Day Six at Ally Pally: Title Warnings, Tight Battles & Big Moments
Price Fires Title Warning as Big Names Deliver on Tuesday
Day Six of the Paddy Power World Darts Championship delivered authority, resilience and a clear statement of intent led by Gerwyn Price firing an early title warning at Alexandra Palace. From a demanding afternoon session to an evening packed with precision and surprises, the world’s biggest stage once again delivered.
Afternoon session
Authority, Survival & Breakthrough Moments
The afternoon session saw a blend of heavy favourites asserting control and emerging stories beginning to unfold, played out in front of a full-voiced crowd featuring a few familiar faces.
Alan Soutar 3–2 Teemu Harju
The afternoon session began with a marathon contest that tested both players’ resolve. Alan Soutar raced into a two-set lead with an average approaching 108, before Finland’s Teemu Harju mounted a stirring comeback. Despite missing 15 match darts, Soutar held firm to edge through a dramatic decider, with Harju also spurning four match darts of his own.
Justin Hood 3–0 Nick Kenny
On his Alexandra Palace debut, Justin Hood delivered a composed and powerful performance. Averaging 99.59 and hitting five 180s, Hood dominated proceedings to book his place in round two with a straight-sets victory.
Scott Williams 3–0 Paolo Nebrida
Scott Williams closed the night with a clinical display, averaging north of 99 and missing just five darts at double. A sublime double-double 92 checkout capped another polished Ally Pally performance from the 2023/24 semi-finalist.
Chris Dobey 3–1 Xiaochen Zong
Chris Dobey overcame a mid-match slump to progress. While not at his fluent best, Dobey found his rhythm when it mattered most, sealing victory with an 11-darter to set up a second-round meeting with Andrew Gilding.
Key Session Insights
Number of 180’s scored in this session - 37
Highest outshot of the session – 130 (Alan Soutar)
Highest 3 dart average - 99.59 (Justin Hood)
Evening Session
Price Lays Down the Gauntlet
The evening belonged to proven contenders, led by a dominant display from a former champion.
Ricardo Pietreczko 3–1 Jose de Sousa
German number two Pietreczko recorded his third consecutive opening-round World Championship win, defying six maximums from De Sousa to progress. The result confirms De Sousa’s return to Qualifying School in January in a bid to regain his Tour Card.
Danny Noppert 3–1 Jurjen van der Velde
Dutch number two Danny Noppert was made to work for his victory, with little separating the two players for almost three sets. Jurjen van der Velde arrived prepared for everything (including the Ally Pally wasps) but crucial finishes of 88 and 135 proved decisive, before Noppert produced a blistering 110 average in the fourth set to close out the contest.
Gerwyn Price 3–0 Adam Gawlas
Gerwyn Price opened his campaign with authority, tearing through Adam Gawlas in straight sets. Two 120 finishes and a 96 average underlined a performance built on intent rather than comfort.
“I believe I’m going to win this tournament,” Price said. And on this showing, he looks ready to back it up.
Joe Comito 3–1 Niko Springer
Australia’s Joe Comito produced one of the standout results of the tournament so far. Capitalising on missed opportunities from Niko Springer, Comito remained clinical at key moments to secure a landmark World Championship win.
Key Session Insights
Number of 180’s scored in this session - 31
Highest outshot of the session – 155 (Joe Comito)
Highest 3 dart average - 96.62 (Danny Noppert)
Attention now turns to Wednesday evening, where four-time semi-finalist James Wade begins his latest bid for a first world title. German number one Martin Schindler also enters the tournament, while Raymond van Barneveld launches his record-equalling 33rd World Championship campaign.
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