RTL7 International Masters

FOLLOW the RTL7 International Masters from Friday-Monday at the Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee.

Friday night sees Co Stompe, Jelle Klaasen and Roland Scholten kick off the event with Group A as the trio compete for places in Sunday's quarter-finals.

Phil Taylor, Terry Jenkins and Adrian Lewis compete in Group B on Saturday evening from 8pm local time, and will be followed by Group C, involving the Dutch trio Raymond van Barneveld, Vincent van der Voort and Michael van Gerwen.

Sunday's Group D - featuring Gary Anderson, James Wade and Simon Whitlock - is followed by the quarter-finals, featuring the top two from each group.

The semi-finals and final will be played on Monday evening, with a €20,000 first prize awaiting the champion.

Coverage is live in the Netherlands through RTL7 and also via www.rtl7.nl (for Dutch users only).

CO STOMPE and Roland Scholten qualified for the quarter-finals of the RTL7 International Masters on Friday night, as Jelle Klaasen paid the price for missed doubles in Group A.

Stompe roared into the last eight of the €80,000 event at the Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee, defeating both Klaasen and Scholten to ensure he will return to the stage on Sunday evening.

He will be joined in the quarter-finals by 2004 UK Open champion Scholten, who won the last four legs without reply in his decider against Klaasen to claim an 8-5 win and progress.

"I'm really pleased to have qualified but am delighted to have played so well too," said Stompe. "My scoring was pretty good and I was happy with my finishing.

"Hopefully I can keep this up on Sunday in the quarter-finals and challenge to win this tournament on Monday."

Klaasen had hit back from 2-0 down to level the opening game of the tournament, but Stompe won the next five legs without reply as the former Lakeside Champion missed doubles on three occasions.

Stompe missed one match dart in the tenth leg as Klaasen scrambled in double one to stay alive, but his respite was brief as Stompe posted double seven for an 8-3 victory.

Stompe then returned to the stage to take on Scholten, who paid for a slow start as his opponent won the first two legs.

Scholten finished 99 for the third, but Stompe hit a 171 score in winning the fourth and back-to-back 180s in the fifth, which he won in 11 darts.

After also taking the sixth, Stompe finished 161 and hit 180s in the next two legs in taking an 8-1 win to secure his quarter-final place, and leave Scholten to face Klaasen in a winner-progresses contest.

Klaasen outscored Scholten for much of a tight contest, hitting five 180s in the opening eight legs, including two amongst six perfect darts in one leg as he posted an 11-dart finish.

Those first eight legs were shared, before Klaasen edged the ninth on double four after a miss from Scholten to move 5-4 up.

Scholten, though, hit back immediately to break on double six and posted double eight to regain the lead, before misses in the next two legs from Klaasen allowed him to complete the victory.

Klaasen missed a total of 25 doubles across his two matches, and admitted: "It's disappointing for me because I scored well but couldn't take my chances."

The tournament continues on Saturday evening from 8pm (local time), with Group B featuring Phil Taylor, Terry Jenkins and World Champion Adrian Lewis.

Their round-robin games will be followed by Group C's clashes involving five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld, Vincent van der Voort and Michael van Gerwen.

Coverage is live in the Netherlands through RTL7 and also via www.rtl7.nl (for Dutch users only).

Highlights of the RTL7 International Masters will be available worldwide for PDCtv subscribers following the conclusion of the tournament.

RTL7 International Masters
Group A
Co Stompe 8-3 Jelle Klaasen
Co Stompe 8-1 Roland Scholten
Jelle Klaasen 5-8 Roland Scholten

PHIL TAYLOR and Raymond van Barneveld progressed unbeaten into the quarter-finals of the RTL7 International Masters on Saturday night, and will be joined in the last eight at the Hotel Zuiderduin in Egmond aan Zee by World Champion Adrian Lewis and Vincent van der Voort.

Taylor defeated both Lewis and Terry Jenkins to win both of his games in Group B at the Hotel Zuiderduin, confirming his return to top form after rising to the head of the 888.com Premier League Darts table on Thursday.

Taylor averaged 106.99 in an 8-4 win over Jenkins in his opening game, leading 3-0 and 5-1 before the Ledbury ace hit back to trail only 6-4.

