Mickey Mansell qualified for the second round of the 2025 championship PDC World Darts Championships. Although the Northern Irishman wasn’t even close to his level at the last Grand Slam of Darts, he still managed to win 3-1 against Japan Tomoya Goto.
Goto started the match with a 74 to open his account, but immediately had to give the game to Mansell, who tied the match after 13 darters. The Japanese had trouble finding the high notes, and the Clonoe Cyclone won the next two games in 17 and 19 shots to take a 1-0 lead in sets.
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The 51-year-old Irishman from Northern Ireland then also took part in the first game of the second set. Goto got back to 1-1 with a double 8, but the Japanese was still on 223 in the next game when Mansell hit a double 15 to make it 2-1. The 28-year-old from Tokyo hit 110 to equalize, but in the end it was Mansell who hit 12 twice and the score was 2-0.
The Japanese started the third set exactly the same as set 1: with 74. In this set, Mansell did not give up at all and allowed Goto to lead quite easily 0-2 in the legs, as well as a double 2.
However, the Northern Irishman didn’t wait for the comeback, breaking into the set with two 24-darters, thanks in part to Goto’s poor shooting. This left Mansell just one leg away from victory. However, the Japanese straightened up in the decisive match and thanks to a 16-darter he returned to 2-1 in sets.
In the fourth set, the first two matches were even. In the third game, Goto had three chances to take the lead, but was unsuccessful. Mansell took this opportunity to put up an 80, but the Japanese again forced the fifth and deciding match with double 16. This time, the ‘Clonoe Cyclone’ finished the match with a 19-darter.
Mickey Mansell can now enjoy the rest of the weekend off and won’t be back in action until Monday afternoon, December 23. In the second round match, the Irishman from Northern Ireland will face “Fertka” Jonny Clayton.
