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Scott Williams sees off Rob Cross at the World Darts Championship as Ricky Evans defeats Dave Chisnall

Jeffrey De Graaf dumps out Gary Anderson on day of upsets at the World Darts Championship

Jamie Shaw in World Darts Championship 23 Dec 2024

Jeffrey de Graaf celebrates (Photo by PDC)

Jeffrey de Graaf swept aside Gary Anderson on a dramatic day of upsets at the World Darts Championship which saw five seeds sent packing.

De Graaf produced a clinical display of finishing to stun his darting idol and progress to the Third Round at Alexandra Palace for the second year running.

Swedish number one De Graaf celebrated the biggest win of his career to inflict the Scottish icon’s earliest exit at Alexandra Palace, having previously never lost his opening match in 15 appearances.

Anderson, celebrating his 54th birthday, gifted De Graaf chances courtesy of a miserable display of finishing which saw him squander 17 darts at doubles.

“This is a dream come true for me. Gary has been my idol since I was 14 years old,” said De Graaf, who pinned 75 per cent of his attempts at doubles.

“We all know what he is capable of. Gary is an unbelievable player, but he didn’t really turn up today.

“I knew I had to hit my doubles, and I took my chances immediately, so I’m very happy!”

De Graaf will now take on Paolo Nebrida for a place in the Last 16, after the Filipino thrower caused a seismic shock with a straight-sets victory over Ross Smith.

The 29-year-old landed a trio of ton-plus checkouts and pinned nine of his 11 darts at doubles to sink the former European Champion – who squandered opportunities to win all three sets.

“This means the world to me,” admitted Nebrida, who becomes the the first player from the Philippines to progress to the Last 32 of the World Championship.

“I feel great. This is for my family, for my fellow countrymen and Sandro Eric Sosing. Sandro – this is for you!

“It is tough to be here and play on this stage, but this was a big day for me, and I am going to stay focused and play my own darts.”

Earlier in the night, Martin Schindler was sent packing by a resurgent Callan Rydz, despite missing double 12 for a nine-darter in the opening set.

The German number one endured a night to forget on the outer ring, and Rydz duly capitalised to set up a Third Round showdown against Belgian number one Dimitri Van den Bergh.

UK Open champion Van den Bergh averaged 96 and fired in six 180s to defeat Ireland’s Dylan Slevin in straight sets, with each set going the distance.

“I grew into the game, but fair play to Dylan, I have a lot of respect him,” said Van den Bergh, a semi-finalist two years ago.

“I’m already looking forward to the game against Callan, and I will be back on the board tomorrow, because the World Championship isn’t over!

“It might be Christmas, but I’ve still got a job to do, and I still have dreams to make true.”

Joe Cullen was in defiant mood after setting up a third round tie with 2020/21 World Champion Gerwyn Price, courtesy of his dominant straight-sets success over Wessel Nijman.

The former Premier League runner-up averaged 98 and crashed in eight 180s as he defied the pre-match odds, but was left irate at being ‘written off’ by sections of the media in the build-up to the match and subsequently walked out of his post-match press conference.

Meanwhile, Ryan Searle kicked off his campaign with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Matt Campbell, averaging 99 to dispatch the Canadian in just over sixteen minutes of play.

Latvia’s Madars Razma produced a resilient display to defeat Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-1, defying a blistering start from the Dutchman as he recovered from a set and two legs down to prevail.

European Champion Ritchie Edhouse fell at the first hurdle, as a resurgent Ian White landed back-to-back ton-plus checkouts to defeat the Enfield-born star 3-1 and set up a meeting against Luke Littler.

World Darts Championship 2024/25 Day Eight Results

Sunday December 22

Second Round

Afternoon Session
Ryan Searle 3-0 Matt Campbell
Dirk van Duijvenbode 1-3 Madars Razma
Joe Cullen 3-0 Wessel Nijman
Ritchie Edhouse 1-3 Ian White

Evening Session
Martin Schindler 0-3 Callan Rydz
Ross Smith 0-3 Paolo Nebrida
Gary Anderson 0-3 Jeffrey De Graaf
Dimitri Van den Bergh 3-0 Dylan Slevin

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Jeffrey De Graaf dumps out Gary Anderson on day of upsets at the World Darts Championship

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