Wesley Plaisier wins narrowly on debut at Alexandra Palace and meets Peter Wright in second round of PDC World Darts Championship

Wesley Plaisier struggled to qualify for the second round at the World Darts Championship on Monday afternoon. The Dutchman had to go to the limit to beat Ryusei Azemoto.

Azemoto was one of the unknown participants at the World Darts Championship. However, the Asian could definitely throw a dart and was also not the nicest opponent to play against with his slow pace and enthusiastic celebrations on stage.

In the first set, Plaisier missed on the doubles. He missed chances in the first two legs and trailed 0-2. A 21-darter took him to 1-2, but the set then went to his Japanese opponent with a 13-darter. The darter from Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht then did make it 2-0 in set two, but missed four set arrows in the fourth leg. Azemoto made it 2-2, although the set still went 3-2 to Plaisier.

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Plaisier failed to advance, missing five doubles in the first leg of the third set. He then fell behind 0-2 and had to surrender the set 3-1 after Azemoto threw a 19-darter in the fourth leg.

Azemoto then also won the first leg of set four, after which the turning point came in the second leg. Plaisier finally threw a 180, and then managed to find a triple more and more often. With a 96 finish and a 13-darter he took over the lead and with a 15-darter Plaisier pulled the set 3-1 to himself.

A fifth set had to bring the decision. Plaisier got off to an excellent start by keeping his own leg with a 98 finish. Azemoto missed six chances to equalize, after which Plaisier scored a 23-darter to take a 2-0 lead. The Dutch darter then finished the job with a 16-darter. Tuesday night Plaisier can return to the stage in Ally Pally. Peter Wright awaits him in the second round of the World Darts Championship.