RICHIE BURNETT 2-1 GARY ANDERSON

RICHIE BURNETT 2-1 GARY ANDERSON
(0-3, 3-2, 3-1)
RICHIE BURNETT knocked Premier League Darts champion Gary Anderson out of the PartyPoker.com World Grand Prix with a stunning fightback at the New Citywest Convention Centre on Tuesday.

Heavy-scoring Anderson looked set to power into the last 16 when he took the first set without reply, but after missing two match darts in the second set the Welshman made him pay.

Burnett had only won a place in the World Grand Prix by taking victory in the final Players Championship played before the field was confirmed, but reaffirmed a return to the form which saw him become World Champion 15 years ago by winning the deciding set.

Anderson made a lightning start to the contest, hitting double ten for the opening leg and seven perfect darts in the second as he looked to set up the event's first nine-darter in the double-start format.

He had opened with scores of 160 and 180, but after hitting a sixth treble 20 missed the treble 17 of a 161 finish, although he returned to mop up double 16 to lead 2-0 and tops to take the set without reply.

Burnett - whose last World Grand Prix appearance came in 2004 - returned from the break with a brilliant 13-darter, which he kicked off with scores of 160 and 140 and finished on tops.

Anderson hit back by landing a 180 and a 125 finish to level, but Burnett finished 101 to lead 2-0.

The Scot posted another maximum and finished 64 to level the set, but when he missed match darts at double 16 and eight in the decider Burnett, who had opened the leg with another 160, finished tops to square the game.

Anderson opened the third set by setting up another potential nine-darter with scores of 160 and 180, but opted for a different combination on the 161 finish, hitting a seventh perfect dart on treble 19 but narrowly missing treble 18.

He returned to win the leg in 13 darts, only to then miss six darts to open the second as Burnett levelled with an 80 finish.

Burnett then hit a 180 of his own in the third, hitting double top to move away from victory before punishing a missed bull from Anderson for a 161 finish in the next to hit double ten at the third time of asking to complete an amazing fightback.

"It's a massive win for me," said Burnett. "Gary made a brilliant start and I was up against it straight away, but I felt okay and knew I could get back into it.

"I was starting well on double top and when the next dart drops into the treble 20 the pressure is off you. Gary can out-score anybody in the world and, on my day, I can live with that and I came good towards the end.

"I love to watch Gary play. I don't watch much darts on TV but when Gary's on I do, along with Phil Taylor and Adrian Lewis, but I like to be involved and I was happy to share a stage with such a special player.

"I know I'm getting back to my best. The first round is the hardest game and the format's longer and I want to go on from here."

Match Stats

Gary Anderson	1-2	Richie Burnett
14	100+	12
10	140+	10
5	180	1
30.93	Ave1	28.25
92.78	Ave3	84.75
1	Breaks of Throw	1
125	High Finish	101
12/31 - 39%	Starting Doubles	12/33 - 36%
6/22 - 27%	Finishing Doubles	6/11 - 55%