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Brendan Dolan defeated Gerwyn Price

Darts results: Gerwyn Price crashes out of the PDC World Darts Championship after losing to Brendan Dolan

By Sporting Life

Darts

Fri December 29, 2023 · 11M ago

Brendan Dolan caused a huge upset at the Paddy Power World Championship by knockout out leading title contender Gerwyn Price in the third round at Alexandra Palace.

The History Maker got his revenge for losing a sudden-death leg to the Iceman at this stage of the 2021 edition by holding his nerve brilliantly at 2-2 in the sixth set to run out a 4-2 winner.

Dolan had spurned a match dart on the bullseye when leading 2-0 as Price fought his way back into the set with finishes under pressure from 81 and 76 but he eventually he got the job done with a break of throw.

“To beat someone like Gezzy is unreal,” revealed the former World Grand Prix finalist.

“I have the utmost respect for Gezzy. He is pure class. He didn’t play as well as he could have, and I took out some crucial finishes, which gave me the belief that it could be my night.

“It’s a big result for me, but I’m here to win. I know it’s going to be a battle to get there, but I’m ready to fight.”

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Humphries survives scare

Luke Humphries preserved his hopes with a brilliant comeback victory over Ricardo Pietreczko,

The 28-year-old fought back from the brink to keep his hopes of lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy alive, overturning a 3-1 deficit to defeat German debutant Pietreczko in a rollercoaster seven-set affair.

Humphries was forced to use a new set of darts after one of his points snapped just moments before he took to the stage, and he found himself staring down the barrel following a tentative start to the tie.

Pietreczko – roared on by a partisan German contingent at Alexandra Palace - won three consecutive sets to threaten a huge upset, producing a majestic 121 checkout to complete a clean sweep in set four.

However, Humphries lifted himself off the canvas in valiant fashion, claiming a scrappy fifth set before following up a 13-darter with a 91 finish to restore parity and create a thrilling finale.

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The world number three was beginning to find his range, and he powered past Pietreczko in set seven to complete the comeback, reeling off legs of 16, 14 and 16 darts to spark jubilant scenes of celebration.

“That was one of the toughest games I’ve ever been involved in,” revealed Humphries, who will now play Joe Cullen for a place in the quarter-finals.

“It was a poor performance; playing with a different set of darts didn’t work for me, and having the majority of the crowd against me was really tough as well, but I dealt with it in the end.

“I felt dead and buried. I wasn’t even showing signs of a comeback, but I am where I am for a reason, so you to have show some sort of resilience, and I’m so happy to be through to the next round.”

In the evening’s finale, Daryl Gurney reeled off three consecutive sets from 2-1 down to sink Ricky Evans and set up a meeting with 11th seed Dave Chisnall on Saturday afternoon.

Gurney’s ton-plus finishing inspired him to victory over Steve Beaton in round two, and it was a similar story against Evans, as he converted 164 and 130 checkouts in the latter stages to confirm his progress.

Brilliant Bunting

Stephen Bunting kicked off Thursday's action in some style, producing a scintillating display to thrash Germany's Florian Hempel in straight sets.

Bunting - who averaged 107.28 in his opening round win over Ryan Joyce - stormed into a two-set lead with a monstrous 112 average, and he continued his clinical finishing to set up a mouth-watering last 16 tie against Michael van Gerwen.

Maximum fest

Masters champion Chris Dobey will take on World Champion Michael Smith for a place in the last eight, after overcoming former European Champion Ross Smith in an Alexandra Palace classic.

The pair fired in 27 maximums between them in a captivating affair, which saw Dobey threatening to shatter a host of records at one stage, as his average climbed above 118 midway through set three.

Smith, who averaged 103 and crashed in 13 180s of his own, somehow responded to restore parity at two apiece, only for Dobey to respond with a brilliant late burst to book his place in round four.

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Rockstar too loud for Heavy Metal

Elsewhere, Joe Cullen won through a six-set thriller against Ryan Searle, defying a spirited fightback from the Somerset star to reach the last 16 for a second consecutive year.

Cullen stormed into a two-set lead before Searle levelled with a brilliant 124 on the bull, but after surviving six set darts in a crucial fifth set, the Yorkshireman regained the lead before going on to clinch victory.

World Darts Championship 2024: Thursday results & Friday schedule

Thursday December 28
Afternoon Session (12.30pm GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Florian Hempel 0-4 Stephen Bunting
Joe Cullen 4-2 Ryan Searle
Ross Smith 2-4 Chris Dobey

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

Gerwyn Price 2-4 Brendan Dolan
Luke Humphries 4-3 Ricardo Pietreczko
Ricky Evans 2-4 Daryl Gurney

Friday December 29
Afternoon Session (12.30pm GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

Damon Heta v Berry van Peer
Jonny Clayton v Krzysztof Ratajski
Jim Williams v Raymond van Barneveld

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

Boris Krcmar v Gary Anderson (R3)
Michael van Gerwen v Stephen Bunting (R4)

CLICK HERE FOR FULL WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

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