WDF World Championship Sunday afternoon Round-up | Liam Maendl-Lawrance campaign at Lakeside over after Caleb Hope dumps out German seed

The 13th seed Liam Maendl-Lawrance suffered a surprising 3-0 defeat to the hands of Caleb Hope in the second round of the WDF World Championship.

It did not go to plan from the start for the German. After the pair both held throw, he missed a dart at the bull before Hope secured an all-important break of throw. He followed that up with a checkout of 98 in two as he drew first blood. It could have got even better for Hope after he missed double 18 for a showstopping 153 checkout to break again. Maendl-Lawrance made him pay as the second set went to a decider. The New Zealander was there again to pounce in the golden opportunity, streaking ahead before finding tops to go one away from the third round.

It was relentless from Hope. While Maendl-Lawrance was stranded on 20, he took out 112 to break the throw. This time, the German was there to break instantly back, finally getting to take out 20 on double 10. He turned up the class with a 14-darter via an 82 checkout on double 16. He then missed double eight for the set, with Hope showing how it is done. He then missed three match darts, allowing Maendl-Lawrance opportunities to stay in the tournament. He did not take them, and Hope’s magical run continues at Lakeside.

Dalibor Smolik came from a set down to get the better of his Finnish opponent Marko Kantele 3-1. After a pair of holds, it looked like Smolik had the upper hand after breaking the throw. Despite this, set darts came and went with Kantele striking first, pinning double 16 the first time of asking amid more missed set darts from Smolik. The Czech darter missed double 13 for an impressive 119 checkout but was able to return to deliver a break of throw and go 2-0 ahead. He wrapped up the second set on double 10 to brings proceedings all square. Three breaks on the spin commenced the third set. Smolik, who had found himself 2-1 ahead, managed to find the quality needed on his throw to go ahead in sets for the first time in the tie. He rounded off the tie in sublime fashion, taking out 127 on double eight to secure his spot in round two.

Stephen Rosney is back at the WDF World Championships after three-year absence. He marked his return with a commanding 3-0 win over debutant Jim McEwan. The signs were promising early on as the Irishman accelerated into a 2-0 advantage. However, McEwan was not going to let him run away with it. While Rosney fluffed his lines, the Scot clawed his way back into it, taking out 74 to level. Rosney had the advantage of throwing for the set, and took it to propel himself away. Deja-vu struck in the second set as Rosney went into a 2-0 lead, but found himself level two legs later. A clinical 120 checkout from McEwan forced a deciding leg, which once more Rosney won, surviving chances from his opponent. It was a lot more straightforward in the third and inevitably final set. McEwan will rue the doubles he squandered to prolong the tie but in the end his opponent took his doubles at the right time to progress.

Former quarter-finalist Priscilla Steenbergen produced the goods in a 2-0 win over Nina Lech-Musialska. The Pole had already had experience on the oche in this event with a commanding win against Mayumi Ouchi in a preliminary clash. The standard would need to improve if she wanted to have a chance to seriously challenge for a spot in the next round, but it did not. Steenbergen started with a 76 checkout for a 15-darter but sloppiness on the outer-ring allowed Lech-Musialska get her first leg. After falling behind once more, she had the chance to force a deciding leg for the set but missed tops for a 117 checkout. She failed to clean up as Steenbergen raced in front. It was a great response from Lech-Musialska. She raced into a 2-0 lead but could not close it out. Missed doubles consistently opened the door for the Dutchwoman, who made no mistake in getting the job done.

Paula Murphy is the oldest competitor at Lakeside this year, at 69-years-old. However, her experience could not come in handy as Emine Dursun took her down 2-0 in a debut triumph. The Turkish darter did not let her rival even have a dart on the outer ring in the opening set. She capped it off with a brilliant 104 checkout to send her halfway to a spot in the next round. She did meet more stubborn competition in the second set. After Murphy took out 63, she was 2-0 ahead and poised to level up proceedings. But this would be the last legs she would win. Murphy missed two set darts and was ruthlessly punished by Dursun who ran away with the match. The 24-year-old pinned tops for a 17-darter and will feature again in the coming days.