Shane McGuirk showcased his title aspirations as the Irishman got his campaign underway with victory on Saturday afternoon. Meanwhile the WDF Women’s World Championship got underway on day two of this year’s tournaments at Lakeside.
Ireland’s Shane McGuirk has been talked about as a title contender at this year’s WDF World Championships and the Monaghan man demonstrated why in his opening game.
‘The Arrow’, who qualified by winning last year’s Irish Open, threw three 180s and finished with a tournament-high average of 92.81 as he dispatched Mark Barilli 2-0.
The first set, despite the difference in averages, ended up being close with Barilli winning both the legs on his throw, the latter with a 130 out.
The second set was one-way traffic though, McGuirk going 2-0 up with legs in 13 and 17 darts before sealing victory with a brilliant 140 finish.
McGuirk will return to the Lakeside stage on Sunday afternoon to face Sweden’s Edwin Torbjornsson.
Matsuda survives match darts to eliminate Brooks
Jordan Brooks suffered heartbreak at Lakeside once again, losing 2-1 in the opening round to Japan’s Jun Matsuda.
England’s Brooks started strongly, winning the first two legs of the match in 33 darts before sealing the opening set 3-2 with a 13-darter.
Matsuda stole a march in the second set, producing finishes of 56, 82 and 86 to take it 3-0 and force a deciding set.
Brooks produced a pair of 13-darters to open up the third set but was unable to close the show 3-0, missing two match darts at tops for an 85 finish. Matsuda, nicknamed ‘The Katana’, punished those misses. He took out 76 to win the third leg before winning the next two to take the third set 3-2 and the match two sets to one.
Matsuda returns to the stage on Monday night to face Australian fourth seed Brandon Weening.
Czech ace Jitka Cisarova impressed on her Lakeside debut, whitewashing Anca Zijlstra 2-0 in the opening game of the 2024 WDF Women’s World Championship.
Cisarova, who reached the World Masters semi-finals last month, threw eight 140s and a maximum in a comprehensive performance that saw her average 77.74.
The 49-year-old will be back in action on Tuesday 3rd December when she faces the eighth seed Desi Mercer.
Lejon downs Kovacs to book date with Jimmy van Schie
Bjorn Lejon showed no signs of nerves on his Lakeside debut, with the Swede downing Hungary’s Patrik Kovacs in two sets.
Lejon opened the match with a 64 checkout and took out the first set in short order, producing an 18-darter to take it 3-1.
Kovacs had a bit more joy in the second set, forcing it to a deciding leg, but didn’t get a chance to serve it out as Lejon pinned 72 to seal a straight sets victory with an 80.25 average.
Lejon will take to the Lakeside stage again on Tuesday evening against second seed Jimmy van Schie.
Harper battles through to book all-Kiwi clash
Wendy Harper enjoyed success on the Lakeside stage in her second appearance, advancing to the Last 16 with a 2-0 win over Greta Tekauer.
Tekauer drew first blood in the opening set, winning the first two legs, but Harper then found her feet to win three on the spin at take it 3-2.
Harper extended that winning run to five legs and after missing some match darts, eventually converted to win the second set 3-1 and the match 2-0.
Harper’s next game will be on Sunday evening against fellow New Zealander Nicole Regnaud.
—–Ends——
Images: Chris Sargeant /WDF
