Darts results: Michael van Gerwen beats Joe Cullen in an epic as James Wade hits nine-dart finish in defeat

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EVENING SESSION

Michael van Gerwen survived two match darts as he edged through to the last eight of the World Championship by the skin of his teeth, coming from 3-1 down to beat Joe Cullen 4-3 in one of the greatest matches ever seen on the Ally Pally stage.

The Rockstar equalled Gary Anderson's record for the most 180s thrown in a best-of-seven encounter with an astonishing tally of 19 and although the performance of his life was not quite enough to pull off a remarkable victory, it did at least earn him the highest of praise from the millions watching around the globe.

Cullen, who was also involved in an unforgettable World Matchplay classic with Gary Anderson two years ago, twice missed the bullseye for the win as van Gerwen displayed every ounce of his champion spirit to make him pay.

The first came in the deciding leg of the sixth set when Cullen attempted to take out 90 and the second came when 2-1 up in the seventh after back-to-back treble 19s put him one dart away from what would have been a show stopping 164 checkout for the ages.

The Dutchman, who averaged 100.43, pinned double eight to force a sudden-death leg which he'd kick off with a 180 and pile too much pressure on a deflated Cullen.

"I knew I needed to open big in the last leg and that was very important," van Gerwen told www.pdc.tv. "That was a brilliant game and the adrenaline was pumping. Joe had the chance to beat me and his scoring power was phenomenal. I had to keep up with it, which wasn't easy so I'm really glad I'm through.

"It's horrible for Joe but I have been in that position so many times and it makes you stronger. I wish him all the best because he is a phenomenal guy and a phenomenal player but I am so glad I won this one." 

Cullen edged the opening set after van Gerwen missed two darts at double in the deciding leg but roles were reversed in the second when he missed an opportunity to double his lead and the Green Machine restored parity.

The Yorkshireman bounced back with a continued assault of 180s on his way to taking the third set 3-2 and then nailed a 123 checkout on the bullseye in the fourth, in which he hit an incredible 13 maximums in the five legs played.

The three-time world champion cut the deficit by taking the next 3-1 before surviving his first match dart at 2-2 in the sixth as he showed nerves of steel to force an epic decider.

Van Gerwen wired double top for a 120 checkout to lead 2-1 only for Cullen to pin double eight again and move within a leg of glory only to fall short in agonising circumstances.

Earlier, Krzysztof Ratajski reached the quarter-finals for the first time after winning a seven-set thriller against Germany's Gabriel Clemens in another incredible last-leg shoot-out.

The pair played and shared 34 of the 35 legs possible in a marathon battle, which was sent into a nail-biting sudden-death leg after Ratajski missed two darts at double 16 to win the final set 3-1.

With the match tied at three sets and two legs apiece, both players missed seven match-darts in the deciding leg before Ratajski landed double one to win a tense tie.

"It was so emotional. I don't remember ever having a match like this before," said Ratajski who became the first Polish player ever to reach a World Championship quarter-final.

"The last leg was terrible. It was crazy. I usually lose close matches but today I was lucky."

Dave Chisnall recovered from dropping the first two sets against Danny Noppert to win 4-2 and storm into the last 16 of the World Championship.

The Dutchman won the first six legs of the match in a dominant start, opening up a two-set lead with back-to-back 120 checkouts.

Chisnall began his comeback by winning the third set in three legs before taking each of the following two sets 3-1, as Noppert landed a 160 finish in vain.

The world number eight then raced through set six, taking it 3-0 to set up a fourth round meeting with World Matchplay champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.

"I wasn't worried after the first two sets. I can be a slow starter at times," said Chisnall. "I lost the first six legs but it was only two sets. I knew I could come back and I did.

"I know I have got the game but if I give Dimitri a head start, he'll punish me. He's playing well and having big averages but I'll be ready for it."

AFTERNOON SESSION

James Wade recorded the first nine-darter in five years at the PDC World Championship but the feat failed to inspire the Englishman as he joined the growing list of top seeds to suffer an early exit at Alexandra Palace.

Wade made a strong start to his third round match against Stephen Bunting but the number seven seed’s scoring slipped dramatically and his Merseyside opponent capitalised to level at two sets apiece from 2-0 down.

Bunting then nudged ahead at the start of the fifth set but watched on helplessly as Wade wrote his name into the history books with back-to-back 180s followed by a 141 checkout

It was an understated reaction from Wade at the empty venue, merely bumping fists with Bunting before the action resumed, and the perfect leg had little impact on the match for the left-hander, who averaged a disappointing 87.94.

Bunting, the 26th seed, won the next two sets to prevail 4-2, setting up a last-16 clash with Ryan Searle.

The St Helens thrower said on Sky Sports afterwards: “I can’t believe it, worked so hard over the last few months. I’m just so delighted to be here now.”

Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis have twice managed nine-dart finishes at this competition while Dean Winstanley, Michael van Gerwen, Terry Jenkins, Kyle Anderson and Gary Anderson have each done it once.

