Mensur Suljovic awards eight match darts in three sets
Great pain: Mensur Suljovic gave away the victory at the Darts World Cup
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
Even the highest possible leadership was not enough. Mensur Suljovic suffered the bitterest defeat of this Darts World Cup. The Austrian was already ahead with 2-0 sets and 2-0 legs. Then a drama took its course that only came to a spectacular end after 83 minutes.
Et was a match that caused pain. First with the viewer. Mensur Suljovic and Alan Soutar fought a tough test of strength in the second round of the Darts World Cup. A duel of small steps and many possibilities, resulting from the weaknesses of the opponent.
Thus initially a stable double quota was enough for the Austrian Suljovic to keep his Scottish opponent at a distance. When the number 26 in the world rankings checked to lead the set 2-0, he had only given a leg.
The way to the third round was paved and was followed in round three. Suljovic broke to 1-0, brought his attack through and stood at 3:17 p.m. local time immediately before a victory at express speed. There was nothing to suggest that it would be 47 minutes before the last arrow.
Marathon match at Alexandra Palace: Mensur Suljovic (right) and Alan Soutar played for almost an hour and a half
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
But Suljovic then awarded two match darts on double 8. He also left the last dart in the fifth leg when he missed the double-18 to win. Soutar used the mistake to connect to 1: 2.
In the fourth round, Suljovic pulled away again, but failed when the score was 2: 1 on the double-20, gave up the leg and the next one. The Scot had actually managed to equalize the sentences – and the pain was now noticeable with Suljovic.
“The Gentle” had lost lead and momentum, but – thanks in part to the switch to his old favorite double 14 – gained another lead. This time, as in the third sentence, the result was a comfortable 2-0. Again he was just a leg away from victory. But now? Think! As in sentences three and four, he also left all of his options in the decisive round.
When the score was 2: 2, it went into overtime. Now it was the Scot who took the lead and in turn awarded two match darts. Mistakes that were to take revenge when Suljovic tried to punish him after winning two legs in a row. With the double-16 at the end of his recording, he missed match dart number five, but with a reassuring lead he had three more options in a row.
It should be the double 8 to victory. Suljovic threw the first one to the left, the second one to the left and also left his eighth match dart unused. What should ultimately mean the victory, stood in the end as a broken neck.
Tatütata: Fireman Alan Soutar checked 144 points to win
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
Soutar made it 4: 4, held out until the 5: 5 in the race and checked 144 points in the Decider after 83 crazy minutes for the 6: 5 victory.
The complete schedule and the tournament tree can be found here.
Darts World Cup, 2nd round, December 23rd
Damon Heta (AUS/31) – Luke Woodhouse (ENG) 3:1
Brendan Dolan (NIL/23) – Callan Rydz (ENG) 0:3
Mensur Suljovic (AUT/26) – Alan Soutar (SCO) 2:3 nV
Jose de Sousa (ENG/7) – Jason Lowe (ENG)
8 pm:
Danny Noppert (NED / 18) – Jason Heaver (ENG)
Gabriel Clemens (GER/25) – Lewis Williams (WAL)
Rob Cross (ENG / 11) – Raymond van Barneveld (NED)
Chris Dobey (ENG/30) – Rusty-Jake Rodriguez (AUT)
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