Lisa Ashton posted the highest ever televised ladies average in the quarter-finals of the BDO World Trophy, whilst Glen Durrant, Scott Mitchell and Martin Adams were all beaten in the last 16 of the men’s draw, on an eventful day of action at the Lakeside on Sunday.
Ashton was in tremendous form as she thrashed Corrine Hammond 5-1. The two-time world champion averaged 98.44, hitting 45% of her doubles and producing legs of 12, 15, 17, 14 and 15 darts. The Lancashire ace subsequently broke the previous record average of 97.56, which Trina Gulliver had held for an astonishing 17-years.
Ashton’s reward for her record-breaking display is a last-four showdown against three-time world champion Anastasia Dobromyslova. The Russian was in clinical form as she dispatched talented Dutch ace Aileen de Graaf by a 5-2 scoreline in the quarter-finals.
Deta Hedman avenged this year’s World Championship final loss to Trina Gulliver by dismantling the ten-time world champion 5-1. Gulliver was way below par, but Hedman was clinical, taking out finishes of 86, 92, 105 and 122 to set up a semi-final meeting with Rhian Griffiths, who comfortably saw off Lorraine Winstanley 5-2.
Nevertheless, in the men’s draw, BDO world number one Glen Durrant suffered a shock 7-3 defeat to Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas, despite averaging 104.55. Labanauskas stormed into a 3-0 lead with an average in excess of 110, but Duzza reduced the arrears to 4-2 heading into the interval.
However, the experienced Lithuanian was simply clinical, converting finishes of 138 and 120 en route to victory, and his final three winning legs were executed in 11, 13 and 12 darts respectively. Durrant did virtually nothing wrong, yet he was condemned to an early exit as Labanauskas finished with an average of 101.43 and 53% on the doubles.
Former world champion Scott Mitchell was another high-profile name to suffer defeat in the last 16, after he was edged out by the in-form Dutchman Danny Noppert in a high-quality affair. ‘Scotty-Dog’ registered seven maximums, but he was punished for converting just 5 of his 28 double attempts.
The first six legs were shared as the pair were locked at three apiece heading into the first interval. Mitchell was averaging 112 at one stage, but Noppert displayed great resilience and despite missing five match darts in the eleventh leg, ‘Noppie’ eventually sealed his progression via D10.
Elsewhere, 23-year-old Dean Reynolds caused another shock by knocking out three-time world champion Martin Adams in the final match of Sunday’s marathon session. Both players averaged in the mid 80’s, but Reynold’s finishing was the decisive factor, with the youngster pinning 7 of his 12 double attempts.
Adams had chances to restore parity at 4-4 but he squandered darts at D12 and D6 and was ruthlessly punished, with Reynolds completing a 100 checkout which culminated with two double-tops. Adams fought back to 5-5, but Reynolds hit two maximums in the eleventh leg to break in 12 darts, before sealing a memorable triumph on his trusted D20.
Fourth seed Jamie Hughes came from 2-0 down to defeat the reigning champion Geert de Vos in a pulsating sudden-death leg. The Belgian had defeated Roger Janssen earlier in the day to book his last 16 berth, but Hughes defied a 97 average from De Vos to come through.
Hughes will face Mark McGeeney in the last eight, after he also produced a fine comeback to seal his quarter-final spot. McGeeney trailed the impressive Welshman Nick Kenny 6-3, but the Coventry ace reeled off four straight legs to complete an unlikely victory.
It was a high-quality contest, with Kenny averaging 93.51 to McGeeney’s 94.2. McGeeney posted legs of 12, 13 and 16 darts to force a deciding leg, but he almost threw the game away by spurning four match darts. However, Kenny wired D18 for a match-winning 110 finish, and the 43-year-old returned to pin D6 and squeeze home.
World champion Scott Waites booked his place in Monday’s quarter-final with an emphatic 7-1 win against his fellow Yorkshireman Brian Dawson. It was a relatively scrappy affair, with Waites averaging just 84. Yet, Scott followed up yesterday’s 170 finish with another crowd-pleasing special; this time a majestic 146 checkout.
Waites will face Peter Machin on Monday, after the Australian claimed the scalp of three-time World Championship finalist Tony O’Shea in a thrilling last-leg shootout. O’Shea had defeated last year’s World Championship semi-finalist Richard Veenstra earlier in the afternoon, but he was unable to overcome the dogged Aussie.
Machin led 4-2, but O’Shea restored parity with six perfect darts in the eighth leg. Machin then moved 6-4 ahead, but ‘The Silverback’ forced a deciding leg with fantastic finishes of 70 and 101, with the Aussie sat on one-dart outshots. O’Shea had the darts in the decider, but the underdog prevailed, nailing D10 for a 14-darter to secure the win.
Despite this, it was a better day for O’Shea’s Stockport counterpart Daryl Fitton, who breezed past former World Master Martin Phillips. The veteran Welshman was well-below par and Fitton took full advantage, hitting a maximum 170 checkout en route to a comprehensive 7-2 triumph, to set up a clash against Labanauskas in the last eight.
Day 2 – Sunday 29th May 2016
Men’s World Trophy – Last 16
Glen Durrant (34.85) 3-7 (33.81) Darius Labanauskas
Martin Phillips (27.30) 2-7 (30.42) Darryl Fitton
Nick Kenny (31.17) 6-7 (31.37) Mark McGeeney
Geert de Vos (32.96) 6-7 (30.85) Jamie Hughes
Scott Waites (28.27) 7-1 (26.34) Brian Dawson
Tony O’Shea (28.29) 6-7 (29.18) Peter Machin
Scott Mitchell (31.68) 5-7 (29.89) Danny Noppert
Dean Reynolds (28.30) 7-5 (28.94) Martin Adams
Women’s World Trophy – Quarter Finals
Lisa Ashton (32.95) 5-1 (26.36) Corrine Hammond
Anastasia Dobromyslova (24.10) 5-2 (23.43) Aileen de Graaf
Rhian Griffiths (24.18) 5-2 (24.46) Lorraine Winstanley
Trina Gulliver MBE (21.80) 1-5 (27.11) Deta Hedman
Day 3 – Monday 30th May 2016 – Finals Day
Men’s World Trophy – Quarter Finals
Darius Labanauskas v Darryl Fitton
Mark McGeeney v Jamie Hughes
Scott Waites v Peter Machin
Danny Noppert v Dean Reynolds
Women’s World Trophy – Semi-Finals
Lisa Ashton v Anastasia Dobromyslova
Rhian Griffiths v Deta Hedman
Men’s World Trophy – Semi-Finals
18:00 1st semi-final
19:00 2nd semi-final
Women’s World Trophy – The Final
19:45 Final
Men’s World Trophy – The Final
20:30 Final
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