Gary Anderson (Picture: Lawrence Lustig/PDC)

World Darts results: Gary Anderson through; Callan Rydz wins opening classic

By Ben Coley

10:19 · TUE December 17, 2019

A review of Monday's action at the William Hill World Darts Championship as Gary Anderson impressed and Callan Rydz caused an early upset.

World Championship draw & schedule

Easy for improving Anderson

Gary Anderson showed flashes of the player who has won the PDC World Darts Championship twice before as he raced to a 3-0 victory over Brendan Dolan.

It's been a quiet year for the Flying Scotsman, grounded at times by injury, but after four days of intense practice he showed that he could yet be a factor here in a regulation win.

"Some of it was good," said Anderson. "I've been playing really well on the practice board. Brendan never got going.

"I've been here four days, I've done alright you know? We're getting there. There's a lot of boys out - they're going to spend Christmas at home this year. I'm here.

"Everyone that comes here, everyone can play."

Anderson began the match by taking the first five legs, though the first set was completed with a sub-80 average as his edginess on doubles went unpunished by a lacklustre Dolan.

From there, Anderson quickly improved, taking out 78 and 144 for the first two legs of the second set, and when he started the sixth leg of the match with back-to-back 180s, a whitewash was on the cards.

Dolan avoided that ignominy by taking out 99 to steal the leg, but Anderson responded by holding throw to move into a 2-0 lead.

With the match already appearing to be beyond Dolan's reach, Anderson started the third set with another maximum, and by the end of it, he'd thrown seven in a performance of genuine promise - albeit against an opponent who failed to perform.

Anderson's path to the semi-final has been made simpler by the early exit of Michael Smith, although perhaps he'll be keen not to get carried away following a welcome win in a match many had expected to be tougher than it was.

Rydz wins in dream debut

Callan Rydz enjoyed a dream debut at Alexandra Palace as he held his nerve to beat Steve Lennon 3-2 in a brilliant match to open the fourth day's play.

The Geordie thrower overcame the disappointment of failing to close out his first opportunity, holding his throw and his nerve to win a sudden-death leg against an opponent with far more experience.

Lennon was left to rue a series of misses, including two for the win, as he crashed out on a night many had billed as 'Irish night'.

It was Lennon who started the brighter, taking advantage of an opponent who looked dazzled by the lights to take the first set with a 128 checkout which was completed on the bullseye.

Had Lennon then hit double 16 for a 152 finish in the first leg of the second set, he would perhaps have gone on to win, but after that stray dart his opponent found comfort and showed real class.

First, he capitalised with a 76 finish to get on the board, and that triggered six winning legs in succession for a 2-1 lead.

Lennon bounced back to win the fourth set, also 3-0, only to them go bust in the deciding set to hand Rydz a 2-0 lead and the chance to throw for the match.

Callan Rydz celebrates a brilliant Ally Pally debut

To his credit, Lennon stepped up to keep the match alive, winning the next two legs to force a decider, and it looked like he'd get out of jail after Rydz missed bullseye for a 161 show-stopper.

But Lennon had two more misses left in him, his 23rd and 24th in total, and they proved fatal as his young opponent dug deep to complete the upset on double two.

"That's the best (win) of my career," said Rydz. "I've had a bad year with my family, so this means the world to me.

"I've been playing well all year. That's just topped it off for me. He's class, but he missed his chances - I didn't.

"I get to play the same session as Chris (Dobey), my cousin. It'll be good."

William, it was really nothing

William O'Connor arguably played to a standard lower than that of Lennon, his World Cup partner, yet ran out a 3-0 winner over Marko Kantele.

O'Connor took out 72 on bullseye to win, but for all that victory was never in doubt he left the stage as he had spent the match - shaking his head at a mixed display in which he was fortunate to meet an opponent incapable of capitalising on opportunities.

Kantele's woes when it mattered were summed up nicely by the final leg, where he missed four darts at double before his higher-ranked opponent stepped in to end the suffering.

The match began in that pattern, too, O'Connor trying his best to allow Kantele to establish a foothold. The Irishman ultimately took the first set 3-2, though, and there were a few more positive signs as he eased to the second.

Kanetele's sole maximum paved the way for a hold of throw to start the third set, but he missed the bull in each of the next two legs as O'Connor closed in on the second round.

Victor was secured with a 21-dart finish, O'Connor's average dipping below 90 in a match which he'll be as keen to forget as those in attendance.

"I played absolutely rubbish," confessed O'Connor, who will face Gerwyn Price next. "I've got to be a lot better. He didn't turn up, he didn't play anything like he can play.

"I think I played the player. I felt like I was in an exhibition there, rather than actually playing a game in the World Championship.

"I will improve my doubles and my scoring. I don't care who I've got next. I tell you straight: I'm going to absolutely open him. Whatever he throws at me, he's going to get it back."

No teen dream for Keane

Keane Barry became the third-youngest player to grace the stage at the PDC World Championship, but his inexperience proved costly as Vincent van der Voort ran out a 3-0 winner.

Barry showed flashes of why he's considered a player of real potential, his rapid-fire action unleashing three maximums and a respectable 90-plus average over the course of the match.

But it was telling that the 17-year-old lost deciding legs for both the opening sets, his veteran opponent holding firm under pressure to establish a healthy advantage before dominating the final three legs.

Van der Voort was the sharper of the two on doubles and scored just as well as these free-flowing birds of a feather traded blows, old versus young, in a fine spectacle at Alexandra Palace.

The experience won't be lost on Barry, who returns on Saturday for the Junior World Final.

"I didn't know anything about my opponent," admitted van der Voort. "He's a young kid, and you can see he's got so much talent and potential.

"I had to stay calm and I did the right things at the right moments."

World Darts Championship: Monday results & Tuesday schedule

Monday December 16
Evening Session (1900)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Steve Lennon 2-3 Callan Rydz (First Round)
William O’Connor 3-0 Marko Kantele (First Round)
Vincent van der Voort 3-0 Keane Barry (First Round)
Gary Anderson 3-0 Dolan (Second Round)

Tuesday December 17
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Ryan Searle v Robbie King (First Round)
Cristo Reyes v Lourence Ilagan (First Round)
Rowby-John Rodriguez v Noel Malicdem (First Round)
Krzysztof Ratajski v Zoran Lerchbacher (Second Round)

Evening Session
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Ritchie Edhouse v Boris Koltsov (First Round)
Jose De Sousa v Damon Heta (First Round)
Ted Evetts v Fallon Sherrock (First Round)
Jeffrey de Zwaan v Darin Young (Second Round)

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