A review of Wednesday's action at the PDC's William Hill World Darts Championship, as Gary Anderson reached the quarter-finals, ruled out retirement speculation and branded Wayne Mardle a 'numpty'.
- Scroll down for results and averages
- Follow @ChrisHammer180 on Twitter
AFTERNOON SESSION
Gary Anderson cruised into his eighth World Championship quarter-final by thrashing Devon Petersen 4-0 for the loss of just four legs - and but then aimed another swipe at Mensur Suljovic for his tactics and commentator Wayne Mardle for defending them.
Not for for the first time in his illustrious career, the Flying Scotsman took social media by storm two days ago with an outspoken interview that followed his controversial and bizarre victory over Suljovic, claiming: "If that's how darts is going then I'm offski - I'm away for a game of golf or something. I'm not going through that again."
However, Anderson initially had a smile back on his face when talking to the Sky Sports cameras after what seemed like a 100m sprint compared to Monday's arduous marathon and insisted he's got the hunger to play on for as long as another 10 years in a bid to rediscover his best form.
His average of 95.55 compared to Petersen's 94.97 certainly wasn't at that level, but he was at least clinical with his finishing as he pinned 12 of his 23 attempts at doubles, including one at tops for a 160 checkout, while he also weighed in with five of the 10 maximums in the match.
The African Warrior was expected to give him a real test having made huge strides this year but his heavy scoring never really got going and he spurned 10 of his 14 attempts at the outer ring.
The 2015 and 2016 Ally Pally king said: "Devon's scoring wasn't where it has been this year and I nicked it. I'm nowhere near where I should be playing but next year I'll start from scratch and get myself back to it. I've managed to scrape through like I did when I got to the World Matchplay final. This run is a real bonus for me.
"I heard Rod Harrington say I should retire. I was thinking about it but not now! You've got me for a long time, I'm here for the duration, whether it's two years, three years of 10 years, I'll be here."
Anderson was also asked by the rest of the media to elaborate on his outburst against Suljovic but he also took the opportunity to have a pop at Sky Sports commentator Mardle for his analysis of the situation.
The former Ally Pally semi-finalist felt Anderson's reaction could encourage other players to try the same while he also thought he made too much of Suljovic using the wrong table.
Anderson said: "Wayne Mardle's comment the other night, what a ticket. If you're playing a player you need to put him off, you need to slow him down. That's coming from a commentator on Sky. My way of playing darts is to hit a 140 if he hits a ton or a 180 if he hits a 140. Put pressure on by out scoring him and out finish him. Now Wayne is telling everyone if you've got a problem with a player, do whatever you can to put him off. What a numpty. That's a great lesson to teach kids isn't it? Proud of you Wayne.
"Devon and I played proper darts today. You throw your darts, you beat him with what you've got in your hand. Not all these tactics and whatever Wayne tells you to do.
"You lot sit and watch darts, I play darts and know how everybody plays. I could be playing Brendan Dolan and I know exactly how long it takes him to throw. If he wavers from that, I'd pick up on it. It just shows that you guys don't actually watch and listen, and see things you're supposed to. It took Mensur 23 seconds to throw his first dart. Come on.
"Wayne Mardle, Rod Harrington, Mark Webster. They've all played darts, I've seen them kicking off because somebody's done something to them. If they'd had been up there playing, they'd have been a hell of a lot worse than I was. Trust me on that."
"I've heard their comments, I don't think a lot about them. But it's a great way to tell the public how to play darts. Well done lads. Proud of you."
"There's quick players and there's slow players. But when it takes you an extra 10 seconds than usual to throw, that's different. Come on lads.
"I'm up there to play darts, win or lose. If I ever thought for one second "slow the game down by five seconds and I'll win the world championship', would I do it? No. I'll play darts how it's supposed to be played and anyone who doesn't like it can do one.
"And the thing about the table wasn't about who had which one - it was about where you stand at it. As soon as I'd thrown and walked back to the table, he was standing with his back to me. If you watch any dart game, the player walks back and walk round the other one who is approaching the oche. His back is towards me and the board, so now I have to cut across the oche. If he turns round to throw, I'm walking in front of him and that puts me in the wrong. Get all your facts right."
He was also asked to elaborate on his earlier Sky Sports interview, in which he confirmed he won't be walking away from the game.
The 50-year-old said: "I probably would have done if Harrington hadn't piped up. Now I'm going to play, I'm going to play for a long time. I had a year or two years left, not now. If I can make it till I'm 90 just to make sure I cheese him off, I'm going to play until I'm 90.
