What a performance from Team Unicorn’s latest signing…. South African Wynand Havenga showed nerves of steel to cause a major upset on day one of the World Championships at the Circus Tavern. It was a fantastic debut on the biggest darts stage of all, as Havenga beat No.26 seed Steve Maish by 3 sets to 2 in a final set tie-break.
“I felt that I belonged up there,” he said. “It was a fantastic experience. I am honoured to be the face of darts in Africa for Unicorn and this win will do wonders for the sport back home.”
The Unicorn Global star shocked Maish – especially with his finishing. Havenga won the opening two legs of the match but still lost the set. He levelled the match with a 118 check-out and a double 16 finish under pressure, gave him a 2-1 lead.
Maish took the match into a deciding set but the South African wasn’t to be denied. He hammered in a brilliant 111 finish on the bull and followed that with an even better 126 check-out on the bull.
The Circus Tavern crowd were on their feet cheering for Havenga. He is certainly a larger-than-life character and he didn’t let them down, as the final set went to that nail-biting tie-break.
After missing three darts to win it, Havenga finally nailed double two to win that final set by 5 legs to 3.
The 41-year-old from Parow, near Cape Town was a 1,000/1 outsider for the tournament but a few punters have already won some money, backing Havenga at generous odds of 7/2 to beat Maish.
Havenga will be back in action in the 2nd Round on Friday – possibly against Unicorn’s Peter Manley.
It was the second big shock on the opening afternoon at Purfleet. Youngster Adrian Gray ousted Ronnie Baxter by 3 sets to 2.
It is the second year running that ‘The Rocket’ has spluttered and fallen at the first hurdle in Purfleet but Gray with a 91.44 average deserved his win.
BY STUART PYKE
