Despite a superb display on his Ally Pally debut, Danny Lauby was edged out by England’s Ryan Searle.

Lauby became the first ever former ADO National Youth Champion to take the stage at a senior World Championship, and but for some missed doubles, could have secured a second round clash with Jeffrey de Zwaan.

Searle took the first set in straight legs, before the man from Terre Haute, IN, got on the scoreboard with a great 13-darter. A brace of 15’s (including a brilliant 148 checkout for the set) leveled the score. The Englishman needed just 41 darts – for an average of almost 110 – to restore his lead, but Lauby bounced back to take the match to a fifth and deciding set.

The first three legs of the set went with the darts, which meant Danny was starting the fourth. Keeping the advantage, the 28-year-old just failed to convert a 115 finish. Sadly, six more darts weren’t enough to find the winning dart, and Searle wrapped it up by hitting Double 1.

Florida’s Danny Baggish is in action on Saturday.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login