The third day of the World Darts Championships definitely became Super Sunday as Brendan Dolan, Andy Hamilton, Raymond Van Barneveld and Gary Anderson were all in action. All four managed to progress but with varying degrees of success.
Northern Ireland's Dolan took to the stage first against debutante Mark Jones. Despite not playing at his best, Dolan did manage a 50% checkout success rate which earned him the victory. The opening set saw Dolan take it without conceding. Jones managed to win the first leg of the second set but it would be only leg he would win in the whole match. Dolan completed the match with a 120-checkout to make a little statement but he will be looking to improve on his scoring in the second round.
It may be difficult for Dolan though as he faces a rampant Van Barneveld in the next round. The Dutchman faced Michael Smith and the game was over after just 18-minutes. Smith would also only take one leg in the entire match and that came in the opening leg. Barney was largely flawless throughout and stormed the second set with an incredible 125.3 average which included a 121-checkout. This performance was the best so far in the first round and has really set his stall out for this tournament, rounding the match off with a 111-finish.
It wasn't such an easy ride for Hamilton who faced James Richardson, the man to take Barney out in the first round last year. Richardson looked to continue from where he left off against Barney after taking the first 3-1, Hamilton hitting a 100-checkout in his only leg. Hamilton responded in deadly fashion with a 3-0 second set victory, including a 122-checkout.
Richardson did have the opportunity to win the third set, but Hamilton responded to win it 3-2 and take the lead in the match. A ton checkout from Richardson forced a deciding leg in the fourth set but Hamilton won it to brush off a tough task and make it into the second round.
Taking nothing away from Van Barneveld, the performance of the night may have to go to Finland's Jani Haavista. The World Championship debutant has definitely been the best Preliminary winner thus far, despite ultimately losing to Anderson over four sets.
Haavista's night began against his fellow Finn and good friend, Jarkko Komula. This was also perhaps the best preliminary qualifier as both players was hitting trebles galore. After Komula took the opening leg, he had to level the match at 2-2. Haavista then took the following two legs to book his place against Anderson.
Anderson became the second seed to average over 100 and he absolutely needed to, to see off the resilient Finn. It started looking like the Scot would win at a canter after taking the first set without conceding. But the second set would go with throw to give Haavista the second set. The Finn was extraordinary in the third set with checkouts of 107 and 130. But the set actually went with throw to give Anderson a 2-1 lead. Haavista still wasn't down and out and ended up levelling the set to force a deciding leg. But Anderson took the leg to see off the plucky Finn and book his place in the second round.
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