LAKESIDE WORLD PROFESSIONAL 1st ROUND DRAW MATCH SYNOPSIS.
Ian White vs Stephen Bunting.
White^s 2009 has been modest - with two quarter-final appearances in small open contests as his best form - this is his first Lakeside appearance and it remains to be seen if the big stage and TV cameras are to his liking. Bunting is a promising young player who already has a lot of big stage experience under his belt. He is a regular top 32 finisher in the BDO tournaments and won the BDO World Grand Prix in September. On his best form he should win here.
Winner - Bunting.
Tony O^ Shea vs Robbie Green.
The tie of the round and a shame one of these players will be leaving early. O^ Shea is the form-horse of the BDO circuit and his GSOD form has shown he can also cut it with the PDC big guns. Green^s 2009 form has been patchy - although his World Masters runner-up finish - a game he should actually have won, indicate he can play and the short format is often a darting lottery. However an in-form ^Silverback^ should win.
Winner - O^Shea.
Joey Ten Berge vs Brian Woods.
Ten Berge is another young player fresh off the Dutch darting production line - although sometimes erratic he is potentially a very good player. Woods also lacks cosistency - although he was one tournament in Holland this year and with the additional minefield of the short format this is the proverbial flip of the coin. The verdict goes to Ten Berge for no other reason than a strong Dutch presence in the crowd might inspire him to victory.
Winner - Ten Berge.
Alan Norris vs Robert Wagner.
The clash of the darting wanderers as the English-born Norris - a former Swedish international who now lives in Scotland, meets the Austrian-born Norwegian resident Wagner. Norris is a steady if unspectacular performer on the BDO circuit, whilst Wagner is a frustratingly erratic performer who is capapble of some great darts. If Wagner can put together a performance he is the winner.
Winner - Wagner.
John Walton vs Willy van der Wiel.
As a former winner of the competition, Walton knows what the Lakeside is all about. His 2009 has been reasonable with a Flanders Open win as the highlight. Dutchman van der Wiel has made steady progress in 2009 and has regularly made the last 32 of BDO contests. He will have benefitted from the experience of a last 32 finish in the 2009 Lakeside Championship and could well spring a surprise here against the more well-known Walton.
Winner - van der Wiel.
Ted Hankey vs Gary Robson.
Hankey can be brilliant or terrible and is often affected by factors off the oche, however his 2009 has been ok - with one open win and four open-runner-up slots to his credit. Robson is a regular top 32 finisher on the BDO circuit, but if Hankey brings his A game to the oche he should win, but with Ted, the word if is a big consideration.
Winner - Hankey.
Mark Barilli vs Tony West.
Both players come into the tournament having done litle of note in 2009, so a poor form-guide and the short-format make a confident prediction an impossibility. West is given the nod on the basis that he may recapture something resembling the form that once won him the World Masters crown. Although even that statement is made with little evidence to suggest that is a likelihood, It also takes into account that West^s greatest darting hour occurred in 2003.
Winner - West.
Darryl Fitton vs Dave Chisnall.
Fitton is a talent, but his CV does not reflect his ability and one wonders why. His 2009 started well with 2 open wins, but petered out therafter. Chisnall - a county colleague of ^The Dazzler^ will know his more illustrious colleagues game well and has himself enjoyed a very good 2009 - with three open victories to his credit. A potential banana skin for Fitton and a game he may not relish.
Winner - Chisnall.
John Henderson vs Mareno Michels.
Burly Scotsman Henderson might be built for comfort not speed but he can throw a dart and his 2009 form includes four tournament wins. Michels is yet another fresh young Dutch talent - his time may come but Hendo should have enough to make sure it is not for now.
Winner - Henderson.
Scott Waites vs Paul Hanvidge.
Waites is another whose talents have not resulted in the number of titles they should have but as his GSOD form shows he can mix it with the PDC big guns.
He should have enough for Hanvidge - who whilst a solid player is more artisan than artsist.
Winner - Waites.
Martin Atkins vs Paul Carter.
Atkins has more big TV experience than Carter, but on 2009 form there isn^t much to separate the two. Carter may freeze, or he may find the Lakeside stage to his liking - therein lies the key to the game. Atkins is given the nod on the basis that he doesn^t.
Winner - Atkins.
Dave Prins vs Martin Phillips.
Another coin-flip as both are solid enough players who are enjoying similar form in 2009. Phillips edges it on experience. Prins gets the nod on vim and vigour. The short format is also a factor and a confident prediction is not easy. Phillips experience may win the day - but is offered as a result predictor with no great confidence.
Winner - Phillips.
Steve West vs Martin McCloskey.
West is a solid performer on the BDO circuit and should have enough here. McCloskey is a relative unknown - although in qualifying for the Lakeside he can obviously throw a dart. However it is unlikely he will have the game to trouble West who gets the nod.
Winner - West.
Ross Montgomery vs Garry Thompson.
Another evenly matched contest which sees two solid perfomers locking horns. Montgomery is someone who is due a decent run in one of the BDO televised tournaments and it could well be here - on that somewhat speculative basis he is given the nod over Thompson.
Winner - Montgomery.
Scott Mitchell vs Daryl Gurney.
Two players with potentially big futures in the game. Gurney was unlucky not to beat Martin Adams last year and he could well be better for that experience. On that form and with 12 months more game time under his belt he could have a big tournament. Mitchell has been making steady progress on the BDO circuit however the TV cameras presence is a new experience - it isn^t for Gurney.
Winner - Gurney.
Martin Adams vs Anthony Fleet.
Conspiracy theorists may have plenty to discuss as BDO poster-boy and Lakeside sponsored Martin Adams gets a seemingly easy tie against unheralded Aussie qualifier. Either way it is difficult to see any other result than an Adams victory.
Winner- Adams.