• Players Championship

Wade dumped out of Players Championship

James Wade threw away a 5-3 lead as Steve Beaton booked his place in the second round © PA Photos

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James Wade has been knocked out in the first round of the Players Championship after Steve Beaton edged him 6-5, while there were wins elsewhere for Phil Taylor, Michael van Gerwen and Adrian Lewis.

Beaton held throw in the opener by hitting 180 and landing double 16 but Wade came back with a maximum immediately and double 10 to level the scores at the Butlins Minehead Resort. Wade then went ahead by two legs with back-to-back 13-dart finishes. However Beaton pounced by hitting double 10 to reduce the deficit when Wade missed a second attempt at bullseye to complete a 125 checkout.

Another 13-darter restored Wade's two-leg advantage but Beaton took out 100 on double 16 in response. Wade edged closer to victory by going 5-3 up before Beaton kept his hopes alive by finishing 88 on double seven, and followed up by breaking for the first time to force a decider. Beaton then left 36 after 12 darts and finished double 18 for the victory.

Andy Hamilton completed a remarkable comeback from 5-1 down to beat John Part and book his place in the second round.

Hamilton punished Part for a nervy opening by landing double four to take the opening leg. But Part responded in fine style, landing a maximum and finishing 43 to stand on the verge of victory. However Hamilton kept his hopes alive by taking out 68 on double 16, before a break of throw kept his momentum going.

Part missed bull for a 167 finish, before fluffing match darts three more times, with Hamilton moving to within one leg after landing double one. Part then missed six more match darts at double eight, with Hamilton again landing double one to ensure a deciding leg. The comeback was complete with Hamilton hitting 180 before taking out 158 with two treble 20s and double 19.

Taylor made light work of Paul Nicholson, seeing him off 6-2. 'The Power' raced into a 3-0 lead before Nicholson won his first leg with a 180 and a double-eight finish. The pair then traded legs before Taylor wrapped things up on double two.

Lewis reeled off five legs in a row to beat Kevin Painter from 3-1 down. Lewis' fightback began with double 18 before he levelled by landing tops. He then went in front for the first time with double 10, before hitting 171 before double eight after a 180 in a 10-dart leg. Lewis clinched victory with another 180 and double 19 with his third dart at the bed.

Van Gerwen enjoyed a comprehensive 6-1 win over Jamie Lewis. Van Gerwen won four legs without reply, before Lewis got off the mark with double two. The Dutchman then punished three missed doubles from Lewis to land double one for 5-1, before hitting 180 to seal the win.

There was another tight contest between Mervyn King and Raymond van Barneveld, with the Dutchman edging it 6-5. Van Barneveld was never behind, but King twice levelled from two-leg deficits, bringing the scores to 2-2 and 4-4, and then forced a deciding leg by posting double 12. Van Barneveld then left 36 after 12 darts, before missing two darts at double 18, the second landing in single four. That left double 16, which he hit to win.

In the last match of the night, Dave Chisnall fell 6-4 to Jelle Klaasen. Chisnall took the first leg but never regained his lead after Klaasen levelled. At 4-4, Klaasen was first to a finish with a 180, landing double two. He then missed double 18 for the win, as Chisnall turned up the heat with a 180 - his sixth maximum - to leave himself 20, but Klaasen returned to finish the job.

Justin Pipe turned around a 4-1 deficit to see off Simon Whitlock 6-4. Pipe hit back for 4-2 by taking out 90 in two darts on double 15, and then sealed his first break of throw. Pipe then levelled before leading for the first time by hitting double 16 after his second 180 of the match. With Whitlock missing double 16 and eight, Pipe finished the job by taking out 78 on tops.

Robert Thornton sealed a 6-3 win over Richie Burnett. Thornton had gone 4-1 up but Burnett kept fighting and finished 64 on double four to remain in the match at 5-3 down. However Thornton hit tops with a 14-darter for victory.

In the afternoon session, Gary Anderson came from 2-0 down to edge Stuart Kellett 6-5. Kellett raced into a 4-1 lead, pinning double 16 to sail three legs clear. But Anderson began his revival by taking the next two legs, taking out 101 to go within one leg.

However Kellett moved to the brink of victory by landing double seven for 5-3, before the Scot stunned his opponent by reeling off the next three legs to force the decider, taking out 44 on tops. Anderson then fluffed three darts at double 16 for the win but Kellett could't hit tops for a 120 finish, allowing the Scot to complete his comeback by taking double 16 at the fourth time of asking.

Brendan Dolan also edged through to the next round by beating Wayne Jones 6-5. Jones had forced a deciding leg by finding double 18, and proceeded to make his third 180 of the match and leave himself 36, only for Dolan to snatch the win by taking out 126 on the bull.

Ian White defeated Ronnie Baxter 6-3, before Kim Huybrechts was taken out 6-2 by Terry Jenkins. Wes Newton beat Andy Smith by the same score, landing a 180 and finishing double 13 to book a place in the second round.

Having been tied with Colin Lloyd at 3-3, Jamie Caven landed a fourth maximum and finished double five to go ahead before breaking throw and then landing double ten to seal victory.

There was also a comfortable win for Peter Wright, seeing off Michael Smith 6-2.

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