quarters was to be Rick Hofstra after his opponent Martin Atkins was
forced to retire with a tendon injury during their second round clash
with the Dutchman leading 2-0 at the time.
Photo: Tip Top Pics Ltd/Chris Sargent
2013 semi-finalist Wesley Harms’ run at the 2014 championship was
ended by an in form Tony Eccles, although it took the Hartlepool basedthrower all seven sets to come through the match and set up a quarter
final clash with Robbie Green who impressed again as he overcame
Gary Robson 4-1.
In the bottom half of the draw Alan Norris continued his good form as
he overcame a fancied outsider in the form of Glen Durrant and James
Wilson also made a first Lakeside quarter final after his second round
victory over Scott Mitchell.
The quarter final line-up was completed by Martin Adams, who
overcame Scotland’s Ross Montgomery 4-1, and Jan Dekker who
defeated Belgium’s only challenger Geert de Vos 4-2.
Quarter Finals
Robbie Green was put under pressure in the opening leg of his quarter
final match with Tony Eccles but he managed to hold throw thanks to
an important 124 checkout. With a leg under his belt the Wirral-based
thrower settled in and went on to win the opening set 3-2, before
averaging nearly 105 as he took the second set 3-1.
The former World Masters runner-up quickly added a third set, before
Eccles, who himself was throwing good darts, got off the mark with a
3-1 victory in the fourth set. After the break Green extended his lead
to 4-1, before missed match darts in the sixth set allowed Eccles to
close the gap as finishing line fever set in for Green.
Kong composed himself well though and went on to take the match
5-2 in relative comfort, booking his spot in the semi-finals and settling
down to await the result of the next match.
Stephen Bunting’s quarter final victory was altogether more difficult to
achieve, the number one seed found himself 2-0 down after spurning
multiple set darts during the early stages of the match. A solid hold of
throw in the third set got the Winmau World
Masters champion off the mark,
before it was Hofstra’s turn to
miss two crucial set doubles
in the fourth.
Photo: Tip Top Pics Ltd/Chris Sargent
The
two
missed
doubles from Hofstra
Photos: Tip Top Pics Ltd/Chris Sargent