Paddy Power World Darts Championship - Christmas Games Recap (Dec 23 - 30)
As the festive season unfolded, the Alexandra Palace became a battleground for the world's best darts players. The Paddy Power World Darts Championship delivered thrilling contests, dramatic comebacks, and historic moments. Here’s a detailed recap of the key matches and highlights from Days 9 to 13.
Day 9 - Monday, Dec 23:
Jonny Clayton edges Mickey Mansell in epic round-two contest at Alexandra Palace
Jonny Clayton clinched a nail-biting victory against Mickey Mansell in a sudden-death leg, securing his spot in the third round after a 73-minute marathon. Mansell started strong, taking the first set, but Clayton stormed back with a six-leg streak, including a stunning 100 checkout with a tops-tops finish. Despite Mansell's incredible 136 and 154 checkouts in the deciding set, Clayton’s three-leg burst (15, 12, and 10 darts) sealed the win.
“That was very emotional. That meant a lot to me,” reflected the world number seven, who will now play Daryl Gurney for a place in round four.
“I wouldn’t wish that pressure on my worst enemy, but I’ve got a smile on my face because I came out the winner!"
Northern Ireland’s Daryl Gurney also advanced after a comeback victory over Florian Hempel, while Josh Rock and Ricardo Pietreczko delivered standout performances to progress.
Elsewhere on Day 9:
- Scott Williams ousted former champion Rob Cross in a dominant 3-1 win.
- Ricky Evans survived a thriller against Dave Chisnall, hitting a clutch 110 checkout in the deciding set.
- Andrew Gilding defeated Martin Lukeman with six 180s to set up a clash with Nathan Aspinall.
Day 9 Highlights:
Afternoon Session:
- Krzysztof Ratajski 3-1 Alexis Toylo (3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1) (R2)
- Andrew Gilding 3-1 Martin Lukeman (3-0, 0-3, 3-2, 3-2) R2)
- Josh Rock 3-0 Rhys Griffin (3-0, 3-2, 3-0) (R2)
- Jonny Clayton 3-2 Mickey Mansell (2-3, 3-0, 3-0, 1-3, 6-5) (R2)
Evening Session:
- Ricardo Pietreczko 3-1 Gian van Veen (3-0, 1-3, 3-0, 3-1) (R2)
- Daryl Gurney 3-2 Florian Hempel (1-3, 3-1, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1) (R2)
- Ricky Evans 3-2 Dave Chisnall (1-3, 3-2, 3-1, 0-3, 6-5) (R2)
- Scott Williams 3-1 Rob Cross (2-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-2) (R2)
Day 10 - Friday, Dec 27:
Price and Clayton Set Up Clash
Gerwyn Price and Jonny Clayton secured dramatic wins to set up a fourth-round showdown. Price overcame Joe Cullen in a gripping decider, surviving a match dart and withstanding a 170 checkout. Meanwhile, Clayton edged past Daryl Gurney in another thriller, surviving seven missed darts at double from Gurney in the final leg.
Price surrendered a 3-0 lead and survived a match dart from Cullen, who landed a 170 checkout to force a deciding leg which saw Price prevail to set up a meeting with two-time Welsh World Cup winning partner Clayton.
"I'm not playing Jonny, I'm playing the board, just like I always do," said Price.
"I'll go up there and concentrate on my game, we'll shake hands after and may the best man win.
"I've got a lot more in the tank, I can play a lot better than I played tonight."
Clayton raced into a 3-0 lead against Gurney, but had to fend off a valiant fightback from the Northern Irishman who won nine of the next 11 legs to set up a thrilling finale.
However, Gurney squandered seven darts at double to force a tie-break, and Clayton kept his cool to move through to the last 16 for a third consecutive year.
"I don't make it easy for myself, I keep everyone on the edge of their seats," Clayton joked.
Luke Humphries, defending his title, breezed past Nick Kenny 4-0, while Peter Wright overcame illness to beat Jermaine Wattimena 4-2 with ten 180s.
The world number one dropped just four legs in a convincing display over Kenny, who was restricted to just seven double attempts.
