The second session of action at the PDC World Darts Championship on Sunday is probably the most high profile one of the tournament so far as Fallon Sherrock returns to Alexandra Palace looking to make the second round of the event.
As ever in this stage of the tournament we have three first round matches to enjoy and then there is one from the second round as we get set for what should be a fantastic session of darts given the players involved.
Martijn Kleermaker vs John Michael
The opening match of the night is an all-European affair as Martijn Kleermaker finally gets to make his debut in the tournament after Covid-19 prevented him from doing so last year. He takes on the experienced Greek ace John Michael for the right to meet Simon Whitlock in the second round.
Kleermaker has played in the BDO World Championship so he isn’t completely devoid of big tournament experience but this stage is different to the Lakeside so Michael will certainly benefit from the advantage of having played here. Michael can play the game too when he’s at his best and if he is at that level he can certainly lay a challenge down to the tall Dutchman. I like Kleermaker but he’s won just one of his last seven competitive matches which is a concern. I’ll leave this one alone.
Florian Hempel vs Martin Schindler
Two German players battle it out in the second match of the evening session when Florian Hempel takes on Martin Schindler, who should really be here on his Players Championship efforts but had already qualified on his German Super League success.
Hempel came to prominence at the European Championship when he took care of Peter Wright in the first round but Wright was terrible that night and I think he could be flattered a touch as a result of that. Schindler has performed well on the tour this year without necessarily getting the results his play has deserved but we saw shades of his big problem at the Grand Slam – he doesn’t tend to reproduce it on the big stage. He did beat Gerwyn Price in that event but that was in a dead rubber and I can’t use that as a form guide. Schindler misses too many doubles for my liking so I’m happy to sit this one out as well.
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Steve Beaton vs Fallon Sherrock
The first round match which everyone is looking forward to is in the primetime spot on Sunday evening when Steve Beaton competes in a 31st straight World Championship when he meets the ‘Queen of the Palace’ Fallon Sherrock.
Sherrock became an overnight sensation when she took care of Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic here a couple of years ago and she has built on that throughout 2021 with a series of high profile wins. Her star has risen so much this year that she actually goes into this match as a favourite. It is hard to argue against that because she has showed all her class under extreme pressure this year and dealt with it admirably. Performing under pressure is something Beaton has got worse at as his age has crept up on him and he has never truly convinced me on this stage. Beaton is usually unflappable but there is a different pressure to playing a woman even now. There shouldn’t be and in a few years there probably won’t be but Beaton is in an uncomfortable situation here. I think Sherrock knows this match is in her hands and if she stays composed I think she wins this.
Jonny Clayton vs Keane Barry
The only second round match on the card on Sunday evening sees the man who has been collecting TV titles this year in action when Jonny Clayton takes on the Irish youngster Keane Barry, who came through a first round match but probably needs more to win here.
Clayton is in a different situation to any other time he has been on this stage. This time he arrives as one of the favourites to win the title and will be expected to put up a good show here. Barry has nothing to lose but he’s far too erratic at this stage of his career for me to expect him to win this. Unless Clayton has one of those terrible nights on his doubles, which used to be a feature of his career but not so much in the last 12 months, then I expect the Welshman to come through with plenty to spare, but the odds fully respect that.
Tips
Back F.Sherrock to beat S.Beaton for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with BetVictor
Back her here:
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