The second day of the BDO World Championship started with the first round match between two-time former champion Scott Waites and Jeffrey van Egdom. Waites took the opening set of the match 3-0, immediately putting his inexperienced opponent on the back foot. But the Belgian would show fantastic resilience to fight back and take the set, levelling the game at 1:1. Van Egdom took the first leg of the third set as well. But Waites would regain the composure and closed out the set 3-1. Van Egdom was unable to get out of first gear in the fourth set, as Waites' heavy hitting made life tough for the youngster. After seeing out an impressive victory on his return to the Lakeside stage, Waites it confident going into the second round.
In the battle of the Lakeside debutants, Poland's Krzysztof Kciuk prevailed with a steady performance.The first set would be rounded off with relative ease, Brian Lokken showing little resistance to the heavy Kciuk scoring. A 119 checkout in the second set would keep the ball rolling for 'The Thumb', as Lokken failed to gain any traction in his debut Lakeside contest. Much improved scoring in the third set of the match meant that the Danish thrower was afforded the opportunity to get back in the contest, a chance he would take as he sealed the third set. But normal service would be resumed in set four as Kciuk found the form that had carried to a 2-0 advantage early on.
Following last year's first round exit to Sharon Prins, Maria O'Brien produced an outstanding performance to defeat pairs partner Deta Hedman on the Lakeside stage for the first time. Hedman struggled to get out first gear in a tough first round match-up. After O'Brien failed to settle in the opening leg of the match, she showed tremendous spirit to work her way back to winning the set 3-1. Hedman would run her doubles partner all the way in the second set of the match, but ultimately didn't do enough to continue her quest for a first BDO World Championship title.
Richard Veenstra grinded out a hard-fought victory against England's Nigel Heydon as he defeated him in a five-set thriller on the Frimley Green stage. The number eight seed sealed the opening set 3-0 as Heydon failed to get going early on. The favour would be returned as Heydon found his feet in the second set of the match. The deficit was overturned as 'The Undertaker' once again came from a set down to take the lead, much like he did in Saturday's preliminary encounter with Jim Widmayer. Two huge ton plus checkout's dragged 'Flyers' level. A 140 closely followed by a 120-checkout putting him back on level terms as the match went to a deciding set. In one of the most dramatic matches we have ever seen on the Lakeside stage, with the players locked at 5-5 it went to a crucial deciding leg. Heydon would again miss Bullseye for the match as Veenstra swooped, hitting his favoured double 16, emotionally raising Nigel Heydon's hand following a marathon encounter at the 2019 BDO World Championships.
The evening session began with Roger Janssen who sailed through his preliminary round match-up as he defeated the Netherland's Wouter Vaes. The Belgian ace took the opening set in convincing fashion, Vaes not able to get out of the starting blocks. His good form continued into the second set though his Dutch opponent got able to withstand Janssen's consistent scoring. After wiring the bullseye for a spectacular 161 checkout, Janssen would power through the slight disappointed to seal a place in the first round against Wales' Jim Williams.
In the ladies match of the evening Fallon Sherrock hit two 180's and took out a 108 checkout as she defeated Australia's Corrine Hammond. In contrast to the ladies match of the afternoon it was a really good match, in which Sherrock impressed with an 89.67 average - to much for Hammond who didn't show in top form. Nevertheless her average was with over 80 at least ten points higher than Hedman's and O'Brien's averages in the afternoon session. Should Sherrock play on like this it will be difficult to stop her.
The next prelimnary round match between Mark McGrath and Adam Smith-Neale, was one-sided and strange as Smith-Neale after his leg injury was not really fit to play. He couldn't win a single leg. McGrath won 3:0, but was due to the circumstances not really happy about his win.
The final match of the night brought the so far best performance of the tournament - from a player who had retired due to his age from international events. Welshman Wayne Warren defeated his fellow country man and current Welsh captain Mark Layton with 3:0 and an almost 98 average - 10 points higher than his opponent's. No wonder Layton had not many chances.
Statistics - Women
Ave | 180s | Points | Player | v | Player | Ave | 180s | Points |
67.53 | 0 | 4614 | Hedman | 0:2 | O'Brien | 70.80 | 0 | 4839 |
89.67 | 2 | 3288 | Sherrock | 2:0 | Hammond | 80.94 | 0 | 2779 |
Statistics - Preliminary Round, Men
Ave | 180s | Points | Player | v | Player | Ave | 180s | Points |
77.16 | 0 | 7640 | Lokken | 1:3 | Kciuk | 79.38 | 4 | 7884 |
- | - | - | Janssen | 3:0 | Vaes | - | - | - |
81.00 | 1 | 4509 | McGrath | 3:0 | Smith-Neale | 66.54 | 0 | 3593 |
Statistics - First Round, Men
Ave | 180s | Points | Player | v | Player | Ave | 180s | Points |
86.55 | 8 | 7328 | Waites | 3:1 | v.Egdom | 82.08 | 2 | 6840 |
89.67 | 8 | 11001 | Veenstra | 3:2 | Heydon | 93.09 | 6 | 11449 |
97.71 | 4 | 5765 | Warren | 3:0 | Layton | 86.91 | 1 | 4954 |