Part continues resurgent run at the UK Open as Pallett, West and Owen march on in Minehead

Jamie Shaw in PDC Darts News 03 Mar 2018

Part shakes hands with King (credit:Chris Dean/PDC)

John Part rolled back the years at the UK Open in Minehead on Saturday to reach his first major Quarter-Final since 2012, while David Pallett, Steve West and Robert Owen were among the other underdogs to progress.

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Three-time World Champion Part followed up his trio of victories on Friday with two hard-fought triumphs on Day Two as he edged past Ron Meulenkamp and Mervyn King.

The 51-year-old Canadian began the day with a last-leg defeat of Dutch left-hander Meulenkamp, surviving one match dart from his opponent before taking out 93 to squeeze through.

Part then came from 7-5 down to win five of the last six legs and knock out fellow stalwart King 10-8 with three ton-plus checkouts along the way.

“Mervyn never really got on top of his doubles and I was able to punish him,” said Part. “I stole a few legs with big out-shots at great times and that’s what got me through.

“I know I can come and play well tomorrow. It is challenging because I have been doing this regularly recently but I have been taking my chances and I intend to keep doing it.”

Shropshire’s Pallett extended his best ever run in a TV major as he knocked out two former Premier League stars on the way to the Last Eight.

Pallett, who dropped off the PDC tour at the end of last season, followed up Friday’s scalp of Robert Thornton by dispatching another former UK Open winner – James Wade – 10-6 and going on to defeat Kim Huybrechts 10-7 in Round Five.

Pallett celebrates (Photo by Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

The 28-year-old has been drawn to face Steve West in Sunday’s Quarter-Finals after the Essex ace knocked out Matthew Edgar and Michael Smith courtesy of two fine displays.

West produced a brace of 170 checkouts in a 10-7 win over Edgar in Round Four before coming from 4-1 down to edge out Premier League leader Smith in a tense decider.

Robert Owen, who regained his Tour Card at Qualifying School in January, extended his best ever run in a PDC major with hard-fought wins over Nathan Rafferty and Ian White.

The Welshman survived three match darts from 18-year-old Rafferty – who had knocked out Peter Wright in Round Three – before taking out 92 in the deciding leg and going on to reel off three straight legs for a 10-7 scalp of White.

“To find myself in the Quarter-Finals is amazing and maybe it’s the next big step in my career and where I want to be going,” said Owen. “It’s massive.”

Two-time World Champion Gary Anderson and reigning World Champion Rob Cross will collide in Saturday’s Quarter-Finals after they staved off potential upsets on Day Two at Butlins Minehead.

Cross, whose breakthrough came in this very tournament as an amateur qualifier two years ago, fended off a late fightback from Kyle Anderson to complete a 10-7 victory before thrashing a below-par Krzysztof Ratajski 10-3 on the Main Stage.

Anderson, meanwhile, put paid to the hopes of quick-fire thrower Ricky Evans with a 10-3 rout in Round Four before averaging 104.7 and landing nine 180s in a 10-6 success over Jermaine Wattimena.

“It’s been going well so far,” admitted Anderson. “This would be a nice tournament to win. It’s been strange but I think it has suited me in a way.

“I like to get on with the game and I’ve had a couple of fast opponents so I’ve been able to do that. I’ll just keep plugging way and if I win, I win.”

Auckland Masters finalist Corey Cadby continued his blistering start to life as a PDC professional by booking his place in the Last Eight on his UK Open debut.

The former World Youth Champion held off the spirited challenge of Germany’s Martin Schindler in Round Four with the aid of six 180s and a 147 checkout before defeating Chris Dobey the same 10-7 scoreline in the evening session.

Cadby celebrates against Schindler (Photo by Chris Dean/PDC)

“I can play a lot better than I have been but I’m winning and that’s the main part of the game,” said Cadby. “I’m not here to muck around, I’m here to win it and that has been my attitude from the start.”

Cadby has been drawn to face Gerywn Price in what promises to be a highly-charged affair after the Premier League star overcame Dirk van Duijvenbode and Paul Hogan.

Price, last year’s UK Open runner-up, saw off Van Duijvenbode 10-6 before holding his nerve to edge out amateur qualifier Hogan in a thrilling decider, averaging 101.5 and hitting ten 180s and a 160 checkout in the process.

“Paul went 4-1 up but I was playing really well and I just knew that if I kept it up then I’d be able to come back at him,” said Price, who also missed double 12 for a nine-darter, which would have earned him a £35,000 bonus.

“I needed a game like that to get me going and I knew that Paul would be a tough opponent so I’m pleased to get over the line.

“It pushed me hard but thankfully I had a little bit more in the tank and hopefully I can back it up tomorrow.”