Darts Federation of Australia

Day Five Highlights

Monk through after thriller

Colin Monk (pictured) claimed a 3-2 victory over Tony O'Shea in one of the greatest matches ever seen at the Embassy World Championship. With the score locked at 5-5 in the deciding set, Monk nailed double 16 in the sudden death leg to book his place in the quarter-finals.

"I'm a bit shattered," admitted Monk afterwards.

"I know what it is like to lose in that situation and I just had to dig really deep. I'm over the moon to have won.
"In the last set the man was just hitting 140s and 180s.

From the pressure side it was good, but enjoyable it wasn't.

"I just thought to myself that I had to stay calm and today was my day.
I'm glad to come out of a match like that a winner.

"I'm just going to go home now and try to relax before Friday's quarter-final."

Second Round Results:
Day 5

(2) Raymond van Barneveld (Ned)	def	John Burton (Wal)	3-0
Erik Clarys (Bel)	def	Robert Wagner (Aut)	3-0
Colin Monk (Eng)	def	Tony O'Shea (Eng)	3-2
Mervyn King (Eng)	def	Dennis Harbour (Eng)	3-1

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 3 JOHN BURTON 0

Two times Embassy champion Raymond Barneveld had no intention of following some of the shock results from the previous evening.

Seeds Andy Fordham, John Walton and Martin Adams had bit the dust and Barney (pictured) was not going to go that way.

He put the small hiccup of losing the first leg of the game behind him before unleashing the type of awesome accuracy that netted him the

title in 1998 and 1999.

Welshman Burton, making his debut at the Lakeside, picked up a leg in each of the three sets but was never really in the match or a threat to a player clearly intent on another world title.

Van Barneveld was understandably delighted with his performance, and said: "I played fast and hit the good averages tonight.

"John took the first leg with 13 darts but the important leg of that set was the second. We both missed doubles but then I hit it and went on to take the first set 3-1.

"I'm in good form. In November and December I won four successive tournaments, including the Swedish Open.

"The form is awesome really at the moment and my performances in those tournaments has given me a lot of confidence."

ERIK CLARYS 3 ROBERT WAGNER 0

Norwegian-based Austrian Robert Wagner will need to sharpen up on his doubles when he returns to the Lakeside.

The popular player will want another shot at the world's top title now he has had a taste of the great British Darts Organisation competition - winning his opening match against Gary Robson in round one.

But Wagner lost his finishing touch when he needed it and experienced Belgian Erik Clarys (pictured) made sure he was punished for it.

Clarys - known as the Sheriff - came back from two legs down in the first set to win 3-2.

The Belgian, notorious for going for unorthodox shots out, took set two with relative ease as Wagner suffered on his doubles and went on to take the match with an impressive 3-0 scoreline in the third.

"Everything I tried tonight went in," said Clarys. "Robert had a lot of chances and missed, but I took my chances.

"Not only am I now in the quarter-finals, I am also on track with the points I've got to qualify for next year's Embassy.

"But my next game is against Raymond van Barneveld, who is a very good player and capable of winning the Embassy.

"But every player in this tournament is capable of the winning the tournament. It is a 50/50 match."

COLIN MONK 3 TONY O'SHEA 2

Colin Monk and Tony O'Shea thrilled a packed Lakeside as, incredibly, they produced an even more

Colin Monk and Tony O'Shea thrilled a packed Lakeside as, incredibly, they produced an even more exciting clash than their battle last year.

The two produced an epic that will stand with the best over the last 26 years and it was Monk who triumphed once again.

O'Shea had the advantage at the start but Monk struck immediately. O'Shea, who knocked out Millennium champion Ted

Hankey in round one, was determined that the match should have a different outcome and won the set after it went to 2-2.

Monk hit back in set two and finished off his 3-1 legs victory with a clash 160 checkout.

Former world master Monk could have gone ahead in the third but missed his chance and a 102 finish from O'Shea put him back in control.

Monk was getting in the groove and, although everything went to the wire, he won the fourth set
3-0.

The pulsating match moved to two each in the fifth and two clear legs were needed for a winner.

They traded blow for blow up to five each when the referee called for a sudden death leg.

Monk eventually won nearest the bull and checked out on 102 - treble 20, ten, double 16.

O'Shea, the world number six, was understandably disappointed with the result but feels his opponent can progress even further.

"He beat me in the first round last year and went on to reach the semi-finals," said O'Shea.

"I honestly think he is playing a lot better than last year and the sky is the limit for Colin.

"He can win it, he really can win it. He played superb last night.

"The one thing with Colin Monk is he's a battler, he's never beaten.

If you've got those kinds of qualities, you are never out of a game. He showed it again last night, he was just superb."

Monk is now preparing for tomorrow's clash with world number three Mervyn King, who defeated him in the semis 12 months ago.

O'Shea said: "Obviously I'm disappointed that I lost, but I did play well and didn't bottle it.

"Credit must go to Colin because he finished well at crucial times. I think we are both evenly matched, and today proved it."

MERVYN KING 3 DENNIS HARBOUR 1

Last year's semi-finalist Mervyn King got himself back on the road to the final when he knocked out fellow Englishman Dennis Harbour.

King showed his intent from the start and two 12-dart legs and three maximums helped him to claim the first set.

Set two was a different story as Harbour battled to two legs each.
The final leg was a nervous display as King just missed a 170 checkout and Harbour narrowly missed a 161. King needed several throws at double eight but eventually hit it and went two sets clear.

King had the throw in set three but Harbour was not giving up and took set to the deciding leg which he claimed.

King knew he was close to the winning post and moved to a 2-0 lead.

Harbour made a bid to fight back with a game but it was only a matter of time and King struck for a 3-1 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

King will take on Monk next in a repeat of the semi-final of 12 months ago.

Schedule for Thursday, January 9, at the Embassy World Championship, Frimley Green

Quarter-finals

(1) Tony David (Aus)	v	Ritchie Davies (Wal)
Gary Anderson (Sco)	v	Bob Taylor (Sco)
Colin Monk (Eng)	v	(3) Mervyn King (Eng)
(2) Raymond Barneveld (Neth)	v	Erik Clarys (Bel)

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