four he then missed two darts at double two, allowing Osborne in to hit double four himself and win a second round place.
"I was cruising at 4-1 but turned off," admitted Osborne, a semi-finalist in last month's Blue Square UK Open. "I'd broken his throw twice so knew I just had to hold my own throw and let him back in.
"But I felt comfortable and when I got the chance I took it.
"It was a tough first game but the way I feel at the moment, I'm confident and will take anyone on."
GARY MAWSON 6-2 STUART HOLDEN
AMERICAN Gary Mawson celebrated Independence Day in style with a 6-2 win over qualifier Stuart Holden in the second match of the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI.
Mawson was one of the three top-ranked US-based players to win automatic places in the event, and celebrated his return to the big stage with a win.
The Canadian-born player competed in many of the major PDC tournaments between 1995 and 2000, but has been off the scene since.
He took a little time to settle, with Holden - a qualifier from Hyde who also competed in the UK Open last month - taking the first leg.
Mawson hit back to win the next five legs without reply, hitting two 180s and finishing three times on double eight and twice on double ten.
Holden took the seventh leg on double eight, but Mawson hit scores of 140 and 180 in the next to set up double ten for the win.
STEVE BEATON 6-5 ANDY HAMILTON
STEVE BEATON came from behind to edge out Andy Hamilton in an 11-leg thriller.
Beaton battled through the qualifiers for the tournament on Monday, and his progress to the second round means he will now have to re-arrange his flight back to England - having originally booked a plane to return on Thursday alongside another first round winner, Colin Osborne.
The former World Champion produced a battling display against the number ten seed, who eventually paid the price for two missed doubles for the match in the ninth leg.
Beaton took the game's opening leg, but Hamilton won the next three - landing a 161 finish in going 2-1 up -to put himself in command.
The next four legs went with the throw to leave Hamilton 5-3 ahead before he left himself 30 for the match.
He opted for a 14, double eight finish instead of heading direct for the double 15 - only to miss double eight and double four before Beaton took out double ten to stay in the game.
The seasoned pro from Leamington Spa hit double 16 to send the match into the final leg, and his initial four missed doubles for the win looked as though they could prove costly.
Hamilton, though, was narrowly off-target on the bullseye for a 91 finish, and Beaton returned to hit a pressure double two for the win.
MARK DUDBRIDGE 6-5 PHIL TAYLOR
MARK DUDBRIDGE held his nerve to sensationally knock out Phil Taylor in the first round of the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
The Bristol thrower gained his first ever televised win over Taylor with a 6-5 win in a tight contest at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
He came from 5-4 down to send the match into a decider with a pressure double top, and then landed double 18 for the win after Taylor missed one dart for the match.
"Phil has given me plenty of beatings in the past but I'm a new player now," said Dudbridge.
"I've got so much confidence from this win but I know I’ve got to stay calm, because there are no easy games.
"I played well in the qualifying events and it makes a nice change for me to win a match in Las Vegas – I'm usually around the pool by now!"
The game's first three legs all went against the throw, but Dudbridge missed four darts in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
Taylor levelled and a fine 177 set him up to go ahead for the first time at 3-2.
The pair traded maximums in the next two legs, and the drama continued as they headed towards the finishing line, with Dudbridge sending the game into a decider.
Taylor began the 11th leg with a maximum, but missed double 16 for the win before Dudbridge finished 76 on double 18 for a memorable triumph.
WES NEWTON 6-5 COLIN LLOYD
WES NEWTON piled on the Las Vegas misery for Colin Lloyd and continued his own love affair with the Desert Classic with a 6-3 first round win.
Newton has reached the tournament's semi-finals for the past two years, and remains on course to emulate that feat following an assured display against the former world number one.
He raced into a 4-1 lead before Lloyd found his rhythm, and went on to condemn the Essex star to a second successive first round exit in the tournament.
"I'm very happy," said Newton, who averaged 101 in an impressive performance. "I got my head down, paid attention to my own game and got on with it.
"It’s never easy in such a short format so I'm delighted to get the win. I've got a good record here and am looking forward to the rest of the week."
The pair shared the first two legs before Newton powered clear with three in a row.
Lloyd took the sixth with a 76 finish, and the duo traded 180s in the next leg before Newton hit an unconventional 90 finish of single one, treble 19 and double 16 to move to within a leg of victory.
Lloyd landed double eight to stay in the game in leg eight, but Newton hit double top to book his last 16 place.
