PDC World Championship - Report, Statistics fourth Day, Afternoon

The preliminary round match to be sure was not a high-class one and one can not say that Rob Szabo was the deserved winner. But he hit his doubles a little bit better than the after the match very disappointed Michael Rasztovits who thought that he might be put himself too much under pressure. But he nevertheless tries to see it as part of a learning curve and he now will take part in Qualifying School in January. I myself think that probably Szabo just was the more experienced player.

It followed an epic first round match between Andy Hamilton and Joe Murnan. It was quite a slowly affair and none of the players managed to get ahead. When the match reached the tiebreak Joe Murnan got the 5:4 lead and thought he had won The announcement of the referee that the match had to be one with two legs he had not heard it seemed.. It was astonishing he kept his nerve and managed to win the next leg and the match. Jermaine Wattimena had - as I had predicted - no chance against Mensur Suljovic, but won the first set. But after that Suljovic had settled and Wattimena was no longer in the match. Jamie Caven against Rob Szabo was a clear affaire as well despite Szabo played better than in the preliminary round match and had in the end even the better hit ratio on the doubles. But he had only very little chances to throw at the double at all.


First Round Out for Hamilton
ANDY HAMILTON suffered his first ever round one exit at the William Hill World Darts Championship after a dramatic defeat at the hands of debutant Joe Murnan at Alexandra Palace.
The 2012 runner-up lost out in a tie-break on Sunday afternoon, while Mensur Suljovic and Jamie Caven both enjoyed convincing wins.

After winning two of the first three sets, Hamilton missed three match-darts in the fourth as Murnan came back from two legs down to force a deciding set. The final set then went to a tie-break and Murnan, who won a Players Championship event in May, went on to claim his first televised victory

. "It's amazing to be through," said the 32-year-old, who will take on Robert Thornton or Alan Norris in round two. "I was overwhelmed when I drew Andy because he's an excellent player and to win is incredible. He should've won but I took my chance and I'm really pleased but I do feel bad for him."

Suljovic produced a classy display to see off Holland's Jermaine Wattimena. The Austrian, who has reached the last four in the World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals in 2015, averaged over 99 in a 3-1 triumph.

Caven claimed a straight sets success against New Zealander Rob Szabo, who had won his preliminary round match with Michael Rasztovits 2-0. After the first four legs were shared, the world number 23 won seven in a row to move into the second round, where he will take on Ricky Evans.

"The first set wasn't great but after that it felt pretty good," said Caven, who is yet to make it past round two. "It's not been a great year for me and I knew it was time to roll my sleeves up. I'm coming back after Christmas and that's the main thing. I feel confident and I want to go deep into this tournament."


Statistics - Preliminary Round
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
78.8304/17Rasztovits 0:2Szabo78.3406/19



Statistics - First Round
Ave180sDoublesPlayervPlayer Ave180sDoubles
86.75313/38Hamilton 2:3Murnan86.88516/38
99.44211/15Suljovic 3:1Wattimena87.1006/9
96.5539/20Caven 3:0Szabo86.5012/4








Contact © Global Darts. All Rights Reserved. Impressum