The first day of darting action in 2022 produced some amazing darts including a nine darter from the current World Champion in defeat to Michael Smith.

Peter Wright was also involved in a classic in which he defeated Callan Rydz 5-4 in a game with seven ton plus checkouts.

Elsewhere on day 14 of the PDC World Championships;

• James Wade whitewashes Mervyn King
• Gary Anderson eases past Luke Humphries

Perfect Nine for Price isn’t enough against Smith

Michael Smith wins a thriller to knock out last year’s World Champion 5-4. Gerwyn Price hit his first televised nine darter, but it wasn’t enough against an inspired Bully Boy, who sets up a clash against James Wade.

After three sets the high standard was set with both players holding throw which gave Price the early lead. The standard was set in the first three sets with both players hitting a couple of big finishes.

The best set of the World Championship so far was to come in set four of this game with, Gerwyn Price losing it 3-1 with the only leg he won being the perfect nine. Michael Smith didn’t allow him to win another leg as he averaged 121 in the set and finished it with a 130 checkout.

The following two sets saw both players hold comfortably leaving the scores at three each. Sets seven and eight continued to go with hold however, these needed the players to hold their nerve in last leg deciders.

Gerwyn Price had the advantage going into the final set, knowing that if he didn’t get broken he would be in the Semi Finals. That didn’t go to plan with The Iceman missing darts at a double in leg one and Smith punishing. Bully Boy followed it up with a 126 out on bull to move one leg away.

Price was able to hold throw in leg three to put the pressure on Smith’s shoulders to hold and he succeeded to record a massive victory and set up an English encounter in the first Semi Final tomorrow evening.

Wright Wins Ally Pally Classic

Peter Wright came back from 3-1 behind to defeat Callan Rydz in an Ally Pally epic.

Peter Wright hit 17 180s and two ton plus checkouts including a 140 out. Callan Rydz couldn’t match Wright with the 180s hitting 11, however he hit an impressive five ton plus checkouts.

The tone of the game was set in leg one, when Callan Rydz fired in a 152 checkout and won the set with a 110 average.

Callan Rydz continued with his impressive form in set two firing in two 106 checkouts and a 105 to go through two in front. The ton plus checkouts continued into set three and this time it was Wright with a 112 while getting his first set on the board.

Callan Rydz started to take control of the game in set four with a break and a couple of holds to take a 3-1 lead. Set five the impressive checkouts returned with Peter Wright taking out 140 with the final two darts at tops.

The players continued to perform moments of brilliance in set six with Snakebite missing double 12 for the 141 and the perfect nine. Only for Callan Rydz to take out the same checkout the following leg but this was for a 12 darter not the nine.

The drama in this set was still to come with Rydz missing tops for a 4-2 lead in sets, before Wright taking out 96 with his second double, double finish to level up the game.

The next two sets went without any major drama with both players holding to take it to the final set. Wright got the early break in the final set and then he held to move a leg away, before Rydz won the next two for the game to go into extra legs.

Wright got a break in the next leg and with Rydz faltering at the end of the game, Wright was given the opportunity to wrap the game up which he did with his first match dart.

Anderson Into Semi Finals

Gary Anderson defeats Luke Humphries 5-2 to book his place in the last four for the seventh time.

The Flying Scotsman continued the form he showed against Rob Cross by firing in eight 180’s and four ton plus checkouts with the highlight being the 148.

The first set went the way of Cool Hand as he won all three legs on throw, before Gary Anderson won the next set 3-2.

In set three we saw Gary Anderson break throw for the first time with a 104 checkout, before going on to win the third set. The breaks continued in set four with Luke Humphries hitting three 180’s in the set and taking it 3-1.

The turning point came in set five. Cool Hand lead in this set 2-0. Anderson reeled off the next three legs which included a 110 checkout to win the set.

Gary Anderson came back out after the last break and fired in a 148 checkout. The set went to the last leg and after Gary Anderson missed double 11 for 124, it was Luke Humphries next to have a set dart but he went outside on the 16’s before Anderson cleaned up the leg.

Cool Hand had more set darts in the following set. After missing bull for a 170, he then missed two at double eight before Gary Anderson takes out 80 on tops to book his place in the last four.

Wade Dismantles King

James Wade books his place in a PDC World Championship semi final for the fourth time with a 5-0 win over Mervyn King.

James follows up his 4-0 win over Kleermaker with another whitewash making it 10 sets in a row for The Machine.

Mervyn King started the game strongly with an 11 dart leg, but missed a set dart in leg four and leg five which allowed Wade to take the opening set.

The first four legs in the second set went against the throw, until Wade controlled leg five to make it two nil. It was Wade’s tenth set at the World Championships this year, and we finally saw The Machine hit his first 180 of the tournament.

The final three sets continued in a similar fashion with Wade being clinical on tops and double 10. Wade finished the game on an average of 86 but the key stat for James was 44% on doubles which was good enough to defeat Mervyn King.

PDC World Championships Day 14 Results

Afternoon Session

James Wade 5-0 Mervyn King

Gary Anderson 5-2 Luke Humphries

Evening Session

Peter Wright 5-4 Callan Rydz

Michael Smith 5-3 Gerwyn Price

PDC World Championships Semi Final Fixtures

Sunday Jan. 2^nd 

Michael Smith v James Wade

Peter Wright v Gary Anderson