The reigning World Master Wesley Plaisier and two-time Lakeside finalist Rhian O’Sullivan both impressed on day four of the 2023 CT1 WDF Lakeside World Championships.
Plaisier leaves Reece in pieces with impressive win
Wesley Plaisier is a strong contender for this year’s title and the big Dutchman laid down a marker in his opening game with an impressive 3-1 win over Reece Colley.
A slightly scrappy opening set went the way of Plaisier but he found himself going into the break at 1-1 after Colley took the second set 3-0 with legs in 16, 17 and 17 darts.
That break seemed to invigorate the reigning World Master Plaisier as he produced two 15-darters on route to winning the third set 3-0 himself.
His impressive power scoring continued in the fourth set and despite Colley producing a 14-dart break of throw, Plaisier wrapped up victory with finishes of 74, 87 and 110.
Awaiting Plaisier in the next round is James Richardson, who has already beaten Christian Goedl and Peter Machin in this tournament.
O’Sullivan demolishes Smith in rapid fashion
Rhian O’Sullivan outlined her title credentials with a blistering whitewash victory over Suzanne Smith in the only Women’s tie of the session.
A 13-darter was the highlight of the first set and then the Wales captain sealed her win inside 15 minutes with a fantastic 121 finish.
An 85.08 final average shows that she’s in good form and she’ll want to keep that going in the next round against either Deta Hedman or Aletta Wajer.
Turner is the ‘Mutts Nuts’ on debut
Martyn Turner made a positive impression on his Lakeside debut, beating German teenager Liam Maendl-Lawrence 3-1 with an average of 87.78.
Maendl-Lawrance won the first two legs in the opening set but then lost seven on the spin as Turner came from behind to take the first set and then took the second 3-0 with finishes of 50, 60 and 70.
The 19-year-old halved the deficit by taking the third set 3-1, an 81 finish the highlight, but was powerless to stop Turner running through the gears in the final set. It was there that Turner threw three 180s and recorded finishes of 84, 100 and 103 to seal his spot in the Last 16.
He’ll now head into the next round full of confidence and awaiting a tie with either Neil Duff or Moreno Blom.
Merkx overcomes double trouble to beat compatriot Konterman
The outer ring wasn’t his friend but Alexander Merkx had enough in the tank to beat compatriot Arjan Konterman 3-1 on his Lakeside debut.
Konterman, who’d impressed in his round one victory over Danny Porter, took the first set 3-0, a 14-darter sandwiched between two scrappier legs where he pounced on Merkx’s misses.
The second set saw an improved standard, with both players throwing a brace of 180s each. In the end it was Merkx that came out on top, pinning a 19-darter for 3-2.
The third set was all Merkx, with ‘The Great’ firing in two 16-darters and an 18-darter to move within a set of a spot in the Last 16.
Set four was a mirror image of the second set in that it went all the way. Merkx led it 2-1 and after missing a couple of match darts, eventually sealed his progress with a 64 finish.
Next up for the former Helvetia Open champion will be the Swedish international Dennis Nilsson.
5th December 2023 – Afternoon Session Results
Alexander Merkx 3-1 Arjan Konterman
Rhian O’Sullivan 2-0 Suzanne Smith
Martyn Turner 3-1 Liam Maendl-Lawrance
Wesley Plaisier 3-1 Reece Colley
All photo credit to Chris Sargeant / Tip Top Pics
