Laleside 2023’s top seeds in the Men’s and Women’s World Championships, Andy Baetens and Beau Greaves, kicked off their tournaments in imperious fashion on Monday evening at Lakeside.
Baetens Beats Białecki
Andy Baetens has been in dominant form on the WDF circuit this year, winning nine ranking titles, and the World No. 1 showed why he’s the big favourite with an assured display against Polish teenager Sebastian Białecki.
Białecki was tipped by many as a dark horse for this title and ‘The Bolt’ outlined why in the opening set, twice breaking the Baetens throw. He was unable to seal the set though as back-to-back 13-darters for the Belgian saw him stake the early advantage.
Białecki also took the lead in the second set but was ultimately undone by a 14-dart break from Baetens as the Belgian won the set 3-1 and went into the break with a 2-0 lead.
The third set was similarly competitive, with Baetens going 2-0 up before his Polish opponent drew level with a 16-dart break and a 14-dart hold of throw. Baetens, nicknamed ‘The Beast from the East’, made sure of victory in the third set’s final leg though, wrapping a 3-0 victory with a 13-dart hold.
Baetens’ 94.82 average is the highest of the tournament so far and he’s got a tantalising tie coming up in the Last 16 against Scotland’s Gary Stone.
Andy Baetens celebrates his second round victory
Greaves’ Defence Begins
The reigning World Champion Beau Greaves outlined her title credentials early doors this time round with a straightforward victory over Scotland’s Lorraine Hyde.
The 19-year-old dropped just one leg in the entire match as she finished with an average of 88.79 and sealed a quarter-final meeting with Paula Murphy in just 17 minutes.
To her credit, Lorraine Hyde played as well as she ever has on that Lakeside stage but only had chances at doubles in two legs. She did get on the board with a superb 15-darter in the third leg but was unable to find any more luck on the outer ring and against a player like Greaves, those misses were always going to be punished.
Strongman Nilsson Battles Past Hurrell
Although the top seeds impressed, James Hurrell became the fourth seed to exit the Men’s competition after losing a five-set epic against Dennis Nilsson.
Nilsson, who’d beaten an indifferent Jordan Brooks on Saturday, started the match the stronger of the two and produced a 76 finish on the way to taking the first set 3-1.
‘Strongman’ probably should have been 2-0 up going into the break after missing a number of doubles to winning the second set by the same margin. He was duly punished by Hurrell, the England captain, who won that leg and then sealed the set with a 14-darter.
After the break Nilsson once again hit the front, a brilliant 11-darter the highlight as he took the third set 3-1.
Hurrell got more fired up as the match went on and ultimately finished with a 180 count of four. He took the fourth set 3-1 and looked to be in the drivers’ seat in the fifth, a 92 checkout putting him 2-0 up and within a leg of victory.
Just as he began to look beaten, Nilsson dug enormously deep. A 17-dart hold of throw got him on the board and in the next leg he took out an excellent 121 finish on the bull with Hurrell poised on 51.
The last leg was a nervy one as both players missed match darts. Hurrell had two but couldn’t convert and was duly punished, Nilsson finding double eight with his second match dart to edge it 3-2.
The Swedish international will need every one of his battling instincts in the next round when he faces either Alexander Merkx or Arjan Konterman.
Tata to ‘The Daddy’
Jonny Tata had to show fighting instincts in his first-round victory over Shaun McDonald and they were called upon once again as ‘JT’ battled Barry Copeland in a dramatic game.
Kiwi debutant Tata looked as though he was going to race into the Last 16, establishing a 2-0 lead at the break after winning the first set 3-1 and then sealing the second with a 106 finish followed by a 14-dart break of throw.
The experienced Copeland wasn’t going to go out with a whimper on his Lakeside debut though and the Northern Irishman duly battled back, pinning a 121 finish on the bull to take the third set 3-2.
Momentum then seemed to be with ‘The Daddy’ as he won the fourth set 3-1, a 16-dart break of throw moving him to level pegging in the match.
Last year’s World Masters finalist was unable to make further inroads though as Tata found his second win, holding throw twice before sealing victory with a 102 checkout.
Next up for ‘JT’ will be a clash with America’s Jim Widmayer.
4th December 2023 – Evening Session Results
Jonny Tata 3-2 Barry Copeland
Beau Greaves 2-0 Lorraine Hyde
Andy Baetens 3-0 Sebastian Białecki
Dennis Nilsson 3-2 James Hurrell
—–Ends——
Images: Chris Sargeant / Tip Top Pics
