Lakeside 2023: Day 3 Pt. I

Lakeside 2023 saw Gary Stone produce an impressive performance in his first Lakeside appearance since 2013 as three seeds exited the competition.

A dramatic afternoon session of the 2023 CT1 WDF Lakeside World Championships preceded the entry of the top seeds later on Monday.

Stone outlined his title credentials with an impressive come-from-behind victory over Ricky Nauman in the final game of the afternoon session.

Nauman, who beat Aaron Turner on his Lakeside debut on Saturday, produced an absolutely brilliant display of finishing in the first set, pinning outs of 86, 120 and 137 as he won it 3-0.

From there though it was Stone that demonstrated his excellence on the outer ring, winning nine of the next 10 legs and producing checkouts of 79, 88, 116, 121 and a match-winning 124 on the bull on the way.

Stone’s got a tricky test in prospect next time out when he’ll take on either Andy Baetens or Sebastian Białecki.

Gary Stone produced some inspired finishing in his game with Ricky Nauman
Richardson pushes past Peter Machin in straight sets

James Richardson produced an assured display in the opening game of the afternoon session as he beat the Australian 12th seed Peter Machin.

The opening set featured some electric darts from both players, with Richardson producing finishes of 60 and 78 before Machin wired double 12 for a first nine-darter on the Lakeside stage in more than 33 years.

Machin did eventually take that leg out in 11 darts but the former World Trophy winner wouldn’t win another on his Lakeside debut as Richardson closed out the first set 3-2 and then rattled through the next two in double-quick time.

It was an 85.80 average in the end for ‘Ruthless’. He’ll be back in action on Wednesday evening against either Wesley Plaisier or Reece Colley.

James Richardson celebrates his second win of this year’s tournament

Murphy Marches On

Paula Murphy is through to the quarter-finals of the Women’s World Championship after she secured a gritty 2-0 victory over Anca Zijlstra.

Murphy secured a break of throw in the opening leg of the first set and eventually went on to take it as Zijlstra, who was recently involved in a car accident, struggled to find her rhythm.

It was more competitive in the second set as both players exchanged breaks of throw at the start of the set but in the end it was Murphy that took it 3-2 to complete a straight sets victory.

‘Smooth’ will attempt to continue her progress on Friday when she faces either top seed Beau Greaves or Scotland’s Lorraine Hyde.

Captain America Wins Again

Murphy’s compatriot Jim Widmayer maintained the 100% record of American players in this year’s tournament with a 3-0 victory over an out-of-sorts Mark Barilli.

Both players struggled to find their rhythm in the early going but Widmayer had the better of the play, winning the opening seven legs of the match to establish an initial two set lead.

Barilli, who is now winless in six Lakeside appearances, did get on the board in the third set with a 16-darter and an impressive 117 finish but was unable to make further inroads and Widmayer eventually sealed a straight sets victory with a 16-darter of his own.

Up next for ‘Captain America’ will be either Northern Ireland’s Barry Copeland or the Kiwi Jonny Tata.