PDC World Darts Championship, 2020-21: Paul Lim leads Dimitri Van den Bergh to last 32 place | Darts News

John Part

Darts Expert & Columnist

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Last updated: 22/12/20 6:33 am









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Paul Lim gives his views after defeating Luke Humphries in the first round of the World Darts Championship

Paul Lim gives his views after defeating Luke Humphries in the first round of the World Darts Championship

When Paul Lim, 66, was launching the World Cup on Friday night, John Part was one to watch – and not just in surprise, as Darth Maple gets encouragement from his former partner.

‘The Singapore Slinger’ is full of respect and disrespect and went to social media on his night off when Lim came back amazing seeing Luke Humphries who was a world youth winner in the first round.

Lim’s 41-year-old ‘Cool Hand’ is at a young age and as if to emphasize the point, when Lim returns to the Alexandra Palace stage on Tuesday night he will lead another youth champion in Dimitri Van of the Bergh.

A place in the final 32 is up against this year’s amazing World Matchplay champion, and Part has no doubts about what keeps Lim active.

I felt really ready for the game and I’m glad I was able to put in a good game and win the win. I have spent a lot of time on the dart board at a time that has been very difficult for the whole world.

I am very grateful that the PDC submitted a certificate and I won it and got the chance to be here. I am very happy to take that opportunity. This is one for the old lads.

Paul Lim after a win over Luke Humphries

Part just doesn’t speak in his role as a reporter. He speaks as a player whose design is still on the big stage, even if it was the last of his three world titles in 2008.

“He loves competing and so does I,” Part told the latest episode of Podcast Darts Show.

“As long as you can compete, go for it – as long as you deserve to compete.”

Darth Maple will be heading to Certificate School in January and still feels he has what it takes to earn a place on a PDC Tour. Watching Lim go back years to players who weren’t even born when he fired his famous first nine-dart finish in 1990 adding fuel to the fire.

“I was watching him and when he was down two sets, I thought he was playing pretty well. Of course, not doing enough but I thought he was 66- years old and it’s just unbelievable anyway.

“I had to express how I felt about it and applied it as a hero and an inspiration.

“The motivational part is really about going forward for me, go to Q-School and try it – there’s no reason not to try it, that’s the lesson. If you work hard, why not? “

Lim competes in his 25th World Championship, in both the BDO and PDC groups, but only once in those years is he found beyond the second round.

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Lim moved back the years with this brilliant 121 try against Humphries

Lim moved back the years with this brilliant 121 try against Humphries

Second round games Tuesday night

Danny Noppert v Cameron Cameronissen (R2)
Devon Petersen v Steve Lennon (R2)
Rob Cross v Dirk Van Duijvenbode (R2)
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Paul Lim (R2)

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December 22, 2020, 6:00 pm

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If it happened closer to his 70th birthday, it would be appropriate for a man who seems to be ageless. Van den Bergh will provide a strong challenge – Belgium will be revamping the TV platform and will not be introduced gradually – but Lim ‘s action has been a testament to time.

“He has performed to a low level in the world championship. He reached the semi-finals once, back in 1990 behind the nine-darter, and since then he’s sort of anything in the event,” said Mardle.

“I’m surprised he hasn’t won more games because he’s got a very consistent game – and there’s something I’m going to give up with that he doesn’t have to pick up and that’s his age.

“I don’t think it’s a thing with him. For some reason, he can target like a 25/30-year-old. I know other 66-year-olds and they can’t target like him, like to be alone playing like him.

“The action never let him down. There’s very little grip and tension and players know he’s going to be hanging around – they know if they make a mistake his awakening is under pressure, the experience, and the nous for winning games, maybe not the event, well it hasn’t been done in those years. “

Lim will be competitive. It’s shown over the last few years and doesn’t have to go too far back for even stronger memories.

A win over Mark Webster at the 2018 tournament set a date with Gary Anderson. Lim was a wire width away from a nine-dart finish, eight years on from the first one ever recorded on TV.

Watch as Lim hits eight out of nine perfect darts on day 9 of the 2017-18 tournaments

Watch as Lim hits eight out of nine perfect darts on day 9 of the 2017-18 tournaments

Part spent several years touring the North American darts tour with Lim, and that competitive edge is how the pair connected, and it wasn’t always darts.

“We played partners for a year or two in the 90s in the US. We were playing a tournament in Michigan I believe. We were done but without leaving I think. believe me, so we ate something and ended up at a little golf course playing.

“We just couldn’t play. We were playing $ 20 skins on a small golf course and there was another fella as well. That’s how scary it was, we were just having fun!

“We all had the same desire to win, we are very different people I believe, but when it came to darts, pretty much the same thing – not wanting to lose and always wanting to get on with it, it was fun.

“As long as I live, and there’s some way to get in, I’ll try for the World Championship. For me, if you’re worried about it you’re competing. That’s the main thing.”

Part, now 54, hopes to compete again, but for now all eyes are on Lim who proves to be more than competitive.

Darth Maple knows it, Wayne Mardle knows it and Luke Humphries knows it. Van den Bergh is the latest to discover that the oldest slinger in town isn’t here to make up the numbers.

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