Surprise Victory For Stompé (06/01/07)
Jelle
Klaasen has only been playing darts for 5 years, but after his surprise 7-5
victory over fellow countryman Raymond van Barneveld last year at Lakeside
Country Club in the World Darts Championship, the 21 year old youngster was
defending his title against Co Stompé in the first round this year.
Stompé, another Dutchman, had not won a
match at the championships for the last 5 years and so was not favoured to win
against the competitions youngest ever champion, but his years of match
experience showed against Klaasen who could only achieve an average of around
90, far less than Stompés 97 despite hitting several 180s. I don’t think
Stompé hit any 180s at all but he did score 170 twice and also 174.
The first set was hard fought with the score-line 3-2 to Stompé, but then
Klaasen seemed to lose his way and was the far more erratic player. On one leg
he had 76 to finish. After hitting the 20 he actually missed the big 16
altogether allowing Stompé to take the leg. It was poor shots like this that
meant Stompé did not drop a leg in the second and third sets to take the match
3-0.
Bobby George pointed out in his summary of
the game that Klaasen had problems with his sponsor and manager at the start of
this year and these problems had prevented him from getting much competition
practice. Two other Dutchmen went out on the first day as Robbe and Van der Voot
were both beaten, but others remained in the competition and they will be well
supported by the large Dutch contingent in the crowd who seem to be taking over
the competition. This is probably due in no small part to the continuing success
of Raymond Barneveld who beat Phil Taylor to take another world title crown in a
surprise result
only the other week.
44
years old Stompé
nicknamed "The Matchstick"