The quest for an American 2023 WDF World Champion ground to a halt at a chilly Frimley Green. It was never going to be easy, though. Men’s sixth seed Dany Lauby faced former World Champion – and #3 seed – Jelle Klaasen, while Paula Murphy took on reiging World Champion and current World #1, Beau Greaves.

Let’s start with the women…

Paula and Beau were first on this evening. Not taking anything away from Paula, but Beau was a huge, huge, favorite. While that tag may be justified, we expected Paula to get some chances – however slim – and when she did, she had to take them. It didn’t happen first leg, as Beau opened 140, 100, 140, and won the leg with ease, despite some missed doubles. Greaves won the second leg even more comfortably, in 14 darts.

A chance arose in the evenly matched third leg. Murphy gave herself a shot at 120, with her opponent on a double. A beautiful T20 first dart promised something special, but the second dart drifted into the fat 1. S19 left tops, but she never got another shot. Against the darts, that could have been big…

Sadly, Paula could not give herself any more opportunities, and Greaves took the set in 16, 18, and 16 darts, and advanced to the semis. Still, I’m sure it was a great learning experience for the Floridian, and she certainly didn’t do any worse than most of Greaves’ victims on the Lakeside stage.

Last clash of the saw saw the rapidfire duo of Lauby and Klaasen go head-to-head. A maximum 180 in each of the first two legs, along with two doubles, gave the American a 2-0 lead. Danny had a pop at 84 to clinch the set, but failed. That was to be the last dart at a double he had in the set. One down.

Two behind in the second set, Lauby started the third leg 180, 100, 100. 57 left 64, and six darts later, he had 8 left. Two sets down. In the third, the pair traded 14-darters (against the serve) before the Dutchman moved ahead. No biggie, and the 2022 World Masters semi-finalist grabbed the next two legs for the set. Game on!

A pair of 15’s gave Klaasen the advantage in the fourth, before a 16 closed the gap. This was followed by another 16. Sadly, it wasn’t thrown by Lauby, so the 2006 Lakeside winner was one set from the semi-finals. A missed chance at 85 by the man from Terre Haute let Klaasen in for the first leg. In the second, he hit a 180 to set up 56, but didn’t get a shot. Danny was to throw just nine more darts as Jelle posted an 11 (180, 96, 140, 85) for the match. That’s the way it goes, sometimes…

Elsewhere today, reigning Men’s Champion Neil Duff was ousted by Dutchman Chris Landman, and Sweden’s Dennis Nilsson posted the highest average of the day (97.44) in his defeat of Wesley Plaisier. In the Women’s, four-time Champ Lisa Ashton edged out last year’s runner-up Kirsty Hutchinson, and Rhian O’Sullivan posted finishes of 68, 70, 76, 77, and 78 in an impressive display against Deta Hedman.

Tomorrow is Semi-Final day.

Full details from DartConnect

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