Rock-solid Stone rolls into Last 16 clash with Lim as rampant Rietbergen shocks O'Sullivan

Gary Stone has taken out Dennis Nilsson as the rock solid Scot edged past the Swedish strongman to reach the Last 16 at the 2024 WDF Lakeside World Championship at Lakeside.

Stone saw off Nilsson 3-2 in sets and will now face Paul Lim for a spot in the Quarter-Finals. Always superb on his scoring, Stone has yet to put it together in the main event but could do just that this week.

He took the opening set pinning 93 to break Nilsson's throw in the deciding leg. Nilsson levelled it up from there in what was a closely ran affair which could've easily been 2-0 to Stone. He missed five set darts and Nilsson pinned double 14 in the deciding leg of the set.

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Nilsson started to move away winning six legs on the spin finding double 20 to move in front for the first time. But Stone stayed alive. He produced a three leg burst to take the fourth set to nil. Nilsson pinned 66 for a 15-darter to go into the lead. Stone though in a grueling second leg which saw both miss a shedload of doubles to make it 1-1.

But this spurred him on as Stone took a break and then held throw with a scoring burst and pounced on more misses from Nilsson.

While Stone did what was expected though. The same can't be said for Rhian O'Sullivan who was shocked by young Dutchwoman, Lerena Rietbergen.

An unknown quantity on debut but in truth she produced a display only better by Beau Greaves thus far to dump out one of the favourites for the title. As well as a third seed and former finalist. It opens up the bottom section and she won with ease in straight sets.

The highlight of which was a 118 checkout en route to the victory that was one of the least expected thus far in both draws.