Final Preview
Kyle Anderson v Corey Cadby – Final Auckland Darts Masters 2017
This is really a match between the two heir apparents for Simon Whitlock’s position as the top Australian player in the world (not that the Wizard is aiming on giving that up without a fight) as well as the Auckland Darts Masters.
They share the same manager and have been practicing with each other through the week but the question is will the professional experience Kyle Anderson has gained in recent years be enough to overcome the brash newcomer?
For Cadby the question is can he now compose himself for another big match having already taken out Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Phil Taylor in consecutive nights?
Semi Final Previews
Auckland Darts Masters 2017
Match 1: James Wade v Kyle Anderson
James Wade and Kyle Anderson have met on the big stage on six occasions and the head to head stands at 3-3 after the Aussie’s victory in June at the PDC European Matchplay. The previous two matches (in 2015 and 2016) had gone to Wade. Anderson’s other two victories came at the Players Championship but they were back in 2014. Total legs head to head reads 32 to Wade and 30 to Anderson so it is close.
Wade has lost to the man who then went on to lose the finals at this stage in the only other editions of the Auckland Darts Masters. In the first edition he lost 6-10 to Raymond van Barneveld whilst last year he lost 9-11 to Adrian Lewis. Anderson’s only appearance in a semi-final of the World Series of Darts was in the second edition of the Sydney Darts Masters where he lost 4-10 to Phil Taylor who went on to retain his crown as champion in Sydney.
The average score in semi-finals in Auckland is 99.94 so it promises to be an exciting affair.
Match 2: Phil Taylor v Corey Cadby
Phil Taylor and Corey Cadby have a history in the World Series, and it is a story of old verse new really. Many players have gone head to head with Taylor and he has seen many of them off. Corey Cadby first drew Taylor in the 2016 first round of the Sydney Darts Masters. Cadby was not overawed but getting used to the stage and lights etc. took time and Taylor won the match 6-3. However Taylor spent some time with Cadby after the match and had a lot of good things to say about his game to others. As fate would happen the two were then drawn against each other in the first round of the Perth Darts Masters a week later and this time Cadby came prepared for revenge. He not only defeated Taylor but he did so comprehensively, 6-2. So now this clash is the tie breaker.
This is Cadby’s first appearance in the Auckland Darts Masters and he will want to impress but Taylor has only made the semi-finals of this tournament the once, losing 9-10 to Adrian Lewis two years ago, so will be desperate to win a tournament in a country he loves so much.
Quarter Final Previews
Auckland Darts Masters 2017
Match 1 James Wade v Daryl Gurney
These two have only played each other four times. Despite his younger status Gurney actually played Wade back in 2013 in PDC Dutch Masters Round of 32 when he lost 6-1. He got much closer in their next appearance, losing 6-5 a year later in the European Darts Trophy UK qualifier in the last 40.
There last two clashes have gone to Gurney though. Both occurred at the players championships at Barnsley, in 2015 a 6-3 win in the round of 32, and earlier this year (in April) a 6-4 victory in the semi-final stage. Gurney has actually won one final and lost two more at Barnsley this year. Since making the final of the US Darts Masters and semi-finals of the World Matchplay Gurney has been appearing at the quarter final stages of recent events, so he will be aiming to make the third night of this event.
As for Wade since his semi-final at Shanghai his best performances have been a couple of round of 16 appearances.
Gurney did enough to get through 6-2 in the first round with an average of just over 90 whilst Wade did the same but only secured an 87 average.
Match 2 Kyle Anderson v Simon Whitlock
These two only clashed a few weeks ago at the World Matchplay where Simon defeated Kyle 10-5. There are happier memories for Anderson at World Series events though as in Sydney in 2014, really at the beginning of his overseas professional path, Anderson defeated Whitlock 8-3 in the corresponding round.
They have also clashed in the players championship in 2015 and 2016 coming out one win apiece. In 2005 the two clashed in the final of the Australian Grand Masters, which Whitlock won.
Anderson’s comprehensive victory over his namesake Gary should have him in good stead against Whitlock, who had to struggle through to outlast Cody Harris. However Whitlock loves the challenge of Anderson and seems to rise to the occasion. It certainly should not be the case that the averages of the two from round one (SW 87.9 KA 102.91) will have the gap so wide apart at this stage.
Match 3: Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
The clash that has more history than all the others. They have played 80 times with the record standing at 59 wins for Taylor, 17 for Barney and 4 draws.
There last clash was at this year’s World Matchplay where eventual winner Taylor defeated Barney 11-3 in the last 16. Taylor also won both their Premier League clashes this year but crucially it was Barney who defeated Taylor at the world championships on the second last day of last year. Of their eight matches this year and last Taylor has lost only twice (the other in the Premier League of 2016.)
