2024 PDC World Darts Championship: Day eight afternoon review
It’s been a great start to the PDC World Darts Championship so far. The first week delivered plenty of drama, upsets and excitement, with three seeded players already eliminated and a surprise new favourite emerging in 16-year-old Luke Littler. The afternoon session of day eight delivered, with round two turning up the heat.
Brendan Dolan v Mickey Mansell
Despite only hitting one maximum in his 3-0 victory over Xiaochen Zong, Mickey Mansell progressed to the second round where he faced Northern Irish compatriot, Brendan Dolan.
Dolan won the first set 3-2, with Mansell looking more than up for the fight. ‘The History Maker’ got his first 180 of the tournament in the second set, but an impressive 157 checkout set the tone for Mansell, sweeping past Dolan to win the second set 3-0.
Dolan and Mansell traded 180’s to start the third leg of the third set, highlighting the competitive nature of the match.
With the score tied at 2-2, a fifth set was required to see who would progress to round three.
In one of the best matches of the tournament so far, Mansell secured a whopping 148 checkout to take it all the way to a sudden death leg.
https://twitter.com/SkySportsDarts/status/1738200311817244680
But it would be Dolan who progressed, winning 3-2 in a superb game of darts, with both players averaging 95 in a 78-minute match decided on an 11th leg.
After the match when commenting about facing his ‘best friend in darts’, Dolan said: “I pre-empted facing Mickey when I saw the draw and trained myself for it over the last two and a half weeks, so I was mentally prepared.
“He (Mansell) was comfortable, he was playing well and I’m just glad to get through it.”
Next up for Dolan is a tantalising clash with heavy favourite Gerwyn Price after the Christmas break.
Jose de Sousa v Jeffrey De Graaf
Jeffrey De Graaf showed fantastic character in his victory over Ritchie Edhouse in round one, coming from two sets down to win 3-2.
The Dutch-born Swede was playing his first round two fixture, facing ‘The Special One’, Jose de Sousa.
The world number 25 suffered early exits in four majors this year, struggling for form. However, he won the first set 3-2, averaging 96 while looking amped up for the occasion.
A 138 checkout for De Sousa in the fourth leg of the second set produced his signature samba hips celebration, but De Graaf would win the second set in what looked to be another close match.
In the third set, De Sousa hit a treble when going for a single in a checkout, subsequently going bust in the leg. He misfired on another checkout later in the set, with De Graaf taking a 2-1 lead.
Miscalculations have been a problem for De Sousa in the past, but he was just misfiring as De Graaf looked on form. A ten-dart leg to clinch the second leg of the fourth set epitomised this, going on to win the match 3-1.
Jeffrey De Graaf has Ally Pally dreaming of a 9 dart finish 💭 pic.twitter.com/jqgam7GsHe
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 22, 2023
Despite not hitting a ton+ finish, De Graaf still looked impressive. His cool demeanour will be a threat in round three as he faces 2018 world champion, Rob Cross.
Krzysztof Ratajski v Jamie Hughes
After five attempts, Jamie Hughes won his first match at Alexandra Palace in round one, beating Canada’s David Cameron 3-1. Hughes was overcome with emotion after this result, showing how special the World Darts Championship is. Next up for ‘Yozza’ was ‘The Polish Eagle’, Krzysztof Ratajski.
Hughes averaged in the low 80’s in his victory over Cameron, so would have to up his game to beat the world number 24.
Ratajski had the ‘Ally Pally’ crowd holding their breath in the second leg, hitting six perfect darts, but falling short of the triple 20 with his seventh dart.
Hughes won the first set 3-2, coming from 2-0 down to show he wanted more success after overcoming his first-round hoodoo.
In a match that was lower in quality than the two previous games, both competitors were still neck and neck, with Ratajski edging the second set 3-2.
His class took over in the third set, registering an excellent 111 checkout to go 2-1 up in sets. Again, Ratajski showed his class in the fourth set, proving too strong for Hughes in a comfortable 3-1 victory.
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Boris Krcmar
The big talking point going into this match was the shoulder problems of Dirk van Duijvenbode.
🗣️ " I do think of winning games, I'm not going to collect my prize money"
🍆 @Duivee opens up about his injury nightmare and how he wants to be competitive at Ally Pally
Listen now full now 🎥👇🏻https://t.co/UcvWBRODbV
— Online Darts (@OfficialOLDarts) December 13, 2023
The Sky Sports cameras recorded the Dutchman’s warm-up on the stage before anyone arrived and even then, he looked in pain.
Boris Krcmar became the first Croatian to qualify for the PDC World Darts Championship this year, beating Keegan Brown in round one.
The game caught traction on social media for master of ceremonies, John McDonald, getting the name of Brown wrong. A funny moment which epitomises the laid-back nature of the tournament, a mistake Brown took well.
The MC called out the WRONG name in Keegan Brown's walk-on! 😬
He took it well 🤣 pic.twitter.com/sgrvUvr6xH
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 19, 2023
Despite carrying an injury, van Duijvenbode looked to be on top form, hitting bullseye to complete a wonderful 124 checkout. He won the first set, full of emotion as he had a celebratory roar while walking off the stage.
Krcmar hit back to win the second set, playing some great shots to capitalise on van Duijvenbode’s decline in triples.
The Croatian would kick on from winning the second set by winning the third, coming from behind to assume a commanding 2-1 lead in the match.
A 180 to start the fourth leg meant Krcmar’s darts were in full flow and van Duijvenbode looked to lose his composure, with another seeded player looking set for elimination. van Duijvenbode’s composure wasn’t helped by a sudden wasp attack, but Krcmar was the one to deliver the sting, playing some great darts to eliminate the world number 12.
DVD goes full Matrix mode to evade the Ally Pally wasp! 🐝 pic.twitter.com/T8kEy76Pyf
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 22, 2023
A great afternoon of darts with everything you could ask for: Shock eliminations, a sudden death leg, stage antics and some excellent darts.
