Nathan Aspinall faced an unexpected exit from the PDC World Darts Championship as Charlie Manby continued his impressive journey in the tournament. Aspinall, a previous semi-finalist, lost a nail-biting match to Dutch player Kevin Doets, with a final score of 4-3.
Key Events from the Championship
Aspinall started strong, winning the first and third sets. He even achieved a remarkable 170 checkout in the fifth set. However, Doets rallied back, executing six consecutive legs to secure victory. This win marked Doets’ sixth consecutive triumph over Aspinall and earned him a spot in the last 16, where he will face world number two, Luke Humphries, on Tuesday.
Charlie Manby Shines
In contrast, 20-year-old Charlie Manby, competing in his first World Championship, advanced to the last 16 by defeating Ricky Evans 4-2. Manby struggled initially, managing only four successful double shots from thirty attempts, which put him at a disadvantage, trailing 2-1 in sets. Nevertheless, he improved his checkout accuracy as the match progressed.
- Manby secured a minimum of £60,000 in prize money.
- He will next challenge Gian van Veen, the tournament’s 10th seed.
- Van Veen has demonstrated a top-level performance with a high match average of 108.28.
Other Notable Matches
Another debutant, Justin Hood from Somerset, also progressed after defeating Ryan Meikle 4-1. Hood took an early 3-0 lead. Although Meikle managed to take one set, Hood quickly finished the match, also securing £60,000 in prize money.
- Hood has climbed to a provisional 63rd in the world rankings.
- He expressed aspirations to open a Chinese restaurant in the future.
The third round of the championship will conclude with Josh Rock facing Callan Rydz in the evening session. Defending champion Luke Littler will then compete against 2018 winner Rob Cross to round off Monday’s action.
