JAMES WADE AND Robert Thornton created history by both hitting nine-darters at the World Grand Prix tonight during a thrilling second round clash at Dublin’s Citywest Hotel.
Wade had been on the receiving end of the first-ever nine-dart finish in the double-start format when he took on Brendan Dolan in the 2011 World Grand Prix semi-finals.
The left-hander this time create his own slice of history as he opened the second set of their contest by scoring 160 and 180 before taking out 161 on the bullseye for a perfect leg.
Having been a set up at the time, Wade then took out 156 to lead 2-0 in the second set, only for Thornton to hit back and win the set 3-2 and repeat the scoreline in the third.
The Scot then matched Wade’s earlier nine-darter in the second leg of set four, scoring 160, 180 and 161 himself to not only complete a perfect leg but also to ensure the game would go down in history as the first where both players have achieved the feat, even more remarkable given the double-start format.
Thornton, though, missed four match darts as Wade edged the fourth set 3-2.
The excitement of that clash eclipsed the drama of the night’s opening second round game, as Kevin Painter came from two sets down to defeat Adrian Lewis 3-2 in a thrilling sudden-death leg.
Lewis had edged the opening two sets 3-2, hitting a superb 142 checkout to win the second, only for Painter to race through set three without reply to kick-start his challenge.
Painter then came from 2-1 down to win the fourth set in a deciding leg – after Lewis missed one match dart at the bull – before defying the Stoke ace’s fourth ton-plus finish by hitting his eighth 180 in the game’s deciding leg, as he moved into the quarter-finals.
A 9 darter is hard. To do one on a double start is unreal
I find even hitting the double hard…..
Thornton has done one now
Some achievement by Thornton considering his mam’s funeral was earlier today.
But he didn’t do it against Brendan Dolan, he did it against Robert Thornton :P