SCOTLAND’S WILLIAM BORLAND produced a brilliant nine-dart finish at the William Hill World Championship to clinch a 3-2 first-round win against Bradley Brooks.
With the scores locked at 2-2 in the deciding set Borland, from East Calder, struck perfection with three treble 20s, followed by two more and treble 19 on his second visit.
The 25-year-old then hit two more treble 20s and finished on double 12 to send the Alexandra Palace crowd into raptures on his World Championship debut.
Blackburn’s Brooks, 21, had hit back from 2-0 down in the decider, having reeled off three successive legs to win the fourth set and extend the match.
Borland’s effort was the 11th nine-dart finish at the World Championship and the first since Gary Anderson completed the feat in his semi-final win against Jelle Klaasen in 2016.
Paul Lim was the first player to achieve a nine-dart finish on the biggest stage in 1990 at the BDO World Championship.
𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄. 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓. 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒.
— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 17, 2021
William Borland wins his match against Bradley Brooks with a nine-darter! Stunning. 🤩
📺 Sky Sports Darts
✍️ Live Blog: https://t.co/WxAapT83XW
#️⃣ #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/XHn6uPBc3h
The Singapore veteran, who made his World Championship debut in 1982, was denied a place in the second round of this year’s tournament after being edged out 3-2 by Joe Murnan.
But 67-year-old Lim pushed his opponent all the way, taking the match to a deciding set after Murnan had missed match darts in the fourth.
Second seed Peter Wright, world champion in 2020, was not at his best but still proved to good for fellow Englishman Ryan Meikle, who he defeated 3-0 to reach the third round.
𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2021
More missed doubles from Wright but the only stat that matters is that he leads 2-0 in sets and 2-0 in legs!
He's a leg away from victory... pic.twitter.com/0gPsUt67Ez
Kent’s Ross Smith booked his place in the second round with a comfortable 3-0 win against Canada’s Jeff Smith.
Earlier on Friday, Poland’s 12th seed Krzysztof Ratajski became the first seeded player to be knocked out after losing 3-1 to Irishman Steve Lennon in a second-round clash.
Russia’s Boris Koltsov produced dazzling 121 and 130 checkouts as he whitewashed Dutchman Jermaine Wattimena 3-0 to reach the second round for the first time.
Irish teenager Keane Barry marked his tournament debut by edging past first-round opponent Royden Lam 3-2 and Newcastle’s Ryan Joyce clinched a deciding leg after letting slip a two-set lead to beat Czech Roman Benecky by the same score.
The42 Rugby Weekly / SoundCloud
Former Munster hooker Mike Sherry joins Murray Kinsella and Gavan Casey to discuss all the goings on from one of the most insane weeks of Irish rugby news in living memory.
No English team is ready to challenge for the champions league
The EPL is the most overrated league in the world
Leagues aren’t overrated they go through phases of dominance, La Liga is the strong at present but will probably change again in the next 2/3 years
Yes they go through phases alright.but since 1990 5 English clubs have won the CL and none of those were in concurrent years.doesnt say much for the English league
So what ! From 2004 -2012 there was a PL team in 7/8 finals
Since 1990 this year is the 1st time that any league has won it concurrently,
Spanish teams have dominated with 9 wins, Italian teams have 5 wins, English 4 wins, Germans 3 wins. So outside of the Spanish, who for 30 years during the 60′s-90′s only one 1 European Cup, no one has dominated. So it doesn’t say much for any of the leagues really.
Dontletitslip you’ve to much time in your hands.the EPL is overrated and can’t see how you can argue otherwise
leace it out Alan. That was actually a good comment and insightful. I’m in shock actually
Nobody’s having an arguement except you as usual!
Yes I’m in shock.i looked up wiki but just counted the English winners.this man has a lot of time on his hands
His account has been hacked
barcelona operate on a different football level to any other team in europe.
if Moyes can get us out of the group stages then LVG can have a good stab at it anyway
The bitterness Hargreaves has towards United since he was released is unreal.
What bitterness are u talking about? Such rubbish
Looks like Robb stark .
With Daley Blind (Jon Snow).
My kids could tell us that one! :D QF at most and unless some solid defensive signings are made then that will be a good return to the CL
What a bitter man!!!
bitter for stating the obvious goodman Jamie.
No shit sherlock.. his insight would really wake u up..worst pundit out there..and that says alot with all the scrap punditry