PAUL NICHOLSON 3 – 1 Mensur Suljovic
Paul Nicholson earned a place in round two of the Ladbrokes World Championship with an impressive victory over Mensur Suljovic.
The 2010 Players Championship winner put together a strong performance to progress and confirm his status as a major contender for the title.
Nicholson started the match in a typically aggressive fashion, hitting back to back 140s on his way to winning the first leg against the throw. He produced a nice 110 finish to win the second leg. Suljovic got his first leg on the board with an 80 checkout before Nicholson hit double top to win the first set.
The Asset took the lead in set two by hitting double sixteen, but an eleven dart leg from Suljovic drew him level. Nicholson hit double four to go back in front before the Austrian pulled it back to two legs each. Suljovic then took out 121 on the bullseye to break the throw and take the set.
Nicholson broke his opponent immediately in set three and doubled his advantage by hitting double eight. His opponent found double top to pull a leg back but the self-proclaimed bad boy of darts ruthlessly hit back with a 13 dart leg to go back in front by a set.
The Aussie-Geordie took out 88 to put himself in front in set four. He followed that up with a 180 and a 140 to take the darts off his opponent but Suljovic managed to keep himself in the match with a 108 finish, denying Nicholson the break of throw.
The Gentle then got a break of throw himself when he hit double ten to leave himself throwing for the set. The Asset broke straight back though, hitting double 14 to put himself in that same position, but this time for the match. Suljovic missed three darts at double ten to keep himself alive and Nicholson capitalised, hitting the double his opponent couldn’t to win the match.
The Asset will be hoping to build on a solid start when he faces Alan Tabern on December 27th.
By Chris Murphy
