Lakeside 08 Review - Day 1
Posted on January 6th, 2008
MARK WEBSTER 3-1 IAN JONES
Top seed Welshman Mark Webster survived double trouble to topple playoff qualifier Ian Jones 3-1 in 32 minutes at the Lakeside BDO world championships.
The defending World Cup and Europe Cup singles champion needed just six minutes to make his mark on the match against the debutant from the West Midlands. He missed doubles tops for a stirring 120 checkout in the first leg, recovering to take it with his next throw to sneak the leg against the throw.
The left-hander blazed through the set unbeaten and then notched the first maximum of the match to open up the second set. Jones hit a maximum in the next leg, the bespectacled Welshman hitting his second in the third leg but then fluffing four doubles for the second set, Jones hitting double 10 and levelling the match with double four.
The playoff qualifier form Tipton, displaying gritty determination, defended his throw to kick off the third set, Webster hitting his third 180 and overcoming double trouble to annex the third 3-1.
Twice Jones led in the fourth as Webster again missed crucial doubles hitting double 12 to level at 2-2 and then clinching victory with a first-time effort for a match-winning double eight .
The telling factor was Webster’s power-scoring which saw him fire out 180s and average 31.49, compared with Jones’ 28.43.
Afterwards a relieved Webster said: “I’m just glad to be through, I wasn’t bothered about my average or missing the doubles as long as I got through.
“When Ian pulled it back to 1-1 and then won the next leg I knew I had to do something. None of my mates knew anything about Ian but I follow and darts scene, know he has played for England and is a useful player.
“Being first on was nerve-racking and I think that was why I missed so many doubles. I found when I had one dart in my hand I was checking out, the trouble was when I had three in my hand.
“I hope things will only get better now, as I don’t want to keep coming here and going out first round,” said the jublilant Welshman.
GARY ROBSON 3-1 TONY DAVID
Pride of the north east Gary Robson survived a gripping 37-minute encounter to ground “Deadly Boomerang” Tony David 3-1.
And then he declared: “A lot of seeds have fallen in the first round here, it really is the round of death. I’m just glad to be through.
“It was terrible match with neither of us playing to our ability. However I am a great believer in omens. We played a terrible first round game a couple of years ago in the World Darts Trophy. That year I went on to win it and hopefully this is going to happen again this week.
“I was 2-0 in front and the darts were going well but then they just started to fall inside the doubles. The harder I tried the worse it became.”
Big Robbo steamed into the match storming to the opening set unchallenged as the former world champ struggled to settle.
And it was a similar story in the next leg with the strapping Northumberland hot shot cruising to another 3-0 success.
Twice the former world champ led in the third set, Robbo missing three doubles to level, the Aussie pouncing to snatch the leg and keep his championship alive.
The eighth seed twice led the fourth set despite missing further doubles. David missed double 18 to save the match in the fourth leg and Robson nipped in to hit double 10 and book his place in the second round.
DARRYL FITTON 3-1 DAVY RICHARDSON
Ninth seed Darryl “Dazzler” Fitton set up an intriguing second round clash with Gary Robson after dashing the championship hopes of Geordie Davy Richardson 3-1.
Fitton who paraded on to the Lakeside stage to his trademark Madness song “One Step Beyond” made the early running, as he swept into a 2-0 lead, taking six of the opening seven legs, including the first maximum of the game.
He annexed the opening leg of the third set but then saw the slim-line battler from the north east display gutsy form to edge 2-1 in front.
Richardson - the undisputed king of the qualifiers who has won through the playoffs on six occasions in the past – dug deep in the deciding fifth leg, hitting his first 180, and nervously edging to the third set on double eight with his fourth throw for the double.
He then missed a crucial double in the second leg of the next set as Fitton cruised to victory on double 20.
“I’m very happy and feel relaxed now. Anything can happen in the first round, the first game is without doubt the Hardest. Winning that game is what matters.
“My finishing is going really well, the scoring is not as good as it used to be but finishing is crucial,” said Fitton.
TONY O’SHEA 3-2 STEVE FARMER
Golf-loving Tony O’Shea teed up for a serious title tilt, driving Shropshire’s Steve Farmer out of the competition after surviving a nail-biting five set clash.
The 46-year-old Stockport sharpshooter had to withstand a determined comeback from market gardener Farmer - a tournament debutant - who swept back from 2-0 down.
O’Shea swept into the match taking the opening five legs unchallenged. Farmer annexed the next, gritty O’Shea saw edging into 2-0 match lead.
“Tractor Boy” motored back in the third, recovering from losing the opening leg to clinch the set 3-1 on double tops as O’Shea’s form dipped.
Punishing the lack-lustre performance of the Cheshire player, Farmer planted the seeds of a remarkable comeback, sweeping through the fourth set unchallenged but the 2004 semi finalist held his nerve to annex the fifth set 3-2.
Afterwards O’Shea wiped the sweat away and took a sharp intake of breath: “That was bad. I just couldn’t find my throw. At one point I was standing a good two inches behind the oche.
“I just couldn’t lift my game and after the second set I turned to Steve and he said that he was dragging my game down to his level! Before the game I didn’t miss anything in practise but up on stage….”
“The only good point I can take away from the match is that I won and will be playing in the second round but it was not a good performance,” declared O’Shea.
JOHN WALTON 0-3 ROBERT THORNTON
World Master Robert Thornton won a classic England versus Scotland clash, toppling former world champ John Walton 3-0 in an absorbing 30-minute encounter.
Walton suffered the agony of being the first seed to fall in the championships as “The Thorn” proved to be a real pain in the Yorkshireman’s side.
