Alexandra Palace has witnessed many tremors over the years, but on this night the foundations truly shook. A former World Champion was swept aside, a prodigy marched on without mercy, and the script of this championship tore itself up once more.
The headline earthquake came courtesy of Gerwyn Price, who crashed out in straight sets to Wesley Plaisier – a result that rippled through the Palace corridors long after the final dart had landed. And it came on the very same evening that Luke Littler advanced with all the serenity of a man refusing to entertain chaos.
Plaisier is no unknown quantity. A PDC Players Championship winner. A scorer of menace. A man capable of detonating at any moment. But still, precious few gave him a realistic chance against the decorated Welshman.
The opening set seemed to reinforce that logic – Price averaged higher, imposed himself early – yet when the dust settled, it was the Dutchman who had stolen it.Ten minutes later, disbelief hardened into shock.
Plaisier doubled his lead, suddenly standing on the brink of something historic. The Iceman, now fully aware of the danger, responded as champions do – upping the tempo, flexing the scoring muscle, dragging every ounce of experience from his arsenal. But this was not to be a rescue mission. The deciding leg of the third set went the way of the Dutchman, sealing a victory that will echo long after this tournament has ended. A straight-sets dismissal. A former champion gone. And a date in round three for Plaisier against Krzysztof Ratajski.
With one colossal threat removed from the landscape, Luke Littler was having none of the nonsense. Against David Davies, The Nuke applied ruthless order to potential disorder. Davies arrived buoyed by back-to-back upsets and the confidence of a man enjoying the year of his life, having fought his way through the Wigan gauntlet and dethroned Lakeside champion Shane McGuirk to reach this stage.
On paper, Littler wins. On evidence, Littler ensured there would be no debate. Davies had his chances. He really did. Missed doubles denied him the opening set and, against the world number one, such waste is fatal.
After the break, Littler returned fully calibrated, surging into a 2–0 lead with his trademark blend of brutality and precision. The Welshman snatched a leg, fought gamely, but Littler was flawless on the outer ring.
Not long after, it was done. Nine legs to four. Three sets to nil. Davies departs with pride intact, Littler marches on, refusing to flirt with danger.
The session had begun with a lesson in how set play can sometimes flatter. Martin Schindler whitewashed Keane Barry, yet every set went the distance. Three sets. Three deciding legs. Clinical, ruthless timing from The Wall. Purists will argue that those legs are the only ones that matter – and they would be right.
The numbers underline it. Schindler created twice as many chances on the doubles. His conversion rate was lower, but volume told the story. Pressure applied, pressure sustained, victory secured.
And then, to bring the curtain down on Sunday evening, a compelling duel between the number ones of Australia and Switzerland. Experience versus emergence. Damon Heta against Stefan Bellmont, the Challenge Tour winner destined for the main circuit next season. The opening set was surreal. Heta, usually so assured, laboured to an average barely scraping past 70. Bellmont seized it gratefully.
After the break, the question was simple – would the real Damon Heta please stand up? He did. And how. A majestic 111.35 average levelled the contest in emphatic style. But just as quickly, the Aussie retreated, allowing Bellmont to edge ahead once more.
A scrappy fourth set went Heta’s way, dragging the match into a decider where doubt was finally extinguished. Set five belonged entirely to Heta. Ton-plus average. Authority restored. Passage booked. Awaiting him in round three is former World Champion Rob Cross.
Giants have fallen. Pretenders have risen. And the World Championship, brutal and beautiful in equal measure, continues to remind everyone that reputation buys you nothing once the darts are in the hand.
SUNDAY 21st DECEMBER – Evening Session
Martin Shchindler 3-0 Keane Barry
Gerwyn Price 0-3 Wesley Plaisier
Luke Littler 3-0 David Davies
Damon Heta 3-2 Stefan Bellmont
—–Ends—–
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