Gary Anderson

PDC World Darts Championship results: Gary Anderson defeats Chris Dobey in an Ally Pally epic

By Chris Hammer

Darts

Thu December 27, 2018 · 6y ago

A review of Thursday's action at the PDC World Darts Championship, including wins for Gary Anderson, Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith, Luke Humphries and Devon Petersen.

Scroll down for full round-up, results, match highlights and interviews
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Anderson survives scare

Gary Anderson avoided a huge shock for the second game running as he fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to defeat Chris Dobey in arguably the best match of the William Hill World Darts Championship so far.

The Flying Scotsman, who survived a match dart in his previous match against Jermaine Wattimena on Saturday night, was hot favourite to book his quarter-final spot but it looked like his bid for a third world title was going to be derailed by his protege.

'Hollywood' fired in 15 180s - a record for a last 16 match on the World Championship stage - and averaged 101 in a stunning display but there was to be no fairytale ending to compliment his nickname.

Anderson kicked off the match with a superb 123 checkout but Dobey responded by taking the first set 3-2 after his mentor missed a dart at double tops in the decider.

The 28-year-old's confidence began to grow and at 2-1 in the second, he rattled off back-to-back 180s before taking out 41 for an 11-darter as he seized control of the contest.

Anderson, who has won the UK Open, World Matchplay and Champions League of Darts in an incredible year, produced a trademark turbo to win three successive legs as he finally got a set on the board although he had to survive Dobey's dart at the bullseye for an 87 checkout in the fifth leg of the next before restoring parity.

A 12-darter helped put the 48-year-old 2-0 up in the fifth set but Dobey refused to lie down as successive legs in 14, 13 and 11 darts saw him edge ahead in thrilling fashion.

The Northumberland thrower almost repeated the trick in the next but Anderson found another gear to take the decider in 13 darts and ensure the match would go to a seventh and final set.

In a decider of the highest quality, the first three legs were won in 12 darts apiece, with Dobey taking the opener thanks to a 148 checkout before edging the third with a finish from 86.

A timely visit of 133 left Dobey on 50 for the match but he would never get the chance to take it out as Anderson kept his cool on double six to force a tie-break, which meant either player needs to triumph by two clear legs.

Dobey reached a finish first in the fifth leg but he spurned three darts from 40 as Anderson made him pay before the Flying Scotsman finished the job in the next - but only after missing three match darts.

Anderson will next meet either Jamie Lewis or Dave Chisnall in Saturday's quarter-finals.

Mighty Mike too strong for Jackpot

Michael van Gerwen averaged 108 in a 4-1 victory over Adrian Lewis as he delivered an ominous warning to his World Championship rivals.

However, the scoreline was perhaps a little harsh on Jackpot, who managed to average over 100 and hit 10 180s in an impressive display while he also managed to win 10 of the 24 legs played in an entertaining fourth-round encounter.

The world number one, who remains on a collision course to meet fellow two-time world champion Gary Anderson in the semi-finals, lost the opening leg as Lewis landed a 110 checkout but won the next three, thanks to a pair of 13-darters, to take early control.

Van Gerwen edged second set 3-2 with a decisive 14-darter but blew a 2-0 lead in the third, in which he produced a match high 127 checkout, as Lewis thrilled the Alexandra Palace crowd with back-to-back 180s en route to an explosive 10-dart deciding leg.

Two-time world champion Lewis looked as though he was on the brink of completing the comeback when leading 2-1 in the fourth set but successive 11-dart legs from the world number one reestablished his two-set advantage.

It was a similar story in the fifth as MVG overturned Jackpot's 2-1 lead with ruthless legs of 11 and 12 darts to set up a quarter-final with either Ryan Joyce or James Wade.

Van Gerwen is now a firm favourite to win his third world title after a season in which his dominance was questioned despite winning 18 titles, including Premier League, Masters and the World Grand Prix, and if he can go the distance, his critics will be firmly silenced.

Should he face Anderson in the last four, he'll be looking to gain revenge for the defeats he suffered at the Champions League of Darts and the Grand Slam of Darts - although he did gain the upper hand in the semi-finals of the Players Championship Finals.

AS for Lewis, his challenge may have fallen short but his run to the fourth round - as well as his spirited performance against MVG - proves he really is heading back in the right direction and up the rankings following a difficult two seasons on the oche.

Benito battles into round four

Benito van de Pas reached the last 16 of the William Hill World Darts Championship for the fourth time in five years as he defeated Toni Alcinas 4-2 in a war of attrition that completed the third-round games.

Big Ben stormed into a two set lead but he missed darts to go 3-0 up and, in keeping with the theme of this tournament, his Spanish opponent fought back to level at 2-2.

Van de Pas, whose checkout of 160 was in vain in the fourth set, produced a stunning 149 finish in the deciding leg of the fifth to go 3-2 up while he took out 151 en route to edging the sixth by the same scoreline.

Alcinas caused one of the biggest shocks when knocking out Peter Wright in the previous round but that was way back on December 16 and he'd clearly lost his momentum since then.