Taylor had to fight hard against a fired up Darren Herewini in the first round whilst Barney had a few nervous moments of his own against another Kiwi, Warren Parry. Taylor surprisingly gave away a few more opportunities than normal against Herewini and van Barneveld will have to take full advantage of any he is presented if he wants to make night 3 in Auckland.
Match 4: Michael Smith v Corey Cadby
This match is the great unknown as they have not met before. Both players are talents, both players are World Youth Champions Smith in 2013, and Cadby the current champion having won it last year.
Smith won the Gibraltar Darts Trophy this year and a Players Championship in Barnsley. Cadby has had less competitive darts coming into the tournament than his opponent but has been at the board for hours in preparation.
It certainly should be intensive as neither player will back down and will try to outscore each other early to test the mental mettle of their opponent. The thing is both players thrive on this so it could be excellent. There are possibly a few more demons in Smith’s game but it is up to Cadby to try and find them out in the match so that he can progress further than he did at the Perth Darts Masters last year but it is Smith who remains favourite for this match according to the bookies.
Auckland Darts Masters 2017 Opening Round Preview
Michael Smith v Rob Szabo
Daryl Gurney v Rob Modra
James Wade v Mark Cleaver
Raymond van Barneveld v Warren Parry
Phil Taylor v Darren Herewini
Simon Whitlock v Cody Harris
Gary Anderson v Kyle Anderson
Peter Wright v Corey Cadby
Michael Smith v Robert Szabo
Bully Boy Smith debuts in Auckland whilst his opponent has played this competition in each of its previous years. For Szabo he may look on this draw more favourably as his last two first round opponents have been Phil Taylor and MVG! He managed to get 3 legs off MVG two years ago but last year was whitewashed by the 16 time world champion. Some of the previous upsets in the World Series of darts have come in the opening match of the tournament (eg Mathewson v Wade in Sydney last year) which is a tradition Szabo will be chasing to continue.
For former youth world champion (the title Corey Cadby currently holds) Smith the year has been mixed with a victory in Gibraltar the highlight as well as a quarter final in the UK Open. He will want to reward the faith put into him by the PDC in having him here and won’t want to see what happened to fellow debutant Max Hopp in Las Vegas when he was bundled out in the first round.
Daryl Gurney v Rob Modra
This is an intriguing fixture with the young gun taking on one of Australia’s seasoned professionals. In this case it will be the PDC invitee that will be making his debut in Auckland rather than his opponent. For Modra the stage should hold no fear as he took Gary Anderson all the way, losing 6-5 in the first round of 2015 in Auckland. Last year he made the final 40 in the BDO World Championships.
For Gurney his late call up really came as no surprise as he has done so well this year, including a very impressive outing in Las Vegas (making the final.) He has been a winner at the players championships this year, had semi appearances at the World Matchplay and the UK open and was in the quarter finals of the world championships.
James Wade v Mark Cleaver
James Wade has never lost in the first round of this tournament, having seen of challenges from Paul Nicholson and Ken Moir previously. Both times his opponent has taken legs off him and Mark Cleaver’s only appearance in the first round at Auckland has seen him take a leg off his opponent (losing 1-6 to Peter Wright.)
Wade lost in the first round at Sydney last year, which was the first event and first match after long travel, so an early clash here (they are third up on stage) could see Cleaver in with a chance of an upset but to do so he will have to build scoring pressure early and convert his doubles as once he is on a roll Wade is not known as the machine for nothing.
Raymond van Barneveld v Warren Parry
RvB may want to seek out some advice from new daddy and Dutch World Cup darts partner MVG when it comes to Warren Parry. Parry’s win in the second edition of the Sydney Darts Masters is the stuff of legend, and to do it again at home against another Dutchman would certainly create headlines once again.
The two have history but neither can take much from it. The first time they met was last century (1999) and it took a decade before they met again. In 1999 it was the World Cup singles final where Barney won 4-1. In 2009 Barney won 3-0 in the World Championships. In Auckland Barney has had considerable success in the opening rounds, defeating Loz Ryder (6-0) and Cody Harris (6-2) whilst Parry will want to make amends after losing 1-6 to Peter Wright in his opening game last year.
Phil Taylor v Darren Herewini
Herewini comes into this match with two tournament wins in New Zealand in the last 2 weeks. He also made the semi finals of the New Zealand Masters this year. Taylor too has been coming off some fine form thanks to his heroics at Blackpool in recent weeks as he took out his 16th World Matchplay title. Herewini is the only Kiwi debutant on the stage at Auckland this year.
