[denphone]

http://www.bdodarts.com/1618/11-01-2...an_Van_de_Wiel

Martin “The Assassin” gunned down 10th seed Willy van de Wiel 4-2 after almost being squeezed out of the championship by the man in orange.

The Dutchman staged a massive comeback from 3-0 down, pulling back to 3-2, Atkins scrambling through on his favourite double tops.

“I thought of the game three years ago when I missed a double to win 4-0 and went out. Willy is such a good player. I got to 3-0 by the skin of my teeth and then he started to come back at me and I thought, oh no, not again!

“But I have broken my duck. This is the furthest I have been in the tournament, I never did anything as a seed. Perhaps next year I should come back as a qualifier!”

The Assassin found his range in the opening set unleashing a volley of precision doubles for a 3-0 success against the throwing advantage.

A maximum steered the Dutchman into a 2-0 in the next and despite his second maximum he conceded the third leg, Atkins himself hitting a maximum in the fourth. Van de Wiel notched his third 180 of the set but confident Atkins replied with a 137 and moved into a 2-0 match lead with an 88 finish, completed on double seven.

“Free Willy” missed bull for a 90 finish in the opening leg of the next set, Atkins swooping to pick off double eight and then on target with a maximum in the next as he moved 2-0 ahead in the set. The Leeds man captured his sixth successive leg for a surprise 3-0 match lead over the 10th seed.

Twice Atkins had darts for doubles in the opening legs of the fourth set, double 10 for the first and then double 2-0 for a 117 finish, Van de Wiel capturing both with double 16. Atkins raced to the third, exiting on 136 with double 16 but the Dutchman replied with a maximum and clinched the set on his favourite double 16.

Van de Wiel suffered more double trouble in the opening leg of the fifth set but pounced after Atkins fluffed bull for 83 and then the Yorkshireman missed double tops for 151, the man in orange nipping out on double four.

Atkins coasted to double 20, taking the match into a fifth leg and Atkins seized the initiative with a maximum but Van de Wiel pinched the set with 70, completed on that double 16, pulling the score back to 3-2.

As the Dutchman grimaced and constantly chastised his flyaway darts, Atkins defended his throw in the opening leg of the sixth set, missed double 10 for a showpiece 120 exit in the next, recovering to hit double 10 and a 2-0 set lead. Van de Wiel missed double 14 for a match-saving 107 in the third leg, Atkins - who had left 40 after hitting 138 - made no mistake this time to end the gripping 50-minute encounter