Such has been the recent stock of combined 7-time World Champions Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis that Sky didn't see it suitable to put them on separate nights at the Worlds; as a result, they've both ended up back-ending tonight's action.
The penultimate preliminary round game kicks things off with maniacal Russian Aleksandr Oreshkin against German qualifier Kevin Münch. The flicking 19s starting left-handed Whitlock wannabe famously went 2 sets up on Mervyn King 2 years ago before being pummelled by the King's "A-Game", while the Dragon is back at Ally Pally after a 6 year absence where he remains the only man to win a PDC Worlds match by default after Denis Ovens withdrew in their 1st round game.
The supporting act to the World Champions is the last person to beat Michael van Gerwen on TV: the monstrous but lovable Scot John Henderson. The Highlander has Finland's Marko Kantele, making his first appearance here in nine years, and the Finn's Euro Tour performances do not make for good reading, having failed to average over 85 in any game. With Hendo's stunning World Grand Prix semi-final run surely still in his mind, this should be easy pickings for the #29 seed.
Barney gets the harder draw of the two ex-World Champions in #1 Pro Tour qualifier Richard North. The self-proclaimed "Mouth of the South" edged past Mark Webster in Dublin and also made a Players Champs final in his debut year as a professional, but Ally Pally is where RVB comes to light. North's lack of stage experience could be the deciding factor in this one.
Snackpot therefore gets the preliminary qualifier, and after a much-improved performance at the Players Championship Finals following a tremendously poor 2017, we should hopefully see the best of the ferry-and-buffet-loving Stokie; given he's defending £150,000 from the 2016 final, a loss here would be catastrophic and see him drop out of the top 16 in the world!
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) Aleksandr "I Come From Land Down Gulag" Oreshkin v Kevin "Monster" Münch (P) John "This is a 10 in Scotland" Henderson (29) v Marko "Scandijobber #2" Kantele Barney (9) v Richard North "by North West" SnackP&Ot (7) v Oreshkin/Münch
Good session tonight, should be fun. But nothing today can beat Paul Lim's performance from yesterday, this was just awesome. Still, I feel bad for Webby, he dindu nuffin wrong, and played through all those boos. Handled them well, though. Other players would have gone crazy at the crowd. Just imagine Waffleboy or Roidlet in that same situation.
>and see him drop out of the top 16 in the world! That's rough. But that's what you get for playing boat darts. He'll have to make up for it in 2018 - if he still can. Would be a shame if he becomes an oom midfielder.
Mason Murphy
Paul Lim was unreal. Completely outclassed Webster.
>I feel bad for Webby, he dindu nuffin wrong, and played through all those boos. Handled them well, though. Other players would have gone crazy at the crowd. Just imagine Waffleboy or Roidlet in that same situation. Webby imploded in the deciding set, that's what went wrong.
Was good to see him not jerking on his throw like he had been previously though.
Joshua Mitchell
Come on Snackpot
Ryan Lee
Awww yiss, time for /180/. >given he's defending £150,000 from the 2016 final, a loss here would be catastrophic and see him drop out of the top 16 in the world! Fucking hell
Indeed, Wobster is one of those who you wish it didn't happen against but he was the unfortunate one who drew Paul.
The way Wobster managed to come back to stay in the match and then completely collapse in the deciding set was odd.
Jeremiah Stewart
RA RA RASPUTIN RUSSIA'S GREATEST LOVE MACHINE
Dylan Lopez
>Fucking hell Shows how much of the year comes down to one major for so many players.
Snackpot's £150k is 43% of his OoM earnings. By comparison, MVG's £350,000 from this January is 20% of his OoM earnings.
Andrew Parker
That's what happens with the rankings when you get one lucky run. But really it shows how subpar Lewis has been over the last years.
Carter Peterson
...
Alexander Anderson
It's Lim's time, he's ready brothers.
Zachary Roberts
Ready for Gando?
Brayden Peterson
And we're on now.
Jayden Gray
>has to face Gando atleast he basically doubled his paycheque and had an marquee performance.
Josiah James
This
Darts needs a strong Aidy Lewis
Anthony Scott
crowd was getting to him forsure
Ryder Sanchez
If Aidey was smart, he would have told Deller to fuck off years ago.
No coincidence that Lewis's form has plummeted since Deller became his manager.
Luke Johnson
I'm surprised there is so much money in darts. Usually in smaller sports it's only the top few guys making good money. Even a literally who 30th in the world darts player is making a decent living.
Aiden Williams
oreshkin you crazy bastard
Grayson Perry
...
Evan Jackson
Was /there/ yesterday. Good night out
Kayden Anderson
Based russian nuclear physicist
Cooper Parker
That lim match must have been epic
Lincoln Jones
>olidartch
No.
Zachary Miller
>watch stream >stream fucks up >watch TV instead >bad weather >TV fucks up Just my luck. Well, at least weather seems to be slowly clearing up. I can almost see a picture.
