PDC World Darts Championship day 11: Jamie Lewis averages over 107 as he shocks Peter Wright

EVENING SESSION

Lewis magic sinks Snakebite

Jamie Lewis produced the performance of his life - and indeed one of the finest ever seen by an underdog at the Alexandra Palace - as he destroyed world number two Peter Wright 4-1 to reach the third round.

The Welshman, who had to come through a last-gasp qualifying event at the end of November just to be here following a disappointing season, averaged 107.67, fired 13 maximums and also landed three ton+ checkouts in a sizzling display.

He even averaged 120 in an amazing second set thanks to three successive 12-dart legs which included checkouts of 125, 81 and 123 - with the latter two both on the bullseye.

Wright, who pinched the opening set, averaged 103.44 and hit eight 180s while his dramatic 121 checkout in the third came with Lewis waiting on 52 after nine darts.

The 26-year-old responded with a 15-darter to take a 2-1 set lead while a stunning 121 checkout on the bullseye in the deciding leg of the fourth - with Wright waiting on 16 - proved decisive.

Lewis trailed 2-1 in the fifth set but after levelling it up, he finished it off on his throw with a 15-darter.

He said: "I still can’t quite believe it. I was hoping to give him a really good game but didn’t really expect to beat him. To play like that on the biggest stage in darts make me feel really chuffed.

"I believe in myself a lot more and it seems to be working. Hopefully I can keep it going."

MVG survives scare

Michael van Gerwen was given an almighty scare by Gerwyn Price before setting up a quarter-final meeting with Raymond van Barneveld.

The defending champion landed a 170 checkout en route to going 2-0 up in sets - even though he had to win deciding legs in each - only for the Welshman to sensationally take six of the next seven legs to draw level.

Price had never beaten MVG in 10 previous meetings but a shock was firmly on the cards when he reached 81, with the world number one back on 242.

The former rugby union player spurned an attempt at tops to take the set and after MVG piled on the pressure with a timely 180, Price missed three more attempts to close it out and it proved costly.

Van Gerwen clinically finished from 62 and then raced through the sixth set 3-1 to complete a 4-2 victory.

Van Gerwen said: "I played c***. I wasn’t playing my game, maybe my focus wasn’t there. All credit to him as he kept fighting. He never gives up and shows the emotion. I didn’t play well today, it’s simple.

"I have to play better against Raymond. This was 85 per cent of what I can do."

Price said: "The turning point was when I missed the darts to go 3-2 up. Credit to Michael, he was probably the better player in the end. The crowd got behind me at 2-2 and I felt really good up there. This was my final but fair play to Michael as he deserved to win on the day."

Barney brilliant again

Raymond van Barneveld cruised into the quarter-finals thanks to a 4-1 victory over fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort.

The five-time world champion is dreaming of triumphing at Alexandra Palace for the first time having last lifted the trophy way back in 2007 but he'll need to maintain this kind of momentum just to stand a glimmer of a chance against Michael van Gerwen in the last eight.

He averaged over 101 for the third match in succession while he hit five 180s in this clash and managed a superb high checkout of 161, finished off on the bullseye.

He said: "It’s not easy. I went back to Holland after my second round match and didn’t practise for two days on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

"Vincent played here and kept all his energy. I didn’t play my A-game but still averaged 101 so I’m pleased.

"It looks like all of the players think this World Championship is a qualification tournament for the Premier League. Come on guys, this is the World Championship! Here you have to play well."

Van der Voort struggled to find the form that saw him thrash Dave Chisnall 3-0 and Steve Beaton 4-0 in the last two rounds but he'll no doubt be proud of his efforts overall having contemplated quitting the game last year.

AFTERNOON SESSION

Webster sinks Whitlock again

Darren Webster knocked Simon Whitlock out of the PDC World Darts Championship for the third time in four years on Wednesday.

The Englishman triumphed 4-1 against his Aussie foe, who struggled to live with his opponent throughout.

Webster began with some strong scoring which quickly propelled him into a two-set led.

The bookies’ underdog soon made it 3-0 before Whitlock managed to get on the board by winning the fourth set without losing a leg.

However, he is hopes of a major comeback were quickly dashed as Webster closed out another victory over his old rival.

"I've played 12 legs (sets) against the man and he's only won two and yet they keep making him the favourite - I love it,” said the victor.

"I think if I can win three more matches then I'll be the number one English dart player so that's two down, three to go.

"I'm here to win this, I'm not here to make numbers up, where as before I used to say I'm here to give them a game now I'm here to win it all."

Whitlock actually had a higher average, checkout percentage and hit more 180s but despite those stats, Webster was the man in control for most of the match.

A statistic which told the story the better was the fact that Webster had 38 double attempts, while Whitlock managed just 17.

Alcinas sets up Webster clash

Spain's Toni Alcinas will play Darren Webster in the third round after ending Kevin Munch's Alexandra Palace fairytale.

German Munch had stunned Adrian Lewis in the first round but on his return to the Ally Pally stage he folded against an unheralded opponent, going down 4-1.

Munch averaged less than 80 in the first two sets during which he won only two legs.

He managed to pull one set back but Alcinas soon re-established his authority and despite a nervy finish which saw him miss five match darts, he finally clinched victory on double four.

Richardson 'chucks' out Norris

James Richardson upset Alan 'Chuck' Norris to reach the last 16.

Odds-against with the layers before the match, Richardson triumphed 4-1 to set up a third-round meeting with either second seed Peter Wright or Jamie Lewis.

Both men averaged just 86.8 by Richardson emerged a clear winner, largely thanks to key moments at the end of the fourth set.

Leading by two set to one and 2-1 in legs in the fourth, Richardson failed to hold his throw and appeared to let in Norris.

However, a thrilling deciding leg followed, one which Richardson took. With his opponent down to 40, the underdog stepped up to checkout 104 and open a two-set lead, one he would not lose.

Wednesday's results

Afternoon Session
Second Round (Best of 7 sets)

• Simon Whitlock 1-4 Darren Webster
• Alan Norris 1-4 James Richardson
• Kevin Munch 1-4 Toni Alcinas

Evening Session
Second Round (Best of 7 sets)

• Peter Wright 1-4 Jamie Lewis

Third Round (Best of 7 sets)

• Vincent van der Voort 1-4 Raymond van Barneveld
• Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Gerwyn Price

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

• Toni Alcinas v Darren Webster
• Mensur Suljovic v Dimitri Van den Bergh
• John Henderson v Rob Cross

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

• Jamie Lewis v James Richardson
• Phil Taylor v Keegan Brown
• Gary Anderson v Steve West

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