Thibault Tricole is the first French world finalist and continues to make history at the 2022 WDF
Lakeside World Championship and will now face Neil Duff tomorrow afternoon.
Tricole took it in a nail biter 5-4 finally sealing it after around four sets of match darts and the number two seed will take aim at becoming a first time World Champion.
An 86 checkout on the bull saw Menzies hold to begin the tie. Tricole held throw to continue the opening set. Menzies hit double 20 to go 2-1 up.
Tricole missed 76 to take it all the way but returned for double 10 to make it 2-2. A 139 set up to leave 40 with Menzies only able to pressure saw the Frenchman take the set on double 10.
An 80 checkout on double five saw Tricole hold throw to begin set two. A 76 checkout saw Menzies draw level. Again it went with a hold in a 72 checkout as Tricole made it 2-1. Menzies hit double 16 to send it all the way again.
Tricole hit another maximum and was down to 41 after nine which he pinned on double eight to go 2-0 up.
Menzies missed 112 for an opening hold but Tricole couldn’t pounce on 76. But Menzies couldn’t hit either and the Frenchman returned for double two.
Menzies pinned 80 to break back and made it 1-1. A 180 and double six saw Menzies take the lead and go one away from a set back.
Menzies missed 123 and Tricole levelled up. A 112 checkout saw Menzies claim a set back. A 56 checkout saw Menzies break to go 1-0 up.
A 48 checkout saw Tricole break back. He missed 146 on double 16 and Menzies replied on double four to go 2-1 up throwing to level up which he sealed to make it 2-2.
Tricole hit a 65 checkout to go 2-1 up and one away from a 3-2 lead. Both missed set darts but Tricole hit double two to go 3-2. Both held throw to begin the requisite set.
Tricole missed 96 for a 2-1 but Menzies missed 75 allowing the Frenchman back for a 2-1 lead and he went one set from the final.
Later in the semi-final though, Tricole missed five match darts which allowed Menzies back despite missing many match darts prior and it was 4-4.
The momentum was with Menzies as he pinned double 12 to hold. Tricole hit back with a 96 checkout. Tricole went one away on double eight.
He hit a 180 and left double eight to seal the win but he missed 11 match darts in all. Menzies continued to miss though and Tricole hit double one for the win.