"Michael didn't play well at all, I had a great opportunity to pinch the match" - Beaton laments disappointing World Matchplay showing
PDCWednesday, 02 August 2023 at 10:30
Steve Beaton got to compete at this year's World Matchplay for the first time since 2020. But that turned out to be a disappointment thanks to a first-round exit.
Beaton went down 10-2 in the opening round against Michael Smith. "In practice I felt great. Half an hour beforehand I didn't have a problem but it just never happened for me up there," said the legendary, 59-year-old Englishman in conversation with Winmau.
Read also
"Maybe it's because we were late going on. It's a long day waiting to play but like I said I felt good, it just didn't happen for me once I got up there," analyses the former world champion.
Missed opportunity
Beaton only achieved an average of 81.54, but Smith himself did not get above 90 either. "It's so annoying you know. You work hard to get there and then the one game you want to play well you can't. Michael didn't play well at all, I had a great opportunity to pinch the match," concluded 'The Bronzed Adonis'
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- Am not outraged and as said above i dont like anyone from any country doing it to anyone from any country. Whoever is going for a double should have best of order.Mysstree17-11-2024
- Say what? It happens in other countries; Littler in January - this year (Holland), go and watch the evidence on YouTube. If it is going to be done to English players, then we are more than entitled to dish the same back when players face off in England. When it happened to Littler in Holland in January... where was your outrage then? ABE attitude.MrYnyslas197117-11-2024
- I dont like individuals or crowds trying to put any player off when they are trying to check out, how anyone can think its okay for the crowd to whistle or shout as someone is throwing for a double is beyond me but it does seem to have become part and parcel of the modern game. I no longer play now, darts is as good as dead at a local level round my way but when i did play many years ago, no matter how intense the rivalry you never shouted out or whistled when an opponent from the other team was throwing for a double.Mysstree17-11-2024
- The pundits glossing over the other factor at play in that match. They appear to be somewhat constrained in what they can say publicly.
UndartedWaters16-11-2024 - So, you don't like Littler, then? I was cheering him on, being a fellow Englishman. Honestly, some of us get far too offended nowadays. If you want to see crowd passion... watch a match when German and Dutch players face off... that can be just as bad if not worse for crowd noises. It happens, I have watched and heard Littler being jeered - Dirk van Duijvenbode in Holland, January this year. Where was your outrage then? Yes, I can clearly see what is going on here.MrYnyslas197116-11-2024