TERRY JENKINS 6-3 RAY CARVER
TERRY JENKINS ended the hopes of American Ray Carver with a 6-3 first round triumph at the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
The world number five progressed to the second round despite a high-quality display from Carver, who hit six 180s in the contest but paid for some inconsistent scoring.
Jenkins hit back from losing the game's opening leg to win four of the next five and put himself in command.
Legs of 15 and 14 darts - including a neat two-dart 97 checkout - kept Carver in the hunt at 4-3.
But Jenkins replied with a 14-darter to move to within a leg of victory, and stumbled somewhat over the finishing line after Carver wasted six darts to stay alive.
WAYNE MARDLE 6-3 JOHN FERRELL
WAYNE MARDLE defied a bout of toothache to book his place in the last 16 of the Las Vegas Desert Classic with a 6-3 win over John Ferrell.
The two-time Desert Classic runner-up saw his preparations for the event disrupted by the sudden onset of tooth pain earlier this week, but produced a solid display to progress.
Ferrell, making his comeback in a major tournament after a seven-year absence, gave as good as he got for much of the contest, taking an early 2-1 lead and producing the best leg of the match with a 13-darter.
However, Mardle's run of four successive legs in the middle of the match proved too much for the qualifer as he secured his second round place before heading from the Mandalay Bay Resort to keep a dentist's appointment.
JOHN PART 6-4 STEVE MAISH
JOHN PART began the defence of his Las Vegas Desert Classic VI title with a strong 6-4 win over plucky Steve Maish.
The Canadian picked up the third major title of his career 12 months ago at the Mandalay Bay Resort, and put himself on course for a repeat in an exciting ten-leg dogfight with Maish.
The Essex-based qualifier had a 97 average in the game and landed two ton-plus finishes, but it was not enough to overcome the double World Champion.
Part won the first two legs after Maish was off-target, before being pegged back level - including a 128 finish from the Englishman in leg four.
The next four legs were traded with the throw to leave the pair locked, before a two-dart 70 finish put Part 5-4 up.
Two 140 scores in the next left the Canadian on 64, and he again checked out in two darts to move into the next round.
"It was an exciting game and I'm relieved to get through," said Part. "Steve played well and gave me some nervous moments."
Maish has slipped out of the world's top 32 this year, but admitted that qualifying for the Desert Classic for the first time was a confidence boost.
"I missed a couple of doubles but I was battling to the end and I never gave up," he said.
"It was a great experience and I want to come back here and do it again next year. I was over the moon to get through the qualifiers, and it's hard work playing John but I enjoyed it.
"I've not been playing well for the last two or three months but hopefully I can start playing well again now and build on this."
Taylor, the 13-time World Champion, has never previously lost in a major tournament to Dudbridge but saw his hopes of picking up a fourth Desert Classic title shattered at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
Dudbridge held his nerve to send a tight contest into a deciding 11th leg, and then stepped in to hit double 18 after Taylor was off-target with his one dart for the match.
"Phil has given me plenty of beatings in the past but I'm a new player now," said Dudbridge, who lost to Taylor in the finals of the 2004 World Matchplay and 2005 World Championship.
"I've got so much confidence from this win but I know I’ve got to stay calm, because there are no easy games.
"I played well in the qualifying events and it makes a nice change for me to win a match in Las Vegas – I'm usually around the pool by now!"
Taylor, who was a quarter-final loser in last month's Blue Square UK Open, admitted: "I wasn't good enough today and the better man won."
Three other seeded players were victims on the tournament's opening day, with former world number one Colin Lloyd losing at the first round stage for a second successive year.
He went down 6-3 to Wes Newton - a semi-finalist in 2005 and 2006 in the event who produced the day's most impressive display with a 101 average - while James Wade and Andy Hamilton were 6-5 losers to Colin Osborne and Steve Beaton respectively.
John Part began the defence of his Desert Classic title with a strong 6-4 win over Steve Maish, while Wayne Mardle defied a bout of toothache to see off qualifier John Ferrell 6-3.
World number five Terry Jenkins defeated American Ray Carver 6-3, but the USA were guaranteed one player in the second round as Gary Mawson celebrated Independence Day with a victory over Stuart Holden.
The first round concludes with the remaining eight matches on Thursday, including current World Champion Raymond van Barneveld meeting Kevin Painter and world number four Peter Manley taking on Dutchman Vincent van der Voort.
Las Vegas Desert Classic VI
First Round - Wednesday Results
Colin Osborne 6-5 James Wade
Gary Mawson 6-2 Stuart Holden
Andy Hamilton 5-6 Steve Beaton
Phil Taylor 5-6 Mark Dudbridge
Colin Lloyd 3-6 Wes Newton
Terry Jenkins 6-3 Ray Carver
Wayne Mardle 6-3 John Ferrell
John Part 6-4 Steve Maish
Thursday Fixtures
Gerry Convery v Mervyn King
Dennis Priestley v Dennis Smith
Darin Young v Tony Eccles
Peter Manley v Vincent van der Voort
Raymond van Barneveld v Kevin Painter
John Kuczynski v Alan Tabern
Adrian Lewis v Steve Smith
Roland Scholten v Andy Smith
COLIN OSBORNE 6-5 JAMES WADE
COLIN OSBORNE edged out James Wade 6-5 in a see-saw contest to open the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI in style.
The pair enjoyed a fine battle, with Osborne taking a 4-1 lead before Wade hit back to take the next four legs and move ahead.
But Osborne had the last laugh, levelling the match before punishing five missed darts for victory from Wade to put himself into the last 16.
Wade opened the match well, with scores of 140 and 180 putting him in front in the first leg only for misses at double 16 and double eight to be punished by Osborne taking out double 16 to break throw.
Wade hit back to win the second leg after the Derby man missed two darts at double 12, but Osborne stepped up a gear to win the next three legs without reply.
He landed two maximums and hit an 11-darter in the fourth leg to lift his average to over 104 and leave Wade reeling.
The Stan James World Matchplay runner-up won leg six, hitting the bullseye for an 83 finish, and won the next three legs to move 5-4 up.
Osborne took out double 18 to send the match into a deciding leg.
Wade was first to the double, missing two darts at double four before a 134 score left Osborne sat on 16.
Wade returned to the oche, but after splitting double four he then missed two darts at double two, allowing Osborne in to hit double four himself and win a second round place.
"I was cruising at 4-1 but turned off," admitted Osborne, a semi-finalist in last month's Blue Square UK Open. "I'd broken his throw twice so knew I just had to hold my own throw and let him back in.
"But I felt comfortable and when I got the chance I took it.
"It was a tough first game but the way I feel at the moment, I'm confident and will take anyone on."
GARY MAWSON 6-2 STUART HOLDEN
AMERICAN Gary Mawson celebrated Independence Day in style with a 6-2 win over qualifier Stuart Holden in the second match of the Las Vegas Desert Classic VI.
Mawson was one of the three top-ranked US-based players to win automatic places in the event, and celebrated his return to the big stage with a win.
The Canadian-born player competed in many of the major PDC tournaments between 1995 and 2000, but has been off the scene since.
He took a little time to settle, with Holden - a qualifier from Hyde who also competed in the UK Open last month - taking the first leg.
Mawson hit back to win the next five legs without reply, hitting two 180s and finishing three times on double eight and twice on double ten.
Holden took the seventh leg on double eight, but Mawson hit scores of 140 and 180 in the next to set up double ten for the win.
STEVE BEATON 6-5 ANDY HAMILTON
STEVE BEATON came from behind to edge out Andy Hamilton in an 11-leg thriller.
Beaton battled through the qualifiers for the tournament on Monday, and his progress to the second round means he will now have to re-arrange his flight back to England - having originally booked a plane to return on Thursday alongside another first round winner, Colin Osborne.
The former World Champion produced a battling display against the number ten seed, who eventually paid the price for two missed doubles for the match in the ninth leg.
Beaton took the game's opening leg, but Hamilton won the next three - landing a 161 finish in going 2-1 up -to put himself in command.
The next four legs went with the throw to leave Hamilton 5-3 ahead before he left himself 30 for the match.
He opted for a 14, double eight finish instead of heading direct for the double 15 - only to miss double eight and double four before Beaton took out double ten to stay in the game.
The seasoned pro from Leamington Spa hit double 16 to send the match into the final leg, and his initial four missed doubles for the win looked as though they could prove costly.
Hamilton, though, was narrowly off-target on the bullseye for a 91 finish, and Beaton returned to hit a pressure double two for the win.
MARK DUDBRIDGE 6-5 PHIL TAYLOR
MARK DUDBRIDGE held his nerve to sensationally knock out Phil Taylor in the first round of the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
The Bristol thrower gained his first ever televised win over Taylor with a 6-5 win in a tight contest at the Mandalay Bay Resort.
He came from 5-4 down to send the match into a decider with a pressure double top, and then landed double 18 for the win after Taylor missed one dart for the match.
