PDC World Darts Championship results: Gary Anderson wins epic against Jermaine Wattimena as MVG marches on

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Flying Scotsman stays on track...just

Gary Anderson survived an almighty scare - and a match dart - to defeat Jermaine Wattimena 4-3 in yet another pulsating clash at the William Hill World Darts Championship.

The Flying Scotsman looked as though he would coast through to the fourth round when surging into a 3-1 lead after the fast-throwing Machine Gun had earlier won an explosive first set with a 142 checkout.

Finishes of 85 and 110 had helped Anderson level the scores and after defying Wattimena's 117 to win the next 3-1, he them punished the Dutchman's miss at the bull for a 128 checkout in the decider of set four by taking out 62 with his last dart in hand.

However, Wattimena launched an incredible comeback like the many we've seen before since the tournament got under way over a week ago - but this would have topped the lot given the legendary status of Anderson, who missed five match darts of his own before eventually getting the job done.

A checkout of 80 completed an 11-darter to seal the fifth set 3-1 while he had to come from 2-0 down in the sixth and survive five match darts from the two-time world champion to force a deciding set as the millions watching around the world started to sense a huge upset was now on the cards.

It was then Wattimena's turn to go 2-0 up and although the Flying Scotsman pulled one back, he came agonisingly close to victory when he missed a dart at bullseye for a 170 checkout.

With Anderson's hopes of becoming become the first man since Phil Taylor to win the world title more than twice hanging by a thread, the 48-year-old showed his champion spirit and nerves of steel to take his chance on double 14 for a 13-darter that forced the tie-break situation, with both players now needing to win by two clear legs.

Wattimena went ahead again with a 104 finish only for Anderson, who was roared on by the vast majority of the bouncing Alexandra Palace crowd, to drag himself over the line with three successive legs.

This year's UK Open, World Matchplay and Champions League of Darts averaged 97.33, hit eight 180s and had a high finish of 110 which won him the second set while he took out 19 of his 49 attempts at a double.

It was the 25th time in this year's tournament that a match has gone the distance although Wattimena, who averaged 95 and hit six 180s, was unable to join the growing list of players to come back from a two-set deficit and win.

After the match Anderson, who will next meet either Chris Dobey or Vincent van der Voort, had his say on a range of issues including the match itself, Jermaine Wattimena's celebrations on the oche, the crowd support, the competitiveness of the tournament and much more.

What the full press conference below by pressing play, even if you're not on Twitter.

Van Gerwen too hot for Hopp

Michael van Gerwen responded to Gary Anderson's nerve-jangling survival act in emphatic fashion by recording a resounding 4-1 win over rising German star Max Hopp.

The world number one and tournament favourite averaged 102 and hit six 180s but it was his 170 checkout which moved him 3-0 ahead that brought the house down.

Hopp had huge support inside a raucous Alexandra Palace and he did at least give them something to cheer when impressive taking the fourth set, with a roof raising 148 checkout to seal it.

The German number one went 2-0 up in the fifth set but MVG, who is chasing a third world title, rediscovered his standards to take the next three legs in a row to claim victory.

Van Gerwen, who has won 18 individual titles in 2018 including the Masters, Premier League and World Grand Prix., will next meet either Adrian Lewis or Darius Labanauskas.

After the game van Gerwen revealed he'd kept a close eye on Gary Anderson's match with Jermaine Wattimena and was asked if he was rooting for the Dutchman's match dart to send the Flying Scotsman packing. See what he had to say by clicking play below.

Searle's dream debut continues

Ryan Searle's dream World Darts Championship debut will continue beyond Christmas after he brushed aside William O'Connor to reach the fourth round at Alexandra Palace.

The unseeded duo couldn't be split by the bookies heading into the contest but it was O'Connor who edged the opening exchanges to move 1-0 up in sets.

But the unfazed Searle, 31, fought back impressively to level the scores and pinched the next after his opponent missed a dart at double 12 in a deciding leg.

The former window cleaner from Somerset may not have been scoring particularly heavily - with both players averaging 90 - but it was his finishing that proved to be the difference as the Irishman's doubling fell apart during the next two sets.

Searle, who hit 12 of his 27 attempts at a double, won five legs on the trot from 1-0 down in the fourth set as he booked a fourth-round meeting with either Michael Smith or John Henderson.

