It's goodnight John 'Boy' as Robson progresses
Wednesday, 10 January 2007Gary Robson followed up his shock Lakeside World Championship win against wonderkid Michael van Gerwen by knocking out 2001 hero John 'Boy' Walton in the second round tonight.
The 39-year-old fought back from 3-1 down to reach the quarter-finals with a 4-3 triumph after his opponent's form evaporated just when he was in sight of victory.
The second match of the night also went to a seventh set and did not go according to the expected script, with sixth seed Simon Whitlock of Australia losing to Holland's Niels de Ruiter.
Whitlock, nicknamed 'The Wizard' because of his long beard, had been promoted to second favourite for the tournament without throwing a dart, his initial opponent Andy Fordham having withdrawn due to illness.
But despite hitting back from 3-1 down, the 37-year-old succumbed in the final set to the 'Excellent Dude', who was upholding Dutch pride following the defeats of Van Gerwen and defending champion Jelle Klaasen.
The result meant that, in complete contrast to the top half of the draw, none of the players seeded to reach the quarter-finals from the lower section would take up their designated last-eight slots.
Paul Hanvidge reached the quarter-finals for the second consecutive year with a 4-1 victory over Albertino Essers, which left De Ruiter as the only remaining Dutchman.
The 45-year-old Glaswegian tiler lost the opening set but then found his range and had little trouble closing it out as Essers' standard dropped markedly.
Next opponent for Hanvidge will be Phil Nixon, who showed his opening win over Darryl Fitton was no fluke by accounting for tenth seed Martin Atkins.
Nixon, 50, from Durham, was also a 4-1 winner in a match notable for the number of missed doubles by both players.
Although he denied it had been a problem, Atkins may have been hindered by a broken blood vessel in his eye caused by a heavy sneeze while taking a shower.
