World Darts Championship: Michael Smith shows class to knock out Joe Cullen as Gabriel Clemens makes history with win over Alan Soutar | Darts News

Michael Smith produced a high caliber win over Joe Cullen; Gabriel Clemens made history as the first German player to make the final eight; Dimitri Van den Bergh cruised to victory; Watch the PDC World Darts Championship 2023 – live on Sky Sports Darts

Michael Smith produced a dominant 4-1 victory over Joe Cullen to keep his hopes alive and claim a place in the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship.

It was considered a high-caliber match between these two Premier League stars and it did not disappoint, three maximums in two open legs set the tone when they traded breaks, Smith made Cullen pay for some inaccuracies in the doubles and took the first flight in D8.

Cullen fought back in the second set with Smith flailing on the trebles to race to a clean sweep and bring level, but Smith quickly gained the advantage. A record-equalling 125 average in set three, plus 10-, 14- and 12-dart legs, gave the Bullyboys a 2-1 lead and momentum.

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Joe Cullen hit an impressive 153 checkout against Michael Smith in his fourth round match at the World Darts Championship.

From there, Smith continued to take the throw to new heights when he started to set four with a 13-dart break from the throw and when Cullen responded with a spectacular 153 checkout, the set unraveled as the two began to find problems in doubles. After some tense moments, it was Smith who held his nerve to take the deciding leg in D4 to go 3-1 ahead.

With the writing on the wall for Rockstar, the St. Helens darter has thrown for the match in the fifth set and made it count under pressure, almost producing a perfect finish after taking out two maximums before just missing in T19, nailing it. D2 to seal a place in the final eight.

Smith: I have to dig deep to win

After the match, Smith admitted it was a tough contest, but he “turned the game around” when it mattered most.

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Michael Smith says ‘if I had my own throw I’d win the match’ after digging deep to beat Joe Cullen to reach the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship

“All I keep saying to myself, if I keep throwing myself, I will win the match. 4-1 is a bad score. I have dug deep then. I try to stay away from the top and 10s,” said Smith.

“I left eight, four and 16. That game showed how I can dig deep, and I can change the game.

“I’m stubborn and when I start playing, I can change something when I need. I want to keep playing well and continue what I’m doing. My 140s Bang in shape. 140s win you the game”.

Next for Smith, it will be Luke Humphries or Stephen Bunting, who played in the last match of this evening’s session.

Clemens made history when he sank Soutar

Gabriel Clemens wrote his name in the history books with a comprehensive victory over Alan Soutar

Gabriel Clemens took a step no previous German darts player had taken by reaching the last eight of the World Darts Championship with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Alan Soutar.

With Soutar taking time to get to the tie, Clemens took advantage and, with the help of an average of 100 and a brilliant 114 checkout to break the throw, took the first flight in a clean sweep, pinning D16 to wrap up the opener. .

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Gabriel Clemens hit 20 doubles to beat Alan Soutar 4-1 and become the first German to reach the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship

Soutar fought back in the second set with a style of 104 out-taken, some inaccuracy from Clemens in the double gifting the Scottish key holding the throw and allowing him to take the set at the top to bring the level of the game.

However, the German Giant then took the game to another level, adding another maximum to the tally and pinning the bull to take the third set in three straight legs, breaking the throw in the fourth, with the help of another 180, to make it. 3-1 in favor.

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Gabriel Clemens shot a massive 148 checkout against Alan Soutar in his fourth round match at the World Darts Championship.

With the finish line in sight, Clemens took out a high 148 checkout to break the throw and have darts for the match, but forced to come to D18 with the darts of the first match, finally taking the top to seal his quarter. – last point.

Van den Bergh came out on top in the all-Belgian battle

The final day of Alexandra Palace darts action in 2022 began with an all-Belgian match between Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts, Van den Bergh sealing his quarter-final place against Jonny Clayton with a dominant 4-0 victory.

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Dimitri Van den Bergh beats Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts 4-0 to advance to World Darts Championship quarter-finals

Van den Bergh got off to a flying start against his World Cup of Darts team-mate, breaking his second throw to take the first set in three straight legs, before holding off Huybrechts’ fight back in the second with a brutal forehand. way to lead 2-0.

The third set was a tense relationship because both sides began to struggle with accuracy in the trebles, breaks from throws plus a clinical D8 finish, proved the difference for Van den Bergh when he secured the third set.

With a solid lead, Van den Bergh began to throw more freely again, hitting six T19s in a row in the opening leg of the fourth set to take complete control and wrap up in D2 to enter the quarterfinals for the third time.

See you in 2023….

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.