World Darts Championship: Josh Rock’s dream run ended by Jonny Clayton, while Gerwyn Price powers on | Darts News

Jonny Clayton ended Josh Rock’s dream debut at the World Darts Championship, while world number 1 Gerwyn Price breezed past Jose de Sousa as the Welsh duo reached the quarter-finals.

Antrim ace Rock has become one of the most talked about players on the darts planet in 2022, but Clayton is using all his experience over the years to make another nail in the head at Alexandra Palace.

“I’m delighted. Josh is an up-and-coming star. He’s fantastic. A great guy and a great player. I had to do my job and I did it. Finally,” Clayton said.

“I’ve proved I can still play darts. We’re all chasing this big trophy and it’s going to be my year.”

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Jonny Clayton is full of praise for Josh Rock as he reaches the Worlds quarter-finals for the first time.

Rock got off to a blistering start, winning the opener in three unanswered legs with a superb average of 110, to stun ‘The Ferret’.

The 21-year-old showed no signs of nerves, but after surviving a barrage from Rock, Clayton clinched the second set in straight legs and went 2-1 ahead after landing an unorthodox single 18, double 18, bullseye 104 finished.

However, when the Welsh ace entered on double 11 in the deciding leg of the fourth set, Rock returned to double 5 to get back on level terms.

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Clayton won the third set with an impressive 104 checkout on the bullseye

And ‘Rocky’ appears to be closing in on another huge scalp claim by cleaning up 72 in the fifth-set decider moments after Clayton’s double attempt has hit the wrong bed.

But the world number 7 and former Premier League champion was not giving up without a fight and he made sure the contest went away by making 122 with double 7 to take the sixth set 3-1.

In another crazy game in the capital, Rock’s problem with doubles came when Clayton broke with a 13-darter and then fired home a double 16 to make it through to the last eight for the first time.

Gerwyn Price cruised into the quarter-finals with victory over Jose de Sousa

Price, who had announced his plans to return to rugby over the weekend without darts, won the first set 3-1 against De Sousa before rallying from 2-0 down and surviving the next two darts sets to strengthen his grip. the match.

But ‘The Special One’ responded strongly in the third set to reduce the deficit with a set average of 98.2, but came back ‘The Iceman’ for the first top of the match to complete 64 to restore the two-set cushion. and edge closer to victory.

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Price pinned this checkout 64 to take a 3-1 lead against De Sousa before celebrating in trademark fashion

And the Welshman qualified for the quarter-finals by winning the deciding leg against darts with a fine ton-out before dropping his trademark agreement.

“I felt good during the game,” said Price, who wants to add to his title in 2021. “I know I didn’t play my best, but when I have the opportunity, I think I’ll get it. because of my friends and family here support me, that’s the main thing.”

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The world No 1 stayed on course for a second world title with a dominant win over De Sousa

The fifth seed Luke Humphries forced to fend off the quick-fire Dutchman Vincent van der Voort to seal a 4-3 triumph with an average of 96.5, eight 180s and a very good 140 checkout in the deciding flight.

He will face either German number 1 Gabriel Clemens or Dundee firefighter Alan Soutar for a place in the last four.

Next up for ‘Cool Hand’ Lukas is a tasty fourth round meeting with Stephen Bunting on Friday night.

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Luke Humphries set this incredible 140 checkout as he reached the last 16 at Alexandra Palace

“I feel that my doubles has let me down in this tournament, but one thing is that if I play a game, I want to overcome that obstacle to get to the semifinals,” said Humphries, who revealed that he is still recovering from an illness bug.

“Bunting is a very good player, but I will make sure that I will finally bring my A game to this tournament. The best players find a way and even if I am not 100 percent at my best, it will not affect me. It is the point where I play very well. “

DVD comes out on top in the classic leg

Dirk van Duijvenbode celebrates his classic win over Ross Smith

Dirk van Duivenbode edged out Ross Smith in the classic decide-leg, in the contest which featured a record-breaking 31 maximum and five darts match missed from Smith.

Van Duijvenbode came back from 3-0 down to reject Smith at the same stage of last year’s tournament, and inflicted more heartbreak on the European Champion, who succumbed despite landing the same record with 19 180s.

The Dutchman forced a deciding set after Smith fired a match dart at the bull to win 4-2, and after surviving four more match darts in a gripping seventh set, Van Duijvenbode fired a nerveless combination of 71 over the top to win.

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Dirk Van Duijvenbode and Ross Smith set a new record best of seven sets at Alexandra Palace. They hit 31 180s in an epic third round, including an individual record for Smith!

“I just thought: ‘Give me one dart and I’ll take it,'” said Van Duijvenbode, who hit a dozen 180s and converted 114, 127 and 136 finishes to set up an impressive last-16 match against Michael van Gerwen.

“It will be a very good game for neutrals, but I’m not happy with the way I played.

“The best game was there, but I didn’t perform and I definitely have to show Michael or I’ll be out tomorrow.”

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Dave Chisnall and Stephen Bunting produced some high quality tungsten with a total of SIX ton-plus checkouts in total.

Elsewhere, Bunting produced one of the best performances in his career to beat fellow St. Helens star Dave Chisnall in an exhilarating six-game tie, which saw both players register a ton-plus average.

“It’s the best I’ve ever done on that stage,” said Bunting – a semi-finalist in 2021.

Meanwhile, the 2018 World Champion Rob Cross cruised to the last 16 with a complete 4-1 win over Mervyn King to book a meeting with Gary Anderson’s conqueror Chris Dobey.

“He’s got something about him, a strong determination and he’s got the ability, we know that. He’s going to beat it.”

Wayne Mardle on Rob Cross

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Here’s a look back at the action-packed afternoon session that included plenty of darting drama

It’s in Ally Pally

Michael van Gerwen headlined on Friday at Alexandra Palace as he continued his quest for a fourth world crown

Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri Van den Bergh clashed in an open fourth-round tie before Gabriel Clemens took out Alan Soutar.

Michael Smith and Joe Cullen closed the bumper afternoon session in what should be a contest full of thrills and spills.

Company favorite Michael van Gerwen headlines the afternoon session with the Dutchman continuing his quest for a fourth world title and first since 2019 when he faces fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode.

There is a break on New Year’s Eve but then the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals take place from January 1-3.

Watch the PDC World Darts Championship 2023 – live on Sky Sports Darts – until the final on January 3.