PDC World Darts Championship: Gary Anderson seals his spot in the third round
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson shows a touch of rustiness on the Alexandra Palace stage but still had enough firepower to progress with a 96.8 average and four 180s against Madars Razma; Stephen Bunting wins a thriller while Mensur Suljovic and Ricky Evans cruise through
Wednesday 23 December 2020 23:00, UK
Gary Anderson came out of isolation to make it through to the third round of the World Darts Championship on Wednesday afternoon at Alexandra Palace.
The Scot's opener was switched from Sunday to Wednesday after he was forced to self-isolate after a contact returned a positive COVID-19 test.
Anderson, who celebrated his 50th birthday in his hotel room on Tuesday, was forced to dig deep to win 3-1 against Madars Razma.
He was unleashed on the Ally Pally stage and despite a few frustrations, he made a winning start to his bid of becoming a three-time world champion on his 20th appearance at the Worlds.
'The Flying Scotsman' made a straightforward start by taking the first set without reply despite an average of just 86.71.
Razma showed great character to claim the second set, averaging an impressive 110. 'Razzmatazz' from Latvia hit seven perfect darts in the third leg and six perfect darts in the fourth en route to a 3-1 set scoreline.
Anderson nailed his second maximum and his first ton-plus checkout of the match with a neat 101 against the darts in the next set before wrapping it up with a two-dart combination shot at 58.
A brilliant 94 (18, D18, D20) from Anderson enabled him to hold throw at the start of the fourth set and the Scot followed it up with a sensational 161 finish to move within a leg of the match. He nailed tops with his third match dart to move through to meeting with Mensur Suljovic.
- As it happened on Wednesday afternoon at the Worlds
- PDC World Darts Championship: Schedule, results & draw
Mensur ends Edgar's hopes
Ally Pally may not be Suljovic's favourite venue, but he produced the goods to defeat Matthew Edgar 3-1.
He made a drama-free start to his match, swiftly winning the first set 3-0 with a 66 finish for a 15-darter.
Edgar, who donned a Hulk Hogan inspired shirt sent the Edgar Nation running wild with a 108 checkout in the first leg of the second set.
'Prime Time' whitewashed Maik Kuivenhoven in his first-round match in which he finished with an impressive 75 per cent on the doubles and he cleaned up a last-leg decider on throw to level up the contest.
Suljovic, a former Champions League of Darts winner, swept through the third set with a 99.3 average and five 180s.
The Austrian opened the fourth set with a sensational 140 checkout to seal a 12-dart leg and he completed the job after landing tops. He ended with a 98.2 average and seven 180s.
Bunting bounces into round three
Stephen Bunting won a superb last-last shoot-out to edge past Andy Boulton 3-2 and set up a mouth-watering clash against James Wade.
Boulton came out firing some big numbers against Bunting. 'X Factor' took the opener 3-1 after pinning a big 129 before sealing the set with an 86 checkout for an 11-darter, averaging 94.5 to Bunting's 76.
The 47-year-old from Stoke-on-Trent, who ended Deta Hedman's hopes in the first round, walked off stage with a shake, rattle and roll.
He returned to land a massive 149 to take the lead in the second set, only for 'The Bullet' to respond with a magnificent 148 before levelling things with a neat 13-darter.
That huge checkout proved to be a catalyst for St Helens' thrower Bunting, who went on to win six out of the next seven legs - including a 109 to win the third set.
But Boulton punished crucial missed doubles from Bunting to whitewash his opponent and force a deciding set.
A superb Shanghai finish put Bunting one leg away from winning the match but Boulton responded with a 14-darter to send it into a one-leg shoot-out.
Bunting got over the line with a magnificent 11-dart leg with Boulton left on 81 after just nine darts himself.
Live World Darts Championship
Live World Darts Championship
Rapid Ricky sets up MVG showdown
Ricky Evans recovered from a set down to defeat Mickey Mansell 3-1 for a place in the last 32.
The 30-year-old from Kettering hitting six 180s and two ton-plus finishes on his way to a showdown with world No 1 Michael van Gerwen for the second straight year.
Mansell, who swept aside Haupai Puha without relinquishing a leg in his first-round tie, made a strong start to wrap up the opening set 3-1, only for Evans to claim set two by the same scoreline.
'Rapid Ricky' upped the ante to secure set three with a sparkling 110 average, before defying any prospect of a Mansell fightback in set four by sealing his progression with back-to-back ton-plus finishes.
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