Taylor, though, took the next two to claim victory and stepped up a gear for his clash with Lewis, gaining revenge over the World Champion for last month's Premier League defeat with a sensational 8-4 victory.

The pair shared 12 180s, and Taylor averaged 113.92 compared to 108.78 from Lewis in a brilliant contest, with the youngster coming from 4-1 down to trail only 5-4 at one stage before the world number one reeled off the last three legs without reply.

"I'm over the moon to get through to Sunday's quarter-finals," said Taylor. "I'm playing like the old Phil Taylor and it's coming back together for me now.

"I really enjoyed both games. Terry missed a few doubles against me, but Adrian played really well and I thought he would hit a nine-darter, and I had a chance at a ten-darter too - it was a great standard."

Lewis returned to the stage for his winner-takes-all game with Jenkins, and averaged over 100 in an 8-3 victory.

Jenkins levelled after falling 2-0 down early on, but Lewis won six of the next seven legs to take his place in the quarter-finals.

"It's hard to pick yourself up after averaging 108 and losing, but I went up against Terry and did a good job," said Lewis. "I've played well in both games and I'm looking forward to the quarter-finals.

"I'll have a good rest, come back fresh on Sunday and hopefully improve in the quarter-finals."

Jenkins said: "My finishing has ben terrible and I've got to put it right. My scoring has been brilliant, but I'm missing too many doubles and it's frustrating for me."

Meanwhile, five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld delighted the sell-out Dutch crowd at the Hotel Zuiderduin with victories against Vincent van der Voort and Michael van Gerwen to win Group C.

Van Barneveld edged a tight contest with van der Voort to take their opening game, before seeing off 21-year-old van Gerwen 8-5, averaging over 103 in the process.

Van der Voort and van Gerwen then battled out a thriller for the right to join him in the last eight, with van der Voort eventually prevailing 8-4.

He led 3-0 and 4-1 before van Gerwen took out a 14-darter against the throw and a 112 finish to level, but van der Voort killed off his challenge by winning the next four to progress.

Van der Voort will now meet Group A winner Co Stompe in the opening quarter-final on Sunday night, with van Barneveld facing Roland Scholten.

The quarter-finals will begin after Group D is played, featuring world number three James Wade and the last two World Championship runners-up, Simon Whitlock and Gary Anderson.

Taylor will take on the Group D runner-up in the last eight, with the winner facing Lewis in the other quarter-final.

Coverage is live in the Netherlands through RTL7 and also via www.rtl7.nl.

Highlights of the RTL7 International Masters will be available worldwide for PDCtv subscribers following the conclusion of the tournament.

RTL7 International Masters
Saturday March 19
Group B
Phil Taylor 8-4 Terry Jenkins
Phil Taylor 8-4 Adrian Lewis
Terry Jenkins 3-8 Adrian Lewis

GROUP B
PHIL TAYLOR 8-4 TERRY JENKINS
0-0 - Phil Taylor won the bullseye and will throw first
1-0 - Taylor hits three successive 140s to begin the game, with Jenkins landing a 180 but unable to prevent the world number one hitting double 12 for a 13-dart finish.
2-0 - Taylor hits a 180 before taking out 84 on double 12 to break and extend his advantage.
3-0 - Taylor lands another 180 and checks out 124 on double eight to move three legs up.
3-1 - Jenkins gets off the mark courtesy of a neat 100 finish.
4-1 - Taylor misses double eight for a 121 finish but returns to finish double four.
5-1 - Jenkins hits another 180, but Taylor posts double top for another 14-dart finish.
5-2 - Jenkins breaks in 12 darts, hitting another maximum and double ten.
5-3 - Taylor misses the bullseye for a 124 finish, and Jenkins takes out 104 on double 12 to hit back further.
6-3 - Jenkins wastes a golden chance to win a third straight leg, miscounting on a 167 finish when, after hitting treble 20 and treble 19, he went for double top instead of the bull, and Taylor made no mistake by hitting tops for his sixth leg.
6-4 - Jenkins takes out 96 in two darts to pull back to within two legs once again.
7-4 - Both players hit 180s, but Taylor lands double top to move a leg away from victory.
8-4 - Jenkins misses double 18 for a 92 finish, and Taylor takes out 70 to complete the win.
Final Match Averages: Phil Taylor 106.69, Terry Jenkins 98.72

