Maria defeats Hedman in last 16 of BDO World Trophy
PLYMOUTH’S Maria O’Brien came from behind to defeat Deta Hedman in the last 16 of the BDO World Trophy at the Kings Hall, Blackburn, last night.
England’s No.1 ranked player took the opener in 19, only for Hedman to edge in front 2-1.
O’Brien levelled when taking the fourth in 18 but the “Heart of Darts” took the lead for the second time when winning the fifth.
Losing 3-2, Maria started the sixth leg with a maximum 180 before taking the leg in 13 and against the darts, held her nerve in the seventh and decisive leg to clinch it in 17.
Maria will now face Anastasia Dobromyslova in today’s quarter-final after the Russian thrower defeated Sharon Prins 4-0.
There were also 4-0 victories for both Casey Gallagher and Aileen de Graaf against Trina Gulliver and Priscilla Steenbergen respectively.
The No.1 seed Lisa Ashton defeated Corinne Hammond in four straight legs, taking the last in 15 before the reigning champion Fallon Sherrock took to the stage to face the current World champion Mikuru Suzuki.
The Japanese thrower, aided by a maximum, took the opener in 14 but a 180 of her own enabled Sharrock to level and then edge in front 2-1 in 19.
The Milton Keynes thrower won again to move 3-1 in front with a win in 14, but that was the last leg she was going to win.
Suzuki pulled one back in just 12 darts before levelling at 3-3 with victory in 18.
The deciding leg was nip and tuck, but the first chance fell to Fallon when she stepped up needing double eight for the match but was made to pay for her misses when Suzuki shot out for victory on her next visit.
The 2017 BDO World Trophy champion Lorraine Winstanley began well against Kirsty Hutchinson and following four ton plus throws, took the opener in 15.
Hutchinson pulled one back, only for Winstanley to win the next in 16, before Hutchinson levelled for the second time with a 15-darter.
The next two were also shared before the two players both gave a good account of themselves in an excellent decider.
Hutchinson had left 76 after 12 and her opponent 38, but with the darts, Winstanley hit double 19 with her second dart to take her place in the last eight.
Laura Turner and Paula Jacklin shared the first two legs before Turner edged in front 2-1.
A break of throw enabled Turner to win the next in 18, aided by a maximum throw, before she emerged a 4-1 winner when clinching the fifth leg in 15.
The quarter-finals will be live on Eurosport this afternoon and the line-up is:
Lisa Ashton v Casey Gallagher
Mikuru Suzuki v Aileen de Graaf
Maria O’Brien v Anastasia Dobromyslova
Laura Turner v Lorraine Winstanley
