Gerwyn Price faced a stunning defeat in the second round of the World Darts Championship at the hands of Wesley Plaisier. The Welsh player was outclassed by the exceptional performance of the Dutchman at Alexandra Palace.
Prior to this match, Plaisier had never advanced beyond the second round at Alexandra Palace, but he demonstrated remarkable composure against Price, hitting nine out of 16 double attempts while Price struggled to secure only four legs throughout the game.
Plaisier maintained relentless pressure on Price, preventing the 2021 World Champion from winning even a single set. This unexpected loss for Price paves the way for Luke Littler, who was anticipated to face Price in the quarter-finals.
Price’s defeat has opened up a favorable path for the 18-year-old sensation. Notably, other seeded players like Joe Cullen (No. 32), Chris Dobey (No. 8), and Ryan Joyce (No. 24) have also been eliminated in the second round, with Price, seeded No. 9, now joining them.
Price, who was heavily favored to win comfortably, was left stunned by Plaisier’s dominance. Plaisier set the tone early in the match with a remarkable 130 checkout finishing on the bullseye.
Despite a strong performance from Price in the final set, where he averaged 106.70 and converted two out of four double attempts, Plaisier maintained his high level of play with a 97.23 average. The crowd at Ally Pally even began rooting for Price, a rare sight in the venue.
In a dramatic turn of events, Price missed crucial opportunities, allowing Plaisier to secure victory with a 53 checkout in the final set. As a result, Littler’s journey to the third round is dependent on his upcoming match against Welsh star David Davies, who is a notable figure both in the NHS and darts circles.
Looking ahead, if Littler emerges victorious, he will face Mensur Suljovic in the third round. The PDC World Darts Championship commenced on December 11, with fans able to watch all matches live exclusively through Sky’s Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle.