Anderson was the last to accomplish it in January 2016 but Wade recording only the 10th nine-dart finish in this competition’s history was notable because of the absence of fans this year.

Bunting feels that may have played into his hands, as he added: “That’s probably the sort of situation when you’re happy the fans aren’t here because they’d have been buzzing all the way through that match.

“He hit the nine-darter and it was probably a bit of a blur for him and for me. Next thing I gave him a fist pump then it was on to the next leg.

“If the crowd had been here it would have been noise galore for the rest of the match.

“But we all want the fans back, I miss them dearly but I’m just so happy to be into the next round.”

Wade’s elimination means world number one van Gerwen and Wales’ Gerwyn Price are the only players among the top seven seeds to reach the fourth round of the competition.

Reflecting on the defeat, a disappointed Wade said: "It's a great achievement to hit the nine-darter but ultimately it's only one leg. It's a nice moment but obviously to go on and lose the match is a massive disappointment for me."

World Championship Nine-Dart Legs

• 2009 - Raymond van Barneveld v Jelle Klaasen (Quarter-Finals)
• 2010 - Raymond van Barneveld v Brendan Dolan (Second Round)
• 2011 - Adrian Lewis v Gary Anderson (Final)
• 2013 - Dean Winstanley v Vincent van der Voort (Second Round)
• 2013 - Michael van Gerwen v James Wade (Semi-Finals)
• 2014 - Terry Jenkins v Per Laursen (First Round)
• 2014 - Kyle Anderson v Ian White (First Round)
• 2015 - Adrian Lewis v Raymond van Barneveld (Third Round)
• 2016 - Gary Anderson v Jelle Klaasen (Semi-Finals)
• 2020 - James Wade v Stephen Bunting (Third Round)

Click here for watch all the previous nine-dart finishes in World Darts Championship history

Daryl Gurney progressed to round four after an impressive 4-1 victory over Chris Dobey, in which the former World Grand Prix and Players Championship Finals winner averaged 101.39.

The first set went with the throw as Gurney edged ahead, before breaking with a brilliant 11-darter to take the second set 3-1.

It soon became 3-0 but a 97 checkout helped Dobey pull a set back, only for Gurney take out 78 twice in the fifth set to complete a comfortable success.

"The real Daryl Gurney turned up. Chris played well but I stuck in there. I broke him at a great time in the second set and played well enough to win the game," said Gurney, who will meet Vincent van der Voort on Wednesday.

"I'm full of belief now. I've been practicing so well but in previous tournaments I've been letting myself down.

"I was rubbish throughout this year but I knew I could turn it around at the biggest tournament of the year. From being absolutely rubbish, this could turn into a decent year.

"Vincent beat me in the World Matchplay, it's time for revenge."

Devon Petersen set up an exciting encounter with Gary Anderson after claiming a straight sets success against Jason Lowe.

Petersen landed nine 180s in an improved performance from his last performance against Steve Lennon in round two.

The highlight for the South African star was a 160 checkout as he eased to victory with a helping hand from Lowe, who missed darts to win the second and fourth sets.

"My performance was better than the first round and my finishing pushed me through," said Petersen.

"I've worked a lot on the technical side of my game but also on the mental side. I have people like Wayne Mardle, Colin Lloyd and Phil Taylor in my corner and they have helped me massively. Wayne has been influential in improving my technique.

"I'm looking forward to playing Gary. I'm hoping to up my performance and I feel quite confident."

World Championship: Tuesday's results and Wednesday schedule

Tuesday December 29
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• James Wade (87.94) 2-4 (93.18) Stephen Bunting (3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 2-3, 2-3)
  * JAMES WADE HITS A NINE DARTER
• Daryl Gurney (101.39) 4-1 (99.29) Chris Dobey (3-2, 3-1, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0)
• Jason Lowe (88.73) 0-4 (91.55) Devon Petersen (1-3, 2-3, 0-3, 2-3)

Evening Session (1800 GMT)
Third Round (Best of 7 sets)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Dave Chisnall (99.69) 4-2 (88.7) Danny Noppert (R3) (0-3, 0-3, 3-0, 3-1, 3-1, 3-0)
• Gabriel Clemens (92.05) 3-4 (95.58) Krzysztof Ratajski (R4) (2-3, 3-1, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3)
• Michael van Gerwen (100.43) 4-3 (95.62) Joe Cullen (R4) (2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)

Wednesday December 30
Afternoon Session (1200 GMT)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Vincent van der Voort v Daryl Gurney
• Stephen Bunting v Ryan Searle
• Devon Petersen v Gary Anderson

Evening Session (1800 GMT)
Fourth Round (Best of 7 sets)
TV Coverage: Sky Sports Darts

• Dirk van Duijvenbode v Glen Durrant
• Gerwyn Price v Mervyn King
• Dave Chisnall v Dimitri Van den Bergh

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