Hopp holds his nerve to defeat Van de Pas in deciding set victory

Max Hopp who came into the 2020 PDC World Championship as the 24th seed was expected to fly through potentially against Benito van de Pas but this wasn't the case.

Van de Pas as usual at the World Championship found a way to send it all the way and Hopp had to hold his nerve in the end in a deciding set to claim victory and defeat the plucky Dutchman and not become the latest seed to fall.

To begin, Hopp claimed the first set after being 2-1 down initially against Van de Pas, he hit an 11-darter in the deciding leg to do so with Van de Pas averaging just 75.

Van de Pas came back and produced a brilliant 158 checkout and this proved a catalyst as he went on to claim the second set 3-1 with a 14-darter.

Hopp produced a brilliant 104 checkout to double his lead from there but Van de Pas came back to break and hit a 62 finish to halve the deficit.

He squared it up with a 107 checkout but Hopp kept his cool to regain the upper hand. In the next set it was once again moments of brilliance as Hopp hit a brilliant 128 checkout for one a piece but it was Van de Pas who somehow took the set to force a decider 3-1.

Hopp though had the killer instinct in the final set though and he surged to the victory in the end to not become the latest seed to head out.

Click here for more information on the PDC World Darts Championship, which takes place at the Alexandra Palace between December 13 and January 1.

PDC World Darts Championship 2020 schedule

Friday December 20, evening session (Second Round)

Nathan Aspinall (95.38) 3-1 (90.92) Danny Baggish
Joe Cullen (92.47) 1-3 (93.05) Nico Kurz
Max Hopp (90.03) 3-2 (84.73) Benito van de Pas
Peter Wright v Noel Malicdem

https://twitter.com/OfficialPDC/status/1208149655177039879?s=20

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