Johnny K Pips Dutchman In Classic

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