‘Rocky’ roars back to knock out Lewis as Osborne shocks Scholten

ANDY JENKINS produced his best performance in 13 years of competing at the highest level to knock Adrian Lewis out of the Ladbrokes.com World Championship in Purfleet yesterday.

The 35-year-old from Hampshire won 4-3 to reach the quarter-finals for the first time, having never previously gone beyond the second round of either the Lakeside or Circus Tavern versions of the world title.

He had to do it the hard way, for Lewis – protege of 13-time world champion Phil Taylor – made his usual blistering start and led 2-0 before Jenkins roared back in a match played at a frantic pace.

The next three sets went to ‘Rocky’, who took advantage of his opponent’s dip in form with Lewis perhaps distracted by a continual desire to fist-tap after big scores and out-shots.

But despite the excellent spirit in which the contest was played, there was no quarter given and Lewis levelled it up at 3-3 to set up yet another decider in a tournament full of epic encounters.

This one did not go the full distance though, for Jenkins put in a fantastic leg against the throw when 2-1 up and showed tremendous composure, needing only one dart at double 12 to close it out.

“I’m over the moon with the way I came back,” said 12th seed Jenkins, playing only three weeks after the death of his father.

“I dug deep and really played well. With everything that has gone on recently I’m as chuffed as nuts. That has shown me I can produce my best on television. It’s fantastic against a quality player like Adrian. He will be a future world champion – but not this time.”

In the last eight Jenkins will meet Colin Osborne, who continued his impressive progress by ousting fourth seed Roland Scholten.

The 31-year-old Derby-based qualifier has now beaten three players ranked in the top 20 and the Dutchman became the latest as he succumbed to a 4-2 defeat.

Scholten was back on stage only 17 hours after being taken to a sudden-death leg by Alex Roy, and the quick turnaround looked like it may have taken its toll for he appeared a little sluggish.

“Reaching a World Championship quarter-final is up there with my best sporting achievements,” said Osborne, who used to be on the books of Middlesbrough and has also shone at golf and table tennis.

“It doesn’t get much tougher than playing Roland. He’s so consistent and a prolific scorer and you just have to hang in there and take your chance when you can.”

Darren Webster set-up a possible quarter-final against Taylor by ending the challenge of South Africa’s Wynand Havenga. The 37-year-old triumphed 4-2 despite relinquishing a 2-0 lead and admitted he had endured some nervous moments. “I started off lovely but then I think the moment got to me and my hands started sweating,” said ‘The Sniper’, a qualifier from Norwich ranked number 47 in the world.

“To do anything in my next match I’ll have to play all the way through like I did in the second set.”

Havenga, a finance manager from Cape Town, said: “Darren played like a star. His checkouts were good whereas I missed a lot of doubles. My goal was to reach the last 16, which I achieved, and anything else would have been a bonus.”