Superb Smith Survives Opening Night Scare

Defending champion Michael Smith survived a difficult first assignment on the opening night of the 2024 Paddy Power World Darts Championships.

The man from St Helens defied an inspired performance from Dutchman Kevin Doets, coming from behind to win and avoid becoming the first defending champion to fall at the first hurdle since John Part in 2009.

Smith v Doets

Two 14 dart legs saw the defending champion race into an early lead before Doets kicked off leg 3 with two maximums for the first sniff of a perfect leg in the championships. The opportunity passed but Doets closed out the leg before Smith claimed the set with an 18 dart hold.

After exchanging holds at the start of set 2, Doets missed a dart at double 16 to break the Smith throw before ‘Bully Boy’ cleaned up double 8. A 13 dart leg from the Dutchman saw the set go the distance and Smith saw a dart at tops for 2-0 come and go before Doets pinned double 5 with his last dart in hand to level things up.

A 12 dart hold saw the impressive Doets hit the front for the first time before Smith responded with a 150 checkout to hold. Another pair of holds led to another deciding leg, with both players hitting maximums before Doets took out 32 at the first time of asking for a 2-1 lead in sets.

A Smith hold was followed by a 121 checkout to break in 12 darts before a missed dart at tops for the set allowed Doets an immediate break back. The Dutchman then missed a dart at double 16, allowing Smith to check out 65 in two darts for 2-2 and a deciding set.

An incredible 142 checkout from the defending champion saw him break in the opening leg of the decider and quickly backed it up to hold and go within a leg of the match. Five missed darts for the match came and went for Smith before Doets halved the deficit but it was a temporary reprieve as Smith closed out the match in the next leg with a 67 checkout. A 100 average for the champion and no less than 14 maximums in a superb match, 9 for Doets.

Whitlock v Nebreda

2010 finalist Simon Whitlock was far from his best but eventually made it through to a round two date with Gary Anderson after overcoming Paolo Nebrida in a ding dong battle.

Filipino Nebrida took the opening set without dropping a leg as the ‘Man From Down Under’ struggled to find any sort of form in the first set. The Aussie started find his feet in set 2 but still need Nebrida to miss a dart for the set before claiming it for himself in what you felt would be a turning point, a thought that was backed up by Whitlock claiming set 3 by three legs to one to put himself in front for the first time.

However, Nebrida wasn’t finished yet and started to find the treble 20 bed more frequently than he had been in the opening two sets. A break in the opening leg of set 4 was enough to set him on his way to forcing a decider.

Nebrida held throw in the opening leg courtesy of a 121 checkout before Whitlock closed out leg 2 on double one despite Nebrida applying pressure with a fifth maximum. An opening score of 28 for Nebrida in leg 3 opened the door for ‘The Wizard’ who crashed in a maximum and eventually breaking to throw for the match. A tense leg saw Whitlock miss chances and Nebrida missing 6 darts to throw for the match before Whitlock finally closed the show on double 4.

Menzies v Rodriguez

Scotsman Cameron Menzies set up a tasty looking tie against Dave Chisnall on Saturday afternoon, easing into round two with a comfortable victory over Rusty-Jake Rodriguez.

The excitable Menzies had caught the eye on social media earlier in the day having been at work in the morning but it didn’t appear to be harming his arrows as he won the first set without reply, including a couple of maximums.

It was Menzies who took the opening leg of set 2 before Rodriguez won back to back legs to take charge of the set, Menzies then checking out 116 to set up a deciding leg on the Rodriguez throw. A nervy 17 dart break saw Menzies go two sets to the good as Rodriguez momentarily lost a dart off the stage while banging his table in frustration.

Set 3 followed a similar pattern with Menzies taking the opening leg before Rodriguez took the next two. The Austrian then missed multiple set darts, Menzies almost apologetic while breaking in 23 darts but his sympathy didn’t last long as he sealed victory in the very next leg in 15 darts.

Doets v Buntz

The first match of the evening saw two debutants clash as Dutchman Kevin Doets took on the surprise package from the Grand Slam of Darts in American Stowe Buntz, for the right to face reigning champion Michael Smith later in the evening.

It was Doets who took the opening set without dropping a leg and with Buntz struggling to hold his throw, the man from the Netherlands doubled his advantage, sealing the set with a solid 86 checkout.

Although Buntz improved in set three to take the set the distance, Doets never looked in danger and closed out victory in 14 darts, ending with a 92 average and five maximums.

Saturday’s Order of Play

Afternoon Session

Lee Evans v Sandro Eric Sosing (R1)

Connor Scutt v Krzysztof Kciuk (R1)

Jules van Dongen v Darren Penhall (R1)

(11) Dave Chisnall v Cameron Menzies (R2)

Evening Session

Jamie Hughes v David Cameron (R1)

Keane Barry v Reynaldo Rivera (R1)

Scott Williams v Haruki Muramatsu (R1)

(21) Gary Anderson v Simon Whitlock (R2)