Lakeside 2023: Brilliant Baetens and Wonderful Wesley Into Last 8

WDF Number 1 Andy Baetens secured his passage into the Quarter Finals of the 2023 Lakeside World Darts Championships, after beating 16^th Seed Gary Stone 3-1 on Day 5. Andy was joined by Wesley Plaisier who claimed the final match of the night, defeating James Richardson 3-0 to reach his maiden World Championship Quarter Final.

The Belgian international started brightly in the opening Last 16 tie of the men’s draw, striking perfection on the outer ring with 3/3 hitting the double including a 160 finish. Gary took the second set but proceeded to fall behind again despite finding a 142 finish, with Andy including a Shanghai checkout in taking a 2-1 lead in Surrey.

Both players included 94+ averages in the contest, but it was The Beast who secured his spot in a third World Championship Quarter Final, where he will face Jonny Tata or Jim Widmayer who take to the stage on Day 6.

Wesley Plaisier produced an imperious performance to halt James Richardson’s charge. Plaisier raced into a 2-0 lead, dropping just two legs as he recorded three 100 plus finishes.

Richardson was more competitive in the third set, breaking the Plaisier throw, but he wasn’t able to sufficiently match the scoring power of the Dutchman. The number 5 seed, and reigning Winmau World Master, refused to allow Ruthless a foothold in the game and soon ran out a 3-0 winner.

The 2023 Ladies World Championship saw both seeded players advance on Wednesday at Lakeside, with Lorraine Winstanley claiming a 2-0 victory over a difficult opponent in Veronika Ihasz. Aileen de Graaf the 2^nd Seed was pushed all the way by debutant Nicole Regnaud in the evening session, with the New Zealand international despite defeat finding an 81.10 average.

Aileen though continues in her search for a maiden World Championship title, claiming a 2-1 win over Regnaud and wrapped up victory with an 80 checkout.

The two winners move through to face each other in the Quarter Finals, with two matches now left to play in the Women’s Competition before knowing the Last 8 lineup.

Elsewhere, Kai Fan Leung and Darren Johnson were dumped out in the afternoon session as two seeded players, with Thomas Junghans and Dennie Olde Kalter moving through to the Last 16 at Lakeside.

Danny Lauby Jr defeated Jarno Bottenberg 3-0 in the final match of the Last 32, with the 6^th Seed advancing to face Leonard Gates in an all American Last 16 battle.

Day 6 sees defending Champion Neil Duff return to face Martyn Turner whilst 4 Time Ladies World Champion Lisa Ashton opens her campaign against 2022 Quarter Finalist Priscilla Steenbergen.

2023 WDF World Darts Championship: Day 5 Results

Last 32:

Chris Landman (7) 3-0 David Kirwan

Thomas Junghans 3-1 Kai Fan Leung (10)

Dennie Olde Kalter 3-1 Darren Johnson (14)

Danny Lauby Jr (6) 3-0 Jarno Bottenberg

Last 16:

Andy Baetens (1) 3-1 Gary Stone (16)

Wesley Plaisier (5) 3-0 James Richardson

2023 WDF Ladies World Darts Championship: Day 5 Results

Lorraine Winstanley (7) 2-0 Veronika Ihasz

Aileen de Graaf (2) 2-1 Nicole Regnaud