Smith into last eight as Clemens makes World Championship history
Michael Smith 4-1 Joe Cullen
The first leg of the first set immediately resulted in a break for Joe Cullen. Cullen missed five darts on the doubles and was immediately broken back by Michael Smith in the second leg. Both players then kept their own leg and went to a fifth-leg decision. Smith was allowed to start and because both players were scoring well, Bully Boy kept the advantage and won the first set.
Smith missed an arrow at tops in the second leg of the second set to hold his own leg to see Cullen take a 2–0 lead. Cullen then also held his own leg and won the set 3-0.
Smith checked out in 10 darts in the first leg of the third set. Smith seemed to be unleashed and managed to break Cullen in 14 darts in the second leg. In 12 darts the next leg was also done and the set went 3-0 to Smith.
The first leg of the fourth set also went to Smith, he broke Cullen and took his fourth leg in a row. Cullen hit back by throwing out 153 for a re-break. Smith took the initiative in the third leg due to a weak turn from Cullen. Both men missed a handful of arrows on the double, but Smith still managed to break to make it 2-1 in legs. In the fourth leg, both men again missed a handful of arrows on the doubles, with Cullen this time coming out on top. In leg five, Smith took the initiative from Cullen, proving more decisive on the double making it 3-1 in sets.
After five breaks in a row, Smith finally managed to keep a leg again and took a 1-0 lead. Cullen also managed to keep his own leg, but needed a break to stay in the game. The third and fourth leg also failed to yield a break and it came down to a decisive fifth leg, which Smith opened with seven perfect darts and was out after three match darts to take a 4-1 win.
Gabriel Clemens 4-1 Alan Soutar
Gabriel Clemens threw 114 to break Alan Soutar in the second leg of the first set. The German then also kept his own leg and won the first set 3-0.
The first leg of the second set also resulted in a break for Clemens, after Soutar missed three arrows on double 8. Clemens started to miss on the doubles and by hitting 104 Soutar managed to break back and win his first leg. Clemens' level dropped off in set two and saw Soutar make it 1-1 in sets.
Finishing on 92, Clemens took another break in the second leg of the third set for a 2-0 lead in legs. Clemens then also managed to keep his own leg and came to 2-1 in sets.
The first four legs of the fourth set all went with the arrows. Soutar was allowed to start the fifth leg. After two excellent innings from Clemens, he took over the initiative, while Soutar couldn't keep up and was broken again at a crucial moment in the match.
Clemens took a break in the second leg of the fifth set by throwing 148 and was allowed to start the third leg himself to win the victory. Clemens missed two match darts on double 18 and was broken back by the Scot.
Soutar then had no problems keeping his own leg and coming back to 2-2 in legs. Clemens missed his third match dart and then Soutar missed the single 16, so he only got one dart for double 18. But Clemens did use his fourth match dart and became the first German ever to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Championship.
Kim Huybrechts 0-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
In the first leg of the first set, Dimitri Van den Bergh immediately took a break in 11 darts. He then also kept his own leg because Kim Huybrechts could not keep up with the scoring. The third leg also went simply to Van den Bergh and he won the set 3-0 in legs.
Huybrechts got his first arrows on a double in the first leg of the second set and managed to break Van de Bergh for a 1-0 lead. After being unfamiliar with the doubles of both men, Huybrechts also managed to keep his own leg and seemed to be on his way to a set win. In the fourth leg Van den Bergh took over the initiative from Huybrechts and finished efficiently at 2-2.
Van den Bergh was allowed to start the fifth leg and did so with a 180 score. Huybrechts fought back in the leg but missed his arrow on tops. Van den Bergh hit a double 8 to take the set.
In the third leg of the third set, Huybrechts again ran into a break and Van den Bergh was allowed to start the fourth leg to win this set as well. There was still a small opening for Huybrechts, but he was not bold enough. Van den Bergh continued to finish very stable and came to 3-0 in sets.
Van den Bergh also managed to break his compatriot in the second leg of the fourth set and was allowed to start the third leg that could bring him the match. Huybrechts was also unable to offer any resistance in leg three.
Van den Bergh missed two game arrows before Huybrechts missed one more arrow on tops to stay in the game. Van den Bergh hit his fourth match dart and won the match 4-0 in sets.
