Ben Robb dispatches Johan Engstrom to book Neil Duff Lakeside clash as James Beeton edges nervy Dennis Nilsson decider

It is the first full day of action at the 2025 WDF World Championship at the home of world darts Lakeside and it was a day to remember for a Kiwi duo in Ben Robb and Caleb Hope.

Robb has previously played on the Ally Pally stage five times but didn't qualify this time around. He has often snubbed Lakeside in favour of Ally Pally but he plays both systems. He has lost though five years he has played despite 'Big Rig' priorly showing promise.

He could be a man for the big occasion this week as if he gets past his next tie, he would've averted two of the so-called big fish in the tournament. The first was the so-called Sweet Ferret in Johan Engstrom.

He won through 3-1 in sets coming from a set down to win the next three and he now faces off against Neil Duff, the 2022 Lakeside World Champion. Engstrom was emphatic to start his debut taking the first set 3-0 with a 100 average as Robb no doubt would've been thinking here I go again when it comes to the big stage.

But he hit back with a 52 checkout to make it 1-1 before taking out 11 after missing 113 but it was still for a 14-darter. He hit double 10 to get back on the board and seal the set. His run continued with a 56 checkout and double six to break and go 2-0 up in the third set and with Engstrom not even on a finish, he sealed the deal on double 19 to make it 2-1.

Engstrom finally broke the duck with an 81 checkout but Robb continued to be on a roll and he sealed a 72 checkout before going one away on double 20. He claimed the win from there with little to no resolve from the Swede. He now faces Neil Duff. Having averaged 91 and finally being able to get into a tournament for once, could this be Robb's year.

Caleb Hope also made the 12,000 mile journey over and he was rewarded with an emphatic win over Darren Johnson. Perhaps a surprise given the relative experience of the player known as 'DJ' but it was Hope that won out. He survived a set dart from Johnson pinning double 18 in the process. But he then led the match winning three on the spin to take the second set including a 15-dart break of throw.

He led 2-0 and added the finishing touches from there. Now he faces Liam Maendl-Lawrance tomorrow afternoon who came very close to sealing the spot that Arno Merk received at the World Darts Championship through the German Super League but will relish the Lakeside chance again this time around.

Eve Watson could yet be one to watch too in the ladies draw with the Welshwoman finding her way past Joanne Hadley averaging a superb 78 in the process in a display that won't get beat by many on that Lakeside stage especially in the early stages.

A wide open tournament this year, Watson won the Isle of Man double to help book her spot at Lakeside and showed no nerves on that famous stage winning 2-0. She now faces former finalist Aileen de Graaf and if she beats her, no doubt she will think of where she can go especially after only dropping a singular leg in winning through.

Jitka Cisarova vs Maud Jansson was more of a war of attrition but the Czech ace despite both sets going the distance managed to win through in the end for the second successive year. She will face Rhian O'Sullivan on Thursday for a spot in the Quarter-Finals.

Finally to end the afternoon, James Beeton secured a superb deciding set win over Dennis Nilsson in a match that throughout had five sets written all over it.

Beeton was on the board early punishing three missed set darts from NIlsson to take the opener. The Swede levelled up the contest with a 14-darter kicking off a three leg run that saw him win the second set 3-1.

But Beeton went back in front producing superb finishes of 101 and 129 on his way to winning the third set 3-1. But it went all the way with Nilsson producing a tops tops 100 finish to seal the fourth set. Beeton though produced when it looked likely to go to a decider hitting a 120 checkout to move through. He is first into the Last 16.