Dave Chisnall was eliminated from the World Darts Championship after suffering a dramatic defeat to Ricky Evans in the final leg, while former world champion Rob Cross also withdrew after an excellent session at Alexandra Palace.
Chisnall won the first set of an eventful match, but needed to recover from a 2-1 deficit to extend the epic showdown into the final set, with both players overcoming match darts to force extra time. .
Evans scored a 110 checkout on his way to reclaiming the lead, and saw Chisnall recover from a shocking miscount with a ton-plus finish to a held throw, with ‘Rapid Ricky’ winning the final leg of the match. They sent another seed to the finals. Leaving early.
In an epic pre-Christmas session, Darryl Gurney cruised through a final set decider against Florian Hempel, World Youth Champion Jan van Veen was KO’d by Ricardo Pietrecko and crossed in the final match of the night. lost to Scott Williams 3-1.
Cross’s early exit made him the 14th seed to be eliminated in the last 64 stage of this year’s tournament, the most defeats at this stage in the tournament’s history, and he was defeated by eventual champions in last year’s semi-finals. It was a match against Williams, who lost to Luke Humphries. – The last person to qualify for the third round.
Early Christmas classics with a great session
Evans looked festive with a Christmas-themed t-shirt and Shakin’ Stevens walk-on truck, but Chisnall took the lead with a 12-dart break and took early control with another held throw.
Chisnall reacted to Evans’ impressive 126 checkout, clinching the set with 15 darts and missing the ‘Big Fish’ attempt, but wasted a set dart on D5 of the final leg of the second set and missed the ‘Rapid Rickey’. He allowed a break throw and leveled up. .
Evans led the third set with 13 darters, but watched as Chisnall fought back with a clean sweep in the fourth, before ‘Chizzy’ made three comebacks to lead a thrilling final set. I was forced to.
A chaotic final stretch saw both players miss match darts, but Evans extended the contest with a stunning 110 checkout to break back, before finding a 17-dart hold and separating his legs.
Chisnall overcame an ill-timed counting error to find ‘Madhouse’ on his next visit, dragging the set to an 11th and final leg, where Evans took the lead for a 52 finish, sparking wild celebrations. Ta.
“I played against world-class darts players there and I played very well,” Evans said. told Sky Sports. “It’s nice to win the game and say we played well. Normally it would be boring! I wish we had beaten Chizzy 3-0 because then the ticker would have gone a little slower. hey!”
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Evans gave a wonderfully hilarious interview after his match with Abigail Davies, teasing the Alexandra Palace crowd who had cheered him on throughout his victory over Chisnall.
Gurney overcomes fear as cross progresses
Another upset occurred when Gurney fell to a set down against Hempel. Hempel was on the verge of taking the second set to a decider when Northern Irishman Gurney scored with a 156 checkout and broke with 15 darters to tie the match.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Darryl Gurney leveled up his game against Florian Hempel by scoring 156 points to make it 1-1.
Hempel took the second set with straight legs and came close to winning in a close fourth set, but Gurney then hit 13 straight leg legs to tie the match and break German early in the final set. did.
Gurney kept his throw in the next match, looking to score a hard-fought victory, but in the third round he faced seventh-seeded Johnny Clayton, but Cross suffered a disappointing loss to Williams. Another big player was eliminated.
After Cross held the throw in the final leg of the first set, Williams took the second set with a 14-dart hold in the other deciding leg, and the match was on the line when Cross made a 130 checkout at the start of the third set. There was a fear that it would last until the end.
Williams won the next three legs and took advantage of Cross’s poor finishing to take the set ahead, before sealing victory in the next set and taking 14 darters at the top to improve his lead over the Briton two years earlier. He fulfilled his revenge. Last leg.
In other matches, Van Veen missed eight darts and broke his opponent with a fierce opening leg, while Pietrezko raced through the first set, only to hit a stunning 12-dart hold in the second set with a 127 checkout. It tied the game. .
Pietrezko fell back in a straight leg victory in the third set with a 122 finish, breaking Van Veen with a 16 darter and then a held throw to advance to the third round for the second consecutive year.
Creighton defeats epic in final leg, Rock breezes through
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Johnny Clayton and Mickey Mansell battled it out in an epic final set that included a finish of over three tons, a 10-dart leg, numerous match darts and a sudden-death finish.
Creighton appeared to be well on its way to the finish line as it won six straight legs, but Mickey Mansell forced the deciding set, posting incredible finishes of 136 and 154 to bring him within striking distance of victory. It approached.
The Welshman won the next two legs to extend the contest, and both players missed match darts to take the set into a final leg shootout, using the darts in their possession to get them over the line. I found it.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Mansell hit a 136 checkout in the deciding set against Creighton and then posted a 154 finish.
Elsewhere, Josh Lock easily defeated Reece Griffin 3-0, losing only two legs to move into a last 32 tie with Chris Dobbie. Meanwhile, the other two seeds that competed on Monday afternoon also advanced.
Poland’s No.1 Krzysztof Ratajski defeated Alexis Toyro 3-1, Andrew Gilding beat Martin Lukman by the same scoreline, Ratajski surprised former world champion Michael Smith with Kevin Doets Gilding will face Nathan Aspinall.
When will the third round take place?
Darts will resume after Christmas on December 27th with a four-day double session at Alexandra Palace, with rounds three and four to conclude by December 30th.
World number one Luke Humphries plays Nick Kenny, current Premier League champion Luke Littler takes on Ian White, Michael van Gerwen takes on Brendan Dolan and fellow former world champion Luke Littler takes on Ian White. Gerwyn Price entertains Joe Cullen.
Use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player
Luke Littler takes just 32 darts to take the final set against Ryan Meikle and set up a three-round matchup with Ian White
They will take a break on New Year’s Eve and the quarter-finals will be held over two sessions on New Year’s Day, with the semi-finals on January 2nd and the final on Friday, January 3rd.
The complete schedule for each day of this year’s tournament can be found here here.
Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch every match live and exclusively on Sky Sports’ dedicated darts channel until January 3rd. Stream darts and other top sports now
