{"id":5126,"date":"2021-07-16T17:16:17","date_gmt":"2021-07-16T17:16:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/2021\/07\/column-cm100-world-matchplay-2021-the-debutants\/"},"modified":"2024-02-14T20:58:37","modified_gmt":"2024-02-14T20:58:37","slug":"column-cm100-world-matchplay-2021-the-debutants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/2021\/07\/column-cm100-world-matchplay-2021-the-debutants\/","title":{"rendered":"Column #CM100 World Matchplay 2021 – The Debutants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Friday, July 16, 2021
\nColumn CM100
\nWorld Matchplay 2021 – The Debutants<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a darts fan, one almost couldn’t wait for the World Matchplay after this year’s thrilling Premier League, which in the end produced the surprise winner Jonny Clayton. \u00a0Clayton was the last player nominated – only after his win of the Masters. \u00a0Only just<\/em> did he reach the play-offs. \u00a0But he won in the semi-finals against Michael van Gerwen and in the final against Jose des Sousa (who was another debutant in Premier League this year).<\/p>\n

In the upcoming World Matchplay we’ll find several debutants as well – seven players qualified for the first time for the tournament. \u00a0But I am not sure they will make such an impact in the event as the Premier League debutants did.<\/p>\n

In this column they all will be introduced…<\/p>\n

Luke Humphries<\/u>
\nAge: 26
\nNickname: Cool Hand
\nBest Performance on TV: Final – UK Open 2021
\nFirst Round Opponent: James Wade<\/p>\n

The former PDC World Youth Champion this year already had a big appearance when he reached the final of the UK Open where he lost to James Wade. \u00a0Nevertheless, the UK Open was a big success for Humphries, especially as he defeated in the semi-finals Michael van Gerwen and demolished him with an 107.41 average. \u00a0But he was far from outstanding in the Super Series 5, the last test before the World Matchplay – one first round exit, two second round eliminations and only one last 16 appearance.<\/p>\n

But many players are stronger on stage in front of a crowd. \u00a0Humphries will meet in his first round match, of all players, James Wade – he still has to settle a score with him. Wade is always a difficult opponent one shouldn’t risk to underestimate and he is by now a rather consistent player. \u00a0He didn;t play outstanding in Super Series 5, but solid. \u00a0So, it will not be an easy first round game for Humphries. \u00a0And in the second round Krzysztof Ratajski or Brendan Dolan would wait. \u00a0One hasn\u2019t heard much from Ratajski recently but Dolan is in top form and won one of the Super Series 5 events. \u00a0All it in all not an easy starting position for Humphries at his World Matchplay debut.<\/p>\n

Ryan Searle<\/u>
\nAge: 34
\nNickname: Heavy Metal
\nBest Performance on TV: Last 16 – PDC World Championship 2019, 2021
\nFirst Round Performance: Michael Smith<\/p>\n

Ryan Searle’s Super Series 5 was a roller-coaster experience – two times he was eliminated first round, once he reached the last 16 and one time he played himself into the semi-finals. \u00a0At his world Matchplay debut he will meet Michael Smith whose form is similarly inscrutable. \u00a0Smith was not nominated for this year’s Premier League. \u00a0So, you could presume he wants to prove himself and the PDC that he is a Premier League player nevertheless.\u00a0 Recently, he has shown he is capable of fighting through a match but Searle is capable to do it as well. \u00a0It could turn out an evenly matched first round game. \u00a0The second round opponent would be either Jose de Sousa or Gabriel Clemens – not really easier for Searle. \u00a0And in round three with Peter Wright, Danny Noppert, Joe Cullen or Chris Dobey some more difficult opponents would follow. S o might be it will be an early end to Searle’s World Matchplay debut.<\/p>\n

Callan Rydz<\/u>
\nAge: 23
\nNickname: The Riot
\nBest Performance on TV: Fifth Round – UK Open 2021
\nFirst Round Opponent: Glen Durrant<\/p>\n

Callan Rydz won one of the events of the first super Series of the year and reached the fifth round of the UK Open but since then one hasn\u2018t heard much of him. \u00a0In the Super Series 5 he once reached the third round which was his best result. \u00a0But nevertheless he has a chance to survive his first round match as his opponent will be Glen Durrant who seems to be in an ongoing slump since he recovered from his Corona illness. \u00a0In the second round the winner of their first round match would meet the winner of the match Rob Cross vs. Ross Smith. \u00a0Cross seems to be in rising form and Ross Smith just won a Super Series 5 event – both opponents probably a high or even too high hurdle for Rydz. \u00a0And in round three James Wade or Brendan Dolan could wait.<\/p>\n

Devon Petersen<\/u>
\nAge: 35
\nNickname: The African Warrior
\nBest Performance on TV: Quarterfinal – UK Open 2021
\nFirst Round Opponent: Dimitri van den Bergh<\/p>\n

