Richardson survives scare from Suzuki in World Championship thriller

The atmosphere was electrifying in the Alexandra Palace as the crowd rose to 'The Miracle' but Richardson showed true bottle to stave off the fightback and the crowd who were on his back throughout.

Suzuki came so close to making history; but will have her head held high after another incredible performance on a PDC stage.

Richardson began proceedings with a 180 on his way to winning the first leg; but Suzuki levelled up at one a piece. Suzuki produced some brilliant darts on her way to a 151 finish.

'Ruthless' broke back with an 87 finish; he watched on as Suzuki had multiple darts to win the set but she couldn't produce the winning double and this allowed him to hit a double 20 which initially was blocked off view.

Richardson took a break of throw to start the next set; with a 60 checkout as he was sitting at 4/5 on the doubles. He was on the verge of a two set lead from there; holding his throw successfully.

Suzuki in the following set heaped the pressure on Richardson with a 140 but narrowly missed the bull to hold throw and the Rushden ace hit a 45 finish to go two sets up.

When he returned, he soon powered towards the finishing line and looked as his nickname suggests Ruthless.

Suzuki though saved the match with a 61 checkout to break the throw which handed the impetus back to Richardson. 'Miracle' hit her first 180 and missed double 20 for a 118 checkout but Richardson couldn't finish the match off and this allowed Suzuki to hold throw and send the set into a decider.

He missed an 86 checkout on the bull to win and Suzuki won the set to keep it alive. She started the next set in similar fashion hitting a 80 checkout to hold throw as she gained the momentum.

Suzuki took out 106 to double her lead but despite that, Richardson halved the deficit; but this was proved null and void as Suzuki secured the fourth set.

She moved ahead for the first time as Richardson started to buckle under the pressure; but he started to find his bottle as Suzuki saw the finishing line and he went one away.

A clinical 101 checkout force a deciding leg at 2-2; but Richardson produced brilliance to defeat the Ladies World Champion in an excellent decider.

Click here for more information on the PDC World Championship, which takes place at the Alexandra Palace between December 13 and January 1.

Arron Monk (82.56) 0-3 (88.64) Jose Justicia (R1)
Andy Boulton (85.12) 2-3 (84.94) Danny Baggish (R1)
James Richardson (85.78) 3-2 (84.91) Mikuru Suzuki (R1)
Michael Smith vs Luke Woodhouse (R2)

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