2004 World Matchplay Darts

The 2004 Stan James World Matchplay Darts Championship was held from 25-31 July 2004 at the Winter Gardens, Blackpool. 32 Players once again assembled in their bid to take the World Matchplay title of Phil Taylor for the first time since 1999 when Rod Harrington took the title. However it was not to be as the new World Darts Champion reigned supreme, dropping just 31 legs on his way to a 7th Crown. This was the championship where World No. 17 Mark Dudbridge had a brilliant run to the final. This was to be the start of a memorable five months for the Bristolian, who would go on to reach the World Final against Taylor

Tournament Review"Day 1 - Sunday 25th JulyThree games this evening as the World Matchplay got underway. In the opening match, the 16th seed Bob Anderson back amongst the top 16 after a brilliant 2004 used his experience to edge out Mersey qualifier Robbie Green by a 10 legs to 7 margin, the 56 year old hoping for a great run after moving back up the rankings. The second match saw the number 8 seed, Dennis Smith knock Keith Deller out of the competition in a comfortable 10-4 win. Then top seed John Part began his campaign in brilliant form, qualifier Colin Monk being dispatched by 10 legs to 0. Bob Anderson next up for the 2002 runner-up

"Day 2 - Monday 26th JulyEight games on day 2 as the Matchplay really began to get going. In the opening match of the afternoon 13th seed Steve Beaton knocked out World No. 21 Paul Williams from Bolton. The 1996 BDO World Champion looking in good form with a 10-7 win over Williams. In the second match, John Lowe made his final competitive appearance as a top 32 player and he started well, leading early on against Andy Jenkins, before the 9th seed turned the tide to win 10-6. Then Colin Lloyd, seeded 5 and currently on an awesome run of form knocked another of the four qualifiers in the first round in the shape of Big Dave Smith from Leeds, edging a 10-6 win. In the final match of the afternoon, 15th Seed Dave Askew crashed out 10-7 to World number 19 Jamie Harvey, a Scot who every now and again enjoys a fabulous run in a tournament.

In the evening session, the proceedings began with a bang with the exit, 10-5 of number 6 seed Wayne Mardle to the number 17 ranked player in the world, Mark Dudbridge, Hawaii 501 unable to show the form that took him to the final in 2003. Then Roland Scholten, newly crowned UK Open champion after a 11-6 win over John Part and number 2 seed for these championships began his campaign with a 10-7 win over three time world finalist (one of those as champion) Richie Burnett, really a player on the slide. Phil Taylor, reigning champion but seeded only 4, had a tough draw in the shape of Watford's Alex Roy (twice quarter-finalist here), but was in fantastic form in building up a 9-0 lead over Roy, before Roy ended the embarrassment of a whitewash by taking the tenth leg. However Taylor soon found a double to end the run of Roy before it had started. In the final game, third seed Peter Manley (newlywed to Crissy) ended qualifiers hopes with a comfortable 10-4 win over Dave Jowett.

"Day 3 - Tuesday 27th JulyThe afternoon session on day three saw 12th seed, Denis Ovens condemn Mark Walsh to a third successive first round exit at the World Matchplay. The Heat going through to the last 16 by 10 legs to 5. Then a surprisingly easy win for the impressive Ronnie Baxter, seeded 10 managing to defeat former World Matchplay champion Peter Evison by a whitewash, 10-0. The third match saw a revitalised Dennis Priestley, seeded 14 and having laid mutterings of retirement to rest went through 10-5 against Alan Caves, who's dismal record on TV continued. In the final game of the afternoon, Alan Warriner, the 11th seed and former World finalist was impressive in defeating England's Simon Whatley by 10 legs to 3.

In the evening, the final first round match took place, Kevin Painter, runner-up in the World Championship by the narrowest of margins, and seeded 10 for the Matchplay, struggled through against Lionel Sams who twice won legs to level the scores at 9-9 to send the match into a tie break and again in the tie-break to level at 10-10. Then Sams seemed to be thrown by something said to him by Painter, and lost 12-10. Sams accused Painter of gamesmanship as there is no evidence to back up the claim of Painter's about trying to make noises with the flights in a bid to offput Painter. The second game was brilliant for excitement and Tension, Anderson in the opening game of round 2, giving Part the fright of his life. Despite both struggling to find their best form, the match went to 12-12 and into a tie-break, 6 legs later and the match was 15 all, before Part tool the last 2 legs to edge home a 17-15 winner. In the final match, Phil Taylor, ended the run of Steve Beaton. The Power again on form in going through by 13 legs to 4.