"It was one of those games I didn't want to take for granted because of how well Nick played in his last game," said Humphries.
"There's so much more to give but it just wasn't coming out tonight, but I'm pleased to be through."
Elsewhere on Day 10:
- Luke Woodhouse staged a remarkable comeback to defeat nine-dart hero Damon Heta.
Day 10 Highlights:
Afternoon Session:
- Luke Woodhouse 4-3 Damon Heta (3-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0) - Damon Heta hits nine-dart finish
- Jonny Clayton 4-3 Daryl Gurney (3-2, 3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 0-3, 1-3, 3-1)
- Stephen Bunting 4-1 Madars Razma (3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 3-0, 3-2)
Evening Session:
- Gerwyn Price 4-3 Joe Cullen (3-2, 3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 1-3, 6-5)
- Peter Wright 4-2 Jermaine Wattimena (3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 3-0, 0-3, 3-1)
- Luke Humphries 4-0 Nick Kenny (3-2, 3-1, 3-1, 3-0)
Day 11 - Saturday, Dec 28:
Van Gerwen and Littler Shine
Michael van Gerwen showcased his class with a 4-2 victory over Brendan Dolan, while 17-year-old Luke Littler impressed with a 4-1 win against Ian White. Nathan Aspinall and Chris Dobey also delivered stellar performances to book their places in the last 16.
Van Gerwen insisted he had plenty more left in the tank after he continued his title bid with a battling 4-2 win over Dolan, defying a late fightback from the Northern Irish veteran in the process.
“I definitely had to battle. It wasn’t an easy game at all,” reflected Van Gerwen, who averaged 97 and fired in ten 180s on his way to victory.
“I feel good. Of course there is still a lot of work to do, but I believe in my own ability and my own opportunities."
Littler crashed in a dozen maximums and averaged almost 98 to see off Stoke-on-Trent veteran Ian White, overcoming a sluggish start to close out a hard-fought 4-1 win.
“I know I can do a lot better, but in set-play, it’s all about winning,” insisted Littler, who will face a resurgent Ryan Joyce for a place in the last eight.
“I was happy with my performance scoring-wise. My doubles need to be a bit better, but as soon as I won that first set tonight, I felt settled."
Elsewhere on Day 11:
- Ryan Joyce edged Ryan Searle in a thrilling seven-set battle.
- Nathan Aspinall maintained his title challenge with a straight-sets demolition of Andrew Gilding, converting 60% of his attempts at double to advance to the last 16 for the first time in five years.
- Chris Dobey produced a brilliant double-double finish to see off Northern Ireland’s number one Josh Rock, reeling off three consecutive sets to close out a 4-2 success
Day 11 Highlights:
Afternoon Session:
- Ryan Joyce 4-3 Ryan Searle (3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 2-3, 3-0, 2-3, 4-2)
- Ricardo Pietreczko 4-1 Scott Williams (3-2, 3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2)
- Nathan Aspinall 4-0 Andrew Gilding (3-1, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1)
Evening Session:
- Chris Dobey 4-2 Josh Rock (1-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
- Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Brendan Dolan (2-3, 3-1, 3-0, 3-0, 2-3, 3-2)
- Luke Littler 4-1 Ian White (3-2, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
Day 12 - Sunday, Dec 29:
Wright rolls back the years to defeat reigning champion Humphries
Peter Wright rolled back the years to defeat reigning champion Luke Humphries 4-1, with a remarkable 70% double success rate. Gerwyn Price also advanced, overcoming Jonny Clayton in a six-set battle.
Wright continued his bid for a third World Darts Championship crown with a remarkable 4-1 victory over world number one Humphries, converting 70% of his attempts at double to seal his spot in the quarter-finals.
The Scottish icon has endured a tumultuous 2024 season, but he was overcome by emotion after blowing the tournament wide open at London’s Alexandra Palace.
“I felt more confident playing Luke over this shorter distance,” declared Wright, who paid tribute to Humphries post-match.
“If I didn’t beat him in this round, I believe he would have retained his title, because I don’t think any other player would have got close to Luke over a longer distance.
