𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗪𝗜𝗡𝗦 𝗔 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗥 De Sousa is OUT ❌ This packed out Winter Gardens crowd have been treated to a classic, as Michael Smith clinches a spot in the quarter-finals after a 13-11 win over Jose de Sousa!
Smith battles back to deny De Sousa in World Matchplay tie-break thriller
PDCWednesday, 21 July 2021 at 21:25
Michael Smith is through to the Quarter-Finals of the 2021 World Matchplay seeing off one of the main favourites for the title in Jose de Sousa in an absolute thriller.
Smith battled back from the brink to deny 'The Special One' in a tiebreak 13-11 with a 99.7 average to claim his place in the next round.
Smith started the better of the two to begin the tie having a slim 3-2 lead at the interval following in a 180 with a 64 checkout.
He soon move 4-2 ahead to go two clear for the first time and held to make it 5-2 to look to leave De Sousa in the dust.
But at the next interval, the game had a very different feel about it with three consecutive legs for De Sousa allowing himself to get back on level terms at 5-5.
Smith returned and hit back-to-back 180's before pinning double 20 regaining the lead in the process. But De Sousa held himself before gaining a potentially pivotal break with 80 on two double 20's to make it 7-6.
From one De Sousa trademark to another, he produced a miscount but got away with it by pinning double one to make it 8-6 and he made it two clear from there at 9-7 as he moved within only two of the Quarter-Finals.
But despite De Sousa then going one away at 10-8, Smith wasn't lying down and took out 71 to flip the match into a tiebreak with the first one of the tournament.
It was again though advantage De Sousa who took double eight to break but Smith fought on with an incredible 108 checkout to save it after De Sousa missed a match dart and he broke back.
It was now 'Bully Boy's turn to throw for the lead at 11-11 and he claimed it with double five to make it 12-11. Could he see the match out?
De Sousa got a shot at 108 to prolong the tie but missed it and Smith returned for 104 missing that himself for the match.
But again when given the chance, De Sousa didn't take it and Smith smashed in double 10 first time for the win.
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- More roid rage than nonsenserichieburnettrocks18-12-2024
- Even the wild crowd went easy on him... we really have gone soft in this country. He should now play in the men's events and try and recover a smidgen of respect, rather than take advantage of the women's game.MrYnyslas197118-12-2024
- The bloke wouldn't get any abuse if he just earned his way in instead of putting on lipstick and larping as a bird.thebogeyman17-12-2024
- Imagine what he'd be like if he done it on TV.medinabello15-12-2024
- Moot point Wattemina will beat him anyways so he will have an early Xmas after all.medinabello15-12-2024
- Grow up mate it's a game of darts surely a player has the capacity to play more than 1 best of 5 set match in one evening.medinabello15-12-2024
- Modus will be good for him. Great comp.medinabello15-12-2024
- I'm with Asp here. If they moan about it don't pick them. Simple as.medinabello15-12-2024
- We don't need the Saudi's money and prohibitive laws. Simply take the World's to other countries like Germany, Holland, Scotland, Poland, Belgium. Not only will you get sell out crowds with bigger venues but it will also freshen up the comp a bit. Let's face it Ally Pally is getting a bit boring now. Imagine 10,000 in Berlin, Rotterdam, Brussels etc.medinabello15-12-2024
- Am probably going to be in a small minority, i would not miss the walk ons, best part used to be the lovely ladies which obviously now makes me a misogynist. Its all part of the razzamatazz show business side and its not that long so not something that winds me up however some of the walk on choices are abysmal while some work, MVG and Seven Nation Army being an example. Dimi the Dancer is / was just awful and Peter Wrights is old hat now.Mysstree14-12-2024