"Phil has given me plenty of beatings in the past but I'm a new player now," said Dudbridge.
"I've got so much confidence from this win but I know I’ve got to stay calm, because there are no easy games.
"I played well in the qualifying events and it makes a nice change for me to win a match in Las Vegas – I'm usually around the pool by now!"
The game's first three legs all went against the throw, but Dudbridge missed four darts in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead.
Taylor levelled and a fine 177 set him up to go ahead for the first time at 3-2.
The pair traded maximums in the next two legs, and the drama continued as they headed towards the finishing line, with Dudbridge sending the game into a decider.
Taylor began the 11th leg with a maximum, but missed double 16 for the win before Dudbridge finished 76 on double 18 for a memorable triumph.
WES NEWTON 6-5 COLIN LLOYD
WES NEWTON piled on the Las Vegas misery for Colin Lloyd and continued his own love affair with the Desert Classic with a 6-3 first round win.
Newton has reached the tournament's semi-finals for the past two years, and remains on course to emulate that feat following an assured display against the former world number one.
He raced into a 4-1 lead before Lloyd found his rhythm, and went on to condemn the Essex star to a second successive first round exit in the tournament.
"I'm very happy," said Newton, who averaged 101 in an impressive performance. "I got my head down, paid attention to my own game and got on with it.
"It’s never easy in such a short format so I'm delighted to get the win. I've got a good record here and am looking forward to the rest of the week."
The pair shared the first two legs before Newton powered clear with three in a row.
Lloyd took the sixth with a 76 finish, and the duo traded 180s in the next leg before Newton hit an unconventional 90 finish of single one, treble 19 and double 16 to move to within a leg of victory.
Lloyd landed double eight to stay in the game in leg eight, but Newton hit double top to book his last 16 place.
TERRY JENKINS 6-3 RAY CARVER
TERRY JENKINS ended the hopes of American Ray Carver with a 6-3 first round triumph at the Las Vegas Desert Classic.
The world number five progressed to the second round despite a high-quality display from Carver, who hit six 180s in the contest but paid for some inconsistent scoring.
Jenkins hit back from losing the game's opening leg to win four of the next five and put himself in command.
Legs of 15 and 14 darts - including a neat two-dart 97 checkout - kept Carver in the hunt at 4-3.
But Jenkins replied with a 14-darter to move to within a leg of victory, and stumbled somewhat over the finishing line after Carver wasted six darts to stay alive.
WAYNE MARDLE 6-3 JOHN FERRELL
WAYNE MARDLE defied a bout of toothache to book his place in the last 16 of the Las Vegas Desert Classic with a 6-3 win over John Ferrell.
The two-time Desert Classic runner-up saw his preparations for the event disrupted by the sudden onset of tooth pain earlier this week, but produced a solid display to progress.
Ferrell, making his comeback in a major tournament after a seven-year absence, gave as good as he got for much of the contest, taking an early 2-1 lead and producing the best leg of the match with a 13-darter.
However, Mardle's run of four successive legs in the middle of the match proved too much for the qualifer as he secured his second round place before heading from the Mandalay Bay Resort to keep a dentist's appointment.
JOHN PART 6-4 STEVE MAISH
JOHN PART began the defence of his Las Vegas Desert Classic VI title with a strong 6-4 win over plucky Steve Maish.
The Canadian picked up the third major title of his career 12 months ago at the Mandalay Bay Resort, and put himself on course for a repeat in an exciting ten-leg dogfight with Maish.
The Essex-based qualifier had a 97 average in the game and landed two ton-plus finishes, but it was not enough to overcome the double World Champion.
Part won the first two legs after Maish was off-target, before being pegged back level - including a 128 finish from the Englishman in leg four.
The next four legs were traded with the throw to leave the pair locked, before a two-dart 70 finish put Part 5-4 up.
Two 140 scores in the next left the Canadian on 64, and he again checked out in two darts to move into the next round.
"It was an exciting game and I'm relieved to get through," said Part. "Steve played well and gave me some nervous moments."
Maish has slipped out of the world's top 32 this year, but admitted that qualifying for the Desert Classic for the first time was a confidence boost.
"I missed a couple of doubles but I was battling to the end and I never gave up," he said.
"It was a great experience and I want to come back here and do it again next year. I was over the moon to get through the qualifiers, and it's hard work playing John but I enjoyed it.
"I've not been playing well for the last two or three months but hopefully I can start playing well again now and build on this."
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