Price begins World Grand Prix title defence with emphatic win over Smith, Searle surges past Van den Bergh in thriller

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Sunday, 03 October 2021 at 23:50
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Gerwyn Price and Ryan Searle are the last two players of the opening session at the 2021 World Grand Prix in Leicester to move through to the second round in two brilliant ties.

Price kicked off his title defence with an emphatic win over Michael Smith winning 2-0 with a 100.8 average and will now face Mervyn King.

Price lost the opening leg but returned to break with a 116 checkout followed by double 10 after missing a shot at 105 to go 2-1 up and one away from the opening set.

The set was there with a 70 checkout to break and seal it 3-1. It was level to begin the second set with Price and Smith holding throw with the latter holding throw to go 2-1 up. 

Price missed a 42 checkout to make it 2-2 but Smith couldn't pin a 105 checkout, this allowed 'The Iceman' to make it 2-2.

A brilliant set up left 32 from 148 for Smith for the set with Price waiting on 81 and 'Bully Boy' missed three for the set which allowed the World Number One to claim the match.

While it was two thrillers on the bounce as Searle survived four missed match darts against Dimitri van den Bergh to win 2-1 in a decider to claim his spot in the Last 16.g

After losing the opening leg, Searle produced a brilliant salvo hitting a 160 start and 180 before levelling up.

Van den Bergh went 2-1 up but it went to type in terms of holding throw as Searle produced a 17 dart 80 checkout to make it 2-2. 'Heavy Metal' produced a brilliant 150 checkout on double 18 to win the opening set which left Van den Bergh dumfounded on stage.

Searle dropped low on double 20 on a 117 checkout but Van den Bergh couldn't get a shot at 104. 'Heavy Metal' though missed three more and Van den Bergh broke on double four.

A 65 checkout was missed from Van den Bergh and Searle was given the chance to break straight back which he took. But 'The Dreammaker' forced a final set from there where he had the throw.

Both players pinned 180's to start the deciding set but it was Van den Bergh who hit first with a hold.

A 171 set up left 16 for Van den Bergh but a 100 checkout saw Searle make it 1-1.

Searle started Van den Bergh's throw with a 160 and he was first down to a finish missing 116 on double 20 only to return with Van den Bergh back on 190 to make it 2-1.

Searle had the throw to win and hit 138 to set up 106 with Van den Bergh way back. He did make a dent in it with a 180 but this only left 190 for The Dreammaker.

As a result, he was back for 48 but with Van den Bergh on 50, he pounced on the miss for the match to hit double eight to force a decider.

Searle got off better but not getting on a finish, a 180 from Van den Bergh left 104 but he had his turn to miss match darts.

'Heavy Metal' again missed this time a 120 which handed it back to Van den Bergh who missed again three at double eight. Double 10 was pinned by Searle finally for the win.

𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗠𝗜𝗧𝗛! ❄️ The reigning champion is through to round two after a sensational 2-0 victory over Michael Smith, averaging over 100 in the process! 📺 𝙇𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙪𝙥 👉 Dimitri Van den Bergh v Ryan Searle

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