2004 World Matchplay (darts) - Day 3

Day 3

The afternoon session on day three saw 12th seed, Denis Ovens condemn Mark Walsh to a third successive first round exit at the World Matchplay. The Heat going through to the last 16 by 10 legs to 5. Then a surprisingly easy win for the impressive Ronnie Baxter, seeded 10 managing to defeat former World Matchplay champion Peter Evison by a whitewash, 10-0. The third match saw a revitalised Dennis Priestley, seeded 14 and having laid mutterings of retirement to rest went through 10-5 against Alan Caves, whose dismal record on TV continued. In the final game of the afternoon, Alan Warriner, the 11th seed and former World finalist was impressive in defeating England's Simon Whatley by 10 legs to 3.

In the evening, the final first round match took place, Kevin Painter, runner-up in the World Championship by the narrowest of margins, and seeded 10 for the Matchplay, struggled through against Lionel Sams who twice won legs to level the scores at 9-9 to send the match into a tie break and again in the tie-break to level at 10-10. Then Sams seemed to be thrown by something said to him by Painter, and lost 12-10. Sams accused Painter of gamesmanship as there is no evidence to back up the claim of Painter's about trying to make noises with the flights in a bid to offput Painter. The second game was brilliant for excitement and Tension, Anderson in the opening game of round 2, giving Part the fright of his life. Despite both struggling to find their best form, the match went to 12-12 and into a tie-break, 6 legs later and the match was 15 all, before Part tool the last 2 legs to edge home a 17-15 winner. In the final match, Phil Taylor, ended the run of Steve Beaton. The Power again on form in going through by 13 legs to 4.