Irina Armstrong had waited for this moment – but her debut at the Lakeside World Championship ended in bitter disappointment.
The Unicorn women’s star was beaten in straight sets in her match against Deta Hedman at the World Championship.
Maybe nerves got the better of her on her first appearance at the Lakeside but she blew her chance in a dramatic opening set and simply never got going after that.
She was the No.3 seed going into the World Championship and watched by husband John, she made a terrific start – nailing a two dart 88 to win the opening leg, despite a maximum from her opponent.
Deta levelled but D16 from Irina nudged her ahead again…..but the Russian then wasted a glorious chance to win the set by missing two darts at the same double….Deta won the leg and the first set went to a decider.
Again Irina had her chances, as the drama intensified at a packed Lakeside venue.
Needing 80 for the set, she went for two D20s and missed with both darts. Hedman then missed three of her own darts for the set to gift Irina another chance.
This time she needed 60 and unbelievably hit the T20 so bust the score and Deta pinched the set on D2.
The huge disappointment of losing that set definitely affected Irina, because she didn’t win another leg and Deta breezed to victory in the second set.
Irina’s double trouble came back to haunt her again, because she missed three darts to win the opening leg and that was that.
Hedman won the match with a classy 101 finish.
We certainly didn’t see the best of Irina – far from it – but she will surely regroup and come out fighting for the rest of the year.
And there’s no reason why she shouldn’t be back at the Lakeside for another crack at it in 2011.
By STUART PYKE