"Day 4 - Wednesday 28th JulyThe second round matches were completed today. In the first of the afternoon matches, a tie-break was required when Andy Jenkins and Dennis Smith reached 12 legs all. Jenkins however, seeded 9 managed to upstage the 8th seed to go through to a quarter-final with top seed John Part by 17-15. The second match saw the 5th seed, Colin Lloyd carry on his form with a comfortable 13-7 win over 12th seed Denis Ovens to go through to the quarter-finals; And a meeting with 4th seed, Phil Taylor. In the final match, Jamie Harvey caused another surprise, having surprised Dave Askew 10-7 on Monday in the first round, He then shocked 2nd seed Roland Scholten in a tense tie-break that went 18-16 to the Scot.

In the first game of the evening session, even this was upstaged as the Tie-break went on 12 legs, as Ronnie Baxter, the 10th seed, continued his good form in edging out 7th seed Kevin Painter 19-17, - The Longest match of the tournament, and yet longer matches, i.e. first to 16's, 17's and 18's were still to be played. Bets for how long, the Harvey v Baxter quarter-final would be must have been taken. Then, Mark Dudbridge became the second unseeded player into the quarter-finals, with a tie-break win over 11th seed Alan Warriner, Dudbridge winning 15-13. In the final match, Peter Manley, sporting Ear muffs to combat the booing (bought by Crissy), went through, a 13-9 winner over 14th Seed Dennis Priestley.

"Day 5 - Thursday 29th JulyQuarter-Final day, and all four matches to be played today. The first quarter-final, saw the end of the week for Jamie Harvey who had been in good form in the first two rounds, well beaten by Ronnie Baxter in a short game that wasn't expected, The 10th seed advancing to the semi-finals with a brilliant 16-4 win. Baxter would be meeting the unseeded Mark Dudbridge after Flash advanced after knocking out third seed Peter Manley (who forgot his earmuffs) 16-9.

In the evening session. The top seed John Part again squeezed through 16-14 against 9th seed Andy Jenkins. Then Phil Taylor set up the semi-final with John Part after an impressive 16-10 win over 5th seed Colin Lloyd.

"Day 6 - Friday 30th JulyMark Dudbridge continued his fantastic run at the World Matchplay by knocking out 10th seed Ronnie Baxter in a great semi-final. Dudbridge winning 17-13. In the second semi, John Part, tired after two close games bowed out to fourth seed, Phil Taylor. The Power going through an impressive 17-8 winner.

"Day 7 - Saturday 31st JulyDudbridge, Tired after four wins, failed to reproduce the form of his wins over Mardle and Manley etc. and lost to Taylor who recorded a win in the most one sided final in Matchplay history. Taylor winning 18-8.

Results

1st Round

best of 19 legs (must win by 2 clear legs)
"Sunday 25 July"
*Bob Anderson - Robbie Green 10 - 7
*Dennis Smith - Keith Deller 10 - 4
*John Part - Colin Monk 10 - 0"Monday 26 July"
*Steve Beaton - Paul Williams 10 - 7
*Andy Jenkins - John Lowe 10 - 6
*Colin Lloyd - Dave Smith 10 - 6
*Dave Askew - Jamie Harvey 7 - 10
*Wayne Mardle - Mark Dudbridge 5 - 10
*Roland Scholten - Richie Burnett 10 - 7
*Phil Taylor - Alex Roy 10 - 1
*Peter Manley - Dave Jowett 10 - 4"Tuesday 27 July"
*Denis Ovens - Mark Walsh 10 - 5
*Ronnie Baxter - Peter Evison 10 - 0
*Dennis Priestley - Alan Caves 10 - 5
*Alan Warriner - Simon Whatley 10 - 3
*Kevin Painter - Lionel Sams 12 - 10

=2nd Round= best of 25 legs (must win by 2 clear legs)
"Tuesday 27 July"
*John Part - Bob Anderson 17 - 15
*Phil Taylor - Steve Beaton 13 - 4"Wednesday 28 July"
*Dennis Smith - Andy Jenkins 15 - 17
*Colin Lloyd - Denis Ovens 13 - 7
*Roland Scholten - Jamie Harvey 16 - 18
*Kevin Painter - Ronnie Baxter 17 - 19
*Mark Dudbridge - Alan Warriner 15 - 13
*Peter Manley - Dennis Priestley 13 - 9

=Quarter Finals= best of 31 legs (must win by 2 clear legs)
"Thursday 29 July"
*Jamie Harvey - Ronnie Baxter 4 - 16
*Mark Dudbridge - Peter Manley 16 - 9
*John Part - Andy Jenkins 16 - 14
*Colin Lloyd - Phil Taylor 10 - 16

=Semi Finals= best of 33 legs (must win by 2 clear legs)
"Friday 30 July"
*Ronnie Baxter - Mark Dudbridge 13 - 17
*John Part - Phil Taylor 8 - 17

=Final= "Saturday 31 July"best of 35 legs (must win by 2 clear legs)

*Mark Dudbridge - Phil Taylor 8 - 18