Darts results: Daryl Gurney beats Rob Cross in World Matchplay thriller

Back-to-back 100-plus checkouts saw Gurney get off to a blistering start against Cross and lead 4-0, but the former world champion clawed his way back to parity and it soon looked like a game that could go all the way.

Cross though was back as firm favourite when he hit a stunning 170 finish to draw level at 7-7 but the next two legs went to Gurney in a see-saw encounter, Cross rattling off the next three to lead for the very first time at 10-9.

But Gurney stepped up when it counted, hitting 64 to send the match into extra legs, 96 to break throw, and then pinning tops with his first match dart to seal a fabulous victory.

“It’s payback for a couple of years ago!” quipped Gurney, a two-time semi-finalist at the Winter Gardens.

“It’s tough because I’m lower down in the rankings, but it just shows that every dog has their day and I can still play this game.

“There’s nobody working harder than me. I’m working so hard to try and get back to where I was, but the standard now is ridiculous, and to beat Rob on this stage, it means a lot.”

Price on the money

Back-to-back upsets looked plausible when Stephen Bunting led Price 2-0, but from 3-3 it was one-way traffic as Price put in the dominant performance of the night.

Though not at his absolute best, the Welshman hit finishes of 80 and 100 against an opponent whose checkout attempts became worse as the match progressed.

“I got the job done, and that’s all I wanted to do tonight,” reflected Price, who was beaten by Bunting at the same stage of the 2019 World Matchplay.

“I haven’t played in many ranking events over the last month, but my confidence is there, and I believe I’ll get better round-by-round, so hopefully my A-game will come out.

“Tuesday is a new day and it will be a tough game against Joe Cullen. Joe is a great player so I need to put him under pressure, but I’m looking forward to it.”

In terms of numbers alone it was Cullen who impressed the most, hitting eight maximums and averaging over 100 on his way to a 10-7 victory over Mike de Decker to earn a second-round meeting with Price.

Cullen finished the match with a 120 checkout, his third 100-plus finish of a top-class display.

“I wanted to win that first session, and from there I think I controlled the game,” reflected Cullen, who will now play Price for a place in the quarter-finals.

“It maybe should have been a little bit more comfortable, but it’s all about just getting over the first hurdle, regardless of the performance.

“My game is in a good place at the minute. I’ve been putting in some big performances against some big players, so there’s no reason why I can’t go a long way. We’re all capable of winning it.”

In the final match on day one, Dave Chisnall paid the price for going missing during the middle of a 10-6 defeat to Gary Anderson.

Chisnall had responded well to a fine start from the Flying Scotsman, who had led 2-0 thanks to a 120 checkout but then lost the following three legs.

However, Anderson took the next five to open up a commanding 7-3 lead and that was where the match was won and lost, Chisnall's final throw of the dice a missed double 14 which would have got him within one at 8-7.

As it was, Anderson led 9-6 instead and hit tops in the very next leg to advance to a meeting with Gurney.

The Scottish legend wasn’t at his blistering best, but he capitalised on Chisnall’s errors throughout, and a nerveless 115 combination in leg 13 catapulted him to a 10-6 success.

“I was a bit nervous, but I’ll take the win,” said the two-time world champion, making his 15th consecutive appearance in the showpiece Blackpool event.

“Daryl played well tonight, and if I play like I did tonight, I will be going home very quickly, so I need to improve.

“I’m enjoying the game again, and it’s been a long time since I have enjoyed it, and I’m looking forward to Tuesday now.”

Saturday results & Sunday schedule

Saturday July 15 (1900 BST)
First Round (best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• Joe Cullen 10-7 Mike De Decker
• Rob Cross 10-12 Daryl Gurney
• Gerwyn Price 10-3 Stephen Bunting
• Dave Chisnall 6-10 Gary Anderson

Sunday July 16
Afternoon Session (1300 BST)
First Round (best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• Danny Noppert v Martin Schindler
• Dirk van Duijvenbode v Kim Huybrechts
• Damon Heta v Josh Rock
• James Wade v Chris Dobey

Evening Session (1930 BST)
First Round (best of 19 legs)
TV Channel: Sky Sports

• Nathan Aspinall v Krzysztof Ratajski
• Luke Humphries v Jose de Sousa
• Michael van Gerwen v Brendan Dolan
• Michael Smith v Steve Beaton

Darts: Related content

• 2023 Premier League schedule
• 2023 PDC Darts calendar and results
• Troubles and triumphs
• Tournament ideas for darts
• 'What If' moments in darts
• Agony of missed match darts
• Good, Bad, Ugly: Nicholson on darts shirts
• Referees in darts
• Calling the shots in darts
• Weird actions in darts
• Hidden talents in darts
• Superstitions in darts
• Routes to glory
• Paul Nicholson's five darts drills
• Paul Nicholson's five mental tips
• Paul Nicholson's five practice games
• Worst losers in darts
• World number ones in darts
• Best players never to be number one
• Do averages lie?
• Paul Nicholson's Ally Pally tales
• Watch all the Ally Pally nine-darters
• Players everyone hates to face
• Players everyone loves to face
• How to make it as a pro?
• How much money do players earn?
• Greatest darts rivalries
• Rivalries to cherish
• Be canny with counting
• Phil Taylor's greatest display
• World Cup of Great Darts performances
• Sky Bet's darts odds