"When it comes from commentators and directors of the PDC (Harrington), they keep going on about me moaning but I stick to the rules. I'm a stickler for rules and I play the game how it's supposed to be played."
Daryl Gurney maintained his impressive revival at the Ally Pally as he eventually battled past Vincent van der Voort 4-2 after missing six match darts in what proved to be the penultimate leg of the match.
The Northern Irishman is the first to admit he'd endured a rotten 2020, especially since the sport resumed in the summer, but wins over William O'Connor and Chris Dobey restored much of his lost confidence ahead of this latest clash.
Although he was someway short of the 101 and 99 averages he managed in his previous outings, a mark of 93.65 was still good enough to overcome van der Voort, who managed a slightly superior 94.81.
Gurney, who has now reached his second World Championship quarter-final, also fired in eight of the 12 maximums in the match and two of the three 100+ checkouts, including the highest of 125 in the opening leg.
The two-time major winner went on to take the first set 3-1 before his opponent weighted in with a 111 on his way to edging the next 3-2.
Gurney missed double 12 for a nine-darter in set three before pinning it with his 10th while a checkout of 120 helped him move 3-1 ahead.
Van der Voort, who was bidding to reach his third Ally Pally quarter-final, bounced back by taking the fourth set 3-0 in just 41 darts but it proved in vain as Gurney eventually finished him off in the deciding leg of the sixth.
Stephen Bunting is through to the quarter-finals of the World Championship for the first time since his debut in the 2015 edition as he came through a sudden-death leg with Ryan Searle.
The former Lakeside champion looked on course for a surprisingly comfortable victory when winning the opening two sets 3-1 and 3-2 but he then spurned seven darts at a double to move 3-0 up.
Rising star Searle, who was appearing in the fourth round for the second time in his three appearances, made him pay to stay alive before levelling up the tie by winning the fourth set 3-1 as momentum turned in his favour.
Bunting responded brilliantly with an 11-darter on his way to taking the fifth set 3-0 but this only served to spark Searle back into life, as Heavy Metal fired in 12, 15 and 13 dart legs, including a 100 checkout, to force a decider.
The Somerset thrower then took pole position with stunning finishes of 145 and 90 to go 2-0 up, only for Bunting to hit back spectacularly with an 11-darter, a 107 checkout under huge pressure and then a match-winning 13-darter when Searle waited on 16.
EVENING SESSION
Gerwyn Price produced his most commanding performance of the World Championship so far as he brushed aside Mervyn King 4-1 to reach the quarter-finals.
The Iceman was twice taken to deciding sets in his previous two wins on the Ally Pally stage and while his average of 97.71 on this occasion was a little lower than what he managed against Brendan Dolan on Monday, his finishing was even more ruthless and he was also helped by King being comparatively wasteful on his doubles.
Price hit half of the match's eight 180s, pinned 51.85% of his attempts at the outer ring and landed three 100+ checkouts, including a stunning 148 to win the opening set 3-0.
A finish from 115 and 12-darter weren't enough to double the Welshman's advantage in the next as the resurgent 54-year-old went on to pinch a deciding leg, but he did get his nose in front by racing through the next 3-1.
Price, who has won the World Grand Prix, World Cup and televised World Series during a sensational season held his nerve from 93 to pinch the fourth-set decider before a classy finish from 116 helped him seal the fifth 3-1 and a place in the last eight against Daryl Gurney.
"I felt quite comfortable for most of the match but it was little bit patchy at times," Price told www.pdc.tv. "Mervyn wasn't quite as good as he has been in the last few weeks and I took advantage. I just did what I do best and finished well. I never felt under pressure. I hit at the right time and he missed at the wrong time.
"Daryl is a fantastic player and I'll have to be at my best to beat him but I'm determined to go on and win the tournament because I've got my eyes on that world number one spot."
Dirk van Duijvenbode mounted a rousing comeback from 3-1 down to defeat Glen Durrant as yet another match at this year's World Championship went to a dramatic deciding leg.
Of the 14 matches that have gone the full distance, the World Grand Prix runner-up has now been involved in two of them having also held his nerve to defeat Rob Cross in round two while he had to fight back from a two sets deficit in his opener against Bradley Brooks.
Although van Duijvenbode didn't have to through the agony of watching his opponent take aim at a match dart, he was still under huge pressure to sink double six after the Premier League champion waited on 48 having failed to earn a shot at the outer ring from 100.
