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Michael Smith fired a nine-dart leg on his way to a 7-4 win over Michael van Gerwen in incredible final at the Alexandra Palace; Victory is the Englishman’s maiden world title and moves him to world No 1 for the first time

New world No 1 Michael Smith has set his sights on dominating darts after following his Grand Slam of Darts victory with an elusive maiden World Darts Championship title at Alexandra Palace.

Smith fired a sensational nine-darter in the second set of his 7-4 victory over three-time champion Michael van Gerwen, who almost produced a nine-darter of his own in the same leg, before winning four of the last five sets to secure the biggest victory of his career so far.

The Englishman’s success is revenge for his loss against Van Gerwen in the 2019 final, with Smith – who also finished runner-up in last year’s contest – expecting the pair to clash in many more Alexandra Palace finals in the years ahead.

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Michael Smith produced a phenomenal final leg to win the World Championship Final against Michael van Gerwen.

“I thought [we would] give the crowd what they deserve and they got a magical night,” Smith told Sky Sports. “I told you when I got the Grand Slam, I will eventually be a world champion and I want to do what this man [Van Gerwen] has done – I want to take over this sport, but he’s still there.

“It is 1-1 now in the Worlds and I took my chances, but he knows and I do that it is not going to be the last one here where we play each other. I have said it for years, he is the best player in darts and we have got to take our chances and I finally took it.”

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Michael Smith says the crowd got a magical night after he beat Michael van Gerwen in the World Championship Final.

Smith immediately ran to his family to celebrate victory with them, with ‘Bully Boy’ admitting it will be tough to better the experiencing of winning the World Championship for the first time.

“The two greatest moments in my life are sat over there, both my kids, but if I didn’t have kids that would be!” Smith added. “From a sporting memory it’s the greatest ever, I don’t think that will ever be topped. Even if I won a second, it will never top how I just felt then.”

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Take a look back at the 2023 World Championship as Michael Smith was crowned the winner.

Van Gerwen: Smith ‘deserved’ victory

Smith claimed Van Gerwen “let him off” and gave him a chance he “didn’t deserve” during his victory, although the Dutchman was quick to pay tribute to his playing partner for his impressive win.

“At this moment he is not giving his game any justice!” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports. “This man played absolutely phenomenal – we all know that!

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Michael van Gerwen was full of praise for Michael Smith after losing the World Championship Final.

“Of course, I didn’t take my chances, but he was there at the moments he had to be. He deserved it, he played well there and fair play to him.”

Van Gerwen posted 15 maximums and fired a 99.58 average during a pulsating final, where he led 3-2 before losing four of the next five sets, with the Dutchman frustrated at the opportunities he squandered during the tight contest.

“I had two darts in the second set, when he [Smith] threw the nine-darter,” Van Gerwen added. “There were a few darts in the seventh set and in the ninth set I had three darts to win and when you don’t hit them, he’s going to throw everything at you.

“I wasn’t playing to well in the last few sets, but you can only blame yourself for that. It doesn’t take anything away from Michael, because I think he played brilliantly the whole game.

“I wasn’t what I wanted to be but that’s part of the game unfortunately and you have to take it on the chin.”

Watch Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen both in action at the 2023 Cazoo Premier League darts, exclusively live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins on February 2 and runs every Thursday until the play-offs at The O2 in London on May 25.

Dharmesh Sheth and Kaveh Solhekol round up the latest transfer news from all 20 Premier League clubs. 

In a repeat of the 2019 final, Michael van Gerwen will face Michael Smith for World Championship glory! Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts. We’re back on Tuesday night at 7.45pm for the final at Alexandra Palace

Michael van Gerwen set up a dream World Championship final against Michael Smith as the two best players on planet darts stormed through their respective semi-finals.

Van Gerwen was utterly relentless in his pursuit of a fourth World title and first since 2019 with a 6-0 demolition job on Dimitri Van den Bergh, while Smith surged past surprise-package Gabriel Clemens 6-2.

