Steve Beaton's 33rd participation in the
World Darts Championship came to an end in the second round. 'The Bronzed Adonis' lost 3-1 in sets to a strong
Daryl Gurney.
With an average of 100.79, Gurney played one of his best matches ever at the World Darts Championship. The two-time major winner also posted a 44 percent finishing percentage.
Gurney was sharp from the start and started the match with a 14-darter. The Northern Irishman then broke Beaton with a 13-darter and took the first set 3-0 in his own leg. 'Superchin' missed six chances in the first leg of set two to break Beaton, but in the third leg he succeeded. A 13-darter gave him a 2-1 lead, after which he won the second set with a 56 finish.
Beaton then brought the tension back by winning the third set and 59-year-old Englishman then also led 2-1 in the fourth set. However, two great finishes by Gurney killed Beaton. First, Gurney made it 2-2 with a fantastic 132 finish (BULL, BULL, D16), then 'Superchin' decided the match with a 136 check-out.
