1. World Cup of Surprises
Every year a number of seeds are killed before Christmas. In the second round, when the top 32 in the world start the World Cup. This year, however, there are slightly more than usual. With two matchdays still to go, more seeds had already been defeated (4) than in the same phase at the previous World Cup (3). And seven more were added, good for eleven eliminated ‘seeds’.
Peter Wright was the highest seed who was allowed home quickly, after a 0-3 defeat against Jim Williams. Never before has the two-time world champion lost so badly. Snakebite dropped to provisional seventh place in the world rankings.
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James Wade was the first seed to fall, at the hands of the surprisingly strong Matt Campbell. Danny Noppert started his match against Scott Williams with a 170 finish, but the new dad went down 0-3. Andrew Gilding perhaps played the best World Cup match of his life, but missed too many chances against super talent Luke Littler. José De Sousa suffered an inglorious defeat against Jeffrey de Graaf, the Swedish Dutchman. Dirk van Duijvenbode had too much trouble with his shoulder and lost against Boris Krcmar. Dimitri Van den Bergh missed three match arrows and lost again to Florian Hempel. Callan Rydz suffered a loss to Ricardo ‘Pikachu’ Pietreczko and top talent Josh Rock lost to Berry van Peer.
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2. The Nuke
His name has been mentioned: Luke Littler. The barely 16-year-old Englishman made his long-awaited debut in Ally Pally and did not disappoint. On the contrary. In his first round, Littler threw an average of 106 and seven 180 scores. Good for a 3-0 win against Christian Kist, who only won two legs. UK Open winner Andrew Gilding proved a tougher job for the teenager, who became world youth champion earlier this year. The coins went in less smoothly (9/26) and the average did not exceed 100 this time (92.65), but Littler did beat the experienced 20th seed. Good for a place in the third round on his debut at the World Cup. Punishment.
Littler can go very far. A viable card awaits in the next round with Matt Campbell. In the 1/8th finals, Raymond van Barneveld is a possible opponent and after that The Nuke would already be in the quarter-finals. Against Gerwyn Price perhaps.
3. The Asians are coming
Darts is becoming more popular all over the world. However, if there is one continent that is on the rise, it is Asia. Not that any of them made it to the third round, but the Asian darts players did show great things. Laurence Ilagan and Paolo Nebrida only lost after a decisive set, while Xiao Chen Zong had nice moments and Haruki Muramatsu also showed.
Two Asians made it to the second round. Tomoya Goto defeated veteran Ian White, while ‘rising star’ Man Lok Leung took on Dutch top talent Gian van Veen. The 24-year-old Hong Konger then defended himself excellently against world star Gabriel Clemens.
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4. Darts are cruel
Ask any darts player and they will tell you that darts is a mentally demanding game. Or better: a mentally demanding top sport. Just ask Mike De Decker. After his best year ever, our compatriot went to London with the ambition to reach at least the third round. The draw was favorable, with the 32nd and lowest seed Madars Razma in round two. And despite two nine-darters just before his match, things went wrong. Missed doubles at important moments cost The Real Deal the win. Afterwards, tears rolled down his cheeks. No clash with defending champion Michael Smith and no icing on the cake this year. Regrettably.
Perhaps even crueler: the defeat of Mario Vadenbogaerde. The West Flemish made his debut at the major World Cup, but lost in the first round to Thibault Tricole in a match that he could just as easily have won. Result: straight home, major disappointment and – above all – losing his tour card. In extremis – after a comeback from 0-2 down – the Irishman Steve Lennon jumped over Super Mario in the world rankings. Vandenboarde loses his ticket for the Pro Tour by less than 2,000 pounds. Shame.
And then there was the pandering that Kim Huybrechts had to deal with against Richard Veenstra. The Hurricane did not win a single leg and finished 0-3. Afterwards he attacked almost everyone in the darts world: “I have become a target,” he said.
5. Comebacks
Several comebacks have already been achieved at this World Cup. Just think of Steve Lennon, who was two sets behind Owen Bates and still won 3-2. Good for possibly keeping his tour card. Top talent Gian van Veen was also 2-0 ahead, but then lost against Man Lok Leung from Hong Kong.
The most impressive comeback was one by Florian Hempel, against Dimitri Van den Bergh. Our compatriot had a double lead in sets and received three match arrows for a place in the third round. However, the German – who had already stunted against Van den Bergh two years ago – woke up like a man possessed and won 3-2 after, among other things, a 151 finish and two ten-darters.
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2023-12-24 02:00:00
#learned #Darts #World #Cup #Belgian #pain #England #scouchou #surprises
