A review of Thursday's action at the World Seniors Darts Championship, as Peter Manley set up a clash with Phil Taylor and Bob Anderson hit an iconic 180 in defeat to Robert Thornton.
Peter Manley will renew his rivalry with Phil Taylor 12 years after their last televised meeting at the Circus Tavern after he came from a set down to defeat Deta Hedman at the World Seniors Championship.
One Dart lost 22 of their 25 matches between 1999 and 2010, including three World Championship finals at this iconic venue with scorelines of 6-2 (1999), 7-0 (2002) and 7-0 (2006), while their most recent major clash was also here in the 2010 Players Championship Finals, which the Power won 6-2 in legs.
Manley's only televised victories over his nemesis came in the 1999 World Matchplay semi-finals and the 2008 Premier League but now he has a chance to gain some belated revenge for those heavy defeats against the 16-time world champion.
The pantomime villain, who will face Taylor on Friday night, lacks match practice due to his busy pre-season work as chairman of the PDPA and he looked to be heading for an early exit when Hedman won the opening set.
Peter Manley wins to set up a World Seniors rematch with Phil Taylor and a repeat of 'that' final.
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180)
"Tell your children to tell their children to tell their children that tonight you have been part of sporting history."
But a 117 checkout helped him gain some momentum as he won six of the next seven legs to move into a 2-1 set lead and although he missed five match darts in the fourth set, he even eventually scrambled over the line.
"I'm fascinated to see what kind of shenanigans we see from Peter Manley."
— Chris Hammer (@ChrisHammer180)
"Shenanigans already, Peter Manley wants the oche moving!" didn't let and down!
Former world champion Bob Anderson bowed out of in the opening match but not before delighting the fans - and earning a bow from his opponent Robert Thornton - with an iconic 180.
The Limestone Cowboy, who won the Lakeside title way back in 1988 and also landed three World Masters crowns in a row that same decade, was trailing 2-0 in what proved to be the third and final set when he produced his crowd-pleasing moment at the Circus Tavern, complete with his finger point celebration.
Thornton was waiting on tops and went on to complete a 3-0 victory over the 74-year-old with an impressive average of 94 as he laid down a marker for the rest of the legends in the field.
The Scotsman also threatened a nine-dart finish earlier in the contest with back-to-back maximums but couldn't get to the double on his third visit.
🤠🙌 Bob Anderson rolls back the years with a 180 just in the nick of time before bowing out of the World Seniors!
— Sporting Life 🎯🔴🎾⛳️🥊🏏🏉 🏈 (@SportingLifeFC)
👏 Legend
Kevin Painter made it through to round two but only after surving Tony O'Shea's comeback from 2-0 down in a hard-fought clash.
The Artist, who will be hoping to face Taylor later on in the tournament and avenge his heartbreaking World Championship final defeat in 2004, produced a stunning 156 checkout from nowhere in the deciding fifth set which he eventually edged 6-4.
What a cracking game that was 🙌
— BT Sport (@btsport)
Kevin Painter and Tony O'Shea in a proper battle!
The Artist gets it done and marches on to the next round 🎨
Local favourite Richie Howson, who lives five minutes down the road from the Circus Tavern, came through an arduous five-set battle with Darryl Fitton to set up a clash with Martin Adams.
Howson had to come through a qualifying event to book his spot in this tournament and was regarded as underdog to overcome the former BDO stalwart but used the crowd support to win it 3-2.
World Senior Darts Championship: Thursday results and tournament schedule
Thursday February 3
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC i Player/Website
First Round (Best of 5 sets)
- Robert Thornton 3-0 Bob Anderson
- Peter Manley 3-1 Deta Hedman
- Tony O'Shea 2-3 Kevin Painter
- Darryl Fitton 2-3 Richie Howson
Friday February 4
Afternoon Session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC i Player/Website
First Round (Best of 5 sets)
- Les Wallace v John Walton
- Paul Lim v Dave Prins
- Alan Warriner-Little v Larry Butler
- Terry Jenkins v Roland Scholten
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC i Player/Website
Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
- Wayne Warren v Kevin Painter
- Martin Adams v Richie Howson
- Phil Taylor v Peter Manley
- Trina Gulliver v Robert Thornton
Saturday February 5
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC i Player/Website
Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
- John Part v Les Wallace/John Walton
- John Lowe v Paul Lim/Dave Prins
- Keith Deller v Alan Warriner-Little/Larry Butler
- Lisa Ashton v Terry Jenkins/Roland Scholten
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC i Player/Website
Quarter-Finals (Best of 5 sets)
- Part/Wallace/Walton v Ashton/Jenkins/Scholten
- Gulliver/Thornton/Anderson v Lowe/Lim/Dave Prins
- Taylor/Manley/Hedman v Warren/O'Shea/Painter
- Deller/Warriner-Little/Butler v Adams/Fitton/Howson
Sunday February 6
Afternoon session (1300 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC i Player/Website
Semi-Finals (Best of 7 sets)
- Two Matches
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
TV Coverage: BBC i Player/Website
Final (Best of 7 sets)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2
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