With 10 seeds already gone in this year's World Championship, there's certainly potential for two more to be leaving tonight in this remarkable event.
Starting off the evening is the final preliminary round fixture between China's Xiaochen Zong and New Zealand's Bernie Smith. The prelims this year have been a significantly higher standard than normal, with just one average below 80 and three above 90. However, these two total unknowns may completely ruin that stat and provide a comedy prelim we all know and love.
Returning to round 1, we begin with a clash of the children as tantrum-prone St. Helens kid Michael Smith takes on Irish upstart Steve Lennon. Bully Boy has remarkably shown a new steel to himself in recent months, with no sulking and throwing darts aimlessly. Smith's newfound character first made its appearance at the Grand Slam, where his opponent tonight produced four solid performances in his first ever major appearance with total composure. This promises to be a really good match.
One man who made himself public enemy #1 at Wolverhampton was Simon Whitlock, who starts his Worlds campaign against Martin Schindler, the German #2 (behind Kevin Münch of course). The Wizard's complete ignorance of Berry van Peer's dartitis saw him subsequently get embarrassed in all 3 group games, but his year overall has improved once more, making the World Grand Prix final and returning to the top 16. Schindler's emergence this year saw him outperform World Cup teammate Max Hopp and make the European Championship, but the Aussie's vast experience could knock down The Wall.
The evening ends with a game of "Guess When The Night Finishes" as unbearably slow Justin Pipe plays the prelim winner. The Force has remarkably failed to win a game here since the 2014 edition, but after his run to the Players Championship Finals semi, he should surely break that duck... even if it means the session ends at 1am.
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) Xiaochen "Zing" Zong v Bernie "Sanders" Smith (P) Michael "Snackpot 2.0" Smith (13) v Steve "Neil/John/Aaron" Lennon STRAYA (10) v Martin "Berlin Ball" Schindler Justin "LE SLOW THROW MAN" Pipe (27) v Zong/B. Smith
After his ridiculous collapse against Kevin Münch last night that saw him drop outside the top 16 of the Order of Merit for the first time, what the fuck has happened to Adrian Lewis?
There was a time when the claim in pic related was reasonable. Aidey won at least one major in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014; sure, the latter two were the European Championship and the UK Open, but he was winning things. Now, he's not even a contender.
He might have made the Masters and Matchplay semi-finals this year, but his overall standard has been shocking. Lewis was known for his heavy scoring, yet in 2017 he has recorded a grand total of just 6 100+ averages; the last of these was in July against Rob Cross in the World Matchplay last 16. To compare that to the current top 4 in the world, only Daryl Gurney comes anywhere close with just 7. MVG, Peter Wright and Gary Anderson are all in the double digits of 100+ averages.
In fact, ever since the summer Lewis has appeared unfocused, lethargic and generally not bothered. How he played at the Champions League was especially pathetic, recording two sub-90 averages. That Players Championship Finals run which was ended by Cross now appears to be a one-off of what he can do.
For Adrian's sake, he needs to make a decision: either try and return to the top 16 and challenge for things, or just resign his Tour Card and fuck off to the exhibition circuit. Darts seriously needs a strong Adrian Lewis, but it appears Adrian Lewis doesn't need serious darts.
Alexander Reed
Aww yiss time for /180/
>mfw decided to go to sleep after Lewis won the first set His collapse has been dreadful to watch. I'm not sure how and what happened though. As you said, darts needs a strong Adrian Lewis. At his best, he was the one who could hang with Gando or MVG.
Matthew Garcia
Do you think Wolfie watches the PDC? Imagine he turned up as a spectator. It would be great craic altogether.
Mason Butler
Best first round of the worlds this decade lads? Certainly don't remember a better one since I've been watching.
Caleb Bell
Wolfie is too pure for this circus.
Colton Price
>wolfie >watching the scripted darts championship
l m a o
Jordan Gray
how the fuck does pipe get to play a prelim guy? thats bullshit
wil not be watching anyway
John Harris
Has to be. The standard has been incredibly good for the last 64.
>darts >scripted What planet are you on, lad?
Blame the draw.
Cameron Richardson
Work yesterday, off today, the fuck Adrian? Did he look apathetic at all or is he just resigned to living on ferries for the rest of his career.
Evan Young
Uncle bazza rigs the PDC to get the results he wants lad, this is a commonly known fact. The BDO is the only true darts championship.
Michael Torres
Munch came back at him big time after losing the first set and he just folded.
Noah Richardson
You should shack up with David Icke with that sort of delusion.
Hunter James
based wizard
Jaxson Brown
Don't you have a meat raffle to organise?
Julian Moore
Consider Munch played so well people "aww'd" the fact that he missed the first dart on 170 to possibly finish the match
Gabriel Cook
It's Münch. MÜNCH.
Kevin Adams
KEVIN KEVIN MUNCH KEVIN MUNCH, KEVIN KEVIN MUUUUUNCH LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA, KEVIN KEVIN MUNCH KEVIN MUNCH, KEVIN KEVIN MUUUUUNCH
Owen Foster
Munch Munch!
Xavier Anderson
wew
Juan Wilson
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
Logan Johnson
Don't forget the (literally) rigged boards for higher scores
Matthew Roberts
...
Aaron Lopez
Agreed lad, it's fine enjoying the PDC, it's an entertaining product, but in similar fashion to Katie Price's latest pair of knockers it might be good to look at but is all a mirage
Thomas Cooper
I honestly hope this is an elaborate troll.
Nolan Fisher
Or at least write it "Muench". This is also correct because "ü" just means "ue". But don't write "Munch", it is plain wrong. Thanks foreign lads.
