James Richardson advances to second round with solid performance as Jim Widmayer seals dramatic win

James Richardson has qualified for the second round of the WDF World Championship at Lakeside with a solid performance. The experienced Englishman dealt with Christian Goedl in the first round.

Richardson won the first set 3-1 and then seemed to decide the game in two sets. An 18-darter and a 14-darter gave 'Ruthless' a 2-0 lead in the second set. But Richardson was not so ruthless for a while, as the second set went 2-3 to Goedl. Richardson then put his house in order and thanks to an 11-darter, the deciding set went 3-1 to Richardson.

Then Aletta Wajer was the first Dutch player to take the stage at this edition of Lakeside. In a mediocre match with averages in the low sixties, Wajer proved 2-0 in sets too strong for Paula Jacklin, who has not won a single set in her seven appearances.

The third game of Saturday night's match was won by Jim Widmayer. The first set went 3-2 to Widmayer, before Patrik Kovacs managed to force a deciding set. Kovacs grabbed the lead in the final set with a 15-darter, but Widmayer broke right back with a 14-darter. The American then decided the match with an 84 finish and a 16-darter.