World Darts Championship: Ricky Evans stuns Dave Chisnall as Rob Cross dumped out at Alexandra Palace

Dave Chisnall crashed out of the World Darts Championship after struggling a dramatic final-leg loss to Ricky Evans, whereas former world champion Rob Cross was additionally dumped out in a exceptional session at Alexandra Palace.

Chisnall received the opening set of a topsy-turvy contest however wanted to recuperate from going 2-1 down to increase their epic conflict to a closing set, the place each gamers survived match darts to take it into additional legs.

Evans fired a 110 checkout on his strategy to edging again forward and noticed Chisnall recuperate from a surprising miscount on a ton-plus end to carry throw, with ‘Speedy Ricky’ then claiming the ultimate leg of the match to ship one other seed heading for an early exit.

An epic pre-Christmas session noticed Daryl Gurney come by a final-set decider towards Florian Hempel and world youth champion Gian Van Veen knocked out by Ricardo Pietreczko, earlier than Cross was crushed 3-1 by Scott Williams within the final match of the night.

Cross’ early exit made him the 14th seed to be knocked out of the second spherical, a brand new file for this stage of the competitors, with Williams – crushed by eventual champion Luke Humphries in final yr’s semi-finals – the final to safe their spot within the final 32.

Early Christmas basic in unimaginable session

Evans introduced the festive cheer together with his Christmas-themed t-shirt and Shakin Stevens walk-on observe, just for Chisnall to seize the early management by opening with a 12-dart break and holding throw within the subsequent.

Chisnall responded to Evans’ gorgeous 126 checkout and missed ‘Massive Fish’ try by clinching the set with a 15-darter, however squandered a set dart on D5 within the closing leg of the second to permit ‘Speedy Ricky’ to interrupt throw and degree.

Evans edged forward by sealing the third set with a 13-darter however watched Chisnall combat again with a clear sweep within the fourth, with ‘Chizzy’ having to come back from behind on three events to guide a gripping decider.

Each gamers missed match darts throughout a chaotic closing stretch, the place Evans prolonged the competition with a exceptional 110 checkout to interrupt again after which discovered a 17-dart maintain to maneuver a leg away.

Chisnall survived an premature miscounted end to search out the ‘Mad Home’ on his subsequent go to and drag the set to an eleventh and closing leg, the place Evans took out tops to nail a 52 end and spark wild celebrations.

“I’ve played a world-class darts player there, and I’ve played quite well,” Evans informed Sky Sports activities. “It’s nice to say I’ve won a game and played well – normally it’s boring! I wish I’d beaten Chizzy 3-0 because then my ticker would be beating a bit slower!”

Gurney survives scare as Cross progresses

One other upset seemed on the playing cards when Gurney went a set down towards Hempel, who was on the verge of taking the second set to a decider when the Northern Irishman fired in a 156 checkout to interrupt with a 15-darter and degree the match.

Hempel took the third set in straight legs and moved inside a leg of victory throughout a good fourth, earlier than Gurney delivered back-to-back 13-dart legs to degree the match after which break the German early within the decider.

Gurney held throw within the subsequent on his strategy to closing out a hard-fought victory, leaving him going through seventh seed Jonny Clayton within the third spherical, whereas Cross was one other big-name exit after a disappointing loss to Williams.

Cross held throw within the closing leg of the opening set earlier than Williams grabbed the second with a 14-dart maintain in one other deciding leg, with the competition additionally threatening to go the space when Cross made a 130 checkout firstly of the third set.

However Williams received the following three legs to maneuver a set forward, capitalising on some poor ending from Cross, earlier than securing victory within the subsequent set – and avenging his loss to the Englishman two years earlier – by taking out a 14-darter on tops within the closing leg.

Elsewhere, Van Veen missed eight darts to interrupt his opponent in a scrappy opening leg as Pietreczko raced by the opening set, though he responded by firing an excellent 12-dart maintain with a 127 checkout on his strategy to levelling the competition within the second.

Pietreczko moved again forward when he produced a 122 end in a 3rd set received in straight legs, then broke Van Veen with a 16-darter and held throw within the subsequent to achieve the third spherical for the second successive yr.

Clayton edges final-leg epic and Rock breezes by

Earlier, Clayton seemed to be cruising to the end line when he received six legs in a row, just for Mickey Mansell to power a deciding set after which produce staggering 136 and 154 finishes to maneuver inside a leg of victory.

The Welshman received the following two legs to increase the competition and each gamers missed match darts, taking the set to a final-leg shoot-out, the place he capitalised on having the darts to discover a method over the road.

Elsewhere, Josh Rock breezed previous Rhys Griffin 3-0, dropping simply two legs to arrange a last-32 tie with Chris Dobey, whereas the opposite two seeds in motion on Monday afternoon additionally went by.

Poland’s No 1 Krzysztof Ratajski beat Alexis Toylo 3-1 and Andrew Gilding overcame Martin Lukeman by the identical scoreline, with Ratajski now up towards Kevin Doets – who shocked former world champion Michael Smith – and Gilding up towards Nathan Aspinall.

When does the third spherical happen?

The darts returns after Christmas on December 27, with 4 consecutive days of double periods on the Alexandra Palace to go away the third and fourth rounds accomplished by December 30.

World No 1 Luke Humphries performs Nick Kenny within the night session on Friday, whereas reigning Premier League champion Luke Littler headlines Saturday evening when up towards Ian White.

Elsewhere, Michael van Gerwen faces Brendan Dolan (Saturday) and fellow former world champion Gerwyn Value entertains Joe Cullen (Friday).

The gamers have an evening off on New 12 months’s Eve forward of the quarter-finals held throughout two periods on New 12 months’s Day, with the semi-finals on January 2 and the ultimate on Friday January 3.

The complete day-by-day schedule for this yr’s match will be discovered right here.

Who will win the Paddy Energy World Darts Championship? Watch each match solely dwell till January 3 on Sky Sports activities’ devoted darts channel. Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW