World champion wobbled: Thriller Darts World Cup – Gerwyn Price only prevents the end in the last leg

Et were fantastic numbers that ended up in the statistics as witnesses to a high-class match. The third-round game between world champion Gerwyn Price and Kim Huybrechts had everything the darts sport has to offer: drama, emotions, high shots and rows of high finishes.

“It was tough in the end, but the match had everything that makes this game so special,” said Price, who appeared to be on the brink of failure several times at the Darts World Cup, but ended up with a 4 in extra time in the seventh set : 3 won.

Price had finished a leg with more than 100 points five times, his opponent three times. The Welshman threw eight 180s, his Belgian opponent even nine. Both involved the audience, pushed each other again and again and flexed their muscles in numerous poses.

It was a highly emotional up and down, garnished with 180s and other high shots. Price led 1: 0, then Huybrechts 2: 1, then the “Iceman” was 3: 2 ahead again. A head-to-head race on the edge of the 100-point throwing average.

Only in the last sentence did the quality decrease with increasing pressure. In the end, the defending champion stood at an average of 92.04 (double quota: 47.6 percent), Huybrechts at 93.6 (30.4 percent).

Per Highfinish in den Decider

Pass number seven seemed to have been decided early on. Price initially skipped two breakdarts to make it 2-0. But after the Belgian missed the double 16, the world champion made the alleged preliminary decision on the second attempt.

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Huybrechts, however, countered the loss of service directly and even made it 2-2. After Price left two options on double-20 in the extra time that began with the fifth leg, Huybrechts also wobbled and missed the big chance for another break on double-9. Price punished him 3-2.

The Belgian then officially complained to Caller Kirk Bevins about the subsequent emotional jubilation of his opponent. A questionable action, since Huybrechts had tried to use the antipathies against the number one for himself during the entire game and incited the fans several times.

“We had our nicks. Sometimes he, sometimes me ”, Price didn’t want to attach too much importance to the unfair action later. After a short discussion, things could go on on stage. First for “The Hurricane”, who held his throw, equalized to 3: 3 and again had break chances in the following leg, but this time missed on the double-10 and double-5.

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The pressure was now huge for both of them. Huybrechts at least withstood him at his throw-off and equalized again: 4: 4. Then he missed three break chances on double-20, double-10 and double-5, before Price unleashed himself again on double-20: 5: 4 for the world champion.

An unbelievable match that rightly culminated in the decider: Huybrechts checked 114 to make it 5: 5. Both were tied in the last leg, so Price was well advised to use his first attempt to advance to the round of 16: 76 points to win on double-20. The Welshman remains number one after the World Cup and will meet Dirk van Duijvenbode from the Netherlands in the next round.

The complete schedule and the tournament tree can be found here

Darts World Cup, 3rd round, results

Ross Smith (ENG) – Dirk van Duijvenbode (NED / 17) 3: 4

Michael Smith (ENG/9) – William O‘Connor (IRL) 4:2

Florian Hempel (GER) – Raymond Smith (AUS) 1: 4

James Wade (ENG / 4) – Vincent van der Voort (NED / 29) without a fight (after positive corona test van der Voorts)

Gerwyn Price (WAL / 1) – Kim Huybrechts (BEL / 32) 4: 3

Jonny Clayton (WAL/8) – Gabriel Clemens (GER/25)

Darts World Cup, 3rd round, Tuesday, December 28th

13 o’clock:

Steve Lennon (IRL) – Mervyn King (ENG/21)

Ryan Searle (ENG / 15) – Danny Noppert (NED / 18)

Joe Cullen (ENG/13) – Martijn Kleermaker (NED)

8 pm:

Rob Cross (ENG/11) – Daryl Gurney (NIL/22)

Peter Wright (SCO/2) – Damon Heta (AUS/31)

Michael van Gerwen (NED/3) – Chris Dobey (ENG/30)