Statement Shane: McGuirk produces best display so far at Lakeside and Swedish Lion Lejon sets up Van Schie showdown

Shane McGuirk has produced the best display of the 2024 WDF Lakeside World Championship thus far with 'The Arrow' who was seen by many as a real dark horse shout for the title seeing off Mark Barili with a 92 average.

It is misery for the Scot who continues to not produce on the Lakeside stage. It has now been seven straight opening defeats for him as he has never produced the potential that he has shown in winning titles on the tour.

But McGuirk who has shown his talent on both codes in the past could be one to really watch this week. Albeit despite the one sided 2-0 scoreline as sets produce, it was actually pretty even to start albeit McGuirk with a brace of 16 darts and averaging just under 94 was biding his time to strike on Barili's throw which went from being super slow to rapid.

But McGuirk really took the second set by the scruff of the neck as he edged towards the finishing line. He started with a 180 and double 20 for a 13-darter on Barili's throw and consolidated that. As is the case with the first to three set format best of two, it is very much who wins the first leg is in pole position and albeit an 18-darter, he produced a showpiece finish pinning 140 for the win. He now faces Edwin Torbjörnsson who is the 13th seed.

Wendy Harper is also through from the second game in the afternoon. She saw off Greta Tekauer who showed the makings of a solid throw and had a good start.

But she spurned a 2-0 lead as Harper found her way through 3-2 and she won the second a bit more easier 3-1. It is a tough test next though as she faces Nicole Regnaud who is fancied a bit like McGuirk in the men's draw as an outsider for the title and has a gear up from Harper's opening display.

While Swedish Lion, Bjorn Lejon marked his Lakeside debut with a victory over Hungarian ace Patrik Kovacs. He now has a real task though. He faces off against Jimmy van Schie who himself will embark on MODUS Super Series finals night tonight so is in some form.

Lejon started off superbly showing little nerves on his Lakeside debut. He opened his charge with some great combination finishing and only didn't win the set 3-0 due to busting his shot. He still claimed it 3-1 with a 64 and 42 checkout en route.

Kovacs looked to the heavens as if to say where were you last set as he went 1-0 up holding throw. Both were missing double 10 consistently but Lejon told the crowd to raise the noise and pinned double five for 1-1.

Kovacs missed 126 for 2-1 but Lejon missed double 12 for 97. The former roared at the crowd after hitting double three for 2-1. Lejon sent it all the way at 2-2. He hit a 72 checkout to seal it superbly.