Top seed, Jimmy van Schie — cool, calculated, carved from Dutch darting granite — bulldozed his way into the Open semi-finals with a blistering 4–1 win over last year’s king, Shane McGuirk, in a match that rattled the Lakeside rafters.
McGuirk began like a man who fully intended to keep his crown, sweeping the opening set without pity or pause. But the Dutchman absorbed the blow, reset, and then detonated. Van Schie levelled with authority, nicked a huge deciding leg to hit the front, and from that moment onward controlled the entire narrative with the swagger of a man who knew the night belonged to him.
McGuirk kept swinging, but the Dutch No.1 kept him at arm’s length — disciplined, ruthless, immovable.
Van Schie now stands two wins from history: the first Dutch champion since Christian Kist in 2012 to reign supreme on the iconic stage. One man blocks his path to the final — the tournament’s lightning bolt from nowhere, Belgian stand-in Sybren Gijbels. If Van Schie underestimates him for even a second… trouble.
Mitchell Lawrie continues his teenage rampage through Lakeside. Scotland’s 15-year-old phenom Mitchell Lawrie continued to treat the Lakeside stage like it’s his personal training board, dismantling François Schweyen 4–0 in yet another absurdly composed performance. No sets dropped all tournament. None dropped tonight.
Schweyen, to his immense credit, fought. He landed blows. He dragged the youngster into a scrap early. But in truth, he was simply up against something otherworldly — a teenager playing with the confidence and precision of a multiple-time world champion. Lawrie is now one match away from the final, and standing in his way is Coventry’s rising star, Jenson Walker.
Over in the Women’s tournament, the top seeds landed their markers with emphatic intent. Final score:
Lerena Rietbergen 3–0 Eve Watson. The number one seed didn’t just win — she announced herself, whitewashing a dangerous opponent in Eve Watson and doing so with icy Dutch composure. A statement victory. A warning shot. A declaration of superiority.
Rhian O’Sullivan ensured another Wales v Netherlands clash by taking out Canada’s Maria Carli in straight sets. Calm. Efficient. Professional. The Welsh star now stands between Rietbergen and a major final.
Over in the Youth Open, Germany’s Florian Preis completed the semi-final line-up with a tidy 2–0 victory over Archie Self. Preis now faces Mason Teese in what promises to be a fascinating duel. If tomorrow is anything like tonight, the roof of Frimley Green may not survive the weekend.
Friday 5th December – Evening Session Results
Women (QF) – Lerena Rietbergen 3-0 Eve Watson
Open Youth (QF) – Florian Preis 2-0 Archie Self
Open (QF) – Mitchell Lawrie 4-0 Francois Schweyen
Women (QF) – Maria Carli 1-3 Rhian O’Sullivan
Open (QF) – Jimmy van Schie 4-1 Shane McGuirk
—–ENDS—–
Images: WDF / Chris Sargeant
