Star attraction on Monday night at Ally Pally was world number five Jonny Clayton. And whilst he stood victorious, it wasn’t vintage Ferret, not even peak woodland creature — but still more than enough to gnaw through Adam Lipscombe, who can leave Muswell Hill with his head held high after a brave showing.
Clayton started the match like a man easing into a warm bath, taking the opening set in second, maybe third gear. Then came a sudden bout of double-related self-sabotage that allowed the Portsmouth thrower to pounce and level things up. For a moment, the murmurs began. That was as far as it went.
The Welshman tightened the screws, sharpened the finishing, and reminded everyone why he’s still very much a problem on this stage. Three ton-plus checkouts. Three from three on the outer ring to close it out. Job done. Nervy at times, yes — but when the big moments arrived, Clayton owned them. Without those clutch finishes, this one could easily have gone south. Instead, it’s Dom Taylor next and quiet relief for the 51-year-old.
Earlier in the evening, there was a familiar face, a familiar walk-on, and a familiar feeling of what might have been. Max Hopp returned to Ally Pally for the first time in five years, and for one night at least, the Maximiser rolled the clock back. A decade on from lifting the World Youth crown, the German still hasn’t fulfilled the prophecy many once wrote for him — but at 29, the book isn’t closed. Not even close.
Martin Lukeman would have eyed this as a chance to reset a tough season. On paper, it was winnable. On the board, it wasn’t. Hopp simply created more — twice as many chances, twice as many legs — and that told the story. A 3–1 win, efficient and deserved, sets up an all-English clash next against Luke Woodhouse.
And then… the bass dropped. Techno thumping. Lights bouncing. The unmistakable signal that Dirk van Duijvenbode was about to enter the building. Waiting patiently was former Lakeside Champion Andy Baetens, and what followed was exactly what you’d hoped for — raw power, heavy artillery, and maximums flying like confetti.
They were warming up in the opener, each landing a single 180 as Dirk edged the first set. Then the script flipped. The Dutchman’s doubles went missing, and Baetens seized the moment. Then again. Suddenly, the Beast From the East — East Flanders, not Tokyo — was 2–1 up and sniffing blood. Dirk had no choice. Win the next or pack the headphones away. He delivered. Level at 2–2. Winner takes all. And then they went full chaos mode.
Van Duijvenbode surged into a 2–0 leg lead in the decider and stood one dart away on double 16. Game over? Not quite. Baetens, staring down the barrel, conjured a ridiculous 142 checkout to stay alive and rip the roof off the place. But when Dirk stepped back up with darts in hand, there was no escape. The Aubergenius finished the job and moved on, booking a second-round clash with James Hurrell. The final numbers? Twelve maximums. Eight of them from Dirk. Entertainment guaranteed.
For Belgium, though, the pain deepens. Baetens joins Huybrechts, Super Mario, and Dimitri in a first-round exit pile-up. National pride now rests on one man’s shoulders. Over to you, Mike De Decker.
The curtain call belonged to the Wizard of Oz, Simon Whitlock, returning to Ally Pally after watching last year’s circus from the sofa. The freshly crowned ANZ Premier League winner strode back onto the famous stage looking every inch the veteran. The name still carries echoes of the past — runner-up to Phil Taylor back in 2010.
Standing opposite him was Conor Scutt, making only his third PDC World Championship appearance. But credit where it’s due — the Sniper didn’t fold. And it was him who began the better, racing into a two set lead. Then Whitlock flicked the switch. Momentum swung, belief surged, and for a moment it felt like the past might just shake hands with the present. Level match 2-2.
In the decider, the Australian legend gave it everything he had but it was the 29-year old from South London who booked his place in round two. And waiting for him? Only Gary Anderson. Another Ally Pally icon. Another exam in darting survival. For Scutt, it’s another legend to try and navigate around — for Whitlock, it’s another chapter in a career that refuses to fade quietly.
MONDAY 15th DECEMBER – Evening Session Report
Martin Lukeman 1-3 Max Hopp
Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-2 Andy Baetens
Jonny Clayton 3-1 Adam Lipscombe
Conor Scutt 3-2 Simon Whitlock
—–ENDS—–
Images: PDC
