Brendan Dolan dumps Gerwyn Price out of the World Championship as Humphries survives huge scare

Brendan Dolan pulled off a huge upset as he sent Gerwyn Price crashing out of the World Darts Championship, while Luke Humphries hit back from the brink to reach the Last 16.

Price became the highest-profile casualty of the Third Round as he bowed out at the hands of an inspired Dolan – who prevailed for the second successive game despite winning fewer legs than his opponent, ending with a lower average and fewer 180s.

The 50-year-old drew first blood with magnificent checkouts of 130 and 144, and though Price responded emphatically to level, Dolan edged back ahead with a clinical 90 finish on the bull in set three.

Price hit back once again with a clean sweep in set four, but after taking out a nerveless 120 outshot on his way to the fifth set, Dolan wrapped up a famous win with a 13-darter on tops.

“To beat someone like Gezzy is unreal,” revealed the former World Grand Prix finalist, who was beaten by Price at the same stage of the 2021 tournament, before the Welshman went on to lift the title.

“I have the utmost respect for Gezzy. He is pure class. He didn’t play as well as he could have, and I took out some crucial finishes, which gave me the belief that it could be my night.

“It’s a big result for me, but I’m here to win. I know it’s going to be a battle to get there, but I’m ready to fight.”

Humphries preserved his World Championship hopes with a brilliant comeback victory over Ricardo Pietreczko, recovering from 3-1 down to get over the line.

Humphries was forced to use a new set of darts after one of his points snapped just moments before he took to the stage, and he found himself staring down the barrel following a tentative start to the contest.

Pietreczko, roared on by a partisan German contingent at Alexandra Palace, won three consecutive sets to threaten a huge upset, producing a majestic 121 checkout to complete a clean sweep in set four.

However, Humphries lifted himself off the canvas in valiant fashion, claiming a scrappy fifth set before following up a 13-darter with a 91 finish to restore parity and create a thrilling climax.

The world number three was beginning to find his range, and he powered past Pietreczko in set seven to complete the comeback, reeling off legs of 16, 14 and 16 darts to spark jubilant scenes of celebration.

“That was one of the toughest games I’ve ever been involved in,” admitted Humphries.

“It was a poor performance; playing with a different set of darts didn’t work for me, and having the majority of the crowd against me was really tough as well, but I dealt with it in the end.

“I felt dead and buried. I wasn’t even showing signs of a comeback, but I am where I am for a reason, so you to have show some sort of resilience, and I’m so happy to be through to the next round.

“I didn’t react until the end because I think they [the crowd] deserved it. Ricardo can never complain about the crowd again. I’ve just experienced one of the worst ever.”

Earlier in the day, Masters champion Chris Dobey overcame former European Champion Ross Smith in an Ally Pally classic to move through to a Last 16 clash against defending champion Michael Smith.

The pair fired in 27 maximums between them in a captivating affair, which saw Dobey threatening to shatter a host of records at one stage, as his average climbed above 118 midway through set three.

Smith, who averaged 103 and crashed in 13 180s of his own, somehow responded to restore parity at two apiece, only for Dobey to counter with a brilliant late burst to book his place in the Last 16.

Stephen Bunting kicked off Thursday’s action in style, producing a scintillating display to whitewash Germany’s Florian Hempel 4-0.

Bunting, who averaged 107.28 in his opening round win over Ryan Joyce, stormed into a two-set lead with a monstrous 112 average, despite a magnificent 164 from Hempel in the opening set.

The former Lakeside Champion maintained his clinical finishing in the latter stages, wrapping up victory with a 101 average to set up a mouth-watering clash against Michael van Gerwen.

Cullen, meanwhile, won through a six-set thriller against Ryan Searle, defying a spirited fightback from the Somerset star to reach the last 16 for a second consecutive year.

The Yorkshireman stormed into a two-set lead before Searle levelled with a brilliant 124 on the bull, but after surviving six set darts in a crucial fifth set, Cullen regained the lead before going on to clinch victory.

In the evening’s finale, Daryl Gurney reeled off three consecutive sets from 2-1 down to sink Ricky Evans and set up a meeting with 11th seed Dave Chisnall on Saturday afternoon.

Gurney’s ton-plus finishing inspired him to victory over Steve Beaton in round two, and it was a similar story against Evans, as he converted 164 and 130 checkouts in the latter stages to confirm his progress.

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World Darts Championship 2023/24 Day 11 Results

Thursday December 28

Third Round

Afternoon Session
Florian Hempel 0-4 Stephen Bunting
Joe Cullen 4-2 Ryan Searle
Ross Smith 2-4 Chris Dobey

Evening Session
Gerwyn Price 2-4 Brendan Dolan
Luke Humphries 4-3 Ricardo Pietreczko
Ricky Evans 2-4 Daryl Gurney