The Dutchman missed doubles at key moments and saw 'Snakebite' win 3-1 in sets.
Earlier in the evening, crowd favourite Rashad Sweeting fell to Jeffrey de Graaf 3-1.
The first ever World Championship participant from the Bahamas led 1-0 in sets, but could not live up to the fairytale.
Wright 3-1 Plaisier
Plaisier was allowed to start the match. While the first two legs were good, it took seven legs for him to be out. Wright threw the first maximum score in the second leg and made it 1-1 with double 8. The third and fourth leg also went with the darts and so a decisive fifth leg in the first set was needed. Plaisier got to start that one and so there was a lot of pressure on the Dutchman. He failed to finish 104, giving Wright three chances to take the set. He threw tops to make it 1-0 in sets.
In the second set, Plaisier immediately grabbed the break by throwing out 117. He also hit his first maximum score of the match in the first leg. He did not throw out 114, as tops was missed this time. Wright took advantage and threw out 100 in two darts to take back the break. A break also came in the third leg. Plaisier threw his second 180 and then threw out double 16 for a 2-1 lead.
He had three darts in the fourth leg to take the set, but missed three chances. Wright threw out 84 to make it 2-2. Again the set went to a fifth leg. Plaisier again got two set arrows from 80, but missed again. Wright was on 56, but also missed twice. So three more chances for the Dutchman, but again it went wrong and so the set went to the Scot. He threw double 10 to lead 2-0.
Plaisier did not give up and easily made it 1-0 in the third set. He threw his third 180 and finished on tops. Wright was very sloppy in this leg and threw himself dead from 56. In the retake, he missed the big planes and got one arrow on tops, which was missed. Plaisier took advantage and threw out double 8 for the break. Plaisier took the set 3-0 as 136 was thrown out. Wright threw only 67 average in the third set.
In the fourth set, Plaisier had three chances at the break and took them. Via double 10 it became 1-0 and he had the advantage in the set. Plaisier cashed in on the break by throwing out 48 in two darts and was mounting a fine comeback. Wright stayed in the set, though, as 127 went out via the bullseye.
Wright had two chances at the break from 68, but missed twice on double 4. Plaisier had 43 left and had two chances, but again missed. Wright grabbed the break and was allowed to throw for the match: 2-2. Wright got a matchdart on double 6 and threw it too and so the Scot won 3-1 in sets.
De Graaf 3-1 Sweeting
De Graaf faced the first ever player from the Bahamas in Sweeting. De Graaf started the match, throwing 180 in the first leg and finishing with two double 16: 1-0. Sweeting started the match very nervously, but played a good second leg. He almost threw out 116, but missed tops. He then threw double 10 though: 1-1. It was unbelievable, but Sweeting even got a break ahead. He hit 56 from double 10 to make it 2-1. The miracle was complete as he even won the set. De Graaf did not throw out 39, but Sweeting did throw out 65 in two darts and won the set 3-1.
Sweeting came out of the locker room well and threw out 76. His only chance on tops flew in and so he was very good on the doubles anyway, 4 out of 8. De Graaf ran into trouble, as Sweeting got back on a break. He threw out 81 via double 16 to make it 2-0. He threw out that leg in 12 darts.
Sweeting was loudly applauded afterwards and he enjoyed that gaudily. De Graaf also failed to throw out 80 and so Sweeting got three set darts. He missed three darts on the double 8 and so De Graaf made it 2-1. De Graaf also made it 2-2 as 56 went out. Sweeting had 194 left in the last leg and he just went for 180, which he threw and got set darts. He missed double 4 twice and that cost him dearly. De Graaf threw out 107 to make it 1-1.
The crowd favourite's resistance seemed broken in the third set. De Graaf threw out double 18 in the first leg and took the break by throwing out 66 with the same double 18. De Graaf threw out the set by throwing double 10 and seemed to be on his way to victory.
In the fourth set, De Graaf dealt the final blow. He threw out 116, where Sweeting missed two darts on double 12. Sweeting threw his second 180 in the second leg, but De Graaf won the leg by hitting double 8. Sweeting did still throw 126 via the bullseye and got the crowd on the benches again. Sweeting started with 180, but De Graaf followed in the fourth leg. De Graaf won the match by throwing double 16. He may have lost, but Sweeting is already the hero of this World Championship.
Meikle 3-2 Sherrock
Sherrock started the match moderately, but did grab the break. Meikle missed too many doubles and saw Sherrock throw out double 12. She cashed in that break by hitting double 5 to come close to taking the opening set. Sherrock took the set as well, as she also threw out 78: 3-0 in the first set.
Meikle got on the scoreboard through misses by Sherrock. She missed tops to make it 1-0 in the set and saw her compatriot throw out double 10. Thus, Meikle grabbed the break right away. Meikle cashed in on the break by throwing tops. Meikle also won the set 3-0 by throwing out 111. Thus, both sets were taken away from the other without the one who started it even winning a leg.
Sherrock got sloppier and sloppier and missed a lot of doubles. In the first leg she failed to throw out 66 and break and in the second leg she couldn't get double 18 out. Meikle did throw out 119 to make it 2-0 and take the break. Meikle won the set by hitting double 10 to end the third set 3-0.
In the fourth set Sherrock threw 180 twice out of nowhere and finished the leg with double 18. The next three legs all went with the darts as well. Meikle made it 2-2 by throwing out 122. A fifth and deciding leg came and Sherrock had to win it to stay in the match. In a perfect moment, she threw 180 and made it 2-2 in sets by throwing out 48.
Sherrock had two chances to break from 100 but missed both chances. Meikle did throw out double 10 to make it 1-0 in the fifth and deciding set. Sherrock made it 1-1 by throwing out 60. She then hit tops after missing it six times. Meikle led 2-1 and was one leg away from victory. Sherrock threw out just short of 170 and that was punished mercilessly. He threw out 96 to win the set 3-1 and the match 3-2.
Pietreczko 3-0 Zong
Ricardo Pietreczko started the match and made it 1-0. He threw out 56 to make it 1-0. He grabbed the break by throwing double 8 to make it 2-0. He also grabbed the set by throwing double 4: 3-0. Xiao Chen Zong fell short in the first set.
In the second set, Zong did get on the board. A good lay eventually saw him throw out 58 to make it 1-0. Pietreczko threw a great finish of 158 in the second leg. Zong had only 20 left through a 180, but thus got no chances to break. The third and fourth legs went with the darts and so the pressure was on Zong in the fifth leg. He could not handle that pressure. A 120 finish by the German made it 2-0 in sets.
The German eventually won the match 3-0 in sets. He grabbed his own leg and then threw out 25 to make it 2-0 via a break. In the third leg, he got a matchdart on 142, but missed the double 14. Zong grabbed a break back as he did throw out 40 via tops. Pietreczko eventually won the set 3-1, as he grabbed the break right back. He did not finish 90 yet, but 40 did via tops. This made it 3-0 in sets.
