At the WDF World Championship, we have now reached the third day. Sunday there are again a lot of matches from the first and second round of the men's and women's tournament on the program. Among others, four-time women's world champion Lisa Ashton will be in action for the first time.
In the first match of the afternoon session, Sybren Gijbels may try to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots Brian Raman and François Schweyen, both of whom have already qualified for the third round. Gijbels, who is making his debut at a World Cup will take on Kevin Luke in the first round. The 46-year-old American was there once before at the WDF World Championship, when he lost 2-0 to Steve Hine in the first round in 2022.
Next it is the turn of Lorraine Hyde and Mayumi Ouchi. For Hyde it is her third participation in the WDF World Championship, last year she lost in the second round 2-0 to the later world champion Beau Greaves. Ouchi also has some experience at Lakeside, last year she went down 2-0 in the first round against Kirsty Hutchinson.
In the third match of the afternoon session it sees the 21-year-old James Beeton face off with his nine-year elder opponent Bradley Kirk, is a debutant at this World Championship. Afterwards follows another women's match. In it, 67-year-old Paula Jacklin, who was called up for this World Cup only late after Mary-Anne Teinaki canceled, will take on Paula Murphy. Jacklin never made it past the first round in seven previous participations; her American opponent also reached the quarter-finals last year, but lost 2-0 to Greaves.
The afternoon session will conclude with the match between Edwin Torbjörnsson and Shane McGuirk. It will be interesting to see if McGuirk can reach the same level as in his opening match against Mark Barilli. The Irishman had an average of 92.81 and is the only player who averaged over 90 for the time being.
In the evening session, Aaron Turner and Jeff Springer will be first in action. Turner, husband of Laura Turner, lost to Ricky Nauman in the first round last year, for American Springer it is his debut at a World Championship.
Ashton
And then it's the turn of the biggest name in the program on Sunday. Lisa Ashton, four-time world champion with the BDO, will take on Sophie McKinlay in her opening match. For the 18-year-old Scot, who won the WDF Europe Cup in youth this year, it will be her debut at a World Championship.
Afterwards, with Cliff Prior against Scott Walters, we get another all-English duel. Prior, this year's winner of the Welsh Classic, is making his debut at a World Championship. Walters already was in action in the opening round, defeating Craig Brown 2-0.
With Nicole Regnaud against Wandy Harper, the penultimate match of the evening is an all-New Zealand duel. Regnaud went down 2-1 against Aileen de Graaf in the second round last year. Harper won her opening match this year by defeating Gréta Tekauer 2-0.
Rounding out the evening will be Mike Gillet and Ky Smith. Gillet is there for the second consecutive year at the World Championship, last year the Welshman went down 2-1 against Liam Maendl-Lawrence in the opening round. Smith attended the PDC World Championship in 2022, but makes his debut at this year's WDF.
Although the tournament cannot be televised in the UK until finals weekend, interested parties can follow the tournament via a live stream. All operations will be broadcast on the YouTube channel of GREAT! game. This means anyone with an Internet connection can watch all 10 tournament days for free, no matter where they are in the world.
The total prize pool for the WDF Lakeside World Championship includes £221,000 in prize money. That is a lot less than in 2023, when it was £257,000.
The main prize for the winner of the men's and women's tournament did remain the same. The winner in the men's will take home 50,000 pounds in prize money. The winner in the women's will receive a check for 25,000 pounds.
Gentlemen
First round: Best of 3 sets
Second round: Best of 5 sets
Third round: Best of 5 sets
Quarterfinals: Best of 7 sets
Semifinals: Best of 9 sets
Final: Best of 11 sets
Ladies
First round: Best of 3 sets
Second round: Best of 3 sets
Quarterfinals: Best of 3 sets
Semifinals: Best of 5 sets
Final: Best of 7 sets
Sunday, Dec. 1
Afternoon session (from 1 p.m.)
Sybren Gijbels v Kevin Luke (R1 men)
Lorraine Hyde v Mayumi Ouchi (R1 ladies)
James Beeton v Bradley Kirk (R1 men)
Paula Murphy v Paula Jacklin (R1 ladies)
Edwin Torbjornsson v Shane McGuirk (R2 men)
Aaron Turner v Jeff Springer Jr (R1 men)
Lisa Ashton v Sophie McKinlay (R1 ladies)
Cliff Porter v Scott Walters (R2 men)
Nicole Regnaud v Wendy Harper (R2 ladies)
Mike Gillet v Ky Smith (R1 men)
Two seeds fell on an entertaining night of action at the Lakeside!
— WDF Darts (@DartsWDF) November 30, 2024
Full recap of tonight's winners and losers 👇 pic.twitter.com/39EdQHF7ob