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.
Photos: Chris Sargeant/Tip Top Pics
