Heading into the fifth day of the event, American eyes will again be focused on Larry Butler.  In a rematch of the 2015 World Masters final, Butler will be taking on World #1 and top seed Glen Durrant.  The pair have engaged in a couple of titanic battles in recent months, most famously in the final of the 2015 World Masters, won of course by Durrant.  Let’s not forget though, that Butler had edged out the Englishman a couple of days earlier, on his way to qualification for the Grand Slam of Darts.  Whatever happens, this should be another classic, and it all happens at 1.00pm local time (that’s 8.00am Eastern/7.00am Central).

Back to the action from yesterday (Day four)…

With no American in action, Canadian Jeff Smith represented the entire continent – and what a way to do it!  A stunning 3-0 victory over three-time Lakeside World Champion Martin Adams propelled Smith into the top 16 in some style.  It wasn’t that Adams played badly either, and the Englishman recorded the best leg of the tournament so far with a quick 10-darter (180, 140, 165, 16).  Just as well he hit the double, as Smith had opened 140,  140, 121!

Smith now faces Brian Dawson this evening.

The other men’s winners yesterday were quite a cosmopolitan bunch, with Englishmen Dawson and Mark McGeeney being joined by Geert de Vos (Belgium), Wesley Harms (Netherlands), and Latvian Madars Razma.

With two ladies matches being played yesterday, it was a good day for the English.  Deta Hedman beat Australian Corrine Hammond 2-0, while Zoe Jones advanced at the expense of New Zealander Tina Osborne.  Jones now faces Ann-Louise Peters (conqueror of #2 seed Fallon Sherrock), while Hedman awaits the winner of the Lorraine Winstanley/Rachel Brooks contest.

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