Awesome Alexis Toylo eliminates Richard Veenstra early in World Darts Championship debut

Richard Veenstra has been eliminated after one round at the World Darts Championship. The Dutchman seemed to have trouble with the slow pace of his opponent Alexis Toylo and was surprisingly beaten 3-0 by the Filipino.

Toylo started the first set of the match surprisingly well. The Filipino shot out to a 2-0 lead with a 14-darter and a 15-darter. However, Veenstra did not let this fool him and responded via a 70-finish and 67-finish to force a decisive fifth leg.

This revival of 'Flyers' came too late, however, because in the end it was Toylo who threw two 180s in the last leg and, partly as a result, managed to secure the first set via a 13-darter.

Read also

Everything about the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship: Schedule, results, TV guide and prize money

At the beginning of the second set, Veenstra began to find his rhythm a little more. With a 16-darter on double 17 the Dutchman took the first leg. Toylo continued to dominate the scoring and levelled the score with a 19-darter.

The Filipino then threw a spectacular 146 finish to also make it 2-1, leaving Veenstra with his back against the wall. Toylo was unable to find a triple after this finish, bringing the Flyers back to 2-2. In the deciding leg, the Dutchman missed two arrows on tops, allowing the Asian to take a 2-0 lead in sets via double 10.

Toylo then also took the first leg of the third set. However, Veenstra still seemed to believe in it and came back to 1-1 via a fine 12-darter. The Filipino then held his own leg in 15 darts to reach match point. The Dutchman managed to equalize but it was Toylo who decided the match via double 16.

Alexis Toylo can now enjoy a free Sunday and will next take on Poland's Krzysztof Ratajski in the second round.