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Michael Smith stayed on stage.
The second and last break in his match had just started, but the "Bully Boy" tried to use the five minutes.
Something had to happen if he wanted to avert the looming end at the Darts World Cup.
He threw a few darts, then went to his table and unscrewed his arrows, readjusting his setup.
He was 2-0 down against Jason Lowe, and the outsider allowed him two arrows to hit the doubles.
The co-favorite had not hit the world championship title with anyone.
0: 3 in the first set, 0: 3 in the second.
A sensation was looming.
A debacle.
28 minutes later it was supposed to last, then it was over.
The number four in the world rankings lost their second round match with 1: 3 against Jason Lowe, the 81 of the Order of Merit.
In the last match before the Christmas break, the first part of the World Cup came to a big end.
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When he finally managed his first 180 in the seventh leg, a little later he also won the leg and Smith loudly screamed his frustration, the restart was successful.
He also made it into the decider and had increased his average from 88 after the first five legs to 91.46.
But he was still far from normal, quarreled, hit his right thigh and underlined with his gestures that everything seemed to have conspired against him that evening.
Michael against the rest of the world: the Darts World Cup is over for the 2019 finalists
Source: Getty Images / Luke Walker
After two arrows fell off the board in the decisive phase of the third set, he felt deprived of his last nerves.
In the decisive leg Lowe was already waiting for 28 points, but the 30-year-old favorite was able to cut back to 1: 2 after sets in the last second.
Biggest emotion of the evening: Jason Low prefers to look inside
Source: Getty Images / Luke Walker
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But Lowe stayed calm, went through his game and secured the fourth round against a lamenting opponent.
A checkout of 101 points brought victory.
Aspinall survived four match darts
Previously, Nathan Aspinall, another title candidate, was about to end.
The Premiere League finalist was brought to the brink of defeat by Scott Waites, but the two-time BDO world champion missed four match darts.
Waites scratched a 110 average for two sets, had led 2-0, showed the most spectacular checkout of this World Cup and was four times just about to move into the third round.
But it wasn't enough to win.
Nathan Aspinall pulled his head out of the noose and saved his Christmas party.
Lucky winner: England's Nathan Aspinall (left) beat compatriot Scott Waites after trailing 2-0
Source: Getty Images / Luke Walker
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Even after Aspinall was able to reduce to 1: 2, "Scotty 2 Hotty" had chances of victory.
The three legdarts to 2-2, for example, after which he could have decided the match early if he had his own throw.
Or after his sensational checkout of 125 points via bullseye, single bull, bullseye, which brought him the decisive break in the decisive round.
Suljovic and Anderson surprisingly strong
Their appearances were eagerly awaited.
Quite a few had predicted their early departure from the Darts World Cup.
Mensur Suljovic and Gary Anderson, however, were in surprisingly strong shape.
See the highlights of the first session of day 9 in the video here!
Source: DAZN / WELT
In the following leg, however, he awarded a match dart on double 20 and three more on double 10, while Aspinall pocketed the first dart in double 8.
2: 2.
Then the favorite crossed the finish line safely.
“Scott played fantastic.
He's a great player.
It was really hard ", praised a relieved Aspinall, who had made it to the semi-finals in 2019 and 2020:" It would have been my first Christmas without darts in three years. "
Aspinall will now meet Vincent van der Voort from the Netherlands, and the number six in the world rankings may now remember last year.
Peter Wright had survived a match dart before his start - and in the end became world champion for the first time.
Here darts professional Martin Schindler imitates his colleagues
Martin Schindler is not only one of the best German darts professionals.
He is also an excellent impersonator.
Here he recreates six world-class players.
Do you recognize these players?
Source: WORLD
Wednesday's games
Ricky Evans (ENG / 32) - Mickey Mansell (NIL) 3-1
Gary Anderson (SCO / 13) - Madars Razma (LAT) 3-1
Stephen Bunting (ENG / 26) - Andy Boulton (ENG) 3-2
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Mensur Suljovic (AUT / 20) - Matthew Edgar (ENG) 3: 1
The worst match in World Cup history
The Darts World Cup has never experienced anything like it: Steve Lennon and Devon Petersen deliver an unprecedented error festival in the second round.
When the whole thing is over, the winner holds his hand in front of his eyes, ashamed.
Source: DAZN / WELT
Dave Chisnall (ENG / 8) - Keegan Brown (ENG) 3-1
Jermaine Wattimena (NED / 24) - Nick Kenny (WAL) 3-1
Nathan Aspinall (ENG / 6) - Scott Waites (ENG) 3-2
Michael Smith (ENG / 4) - Jason Lowe (ENG) 1: 3
"World Champion Peter Wright will be eliminated against a German"
Darts is booming, as evidenced by the number of hits on portals such as dartn.de.
Our guest and expert Marvin van den Boom sees good chances for Gabriel Clemens, Max Hopp and Nico Kurz at this World Cup and firmly believes in the first round of 16 participation by a German.
Source: WORLD
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