A review of the action on the seventh day of the PDC World Darts Championship as Michael Smith is forced to work hard for victory.
Smith makes it through
Michael Smith was pushed all the way as he beat Steve Lennon 3-2 for a place in the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship.
The 13th seed hit 10 maximums and finished with a 92.6 three-dart average but he was taken to the limit by an impressive showing from Lennon.
Smith took the opening two sets but Irishman Lennon battled back to take the contest to a decider.
'Bully Boy' Smith had fans dreaming of a nine-darter when hitting two 180s in a row in the second leg of the fifth set and that helped him move to the brink of victory.
He missed his first go for the win at double 20 but double 10 was quickly hit to secure a clash against Rob Cross in the second round.
"The first two sets I was struggling but found myself 2-0 up," Smith told Sky Sports. "I wanted to win it quick at the end and fair play to Steve as he pushed me.
"I need to get more consistent for the next round. I was more nervous for that match then before I played Phil Taylor here. I was shaking in the first set and thought ‘what’s going on, I should be the more experienced player’."
Wizard finally waves his magic wand
Simon Whitlock and Martin Schindler served up a highly disappointing showdown but eventually the 10th seeded Australian battled through 3-1.
In a match where both players averaged under 90 and missed 56 darts at doubles between them, the Wizard sealed victory win on the bullseye to take out a classy 127.
The encounter will be remembered for the farcical first leg of the third set when 24 darts at doubles were missed as both players ended up in madhouse, with five successive busted visits before Schinder finally landed double one.
Pipe blows a sigh of relief
Justin Pipe survived two match darts from New Zealand qualifier Bernie Smith to book a second-round date with the retiring Phil Taylor.
The Force looked on course for an easy night when taking six of the opening seven legs to surge into a 2-0 lead but Smith, who defeated Chinese teenager Xiao Chen Zong in a preliminary contest earlier in the night, stormed back in sensational fashion as he landed checkouts of 121, 117, 104 en route to levelling the match.
Leading 2-1 in the deciding set, Smith spurned a dart at double 20 and then one at double 10 after Pipe had initially missed his own chance to level but the Englishman returned to take out tops.
With both players needing to win the decider by two clear legs, it was Pipe who prevailed 4-2 but he'll need to play a lot better if he's to stand a chance against the Power.
Wednesday's results
Evening Session
First Round (Best of 5)/Prelim (Best of 3)
- Xiao Chen Zong 0-2 Bernie Smith (P)
- Michael Smith 3-2 Steve Lennon
- Simon Whitlock 3-1 Martin Schindler
- Justin Pipe 3-2 Bernie Smith
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