Dave Chisnall is through to the Quarter-Finals of the 2020/21 PDC
World Darts Championship in the last game of darts this year after surviving a fightback from Dimitri van den Bergh.
Chisnall went 3-0 up but from there was embroiled with a tense battle with the World Matchplay champion which he edged through in the end. He hit seven 180's to 12 from Van den Bergh with 50% on the doubles and a high checkout of 144.
The St Helens ace averaged 101 to Van den Bergh's 102 and now he will face off against Michael van Gerwen who is a familiar foe for Chisnall but one who he will have to be at his best to beat.
Chisnall hit the front to begin the tie smashing in a
brilliant 144 checkout to punish Van den Bergh’s missed doubles to take the
first set 3-1 with a 107 average.
The St Helens ace piled in a 180 to begin Van den Bergh’s
throw but the Belgian pinned 92 for a 12-dart leg. A 53 checkout though saw
Chisnall level it up at 1-1.
A 106 checkout saw Chisnall go 2-1 up with a break and on the
verge of a two set lead. Chisnall made a mistake on 100 going into the one but
Van den Bergh missed two to send it all the way and the St Helens ace made no
mistake on double 18 to make it 2-0.
Chisnall finished on double four to begin the third to go
ahead. Van den Bergh fired himself up with a 180 to begin his throw and he hit
another from there but pinned 44 to make it 1-1.
He followed that up with an 82 checkout for a break to make
it 2-1. A 52 checkout saw Chisnall break back though as he had throw to
potentially go 3-0 up.
A 134 from Chisnall to leave 60 made Van den Bergh need 161
for the set but he missed bull. As a result,
Chisnall returned to the board and pinned double 20 to go one set away.
Van den Bergh pinned 44 to gain breathing space to begin the
next set in a must win for the Belgian. Van den Bergh was on 95 for a break but
despite Chisnall pressuring with a 180, the World Matchplay champion pinned it
on double 18 for a break and to go one away from a set back.
Van den Bergh pinned a ninth 180 and hit a 72 checkout to
claim a set back. He continued his revival with a 121 checkout on the bull.
A 180 followed by double 20 saw Chisnall claim a break back.
A hold would send him to the brink but he missed double 20 for a 120 to go one
away.
Van den Bergh took advantage to make it 2-1. It was a tense
leg for both. Chisnall left himself 72 but he missed double 20. Van den Bergh
was back for double six for the set.
Van den Bergh missed six for the opening leg in the sixth set
and Chisnall came back to break after initially missing a 45 checkout himself.
Van den Bergh pinned 88 though to claim a break back with
Chisnall sat on 52. Chisnall had a shot at 72 to break again but once again had
issues on double 20.
But Van den Bergh missed three at double 12, Chisnall missed
another three and the battle continued.
The Belgian missed another three but he was back for five
and he pinned double two to go one away where he would have the throw. A
brilliant 102 checkout including bull to set up double 16 saw Chisnall finally
over the line.
2021 PDC World Darts Championship schedule
Wednesday December 30
Evening Session (18:00 GMT)
Dirk van Duijvenbode (96.75) 4-3 (90.76) Glen Durrant (1-3, 2-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2)
Gerwyn Price (97.71) 4-1 (98.15) Mervyn King (3-0, 2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-1)
Dave Chisnall (101.76) 4-2 (102.17) Dimitri van den Bergh (3-1, 3-1, 3-2, 0-3, 1-3, 3-1)