PDC Summer Series: Ryan Joyce comeback stuns Dave Chisnall as he seals first title
Thursday was second of five successive days of competition at Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes
Friday 10 July 2020 10:10, UK
Ryan Joyce stunned Dave Chisnall on the second day of the PDC Summer Series to seal an unlikely title.
'Relentless' lived up to his moniker in the final. Despite trailing 3-7 in a race to eight, he stunned Chizzy with five consecutive legs to seal his first PDC ranking title.
It was an efficient day's work from the former World Championship quarter-finalist, and he can't have been accused of getting handed an easy draw. In order to reach the decider, he had to beat Andy Hamilton, Luke Humphries, Chris Dobey, Madars Razma, Glen Durrant and Gary Anderson, hitting a 101.9 average to overcome the Flying Scotsman in the semi-final.
There is also an added bonus for the Englishman - as it stands, he will qualify for the World Matchplay.
"It's unbelievable - it hasn't sunk in yet," admitted Joyce afterwards. "It's a fantastic win.
"At 7-3 down in the final I thought the game was gone. I was trying to enjoy the rest of the match and make the score more respectable, but Dave tightened up a bit, he missed his chances and I punished him.
"To win an event like this, you need a couple of rounds where you get the rub of the green and I got that today. I don't want to be a one-hit wonder and I've got to build on this."
Joyce also revealed that some words of encouragement from South African star Devon Petersen had inspired him going into Thursday's event.
"I'm not the most consistent player but I know I've got it in me," he said. "I got beaten in the first round on Wednesday and it was a poor game, I didn't play well.
"I was talking to Devon Petersen this morning and I said I've lost a bit of confidence in my throw. He showed me a practice game and had a few words of encouragement, and I felt a different player."
This comes after Michael van Gerwen sealed victory in Wednesday's event. The Green Machine was looking to seal a second consecutive title, but was shocked in the last 32 by fellow countryman Maik Kuivenhoven.
Chisnall will be left to rue what was a golden opportunity, after seemingly doing all the hard work. The five-time major finalist had ruthlessly gone about his business all day, reaching the last four with minimal fuss. He then accounted for Nathan Aspinall in the penultimate stage, but was unable to get over the line as Joyce snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
The players had settled into the 'bubble' in Milton Keynes for the second competition of this five-day gala, after a turbulent few days which featured Covid-19 testing and a two-and-a-half-hour delay on Wednesday.
Despite the disrupted lead-in to tournaments, the cream continued to rise to the top. Wednesday's final saw the world's top-ranked duo face off, with MVG beating Peter Wright.
Thursday's action saw three of the four semi-finalists coming from the top ten in the Order of Merit.
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World number three Gerwyn Price started the day like a steam train, averaging 115.6 in a whitewash win over Irishman Steve Lennon. However, the Iceman couldn't back it up as he fell to Razma in his second match.
Reigning Matchplay champ Rob Cross was another big name who crashed out early, as he was dispatched by Jason Lowe in the second round.
The action continues on Friday, with the third of the five Players Championship events that signal the resumption in play.
At the end of the five days, the leader of the Order of Merit will also claim a place at the Grand Slam of Darts. MVG currently remains in front, £1,000 ahead of Joyce.
Darts is back on Sky Sports in July, with nine days of coverage from the World Matchplay getting underway on Saturday, July 18, and every day until the final on Sunday, July 26.
