PDC World Darts Championship Round-up | Former world champions Van Gerwen and Anderson impress enroute to victory while Hood defies Noppert in thriller

In an exhilarating night of action at the PDC World Darts Championship, Michael van Gerwen put to bed the prior struggles he had on the Ally Pally stage after defeating William O’Connor 3-1.

It was The Magpie who was in control of the first set. He raced ahead and looked like he would clinch the advantage. However, van Gerwen fought back. A set dart was missed on double 18 for a 113 checkout as the Dutchman made him pay. O’Connor had left double eight after nine but never had a dart at it as van Gerwen forced a final leg decider. He then took out 89 in two to against the odds clinch the first set.

O’Connor’s early flourishes was a distant memory as van Gerwen stamped his authority on the Ally Pally stage. He began with a 13-darter before O’Connor almost took out 148. He needed to as Mighty Mike broke his throw. He then sealed the set with a clinical 11-darter as he raced to the finish line.

An eye problem was holding back the Irishman before, but he had overcome it to get a set on the board. He took out 70 in two before missing darts to break. This would not end up being a damaging factor as he took out 40 to get his first set on the board.

He would not win another leg in this contest. A ruthless Green Machine took out consecutive checkouts of 121 and 127 to edge away from his tricky opponent. He got the job done on double eight for a convincing victory, making things right after a scare in the first round.

Gary Anderson was back to his best after averaging over 105 in a 3-1 win over Connor Scutt. It was Scutt started better by taking out 78 in three. He broke in the next leg but it was messy from both player with them busting their scores with low attempts straggling into lower doubles. The Flying Scotsman broke back but came sailing down after two squandered attempts at tops allowed Scutt to return to take out 75 for the first set.

The two-time world champion replied in emphatic fashion. He went ahead before a 13-darter from Scutt kept him in it. Anderson replied with a 11-darter by taking out 88 with no faff. He wrapped up the set after missed doubles from Scutt opened the door for him to get back into this second round contest.

Anderson was flying. The quality darts continued throughout from both darters but there were signs of the vintage Anderson. He took out 88 for the second time in the match to break before taking the set while averaging 113 in it. He continued to motor away from his English opponent as he won a fourth leg on the spin. Scutt managed to stick with Anderson and looked like he was going to break after finding six perfect darts. However, after leaving 54 after nine, he was afforded just two darts at a double with his misses allowing Anderson to put in a 12-darter to move within one. He missed a match dart on the bull before getting it right in the next leg to move through.

Danny Noppert and Justin Hood played out one of the matches of the tournament. After a lot of drama, Hood just managed to get over the line in a 3-2 victory to knockout the world number six. The pair both started well, beginning with 15-dart hold of throws. They continued to look imperious on their throw as Noppert found double 10 with his last dart to force a last-leg decider. It was Happy Feet who continued the trend, pinning double 16 for a 14-darter and the first set.

The quality from Hood continued into the next leg, breaking the Dutchman’s throw to go 2-0 ahead. The Freeze was in a slight bit of bother and needed to win all three legs to clinch the set. He got one of them but could only watch Hood raise the crowd’s excitement with seven perfect darts. He could not go any further and eventually took out 52 after busting it to put Noppert firmly under the cosh.

Noppert’s frustration started to seep through. He was averaging a ton but was on the end of a stunning showing from Hood. It could have been that if Hood found the bull for a 167 outshot but just missed the red dot. Noppert brilliantly took out 102 for the set and was a man on a mission to claw his way level. He followed it by taking out 80 in two, but his clinical finishing spell would falter slightly. A composed dart at double five edged him 2-1 ahead in the fourth set. After the Englishman failed to get a dart from 70, Noppert ruthlessly made him pay by nailing tops and levelling up the tie.

What would follow was a stunning display of finishing and composure from both players. Noppert made it 1-1 with a 126 checkout before two 170’s was missed in consecutive legs on the bull by Hood. He was almost punished on the second one after Noppert missed double 10 for a 128 checkout and the match. Hood wins the leg before the one following as he moves within one of the match. After missing a match dart, Noppert took out 157 to save his skin. Two legs later another match dart comes and goes with the Dutchman taking out 134 to prolong the match. Hood followed with a 156 before a 127 on the bull from Noppert forced a final leg. It would be the debutant who took out 78 in tops to win an instant thriller. Both players averaged over a ton and produced some world class darts, but Hood will be the one returning after Christmas.

Josh Rock finished the second round action at the World Championship with a comfortable 3-0 win over Joe Comito. Both players missed ton+ finishes to commence proceedings, but Rock came back first to finish the leg off. The Aussie got the first one on the board in the next leg after taking out 120 on double 10. He almost repeated the feat, this time for a 108 outshot but narrowly missed double 16 with Rock waiting on tops. Rocky was on the same target to take the advantage.

He began the second leg in ominous fashion, finding a 177 before nailing double 18 for a 13-darter to break. Comito should have had a chance of his own to break from 78 but made a hash of it with the World Cup champion cleaning up. He then waltzed his way to claiming the third set, targeting a return after Christmas.

The Northern Irishman was breezing towards the next round. He snuck ahead in the third leg before missing darts to break. Comito capitalised on this by taking out 110 before Rock banged in a 100 checkout in two without any hesitation. He almost finished in style with a 116 checkout but was forced to double five to culminate a professional showing on the Ally Pally stage.