Returning to Lakeside for the first time in 14 years, Ian Jones recorded his maiden win at the ‘Home of World Darts’ after surviving four match darts against Canada’s David Cameron.
Cameron, who was making his eighth Lakeside appearance, started slowly as Jones wrapped up the first set with a brilliant 120 out. The Canadian number one stepped through the gears to win the second 3-0 and moved within a leg of the match by sealing an early break in the third set. He couldn’t convert though, missing four match darts and allowing Jones to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
With that 2-1 victory, Jones advances to the last 32 where he’ll meet Scotland’s Cameron Menzies.
Also sealing maiden Lakeside victories in their second World Championship appearances were Kewish and de Vreede.
The first four legs of Kewish’s game with close friend Lorraine Hyde went with throw before the Australian sealed a break with a 23-darter in the decider to move 1-0 up.
Kewish carried that momentum into the start of the second set, racing 2-0 up and moving within one leg of victory. With the finishing line in sight, she seemed to stutter, missing 12 match darts. Hyde took advantage, drawing level at 2-2 before Kewish finally shut the door at the 13th time of asking. That 16-dart winning leg sets up a last 16 meeting with top seed Deta Hedman for 'Torza'.
Ryan de Vreede’s last Lakeside appearance came in 2016 when he lost in the preliminary round to American legend Larry Butler. He enjoyed a more successful go of it this time round, defeating Francesco Raschini 2-1.
Raschini, the first Italian to play in any Darts World Championship, won the opening leg of his debut and seemed to be on course to take the set with 60 left in the deciding leg. He bust that, however, with de Vreede stepping in to take out 20.
A bust would also prove crucial in the second set, de Vreede miscalculating on 85. That allowed Raschini to break and then fire in a match-best 14-darter to level the match at a set apiece.
It was one-way traffic in the decider, though, a 136 finish sealing de Vreede a last 32 meeting with fellow Dutchman Jules van Dongen.
In the battle between the two best friends from Fleetwood, Lee Shewan came out on top against Jordan Brooks.
Brooks started well, winning the opening two legs, before Shewan reeled off three on the spin to take the first set. The next two sets both finished 3-0, Brooks levelling things up before Shewan pulled away once again to complete victory. Next up for ‘The Cobbler’ is a meeting with defending champion Wayne Warren.
Joining Shewan in the last 32 is Belgium’s John Desreumaux. ‘Killer Bee’ struggled to find his rhythm in his Lakeside debut but had enough in the tank to defeat Australia’s Donovan Lottering 2-0.
Sweden’s Vicky Pruim tasted victory in the other game of the session, seeing off the spirited challenge of New Zealand’s Desi Mercer.
Ian Jones 2-1 David Cameron
John Desreumaux 2-0 Donovan Lottering
Tori Kewish 2-0 Lorraine Hyde
Ryan de Vreede 2-1 Francesco Raschini
Lee Shewan 2-1 Jordan Brooks
Vicky Pruim 2-0 Desi Mercer
All photo credit to Chris Sargeant / Tip Top Pics