Taylor has had less success at the Auckland Darts Masters compared to his success in the events in Australia. He made the semi final in the first year but only the last 8 in 2016. His opening rounds have all been against Kiwis but he has whitewashed both Craig Caldwell (2015) and Rob Szabo (2016.) Herewini will be aiming to make sure he does not make this a hat trick for the 16 time world champion.
Simon Whitlock v Cody Harris
Simon Whitlock has appeared twice on stage in Auckland whilst for Cody this match will only be his second at the Auckland Darts Masters. For Whitlock this will be the first time up against this Kiwi darting superstar so he will be wary but he has got a good history in Auckland. In his last Auckland Darts Masters appearance in 2015 he defeated Stephen Bunting 6-4 in the opening round before losing out to Phil Taylor 3-8 in the quarter finals.
For Harris his debut last year saw him go head to head with previous runner up Raymond Van Barneveld. He was able to take two legs off Barney and will be looking to improve upon this in 2017. He will be the last Kiwi on stage for the night so the crowd will be right behind him in trying to progress into the next round.
Gary Anderson v Kyle Anderson
These two Andersons have met four times in major events and Gary has come out on top in all but the very first time they met. This was in October 2016 when they met at the Players Championship Ireland. This year their two meetings have come in the round of 32 when the result was the same in each match 6-2 to Gary.
This is actually Kyle’s debut in Auckland whilst Gary has only lose once in six appearances. Gary has won both his first round appearances although he was taken all the way by Rob Modra in the opening year of the competition before defeating Bernie Smith 6-2 last year in the corresponding round.
Peter Wright v Corey Cadby
Peter and Corey have faced up once before, at last year’s Perth Darts Masters, the night after Cadby had taken down Phil Taylor. Corey averaged 109.57, Wright 109.83 and yet the final scoreboard read 10-2 to Wright. Having lost to Taylor and then beaten him the next time they met it will be that the young Aussie superstar has the same medicine in mind for snakebite.
Whilst it will be Cadby’s debut in the Auckland edition of the World Series, for Wright his record in Auckland is a mixed bag. He has won two out of his four matches. His opening round successes have been against two players lining up in the first round again this year, Mark Cleaver and Warren Parry with both matches finishing 6-1.
Kyle Anderson v Corey Cadby – Final Auckland Darts Masters 2017
This is really a match between the two heir apparents for Simon Whitlock’s position as the top Australian player in the world (not that the Wizard is aiming on giving that up without a fight) as well as the Auckland Darts Masters.
They share the same manager and have been practicing with each other through the week but the question is will the professional experience Kyle Anderson has gained in recent years be enough to overcome the brash newcomer?
For Cadby the question is can he now compose himself for another big match having already taken out Peter Wright, Michael Smith and Phil Taylor in consecutive nights?
Semi Final Previews
Auckland Darts Masters 2017
Match 1: James Wade v Kyle Anderson
James Wade and Kyle Anderson have met on the big stage on six occasions and the head to head stands at 3-3 after the Aussie’s victory in June at the PDC European Matchplay. The previous two matches (in 2015 and 2016) had gone to Wade. Anderson’s other two victories came at the Players Championship but they were back in 2014. Total legs head to head reads 32 to Wade and 30 to Anderson so it is close.
Wade has lost to the man who then went on to lose the finals at this stage in the only other editions of the Auckland Darts Masters. In the first edition he lost 6-10 to Raymond van Barneveld whilst last year he lost 9-11 to Adrian Lewis. Anderson’s only appearance in a semi-final of the World Series of Darts was in the second edition of the Sydney Darts Masters where he lost 4-10 to Phil Taylor who went on to retain his crown as champion in Sydney.
The average score in semi-finals in Auckland is 99.94 so it promises to be an exciting affair.
Match 2: Phil Taylor v Corey Cadby
Phil Taylor and Corey Cadby have a history in the World Series, and it is a story of old verse new really. Many players have gone head to head with Taylor and he has seen many of them off. Corey Cadby first drew Taylor in the 2016 first round of the Sydney Darts Masters. Cadby was not overawed but getting used to the stage and lights etc. took time and Taylor won the match 6-3. However Taylor spent some time with Cadby after the match and had a lot of good things to say about his game to others. As fate would happen the two were then drawn against each other in the first round of the Perth Darts Masters a week later and this time Cadby came prepared for revenge. He not only defeated Taylor but he did so comprehensively, 6-2. So now this clash is the tie breaker.