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Van Gerwen has his say on his semi-final bust-up with Van den Bergh and looked ahead to his date with Smith in the final

Van den Bergh came out for this match with Van Gerwen looking all-business and he immediately made a mark by reeling in the fifth 170 checkout of the tournament for a 2-1 lead in legs, but the Dutchman levelled before nailing an 11-darter to take the opening set on throw.

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Aggro at the darts! Van den Bergh wasn’t happy with Van Gerwen’s positioning while he was throwing

‘Mighty Mike’ then reeled off three unanswered legs to break for the first time and double his lead with 55 per cent on the doubles before the pair exchanged words at the start of the third set with Van Gerwen appearing to encroach his opponent’s space on the stage.

The three-time world champion stayed focused to crash in his own 170 finish and he soon cleaned up an eighth straight leg on his way to extending the lead to 3-0 with a set record of 128.83 – throwing just 35 darts in the process.

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Both Van Den Bergh and Van Gerwen hit ‘The Big Fish’ in their semi-final

Van den Bergh squandered two at tops in the deciding leg on the fourth set to allow Van Gerwen back for double 5 to go further clear and he moved a step closer to his sixth final by romping through the fifth set thanks to legs of 13, 11 and 11.

It was job done in the next with MVG completing a whitewash of Van den Bergh with a 108.3 average and nine 180s.

“It feels phenomenal to have played the game I played tonight,” said Van Gerwen. “I gave it everything and I played out of my skin.

“It cost so much energy but I am able to do it and that is the most important thing. With the crowd behind me again today, it feels phenomenal.

“Games can get tense but you need to focus yourself and that is exactly what I did.”

Smith through to third final in five years

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Smith was in superb form during his semi-final win, hitting five ton-plus checkouts in the match!

Smith is hoping a few episodes of Catchphrase will help him prepare for his third attempt at becoming a world champion after booking his spot in Tuesday’s final with a brilliant victory over ‘The German Giant’ Clemens.

Both players came out slinging some serious arrows but it was ‘Bully Boy’ who edged a blistering first set 3-2 with a 110.7 average, four 180s and a 106 checkout in the deciding leg.

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Smith won the opening set with this spectacular 106 finish

The St Helens thrower was left kicking himself in the next after moving 2-0 up and seemingly in control. Clemens, who has been christened ‘Gaga’ by his German fans, levelled with finishes of 68 and 70 to take it 3-2 despite Smith averaging just shy of 110.

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‘Bully Boy’ piled in this huge 144 in the second set against Clemens

Smith took a 2-1 lead in the third set thanks to a monstrous 144 checkout but once again he was pushed to a deciding leg. Clemens wired tops for a 116 finish, allowing Smith to return for tops to regain the lead.

Smith, last year’s runner-up to Peter Wright, pinned the bull for a gargantuan 161 to raise the Ally Pally roof in set four. However, Clemens held his nerve to clinch it 3-2 and restore parity in what was turning into a real tungsten battle.

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The St Helens thrower struck with this gargantuan 161 checkout on the bullseye in the fourth set

In a pulsating semi-final, the 32-year-old newly-crowned Grand Slam of Darts champion swept through the fifth set in consecutive legs to regain the upper-hand with a stunning 112.73 set average.

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Smith put some daylight between himself and Clemens with a stunning 83 on the bullseye

And Smith struck in the fifth leg of the next with a brilliant 83 on the bullseye to move 4-2 up before claiming the next in another decider to make it make it three sets on the spin to close in on a place in the final.

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The Grand Slam of Darts champion revealed his preparations on Tuesday after booking his place in the final…

He completed a handsome win in the end after breaking with a cool 81 for a 12-darter and then ending things with his first match dart on tops.

Smith said: “This is my third World final in five years now and I have just got to keep going. If I do get darts to win the Worlds, if I miss it, I miss it, if I hit it, I am world champion. I will never dwell on it and I will keep coming back fighting every year. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.

