English Trio March On

The global nature of the PDC’s World Championship was on display again yesterday at the Alexandra Palace. Players from North America, China and continental Europe were on display. Yet, it was three English players who enjoyed notable wins.

Dave Chisnall caught the eye with a strong display in his 3-1 victory over Andrew Gilding.

One of the highest-quality affairs of the tournament so far saw both players land seven 180s, with missed doubles denying Chisnall a ton-plus average.

After Gilding took the opening set, Chisnall replied with a 119 average in set two to level.

Chisnall won last-leg deciders in each of the final two sets to ensure his passage into round three, where he now meets Stephen Bunting.

“I knew Andrew was going to pay well so I had to be on my A-game,” said Chisnall.

“It’s pleasing to have played so well for most of the game. I feel really good, I couldn’t wait to get on that stage and it showed in my performance.”

Chisnall will take on Bunting in a north-west derby after the St Helens landed seven 180s and two-ton plus checkouts on his way to a 3-1 win over Leonard Gates.

American fan-favourite Gates – who overcame Geert Nentjes in round one – continued to shine on his Alexandra Palace debut, sealing the opening set with a 101 checkout.

Both players were blighted by bouts of missed doubles in the second set, though Bunting found a way to level the contest.

Former semi-finalist Bunting took the third set 3-1, before landing a 124 checkout on his way to wrapping up victory in the set four.

Veteran Mervyn King held off a comeback from Danny Baggish to earn a 3-2 victory in a thrilling contest.

Last year’s quarter-finalist King won deciding legs in the opening two sets to open up a 2-0 lead, only for Baggish to fight back to win back-to-back sets and force a decider.

The American took the opening leg of the final set, before King won the next three – each in 15 darts or fewer – to book his place in the third round.

“I’m just pleased to get through, it’s nice to get over the line even though I felt I made it a lot harder than it should have been,” said King.

“I could have won it in three or four sets, but to win it in five is fine.

“My whole year has been terrible to be honest – I’ve been trying so hard and getting nowhere, but now I have the chance to put that right with a run here.”

Thursday will see a double session of second-round action take place, as Dirk van Duijvenbode begins his campaign against Karel Sedlacek in the afternoon.

The evening session will see two-time World Champion Gary Anderson take on Madars Razma, with James Wade and Luke Humphries also among the players in action.

The Cazoo World Darts Championship is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK & Ireland, through the PDC’s worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers).

Click here for match stats and results.

2022/23 Cazoo World Darts Championship
Wednesday December 21
Afternoon Session
2x First Round, 2x Second Round
Darius Labanauskas 3-2 John O’Shea (2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1) (R1)
Martijn Kleermaker 3-0 Xicheng Han (3-0, 3-1, 3-1) (R1)
Josh Rock 3-0 Callan Rydz (3-2, 3-1, 3-1) (R2)
Dave Chisnall 3-1 Andrew Gilding (0-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2) (R2)

Evening Session
4x Second Round
Mervyn King 3-2 Danny Baggish (3-2, 3-2, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1) (R2)
Gabriel Clemens 3-0 William O‘Connor (3-2, 3-2, 3-0) (R2)
Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Lewy Williams (3-1, 3-0, 3-0) (R2)
Stephen Bunting 3-1 Leonard Gates (2-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-1) (R2)

Thursday December 22
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
4x Second Round
Krzysztof Ratajski v Danny Jansen (R2)
Ryan Searle v Adam Gawlas (R2)
Mensur Suljovic v Mike De Decker (R2)
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Karel Sedlacek (R2)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
4x Second Round
Gary Anderson v Madars Razma (R2)
James Wade v Jim Williams (R2)
Luke Humphries v Florian Hempel (R2)
Vincent van der Voort v Cameron Menzies (R2)