Coventry-born Mark McGeeney came so close to knocking out defending champion Scott Mitchell of 2016 Lakeside BDO World Darts Championships this afternoon at Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green, writes Ziad Chaudry.
The 43-year-old, who used to live in Wyken before moving up to Stockport, squandered his golden opportunity to close the match out at 2 legs to 0 up in the seventh and deciding set.
At 5-5 and in the deciding sudden death leg McGeeney, the number 11 seed and a staunch Everton fan, look set for victory but failed to complete a 102 checkout on double 16, allowing Bournemouth-based Mitchell to land a decisive double top and advance to the last eight where he will play Holland’s Richard Veenstra, who easily whitewashed Yorkshireman Martin Atkins 4 sets to 0.
Meanwhile in the women’s championship, Leamington’s golden girl Trina Gulliver MBE advanced to the semi-final after knocking out defending champion Lisa Ashton 2 sets to 1. Gulliver, who is looking to win her ninth world title, plays Holland’s Aileen de Graaf tomorrow.
The other half of the draw sees Essex-based Deta Hedman play Denmark’s Ann-Louise Peters.