Dennis Nilsson was the star of the afternoon session on Thursday, averaging more than 90 in a 3-1 win over Alexander Merkx, as four more players booked their places in the quarter-finals of the 2023 CT1 WDF Lakeside World Championships.
Clinical Nilsson masterful against Merkx
Dennis Nilsson produced his best performance of the tournament so far as he averaged in excess of 90 in a convincing 3-1 victory over Alexander Merkx.
Merkx started the first set slightly stronger, going 2-1 up with legs in 17 and 13 darts before missing three darts at double 11 for the set. ‘The Great’ was duly punished, with Nilsson levelling it on double 10 before sealing the set with a two-dart 74 finish.
In the second set the Dutchman was more effective, taking the first two legs in 16 and 13 darts before eventually sealing it on double eight to level the match going into the break.
Nilsson was exceptionally efficient in the third set, hitting double 13 and tops at the first time of asking before hitting the front once again with an 84 checkout.
The big Swede then went through the gears in the fourth set, upping his 180 count for the match to five as he sealed with victory with a 13-darter. ‘Strongman’ will now take on Wesley Plaisier in tomorrow’s quarter-finals.
Professional performance sees Hutchinson whitewash Harper
Last year’s finalist Kirsty Hutchinson produced an impressive performance to whitewash the debuting New Zealander Wendy Harper.
Harper had two darts at tops in the opening leg of the match but wouldn’t get another shot at the outer ring as Hutchinson’s scoring proved too much for the sixth seed.
It was a 74.53 average in the end for the County Durham export, who’ll face Lisa Ashton or Priscilla Steenbergen in the quarter-finals.
Landman levels up to end Junghans’ run
After a sluggish start from both players, Chris Landman and Thomas Junghans combined to produce nine 180s in an entertaining five-set tussle at the end of Thursday’s afternoon session. In the end though it was Dutch ace Landman that prevailed to set up a quarter-final with either Neil Duff or Martyn Turner.
Junghans took the opening set 3-1 but it was level at the break, Landman taking out 48, 56 and 71 finishes as he won the second by the same margin.
It started raining 180s after the break but it was Landman that had the better of the early going, sealing the third set with an 84 checkout.
He also took out 83 at the beginning of the fourth set but Junghans found a second wind, immediately responding with a match-best 117 out before producing 16 and 14-dart legs to keep his tournament alive.
After working so hard to force a fifth set, Junghans wasn’t able to really hang with Landman in the decider as ‘The Countryman’ produced two-dart outs of 56, 84 and then 60 to seal a 3-2 victory with an 87.65 average.
Tata pushes past Widmayer to reach last eight
Jonny Tata became the first New Zealander to reach the Lakeside quarter-finals as he kicked off the afternoon session with a straight sets victory over Jim Widmayer.
Widmayer produced the three highest finishes of the match – 67, 86 and 92 – but he went into the break two sets down as Tata’s superior scoring proved the key difference-maker.
Tata upped his 180 count to four with two in the first leg after the break and looked set to take the third set 3-0 before Widmayer won legs in 17 and 16 darts to level the set up. With 68 left in the deciding leg, Widmayer wasn’t able to get a dart at a double and Tata duly punished him with a two-dart 54 finish.
Next up for Tata, who has now won three games on the Lakeside stage, will be top seed Andy Baetens.
7th December Afternoon Session Results
Jonny Tata 3-0 Jim Widmayer
Kirsty Hutchinson 2-0 Wendy Harper
Dennis Nilsson 3-1 Alexander Merkx
Chris Landman 3-2 Thomas Junghans
All photo credit goes to Chris Sargeant / Tip Top Pics
