Martin Atkins bt Willy van de Wiel (Neth)
4-2
Martin “The Assassin” gunned down 10th seed Willy van de Wiel 4-2
after almost being squeezed out of the championship by the man in orange.
The Dutchman staged a massive comeback from 3-0 down, pulling back to 3-2,
Atkins scrambling through on his favourite double tops.
“I thought of the game three years ago when I missed a double to win 4-0 and
went out. Willy is such a good
player. I got to 3-0 by the skin of my teeth and then he started to come back at
me and I thought, oh no, not again!
“But I have broken my duck. This is the furthest I have been in the tournament,
I never did anything as a seed. Perhaps next year I should come back as a
qualifier!”
The Assassin found his range in the opening set unleashing a volley of precision
doubles for a 3-0 success against the throwing advantage.
A maximum steered the Dutchman into a 2-0 in the next and despite his second
maximum he conceded the third leg, Atkins himself hitting a maximum in the
fourth. Van de Wiel notched his third 180 of the set but confident Atkins
replied with a 137 and moved into a 2-0 match lead with an 88 finish, completed
on double seven.
“Free Willy” missed bull for a 90 finish in the opening leg of the next set,
Atkins swooping to pick off double eight and then on target with a maximum in
the next as he moved 2-0 ahead in the set. The Leeds man captured his sixth
successive leg for a surprise 3-0 match lead over the 10th seed.
Twice Atkins had darts for doubles in the opening legs of the fourth set, double
10 for the first and then double 2-0 for a 117 finish, Van de Wiel capturing
both with double 16. Atkins raced to the third, exiting on 136 with double 16
but the Dutchman replied with a maximum and clinched the set on his favourite
double 16.
Van de Wiel suffered more double trouble in the opening leg of the fifth set but
pounced after Atkins fluffed bull for 83 and then the Yorkshireman missed double
tops for 151, the man in orange nipping out on double four.