Two-time champion Gary Anderson wins a barnstormer I Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – stay on Sky Sports activities Darts. We’re again on Friday for the final double session earlier than Christmas at 12.30pm and 7pm with Rob Cross, Jonny Clayton and Joe Cullen in motion
By Raz Mirza at Alexandra Palace and Ali Stafford
Final Up to date: 23/12/22 1:14am
Gary Anderson was compelled to supply some top-notch darts in heading off Madars Razma in his opening match on the World Darts Championship
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson fended off Madars Razma to seal a 3-1 victory on his 52nd birthday, whereas Dirk van Duijvenbode narrowly missed out on a nine-dart end as he got here by way of a deciding set thriller.
Anderson confirmed why he is 2015 and 2016 champion at Alexandra Palace after edging out treble 19 hitting maestro Razma to succeed in the third spherical.
Dutchman Van Duijvenbode got here near touchdown perfection after he survived a match dart and a final-set tie-break to make it by way of in opposition to Czech Karel Sedlacek, whereas four-time semi-finalist James Wade noticed his hopes ended with a shock 3-2 defeat in opposition to Welshman Jim Williams.
Thursday, December 22 – Night Outcomes
| Gary Anderson | 3-2 | Madars Razma (R2) |
| James Wade | 2-3 | Jim Williams (R2) |
| Luke Humphries | 3-2 | Florian Hempel (R2) |
| Vincent van der Voort | 3-0 | Cameron Menzies (R2) |
Here is all SIX ton-plus checkouts from Anderson’s rip-roaring win in opposition to Razma
Anderson, who final suffered a first-round exit right here again in 2010 to Ronnie Baxter, took out an early ton as he averaged 105, however nonetheless solely received the opening set 3-2.
Latvian ‘Razmatazz’ made it a level-game after pinning consecutive ton-plus finishes of 121 on the bullseye and 134.
He eclipsed each these checkouts to interrupt his opponent with a magical 154 on tops, however the veteran Scot hit again with a 15-darter earlier than sneaking one into double 4 after Razma squandered 4 darts to seal the third set.
‘The Flying Scotman’ mirrored on his hard-fought victory over Razma with Michael Bridge
With Razma handing out far too many birthday presents to Anderson, the previous world champion finally received the win together with his sixth match dart, sinking an beautiful 110 end.
“World No 1 or ranked 128, I do not care, on the finish of the day you have nonetheless received to beat me and that is the way in which it goes,” mentioned Anderson.
“Madars Razma was a severe menace in that match however Gary Anderson received there ultimately and he can take a variety of positives away. Perhaps he must be a bit extra scientific however he hasn’t performed a variety of TV video games and that was fairly evident. It was an actual good job from Anderson ultimately. He’ll be glad with that.”
Mark Webster on Gary Anderson
Jim Williams dumped out a number of main winner James Wade in a shock on the Worlds
Former Lakeside finalist Williams pulled off a shocking 3-2 victory over eighth seed Wade to maneuver into the third spherical of the event for the primary time the place he’ll meet German Gabriel Clemens.
The Welshman displayed prowess on the double, firing 107 and 119 alongside the way in which to knocking out ‘The Machine’.
Humphries was relieved to discover a technique to recover from the road in opposition to Hempel
Fifth seed Luke Humphries was compelled to dig deep however ‘Cool Hand’ discovered a technique to document a 3-2 victory over German star Florian Hempel with assistance from seven 180s regardless of 29 missed doubles.
“I felt actually good up there but it surely simply wasn’t taking place for me,” mentioned Humphries. “I used to be fortunate to recover from the road ultimately. It was powerful. I performed nowhere close to like I can however I am by way of to the following spherical.”
Menzies was fast to indicate his opponent Van der Voort all of the love earlier than Christmas
Vincent van der Voort was in red-hot kind as ‘The Dutch Destroyer’ hammered Cameron Menzies 3-0 to make it by way of to a gathering with Humphries subsequent Thursday.
The rapid-fire 47-year-old averaged 90.78, struck 12 140s and completed with 56 per cent on the doubles in a superb show.