Asked how he will spend Tuesday ahead of the final, he added: “I’ll probably lie in bed tomorrow and watch a few episodes of Catchphrase.”

Watch the PDC World Darts Championship Final – live on Sky Sports Darts – from 7.45pm on Tuesday.

Robert Williams throws down such a massive alley-oop it broke the rim and caused a 35-minute delay in the Celtics against Nuggets game.

Gerwyn Price wore ear defenders to block out vocal Ally Pally crowd during 5-1 drubbing by Gabriel Clemens in World Darts Championship; Michael van Gerwen says Price is “going through a rough period’” while Wayne Mardle says Iceman’s actions showed a rare sign of “frailty”

Michael van Gerwen says Gerwyn Price “should not have put himself in that position” after the world No 1 donned ear defenders during his crushing defeat to Gabriel Clemens in the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

Price wore bulky ear defenders for the fifth set of his 5-1 drubbing on Sunday night to drown out the boos from the crowd, and later wrote on Instagram that he was unsure whether he would play in the World Championship again.

Van Gerwen – who swept aside Chris Dobey 5-0 later in the night to remain on course for a fourth world title – says he would not have done what Price did but had sympathy for a player who is “going through a rough period”.

Will Price play at the World Championship again?

Title favourite Van Gerwen said of 2021 champion Price: “In his position, with how big he is in darts, I wouldn’t have done that but he’s going through a rough period.

“[Wearing ear defenders] has never been done in darts before and also he doesn’t need it, but he’s in a tough period so he’s thinking about things.

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Wayne Mardle says Price’s decision to wear ear defenders was a sign that the Iceman was feeling the pressure.

“He shouldn’t put himself in that position but that’s darts unfortunately.”

Sky Sports Darts pundit Wayne Mardle said Price’s actions showed a rare sign of “frailty” and hopes the Iceman’s suggestion that he may never return to Ally Pally is just a “knee-jerk reaction” to a heavy defeat.

Price reeled off consecutive ton-plus finishes en route to waltzing though the opening set but then lost five in a row as Clemens, the first German into the World Championship semi-finals, averaged 99.94 to the Welshman’s 94.58.

Mardle: Price obviously felt the pressure

Mardle said: “Apparently Gerwyn has had the ear defenders with him prior to this game. It was something he was thinking about doing.

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Price took out to ton-plus checkouts in the first set against Gabriel Clemens – before being thrashed by the German

“The fact he has had them for a week or so shows you there is a bit of frailty there but nothing about him is frail – he hits everything head-on and takes everything in his stride.

“Normally he deals with things brilliantly but he obviously felt the pressure and is not 100 per cent comfortable right now.

“Mentally he couldn’t have been that strong where normally that is his game. He is one of the most mentally-strong darts players I have known.

“I think he has been ground down over the last few months and maybe because he is not at his brilliant best, maybe he is a bit fragile. Gerwyn regressed after the first set and couldn’t find anything, which was just odd.

“I hope [saying he might not play at Ally Pally again] is just a knee-jerk reaction

“When you put the over-elaborate ear defenders on they are not for you, they are for the crowd. It’s, ‘this is me saying to you, shut up, be quiet, keep out of it’.

“People in the media were telling me he practised with the ear defenders on so I don’t know if they put him off – but I found it pretty peculiar he would be that elaborate in showing the crowd he couldn’t care less what they think.”

‘Van Gerwen looks a million dollars’

In stark contrast to Price, Van Gerwen breezed through his quarter-final dropping just three legs as he annihilated last-eight debutant Dobey.

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Mardle says Michael van Gerwen is brimming with confidence after demolishing Chris Dobey 5-0 at Ally Pally

Mardle added: “MVG was brilliant, he looks a million dollars.

“He is flowing and playing with a freedom you don’t ever see many players play with. He is not peak Van Gerwen yet but he is better than we have seen in the last two or three years.

“It will take something strange for him not to win this tournament. He looks so comfortable.”

