Meikle vs RVB in Round 2
Ryan Meikle survived a late comeback from PDC Women’s Series Number 1 Lisa Ashton to qualify for the Second Round of the Cazoo 2023 World Darts Championship, claiming a 3-2 win to get past the First Round again at the Alexandra Palace.
The Red Dragon man started strong, including an 87 checkout to take a 2-0 lead in sets against the Lancashire Rose who was on the hunt for her first win on the world stage.
The Bolton born thrower battled back in sets three and four, despite Meikle missing a match dart on the bull to wrap up a 3-1 win.
The 25-year-old will face former five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld in the Second Round, finding two breaks of throw to win the fifth set without reply on the oche. The Barber has enjoyed the best year of his darting career and will be hoping to return to the Ally Pally after Christmas, a feet he is yet to achieve.
Simon Whitlock showed experience matters as he beat Christian Perez 3-2 in the afternoon session, with the Philippian making his debut on the world stage. The pair met at the recent Grand Slam of Darts in the group stages, a contest in which the Wizard won.
History repeated itself at the World Championship, with the recent World Cup of Darts winner including one ton plus checkout of 112 in the second set. The Winmau man sets up a Second-Round date with former Grand Slam of Darts champion Jose de Sousa, who has dropped ten rankings in the PDC Order of Merit in 2022.
Former World Matchplay champion Dimitri van den Bergh included a 164 checkout to end the hopes of Lourence Llagen, who beat Rowby-John Rodriguez in the First Round on Friday.
The Dream Maker makes it past the Second Round having lost at the same stage twelve months ago, and could face Krzysztof Ratajski in the Last 32 if the Polish Eagle can get past his Round 2 draw.
Future star Josh Rock included a 150 checkout on his debut at the Alexandra Palace, beating Spaniard Jose Justicia 3-1 to face last year’s Quarter Finalist and 23rd Seed Callan Rydz in the Second Round.
Rocky hit a nine darter at the Grand Slam of Darts against Michael van Gerwen in the Last 16 and will be confident of his chances against the Riot having also averaged over 121 on the PDC Pro Tour.
Elsewhere, the 2023 World Championship lost its first seeded player after Daryl Gurney fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Alan Soutar, who wrapped up victory on the oche with a 160 checkout.
The tournament continues Sunday live on Sky Sports Darts, with the likes of Jeff Smith in action against Belgian star Mike de Decker for the right to face former Champions League of Darts winner Mensur Suljovic in the Second Round.
By Harry Masterson
2023 Cazoo World Darts Championship: Day 3 Results
Round 1:
Martin Lukeman 3-0 Nobuhiro Yamamoto
Simon Whitlock 3-0 Christian Perez
Adam Gawlas 3-2 Richie Burnett
Ryan Meikle 3-2 Lisa Ashton
Cameron Menzies 3-1 Diogo Portela
Josh Rock 3-1 Jose Justicia
Round 2:
Alan Soutar 3-0 Daryl Gurney (24)
Dimitri van den Bergh (15) 3-0 Lourence Llagen