Van Duijvenbode, who has enjoyed a stunning climb up the rankings since regaining his Tour Card at Q School back in January, averaged 96.75 compared to Duzza's 90.76 while he fired in nine of the 15 180s in the match and landed four of the five 100+ checkouts.
One of those was the fourth 170 checkout of the tournament so far - and his second - which crucially arrived after the three-time Lakeside king missed a dart at double for a 2-1 lead in the sixth set.
Durrant's finishing was nowhere near as clinical as he's known to be as both players pinned 32% of their attempts at doubles but he did manage a fine effort from 154 during the second set, which he pined to go 2-0 up after his opponent spurned three darts for it in a deciding leg.
Van Duijvenbode halved the set deficit when punishing Duzza for wasteful finishing in the fourth leg of the third, only for the 50-year-old to restore his cushion by taking the next 3-1.
'Aubergenius' produced checkouts of 113 and 106 en route to winning the fifth set 3-1 and repeated the scoreline in sixth before the drama of decider, which left him lost for words during his interview.
"I felt like I was better than Glen for most of the match and found myself 3-1 down," said Van Duijvenbode. "I would have been devastated to have lost but I had to make sure I didn't get too frustrated. I dug deep and I won.
"I kept believing in myself like I always do. I think I hurt him with the 170. I was pretty nervous for a lot of the match to be honest but that is good thing and I managed to use it in a positive way. I enjoyed the match and I'm really happy to be through."
Dave Chisnall completed the quarter-final line-up as he defied Dimitri van den Bergh's onslaught of heavy scoring with a breathtaking display of his own to run out a 4-2 winner.
Both players were averaging over 107 when Chizzy moved into a stunning 3-0 lead although the World Matchplay champion then raised his to around 109 to reel off the next two sets for the loss of just one leg.
Eventually, the remarkable standard started to drop as nerves and pressure started to take their toll, with Van den Bergh missing 12 darts at doubles in the first three legs of the sixth set to fall 2-1 down and on the brink of defeat.
Chisnall, who is chasing his maiden major title, finished the job in style with a classy 102 checkout and another performance like this will give his next opponent, Michael van Gerwen, plenty to worry about.
The popular St Helens thrower averaged 101.76 compared to his opponent's 102.17 and while he hit seven of the 19 180s in the match, he was far more ruthless at the business end of legs, pinning 13 of his 26 doubles and landing three 100+ checkouts.
The highest of those from 144 clinched him the opening set while another from 106 helped him double his advantage.
"I could've won that game a little bit more comfortably but I'm just happy to have won it," said Chisnall. "I've felt really confident throughout the whole tournament and I think it will be a great match against Michael van Gerwen.
"I will just have to tidy up a few sloppy darts but I know I can beat him. It will be a fast, exciting game and I'm looking forward to it."
World Championship: Quarter-final line-up
- (1) Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall (8)
- (13) Gary Anderson v Dirk van Duijvenbode
- (15) Krzysztof Ratajski v Stephen Bunting (26)
- (3) Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney (11)
World Championship: Wednesday's results and remaining schedule
Wednesday December 30
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Vincent van der Voort (94.81) 2-4 (93.65) Daryl Gurney
Set scores: 1-3, 3-2, 1-3, 1-3, 3-0, 2-3) - Stephen Bunting (97.86) 4-3 (98.15) Ryan Searle
Set scores: 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 1-3, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2) - Devon Petersen (94.97) 0-4 (95.55) Gary Anderson
Set scores: 0-3, 2-3, 2-3, 0-3
CLICK HERE FOR WEDNESDAY'S TIPS
Evening Session (1800 GMT)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Dirk van Duijvenbode (96.7) 4-3 (90.76) Glen Durrant
Set scores: 1-3, 2-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2 - Gerwyn Price (97.71) 4-1 (98.15) Mervyn King
Set scores: 3-0, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1 - Dave Chisnall (101.76) 4-2 (102.17) Dimitri Van den Bergh
Set scores: 3-1, 3-1, 3-2, 0-3, 1-3, 3-1
Friday January 1
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Krzysztof Ratajski v Stephen Bunting
- Gary Anderson v Dirk van Duijvenbode
Evening Session (1800 GMT)
Quarter-Finals (Best of 9 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
- Gerwyn Price v Daryl Gurney
- Michael van Gerwen v Dave Chisnall
Saturday January 2
Evening Session (1800 GMT)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
Semi-Finals (Best of 11 sets)
- Two matches
Sunday January 3
Evening Session (1930 GMT)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts
Final (Best of 13 sets)
- Winner SF 1 v Winner SF 2