PHIL TAYLOR 8-4 ADRIAN LEWIS
0-0 - Adrian Lewis won the bullseye and will throw first
0-1 - Lewis hits two 180s and a 41 finish for a brilliant 11-dart opening leg.
1-1 - Taylor replies with a maximum of his own before finishing 87 on double 18.
2-1 - Taylor hits a 174 score to leave 31, and after Lewis misses a dart at double top the world number one breaks with double eight for a 14-dart leg.
3-1 - Lewis misses the bull for a 161 finish, and Taylor follows an earlier 180 with double ten for another 14-dart finish.
4-1 - Taylor hits scores of 180, 140 and 165 to set up double eight as he breaks again with a 12-darter.
4-2 - Lewis pounds the treble 20 with scores of 180, 120 and 139 but a miss at double top allows Taylor in, and he wires the bullseye for a 124 checkout and the World Champion returns to post double ten for a 13-dart break.
4-3 - Taylor opens with a 180 but misses the bullseye for a 121 finish and Lewis checks out 100 with two double tops.
5-3 - Both players hit 180s and are on a two-dart finish after nine darts, with Taylor taking out 44 on tops to lead 5-3.
5-4 - Lewis hits back with a bullseye finish on 124, with Taylor waiting on 24 after 12 darts.
6-4 - Taylor finishes 106 on tops to win a sixth leg.
7-4 - Taylor moves one leg away from a second successive win with a brilliant 11-dart break, hitting scores of 180, 138 and 133 before hitting double top.
8-4 - Lewis kicks off the leg with back-to-back 180s, but sees his seventh dart of a possible nine-darter land just in treble one, and he fails to complete the leg before Taylor takes out double 12 for a 13-darter to win a high-class contest.
Final Match Averages: Phil Taylor 113.92, Adrian Lewis 108.78. Both players also hit six 180s each.

TERRY JENKINS 3-8 ADRIAN LEWIS
0-0 - Terry Jenkins won the bullseye and will throw first
0-1 - Lewis opens the game with a 180 and secures an immediate break with double 18, after Jenkins misses double top for a 108 finish.
0-2 - Lewis doubles his lead, hitting a 180 to set up a 36 finish.
1-2 - Lewis hits scores of 140, 121 and 180 - his third of the game - to leave 60 after nine darts, but misses double top and double ten before Jenkins takes out 107 to get off the mark.
2-2 - Jenkins levels with a 14-darter, hitting double eight for the leg.
2-3 - Lewis opens with a 180 and also hits a 171 score before breaking throw on double ten.
2-4 - Lewis moves two legs clear once again, finishing 76 on tops for the sixth leg.
2-5 - Lewis breaks again in 14 darts, landing double top.
3-5 - Lewis misses tops for a 103 finish and Jenkins breaks back with an 80 finish.
3-6 - Jenkins misses a dart at double top for a 96 finish, having hit a single 18 and double 18, and Lewis steps in to break again on tops.
3-7 - Lewis moves a leg away from victory by taking ou 92 on double eight.
3-8 - Jenkins misses four darts to stay in the game, and Lewis finishes 70 in two darts on his favoured double top to progress to the quarter-finals.
Final Match Averages: Terry Jenkins 94.08, Adrian Lewis 100.76

Group C
Raymond van Barneveld 8-6 Vincent van der Voort
Raymond van Barneveld 8-5 Michael van Gerwen
Vincent van der Voort 8-4 Michael van Gerwen