Thursday, December 22 – Afternoon Outcomes
| Krzysztof Ratajski | 3-1 | Danny Jansen (R2) |
| Ryan Searle | 3-0 | Adam Gawlas (R2) |
| Mensur Suljovic | 3-0 | Mike De Decker (R2) |
| Dirk van Duijvenbode | 3-2 | Karel Sedlacek (R2) |
DVD so near nine-dart heaven
Dirk van Duijvenbode rose to prominence with a outstanding run to the World Grand Prix closing in 2020
‘The Titan’ Van Duijvenbode reached the final 32 at Ally Pally – however solely simply – as he got here from 2-1 right down to edge out Sedlacek in a day epic.
The world No 14 raced by way of the opening set with a shocking 108 common however squandered a string of missed double makes an attempt to permit an early break within the second from Sedlacek, who sealed the set with a 13-dart leg.
Sedlacek claimed a final-leg victory within the third earlier than Van Duijvenbode bounced again to win the following and take the competition to a decider wherein ‘Aubergenius’ fired eight good darts then narrowly dipped low of the D12 goal in pursuit of the primary nine-darter of this 12 months’s event.
It was pure agony for Van Duijvenbode, who threw eight good darts earlier than lacking double 12 in his nine-dart try in opposition to Karel Sedlacek
Van Duijevenbode settled for a 10-dart leg and took benefit of a missed match dart on bullseye from Sedlacek to maneuver the match to further legs, the place he rattled off 14 and 15-darters to safe a gathering with Ross Smith or Darius Labanauskas after Christmas.
“Yeah, I assumed it [the nine-dart leg] was stepping into when it left my hand,” Van Duijvenbode admitted. “Generally you miss a nine-darter and also you simply know it isn’t in and I threw it and thought ‘that is in’, but it surely wasn’t.”
“I barely recovered from the primary set, the place he got here out with a 108 common and utterly stormed the stage. We by no means anticipated it to be right into a tie-break on the finish of all of it there! There was an absolute mirage of 180 and at one level he hit three in a row, one earlier than the nine-dart try after which two contained in the try. He missed a double for it and actually, the wonderful factor was he nonetheless might have misplaced after it and was in a foul place. He was extremely pumped up and he handled it ultimately, but it surely was a very powerful grind for Dirk!”
John Half on Dirk van Duijvenbode
Mensur Suljovic claimed a straight-sets victory over Mike de Decker to e-book a third-round assembly with Michael van Gerwen, whereas Ryan Searle claimed a 3-0 victory over Adam Gawlas and can now play Jose de Sousa on December 28.
“Van Gerwen is favorite each time. I noticed him on TV in opposition to Lewy Williams and he performed brilliantly. The second set was unbelievable however each sport is totally different. I hope I can stress him,” mentioned Austrian star, Suljovic. “I like Michael – he is my good friend. I need to play my sport, not his sport. I’ve a very good feeling.”
Ryan Searle missed a match dart earlier than Adam Gawlas brilliantly took out 150 to maintain his hopes alive
Poland’s Krzysztof Ratajski additionally reached the third spherical after defeating Danny Jansen 3-1, reserving him a gathering with dancing Dimitri van den Bergh.
Here is a round-up from an outstanding afternoon session on the World Darts Championship
Friday at Ally Pally
Joe Cullen takes on Fallon Sherrock’s conqueror ‘Fast’ Ricky Evans on Friday night time earlier than the Christmas break
The second spherical concludes throughout two classes with 2018 world champion Rob Cross, seventh seed Jonny Clayton and Masters champion Joe Cullen among the many high-profile names in motion.
Friday, December 23 – Afternoon Fixtures (1230 GMT)
| Brendan Dolan | vs | Jimmy Hendriks (R2) |
| Chris Dobey | vs | Martijn Kleermaker (R2) |
| Ross Smith | vs | Darius Labanauskas (R2) |
| Rob Cross | vs | Scott Williams (R2) |
Friday, December 23 – Night Fixtures (1900 GMT)
| Martin Schindler | vs | Martin Lukeman (R2) |
| Danny Noppert | vs | David Cameron (R2) |
| Jonny Clayton | vs | Danny Van Trijp (R2) |
| Joe Cullen | vs | Ricky Evans (R2) |
Following a three-day Christmas break, the third and fourth rounds can be held from December 27-30, earlier than the quarter-finals, semi-finals and closing happen from January 1-3.
Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – stay on Sky Sports activities Darts – during to the ultimate on January 3.