This is Cadby’s first appearance in the Auckland Darts Masters and he will want to impress but Taylor has only made the semi-finals of this tournament the once, losing 9-10 to Adrian Lewis two years ago, so will be desperate to win a tournament in a country he loves so much.
Quarter Final Previews
Auckland Darts Masters 2017
Match 1 James Wade v Daryl Gurney
These two have only played each other four times. Despite his younger status Gurney actually played Wade back in 2013 in PDC Dutch Masters Round of 32 when he lost 6-1. He got much closer in their next appearance, losing 6-5 a year later in the European Darts Trophy UK qualifier in the last 40.
There last two clashes have gone to Gurney though. Both occurred at the players championships at Barnsley, in 2015 a 6-3 win in the round of 32, and earlier this year (in April) a 6-4 victory in the semi-final stage. Gurney has actually won one final and lost two more at Barnsley this year. Since making the final of the US Darts Masters and semi-finals of the World Matchplay Gurney has been appearing at the quarter final stages of recent events, so he will be aiming to make the third night of this event.
As for Wade since his semi-final at Shanghai his best performances have been a couple of round of 16 appearances.
Gurney did enough to get through 6-2 in the first round with an average of just over 90 whilst Wade did the same but only secured an 87 average.
Match 2 Kyle Anderson v Simon Whitlock
These two only clashed a few weeks ago at the World Matchplay where Simon defeated Kyle 10-5. There are happier memories for Anderson at World Series events though as in Sydney in 2014, really at the beginning of his overseas professional path, Anderson defeated Whitlock 8-3 in the corresponding round.
They have also clashed in the players championship in 2015 and 2016 coming out one win apiece. In 2005 the two clashed in the final of the Australian Grand Masters, which Whitlock won.
Anderson’s comprehensive victory over his namesake Gary should have him in good stead against Whitlock, who had to struggle through to outlast Cody Harris. However Whitlock loves the challenge of Anderson and seems to rise to the occasion. It certainly should not be the case that the averages of the two from round one (SW 87.9 KA 102.91) will have the gap so wide apart at this stage.
Match 3: Raymond van Barneveld v Phil Taylor
The clash that has more history than all the others. They have played 80 times with the record standing at 59 wins for Taylor, 17 for Barney and 4 draws.
There last clash was at this year’s World Matchplay where eventual winner Taylor defeated Barney 11-3 in the last 16. Taylor also won both their Premier League clashes this year but crucially it was Barney who defeated Taylor at the world championships on the second last day of last year. Of their eight matches this year and last Taylor has lost only twice (the other in the Premier League of 2016.)
Taylor had to fight hard against a fired up Darren Herewini in the first round whilst Barney had a few nervous moments of his own against another Kiwi, Warren Parry. Taylor surprisingly gave away a few more opportunities than normal against Herewini and van Barneveld will have to take full advantage of any he is presented if he wants to make night 3 in Auckland.
Match 4: Michael Smith v Corey Cadby
This match is the great unknown as they have not met before. Both players are talents, both players are World Youth Champions Smith in 2013, and Cadby the current champion having won it last year.
Smith won the Gibraltar Darts Trophy this year and a Players Championship in Barnsley. Cadby has had less competitive darts coming into the tournament than his opponent but has been at the board for hours in preparation.
It certainly should be intensive as neither player will back down and will try to outscore each other early to test the mental mettle of their opponent. The thing is both players thrive on this so it could be excellent. There are possibly a few more demons in Smith’s game but it is up to Cadby to try and find them out in the match so that he can progress further than he did at the Perth Darts Masters last year but it is Smith who remains favourite for this match according to the bookies.
Auckland Darts Masters 2017 Opening Round Preview
Michael Smith v Rob Szabo
Daryl Gurney v Rob Modra
James Wade v Mark Cleaver
Raymond van Barneveld v Warren Parry
Phil Taylor v Darren Herewini
Simon Whitlock v Cody Harris
Gary Anderson v Kyle Anderson
Peter Wright v Corey Cadby
Michael Smith v Robert Szabo
Bully Boy Smith debuts in Auckland whilst his opponent has played this competition in each of its previous years. For Szabo he may look on this draw more favourably as his last two first round opponents have been Phil Taylor and MVG! He managed to get 3 legs off MVG two years ago but last year was whitewashed by the 16 time world champion. Some of the previous upsets in the World Series of darts have come in the opening match of the tournament (eg Mathewson v Wade in Sydney last year) which is a tradition Szabo will be chasing to continue.
For former youth world champion (the title Corey Cadby currently holds) Smith the year has been mixed with a victory in Gibraltar the highlight as well as a quarter final in the UK Open. He will want to reward the faith put into him by the PDC in having him here and won’t want to see what happened to fellow debutant Max Hopp in Las Vegas when he was bundled out in the first round.
