WDF World Championship 2022 | Day One Preview and Order of Play

The inaugural WDF World Championship gets under way at Lakeside on Saturday with 12 First Round ties held across two sessions.

The tournament marks the sport’s televised return to the Lakeside Country Club in Surrey for the first time since 2019.

The men’s event will incorporate a prize fund of £200,000, with £50,000 on offer to the winner, while the women’s event features a total prize fund of £87,500, with a £25,000 top prize up for grabs.

The top 16 players are seeded through to the Second Round of the men’s draw, while the top eight enter at the Second Round stage in the Women’s draw.

A clash of generations kicks off the competition in the afternoon session as 65-year-old veteran Martin Adams takes on 21-year-old emerging star Jarred Cole.

Adams has enjoyed some of his most memorable moments on this iconic stage, claiming the BDO world title on three occasions – most recently in 2011.

Runner-up in the recent World Seniors Championship at The Circus Tavern, Adams continued to remain active on the oche throughout lockdown and remains a formidable competitor with a fierce passion for the sport.

Cole is a former PDC Development Tour event winner who has previously competed in the UK Open and is a regular on the Challenge Tour.

Another stand-out tie sees three-time BDO World Championship quarter-finalist and UK Open stalwart Paul Hogan take on Australia’s Justin Thompson – who featured in three BDO World Championships.

Dave Prins, winner of the recent Isle of Man Open, looks to continue his impressive form when he faces Welshman Mark Graham, while 2013 PDC World Championship qualifier Johnny Haines takes on London’s John Scott – a former UK Open qualifier.

Rhian O’Sullivan, who featured in the recent PDC Women’s Series, starts her campaign against Torremolinos Classic winner Paula Jacklin for the right to face second seed Corrine Hammond in Round Two.

Scotland’s Jim McEwan, who currently sits second on the PDC Challenge Tour Order of Merit and has been a regular on the ProTour as a result, starts out against Australian qualifier Landon Gardiner.

New Zealand’s Haupai Puha, who has featured in the PDC World Series as well as the 2021 World Championship, faces Ben Hazel – who reached the Last 16 of the 2020 BDO World Championship on his debut.

Sweden’s Andreas Harrysson, who has previously featured on the PDC European Tour, takes on Romania’s Laszlo Kadar, while former PDC Tour Card holder Mark Barilli plays Canada’s Rory Hansen.

Amanda Harwood and Marjolein Noijens go head-to-head for the right to take on seventh seed Maria O’Brien in Round Two of the Women’s Draw, while England’s Suzanne Smith and Jo Clements collide for the right to face Kirsty Hutchinson and Priscilla Steenbergen plays Darlene van Sleeuwen with the winner facing Anca Zijlstra.

The action gets under way from 1pm BST, with Men’s First Round ties to be contested over the best of five sets and Women’s First Round ties best of three sets. All sets are best of five legs.

WATCH THE WDF WORLD CHAMPIONHIP STREAMED LIVE HERE (18+)

WDF World Championship 2022 Day One Schedule

Saturday April 2

1pm-5pm
R1 – Martin Adams (Eng) v Jarred Cole (Eng)
R1 – John Scott (Eng) v Johnny Haines (Eng)
R1 – Paula Jacklin (Eng) v Rhian O’Sullivan (Wal)
R1 – Ben Hazel (Eng) v Haupai Puha (NZ)
R1 – Andreas Harrysson (Swe) v Laszlo Kadar (Rom)
R1 – Amanda Harwood (Eng) v Marjolein Noijens (Ned)

7pm-11pm
R1 – Landon Gardiner (Aus) v Jim McEwan (Sco)
R1 – Priscilla Steenbergen (Ned) v Darlene van Sleeuwen (Can)
R1 – Mark Barilli (Sco) v Rory Hansen (Can)
R1 – Mark Graham (Wal) v Dave Prins (Eng)
R1 – Suzanne Smith (Eng) v Jo Clements (Eng)
R1 – Paul Hogan (Eng) v Justin Thompson (Aus)