By Brad Williams
MATCH 1: Michael Smith vs Niels Zonneveld
The 2023 World Champion Michael Smith welcomed Niels Zonneveld to the oche in the opening game of the day ten evening session. It was the Dutchman Zonneveld who started off stronger immediately breaking Smith’s throw and winning the set comfortably 3-1 whilst landing three maximums.
Bully Boy returned in kind during set two, posting up a 107 average and hitting 75% of his doubles, showing flashes of the Michael Smith of old, as he brushed aside the Zonneveld to even the match one apiece.
The third set was the closest yet with both players holding throw until the deciding leg, where Zonneveld managed to get an all-important break, pinning double ten, after Smith had just missed tops for a 112 out. After that it was one way traffic as “Triple Z” wrapped up the fourth set, and the match, winning three legs on the spin, concluding with a 94 out.
Result: 3-1 Niels Zonneveld
MATCH 2: Chris Dobey vs Andrew Gilding
A back-and-forth opening set saw four consecutive breaks of throws to start the game, with Gilding hitting a 134 checkout to take to the opening leg. The momentum of the game swang in the favour of Dobey in leg four, when he nailed the bullseye to complete a 124 out. From there, he managed the first hold of throw of the game to secure the first set.
“Goldfinger” fired back in set two, rattling off straight legs with a 104 average to get himself off the mark. Gilding went from strength to strength in the following set, averaging over 109 and clinically pinning three out of four of his attempts double attempts to take the lead on sets.
Set four saw “Hollywood” quickly wrestle away Gildings throw with an outstanding 167 finish and then hold his own throw to go 2-0 up in legs.
Gilding remained composed and found his groove, as he went on to win the next three legs without reply, claiming the victory and sending home eighth seed Dobey. The victory saw Andrew Gilding secure his highest ever average at the Ally Pally, hitting just shy of 100.
Result: 3-1 Andrew Gilding
MATCH 3: Stephen Bunting vs Nitin Kumar
Much like his first-round game, “The Bullet” was quick out of the chamber to start the opening set. A 118 finish in the first leg set the precedent as Bunting averaged just under 100, and was efficient on the doubles, hitting 75% of his attempts to go 1-0 up in sets.
The second set lacked any real cutting edge, however, it was once again Bunting who demonstrated his quality on the doubles, as Kumar failed to land any of his eight attempts on the outer circle. “The Bullet” wrapped up the set with straight legs to go within one set from victory.
Bunting went through the gears in the third set, nailing the bull for 132 finish, and finally taking out a 107 to secure straight sets, and put an end to the inspired run of Nitin Kumar, in what was another battle between fan favourites.
Result: 3-0 Stephen Bunting