Day Two report of the PDC Winter Series 2020: Smith makes it back-to-back titles

The PDC Winter Series continued on Wednesday. It was the second day of a five day series which is taking place in the Ricoh Arena, Coventry from November 10-14. 128 players, seeded and non-seeded, will take part in the series every day until Saturday, with a knockout format, seeing one player crowned winner each day.

Shocks and upsets are very much on the cards on the Pro Tour. Day one gave us a reminder that sometimes, the quality of some of the world’s best, prevails, as ‘Bully Boy’ Michael Smith bagged a tidy ten grand on the opening day.

Day two is set up for more underdogs to knock out the big names and a chance for the players to produce some exceedingly good checkouts and boost their averages over the series, whilst for others, a chance to take chances and make a name for themselves to aim for the Order of Merit to put them in with a chance of qualification to the Grand Slam which commences on Monday 16th November.

The first action of the day was complete on Day two of the Winter Series with some of the big names already falling at the first hurdle in Coventry, including the World Champion, Peter Wright.

Wright had reached the quarter-finals on Day one and looked in fine fettle, but he couldn’t get past Hong Kong national player, Kai Fan Leung, who won 6-5 and stood up an average of 106. ‘Snakebite’ managed an average of 107 but narrowly lost out after missing nine match-darts.

While 'Snakebite' fell in a close game, Nathan Aspinall was whitewashed by Challenge Tour reserve Jitse van der Wal who averaged 94 in their opener on Day Two. While there were also early exits for Krzysztof Ratajski despite averaging 102 to John Michael 6-5.

On his return from COVID-19, Glen Durrant has looked nowhere near the levels he produced in the Premier League campaign. ‘Duzza’ suffered a second consecutive first round exit at the hands of Steve West.

Tuesday's semi-finalist Jose De Sousa looked to be in a spot of bother after a characteristic miscount in his opener against Jason Lowe but the big Portuguese picked himself up and secured a professional 6-2 win to stroll into round two.

A round full of shocks and surprises, this included Andy Hamilton's brilliance with a perfect leg being hit by the Hammer during his first round tie against Christian Bunse. Stephen Bunting also didn't play Jeff Smith for the first time in a while and defeated the in-form Simon Whitlock 6-5 with a 101.7 average.

More upsets for some of the big names as Ian White lost out to Mickey Mansell and high-flyer Devon Peterson was edged past by Rowby-John Rodgriguez. Add to that Gabriel Clemens’ startling 112.4 against Matt Clark for the performance of the opening round on Day two.

Day one winner Michael Smith, took no time to get into his stride in his round two tie against Matthew Dennant, with ‘Bully Boy’ winning 6-1.

Moving into the last 64, Gerwyn Price had a point to prove after his blunder on the opening day. He set his sights far on day two, narrowly beating Scott Mitchell 6-5.

Another big name tie in the last 64 was James Wade v Adrian Lewis ‘The Machine’ prevailed ‘Jackpot’ pressure and came out a 6-3 winner. Although Lewis bettered his day one performance by an extra round, there’s still be know classic Adey in the tank on display thus far.

Joe Cullen whitewashed Andy Boulton 6-0 as ‘The Rockstar’ ploughed on to the last 32, looking to go a few steps further than what he managed on the opening day.

Jose De Sousa narrowly made his way past Jeremy Hunt in the second round winning 6-5. They Portuguese is in inspired form as of late and he seems to just keep getting better, certainly one of the stand out names to not write off winning at least one title this week. Gabriel Clemens had been on the right side of some upsets already this Winter Series so far and after beating Matt Clark, he was victorious over Peter Jacques 6-3 in the second round of the day.

Rowby-John Rodriguez landed a nine-darter in this round against Boris Krcmar, which helped him to beat the Croatian 6-5.

Michael Smith carried on his inspired form from his opening day triumph, as he beat Damon Heta 6-3 but Heta gave ‘Bully Boy’ a late scare as he came back from 5-0 down to make it 5-3 and with many more of the big names getting through their last 32 ties, day two was narrowing down to boat loads of quality towards the latter stages of the day.

However, Ryan Joyce pulled off a superb 6-1 win over ‘The Iceman’ Gerwyn Price. After just winning the World Cup representing Wales, Price hasn’t performed to the best of his ability, going one better than day one, but ultimately crashing out too early for the Welshman’s standards despite Joyce making up a high 106 average.

