Jose de Sousa is through to the Last 16 at the
UK Open for the first time after seeing off Michael Smith in a 10-9 victory.
It was a scrappy victory which saw both players garner momentum at times in the tie but it was 'The Special One' who narrowly won through.
It was one way traffic for De Sousa to begin the tie with 'The Special One' heading into a 4-1 lead at the first interval leaving Smith with a lot of work to do.
He continued to punish mistakes from Smith with 'Bully Boy' missing a dart at double five for an 89 checkout.
De Sousa returned to break and go 5-1 up and consolidated that with a hold to make it 6-1 but this is where the tie began to get interesting.
A missed dart at double 20 from 72 saw Smith return and break and go 6-3 down. He followed that up with a hold to make it 6-4 at the next interval.
De Sousa couldn't pin 64 to hold but returned to the board after Smith messed up on the same checkout. He hit double four to make it 7-4 and edge closer to the finishing line.
Smith was frustrated at missing three at double 20 to hold but De Sousa couldn't pin double two and he was back for a clutch double five to hold and make it 7-5.
This saw momentum gained as he claimed a 74 checkout to break and go 7-6 behind.
He left 45 from 170 but missed two darts to hold. A 120 checkout wasn't to be for De Sousa but he returned for a 55 checkout to break back at 8-6 up.
A 12-darter in the form of a 100 checkout to make it 9-8 saw Smith back in the tie though as he brought it back again.
A 65 checkout saw him send it all the way in a befitting end to a quality tie. De Sousa had the throw though and a 180 and 56 checkout saw him edge through.
Schedule 2021 UK Open Darts
Saturday March 6 (12:30 GMT)
Fifth Round
Main Stage
Rob Cross (101.8) 7-10 (97.5) James Wade
Gerwyn Price (98.66) 10-3 (92.37) Ricky Evans
Michael Smith (90.6) 9-10 (93.2) Jose de Sousa
Michael van Gerwen v Mensur Suljovic