29/10/2020

Kleermaker dumps out defending champion Cross, Clayton sets up tie with De Sousa after edging past Hopp

The top seed has gone in Joe Cullen and the defending champion is also heading home early in the form of Rob Cross with Martijn Kleermaker producing a brilliant display to set up a mouthwatering tie with Devon Petersen in the second round.

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It was a 6-3 win for Kleermaker with the Dutch Giant surviving a mini comeback of sorts after going 5-1 up and seemingly towards the finishing line.

The tie could have been so much different with Cross hitting a 180 and 130 checkout to take the opening leg but Kleermaker hit back immediately with a 74 checkout to make it 1-1.

He broke throw early doors with a 97 checkout to go 2-1 up before a 107 checkout to hold consolidated this. Cross was punished for three missed darts at double with Kleermaker hitting a 100 checkout to make it 4-1.

He went one away with double 10 to make it 5-1 but Cross hit back to back legs to attempt to turn it around but it proved little more than a consolation as the former came through.

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For home hope Max Hopp though, he has headed out of proceedings with Jonny Clayton through to a tie with Jose de Sousa tomorrow in another top tie set up for the second round.

Clayton had to survive two match darts though from Hopp to see off 'The Maximiser' in a decider with a 98.8 average and 50% on the doubles.

Hopp looked to have the impetus late on after coming from 3-2 down to smash in a 170 checkout to go 5-3 up. But the pressure tolled in the late stages with Clayton claiming the throw after Hopp missed a match dart at the bull.

From there, Clayton went on to win it on double eight with Hopp missing another match dart off a 102 checkout on double 20 and the former returned for double eight and victory.