Flying Dutchman Willy van de Wiel charged into the second round, sweeping aside
former warhouseman Dave Prins 3-0 in a rapid 37 minutes.
It was clinical display from the 29-year-old 10th seed from southern
Holland, who reaches the second round for the third time.
The Dutch carpenter nailed his intentions in the opening sets, annexing six of
the opening seven legs as Peterlee’s Prins screwed his face in agony, suffering
his third consecutive opening round dismissal.
The Dutch ace, wearing glasses for the first time in the world championship,
stamped his authority right from the off in the opening set with a clinical 3-0
success, Prins struggling to settle in his third appearance on the Frimley Green
stage with a new set of 26 gram darts.
Prins powered into the second set to take the opening leg with the throw on
double 18, the Dutchman taking the next two and then opening up a 2-0 match lead
after Prins failed to pressurise Van de Wiel.
There was more of the same in the third set as Van de Wiel, with the throwing
advantage took a 2-1 lead and then booked his passage in the second round with a
54 checkout, completed on double 16.
Afterwards the delighted Dutchman said: “Dave can play much better than that but
the first round is always difficult.”
And the 10th seed said that when he feels good on stage his play
speeds up.
“My hand shakes when I play so I try to throw quickly. I feel good when I am
throwing fast.”