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Steve started his 2nd round match brilliantly today (27/12/07), going 3-0 up in sets and was just 1 leg away from victory. However a superb fightback saw Tony Eccles come back to win 4-3 in sets.
Tony Eccles produced a remarkable comeback to defeat Steve Maish 4-3 and reach the last 16 of the Ladbrokes.com PDC World Darts Championship.
Photo courtesy of Lawrence Lustig (PDC)
Maish, who defeated Dennis Priestley in the opening round, had established a 3-0 lead and was one leg away from the match in the fourth set, and he also had a dart at tops for match in the sixth before Eccles made a stunning comeback.
"At 3-0 down I thought I was out," admitted Eccles. "I had nothing to lose and started to feed off Steve, and it came from there."
Eccles started well at the beginning of the contest, taking the second leg in 14 darts and then breaking Maish's throw for a 2-1 lead.
But the Essex man hit back to take the fourth leg and then converted an 86 finish, with his opponent waiting on 32, to take the opening set.
Eccles took the first leg of the second set but Maish levelled up with a 110 checkout.
He then hit back-to-back 180s at the start of the third leg to leave a chance of a nine-dart finish. He was unable to hit the seventh treble, but went on take the leg for a 2-1 lead.
Maish missed three chances at double top to take the set, but Eccles could not make him pay for the error and he came back to take the leg for a 2-0 lead.
He then took the third set, which went to a deciding leg, completing a 76 finish for a 3-0 lead.
Maish took a 2-1 lead in the fourth set, landing a 110 finish for the second time in the match.
But Eccles levelled the set with a 13-dart leg and then hit a fantastic 156 checkout to turn the tide.
The man from Hartlepool, making his debut in this event, then reduced the deficit to 3-2, taking the set without reply, which included checkouts of 96 and 70.
He then completed the comeback in the sixth set, despite his opponent having one dart at tops to win the match in the decider.
Eccles was now the dominant force and broke throw at the beginning of the final set and then landed a 104 checkout to go one leg away from the match.
Maish managed to take the third leg but Eccles completed a stunning victory by hitting a 56 finish.
"At 3-0 down you think you're going home, and I was just waiting to get off the stage," said Eccles.
"Once he missed the match darts, I think that's where my comeback began and in the end I was thriving on the pressure.
"The more pressure on me, the better I play. Steve's a cracking player and he kicked my backside in those first three sets, but it's the best comeback of my career on TV.
"It will be another fast and furious game against Adrian Lewis next. I know I can't make as many mistakes against him!"
Steve Maish 3- 4 Tony Eccles
45 100+ 41
8 140+ 27
5 180's 0
29.31 Ave1 30.36
87.29 Ave3 91.08
110 x2 High Finish 156,104