"He's a 'Soulger' so let's go to war baby!" - Danny Lauby ready for blockbuster, all-American tie at Lakeside vs Leonard Gates

Danny Lauby Jr. has set up a blockbuster, all-American last-16 tie at Lakeside against Leonard Gates following a very impressive 3-0 win or Jarno Botternberg on Wednesday.

"He's a formidable opponent too. I didn't know much about him leading up to this, but he's a consistently solid player and I just kind of did my own thing," Lauby reflected post-match, having lost just a single leg to his Dutch opponent, who'd dispatched former PDC World Darts Championship semi-finalist Jamie Lewis in his opening match. "I don't think he played his best game but no, it's a good outcome for me."

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Although he's twice played at the PDC World Darts Championship, losing in the first round on both occasions to Ryan Searle and William O'Connor respectively, this was Lauby's first taste of the iconic Lakeside stage. "I got here a day early, I came here yesterday. This is obviously a historical place so I wanted to get here and see the venue," says the 30-year-old. "I remember watching this as a kid. I grew up watching the Embassy and I have a lot of respect for this place. It's so good to finally be here."

"It's not the same as Ally Pally obviously, but the history behind it means a lot. I'm a big history buff and I know what this place means," Lauby continues. "You see the frames on the wall and everything so I've just been trying to take it in."

As mentioned, an all-American tie awaits in the next round against Leonard Gates. "He's a good friend of mine. I've a lot of respect for him as well. We've played lot and won a lot together, played against each other a bunch, so it kind of sucks that it has to be him and me but he's a 'Soulger' so let's go to war baby!" He laughs. 

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