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.
Photos: Chris Sargeant/Tip Top Pics