Jason Carter
The rigged boards is a fact though. The treble beds are bigger on PDC boards
Christian Murphy
>when Aidey losing to Münch is the equivalent of Wezzzzzz losing to Reyes 3 years ago
Zachary Morales
You don't see Mensur complaining.
Charles Price
...
Bentley Reed
Why should he complain? His name is Mensur not Mensür. Also he's a fucking Yugo.
Asher Robinson
you are being autistic Kamerad
Kevin Rogers
Mensur is top bloke
Michael Gomez
no he's not this shit has gone on for too long we must correct it
Jose Martinez
The standard has been great in the first round. The only thing I'm a bit disappointed by is that we haven't had many 5-set crackers. Only Cullen-Wattimena and Webster-Lim have been good 5-setters.
And you are to dumb to properly write "Feindpropaganda". Go back to primary school.
Charles Ward
We haven't had many 5 set games in general.
Just 4, and incredibly all in the same quarter of the draw.
Camden Perez
What is it about Munching that bothers you?
Leo Stewart
>doesn't even notice the lower case Sie top käk
Justin Nelson
if you'd won the war we'd all be using umlauts but you didn't so pipe down
Luke Torres
It's also not properly punctuated. Pig disgusting.
Charles Morales
*too
Noah Nguyen
Is there anything more kino in all of darts than a side profile shot of Hendo?
Xavier Young
Why don't you fuck off and watch handegg or eat some burgers or some shit.
Lincoln Hughes
No he's not. I am! Getting this thing started now, put already in a few for orientation. Whitlock still top or relegated one level because van Peer? Barney also still on top? Seems like he annoyed lots of people with his complaining, so maybe no. MvG? Probably meh tier. Or better? Seems he is well respected but not loved.
Open for suggestions. Only relevant players please.
William Clark
i'll consider that nerve well and truly touched
Andrew Sanchez
is this the final step on the evolutionary scale?
Juan Russell
>that lower skull bubble
Thomas Davis
The age of man is over, the time of the Hendo has come
Gavin Hill
People love philth though. He doesn't give a fuck anymore and says what he wants. Granted he sometimes acts like a dick but you can't fault his darts.
Jason Clark
Yep. Thänks bäsed fätbürger.
Christian Sanders
Mensur is at least in likeable tier
Hudson Collins
>88 yoü're velcome, vorld var loser
Levi King
>BORING BORING TABLES
Is the /180/ bingo already complete for the day?
Dylan Cox
Hendo in God tier, Gando in likeable, Pipe in hate tier
Jaxson Ortiz
Wolfie in god tier
Kevin Cooper
Id put Gando in GOD tier. It's controversial , I know
Blake Cruz
>german tv station showing women's handball instead of darts
Ryan Reyes
At least we did not lose against a bunch of gooks.
Charles Nelson
You can only lose a fight you compete in.
Nolan Perez
So far everyone with me? Not sure about Gando, I like him very much and see no problem with god tier, but maybe others do.
Asher Ward
Haha, Id put Chizzy in a bespoke Chizzy tier, desu
Christopher Morgan
>The Panda Man >deferred university to play at the Worlds That's some commitment.
Lincoln Wood
>Beaton >Elder god
Jason Martinez
Painter in dislike, chizzy in meh, wade in dislike, klassen in hate
Wyatt Cooper
You can't have spineless in the god tier.
You need to put all the people like Scholten in Philth's pocket tier.
Gabriel Smith
but you have let a bunch of Turks invade your country
Dylan Reyes
>Phil not in God
Connor Gray
Fuck off to Sup Forums
Isaiah Roberts
Is Bernie Smith the real deal?
Going to break Cadby's record at this point.
Thomas Hall
Wade in dislike, really? Thought most people like him. Opinions?
No Wolfie in god tier?
Joseph Brown
Ooooh, controversial! Against the grain! Unorthodox! You have defnitely mastered the blade!
Jayden Lee
bonkers = based
Dominic Jackson
Can't have him in god tier. I know he is a personality but his refusal to mix it with the best players makes his "world" titles a farce.
Ayden Perez
i like Wade. And Wolfie.
Isaac Lopez
Good nonce pic. What is he smelling though?
Brody Foster
Also need Chris Mason and Paul Nicholson in the hate tier.
Jason Sanders
says the guy who used the word 'gooks'...
Nathaniel Allen
Reminder that if you don't stand up at home every time they chant stand up if you love the darts you're a dog sniffing nonce
Owen Perez
Hopefully whoever wins this can knock out Pipe
Alexander Baker
We don't have that character on our keyboard you nonce
Leo Gonzalez
It'll be an absolute shame if Zong doesn't get a leg here.
Josiah Murphy
(You)
Michael Reed
absolute MADMAN
Jacob James
newton
but he said relevant players only fordham?
Caleb Barnes
>fat lego man >likeable literally philth tier
Asher Moore
>pipe last
Thank you God. Now I can just go to bed after whitty
Ayden Martinez
Good for him.
Jacob Gomez
Thought Nicho was more of a geniune heel than actually hated.
According to the source pic: MvGs niece.
Cooper Rogers
>Wade >Liked
Wot.
He should be in bottom tier
Adam Thomas
i'll take that response as another victory for the allies. enjoy the tiny spear throwing competition (on a stream of a British tv channel, i assume).
Jackson Morris
I'm happy you cropped it then
Juan Hughes
Newton is under the radar tier
Blake Williams
I would put Smith, Cadby and Huybrechts in hate tier and Norris in dislike.
Leo Martin
Today I had to go to a 2 hour 30 man group meeting, then go for lunch with my colleagues I've only known for a month and then play party games in the afternoon
