Kleermaker through to last 16 of the Worlds, Noppert out

Wim Blokpoel - This afternoon 2 Dutchmen played in the last 32 of the 2022 PDC World Championship: Danny Noppert and Martijn Kleermaker.

Noppert played Players Championship Finalist Ryan Searle. Searle was 2-0 up in set 1, but Noppert fought back and won it 3-2 in legs. Searle did win set 2 as he levelled the game to 1-1. In set 3 it was 2-2 in legs as The Freeze had one dart on bullseye. He missed it, and then Heavy Metal Searle took out 72 to go 2-1 up. Noppert then had a great set which he won 3-1 to level at 2-2. In set 5 Noppert was 2-0 up, but this time it was Searle who won 3 legs on the spin, as Noppert saw himself 2-3 down. In set 6 Noppert seemed beaten already, Searle won it 3-0 as Noppert lost that game 2-4.

Danny Noppert 2-4 Ryan Searle (3-2, 1-3, 2-3, 3-1, 2-3, 0-3)

In the last set of the afternoon, Martijn Kleermaker took on ‘Rockstar’ Joe Cullen. Kleermaker started brilliant, went 2-0 up and then hit a 12-darter to win the first set 3-0. The Dutch giant also won the second set, as he threw a 15-darter in the deciding leg to go 2-0 up. In set 3 Cullen missed a lot of darts at doubles as Kleermaker took his chances and won the set 3-0 to go 3-0 up in sets as well! 1 set away from the last 16, Cullen suddenly woke up and made it 3-1. In set 5 Kleermaker had 148 left for the match, but missed a matchdart on double 14, as Cullen won the set 3-2 and made it 3-2 in sets. He then won set 6 3-0 as Kleermaker saw his big lead disappear into a 3-3 tie. In the deciding set Cullen took out 62 to break the throw. Kleermaker then took out 130 to break back to 1-1. At 2-1 Kleermaker got a matchdart at D20 but missed it and Cullen made it 2-2. Kleermaker then went 3-2 up, and in leg 6 he had 88 left for the match. Single 20, single 18, BULLSEYE!!!!! Kleermaker won an absolute thriller and goes through to the last 16 on his debut. He now plays James Wade in that game!

Martijn Kleermaker 4-3 Joe Cullen (3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 0-3, 2-3, 0-3, 4-2)