JOHN KUCZYNSKI 4-3 JAN VAN DER RASSEL
(3-2, 2-3, 3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 1-3, 6-5)
JOHN KUCZYNSKI moved into the last 16 of the Ladbrokes.com World Darts Championship following an incredible final-leg shoot-out against Jan van der Rassel.
American star Kuczynski looked set to cruise to victory when he pulled clear at 3-1, but allowed his Dutch opponent to hit back and take the game into a deciding set.
Both suffered nerves as the tension reached boiling point and the game moved into sudden death after the pair were locked at five-all.
Despite van der Rassel reaching the double first, Kuczynski managed to regather himself after a string of misses from both players to land double two and progress.
Kuczynski, a comfortable victor against Lionel Sams in the first round, started well and took the opening set 3-2.
While van der Rassel hit back to level the game in the second, Kuczynski won six legs out of seven, including an 11-darter, to put himself two sets clear.
The Dutchman took the fifth and sixth sets 3-1 to level matters, but paid for missed doubles in the decider as the American World Championship dream continued.
"It's unbelievable," said Kuczynski. "Jan played great darts and I almost messed it up.
"Those (missed) doubles cost me so much, but I hung in there and got the job done in the end.
"After I missed the first darts to win I didn't expect to get another shot but you hope you will. I did, then I missed it - but I hung in there and got the one that counted.
"It's been my dream since I was a kid to play in the World Championship, and now it's reality."
Van der Rassel added: "It was a great game. I was pleased to come back and had chances to win it, but it wasn't to be."
Match Stats
|
John Kuczynski |
4-3 |
Jan van der Rassel |
|
45 |
100+ |
57 |
|
28 |
140+ |
19 |
|
5 |
180 |
6 |
|
29.14 |
Ave1 |
28.06 |
|
87.41 |
Ave3 |
84.19 |