Darts results: Jose De Sousa claims his first World Championship win as Daryl Gurney survives scare

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EVENING SESSION

Jose De Sousa finally won a first match on the Alexandra Palace stage at the fourth attempt as he came from one set down to defeat Ross Smith 3-1 on Thursday night.

The Grand Slam of Darts champion, who lost his opening games in the 2012, 2019 and 2020 editions, has taken the PDC by storm this year and laid down an early marker about his world title rivals despite a slow start.

He struggled to find his usual scoring power early on and Smith took full advantage by blitzing the first set 3-0 including a fine 108 checkout.

De Sousa hit back by winning six of the next eight legs to move into a 2-1 set lead before defying Smith's 127 checkout at the start of the fourth to take it 3-1 and complete his impressive victory.

The 46-year-old from Portugal, who averaged 93.93 and hit six 180s, told www.pdc.tv: "I think there is more pressure on me now, but I don't think about that. I just play my game. Ross is a great player. I'm really happy to get my first win here, it's really amazing for me.

"I don't think I'm the best player but I'm one of the best players in the world in this moment. This is my fourth time here, I lost always in the first round but now it's different because my game is more consistent. I will keep trying my best and hopefully I can show a bit more in my next game."

At the start of the night Jamie Lewis produced a stunning display of darts from 2-0 down to beat Luke Woodhouse and set up a second-round tie with Gerwyn Price.

The Welshman has tumbled down the rankings to 63rd since reaching the 2018 semi-finals, when he lost to Phil Taylor, and only sneaked into the Ally Pally field courtesy of the last-gasp qualifying event last month.

There was little he could do as Woodhouse took the opening set 3-0 with the help of a 145 checkout while his opponent also fired in two finishes from 102 and 101 to take the second 3-2.

Lewis suddenly burst into life by taking six of the next eight legs to force a deciding set before checkouts of 85, 61 and 100 sealed a fine comeback victory, in which he averaged 90.67 and landed eight 180s.

Lewis, who has openly discussed his struggles with anxiety in recent months, said: "I started off really badly. I thought I was going to lose 3-0 and be going home. I started playing a bit more like I can and got the job done, so I'm happy.

"Two months ago I was probably the worst darts player in the PDC but I'm coming back now. The next game will be very hard. What Gezzy has done for Welsh darts is unreal. I'll give it my best shot and see what happens."

Ryan Searle came through a surprisingly tough challenge against American Danny Lauby thanks to winning a deciding set that could so easily have gone the distance had the American not missed six darts at a double.

Searle, who won a maiden PDC title earlier this year, averaged over 100 for most of the match but found it a struggle to shake off the plucky debutant.

The Somerset thrower won the opening set 3-0 without dropping a leg but lost the second when Lauby produced a stunning 148 checkout at 2-2.

Searle cruised through the third set with the help of 121 and 95 finishes only for Lauby to edge another deciding leg to level.

After edging the fifth set, Searle said: "That was a tight game, I was glad it didn't go to a deciding set. Fair play to Danny, he gave me a real tough game. The 148 to win the second set hurt massively.

"I'll take the win to settle me in and I'm looking forward to my next game now. I always look forward to this tournament, it's the best tournament in the world. This is the one you want to do well in to further your career."

Holland's Ron Meulenkamp made it through to round two after coming from a set down to defeat Boris Krcmar 3-1.

The Croatian, who was making his first Alexandra Palace appearance since 2011, started the stronger of the two with a trio of 15-darters to take the opening set 3-0.

Meulenkamp hit back by winning the second set without losing a leg, before surviving a dart in the set three decider to go 2-1 up before pressing home his advantage and setting up a clash with Vincent van der Voort.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Daryl Gurney survived a scare to ensure his breathtaking start to his World Championship campaign didn't go to waste against William O'Connor.

SuperChin headed to Alexandra Palace on the back of an alarming season which has seen him slide down to 11 in the rankings while he only managed two victories in the six post-lockdown majors, finished bottom of the Premier League table and failed to qualify for the Grand Slam of Darts.

