2024 Lakeside World Championship – Day 8

Well, in all my years of watching the World Championship, I think I can safely say that I have just witnessed the most incredible – certainly from an American standpoint – session ever seen at Lakeside! In short, we are faced tomorrow with an intriguing Men’s Semi-Final, between a current ADO superstar, and an ADO superstar from years gone by.

Yes, Tennessee’s Jason Brandon survived an amazing fightback by former World Champ Neil Duff, to reach the Semi, where he will take on former ADO #1, Paul Lim, who fought every inch of the way to defeat the highly-fancied Jarno Bottenberg.

After a brilliant opening Boys’ Semi-Final, where Top-seeded Jenson Walker recorded a 92.56 average in his clash with Mason Teese, 18-year-old Scot, Sophie McKinlay inflicted a superb 2-0 defeat on Women’s #2 seed, Aileen De Graaf.

Then it was Jason Brandon’s turn…

A nervy first leg saw the man from Cowan edge into the lead. The next two went to the Northern Irishman (aided by a sweet 156 checkout), before legs of 13 and 17 gave the American the set. A brace of 17’s and another 13 made it 2-0. The third set went all the way, but importantly, it too went Brandon’s way. Needing just one set for victory, our hopes were high.

The fourth set also went all the way, and Jason had a shot at 70 for the match. Sadly, the third dart meant for D8 slipped into the D16. Duff didn’t give him another shot. It was a similar story in the fifth set. It got to leg 5, and the Charlotte Open champ had a pop at 47 – for the match. The S7 was good, but the other two darts weren’t, and it was soon 3-2 in sets. Three match darts already… The sixth set went – unsurprisingly – all the way. Fifth leg, Brandon had a shot at 114 for the match. Again, it wasn’t to be, and we tied at 3-3.

Two legs down in the last set, it didn’t look good for the American. Still, 2-0 became 2-1. Next leg, Duff got down to a very manageable 89. with his opponent sitting on somewhat manageable (but very trick) 18. Tricky, you say? Not a bit of it! A pair of T20’s and a D14 smack in the middle forced a last leg-tiebreaker. Fortunately, Brandon had the start, and that proved crucial as he got three darts at the remaining 16 – and he only needed two!

What a match, and what emotion. An absolutely sensational tussle in which neithed deserved to lose. The main thing was, we now had an American Semi-Finalist for the first time in years. I think Rick Ney was the last, way back in 1988.

Next match up was the last Women’s Quarter-final between Beau Greaves and Jitka Cisarova. It wasn’t totally one-sided as Cisarova won a couple of legs, including a nice 13-darter, which was the best of the match. Still, it was the twice World Champion who advanced.

Now, it was left to Lim and Bottenberg to round out the evening.

Paul broke serve, and won the first set 3-2, only for the Dutchman to do the same second set. The man from Singapore did the same third set! Missed doubles in the fourth hurt Lim, but he regained the lead by clinching the fifth with a tidy check from 107. The sixth set was over in a flash, as Bottenberg posted legs of 12 and 13 on the way to forcing a decider.

Lim won the first, checking out from 100, and a quick 14 made it 2-0. Three missed darts at 40 gave Bottenberg to close the gap, which he gratefully did. The pair were neck-and-neck in the fourth leg, with both posting 180’s. The 22-year-old got his nose in front, and left 44 after just 12 darts. Only thing was, Lim was at the oche with 78 left. Two darts later, he set up a Semi-final clash with Jason Brandon!

Another amazing match that kept swinging one way, and then the other, but with another perfect ending!

So, tomorrow sees the Semi-Finals of all four events (Men, Women, Boys, and Girls). Jason Brandon and Paul Lim are last match on tomorrow night. The aftenoon session starts at 2.00pm local (9.00am Eastern), and the evening session starts at 7.00pm local (2.00pm Eastern).

Don’t forget, you can watch all tomorrow’s action live on Great! Game, and get full match details at DartConnect

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