Darts results: Dirk van Duijvenbode beats Rob Cross; Danny Baggish shocks Adrian Lewis

• 2021 World Darts draw and schedule
• Scroll down for results and averages

EVENING REVIEW

Former champion Rob Cross was knocked out of the World Championship on a dramatic day at London's Alexandra Palace on Tuesday.

Cross was beaten in a five-set thriller by Dirk van Duijvenbode, who held his nerve to win a last-leg shoot-out - just hours after two-time champions Adrian Lewis had been stunned by American qualifier Danny Baggish.

Dimitri Van den Bergh produced a classy display to earn a straight sets triumph against World Championship legend Paul Lim.

Cross, who memorably beat Phil Taylor in the 2018 final, and Van Duijvenbode delivered 11 maximums between them and posted huge averages in what was a high-quality contest.

Although Cross' exit is the most high-profile yet, this was no huge shock given the pair's respective recent form.

Van Duijvenbode reached the final of the World Grand Prix in October, losing to Gerwyn Price, a tournament Cross fell at the first hurdle in.

It was the same story at the World Matchplay, and Cross has also already been knocked out of the Premier League.

Van Duijvenbode though, who averaged 104 and was 50 per cent on his doubles, marches on and will meet Adam Hunt in the third round.

Van Duijvenbode said on PDC social media: “Every leg was close, so I just kept it in my head to keep on going.

“This is different than a normal TV event, but I try to approach it like a normal TV event.

“No one can give me more pressure than I do myself, I was never a favourite in any game at the Grand Prix, and I proved them wrong – I like to be the underdog and prove that I can play.”

• Dirk van Duijvenbode: The rise of the aubergenius

AFTERNOON REVIEW

Two-time champion Adrian Lewis crashed out of the World Championship on Tuesday afternoon in a 3-1 defeat to Danny Baggish.

The US qualifier won six of the first seven legs to race into a 2-0 lead but suddenly looked vulnerable, as Lewis halved the deficit and then went 2-0 up in the fourth set.

Baggish though was revitalised by a thrilling 170 finish and when Lewis missed two darts for the fourth set in the following leg, he took out 91 to send it to a decider.

With darts in hand, the American left himself tops after 12 and while he needed all three, eventually hitting double five, the way in which he held his nerve was impressive.

"Over the moon," was Baggish's response when asked to sum up how he felt, before revealing exactly why he was so emotional. "I got a message in the morning from my sister, she didn't mean to send it to me knowing I was over here.

"My oldest brother suffered a severe stroke and had to be brought into emergency surgery. He's in ICU (intensive care) as we speak. Harrison, I love you - this is for you."

Earlier, Joe Cullen suggested that he's ready to leave behind a terrible record in the event in a 3-0 dismissal of Wayne Jones.

Neither man impressed in the doubling department, but a pair of timely bullseyes set Cullen on his way as he raced through the first set, and when he took a deciding leg for the second, the match was all but won.

Cullen wrapped up victory with a 68 finish in a match of few fireworks but one which will add another layer to his growing confidence.

The match of the afternoon saw Simon Whitlock get the better of Darius Labanauskas, winning a five-set thriller 3-2.

Whitlock hit 10 maximums and averaged 101.21 in a heavy-scoring display, but his 21 missed darts at double threatened to hand the initiative to his Lithuanian opponent, who forced a deciding set by taking out 164 on the bull.

Whitlock though called upon all his experience, starting the fifth set with throws of 134, 180 and 171 and never looking back after he'd taken that leg in 10 brilliant darts.

Finally, Brendan Dolan got things under way with a low-key, 3-1 defeat of Edward Foulkes.

World Darts Championship: Tuesday results & Wednesday schedule

Tuesday December 22
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Brendan Dolan (90.69) 3-1 (84.00) Edward Foulkes (R2) (3-0, 2-3, 3-2, 3-0)
• Joe Cullen (94.59) 3-0 (88.78) Wayne Jones (R2) (3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
• Simon Whitlock (101.21) 3-2 (95.50) Darius Labanauskas (R2) (1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0)
• Adrian Lewis (92.73) 1-3 (93.39) Danny Baggish (R2) (0-3, 1-3, 3-1, 2-3)

Evening Session (1800 GMT)
Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Danny Noppert (80.56) 3-1 (82.19) Cameron Carolissen (R2) (0-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
• Devon Petersen (89.08) 3-1 (89.34) Steve Lennon (R2) (3-2, 3-2, 2-3, 3-0)
• Rob Cross (92.39) 2-3 (95.54) Dirk Van Duijvenbode (R2) (3-1, 0-3, 3-2, 0-3, 2-3)
• Dimitri Van den Bergh (105.61) 3-0 (88.98) Paul Lim (R2) (3-0, 3-1, 3-1)

Wednesday December 23
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Ricky Evans v Mickey Mansell (Second Round)
• Gary Anderson v Madars Razma (Second Round)
• Stephen Bunting v Andy Boulton (Second Round)
• Mensur Suljovic v Matthew Edgar (Second Round)

Evening Session (1800 GMT)
Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Dave Chisnall v Keegan Brown (R2)
• Jermaine Wattimena v Nick Kenny (R2)
• Nathan Aspinall v Scott Waites (R2)
• Michael Smith v Jason Lowe (R2)

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