Dirk van Duijvenbode will face his compatriot, Michael van Gerwen in a standout Last 16 tie after a true Ally Pally classic at the PDC World Darts Championship as 'The Titan' prevailed in a 4-3 sets win against Ross Smith which featured a record of 31 180's.
It also featured five missed match darts from 'Smudger' who will be ruing his luck after defeat in one of the best matches seen in recent years on the Ally Pally stage.
After both had fired up walk-ons, Smith started superbly with a 156 checkout. He missed two darts to break and Van Duijvenbode smashed in a 136 checkout in response.
Smith missed two darts to hold and Van Duijvenbode broke on double four at 2-1. An 89 checkout on double five saw him seal the set.
Smith missed 127 but returned with Van Duijvenbode chasing around for 88 and hit double eight for a hold at 1-1. Smith snuck double 16 in the corner for a break.
Van Duijvenbode missed two darts to break and Smith took the set. The former took control again with an 11-darter with both continuing to smash in 180’s but Van Duijvenbode taking some breathing room.
Smith handed Van Duijvenbode a shot at 90 but he couldn’t pin it only for ‘Smudger’ to miss more darts and the Dutchman made it 2-1 with the next set being one he starts in.
But he missed the bull for 87 and Smith hit double 18 to break. He pinned it again for 2-0. Both hit 180’s with Van Duijvenbode down to 87 albeit with Smith sat on 41.
Van Duijvenbode pinned it though forcing Smith to serve out the set which he did after the former missed a set dart.
Smith hit his 10th and Van Duijvenbode his seventh maximum but it was the former who led the fifth set. He went one away from a 3-2 sets lead. But a 114 checkout saw Van Duijvenbode send it to a decider.
Van Duijvenbode restricted himself to one dart from 52 though messing up and handing Smith a shot to win the set which he didn’t take.
Van Duijvenbode missed more set darts and Smith returned for double four to seal it. Van Duijvenbode though took a 2-0 lead in the following set as he looked to send it all the way.
An 87 checkout on double 18 saw Smith break back as he looked to send it to a decider. He couldn’t get a shot at 111 but returned with Van Duijvenbode capitulating on 71.
A 72 checkout saw Smith send it all the way. He hit his 13th 180 but fluffed his lines on 130 but 76 was missed by Van Duijvenbode. Smith missed 87 on the bull and Van Duijvenbode hit double four to send it all the way.
Smith struck first with a 14th 180 and double 20. Van Duijvenbode hit an 85 checkout with Smith waiting to break on double six.
Smith hit back-to-back 180’s and double 16 to go one away. He hit a 17th 180 but fluffed his lines on 92 but Van Duijvenbode did too on 68.
Smith missed three match darts and Van Duijvenbode sent it to a tiebreak. The former equalled the record with 29 in all, 18 of which hit by Smith.
It was a 19th for Smith who left Van Duijvenbode in the dust pinning double 20 to go one away. But the Dutchman made it 3-3. He made it 4-4 with a 127. Smith went 5-4 up though meaning he’d definitely throw for it.
A 76 checkout saw Van Duijvenbode send it to sudden death. Smith missed 89 on double five for the match and Van Duijvenbode hit 71 for the match.
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