Gerwyn Price survives incredulous comeback from Joe Cullen in PDC World Darts Championship sudden death tie-break classic

Gerwyn Price will face his World Cup partner and close friend Jonny Clayton in the Last 16 of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship after a remarkable sudden death classic on the Ally Pally stage against Joe Cullen.

Price was 3-0 up and like many of the games today, the scoreline means nothing as Cullen made it 3-3 and through a myriad of breaks of throw, it went all the way to sudden death via an incredible 170 checkout from Cullen.

But it is more big stage heartbreak for 'The Rockstar' as Price seals one of the biggest wins of his career amongst the cauldron of pressure that is the Alexandra Palace.

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It was a high quality start to the tie which saw Price edge the opening set in a deciding leg. He hit double one with his last dart having hit three 180's in the opening five leg burst.

He confounded that with a 2-0 sets lead. He took out 82 in the decider to double his lead again with five 180's and was averaging 102.5. For a player who typically starts slow, he wasn't wasting no time as he looked to make quick work of it.

He powered in a seventh 180 as he sealed it 3-1 to go further in front. But this is where trouble came. He missed two darts at doubles to break throw and force a decider and Cullen got one back to make it 3-1.

At the end of the fifth set, it was missed doubles aplenty as Cullen again took his chances in the end as he pinned double two to continue the fightback and made it 3-2. From the canvas to the ascendancy, Cullen was on the ropes and pounced again on missed darts to seal the set with the crowd singing his name and he was throwing for the win suddenly at 3-3 in sets.

Price started with a 140 checkout 12-dart break but it meant nothing as missed darts again saw Cullen make it 1-1 and he was throwing to go one away. He pinned double 10 for 2-1.

Price skewed a dart on double 20 from 70 and Cullen missed 130 on double five for the match. Price was suddenly throwing for a tie-break and he made a huge roar.

Cullen had two darts at double 18 but clanged one of the single 18 barrel. Both missed darts at double and Price broke for 3-2 and was throwing for the win suddenly.

Price missed double 20 for the match off 116 and Cullen had 82 to stay in it and pinned it using bull and double 16 for 3-3. Cullen missed 87 on double five to hold and Price finally hit double 20 to throw for it again at 4-3. Cullen wouldn't quit as he made it 4-4.

He missed 72 twice on double six and Price hit double 20 again to break to make it 5-4. A hold or sudden death from there. Price missed two more match darts and Cullen hit 170 to make it 5-5. A 134 left 45 for Price as it was all going wrong for Cullen in sudden death and finally Price won it.

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