“I really didn’t expect to win, John is such a class player but he just didn’t get going. He is a hard man to beat but I think winning the World Masters a couple of months ago helped a lot and has given me confidence.
“The fact I have played here before certainly makes a difference. So many players come to these championship for the first time and are overawed by the whole occasion. I hope I can have another good run this year and improve on my quarter final placing last time I was here,” said Thornton.
The Scot said that he had been lucky in the lead-up to the championship:
“Although there has been a lot of snow in Scotland, luckily it did not stick where I live and my train journey down to the south east only took five and a half hours after track work was completed. If I had travelled the previous day it would have taken me 16 hours and six train changes. Perhaps luck is on my side this week?” suggested the man from Ayrshire.
The 2001 world champion was punished for poor finishing in the opening set. After winning the toss Walton drew first blood but Thornton moved into a menacing 2-l lead, John Boy levelling in the fourth leg, the Scot sweeping back to take the set on double tops.
Thornton – a quarter finalist in his previous appearance at the championship - hit his second maximum as he sailed through the second set 3-0, his precision finishing a decisive factor.
With his back firmly wedged against the wall, the gritty South Yorkshireman moved up a gear, taking the opening leg of the fourth set but a first time double eight saw the Scot levelling the set.
He followed up with double 18 for a 2-1 advantage, Walton missing a crucial double seven for a match-saving 93 checkout. Thornton missed double tops and then double 10 but luckless Walton missed a further two doubles.
The 30-year-old Scot stepped up to the oche and fired for double five, nudging the wire before planting the winning dart in the same double to bid John Boy “goodnight.”
NIELS DE RUITER 1-3 GLENN MOODY
“Smiler” Glenn Moody, a 125/1 outsider caused the second shock of the day as he grounded flying Dutchman Niels de Ruiter, the 16th seed 3-1 in a hard-fought 67-minute encounter.
Wearing a perpetual smile throughout the match the 43-year-old Middlesbrough man fought back from losing the opening set to dash the hopes of last year’s losing semi finalist.
Delighted Moody said: “I did enjoy that but I just couldn’t find the treble 20. I really enjoyed myself, it was fantastic.
“I spurred myself up during the match shouting ‘wazzer’ – it’s a term we use when we hit a good score in the pub where I play my darts,” said the playoff qualifier.
De Ruiter stormed into a 2-0 first set lead only to see the battling super league player from Cleveland battle back and level. Despite a maximum from Moody, De Ruiter checked out.
Moody’s desire to “live for a long time” was manifested in his happy go lucky attitude on stage, playing the game with a perpetual grin on his face, which was even wider after he levelled the match with a 3-1 success.
It was nip and tuck in the third set but the slow-throwing Moody turned the advantage to score a 3-1 third set success.
The flying Dutchman seemed to lack his normal fluid style, possibly due to a back problem, which had plagued him until days before the championship but forced his way into a 2-0 lead in the next set narrowly missing bull for a match-levelling 132 checkout.
In the next wayward darts let in Moody for a 81 checkout (treble 19, double 12) to pull within one leg of victory.
Remarkably, as both players battled down to the double in the next leg, Moody found himself requiring another 81 and fired out the same treble 19, double 12 match-winning checkout.
As he celebrated with another beaming smile, tears welled up the eyes of the Dutchman who saw his title hopes thwarted at the first hurdle.
ANASTASIA DOBROMYSLOVA 2-0 DEE BATEMAN
Russia’s Anastasia Dobromyslava justified her fourth seeding to dash the hopes of debutant Dee Bateman 2-0.
The Cumbrian put up a battling performance in her debut at Frimley Green but simply could not match the firepower of the East European.
Bateman, whose partner Rab Butler is one of the tournament’s referees had constantly refused to travel to the championship to watch. She said she would only walk through the doors of the Lakeside club as a player in the women’s event.
And her determination paid off when she came through the playoff qualifiers to win her right to play on the stage at “the home of world darts.”
She made a dream start to take the opening leg of the match and then battled back from 2-1 down, taking the match to a deciding fifth leg, which Dobromyslava clinched with an impressive 91 checkout finished on double 14.
Bateman missed double tops twice to lead the second set as the experienced Russian edged ominously 2-0 ahead with 18 and 17-dart finishes.
The Barrow girl failed to hit a match-saving 170 and Dobromyslava coolly hit single 20, missed with her second dart but deftly flicked the third into the match-winning double 20 to move into the last four.
FRANCIS HOENSELAAR 0-2 STEPHANIE SMEE
Top seed Francis Hoenselaar was sensationally dumped out of the world championship by unknown 23-year-old Stephanie Smee.
The Gosport-based baker was on a roll, needing just 21 minutes to create one of the biggest shocks ever in the eight year history of the event.
Smee, who only took up the sport four years ago said: “I am really pleased, I didn’t feel nervous up on stage but Francis did not play as well as she can. When she missed doubles in the first leg it gave me a big boost.
“When I was throwing in the deciding leg I did not think about the victory but just concentrated on playing. I have a lot of belief in my ability, although I am just a baby on the international circuit,” admitted Smee.
She had laid the foundations for her shock win, sneaking the first leg of the match against the throw after Hoenselaar missed a surprising eight doubles.
The six foot tall Hampshire player then held her nerve to take the next with an impressive 101 checkout, finished on double tops and then silenced the army of Dutch fans as she exited on bull to take the opening set.
Both players suffered double trouble at the start of the second set, which eventually went to the Dutch Crown.
The Rotterdam sharpshooter fired out a maximum in the next but then fluffed further double opportunities, allowing the English player to level, turning the screw by taking the next leg on double five.
More missed doubles from the top seed opened the door for Smee to score her biggest win in darts striking home double 10 with her second dart.
Filed under Lakeside World Professional |