Neither player were able to produce their best, with both averaging in the mid-80s, and although Alcinas hit two more 180s with four, it ultimately boiled down to van de Pas' slightly superior finishing as he pinned 16 of his 42 attempts at doubles.

The 25-year-old Dutchman, who has fallen down the rankings to 30 after a disappointing season, will now meet Brendan Dolan in the fourth round and will sense a huge opportunity to get back to the top 16 again.

Bully Boy barges past Henderson

Michael Smith highlighted his title credentials as he came through a stern examination from John Henderson to book his place in the fourth round.

Bully Boy, tipped up at 16/1 to go all the way in our pre-tournament preview, recorded an average of 100, fired in nine 180s and converted almost 50% of his doubles but still found it a struggle to shake off the plucky Highlander.

This season's Premier League and World Series of Darts Finals runner-up, who has also won three titles in 2018, fell a set down after missing a dart at tops in a deciding leg and then had to defy Henderson's 116 checkout to win the second 3-2 thanks to a clinical finish from 74.

The Scotsman's showstopping 161 checkout completed a 12-darter that helped him claw his way back from 2-0 down in the third to win it 3-2 although Smith quickly responded with two 180s and an 84 checkout for his own 12-darter in the opening leg of set four, which he went on to win 3-0.

Now in an extra gear, Smith won six of the next seven legs to rattle through sets five and six to seal a fourth-round meeting with Ryan Searle on Friday night.

Save the last dance for Humphries

Luke Humphries underlined his star potential once again as he upset the odds to beat World Youth king Dimitri van den Bergh and reach the fourth round.

Despite his inexperience of the big stage, the 23-year-old from looked completely at ease in the biggest match of his young career as he brushed aside the well-fancied Belgian 4-1 to set up a clash with defending champion Rob Cross.

In just his fourth live televised encounter, including his first-round defeat here 12 months ago, Humphries averaged above 90 for the third match in a row and took out 12 of his 27 attempts at doubles while his match highlight was an impressive 117 checkout.

The Newbury thrower held his nerve to win the opening two sets in last-leg deciders and although van den Bergh pulled one back, he went on to win six of the last seven legs.

Van den Bergh was well backed to go much further, especially in the wake of the 104 average he recorded in the 3-1 triumph over Jonny Clayton last time out, but he never got going against his fellow youngster.

The 24-year-old did average slightly higher with 91 and hit two more 180s with four, but apart from his showstopping 147 checkout, he missed key doubles at pivotal moments.

Humphries, who topped the PDC Development Tour Order of Merit for the second time in a row, has shown glimpses of his talent on the PDC Pro and European Tours during a hectic 2018 but few would have expected him to go this far so soon in his bright career.

He may not boast the dancing moves of Van den Bergh, but he has a game of darts to match anyone.

Dancing Devon waltzes past West

Devon Petersen's fairytale run shows no sign of stopping as he came from a set down to defeat Steve West 4-2 in the third round, which also secured his PDC Tour Card.

The world number 70, who had to come through an African qualifying event to book his place at Alexandra Palace for the sixth time, looked up against it when West breezed through the opener 3-0 without missing a dart at a double.

But the South African is made of stronger stuff, as were reminded when he sensationally came from 2-0 down against Ian White in the last round, and he bounced back with a 139 checkout to clinch the next 3-1 before a finish from 120 sealed the third by the same scoreline.

West, a 2018 UK Open quarter-finalist and the conqueror of Michael van Gerwen at the European Championship, rediscovered his touch to win the fourth set 3-0 but he then spurned a dart at tops the take the lead and Petersen duly punished him.

The 43-year-old Londoner, appearing in just his third World Championship having surged up the rankings in recent years, then blew five more darts at tops to save the match before Petersen stepped in to finish the job.

Petersen averaged 92 compared to West's 96 but he hit three more 180s with seven and was more clinical on his finishing, taking out 12 of his 28 attempts at doubles. His opponent managed 10 from 31.

The Bradford-based 32-year-old knew only a career-best run to the fourth round would seal his PDC Tour Card and now he doesn't need to worry about going through Q-School early in the New Year.

Instead his primary focus is trying to defeat Nathan Aspinall on Friday afternoon for a place in the quarter-finals.

More to follow...

Thursday results & Friday schedule

Thursday December 27
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Devon Petersen 4-2 Steve West (R3)
Dimitri Van den Bergh 1-4 Luke Humphries (R3)
Michael Smith 4-2 John Henderson (R3)

Evening Session (1900)
Third Round (Best of 7 sets)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Toni Alcinas 2-4 Benito van de Pas (R3)
Gary Anderson 4-3 Chris Dobey (R4)
Michael van Gerwen 4-1 Adrian Lewis (R4)

Friday December 28
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Nathan Aspinall v Devon Petersen
Benito Van de Pas v Brendan Dolan
Ryan Joyce v James Wade

Evening Session (1900)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Ryan Searle v Michael Smith
Jamie Lewis v Dave Chisnall
Rob Cross v Luke Humphries

Full World Championship draw and schedule