IRELAND’S reigning WDF world darts champion Shane McGuirk has taken an early flight back home from Lakeside – to attend a friend’s wedding on Saturday.
Monaghan man McGuirk’s mad dash to the airport came just hours after he got the defence of his title off to a winning start with a tense 3-1 win over Finland’s Petri Rasmus on Friday night.
After attending the wedding, he will then rush back to the Lakeside for his second round clash with ninth seed, Stefan Schroder of the Netherlands, on Sunday evening.
Speaking after his win over Rasmus, McGuirk said: “Yeah I have this wedding to go to in Ireland now on Saturday and then back to the Lakeside for my second round match on Sunday.
“I actually don’t mind the travelling and it’s a bit of a distraction as otherwise I would just be sitting in my hotel room thinking about the next game too much.”
McGuirk, who became the first man from the Republic of Ireland to win the WDF World Championships last year, was certainly made to think by Rasmus in a high quality game on Friday night.
The champion recorded a 91.52 average in the game, the best of the tournament so far, but was pushed all the way by Rasmus.
McGuirk, who didn’t lose a single set on his way to the final last year, got off to a flying start when he won the first set 3-0 and then came from two legs down in the second set to double his lead.
However, Rasmus didn’t let him off the hook as he won the third set and had edged himself 2-1 up in the fourth as McGuirk came under pressure.
The Irishman showed just why he is the reigning champion, however, as he put in back-to-back 180s to win the fourth leg of that set in just ten darts against the throw.
He then wrapped up the win with an impressive 14 dart leg to set down a marker that he is one of the favourites to go all the way again.
“I’m happy to get that first game out of the way and can look forward with confidence now,” McGuirk said afterwards.
—–Ends—–
Worlds: Keith Falkiner
Images: WDF/Chris Sargeant
