2009 Lakeside World Championship Day 6
Posted on January 8th, 2009
Ninth seed O’Shea dashes top seed Anderson’s title hopes
Top seed Gary Anderson crashed spectacularly out of the championships 5-3 victim of ninth seed Tony O’Shea.
It was a pulsating performance from the 47-year-old veteran from Stockport who punished “Dreamboy” for countless missed doubles in the first half of the match.
While Anderson’s dreams of getting his hands on the impressive Lakeside trophy have been dashed the new confident O’Shea looks to improve on his 2004 showing when his championship run spluttered to a halt in the semi finals.
O’Shea racked up a surprise 3-0 match lead after high-scoring Anderson was unable to convert his doubles.
A below-par performance from the Cheshire player allowed Anderson to sneak the fourth set before the break but even then he needed to three attempts for the winning double.
The fifth set went 3-0 to O’Shea as Anderson missed further doubles, a 180 helping Anderson to take the next 3-1. Missed doubles from the Stockport grandfather let in Anderson for the seventh, missing four match-winning doubles, allowing the Scot to reduce the lead to 4-3.
But the veteran English international was far from finished and took the opening leg of the eighth against the throw on double 20, taking the next on the same double and then sweeping home sixth maximum of the game to leave 80, which he polished off with his next throw, clinching victory on his third double tops of the set.
Jubilant O’Shea put his victory down to plain simple experience.
“I have been playing a long time and three or four years ago I would have crumbled against Gary who would have romped away. I knew he was going to come back, he always does.
“But I am now made of much sterner stuff and have done my share of losing. I have served my apprenticeship.
“I’m chuffed with my win. A good win and victory over a legend like Gary, I’m made up!”
The veteran Cheshire darter – the third oldest player in the field – said he has been confident all week that he can better his performance in 2004 when he reached the semi finals.
Waites out-dazzled by sparkling Fitton
Fifth seed and Madness fan Darryl Fitton moved closer to “one step beyond” as he reached the last four in the championship for the second time four years after toppling Scott Waites 5-4 in the 102 minute clash.
Cheered on by Cheshire county team mate Tony O’Shea who he will play in the semi final, Fitton had to dig deep as Waites continually set the pace in the match.
The game started at snails pace, both players adopting a slow steady pace with Fitton taking the opening set 3-2. Waites levelled and then moved ahead after taking the third set 3-1, the experienced Dazzler hitting a maximum to ensure he went into the break on level terms.
Twice battling Fitton levelled in the fifth set after losing the throwing advantage but cool Waites clinched the deciding leg with double seven.
Waites opened up a 2-0 lead, despite two 180s from Fitton, the Cheshire player hitting double 18 and then lucky double 13 to level, the Yorkshireman moving into a 4-2 match lead after hitting double tops.
Fitton hit another maximum en-route to the first leg of the seventh set, achieved on double 20 and both players suffered double trouble in the next, Waites missing five and Fitton scrambling to double six with his seventh attempt for a double to steal the advantage.
Waites blazed back to turn the throwing advantage with double five but battling Fitton hit a maximum and then a faultless 83 checkout, completed on double 16.
The opening three legs of the eighth set all went against the throw, Fitton hitting double 20 to move 2-1 ahead and calmly stroke in double eight with his second attempt to level the match at 4-4.
Waites stole the darts in the opening set of the next set, Fitton hitting a maximum as moved 2-1 in front. The Cheshire player hit back-to-back 180s as he nervously moved into the semi final hitting double four after missing four match-winning doubles.
Tags: Lakeside World Professional, Results, Review
Filed under BDO-WDF, Lakeside World Professional |