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-6 VINCENT VAN DER VOORT
0-0 - Raymond van Barneveld won the bullseye and will throw first.
1-0 - van Barneveld opens the game with a 180 and takes the first leg on double five.
1-1 - van Barneveld misses the bull for a 128 finish and van der Voort returns to hit double 18 and level.
2-1 - van der Voort fails to take out 129 and van Barneveld lands double ten.
3-1 - van Barneveld kicks off the leg with a 180 and breaks in 12 darts on double top.
3-2 - van der Voort breaks back immediately with a 13-dart leg, ended on double 16.
4-2 - van Barneveld opens again with a maximum, and takes out double 16 for a 13-dart leg in reply to break again.
4-3 - van der Voort breaks back once more, finishing 98 on double nine.
4-4 - van der Voort levels the game by taking out double top, with van Barneveld waiting on 20.
5-4 - van der Voort sees a chance to break narrow escape him, opening with a 180 and missing the bullseye for a 124 finish against the throw, before van Barneveld clinically takes out 64 on double 16.
5-5 - van der Voort hits a 180 and lands double top to square the game.
6-5 - van Barneveld posts double eight to edge closer to victory.
7-5 - van Barneveld moves a leg away from the win, breaking van der Voort's throw with a 96 finish, despite an earlier 180 from his opponent.
7-6 - van der Voort misses the bull for a 121 finish, and they look to be costly as van Barneveld returns on 32, only to miss three darts for victory as his opponent lands double eight to stay in the game.
8-6 - van Barneveld opens with a 180, and after van der Voort misses the bullseye to stay in the game the five-time World Champion hits tops to seal the win.
Final Match Averages: Raymond van Barneveld 97.63, Vincent van der Voort 95.88

RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD 8-5 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
0-0 - Raymond van Barneveld won the bullseye and will throw first.
1-0 - van Barneveld takes out 110 on double 16 for a confident opening leg.
1-1 - van Gerwen misses a dart at double 18 for a 102 finish, but van Barneveld fails to capitalise with three misses at double 14 and the youngster returns to post double two.
2-1 - van Barneveld hits a 170 to leave a finish, and returns to win the leg on double ten.
2-2 - van Gerwen hits his first 180 of the game to leave 24, and levels the match on double six.
3-2 - van Barneveld takes out double 16 under pressure for a 64 finish.
4-2 - van Barneveld secures the first break of throw by taking out 68 on double 16, after van Gerwen missed the single 18 to leave the bullseye on an 88 finish.
5-2 - Van Barneveld hits scores of 180, 140 and 140 before posting double eight for a 13-darter.
5-3 - Double top for an 82 finish sees van Gerwen hit back.
6-3 - van Barneveld regains a three-leg cushion with an 84 finish, ending on double six.
6-4 - van Gerwen finishes 114 on double 17 to reduce the gap.
6-5 - van Barneveld misses double 19 for a 118 finish and van Gerwen takes out 66 on double eight to break throw.
7-5 - van Gerwen misses double top for a 108 finish, and van Barneveld punishes him with a 116 checkout on double 18.
8-5 - van Barneveld takes victory and a quarter-final place by opening with a 180 and sealing the win on tops with a 13-dart leg.
Final Match Averages: Raymond van Barneveld 103.31, Michael van Gerwen 97.65

VINCENT VAN DER VOORT 8-4 MICHAEL VAN GERWEN
0-0 - Vincent van der Voort won the bullseye and will throw first.
1-0 - van der Voort misses three darts for the leg, but van Gerwen drops just under double top for a 108 finish to allow the Purmerend ace in on double ten.
2-0 - Double eight gives van der Voort an immediate break of throw.
3-0 - van der Voort extends his advantage on double top.
3-1 - van Gerwen gets off the mark with an 11-dart leg, featuring scores of 140, 139, 140 and double 16 for an 82 finish.
4-1 - Both players hit maximums, but van der Voort posts double top for a 13-dart leg with van Gerwen waiting on 28.
4-2 - van der Voort hits a 180 but misses the bull for a 101 finish, and van Gerwen hits double 16 at the fifth time of asking to win his second leg.
4-3 - van Gerwen breaks back, hitting three ton-plus scores before landing double top for a 14-dart finish.
4-4 - van Gerwen takes out 112 to level the game and win a third successive leg.
5-4 - van der Voort finishes 98 on double 19 for the ninth leg.
6-4 - van Gerwen fails to give himself a dart at a double when on 90, and van der Voort posts double top to break.
7-4 - van der Voort opens with a 180, giving him the breathing space to miss two darts at double 16 before returning to hit the same bed.
8-4 - van Gerwen leaves 24 with van der Voort on 87, but the 2007 UK Open runner-up posts double five to check out and take victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Final Match Averages: Vincent van der Voort 93.46, Michael van Gerwen 94.96

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