James Wade claimed a winning return on the
World Series stage defeating NZ Qualifier Mark Cleaver 6-2 to book his place in the next round despite not looking at his best and that showed with an 87 average.
A disappointing opening leg for both but Wade cleaned up D12 for a 1-0 win to hold throw and despite not being at his best, Wade was in control and took out 74 to double his lead.
He followed this up on the throw hitting his first 180 and then sunk D8 to extend his lead to 3-0 and despite a second maximum, Cleaver hit tops after Wade missed 3 darts at double to claw back a leg at 3-1.
Wade though got a Shanghai (T20, 20, D20) checkout to go within two at 4-1 and missed darts at doubles from Cleaver who allowed Wade to pin D5 to go within one at 5-1 but Cleaver broke the Wade throw on D18 to go 5-2 down. It was Wade who broke himself with D10 to win 6-2 and go through.
https://twitter.com/PremiumDartData/status/895928562074693632
Following that, 5 time World Champion
Raymond van Barneveld faced off against 4 time World Championship qualifier Warren Parry and survived a scare winning 6-4.
Barney held his throw in the first leg with D20 but couldn't break the Parry throw and a 15 darter with a 64 checkout made it 1-1. A 116 checkout from Barney followed to make it 2-1 and after a host of missed darts from both, Parry pinned D20 to make it 2-2.
It went with throw again with Barney hitting D18 to make it 3-2 and Barney was once again punished on the doubles with Parry taking out 107 as a result to make it 3-3.
It continued to go on throw though with Barney hitting D16 to edge 4-3 in front with Parry way back. Barney finally broke the Kiwi ace to go within 1 at 5-3 and he missed one match dart with Warren Parry breaking the throw to make it 5-4 but he missed a trick and Barney cleaned up with a 56 checkout to win 6-4.
https://twitter.com/PremiumDartData/status/895937489680175106