The single sessions at Alexandra Palace resume with the two newest major winners starting their Worlds campaigns.
Kicking off the evening is the prelim between two Asian players at different ends of their careers. Legendary 63-year old Singaporean Paul Lim takes on emerging middle-aged Hong Kong man Kai Fan Leung; the Singapore Slinger's performances with namesake Harith at the World Cup showed he hasn't lost any of his ability, and should be too much for the bizarrely nicknamed Fatbeauty.
Next up is a rematch of a Worlds fixture from the 2010 edition as everyone's favourite unorthodox Serbo-Austrian and Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic takes on perma-sulk Kevin Painter. Back then, Painter was the big name and Suljovic was a relative nobody. However, things have changed since and the Gentle is now in the form of his life while the Artist has fallen out of the top 40. This could be a tense affair as the 2004 Worlds runner-up doesn't go down easily (unless he plays Taylor of course).
Reigning World Grand Prix Champion Daryl Gurney then starts his run against under-threat Belgian #2 Ronny Huybrechts. Superchin has powered into the top 4 in the World following a remarkable year where he was the only player to make it to the last 8 of every single ranking major. The Rebel on the other hand has been woeful in the majors, failing to get past the last 32 of any of them. Unless Ronny is at the top of his game or Gurney decides to play like shit, there's no way the Ulsterman will lose this.
Closing the evening is wobbling Welshman Mark Webster against the prelim winner. Webby has struggled big time since he put Mensur out of the Worlds last year and then lost to Daryl in the last 16, as like Ronny he hasn't got further than the last 32 in a major. Likely adding Paul Lim into the equation will make the 2008 BDO World Champ a prime candidate for yet another upset.
Coverage starts at 7:00pm UK time on Sky Sports Darts (SS Arena).
Prelims are best of 3 sets, first round best of 5 sets; first to 3 legs in a set.
>Tonight's matches (7:00pm start) Kai Fan "My Iron" Leung v Paul "Out On A" Lim (P) Mensur "DIE MEISTER, DIE BESTEN" (5) v Kevin "Shirley" Painter Daryl "Sweet C4-line" Gurney (4) v Ronny "Brother-in-law of Dana" Huybrechts Mark "Shamperchin" Webster (30) v Leung/Lim
First two matches could be entertaining, but I fear the rest of the session will go down the drain, if daddy Huybrechts doesn't pull out an unlikely upset.
Isaac Gutierrez
I'm genuinely amazed Ronny qualified at all.
Leo Nelson
>you want Grade A Afghan heroin?
Carson Miller
>new starter guide >MvG not really autistic
Leo Reed
fucking ads on here
Ryder Miller
I can already hear the bullshitting about Wobster being a world champ by our lovely sky commentators, and we haven't even started the session yet.
Cant see any upsets tonight unless Webster has an absolute shocker and Lim hits his checkouts. Still cant get my head around Mardle thinking Ronny might put out Gurney...
>Still cant get my head around Mardle thinking Ronny might put out Gurney
According to Hawaii 5or1: >Ronny will average 90 because that is what he does. We know averages don't win matches, but Gurney will have to play well. Ronny is a difficult customer because he looks like he's not good, but he's a shrewd operator. He is comfortable under pressure and has ability, when he needs it. I see this going 3-2, either way. The No 4 seed could be going out.
Ronny doesn't have the level of consistency Daryl's developed.
Kayden Foster
It's been working for some time (at least for me), but the stream is quite far behind.
Ethan Clark
>Wobbler 3-0 Lim bollocks pal
Grayson Reyes
I want what he's smoking. Can see him nicking a set maybe if he does play well but Gurney will have way too much for him if he plays near his best.
Tyler White
Just about to get to the venue, any ideas for a sign?
