De Sousa eases past Clemens in dominant opening round win at World Matchplay

Jose de Sousa, the tenth seed at this year's World Matchplay has eased through into the second round in Blackpool after seeing off Gabriel Clemens 10-2.

De Sousa hit a 97.45 average, three 180's and a high checkout of 116 as he produced a demolition job against 'The German Giant'.

De Sousa surged into a 5-0 lead in complete one way traffic between the duo with six missed darts at doubles punished by ‘The Special One’.

When returning from the interval, the Portuguese ace was heading towards a potential whitewash going 7-0 up but that didn’t occur as Clemens averted this with two 180’s and double 20 to make it 7-1.

But this revival did not turn into a further leg as De Sousa followed up a 177 with double 12 for a 13-darter to make it 8-1 and go two legs away.

He went one away from there with a 116 checkout to make it 9-1 but missed one match dart and Clemens kept the match alive at 9-2 down.

But this did not last any longer as De Sousa surged through in a 10-2 victory to avert any thoughts of a late comeback.