Watch the PDC World Darts Championship semi-finals – Gabriel Clemens vs Michael Smith followed by Michael van Gerwen vs Dimitri Van den Bergh – live on Sky Sports Darts from 7.30pm on Monday.

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Michael van Gerwen to face Chris Dobey in quarter-finals I Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts. We’re back on New Year’s Day at 12.30pm and 7.30pm with Gerwyn Price, Michael Smith and MVG all eyeing Monday’s semi-finals

Michael van Gerwen continued his quest for a fourth World Darts Championship and first since 2019 after easing to victory over fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode on Friday night.

Van Gerwen coasted into the quarter-finals after a 4-1 victory over a below-par Dirk van Duijvenbode with a 100.4 average to set up a meeting against Dobey on New Year’s Day, who had earlier knocked out former champion Rob Cross.

“I feel good and that anything is possible in this World Championship. If I play like this, I am not going to lose,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports’ Emma Paton in the studio.

“Something strange has to happen to me, an off day or whatever, for me not to win my games.”

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Michael van Gerwen said he beat Dirk van Duijvenbode with his ‘B-game’ and says if he continues to play like he is, ‘he won’t lose’

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MVG completed the win with this special 120 checkout to set up a quarter-final clash against Chris Dobey

Van Gerwen produced another strong performance, averaging 100.42 and 43 per cent on the doubles.

He started much the better of the two in the all-Dutch clash and despite a cracking 117 from Van Duijvenbode in the second leg, five costly missed darts at doubles allowed ‘Mighty Mike’ to secure the opener.

‘Aubergenius’ then threw the fourth 170 of the tournament and second of the night to get back into the second set, but after missing his chance to force a deciding leg, Van Gerwen accepted the gift to double his lead with a 100.7 average.

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Van Duijvenbode netted ‘The Big Fish’ during his match against Van Gerwen. It was the second 170 of the night!

Van Duijvenbode closed the gap to one after winning the third 3-1 with an impressive 120.67 set average and despite forcing a fourth-set decider he endured a disastrous scoring leg to allow MVG to help himself to a two-set advantage once again.

The title favourite then breezed through the next to book a meeting with ‘Hollywood’ Dobey thanks to a show-stopping 120 finish.

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Chris Dobey says he’d never felt anything like the nerves he had with his match darts as he secured a 4-2 win over Rob Cross to reach the quarter-finals

Dobey made it through to the quarter-finals at the Worlds for the very first time courtesy of a 4-2 victory over 2018 champion Rob Cross with a 102 average, eight 180s and a stunning 170 checkout.

Having clinched the opener, ‘Voltage’ averaged almost 119 in the next but he didn’t even win a leg. However, Cross composed himself to sweep through the next and reclaim the lead.

Dobey then raised the Ally Pally roof with the biggest finish of the lot – a 170 – as he upped his average to 121.72 in levelling the tie at 2-2.

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Dobey reeled in a magical 170 checkout against Cross to send Ally Pally wild

He edged closer to victory by winning the next 3-1 and he held his nerve in the sixth set on his sixth match dart to seal his spot in the final eight.

Dobey said: “It was 100 per cent [the biggest result of my career]. I finally got over that hurdle so I am delighted, buzzing. Rob threw everything at us. I hit 170s for fun at home so it was due, but 170s mean nothing. It is that winning double that means the most.

“There is no reason I can’t go all the way.”

Former Lakeside champion Stephen Bunting completed the quarter-final line-up by dominating Luke Humphries with a 99.43 average and landing 46 per cent of his doubles.

Bunting took an entertaining opening set 3-1 with the players sharing ton-plus finishes of 121 and 119, and he then pinned a brilliant 127 on his way to a 115.62 average to double his advantage before ‘Cool Hand’ Luke found some form to close the gap.

‘The Bullet’ converted double 3 to restore his two-set cushion and with the world No 5 reeling, Bunting crashed in a 106 to break throw in the opening leg of the fifth set before going on to make it through to a meeting with Michael Smith in a St Helens derby.

