PDC World Championship Preview - Day 7

A warning to all PDC World Championship seeds - nobody is safe. First, Stephen Bunting went. Then it was Benito van de Pas and Mervyn King. Joe Cullen, Jelle Klaasen, Jonny Clayton and Dave Chisnall soon followed. James Wade and Mark Webster tumbled out in astonishing fashion. But the best was yet to come, as seventh seed Adrian Lewis was stunned 3-1 by preliminary round qualifier Kevin Munch. That's ten seeds in total; more than last year's first round. Bear in mind that seven seeds are still yet to start their quest for glory.
In the firing line tonight are three players who could all do with a win. Michael Smith's bid to realise his massive potential could do with a run at the Ally Pally. Simon Whitlock needs to prove his World Grand Prix run wasn't a one-off. And Justin Pipe, back in form after a career-threatening dip, has a shocking World Championship record to improve. But the unseeded players are more of a threat then they ever have been. Even the two players taking part in the final preliminary game of this year's tournament could yet do something special...

Xiao Chen Zong vs Bernie Smith (prelim)

Opening the night is a pair of players both making their World Championship debut, but have at least experienced darts on the big stage thanks to the World Series. New Zealander Smith qualified for the Auckland Darts Masters in 2016, losing to Gary Anderson. A year on from that, the 53-year-old plasterer sealed an Ally Pally spot by winning the DPA Oceanic Masters. He beat the likes of Corey Cadby, Warren Parry and last year's champion David Platt to take the title in Dubbo. Now the biggest stage of all beckons. Throwing 14 gram custom darts makes Smith a standout figure; more headlines will be made if he can reach the first round, and fare better than compatriot Cody Harris.
Smith admitted that he has not bothered to look up his opponent, 19-year-old Xiao Chen Zong. The Chinese youngster won the World Championship qualifier by beating Deng Yin on home soil. Step one is making sure he doesn't miss the board, like former Chinese qualifier Qiang Sun did. The next step would be to better the 66.9 average he managed in the Shanghai Masters, when James Wade cantered to a 6-0 win. The preliminary round has been better than ever before, with a new record set for most 180s (21) before Zong and Smith even kick off. In fact, the only preliminary round record of note that hasn't changed this year is the highest average. But it might be wishful thinking to suggest either of these two will average a ton. The winner takes on Justin Pipe in round one.

Michael Smith vs Steve Lennon

The world was Michael Smith's oyster when he stunned Phil Taylor in the 2014 World Championship second round. He seemed destined for stardom, a free-throwing, self-assured star with a natural swagger. But when his form dipped, the confidence dissipated. At one point, Smith contemplated giving up the game. But the World Championship has provided some respite for him. Only Raymond van Barneveld could stop Smith in the 2016 edition, in the quarter-finals. Last year, Bully Boy went into the championships having failed to win competitively in three months, but still made the third round. 2017 has been more stable for the 27-year-old, who took the Gibraltar Darts Trophy and reached the European Championship quarter-finals. Smith's major form is patchy at best, and could do with a good run. Starting with a tie against a 24-year-old, and then potentially playing a PDC rookie, it is now Smith in the position of seniority. It is up to him to live up to it. For Steve Lennon, his future really is firmly set in front of him. The Irishman has impressed on the Tour this year, and even took that form onto the big stage by reaching the Grand Slam knockouts. Lennon is a laid-back player, who throws casually and loves to hit maximums. In many ways, his game and Smith's will complement each other well. This could turn out to be the most fast-paced and entertaining tie of the night. Given the fate that has befallen more stable seeded players than Smith already, this one is hard to call. Lennon may be a debutant at the Ally Pally, but he knows his way around any oche.

Justin Pipe is unmissable - mostly because his matches take ages. Photo: Lawrence Lustig

Simon Whitlock vs Martin Schindler

Whisper it quietly, but Simon Whitlock has the potential to go a long way at the World Championship. The Wizard would play Darren Webster or Devon Petersen, should he defeat Martin Schindler. That would be followed by a tie against Kevin Munch, Cristo Reyes or Antonio Alcinas. After that would be (most likely) the illness-plagued Peter Wright, and then it's the semi-finals. The door is wide open for Whitlock. Then again, Schindler could slam that door in his face immediately. That's darts for you. Whitlock had a superb run to the World Grand Prix final, plus two major quarter-final appearances, but needs more. Revenge over Webster for a 4-0 drubbing at the Ally Pally last year would be a nice start. But he can't look too far ahead. His last two majors were a shocking showing at the Grand Slam, including defeat to Berry van Peer, then an unconvincing run to the second round of the Players Championship finals, at which stage he essentially handed Jan Dekker the match. In both tournaments, Whitlock's normally calm demeanour evaporated entirely. If he loses his cool again on the big stage, he will be in line for a shock exit.
Martin Schindler, an unsung rising star of the PDC circuit, would love a chance to deliver another surprise defeat. The 21-year-old is used to going under the radar. As a young German making his way in darts, Schindler has had to emerge from the shadow of long-time golden boy Max Hopp. Schindler has shown himself to be a much calmer, more consistent player than the erratic Hopp. That's why he is at the Ally Pally this year for the first time, and Hopp isn't. Schindler's World Cup of Darts experience will prove invaluable when it comes to holding his nerve, and if he can stay calm and collected, Whitlock may crumble before his eyes. Again, this is a tie that was fairly tough to call even before the seeds began dropping like flies. This one will definitely divide opinion in prediction leagues and on social media.

Justin Pipe vs Zong/Smith

Justin Pipe is back. It's good news for all those who respect the eccentric Taunton thrower. It's not so good news for people who love darts to be played at breakneck speed. The classically languid Pipe was very much the tortoise to Daryl Gurney's hare at the Players Championship finals in Minehead. He stunned the world number four 10-9, and reached his first major semi-final since 2013 in the process. After a long, arduous struggle that began after reaching the 2014 Masters quarter-finals, belief has returned to Justin Pipe's game. Hanging around at the Ally Pally beyond Christmas Day would be another sign that things are on the up. The fact he'd have to beat Phil Taylor to do that is a worry for another time. First, he must deal with Xiao Chen Zong or Bernie Smith. On paper, it's a simple prospect. But an unprecedented three preliminary round qualifiers have won their first round games, meaning nobody can be written off. The beauty of set play means it only takes one tiny lapse of concentration or one timely checkout to decide a match. Pipe is always a meticulous thrower, but he will have to be cautious too. Having lost against the likes of Laurence Ryder and Christian Kist (against whom Pipe averaged 75) in recent years, he knows that any player could be a metaphorical banana skin.