But a few weeks rest and practice seemed to have done him the world of good as he averaged well over 100 on his way to taking a 2-0 set lead for the loss of just one leg.

The 2017 World Grand Prix champion then missed four match darts to complete a whitewash victory as O'Connor, who thrashed Niels Zonneveld in his first-round match on Wednesday afternoon, made him pay to stay alive.

O'Connor took out a 12-darter completing 122 finish on his way to taking the fourth set 3-1 but then spurned a dart at double 16 to hold his throw in the opening leg of the decider.

Gurney made the most of the opportunity before kicking off the next leg with his fifth 180 of the match and that helped put him course to take the set 3-0.

The Northern Irishman, who will face Chris Dobey after Christmas in the third round, told www.pdc.tv: "I've been working so hard at home to prepare for this World Championship. I needed to put the work in to get myself up to speed because I feel like the standard in the PDC is moving on and I don't want to get left behind.

"I feel so much more confident and my scoring has come back. I've always been a big scorer and I need to be hitting trebles to feel comfortable up there. I have been awful recently by my own standards. I knew it would be a tough game today so I'm pleased to get through it."

Japan's Edward Foulkes became the first surprise package after he claimed a highly unexpected 3-0 victory over fellow debutant Mike De Decker.

Not much was known about Foulkes, who qualified for the Ally Pally by virtue of winning his national championship, but he made everyone sit up and notice when he averaged over 108 in the first set, in which he hit a 140 checkout en route to taking it 3-0.

Foulkes breezed through the next two sets 3-1 and ended up with a highly creditable average of 91 - which was 10 points higher than what he achieved when winning the Japan National Championship - and will next meet Brendan Dolan.

He said: "I was very nervous, but I am happy with how I played. I have been playing soft-tip darts in Japan for quite a long time, but I am fairly new to steel-tip darts.

"I'm looking forward to my next game. If I play my best, maybe I can win."

Madars Razma claimed his first ever win on the Ally Pally stage at the second attempt with a 3-0 triumph over Japan's Toru Suzuki in a match that was a lot closer than the final scoreline suggests.

The Latvian, who lost to Harry Ward on debut last year, won all three sets in deciding legs and will next face Gary Anderson.

Ryan Murray enjoyed a winning debut as he beat the fiery Filipino talent Lourence Ilagan 3-1 to set up a clash with Michael van Gerwen.

Murray, who won his first Tour Card at the start of the year, landed a 116 checkout in the opening leg and although Ilagan hit back with a 100 checkout at the start of the second set, which he won without loss of a leg to level, he cruised through the next two.

World Darts Championship: Thursday's results & Friday schedule

Thursday December 17
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Madars Razma (89.21) 3-0 (81.36) Toru Suzuki (R1) (3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
• Mike De Decker (86.74) 0-3 (90.97) Edward Foulkes (R1) (0-3, 1-3, 2-3)
• Ryan Murray (87.11) 3-1 (88.28) Lourence Ilagan (R1) (3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1)
• Daryl Gurney (99.19) 3-0 (92.4) William O’Connor (R2) (3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 1-3, 3-0)

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

• Luke Woodhouse (92.23) 2-3 (90.67) Jamie Lewis (R1) (3-0, 3-2, 1-3, 1-3, 1-3)
• Ron Meulenkamp (87.71) 3-1 (89.82) Boris Krcmar (R1) (0-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
• Ryan Searle (98.31) 3-2 (88.98) Danny Lauby (R1) (3-0, 2-3, 3-0, 2-3, 3-1)
• Jose de Sousa (93.93) 3-1 (93.73) Ross Smith (R2) (0-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-1)

Friday December 18
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
First/Second Round (Best of 5 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Mickey Mansell v Haupai Puha (R1)
• Darius Labanauskas v Chengan Liu (R1)
• Wayne Jones v Ciaran Teehan (R1)
• Jamie Hughes v Adam Hunt (R2)

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

• Dirk van Duijvenbode v Bradley Brooks (R1)
• John Henderson v Marko Kantele (R1)
• Luke Humphries v Paul Lim (R1)
• James Wade v Callan Rydz (R2)

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