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Stephen Bunting says he’s a danger to anyone in this tournament after an impressive 4-1 win over Luke Humphries

Wins for Smith & Dimi as Clemens makes history at The Palace

Michael Smith swept aside Joe Cullen to cruise into the quarter-finals

Smith fired in an imperious display to storm through to the last eight with a 4-1 win against Masters champion Joe Cullen.

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Watch Cullen nail this magnificent 153 checkout, which even Smith applauded

“I finally turned up and it felt good,” declared Smith, who averaged 103, landed ten 180s and converted 40 per cent of his attempts at double.

“I think the first set was important. Being 1-0 down against Joe could have been a big game-changer, and I knew I couldn’t afford to throw sets away.

“I want to play the best players, I want to beat the best players and I want to show how far my game has come, and winning this title would mean everything.”

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‘Bully Boy’ said he had to ‘dig deep’ to defeat Cullen despite the scoreline suggesting otherwise

Elsewhere, Gabriel Clemens made history with a resounding 4-1 success against Dundee firefighter Alan Soutar, to become the first German player to reach the quarter-finals at the Worlds.

The ‘German Giant’ will next face a huge test against world No 1 Gerwyn Price on New Year’s Day.

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Clemens took out this huge 148 on his way to a comfortable victory against Soutar

“He will be the favourite, but I’ve had three good games on the stage with him and I’ve beaten him before so it’s about taking your chance,” said the 39-year-old former locksmith.

“I hope I can put some pressure on him. It’s not easy to play against the world No 1. This is my first time playing in the quarter-finals of the Worlds so I hope I can give him a good game and maybe I can win, why not!?”

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Van den Bergh proved too good for fellow Belgian Kim Huybrechts

Dimitri Van den Bergh secured a place in his third quarter-final here after producing a demolition job to defeat his Belgian World Cup partner Kim Huybrechts in straight sets.

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Wayne Mardle says Smith made his win over Cullen look ‘relatively easy’, with Mark Webster saying the St Helens thrower is capable of going all the way…

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Watch a round-up of the action from an entertaining afternoon session

New Year’s Day at Ally Pally

Michael van Gerwen headlines on New Year’s Day at Alexandra Palace as he continues his insatiable bid for a fourth world crown

Welshman Gerwyn Price will take on German No 1 Gabriel Clemens on quarter-finals day at Alexandra Palace with all matches now the best of nine sets.

Jonny Clayton battles ‘The DreamMaker’ Dimitri Van den Bergh, while Grand Slam of Darts champion Michael Smith faces Stephen Bunting in a local derby.

Firm favourite Michael van Gerwen then continues his quest for a fourth World title when he goes up against ‘Hollywood’ Chris Dobey.

The semi-finals and final take place on January 2-3.

Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts – all the way through to the final on January 3.

Gerwyn Price booked his place in the quarter-finals at Ally Pally with victory over Jose de Sousa on ThursdayWatch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts – all the way through to the final on January 3

There is still a glint in the eye of Gerwyn Price whenever asked about his rugby days: his background in the sport helped create the formidable on-stage competitor that has changed darts, which is perhaps the same reason he misses it so dearly. 

The Welshman continues to lead the way as World No 1 and remains in pursuit of a second World Championship crown after reaching the quarter-final stage at Ally Pally as he looks to further his explosive rise to the top of the game.

While the packed nature of the darting calendar allows for little downtime, Price, who previously played in the Welsh Premier Division prior to his arrival at the oche, admits he hopes to make a return to the field in some capacity in the not-so-distant future.

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Gerwyn Price stays on course for his second world title with a dominant win over Jose de Sousa in the World Darts Championship last 16

“I’m constantly thinking about my old life and when I used to play rugby, when I used to be in a bit better shape to what I am now, I didn’t have to suck it in as much back in the day,” joked Price in an interview with Sky Sports.

