Nine-darters thrown, match darts worked out and yet eliminated: Gerwyn Price
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
The Darts World Cup will choose a new world champion on January 3rd. Defending champion Gerwyn Price had match darts against Michael Smith, but lost just under nine sets. Little consolation that he had previously managed his first nine-darter.
Dthe climax, which could not be increased, was reached in the fourth movement. Gerwyn Price made the nine-darter perfect over the double 12. For the first time at a world championship, the perfect game was achieved for the third time. For the first time, however, it was also the Welshman who managed the feat in front of running TV cameras.
Price found his way into the elite circle of now eleven professionals who showed that the 501 points were downplayed with only nine throws on the World Cup stage. But that shouldn’t interest him for the time being. Price not only lost the fourth round to his opponent Michael Smith, but also the match.
He had two match darts in the high-class exchange of blows, then even the chance for extra time, but in the end the defending champion was out.
“It’s one of the best nights of my career,” said Smith, who was the better player with an average of 101.94 and a double rate of 51.2 percent and now the second Welsh title favorite after Jonny Clayton in the round of 16 Tournament took.
At the finish: Michael Smith survived two match darts and made it to the World Cup semi-finals
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
Price had already opened the evening on the way to the nine-darter with five perfect throws and got round one. Smith but equalized with a 3-0 in the second round. In the third set the world champion also conceded a break, but countered with a 130 to re-break and brought his start to 2: 1 after sets.
Then Price’s ninth charter in set four, which Smith nevertheless managed to secure unimpressed. Before the break, they both clapped and grinned. This match was not only fun for the 3000 fans in Alexandra Palace.
Subsequently, it only got tight with the defending champion’s throw-offs, who just managed to make it to the finish line, while the “Bully Boy” remained sovereign. Price dropped five legs, Smith only one.
He had worked on the break for the entire match. But the long wait should be worth it
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
In the seventh round, Price was just able to equalize a break by the Englishman and pushed himself forward with another 3: 2 with 4: 3.
In passage eight, Price had his back to the wall when he seemed to be able to break his start-up sentence at exactly the right moment and for the first time. Even a viewer who disturbed Price in his throw in the third leg did not seem to be able to prevent it. Price interrupted his recording before the last arrow and, after consulting caller Georg Noble, had the fan removed from the hall, stepped back to the board and threw a triple-20. “Someone in the audience called my name. It would have got me out too, ”Smith later said.
It went into the decider, and the Welshman had won the previous three decision legs with an average of 107. This time, too, it was impressive what the 36-year-old number one did in the world. Price started with 139 points, then threw a 180, a 140, and stood at 42.
For the first time, however, Price did not reward himself for his timing and awarded the match darts on double-20s and double-10s. Two missed chances that Smith punished with the 4: 4 set compensation and now gave gas on the road to victory. He checked for the break and then also 126 points to make it 2-0.
Chances missed: Gerwyn Price had the semi-finals twice on hand
Quelle: Getty Images/Luke Walker
The Welshman, who landed on an average of 99.57 and hit 16 of his 36 attempts on the doubles (44.4 percent), still made it 1: 2, but missed the possible extension again on the double-20, so Smith went to Could check entry into the semifinals.
Before that, Peter Wright and Callan Rydz had ushered in the memorable evening with an equally high-class duel. In the end, the more experienced 2020 world champion prevailed against youngster Rydz in extra time.
The first two quarter-finalists had already been determined that afternoon. James Wade had to go through the decider in four sets, but presented himself with nerves and won 5-0 against Mervyn King. Gary Anderson prevailed against Luke Humphries 5-2 and will now face Wright in the world championship duel between the two 51-year-olds on Sunday evening. Smith faces Wade.
The complete schedule and the tournament tree can be found here
Darts World Cup, quarter finals
James Wade (ENG/4) – Mervyn King (ENG/21) 5:0
Gary Anderson (SCO/6) – Luke Humphries (ENG/19) 5:2
Peter Wright (SCO/2) – Callan Rydz (ENG) 5:4 n.V.
Gerwyn Price (WAL / 1) – Michael Smith (ENG / 9) 4: 5
Darts World Cup, semi-finals on Sunday
8.30 p.m.
James Wade (ENG/4) – Michael Smith (ENG/9)
Gary Anderson (SCO/6) – Peter Wright (SCO/2)
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