By Q Radio Sport
DARYL GURNEY brilliantly defeated Gary Anderson to win through to his first BetVictor World Matchplay quarter-final with a thrilling 11-9 win at the Winter Gardens on Tuesday, as Peter Wright, Mensur Suljovic and Darren Webster also enjoyed victories.
Northern Ireland's Gurney has been one of the circuit's leading performers this year, and claimed the scalp of world number two Anderson following a fine display, averaging 103 and hitting 55 percent of his attempts at a double.
GARY ANDERSON OUT!!!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 25, 2017
Gurney knocks out the number 2 seed in a simply SENSATIONAL game of darts. We LOVE the darts! 🙌🏼#BVDarts pic.twitter.com/FHAPMMu7mT
Anderson had raced into a 3-0 lead, taking out 76 and 68 in the opening two legs, but Gurney finished 104 to get off the mark and then stole the fifth leg following four misses from the Scot.
Anderson moved 4-2 up with a 12-darter which featured seven perfect darts, but Gurney responded again with a ten-darter and a 70 finish to level after eight legs.
After Anderson edged back ahead, Gurney finished 121 on the bull, an 11-darter and double four to put himself ahead for the first time at 7-5.
WATCH | Biggest win of his career? You wouldn't think it speaking to this cool customer 😎#BVDarts pic.twitter.com/xYpqDdZP1U
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 25, 2017
A 104 finish from Anderson stemmed the tide, but he was unable to find the break of throw to level again - missing double 16 for a 152 finish at one stage - as Gurney held out to seal the win by taking out 70.
"I play darts to play in games like that and I'm over the moon," said Gurney. "It was going to take a big performance to beat Gary and I know I played well.
"I'm very happy with the way I coped under the pressure. I'm glad I won that game but I'm here to win and hopefully I can do the same in the next game and progress even further.
"Everything I'm doing in practice, the dedication I'm trying to put in and trying to better myself as a dart player and not turn up and make the numbers up, it means a lot to me to beat Gary over a longer format."
Gurney will now meet Mensur Suljovic in Thursday's opening quarter-final, after the Austrian won through to the last eight for the second time in three years with an 11-6 defeat of Justin Pipe.
🎯103.25 average
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) July 25, 2017
☑️ 55% on the doubles
1️⃣8️⃣0️⃣ x 9
Some performance that from @Superchin180.#BVDarts pic.twitter.com/hDYEVSwQti
The 2016 European Championship finalist produced a fine display of finishing, setting the tone by taking out 63 and 75 to win the first two legs and 116 on his way to a 6-3 advantage.
Pipe took out 82 with a neat bullseye, double 16 combination, but three further legs from the Austrian moved him 9-4 up before he recovered from a mini-fightback to finally secure the win on double 18.
"I'm delighted and it is fantastic," said Suljovic. "I'm very happy to have beaten Justin and my finishing was super. I'm very focused and enjoying it, and I'm excited to be in the quarter-finals."
Photo Credit: Lawrence Lustig, PDC
The second round concludes on Wednesday with the remaining four matches, headlined by the high-profile clash between Phil Taylor and Raymond van Barneveld in what could be their final big-stage meeting.
Reigning champion Michael van Gerwen comes up against Simon Whitlock, former finalist Adrian Lewis plays shooting star Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall meets Alan Norris.
With Anderson having been eliminated, Wright is now the 7/2 second favourite to win the title with sponsors BetVictor behind 4/9 favourite Van Gerwen.
Gurney is a 16/1 chance to claim his first TV title, while Suljovic is 20/1 and Webster is now 80/1.