“I miss it, I miss my old life and I just want a little bit of it back so I spoke to my wife about it a couple of months ago, if there’s one weekend I’m off then I’m going to put my boots back on and try to get myself back in shape and back on the field because I just need to do something I really enjoy again, which I really miss.”

Away from competing, Price plans to put a greater emphasis on family life heading into the New Year.

“Next year I’m going to park the property business and focus as much as I can on the darts and take some time out as well because my girls are 16 and 12, time has gone by just like that and I need to spend a bit more time with them and do a lot more family things,” he explained.

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Gerwyn Price wins the match on a 128 checkout and takes the game 4-0 against Raymond van Barneveld

Price cruised beyond Jose de Sousa by a scoreline of 4-1 in Thursday night’s fourth-round clash to reach the last eight, and is confident of adding a sixth televised title to his resume.

“If my A game is there from now on in, nobody beats me,” he said. “That’s not me being arrogant or big-headed, because if you’d asked anybody in this tournament they’d say the same.”

Price believes he is still yet to hit top form in 2022 having been hindered early in the year by a fractured bone in his throwing hand.

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The best of the action from the evening session of Day 12 at Alexandra Palace

“Psychologically and physically (it’s been a tough year), I broke my hand in March just after the UK Open and so took a downward spiral,” he admitted.

“My confidence was knocked, I couldn’t hit anything, I couldn’t win legs if I had six darts each throw so it was a difficult period for me.

“For about three or four months I was just scraping trying to find my form again and it was really tough.

“The moment I found the confidence in my hand and it started to heal then my game started to come back week by week.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not at my best yet but by the time the quarter-finals/semi-finals come, hopefully I get that far and I’ll bring some of my best stuff out.”

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

Jonny Clayton ended Josh Rock’s dream debut run at the World Darts Championship, while world No 1 Gerwyn Price breezed past Jose de Sousa as the Welsh duo reached the quarter-finals.

Antrim ace Rock has been one of the most talked about players on planet darts in 2022, but Clayton used all his years of experience to come through in another nail-biter at Alexandra Palace.

“I am delighted. Josh is an up-and-coming star. He is fantastic. What a nice guy and what a player. I had to do a job and I did it. That’s all I can say. Hopefully I can get to the end,” said Clayton.

“I have proved I can still play darts. We are all chasing this big trophy and fingers crossed it will be my year.”

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Jonny Clayton was full of praise for Josh Rock as he reached the quarter-finals of the Worlds for the first time

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

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

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

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Clayton clinches the third set with this absolutely mind-blowing 104 checkout on the bullseye

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

But the world No 7 and former Premier League champion was not giving up without a fight and he made sure the contest went the distance by nailing a 122 on double 7 en route to taking the sixth set 3-1.

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

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

Price, who has revealed plans to make a return to rugby on a spare weekend with no darts, clinched the first set 3-1 against De Sousa before rallying from 2-0 down and surviving two set darts in the next to strengthen his grip on the match.

But ‘The Special One’ responded strongly in the third set to halve the deficit with a 98.2 set average, but back came ‘The Iceman’ to nail tops for the first time in the match for a 64 finish to restore his two-set cushion and edge closer to victory.

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

And the Welshman made it through to the quarter-finals by winning a deciding leg against the darts with a neat ton-out before letting off a trademark roar of approval.

“I felt comfortable all the way through the game,” said Price, who is looking to add to his title in 2021. “I knew I wasn’t playing at my best but when chances come along I think I take them. As long as my friends and family are here supporting me, that’s the main thing.”

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

Fifth seed Luke Humphries was forced to fend off rapid-fire Dutchman Vincent van der Voort to seal a 4-3 triumph with a 96.5 average, eight 180s and a fabulous 140 checkout in the deciding set.

He will face either German No 1 Gabriel Clemens or Dundee firefighter Alan Soutar for a place in the last four.

Next up for ‘Cool Hand’ Luke is a tasty fourth-round meeting with Stephen Bunting on Friday evening.