Speaking of high averages, Gabriel Clemens made it three straight ton plus averages as his form continues. He hit 108 in breezing past Jamie Hughes 6-1.

Daryl Gurney was beaten by Brendan Dolan 6-5 after a feisty matchup between the two Northern Irish players. Also some excellent displays from Darius Labanauskas who hit 106 as well in easing past Luke Woodhouse 6-1, Brendan Dolan who was defeated in the semi-finals yesterday defied a 104 average from Daryl Gurney, his World Cup partner to win 6-5.

While Joe Cullen (102), Jeffrey de Zwaan and Jose de Sousa (101) all have also hit the heights as we head towards the business end on day two.

The Quarter-final line-up has been confirmed on the second day of the PDC Winter Series with Gabriel Clemens continuing his brilliance with a second 112 average of the day against Ryan Joyce. Clemens proving a star player over the series already, performing well on the opening day and rocketing into gear on the second- he has not gone below a 105 average so far on day two as he looks to the quarter-final matchup with Michael Smith after beating Joyce 6-3.

‘Bully Boy’, who only averaged 91, but it was enough to see off Dirk van Duijvenbode 6-2, a winner yesterday though, he will be well up for ending the German's run.

Vincent van der Voort has had another good run and is set to face Darius Labanauskas after the pair defeated Justin Pipe and Krzysztof Kciuk respectively. Brendan Dolan produced a comeback to continue another run for 'The History Maker', this time with victory over Ryan Meikle 6-5.

This means that he will now take on a ranking winner this year in Joe Cullen who edged past Mickey Mansell 6-4. Then it is the turn of Jose de Sousa who reached the latter stages so impressively yesterday and he will take on Jeffrey de Zwaan who saw off impressive Irishman, Keane Barry.

Before the day started, you wouldn’t have been called mad to put these four names into the latter stages on day two. The flying English power of Michael Smith and Joe Cullen with the fast throwing spell of Vincent Van der Voort and the soft tip magician Jose De Sousa in the mix, makes for an interesting end for the second day of the PDC Winter Series.

Michael Smith is potentially heading towards two out of two after he pegged back Gabriel Clemens, who has impressed on both days so far. ‘Bully Boy’ however, is nowhere near done yet. His streak of effortless, perfect darts continue as he breezed past Clemens 6-1 to move into the final 4 on day two.

Now a rapid fire clash awaits 'Bully Boy' as he takes on Vincent van der Voort who whitewashed Darius Labanauskas 6-0 to reach his first Players Championship semi-final since April 2016.

In the other half, it is a clash of two European Tour winners this year in Joe Cullen who defeated Brendan Dolan 6-3 and Jose de Sousa who edged past Jeffrey de Zwaan 6-5, credit to de Zwaan who will be feeling the disadvantage of not being a seeded player, in two days he’s faced off against Peter Wright and Dave Chisnall in the opening round.

Michael Smith earned his pass through to the final for a second time in two days in the World Series with a 7-3 win over Vincent Van der Voort. It was the Dutchman’s first Player Championship semi-final since 2016 but the sheer quality of ‘Bully Boy’ proved too much. Both fast throwers of the dart, on paper the fixture was set up for non-stop action but Smith took advantage of the slower stages of the match and reached another final, much to his delight.

Joe Cullen was no match for the Portuguese star, Jose De Sousa, who came out victorious in a 7-2 win averaging 110 with seven 180's. ‘The Special One’ De Sousa had excelled in day one proceedings but couldn’t pass Michael Smith and will get a marvellous chance to right his wrongs against ‘Bully Boy’ as they will face off in the final on day two.

De Sousa got off to the better start in the final, taking an early 3-1 lead. ‘Bully Boy’ began the fightback as he made fought the score line back to 4-2 after De Sousa missed darts to take a 5-1

lead. You feel as if when you watch Smith, he is playing, remembering those agonising moments he’s experienced through 2020 when he’s fallen at the final hurdle, this is a different Michael Smith. Smith closed the gap and levelled the final at 4 legs a piece, setting the game up for a thrilling ending. After both taking the lead one after another, Smith had to come from behind again, which he did so magnificently. De Sousa showed his perseverance as he sent the game to the deciding fifteenth leg which ‘Bully Boy’ came out on top, to complete a brilliant comeback and make it two out of two for the Winter Series so far.