World Champion, Gerwyn Price, fended off a spirited rally from his compatriot Jonny Clayton to complete a 4-2 victory.
The 39-year-old averaged 107 to establish an early two-set buffer, only for Clayton to reply with consecutive 121 and 141 finishes on his way to restoring parity at 2-2.
However, Price has vowed his best is yet to come after recovering from his mid-game slump to progress to his fifth World Championship quarter-final in the space of six years.
“I felt like I was playing really well in the first two sets, but I don’t know what happened after that,” reflected Price, one of three former champions left in the field.
Elsewhere on Day 12:
- Callan Rydz crushed Dimitri Van den Bergh with an average of 102.4.
- Robert Owen booked his place in the last 16 with a battling 4-2 victory over Ricky Evans, reeling off three consecutive sets to preserve his PDC Tour Card in the process.
- Swedish number one De Graaf defied a sluggish start to run out a convincing 4-1 winner against Paolo Nebrida.
- Kevin Doets launched a famous fightback to sink Poland’s number one Krzysztof Ratajski,
Day 12 Highlights:
Afternoon Session:
- Jeffrey de Graaf 4-1 Paolo Nebrida (1-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1, 3-1)
- Kevin Doets 4-3 Krzysztof Ratajski (0-3, 0-3, 3-1, 3-0, 2-3, 3-2, 3-1)
- Callan Rydz 4-0 Dimitri Van den Bergh (3-0, 3-2, 3-2, 3-0)
Evening Session:
- Third Round: Rob Owen 4-2 Ricky Evans (1-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-0)
- Fourth Round: Gerwyn Price 4-2 Jonny Clayton (3-1, 3-1, 0-3, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)
- Fourth Round: Peter Wright 4-1 Luke Humphries (3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-0)
Day 13 - Monday, Dec 30:
Van Gerwen Marches On
The final day of darting action in 2024 saw the remaining fourth round ties take place at Alexandra Palace, with Littler and Van Gerwen headlining a marathon double-session
Van Gerwen sent out a statement to his title rivals with a superb display against De Graaf, fending off a mid-game fightback from the Swedish star to triumph with a 101.98 average.
The Dutch superstar was imperious in the opening exchanges, only for De Graaf to hit back with a brilliant flurry, winning six of the next seven legs to restore parity at 2-2.
However, Van Gerwen responded in sensational style, winning the last six legs without reply to remain on course for a fourth World Championship crown.
“I think I played a really good game,” insisted Van Gerwen – who will play an in-form Rydz for a place in the last four.
Littler and Joyce’s clash stole the headlines, as the 17-year-old sensation came out on top in a seven-set epic, averaging 103 and crashing in 14 maximums to maintain his title bid.
All seven sets went against throw in a topsy-turvy affair, with Joyce overturning 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 deficits to threaten a seismic shock in the capital.
“It was a very tough game. We both played very well,” reflected Littler, who will renew his rivalry with stablemate Aspinall on New Year’s Day.
Elsewhere on Day 13:
- Stephen Bunting delivered another dominant display to book his quarter-final berth, dispatching Luke Woodhouse in straight sets to move through to a fascinating clash against a resurgent Peter Wright.
- Nathan Aspinall breezed through to the last eight with a four-set blitz of Ricardo Pietreczko, conceding just two legs on his way to a comprehensive victory.
- Callan Rydz overturned a two-set deficit to defeat Rob Owen in another dramatic affair
Day 13 Highlights:
Afternoon Session:- Chris Dobey 4-3 Kevin Doets (3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1)
- Callan Rydz 4-3 Rob Owen (1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 1-3, 3-1)
- Nathan Aspinall 4-0 Ricardo Pietreczko (3-1, 3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
- Stephen Bunting 4-0 Luke Woodhouse (3-0, 3-1, 3-1, 3-1)
- Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Jeffrey de Graaf (3-1, 3-0, 0-3, 1-3, 3-0, 3-0)
- Luke Littler 4-3 Ryan Joyce (3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 2-3, 3-1)
