Jeffrey de Zwaan has opened up the 2019 PDC World Darts Championship with a comprehensive three-nil sets victory over Nitin Kumar to set up a clash with reigning champion Rob Cross.
De Zwaan despite some missed doubles looked very good at times and could be the giant killer against Cross that some are expecting. It was a 91 average with five 180’s for the Dutchman as he didn’t have to play at his best as of yet.
He started the opening set brilliantly breaking the Kumar resistance by breaking throw despite the ‘The Royal Bengal’ looking good in his opening throws of the Championship.
In the following two legs though, ‘The Black Cobra’ started to show his class with his first 180 to claim the second leg. He made it three consecutive legs to claim the set with him missing a 122 checkout but pinning double 20 next throw.
In the second set, he continued where he left off but was left frustrated as Kumar picked up a first leg of the match. De Zwaan then went five darts into a perfect leg to hit back and hit a 86 finish to end the leg to continue his brilliance.
Kumar clung on picking up a strong second leg with a 33 checkout for the Indian qualifier. It was the Dutchman who picked up the set though hitting a 70 checkout to extend his lead to 2-0. Missed doubles were a theme of the first leg of the third set with both players missing a stack of darts before the PDC ranking winner finally pinned double 4.
A 180 followed for De Zwaan but more problems on doubles meant he still had something to do to win the match with Kumar breaking with a sixty finish. Kumar was unlucky not to win another leg and this meant another break back on double 20 for JDZ as he went one away.
He finished the job with a 52 checkout to set up a tie with reigning World Champion, Rob Cross later this evening.
Kumar played better than a lot expected but this is down to some missed doubles but it is ‘The Black Cobra’ who moves through.
Click here for more information about the PDC World Darts Championship, including schedules and the prize fund breakdown.
December 13 schedule
Jeffrey de Zwaan (91.18) 3-0 (77.75) Nitin Kumar
Martin Schindler vs Cody Harris
Jan Dekker vs Lisa Ashton
Rob Cross vs Jeffrey de Zwaan
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