SMITH SAILS THROUGH! A solid start from Ross Smith who eases his way into the second round with a comfortable 6-2 victory over Scott Williams! 📺 bit.ly/PCF23Live #PCF | R1
Ross Smith and Ryan Searle with strong opening wins to reach second round in Minehead
PDCFriday, 24 November 2023 at 14:55
Ross Smith and Ryan Searle are among the first names to qualify for the second round at the Players Championship Finals in Minehead on Friday afternoon.
Smith was convincingly 6-2 too strong for Scott Williams. 'Smudger' grabbed a 3-1 lead with two 15-darters and a 12-darter, before Williams connected via double 16 to make it 3-2. Smith then threw another 12-darter and then decided the game with an 18-darter and a 17-darter.
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Searle handled Boris Krcmar (6-4) after a high-quality match. The Croatian surprisingly took a 2-0 lead with a 15-darter and a 110 finish, but Searle then countered with an 11-darter and a 128 finish. Heavy Metal took over the lead with a 15-darter. With two 14-darters the Englishman then ran out to 5-2. Krcmar fought his way back to 5-4 before Searle won the match with a 16-darter.
Radek Szaganski managed to get the win against Ian White in a very mediocre match. Partly due to many missed doubles, both players threw an average of just 82. However, Szaganski was slightly better scoring than White and therefore created slightly more chances on the doubles, giving the victory 6-2 to the Pole.
Luke Woodhouse was responsible for the elimination of Simon Whitlock. The latter led 1-3, but then saw Woodhouse take four legs in a row. However, Woodhouse still struggled to finish the match. He missed six matchdarts in the ninth leg, allowing Whitlock to make it 4-5 with a 100 finish. Eventually the eighth matchdart was hit for Woodhouse, making it 6-4.
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- 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
- It happens. Remember, anyone who has watched German and Dutch players in matches - their respective countries will have seen/heard just as bad jeering (if not worse). Taylor and MVG are two prime examples of professionals who are able to cope with the crowds mentally and not take it personally. This is not just an English crowd problem, FFS.MrYnyslas197116-11-2024
- Was watching an old World Masters final the other day between Eric Bristow and John Lowe, the crowd respect for both players on throw was first class, not a sound. You can imagine now the idiots who were whistling on De Deckers throw proudly boasting about it on social media. I blame the PDC to a certain extent though doubt they really care as they win regardless of which player wins or loses.Mysstree16-11-2024