Lakeside World Professional 2015 draw and early review

With the Lakeside draw announced, the world has learnt who will face who in the preliminary and first rounds of the biggest event in the BDO calendar.

Our man in Havana has hovered his magnifying glass over a few of the particularly tasty fixtures, plus one or two that might not seem so tasty on the surface, but have a succulent centre ready to be devoured.

So, in case you haven’t seen yet, here’s the draw for the men’s preliminary and first rounds.

 

MENS PRELIMINARY ROUND

                               vs

 

Seigo Asada                          Brian Dawson

Eddy Sims                            Cedric Waegemans

Peter Sajwani                        Sam Head

David Cameron                     Michael van der Horst

Karel Sedlacek                      Paul Coughlin

Mike Day                              Jeff Smith

Jim Widmayer                       Rhys Hayden

Willem Mandingers                Daniel Larsson  

 

MENS 1ST ROUND

                                 vs

 

Robbie Green                         Darius Labanauskas

James Wilson                        Peter Sajwani/Sam Head

Gary Robson                          Eddy Sims/Cedric Waegemans

Wesley Harms                       Mike Day/Jeff Smith

Jeffrey de Graaf                     Seigo Asada/Brian Dawson

Martin Phillips                        Madars Razma

Remco van Eijden                  Geert de Vos

Scott Mitchell                         Tony O’Shea

Darryl Fitton                           Paul Jennings

Alan Norris                             Willem Mandingers/Daniel Larsson

Jamie Hughes                        David Cameron/Michel van der Horst

Glen Durrant                          Karel Sedlacek/Paul Coughlin

Ross Montgomery                  Pip Blackwell

Scott Waites                          Sam Hewson

Rick Hofsta                           Jim Widmayer/Rhys Hayden

Martin Adams                        Jan Dekker

  

There are several that jump out here.  The last match to be played in the first round, between Martin Adams and Jan Dekker, is the most exciting for me.  It will be a rematch of last year’s quarter final, in which Wolfie was unceremoniously dispatched 5-2 by the Dutchman.  But whereas Dekker has had a fairly uninspiring 2014, Adams has enjoyed a return to form, narrowly missing out on the Winmau World Masters Final and notching a number of televised wins on his ever slackening belt.  It would be a great shame to see any of these bow out in the first round, but that’s what the Lakeside is all about.

 

My prediction:  Adams to win, but expect a fight from Dekker.

 

Scott Mitchell vs Tony O’Shea is another fixture that should really come about later in the tournament.  Mitchell, who has enjoyed a fantastic 2014, has never progressed beyond the second round of the prestigious tournament.  But I expect we’ll see a confident, rejuvenated Scotty Dog this time around after winning a number of big tournaments this year, including September’s British Open and most recently the televised Top of Ghent competition in Belgium.  He’ll face the three time finalist O’Shea, who has had a fairly uneventful year coming into this tournament, reaching only one final in all of his efforts.  A legend at the Lakeside, but one who’s fall from grace is likely to be consolidated by a quickly emerging star.

 

My prediction: Scott Mitchell to win

 

I think Robbie Green vs Darius Labanauskas is a great opener too.  Labanauskas is actually at 150/1 to win the tournament  - the joint least likely.  But I think both men could win this.  The Lithuanian has won a number of Baltic-region tournaments this year and was a finalist at the Europe Cup Singles.  Kong, despite starting the year strongly with wins at the Scottish and Isle of Man Opens, has failed to reach a final since.  Labanauskas is yet to establish himself on the Lakeside stage, but don’t rule out a major upset here. 

 

My prediction: Robbie Green should win, but a 5er on Labanauskas could be worse spent.

 

The other clashes, as far as I’m concerned, should go with the favourites.  Having seen their first round pairings, I’d be very surprised not to see the likes of Scott Waites, James Wilson, Ross Montgomery and Martin Phillips progress to the second round.  But this is darts, and I’m all too used to finding myself very surprised. 

The Ladies first round also yields some exciting fixtures - again, here’s the draw for those who are too lazy to Google it.

 

LADIES DRAW

 

                                         vs

Trina Gulliver MBE                          Anneke Kuijten

Deta Hedman                                 Lisa Ashton

Lorraine Winstanley                         Sharon Prins

Rachel Brooks                                Casey Gallagher

Fallon Sherrock                               Maria Mason

Aileen de Graaf                               Paula Jacklin

Anastasia Dobromyslova                 Irina Armstrong

Zoe Jones                                      Sarah Brent  

 

Defending champion Lisa Ashton will play a rematch of last years final against Deta Hedman in what is, to be frank, a cruel first round fixture.  Both of these women could go on to win at the Lakeside this year - one, however, will fall at the first hurdle. 

 

My prediction:  Deta Hedman to snatch it

 

Fallon Sherrock, who is my tip as an outsider favourite, has had a fantastic 2014.  She’ll take on Canadian Maria Mason in what should be a routine win to kick off the youngster’s Lakeside campaign. 

I’d be surprised if she doesn’t make the last 4 this year. 

I expect we’ll see Trina Gulliver and Anastasia Dobromyslova progress with relative ease too. We could be in for a fantastic semi finals with this draw.

With all this being said, the fixture I’ll be keeping the closest eye on is the Men’s preliminary battle between David Cameron and Michael van de Horst.  I had no idea the Prime Minister was such a keen darts player, let alone good enough to compete on the biggest BDO stage of all.  Hopefully the fact he’s playing an immigrant won’t deter him, and we’ll see Cameron progress to face Jamie Hughes in the first round. 

I’ll be revisiting this draw nearer the time where I’ll be having a look at the betting odds and hopefully making you lot a fortune with some tips.  Watch this space.