Daryl Gurney v Rob Modra
This is an intriguing fixture with the young gun taking on one of Australia’s seasoned professionals. In this case it will be the PDC invitee that will be making his debut in Auckland rather than his opponent. For Modra the stage should hold no fear as he took Gary Anderson all the way, losing 6-5 in the first round of 2015 in Auckland. Last year he made the final 40 in the BDO World Championships.
For Gurney his late call up really came as no surprise as he has done so well this year, including a very impressive outing in Las Vegas (making the final.) He has been a winner at the players championships this year, had semi appearances at the World Matchplay and the UK open and was in the quarter finals of the world championships.
James Wade v Mark Cleaver
James Wade has never lost in the first round of this tournament, having seen of challenges from Paul Nicholson and Ken Moir previously. Both times his opponent has taken legs off him and Mark Cleaver’s only appearance in the first round at Auckland has seen him take a leg off his opponent (losing 1-6 to Peter Wright.)
Wade lost in the first round at Sydney last year, which was the first event and first match after long travel, so an early clash here (they are third up on stage) could see Cleaver in with a chance of an upset but to do so he will have to build scoring pressure early and convert his doubles as once he is on a roll Wade is not known as the machine for nothing.
Raymond van Barneveld v Warren Parry
RvB may want to seek out some advice from new daddy and Dutch World Cup darts partner MVG when it comes to Warren Parry. Parry’s win in the second edition of the Sydney Darts Masters is the stuff of legend, and to do it again at home against another Dutchman would certainly create headlines once again.
The two have history but neither can take much from it. The first time they met was last century (1999) and it took a decade before they met again. In 1999 it was the World Cup singles final where Barney won 4-1. In 2009 Barney won 3-0 in the World Championships. In Auckland Barney has had considerable success in the opening rounds, defeating Loz Ryder (6-0) and Cody Harris (6-2) whilst Parry will want to make amends after losing 1-6 to Peter Wright in his opening game last year.
Phil Taylor v Darren Herewini
Herewini comes into this match with two tournament wins in New Zealand in the last 2 weeks. He also made the semi finals of the New Zealand Masters this year. Taylor too has been coming off some fine form thanks to his heroics at Blackpool in recent weeks as he took out his 16th World Matchplay title. Herewini is the only Kiwi debutant on the stage at Auckland this year.
Taylor has had less success at the Auckland Darts Masters compared to his success in the events in Australia. He made the semi final in the first year but only the last 8 in 2016. His opening rounds have all been against Kiwis but he has whitewashed both Craig Caldwell (2015) and Rob Szabo (2016.) Herewini will be aiming to make sure he does not make this a hat trick for the 16 time world champion.
Simon Whitlock v Cody Harris
Simon Whitlock has appeared twice on stage in Auckland whilst for Cody this match will only be his second at the Auckland Darts Masters. For Whitlock this will be the first time up against this Kiwi darting superstar so he will be wary but he has got a good history in Auckland. In his last Auckland Darts Masters appearance in 2015 he defeated Stephen Bunting 6-4 in the opening round before losing out to Phil Taylor 3-8 in the quarter finals.
For Harris his debut last year saw him go head to head with previous runner up Raymond Van Barneveld. He was able to take two legs off Barney and will be looking to improve upon this in 2017. He will be the last Kiwi on stage for the night so the crowd will be right behind him in trying to progress into the next round.
Gary Anderson v Kyle Anderson
These two Andersons have met four times in major events and Gary has come out on top in all but the very first time they met. This was in October 2016 when they met at the Players Championship Ireland. This year their two meetings have come in the round of 32 when the result was the same in each match 6-2 to Gary.
This is actually Kyle’s debut in Auckland whilst Gary has only lose once in six appearances. Gary has won both his first round appearances although he was taken all the way by Rob Modra in the opening year of the competition before defeating Bernie Smith 6-2 last year in the corresponding round.
Peter Wright v Corey Cadby
Peter and Corey have faced up once before, at last year’s Perth Darts Masters, the night after Cadby had taken down Phil Taylor. Corey averaged 109.57, Wright 109.83 and yet the final scoreboard read 10-2 to Wright. Having lost to Taylor and then beaten him the next time they met it will be that the young Aussie superstar has the same medicine in mind for snakebite.
Whilst it will be Cadby’s debut in the Auckland edition of the World Series, for Wright his record in Auckland is a mixed bag. He has won two out of his four matches. His opening round successes have been against two players lining up in the first round again this year, Mark Cleaver and Warren Parry with both matches finishing 6-1.
