Two-time world champion Gary Anderson crashed out of the World Darts Championship after a shock second-round loss to Jeffrey de Graaf at Alexandra Palace.
Anderson struggled all through a one-sided contest in opposition to his unseeded opponent, profitable solely two legs and changing simply three out of 20 makes an attempt at double on his technique to a straight-sets defeat in opposition to De Graaf.
De Graaf breezed by means of the primary two units and broke Anderson once more within the subsequent, wrapping up a well-known win to guide a third-round assembly with Paolo Nebrida after Christmas.
Anderson’s birthday to neglect was the primary time he had misplaced his opening match in 16 World Championship appearances, on an evening the place fellow seeds Ross Smith and Martin Schindler have been additionally knocked out.
How Anderson suffered early exit
Anderson was one of many names anticipated to problem favourites Luke Humphries and Luke Littler for the Sid Waddell Trophy, being within the different facet of the draw to final 12 months’s finalist, however did not reside pre-tournament expectations.
De Graaf opened with an 11-dart maintain and fired in a Shanghai end for a second successive ton-plus checkout to interrupt, then responded to a surprising 121 end and 12-darter from Anderson to wrap up the opening set on D9.
De Graaf is thru to the third spherical for a second 12 months in a row
The Swede instantly broke with a 13-darter initially of the second and capitalised on six missed darts at double from the ‘Flying Scotsman’ within the subsequent to carry throw, with extra wayward ending from Anderson permitting De Graaf to shut out the set within the following leg.
A visibly annoyed Anderson ended a run of seven consecutive misplaced legs with a superb 11-darter, with the Scot dragging the third set right into a decider after responding to De Graaf profitable the third leg by claiming a 14-dart maintain of his personal.
Anderson wanted to interrupt the DeGraaf throw in a final-leg decider to increase the competition, however may solely watch on as De Graaf took out a 76 end on D18 to finish a formidable victory.
“It’s nice,” De Graaf instructed Sky Sports activities. “Gary did not present up as he normally does however I’m very proud of the win.
“I bought very nervous after the primary set and after I was 2-0 up I used to be pondering: ‘What’s going on now?’ I’m comfortable that I bought by means of in the long run. I’m comfortable to be right here and let’s maintain going.”
Seeds depart on Sunday of shocks at Ally Pally
Dimitri Van den Bergh prevented a clear sweep of seeds by brushing apart Eire’s Dylan Slevin in straight units, incomes the eleventh seed a third-round showdown with Callan Rydz.
The Belgian – who posted six most and a 96 common – fired a 117 checkout to grab the opening set then broke Slevin within the ultimate leg of the second, earlier than discovering a 13-dart maintain in one other last-leg decider to finish a formidable begin.
The well-known Ally Pally wasp returns throughout Dimitri Van den Bergh’s match with Dylan Slevin
Rydz – the participant with the very best first-round common – claimed his successive straight-sets win of the event, following his 3-0 win over Romeo Grbavac in his opener by knocking Schindler out by the identical margin.
The Englishman produced a 91.05 common and capitalised on some woeful ending from Schindler, who solely transformed three of 28 makes an attempt at double, whereas the opposite match of the night noticed Nebrida turned the primary Asian participant to achieve the third spherical since 2020.
Nebrida produced three ton-plus finishes in his 3-0 victory, the place Smith missed darts to win every of the three units, with the Filipino considered one of 11 gamers to knock out a seeded participant to date within the second spherical.
Ally Pally upset alert! Paolo Nebrida hit three massive checkouts as he beat Ross Smith
Cullen cuts brief media duties after cruising by means of
Within the afternoon session, Joe Cullen stormed out of his post-match press convention after cruising by means of to the third spherical with a straight-sets victory over Dutchman Wessel Nijman.
Joe Cullen says the media have proven him ‘no respect’, after Wessel Nijman was made the favorite of their conflict on the World Darts Championship
Cullen had gained simply three of his final 12 matches earlier than this 12 months’s Worlds however produced considered one of his efficiency of the 12 months, firing a 98.18 common to arrange a gathering with former world champion Gerwyn Worth after Christmas.
The Rockstar felt he had been disrespected within the build-up to the event, telling reporters: “I have been proven no respect, so I will not share any respect to any of you guys tonight. I will go house.”
Cullen offers a fleeting interview to Sky Sports activities Darts after posting a dominant win over Nijman
Ryan Searle opened proceedings with a formidable 3-0 victory in opposition to Matt Campbell whereas Dirk van Duijvenbode turned the most recent seed to make an early exit after Latvian Madars Razma got here from a set down to assert a 3-1 win.
Ian White additionally induced an upset after knocking out present European Championship winner Ritchie Edhouse, with a 3-1 win for ‘Diamond’ seeing him progress to play pre-tournament favorite Luke Littler within the third spherical.
Ian White says he is able to upset ‘Runcorn’s No two’, Luke Littler, in spherical three
“He [Littler] is Runcorn’s No 2 – I am from Runcorn and I am No 1!” White stated. “You wish to trigger an upset. I am all for it. Luke Littler has carried out all the pieces for this sport for the time being.”
What’s arising on day 9?
The ultimate eight second-round matches happen on Monday, with Jonny Clayton headlining the afternoon session in opposition to Mickey Mansell and former world youth champion Josh Rock up in opposition to Rhys Griffin.
Krzysztof Ratajski face Alexis Toylo within the opening match of the day and former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding opens his event in opposition to Martin Lukeman, whereas Dave Chisnall and former world champion Rob Cross are each concerned within the night session.
Chisnall performs Ricky Evans and Cross takes on Scott Williams, following on from Gian van Veen going up in opposition to Ricardo Pietreczko and Daryl Gurney enjoying Florian Hempel.
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