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Nathan Aspinall faced a challenging start to his World Darts Championship campaign, barely managing to secure a victory over Leonard Gates, winning 3-1. This match came on a night that also featured a remarkable nine-dart finish by Christian Kist, though he ultimately lost his match.
Aspinall, keen to avoid a repeat of last year’s early exit at this stage, was able to advance into the next round, which will take place after Christmas.
Gates, having triumphed over Cameron Menzies in a tense first-round encounter, showed promising skills in the early stages against Aspinall. However, Aspinall managed to maintain his composure and eventually pulled ahead after a tight contest.
World Darts Championship: Night Four Results
- Jim Williams 2-3 Paolo Nebrida (R1)
- Madars Razma 3-1 Christian Kist (R1)
- Ricky Evans 3-2 Gordon Mathers (R1)
- Nathan Aspinall 3-1 Leonard Gates (R2)
Aspinall expressed his relief following the match, stating, “I’m relieved to come through that. It was a very tough game.” He acknowledged the pressure he faced going into the tournament due to recent scrutiny over his performance. “I felt really good coming into the tournament, but I put myself under too much pressure to perform tonight,” he noted. “I want to show my talent and go deep in this tournament. It wasn’t pretty, but I won, and now I can enjoy Christmas before returning stronger.”
Despite a shaky performance, where Aspinall’s average dipped below 80 in the second set, he still showed glimpses of his potential. After an initial setback, where he allowed Gates to level the match, Aspinall improved over the final sets, ultimately prevailing despite some nervy moments.
Kist’s Nine-Darter and Subsequent Defeat
Christian Kist achieved a stunning nine-darter, marking the 15th such accomplishment in the history of the World Darts Championship. Unfortunately for Kist, despite this highlight, he couldn’t secure a victory against Madars Razma, who remained steady under pressure, winning three straight sets after Kist’s stellar opening.
Kist’s nine-dart finish earned him a £60,000 cash prize, a gift for a fortunate spectator in attendance, and a donation to Prostate Cancer by tournament sponsors, highlighting the significance of the moment.
PDC World Darts Championship Nine-Darters
- 2009: Raymond van Barneveld
- 2010: Raymond van Barneveld
- 2011: Adrian Lewis
- 2013: Dean Winstanley
- 2013: Michael van Gerwen
- 2014: Terry Jenkins
- 2014: Kyle Anderson
- 2015: Adrian Lewis
- 2016: Gary Anderson
- 2021: James Wade
- 2022: William Borland
- 2022: Darius Labanauskas
- 2022: Gerwyn Price
- 2023: Michael Smith
- 2024: Christian Kist
Reflecting on the nine-darter, Kist remarked, “The nine-darter was an amazing moment… I hope Kris enjoys the money.” He expressed a bit of disappointment regarding his early exit but considered the monetary reward a potential avenue for a getaway.
Ricky Evans encountered a tumultuous match against Gordon Mathers, ultimately edging out a 3-2 victory in a final-set decider. This hard-fought win allows Evans to progress toward facing sixth seed Dave Chisnall in the next round.
Earlier, Jim Williams had his chance but squandered five match darts in a narrow 3-2 defeat to Paolo Nebrida, missing key opportunities in a match that slipped away from him.
What’s Next?
The action continues on Thursday, December 19, with live coverage beginning at 12:30 PM on Sky Sports Darts. The lineup will feature various matches, including Chris Landman versus Lok Yin Lee and former champion Michael Smith against Kevin Doets in the evening session.
The anticipation builds as fans eagerly await to see who will emerge victoriously in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, which will be broadcasted live until January 3 on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel.
Source
www.skysports.com