World Series of Darts Episode Recap - Episode 1


World Series of Darts - Episode #1
Broadcast July 18, 2006 on ESPN 7pm EDT

The show opened to a brief introduction of the International and American players. Next the announcers introduced themselves and brought the audience up to speed regarding the tournament. $100,000.00 to an international winner but ONE MILLION DOLLARS if an American can pull off the upset.

Up first we have American Isen Veljic against the world number one ranked player - Colin Lloyd. A brief clip shows Isen winning his qualifying tournaments to reach the finals show. As they throw the warm-up darts the announcers explain the rules to 501. The graphics are sharp and the explanation is easy to follow for the uninitiated.

As we return it’s game on for Isen and Colin. Clearly nervous, Isen opens up soft in his first leg with only 30 scored. Colin kicks the event off with a shot of 100 for the international contingent. Isen recovers and capitalizes on Colin's missed doubles to take the first leg! America 1 - Internationals 0.

Unfortunately Isen's winning ways came to a premature end and a montage shows Colin wrapping up 5 straight legs to win the match 6-2. A post interview reveals the respect Colin has for Isen's game and Colin expresses his belief that his greater experience was the difference in the match.

Up next we have one of the midnight madness qualifiers, Jeffery Russell against world number 12 Mark Walsh. Again a brief clip shows Russell winning his slot in the finals. But for him the journey was longer, coming ever so close in 3 straight attempts before sliding under the wire Friday night.

We join the match with Walsh leading 4games to zero in a contest that requires only 6wins to advance. First impression of Russell is that of a HUGE and intimidating figure. Russell begins to turn the match around seemingly sapping the strength from a faltering Walsh. With Russell winning the next three legs on the bounce we find ourselves with a 4-3 score line heading into commercial. It looks like the big man will pull it off.

As we come back from break we fast forward to Walsh now leading 5-3 and Russell well ahead in the game to strike back to a one-leg deficit. The American clicks in 8, 20, and double10 to do just that. In the next leg, Russell hits a huge 132 set-up shot to leave just "tops" to even the contest at 5 legs apiece. But it’s not to be as Walsh calmly strokes triple19, 18, and double20 to end the American's hopes. The look of disgust on Russell's face tells the tale and the wonder of what might have been had he not fallen in such a deep hole early.

Taking the stage in the third match is New York's Jim Widmayer against Adrian Lewis. A quick run up on Lewis shows him to be a dart prodigy at only 21 years of age. We shift to the qualifying tournament and see Widmayer winning an emotional match.

With our attention back to the present day we find things looking dire for the American. Lewis has won the first 5 games and we join the match in the 6th leg. Despite Lewis opening the game with a maximum 180 Widmayer gets 2 darts at double18 to stay alive. It’s not to be and the young Brit rolls through to the second round with a whitewash 6-0 score line. Continued....