Rock solid from Gary Stone to end Ricky Nauman's run as Jim Widmayer surges through at Lakeside

Gary Stone has returned to the Lakeside this year for the first time in 10 years and has set his stall out early with the Scot getting rid of Ricky Nauman to reach the Last 16 of the 2023 WDF Lakeside World Championship.

Stone went a set down to start the contest, with Nauman brimming with confidence and seemingly all set to take his excellence from his opening match towards the Last 16. He produced finishes of 86, 120 and 137 to take the first set 3-0.

But that was basically all she wrote as Stone took charge of the game on return. He took the second set with a 16, 17 and 19 darter to make it 1-1 and from there produced checkouts of 116, 124 and 121 to surge over the line after an impressive start from Nauman. It was a 91 average in one of the best displays seen yet.

Mark Barilli again could not impress at Lakeside as Jim Widmayer eased to a 3-0 win in a grueling watch. Barilli remains winless and despite being one of the best players on the WDF circuit seems to be like a rabbit in the headlights on the Lakeside stage.

He will likely return as a seed next year too so will aim to finally put his poor run to bed. But that was not today as 'Captain America' found his way through alongside Stone to end the afternoon session.