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Luke Humphries pinned this outstanding 140 checkout on his way to reaching the last 16 at Alexandra Palace

“I feel like my doubles have let me down in this tournament, but it’s one of those things like if I play my game I want to get over that hurdle of making it through to the semi-finals,” said Humphries, who revealed he is still recovering from a sickness bug.

“Bunting is a fantastic player but I will be making sure that I will finally bring my A-game to this tournament. The top players find a way and although I haven’t been at my 100 per cent best it’s not affecting me to the point where I’m playing terribly.”

DVD comes out on top in deciding-leg classic

Dirk van Duijvenbode celebrates winning a classic against Ross Smith

Dirk van Duijvenbode edged out Ross Smith in a deciding-leg classic, in a contest which featured a record-breaking 31 maximums and five missed match darts from Smith.

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

The Dutchman forced a deciding set after Smith wired a match dart at the bull for a 4-2 win, and after surviving four more match darts in a gripping seventh set, Van Duijvenbode sank a nerveless 71 combination on tops to triumph.

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Dirk Van Duijvenbode and Ross Smith set a new best-of-seven-sets record at Alexandra Palace. They hit 31 180s in their third round epic, 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 a fascinating last-16 tie against Michael van Gerwen.

“It will be a fantastic game for the neutral, but I’m not happy with the way I’m playing.

“My best game is in there, but I’m not showing in and I definitely need to show it against Michael or I’m 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 of his career to defeat his fellow St Helens star Dave Chisnall in an exhilarating six-set affair, which saw both players register ton-plus averages.

“That’s the best I’ve ever played on that stage,” insisted Bunting – a semi-finalist back in 2021.

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

“He has got something about him, this solid determination and he has ability, we know that. He is going to take some beating”

Wayne Mardle on Rob Cross

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

Friday at Ally Pally

Michael van Gerwen headlines Friday evening at Alexandra Palace as he continues his quest for a fourth world crown

Kim Huybrechts and Dimitri Van den Bergh clash in the opening fourth-round tie before Gabriel Clemens takes on Alan Soutar.

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

Firm favourite Michael van Gerwen headlines the evening session with the Dutchman continuing his bid to land a fourth world title and first since 2019 when he faces fellow Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode.

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

Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts – all the way through to the final on January 3.

Pep Guardiola explains how his view on Kalvin Phillips’ fitness has changed since he joined Manchester City from Leeds.

Chris Dobey cruised past Gary Anderson; Jose de Sousa produced a huge comeback to go through; Alan Soutar rallied to knock out Danny Noppert; Wednesday’s evening session includes Michael van Gerwen, Michael Smith and Joe Cullen in action (7pm, Sky Sports Darts)

Chris Dobey denied Gary Anderson his 50th win on the Alexandra Palace stage as he cruised to a 4-1 victory at the Cazoo World Darts Championship.

Anderson exits in the third round for the first time since 2014 and, after the Flying Scotsman played down his chances pre-match, it came to fruition as he scuppered a 1-0 lead to crash out.

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Chris Dobey defeats former winner Gary Anderson 4-1 to reach the last 16 of the World Darts Championship.

Anderson started the encounter with real intent and blew Dobey away as he romped to take three straight legs, a brilliant 121 finish securing the break of throw before sealing the set on tops and leaving Dobey no chance to answer.

The second set saw Dobey and Anderson trade breaks before a missed chance by the Flying Scotsman to take a 2-0 lead allowed Dobey to bring the contest level, taking out 50 with 18 and double 16 to peg Anderson back.

Despite Anderson seeming to be throwing the better darts, hitting six perfect darts in succession, Dobey managed to get himself into a 2-1 lead with some precision on the doubles that Anderson couldn’t muster, then taking advantage of those errors to make it 3-1.

Inaccurate finishing then only made the encounter an even tougher task for Anderson as he missed three chances to hold his throw in the fifth set, allowing Dobey to take out tops on his throw to hold and take a ‘Hollywood’ victory.

