Day 7 darts review: Ex-world champs Lewis and Klaasen through
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | December 23, 2015
Day seven reaction
- Off-key Price whitewashed by Gilding
- Van de Pas wins battle of young guns with Hopp
- Double world champ Lewis eases past Double Dekker
- Klaasen had too much class for Cullen
Former world champs Lewis and Klaasen ease through
The 2016 PDC World Darts Championship first round is now over, and fans can finally have a two-day breather to digest a week of winter wonder at the Ally Pally (as well as their Christmas meals).
Adrian Lewis highlighted the final session of the last 64 tussles, and he started his campaign in his bid for a third title here with a relatively straightforward win over Jan Dekker.
The first round is in the books! We're back on boxing day for even more darts!
#LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/ByjbXyEjFg
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 23, 2015
Andrew Gilding, meanwhile, caused a slight upset against former rugby professional Gerwyn Price. While, Benito van de Pas fought off fellow youngster Max Hopp and Jelle Klaasen brushed aside Joe Cullen with the first 100-plus average of the first round.
Read on for more detailed reactions to the four fixtures on Wednesday night…
Andrew Gilding 3-0 Gerwyn Price (1-3, 1-3, 1-3)
Goldfinger drew first blood with a crowd-rasing 132 checkout (bullseye, bullseye, double 16) to take the first leg, breaking Price along the way, and did just enough to claim the opening set.
Bull, Bull, D16….What a checkout by Gilding! We're live on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports Darts now! https://t.co/TU1oGspoKV
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 23, 2015
It was a closer second set, but Gilding, who like The Iceman failed to get past this round at their first attempt last year, again produced the scores and finishes at the right time, and eventually won.
In the end, Welshman Price never really turned up and, despite his slightly lower ranking and less experience as a pro, was arguably shocked. Englishman Gilding now faces double champion Lewis on Monday, December 28th in the evening session.
Benito van de Pas 3-1 Max Hopp (3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1)
Sporting matches between the Netherlands and Germany are always fiercely-competitive affairs, and this was no different with emotions and nerves on show as young guns Van de Pas and Hopp locked horns.
KOLO, KOLO KOLO, KOLO KOLO, KOLO KOLO TOURE! YAYA, YAYA YAYA, YAYA YAYA, YAYA YAYA TOURE! #LoveTheDarts https://t.co/VAMMh36FsT
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 23, 2015
It started off with the crowd chanting in unison to Maximiser’s walk-on song, albeit to the lyrics of football brothers Yaya and Kolo Toure, but in the end the slightly older Van de Pas used his experience to knock out the teenager.
World Youth champion Hopp threatened a comeback by clawing back a set at 2-0 down and even managed more 180s and 140s than Big Ben, but just couldn’t emulate his shocking of Mervyn King at this stage here last year.
The consistent Van de Pas, 22, now goes on to face another fellow youngster on Tuesday, December 29th in Belgium’s 21-year-old Dimitri van den Bergh, who upset ninth seed Ian White.
Adrian Lewis 3-0 Jan Dekker (3-2, 3-1, 3-2)
Double world champ Lewis may have thought he would get a fairly easy ride against Double Dekker, but lost his throw early to go 2-1 down in legs which then sparked Jackpot into hitting a perfect six darts on his way to edging the first set 3-2.
From then on, Lewis looked more comfortable as he completely out-scored the Dutchman, though had to break back in the final leg, and eventually finished in style with a 164 checkout.
"That was PURE CLASS finishing" from @jackpot180 checking out a 164 to win the match. #DartingMagic
https://t.co/dQRG4hcLe3
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 23, 2015
As mentioned earlier, the 2011 and 2012 champion will now go up against Gilding in a bid to match his third round feat in last year’s event, where he lost out to Raymond van Barneveld.
It's time for Adrian Lewis. Can he claim a third World Darts Championship? #LoveTheDarts https://t.co/BlAxBD5h4d
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 23, 2015
But does Lewis have what it takes to go all the way in 2016? He is a 14/1 chance with Coral to claim his third PDC World Championship.
Jelle Klaasen 3-0 Joe Cullen (3-0, 3-2, 3-0)
Youngest ever world champion Klaasen (BDO winner in 2006) really did live up to his name against Cullen, as he showed his class by dropping just two sets.
Bradford’s Rockstar really was no match for The Cobra, who outclassed his opponent in all departments, gaining more 180s, 140s and a better checkout percentage.
#LoveTheDarts that's all the pre-Christmas action over at the World Darts Championship over as @jellek180 wins https://t.co/b6OBl4Uq4N
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 23, 2015
Dutchman Klaasen, the only person in the third round to average over 100 (with 102.54), will now meet Mervyn King for a place in the last 16 on Wednesday, December 30th.
Related
Check out more from our dedicated darts archive, where you’ll find much more on the 2016 PDC World Darts Championship.
