Alan Soutar is through to the Last 16 for the second consecutive year at the PDC World Darts Championship in yet another comeback win at the Alexandra Palace as 'Soots' came from 2-0 down to seal a 4-2 victory over Danny Noppert.
Noppert was superb in the opening two sets but fell off a cliff as Soutar surged and produced sublime finishing including a 152 and 130 checkout en route in a display which featured five 180's, 50% on the doubles and a 93 average.
Noppert went five darts into a nine-dart finish before pinning double 20 for an 11-darter to break. He held on double 16 to go one away from the opening set. He missed set darts averaging around 109 and Soutar held with a superb 95 checkout on the bull.
But Noppert returned to hold with a 104 checkout to seal the opening set. A 180 and double 12 saw him hold throw to begin the second set. Fourth 180 and double 20 saw him break and go one away from 2-0. Double 10 was pinned by Noppert for 2-0 in sets.
A 68 checkout saw Noppert break again to begin set three. He missed 66 to hold and Soutar sealed a second leg breaking to make it 1-1. Soutar held on double four to go one away from a set back which he claimed on double six.
It was a fourth consecutive leg as Soutar hit 68 to lead in the fourth set. Noppert missed 76 to stop a mini rot and Soutar went one away from levelling up.
Noppert missed the bull for an 83 checkout but returned with Soutar missing double nijne for a 138 checkout.
Noppert missed the big number and so only got one dart to hold and missed it but set darts came and went for Soutar. Only for Noppert to be chasing again and handing another shot to Soutar who hit double two for 2-2.
Noppert stopped the rot hitting double eight to break. Soutar missed 84 on the bull but returned to break back on double eight.
Noppert shaded the bull for 128 and Soutar got a chance at double nine to hold and go one away from 3-2 in sets. A 152 checkout took it for Soutar.
He followed that up with back-to-back 180’s and a 76 checkout to lead with a break. A 130 checkout saw him go one away and he sealed it on double 20.