Dobey: Anderson’s words annoyed me

Speaking after the contest, Dobey expressed his delight at getting over another “hurdle” at the Alexandra Palace and revealed that some words from Anderson in the break, which he “disagreed with”, spurred him on.

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Chris Dobey was angry with some comments made by Gary Anderson in the break prior to claiming a 4-1 victory over the Scot.

“It was a big win, Gary is a class lad, one of the big names in darts. It is a massive win. I never gave up. That’s the kind of lad I am, always fighting to the end. I am delighted to get the win,” said Dobey.

“Gary said something to us in the last break and I didn’t like it. It annoyed me and there was no way he was winning the game after that.

“I came out and tried to forget about it. He is a class lad but I didn’t agree with what he said. I made sure I was winning this game.

“I have been in this position a number of times so I am hoping to get over that hurdle. I am still in the competition.”

Soutar knocks out ninth seed Noppert

Alan Soutar put in one of the performances of his career so far as he fought back to complete a 4-2 victory over ninth seed Danny Noppert in the second match of the session.

Alan Soutar fought back from 2-0 down to secure a 4-2 victory against Danny Noppert

Noppert got off to a perfect start against Soutar, getting the match under way with a maximum and 11-dart leg before securing the set 3-1 with a brilliant 104 finish.

The second set saw Noppert’s accuracy on the trebles provide success as he continued to add to his maximum tally, taking the set in straight legs with Soutar unable to find an answer despite throwing at the tournament average.

However, the third set provided an unexpected chance for the Scotsman and he took it, taking advantage of a mistake on the 66 finish from Noppert for the break of throw before taking six straight legs to bring the tie level at 2-2.

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Alan Soutar takes out a sensational 152 checkout against Danny Noppert in their third round match at the World Darts Championship.

From there, Soutar came alive with a sensational 152 finish to take the lead for the first time and make it 3-2, another huge 130 finish helping set up Soutar for the 4-2 victory in a comeback and performance to remember. A clash with Gabriel Clemens now awaits him in the last 16.

De Sousa comes back to set up Price showdown

The opening match of Day 11 at the Alexandra Palace saw Jose de Sousa produce an almighty comeback against Ryan Searle, fighting back from 3-0 down to a 4-3 win to set up a clash with world No 1 Gerwyn Price in the last 16.

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Jose de Sousa fights back from three sets down to defeat Ryan Searle 4-3 to set up a last 16 tie with Gerwyn Price.

Searle took control to secure an early 3-0 lead against De Sousa, a break of throw together with some inaccuracy on the doubles from The Special One giving Heavy Metal the 1-0 lead. Searle then nullified a slight fightback from his opponent in the second set as he took out tops in the deciding leg.

A poor third set followed, in which both players were averaging below 90, but Searle was the better of the two once again as the doubles continued to trouble De Sousa.

However, The Special One then began a comeback to keep the match alive in the fourth set, concluding with D16 after slamming in a T20 with his first dart to make it 3-1. Two poor visits from Searle in the fifth set then forced a deciding leg in which De Sousa put himself well and truly back in the match, taking out the D8 to make it 3-2.

From there, De Sousa brought the match level as a huge maximum left him 98 which he took out on tops to take the match to a seventh set, finding his flow on the trebles and finally taking the victory on D2.

Wednesday night at Ally Pally

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen takes on Austria’s Mensur Suljovic in a blockbuster evening session, which also includes ‘The Rockstar’ Joe Cullen up against Damon Heta and 2022 runner-up Michael Smith versus Martin Schindler. Watch the action live from 7pm on Sky Sports Darts and Sky Sports Main Event.

Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – live on Sky Sports Darts – all the way through to the final on January 3.

Paul Merson believes Arsenal may not be able to keep up their league-topping form after Gabriel Jesus suffered a knee injury at the World Cup.

Ahead of his upcoming fight against Liam Smith, Chris Eubank Jr. explains why he is training on Christmas Day.

Accrington Stanley boss John Coleman explains what his side are doing during Christmas Day training and what he wants to achieve over the next few games.