Darts: Burnett puts tough year behind him to reach last eight
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Your support makes all the difference.Richie Burnett booked his place in the quarter-finals of the World Championship with a hard-fought win over the Australian wildcard Simon Whitlock at the Circus Tavern in Purfleet last night.
The former world champion endured a frustrating season last year, but he has looked more composed during his stay in Essex and registered a morale-boosting 5-3 success. Burnett looked a picture of concentration at the start of the match and won the opening leg with a successful attempt at double 20.
Whitlock fought back twice and the set went to a deciding leg, but it was Burnett who edged it with a shot at double 10. The Welshman then raced into a two-set lead with a three legs to one success in the second.
Whitlock looked to be slipping towards a heavy defeat but he raised his game to take the third set 3-0. The Oceanic Masters champion threatened to take charge when he nailed double 18 to win his fourth successive leg but, despite a 161 finish, Burnett still took the set 3-2.
Burnett then reeled off the next three legs to move within one set of victory, but Whitlock was not finished yet. The Australian responded by winning six of the next seven legs to close the gap to just one set, only for Burnett to hit back and clinch victory.
"I've had a terrible season," admitted Burnett afterwards. "There is only one way to go after the season I've had and that is up.
"But it's all coming together now and it's all through hard work and practice. If anyone has done more practice than me these last couple of months, I want to know who they are. Even though I'm not battering the treble at the moment I know it will come.
"When I put my mind to it I know I can do it, so I'm pleased with my performances here so far. There is plenty left in the tank."
Chris Mason gained an impressive 5-1 win over Colin Lloyd in another third-round encounter. The Bristol thrower's temperament has sometimes been called into question but he looked composed and in complete control at the oche. Lloyd, who reached last year's semi-final, had no answer to the in-form Mason, who is 10 places behind his Essex opponent in the world rankings.
Canada's John Part booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 5-3 success over Jamie Harvey of Scotland. The world No 2 looked out of sorts and had to dig deep just to keep up with Harvey in the early stages, but Part snatched the seventh set with a superb 161 checkout under pressure and went on to take the set as Harvey shook his head in disbelief. Part stepped up another gear in the next set to produce a 12-dart finish in the third leg on his way to clinching the match.
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