Glen Durrant has gone some way to avenging his World
Matchplay semi-final defeat to
Dimitri van den Bergh with a 6-3 win over the Belgian
on the opening night of the
World Series of Darts Finals.
Durrant reeled off four straight legs from 3-2 down to see
off Van den Bergh – with the latter as was referenced in the
PDC Autumn Series
had a knee brace after an injury he suffered after his win in Milton Keynes. Next
for the Premier League leader is Michael van Gerwen as they renew hostilities.
Neither player was at their best in the opening exchanges
but it was Durrant who took the opening leg before Van den Bergh levelled it up
with an 11-darter in the form of an 82 checkout.
They went in at the break still on throw but Van den Bergh
held the edge with a 3-2 lead with an 85 average, punishing only 20% on the
doubles from Durrant.
Durrant though returned from the break and started to play
better claiming a pivotal break to go 4-3 up before suddenly going one away taking
out 65 on double four to make it 5-3.
Again on Van den Bergh’s throw, he produced a 15-darter with
a 79 checkout to make it four legs on the spin and claim victory over the World
Matchplay champion.
Steve Beaton is also through after battling past
Simon Whitlock in a last leg thriller which saw 'The Bronzed Adonis' edge past 'The Wizard' and set up a clash with Rob Cross tomorrow.
Beaton looked to win at 5-4 up but a clutch 108 checkout saw Whitlock send it all the way in a leg where he had the throw but the former Lakeside World Champion produced a brilliant last leg to win through.
Whitlock started the better of the two and claimed a 120
checkout to double his lead over Beaton in the early going. Beaton responded
with a 104 checkout to break back for 2-1. At the break though, Beaton kept in
touch at 3-2 behind with both players averaging mid 80’s.
When they returned, Beaton returned to make it three legs on
the spin for ‘The Bronzed Adonis’ claiming a break to go 4-3. Whitlock broke back
with a 180 followed by an 86 checkout to square it up at 4-4.
The breaks continued though as Beaton took out 104 to break
again and go one away at 5-4. He couldn’t serve out the match though despite
being sat on 32 as Whitlock smashed in a 108 to force a decider.
Beaton missed double 12 for a 144 for victory but was left
on double 12 which he pinned first time for victory.
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World
Series of Darts Finals , including the tournament bracket,
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Schedule
World Series of Darts Finals 2020
Friday
September 18 (1900 BST)
First Round
Harry
Ward (85.35) 2-6 (91.43) Darius Labanauskas
Ian
White (89.72) 5-6 (89.41) Damon Heta
Cody
Harris (89.72) 6-2 (78.92) Dave Chisnall
Vincent
van der Voort (95.94) 6-0 (83.73) Joe Cullen
Jeff Smith
(86.57) 6-5 (85.11) Fallon Sherrock
Krzysztof
Ratajski (99.71) 6-3 (102.64) Mensur Suljovic
Glen
Durrant (95.82) 6-3 (85.88) Dimitri Van den Bergh
Simon
Whitlock (85.38) 5-6 (89.23) Steve Beaton