By Harry Eddolls, in Blackpool
Today saw the first and only afternoon session of the World Matchplay, as four more first round clashes lit up the stage at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool. The crowd were treated to plenty of drama and excitement, with more Dutch delight and trouble for seeds.
MATCH 1: DAMON HETA vs ANDREW GILDING
The first match of the afternoon saw Australia’s Damon Heta face a former UK Open champion in Andrew Gilding. The contest began with a trade of the first two legs, but the Aussie soon turned on the heat to storm into the first break with a 4-1 lead.
The pair traded legs once again at the beginning of the next session, which included a lovely 130 out on the bull for Heta in leg seven. Goldfinger then had a small burst of two legs, which included leg nine, where Gilding managed to go eight darts into a nine darter before missing D12. Heta still managed to lead at the end of the session however, breaking back in leg ten to lead 6-4.
The Heat immediately lost the break back, before Gilding held to bring the match level. The back and forth affair continued, as Heta won two legs, once again hitting a 130 bull out in leg 14, before Goldfinger won the next two, to leave the score at 8-8.
There looked like there may have been a breakthrough in the match when Gilding broke in leg 19 to leave himself throwing for the win, but he couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity, as Heta continued the thriller into a tie-breaker situation by making it 9-9.
The tie-breaker began with three straight breaks of throw, which by the time they were done left Gilding once again within a leg of the match, this time at 11-10. This time, he got the job done, holding to end a titanic battle, and record a 12-10 victory to see him into the second round.
MATCH 2: ROB CROSS vs DIRK VAN DUIJVENBODE
The next encounter saw 2019 champion Rob Cross face Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode, who was looking to maintain the perfect record for the Dutch at this years tournament. The first session was as routine as you can get, with five straight holds of throw giving Cross the lead thanks to winning the bull.
Voltage finally had the first surge of the game, winning three straight legs, which included a 128 out in leg eight. Dirk fought back, winning the last two legs of the session, which included an 11 darter in leg nine, to leave Cross still leading, but the game delicately poised at 6-4.
The run of legs continued for Dirk after the break, as he stretched it to four to bring the game level. Cross regained the lead, but it was to be only a small reprieve for the former champion. The Dutchman found another three leg burst, which included a beautiful 137 out in leg 15, to see him to within one leg of the match. Voltage could only muster one leg in reply, and Drik eventually got over the line, winning 10-8 to keep the perfect start going for the Dutch contingent.
MATCH 3: PETER WRIGHT vs JERMAINE WATTIMENA
The next match would see another former champion face off against yet another Dutchman. This time it was the turn of 2021 winner Peter Wright to face Jermaine Wattimena. Wright took the first leg, but that was about as good as the opening session got for him, as Wattimena stormed into a 4-1 lead by the first break, a run which included a 138 out to level the contest in leg two.
It would get slightly better for the Scot in the second session, as the game drew into an exchange of holds that lasted until the break, and left the Dutchman 7-3 up going into the final session.
It looked like The Machine Gun was strolling towards the second round, but it would not be that straightforward. Wright roared back, going on a run of five legs in six, which when done left Snakebite level in the match at 8-8.
It would be Wattimena who had the final say however, breaking Wright in leg 17 before consolidating it in leg 18 to record a 10-8 victory which further continued the perfect streak for the Dutch.
MATCH 4: DAVE CHISNALL vs MIKE DE DECKER
The final match of the afternoon saw Dave Chisnall take on the World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker. The Belgian took the first leg, before breaking in leg two. This leg would begin a run of four straight breaks, which would see The Real Deal into the interval with a slight advantage.
The streak of breaks ended straight away, but in their place was a session which consisted of only holds. The highlight came in the tenth leg, when Chisnall took a 118 out to level the game at 5-5 going into the final session.
The match remained tight at the start of the final session, but De Decker would be the player to find a burst, winning four legs in a row to get over the line and record a 10-7 victory, and end an enthralling afternoon of play by knocking out yet another seed.