Gabriel Clemens is through to the PDC World Darts Championship Last 16 after surging past Jim Williams in an Ally Pally thriller.
Clemens sealed a 4-3 win recovering from 3-2 down and surviving a match dart before producing an 85 checkout on the bull to move through where he will play Danny Noppert or Alan Soutar. He averaged 97.55 with eight 180's and high checkouts of 157 and 110.
Williams started with a 111 checkout for a break but Clemens hit back with a 72 checkout. He produced another using double 20 and double six to hold.
Clemens missed 120 for the set but Williams missed two darts for 2-2 and Clemens hit double five for the set. A 180 and double eight saw Williams lead in the second set.
He was throwing for the set and finally sealed the set only after surviving break darts. Williams hit a 42 checkout to break and go 1-0 up. Clemens though broke back on double six before pinning a 157 checkout to go one away from 2-1 in sets which he sealed on double four.
Clemens hit back-to-back 180’s and a 41 checkout to send the requisite set to a decider. A 62 checkout was missed by Clemens and Williams pinned double 16 for 2-2 in sets.
A 108 checkout saw Williams break to begin the fifth set. He hit double 18 to make it 2-0 before pinning double eight to make it 3-2 in sets.
A sixth 180 and 48 checkout saw Williams hit the front to continue a superb run. He broke on double 12 to go one away.
Williams hit a seventh 180 to leave double four but didn’t get a shot with Clemens pinning 64 for t2-1 down. A 110 checkout saw Clemens make Williams serve it out.
Clemens missed a set dart and Williams missed double six from 126 for the win and Clemens hit double eight to seal the set.
Williams leveled up at 1-1 in the deciding set. Clemens hit 81 to make it 2-1. Williams hit 130 from 170 in case Clemens couldn’t hit 85 but he did on the bull.