Ronnie Baxter 16 - 14 Alan Tabern

24/07/2009

Ronnie moved into the last 8 of the stanjames.com World Matchplay after beating Alan Tabern 16-14 in a thrilling encounter.

The pair battled out a 30-leg battle in Blackpool with Tabern having to hit back twice from behind to eventually fall in a tie break.

Baxter was a rocket from the start as he won the first 3 legs punishing a series of misses from Tabern. Double 8 got Tabern off the mark in leg 4 but then a series of misses this time from Baxter allowed Tabern back into the game and to edge in front with a 90 checkout. Baxter hit a 177, 180s and double top finishes to move back into the lead at 6-4, and a superb 108 checkout put Ronnie 8-4 in front and in command.

Tabern would not give up and hit back hard, a 107 finish ending Baxter's run. Tabern then claimed the next 4 legs to level the game up again. Ronnie set up a two-dart 78 finish with a 180, but Tabern took out a 12-darter on 84 to level and 73 to put himself in the lead. Double 16 put Tabern 11-9 up, Ronnie kept the pressure on with a 78 finish but the St. Helens Tabern hit a brilliant 157 checkout to move 1 leg from victory.

Ronnie won the next leg with throw and knew he had to take Tabern's throw to avoid being knocked out, and a 177 then double top ensured that The Rocket would not be beaten easily.

The next 4 legs went with throw as the game moved to an exciting tie-break. Tabern missing 3 darts at double 16 to break Baxter's throw before Ronnie hit double 10 putting him 15-14 up. And in the next leg Ronnie left himself 88 to move to the quarter final which he took out to end the game of the tournament so far.

"It was a great game to be involved in and it's even better to come out of it as a winner, it was all about stamina and I showed that. I missed a few doubles but so did Alan to let me back in. His 157 was brilliant and he was always there on my heels"

Next up for Ronnie is James Wade. Wade has been in the final of the stanjames.com World Matchplay the last 3 years, and won in 2007. Ronnie will be hoping to end Wade's love affair with the Blackpool tournament.