LAST UPDATE | 16 Dec 2019
LIMERICK’S WILLIAM O’CONNOR has ensured his progression to the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship at London’s Alexandra Palace.
The Cappamore carpenter produced a straight sets win over Finland’s Marko Kantele, averaging 88.23 in a fairly facile 3-0 victory.
Next up for O’Connor is Welshman Gerwyn Price.
“I’ll take the win, that’s all I can take,” O’Connor said when asked about his performance by RTÉ Sport. “It wasn’t great, was it? Marko didn’t turn up, I don’t know. Look, I’ll take the win that’s all I can do.
“Tonight, it is what it is. I still won, and I played the worst game I was probably ever going to play. Ever. And I mean that. I still came out with the win.
“Bring on the next night. I’m not going to play like that, I’m going to drive it into him.”
Willie O'Connor says he'll start from scratch ahead of his @OfficialPDC showdown with @Gezzyprice #rtesport #lovethedarts pic.twitter.com/asOAHwSQEG
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) December 16, 2019
Afterwards, Meath 17-year-old Keane Barry was edged out by experienced Dutch thrower Vincent van der Voort.
It was a much closer-than-it-sounds straight sets victory for van der Voort, though Barry can be confident after his promising Ally Pally debut, in which he hit three 180s.
Fan favourite van der Voort, ranked 33 on the order of merit, is appearing in his 12th World Championship.
If tonight is anything to go by, Duleek youngster Barry — the youngest player at this year’s World Championships — has a bright future ahead.
Earlier this evening in the English capital, Carlow’s Steve Lennon was on the wrong end of a first-round thriller. 21-year-old debutant Callan Rydz prevailed after Lennon missed two match darts.
“I couldn’t have started any better, really, and after the break, I don’t know what happened,” Lennon told RTÉ Sport afterwards. “I just couldn’t seem to play well.
“The same as last year, it’s just horrible to be on the receiving end of it.”
RYDZ WINS ON HIS DEBUT!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 16, 2019
Callan Rydz defeats Steve Lennon in a deciding leg on the biggest day of his career, in the biggest win of his career!
UP NEXT 📺 William O'Connor v Marko Kantele pic.twitter.com/GOWl8LgXrG
And in the final match of the night, Fermanagh’s Brendan Dolan, who won yesterday, fell to two-time champion Gary Anderson.
The Flying Scotsman prevailed on straight sets, as Dolan suffered a disappointing exit.
- Updated 22.47 to include details of Dolan’s defeat.
WINNER!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 16, 2019
Gary Anderson wins nine out of ten legs played as he beats Brendan Dolan in style!
Onto round three for the Flying Scotsman... pic.twitter.com/A2OSpxUV1c
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