Devon Petersen is a surprise bag – you never know in which form he will turn up. \u00a0He is just not consistent. \u00a0The UK Open quarterfinals was his best results this year. \u00a0Since then, his form is fair to middling. \u00a0But he could be one of the players who benefit that there will be a crowd at the World Matchplay. \u00a0On the other side his opponent is the reigning champion Dimitri van den Bergh. \u00a0Van den Bergh does not always respond well to pressure and there will be a lot of pressure on his shoulders. \u00a0He played quite well in Super Series 5. \u00a0It is very difficult to predict what will happen in this match. \u00a0In the second round Dave Chisnall or Vincent van der Voort will wait – both not unbeatable though Chisnall is a player who often impresses with outstanding matches and van der Voort is consistent and solid.<\/p>\n

Damon Heta<\/u>
\nAge: 34
\nNickname: The Heat
\nBest Performance on TV: Third Round – UK Open 2021
\nFirst Round Opponent: Michael van Gerwen<\/p>\n

Damon Heta started well into the Super Series 5 but faded away. \u00a0And his first round opponent is no other then Michael van Gerwen. \u00a0van Gerwen is not as unbeatable as he has been but Heta would need his A game to defeat him or at least would have to be absolutely clinical on his doubles. \u00a0In round two his opponent would be either Daryl Gurney or Ian White. \u00a0It\u2019s difficult to assess their form but I would think they would be easier to defeat for Heta then his first round opponent.<\/p>\n

Dirk van Duijvenbode<\/u><\/p>\n

Age: 29
\nNickname: The Titan\/Auberginius
\nBest Performance on TV: Final – World Grand Prix 2020
\nFirst Round Opponent: Jonny Clayton<\/p>\n

Dirk van Duijvenbode always is good for an upset but can you really hope for one against Premier League Champion Jonny Clayton? \u00a0van Duijvenbode did not have a good Super Series 5 and only once reached the third round while Clayton by now seems to be a consistent player, who reacts to tricky situations with nerves of steel. \u00a0It will be a difficult task for van Duijvenbode. \u00a0And should he win, his next opponent probably would be Gerwyn Price.\u00a0 Whether Price will be able to show up strong is uncertain. \u00a0He missed Premier League and to be sure will want to show why he is World Champion. \u00a0There will be a lot of pressure on his shoulders.<\/p>\n

Ross Smith<\/u>
\nAge: 32
\nNickname: Smudger
\nBest Performance on TV: Quarterfinal – UK Open 2019
\nFirst Round Opponent: Rob Cross<\/p>\n

Ross Smith enters the World Matchplay as winner of the penultimate Players Championship of Super Series 5, but until now Smith hasn\u2018t succeeded, despite his from time to time good results, to get into the top players\u2018 tier. \u00a0Here in the World Matchplay he gets another chance to show he can consistently produce as it is to be sure not impossible to defeat Rob Cross. \u00a0But Cross\u2018 form is getting better and he might be just the more experienced player. \u00a0It would be possible for Smith to survive the second round as well should he prevail over Cross as the opponents would be Glen Durrant or Callan Rydz. \u00a0Only in the third round it would begin to be really difficult for Smith as Wade or Dolan would wait.<\/p>\n

Five times so far a debutant has stood in the final of the World Matchplay and only twice has a debutant won it: in 1994 (Larry Butler) and 2020 (Dimitri van den Bergh). \u00a0I don’t think one of this year’s debutants can win the tournament and I am sceptical that one of them can reach the final. \u00a0But they are all capable to spring a surprise and to be sure each of them is a gain for the tournament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a darts fan, one almost couldn’t wait for the World Matchplay after this year’s thrilling Premier 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Mutschler","author_link":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/author\/charis-mutschler\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"As a darts fan, one almost couldn't wait for the World Matchplay after this year's thrilling Premier League...","authors":[{"term_id":14,"user_id":3,"is_guest":0,"slug":"charis-mutschler","display_name":"Charis Mutschler","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Charis-150-150.png","url2x":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Charis-150-150.png"},"first_name":"Charis","last_name":"Mutschler","user_url":"http:\/\/www.globaldarts.de\/","job_title":"","description":"Charis Mutschler is from Marbach, near Stuttgart, Germany. Her husband introduced her to the sport by bringing a dartboard into their marriage (or was it to their wedding?), turning her from a librarian by day into a darts fanatic by night. Charis has been writing about the sport for years and is a regular at most PDC majors, from which she provides reports and conducts player interviews. She is bilingual and cultured, with a love for literature, dance, music, cats, and the conservation movement. Charis\u2019 writings about darts and its players often transcend the typical, showcasing her class and distinction, unlike Dartoid and the Old Dart Coach."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5126"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5126"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5216,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5126\/revisions\/5216"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4128"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5126"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5126"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dartoidsworld.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=5126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}