HEARTBREAK FOR BORIS Michael Smith shows his quality as he denies Boris Krcmar's 108 average, as 'Bully Boy' clinches a deciding leg victory! 📺 Up next 👉 Rob Cross v Jason Lowe
Smith defies 108 average to defeat Krcmar, Cross safely through with victory over Lowe
PDCFriday, 27 November 2020 at 16:02
Michael Smith and Rob Cross are through on the opening day of the Players Championship Finals while there have been some shocks over on Stage Two.
Smith was facing a familiar foe in Boris Krcmar who has beaten him a few times this year but was making his debut in the tournament.
In the end, 'Bully Boy' came through with a thrilling 6-5 victory over 'The Biggest' but defied a 108 average in the process to come through.
Krcmar moved 2-0 up in the opening stage but Smith returned with a 142 checkout on his way to levelling it up at 2-2.
The multiple Soft Tip World Champion headed into the interval with a 127 checkout to move 3-2 up but a brilliant and pivotal clutch 145 saw Smith move 4-3 up.
It was level from there on out but in the decider with Krcmar unable to muster a shot at a 116 checkout, Smith hit double 10 for the win.
While his World Cup partner proved too strong for Jason Lowe with Rob Cross coming through safely in a 6-3 win with a 98.3 average and 6/7 on the doubles en route.
Like alluded to though, the shocks came on the outer stages with Ryan Murray edging past Stephen Bunting in a 6-4 win with back-to-back checkouts of 138 and 121.
While 'Evil Charlie' Karel Sedlacek punished 14 missed darts at double from Krzysztof Ratajski to book his place in Round Two 6-4.
Players Championship Finals 2020 schedule
Friday, November 27
First round
Afternoon session (from 13:45)
Main stage
Dirk van Duijvenbode (101.16) 6-4 (102.85) William O'Connor
Michael Smith (100.18) 6-5 (107.79) Boris Krcmar
Rob Cross (98.34) 6-3 (94.15) Jason Lowe
Joe Cullen v Adam Hunt
Devon Petersen v Luke Humphries
Ryan Searle v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Adrian Lewis v Simon Whitlock
Stage 2
Brendan Dolan (97.71) 4-6 (99.04) Luke Woodhouse
Ryan Joyce (93.19) 4-6 (94.57) Andy Boulton
Stephen Bunting (89.63) 4-6 (90.04) Ryan Murray
Krzysztof Ratajski (93.63) 4-6 (86.36) Karel Sedlacek
Gabriel Clemens v Martijn Kleermaker
Ian White v William Borland
Jonny Clayton v Mickey Mansell
Daryl Gurney v Callan Rydz
Dave Chisnall v Mervyn King
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- Oh, dear... how will we cope now?MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- They really are going through an insipid spell - at present.MrYnyslas197122-11-2024
- Well done Mike – good to move on and look to the future. With his talent, and increasing confidence on stage, he'll be a force to be reckoned with in the month ahead.
UndartedWaters22-11-2024 - It's called talent and good on him.medinabello21-11-2024
- There are 30 Players Championship rounds to play first throughout the year and you have to be in the top 64 to get to the finals. This is probably the hardest Major to win as its the top 128 players at each event or the top ranked Challenge Tour players if any tour card holders drop out.Mysstree20-11-2024