Ricardo Pietreczko shows showman 'Shaggy' the door and reaches PDC World Darts Championship last 16 for first time in his career

Ricardo Pietreczko has broken new ground at the PDC World Darts Championship to reach the last 16 folloqing a stunning 4-1 victory of last year's losing semi-finalist Scott Williams at the Ally Pally. 

Something about the Ally Pally stage really brings out the best in Scott Williams and as a split crowd traded German and English songs in support of the two players, the showman thrived in the exceptional atmosphere in the early exchanges. Pietreczko though, had started strongly himself and despite trailing 2-1 in the set, 'Pikachu' turned things around and moved 1-0 up.

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Going a set down wouldn't have been a big concern for 'Shaggy' though, given that he'd suffered similar early setbacks in each of his first two games at this World Darts Championship and as such, Williams started set 2 strongly with a solid hold of throw. Much the opening set though, Williams couldn't capitalise on his bright start to set 2 and Pietreczko, upping his match average to over 97, rolled off the next three legs without reply to go into a 2-0 advantage.

Despite the German seemingly being in full control after doubling his lead, it was 'Shaggy' who came out firing in set 3, breaking the throw in the opener with an 83 checkout and then holding strongly in the next leg to make it 2-0 in the set. After Williams then missed two darts for the set in the following leg though, Pietreczko punished to hold throw. 'Pikachu' couldn't pressure the Williams throw in leg 4 though, and the Englishman made no mistake this time, halving his deficit at 2-1.

Just as set 3 had been all about Williams, set 4 was all about Pietreczko. Quickly brushing off the disappointment of the previous set, the German averaged around 118 in set 4 to storm through it in three successive legs and restore his set two set advantage in style. 

Perhaps looking to prove himself as a bit of a showman, Pietreczko attempted to go for three double tops when requiring 120 in the opening leg of set 5. Although he only got the first of the three required, he returned to seal the leg next visit. With a break of throw in the next leg, 'Pikachu' was suddenly just one leg from the victory. Williams kept himself alive though with a break of throw of his own in the next leg and then held to force a decider to the set. It was the German who had the darts in the fifth leg though, and that eventually proved telling as Pietreczko sealed victory in style with a 121 checkout. 

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