After the match the 31-year-old explained how life changing his prize money - currently £35,000 if he loses in the next round - will would be in his bid to climb further up the world rankings in darts.

Lewis sends Gurney packing

Daryl Gurney became the 15th seeded player to crash out of the William Hill World Darts Championship after Jamie Lewis defied his comeback from 2-0 and 3-1 down to win an absorbing deciding set.

It's the 24th time a match has gone the distance in this tournament of shocks and underdog stories so really nobody should be too surprised, especially as Lewis was a semi-finalist here last year.

Players Championship Finals winner Gurney did have a golden chance to be the ninth player to win from a two-set deficit but spurned a dart at double eight for the match when leading 2-0 in the final set.

That had followed a sparkling run of winning eight legs out of nine - which included checkouts of 160 and 84 in set five - but his momentum suddenly stopped and Lewis had the final say.

The Welshman averaged 94 compared to Gurney's 91 and while he also pounded the red bit to score 12 180s, his finishing needs work after needing 44 attempts to hit his 16 doubles.

Afterwards the Welshman, who lost to Phil Taylor in the last four 12 months ago, spoke about how he "gave up" when trailing 2-0 in the deciding set and how he wishes he could take his World Championship form into the regular tour events to give him a better chance of qualifying for other TV majors.

Click play below to watch the interview.

Scroll down for more reports

Ryan mighty at the Palace

Ryan Joyce came from two sets down to defeat Alan Norris 4-3 in another thrilling clash at the William Hill World Darts Championship.

Norris started off like a train as he won three successive legs with an average of 115 and a checkout of 152 but became another victim of an upset.

However, this won't be considered a real shock given Chuck's difficult season and he's also now the eighth player to lose from leading 2-0 while it was the 23rd time a match had gone the distance.

Joyce, who defeated Anastasia Dobromyslova and eighth seed Simon Whitlock without dropping a set in the previous rounds - will need to up his game for the next round having only managed an average of 88 against Norris, who posted 90, while he hit five 180s compared to his opponent's 10.

Although his checkout percentage was a mediocre 31%, the key was his knack to hit doubles time and time again with the last dart in his hand, as was the case when winning the deciding leg of the third set.

Joyce is coming to the end of his debut season on the PDC Tour and revealed afterwards how he's now earned more money - a minimum of £35,000 - with these three victories than he has in the rest of 2018.

This interview also includes a story of how he got into the sport due to a twist of fate 12 years ago.

Hurricane not strong enough for Chizzy

Dave Chisnall eased into the fourth round of the World Darts Championship with a thumping 4-0 victory over Kim Huybrechts.

The tournament has been characterised by final-set deciders, sudden death legs and close encounters but on this occasion the Alexandra Palace crowd were treated to a fine display from Chizzy which resulted in a rare whitewash.

The St Helens thrower, still seeking his first televised title, averaged 97 compared to Huybrechts' 90 while he hit most 180s with six and made three 100+ checkouts including a match high of 138.

But perhaps the most crucial finish was his 110 in the deciding leg of the second set when the Belgian was waiting to come back on 40.

Huybrechts had produced one of the performances of the second round but true to his inconsistent nature, he couldn't follow it up and only hit five of his 26 attempts at doubles.

Such has been the break since Chizzy's last match here, where he won nine of the last 12 legs to come from 2-0 down against Josh Payne, the St Helens has been able to return home to his family, practice and keep an eye on all the shocks occurring in his absence.

Click play below to watch this interview.

Saturday results & Sunday schedule

Saturday December 22
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Ryan Joyce 4-3 Alan Norris (R3)
• Dave Chisnall 4-0 Huybrechts (R3)
• Daryl Gurney 3-4 Jamie Lewis (R3)

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

• Ryan Searle 4-1 William O’Connor (R3)
• Gary Anderson 4-3 Jermaine Wattimena (R3)
• Michael Van Gerwen 4-1 Max Hopp (R3)

Sunday December 23
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Vincent Van der Voort v Chris Dobey (R3)
• Brendan Dolan v Mervyn King (R3)
• James Wade v Keegan Brown (R3)

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

• Adrian Lewis v Darius Labanauskas (R3)
• Price/Aspinall v Kyle Anderson (R3)
• Rob Cross v Cristo Reyes (R3)

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