WDF World Championship - Report 6. Day
Afternoon-Session
Jason Brandon and Barry Copeland impressed on Wednesday afternoon as the 2024 WDF World Championships continued at Lakeside.
Brandon impresses on debut with straight sets win over Schnier
Jason Brandon had to wait until day six of these championships to make his Lakeside debut but he made it one to remember, thrashing Hannes Schnier 3-0.Schnier had looked great in his opening game against Laszlo Kadar but Brandon raced to the first set, opening up with a 60 finish before taking it 3-0 on double six. Brandon extended his run of legs to five, going out in 15 and 18 darts, before Schnier got on the board with a 16-darter. The Austrian was unable to make further inroads before the break though, Brandon taking out 64 to win the second set. The 49-year-old from Tennessee then wrapped up victory in straightforward fashion, winning the third set 3-0 to seal a straight sets victory with an 88.85 average.
Copeland books Duff showdown after thrashing Turner
Barry Copeland was a winner on his second Lakeside appearance, comfortably defeating Aaron Turner in straight sets.Copeland kicked off with a 16-darter and hadn't dropped a leg by the time we reached the break, pinning a 121 out to secure a 2-0 lead. Turner got on the board in set three, breaking the Copeland throw to lead 2-0, only for the experienced Northern Irishman to roar back and win three legs on the spin for the match.
'The Daddy' averaged 83.98 and will return on Thursday evening to face close friend and international teammate Neil Duff.
Wajer reaches last eight with victory over Murphy
Aletta Wajer produced a composed display to defeat Paula Murphy and reach the Women's World Championship quarter-finals for the first time.Wajer was seven months pregnant when she made her debut last year but having become a mother earlier in the year, she made a strong start by taking the first set 3-1. The second set was a complete reverse of the first, with Wajer winning the first leg before Murphy produced a three leg-burst of her own to take the second set. Dutch international Wajer put her foot on the gas to take the third set, opening up with a 15-dart break of throw before pinning double five and tops to win it 2-1.
Wajer, Swedish Open champion earlier this year, will face either Rhian O'Sullivan or Lerena Rietbergen in the last eight.
Gijbels edges out Maendl-Lawrance in a grueller
Sybren Gijbels became the third Belgian to reach the Last 16 of this year's Men's World Championship after defeating Liam Maendl-Lawrance 3-2.All five legs of set one went with throw, with Gijbels finding double 10 to move 1-0 up. That pattern of holds continued three legs into the second set before Maendl-Lawrance pinned tops to break the Gijbels throw and level the match. Despite being outscored, Maendl-Lawrance also took the third set, taking out 80 in two darts to win it 3-1. He was unable to convert that lead into any match darts though, with Gijbels taking the fourth set courtesy of succesive 112 and 114 finishes. Set five was more one-way traffic for the Belgian, who finished with four maximums and sealed victory with a 14-darter.
Evening-Session
Francois Schweyen and Shane McGuirk booked their spots in the quarter-finals of the 2024 WDF Men's World Championship on a night that saw Lerena Rietbergen announce her arrival on the big stage.
Schweyen downs Raman in classy all-Belgian encounter
Francois Schweyen displayed nerves of steel to defeat fellow Belgian Brian Raman and become the first man to reach the quarter-finals of the Men's World Championship.The first four sets of what was a very classy encounter all went the distance, showing how close and well-matched the compatriots were. Schweyen, who eliminated top seed Danny Porter in the Last 32, struck first, finding the only break of throw in the last leg of the first set to win 3-2. Raman responded well though, the former WDF No.1 taking out 72 to win the second set before also taking the third, defying a sensational 152 ping from Schweyen by winning two legs on the bounce in 27 darts. The match looked as though it was following the same formula as Raman's previous two, where 'The Riddler' dropped the first set before coming back strongly. This time though, Schweyen came back at him. Schweyen opened the fourth set with a 100 out and even though Raman pinned 79 and 92, 'The Clock' found tops to force a decider. The fifth set didn't go all the way, Schweyen opening up with 78 and 80 outs and after missing two match darts, sealed a spot in the last eight with a brilliant 145 out and an 89.34 average.
McGuirk marches past Weening into quarters
Shane McGuirk remains faultless on the Lakeside stage, reaching the last eight of this year's tournament without dropping a set.'The Arrow' started strongly, winning the first set 3-0 in just 47 darts. Weening did get on the board in the second set but couldn't live with McGuirk's scoring, the Irishman pinning an 11-darter to go 2-0 up. Weening started the third set well, opening up with a tournament-best 10-darter and going 2-1 up but McGuirk powered to the finishing, sealing victory on double eight.
It was a third successive 90+ average for McGuirk, who'll face Peter Machin or Cliff Prior in the quarter-finals on Friday.
Rietbergen smashes O'Sullivan in stunning upset
Lerena Rietbergen showed her incredible talent on Wednesday evening, thrashing Rhian O'Sullivan in straight sets to reach the women's quarter-finals.Rietbergen looked immediately more comfortable than during her debut on Monday against Maud Jansson and took the first set 3-2, pinning 80 for a break of throw in the deciding leg. The second set was one way traffic, the 22-year-old Dutchwoman pinning a 118 finish to break O'Sullivan's throw before following it up with two more legs to seal a speedy victory.
Rietbergen finished up with a 77.84 average, and will face Dutch teammate Aletta Wajer on Friday afternoon for a spot in the semi-finals.
Stone shows his battling qualities to defeat Nilsson
Gary Stone completed the lineup for the Men's Last 16 in Wednesday evening's first game, defeating Dennis Nilsson in a five-set battle.The Scot won the opening set 3-2, defying a 120 out from Nilsson by going out in 15 darts and then pinning a 93 finish. Set two went the way of 2023 semi-finalist Nilsson, the Swede winning three legs on the spin and punishing five missed set darts from Stone. It was ultimately a very streaky game, with both players winning multiple legs on the spin, and that pattern continued after the break. Nilsson extended his run to six legs, taking the third set 3-0, before Stone levelled up by winning the fourth set by the same margin. Set five was more evenly matched, with Stone producing another three-leg burst to seal a 3-2 victory with an 87 average.
He'll be back in action on Thursday evening to take on the living legend Paul Lim.
Pictures with credit to Tip Top Pics/Chris Sargeant