BDO Lakeside World Championship (Day Five)

Larry Butler’s charge through the Lakeside field was brought to an abrupt end today by top seed and World #1, Glen Durrant.  Unusually for Butler, the doubles really let him down, and each time, the 2015 World Master stepped in.

Durrant started off in style, posting finishes of 104 (after his opponent wired a shot at 126) and 141 on his way to the first set).  The second set went the same way as the first, but again, wiring the bull (this time on 135) cost Butler.  It’s always tough when you are two sets down, and Durrant made it even tougher, taking the first two legs of the third in 14 and 15 (with a 148 checkout).  In both of these legs, though, “The Eagle” had a chance to finish should Durrant have missed.  After pulling back to 2-1 in the third, Butler should have tied the set, but again, the winning double proved elusive.

Onto set four, and the American was still in there fighting.  Durrant refused to give him a shot at 50 in the first leg, and after hitting his third 180 of the match, Butler should have taken leg two, but didn’t.  With the former World Matchplay Champion sitting nicely poised on 40, Durrant again stepped in to deny him the opportunity to close the gap, and sealed an impressive win for himself.

After a wonderful 2015, it wasn’t the start to 2016 that Larry Butler wanted, but it happens.  One thing is for certain – he will be back!

With Butler gone, that left Jeff Smith as the lone surviving North American.  After his match tonight against Brian Dawson, the Canadian is still going strong, thanks to a 4-1 triumph over the Englishman.  There were two other English players to advance tonight, with Jamie Hughes and Dennis Harbour both securing their places in the quarter-finals.  Harbour now takes on Jeff Smith, while Hughes faces Dutchman Wesley Harms.  In the battle of the last two World Cup singles champs, 2013 winner Harms edged out 2015 winner Jim Williams (Wales) 4-3.

With just the one ladies’ match today, Lorraine Winstanley stormed to victory with a fine 2-0 triumph over Rachel Brooks.  What’s more, Winstanley recorded the highest average of the week with a mighty 28.06, and sealed the W with a nice 13-darter (180, 100, 100, 81, 40).  She takes on #3 seed Deta Hedman in the next round.

Tomorrow’s play sees a number of big names taking to the stage, and Deta Hedman, Lisa Ashton, Zoe Jones, Aileen de Graaf, Trina Gulliver MBE, Scott Waites, and Scott Mitchell have ALL lifted world titles previously – and all are in action tomorrow.

However, the day starts with the final of the World Youth Championship.  Joshua Richardson (England) and Jordan Boyce (Republic of Ireland) will be battling it out to see who becomes the first BDO World Champion of 2016.

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