Gerwyn Price storms through World Darts Championship opener as Comito stuns Springer

Gerwyn Price stormed to a straight sets victory over Adam Gawlas in his World Darts Championship opener at Alexandra Palace on Tuesday, as Joe Comito stunned Niko Springer.

Price was the star attraction on Day Six in the capital, with Dutch number two Danny Noppert and former semi-finalists Chris Dobey and Scott Williams also tasting victory.

However, 2020/21 winner Price stole the headlines after storming through to round two with a comprehensive straight-sets demolition of Czech qualifier Gawlas.

“I believe in my own talent and my own ability,” insisted Price, who averaged 96 and converted a brace of 120 checkouts to begin his title challenge.

“I just believe I’m going to win this tournament, I don’t care what the obstacles are in front of me.

“I know it’s going to be very tough, whoever I play, but I’m definitely coming through every game.”

Noppert also impressed in his 3-1 victory over former World Youth Championship runner-up Jurjen van der Velde, producing a blistering late barrage to fend off his fellow countryman.

There was nothing to separate the pair for almost three sets, before Noppert followed up finishes of 88 and 135 with a fourth-set average of 110 to register his first World Championship win since 2022.

“That was a really tough game,” insisted Noppert, who has featured in four major ranking semi-finals this year.

“I think the key moment was the 88 finish on the bull to make it 2-1, and I was really pleased with that moment!

“I’m going to take it step-by-step. You never want to lose the first game, so I’m really happy to get through, and maybe I can have a good run this year.”

Dobey will take on former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding in round two, after defying a mid-game slump to account for China’s number one Xiaochen Zong.

The world number eight was nowhere near his brilliant best, but he found his range in the latter stages, closing out a 3-1 victory with an 11-darter.

Williams, meanwhile, was at his show-stopping best against Paolo Nebrida, averaging north of 99 to complete a straight-sets victory over the Filipino trailblazer.

The 2023/24 semi-finalist missed just five darts at double in a clinical display, producing a sublime double-double 92 finish to continue his World Championship love-affair.

Australia’s Comito caused the shock of the tournament so far to stun an abject Springer, punishing a dire display from the German to celebrate a landmark 3-1 victory which included a 155 checkout.

However, Springer’s fellow countryman Ricardo Pietreczko recorded his third consecutive opening round victory at the World Championship, defeating Jose De Sousa by the same scoreline.

The German number two defied six maximums from De Sousa to progress, which ensures the former Grand Slam champion must return to Qualifying School in January in a bid to regain his Tour Card.

Justin Hood also impressed on his Alexandra Palace debut, averaging 99.6 and landing five 180s in his emphatic 3-0 victory over Nick Kenny.

Alan Soutar prevailed in a marathon affair against Finland’s Teemu Harju, despite missing an astonishing fifteen match darts throughout the contest.

Soutar raced into a two-set lead with an average of almost 108, before defying a stirring comeback from Nordic & Baltic Championship winner Harju, who squandered four match darts of his own.

World Darts Championship 2025/26 Day Six Results

Tuesday December 16

First Round

Afternoon Session
Alan Soutar 3-2 Teemu Harju
Nick Kenny 0-3 Justin Hood
Scott Williams 3-0 Paolo Nebrida
Chris Dobey 3-1 Xiaochen Zong

Evening Session
Ricardo Pietreczko 3-1 Jose de Sousa
Danny Noppert 3-1 Jurjen van der Velde
Gerwyn Price 3-0 Adam Gawlas
Niko Springer 1-3 Joe Comito