Brendan Dolan, Daryl Gurney and Steve Lennon are still going but we waved goodbye to a steely, Irish competitor.
William O’Connor and Chris Dobey threw several kitchen sinks at each other, during a thrilling Last 64 clash at the PDC World Championships, but it was the local favourite that was left standing.
O’Connor and Dobey combined for 17 maximums of 180 in a closely contested battle that ended with the Englishman closing it out for a 3-2 victory. O’Connor’s three-dart average was a magnificent 97 but Dobey had the edge, averaging 103.79.
It was a breathless back-and-forth [as close to breathless as you can get in darts!] but Dobey held his nerve after a comeback from the Limerick native. As Dobey closed out an early rounds classic at the Ally Pally, the Sky Sports commentator declared:
“William O’Connor has played a wonderful part here. It’s been a real honour to commentate on this game.”
Dobey skirted the rim on his first two check-out attempts before nailing double tops and sighing a huge sigh of relief. “He comes through the test,” the commentator added. “What a performance from Dobey, perhaps his best ever at the world championships.”
DOBEY WINS A THRILLER!
A stunning performance from Chris Dobey who averages 103.09 in a 3-2 win over William O'Connor!
📺 https://t.co/f3RU9WTIoD#WCDarts | R2 pic.twitter.com/SiD0ukb7Kz
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 22, 2023
As William O’Connor departs, Brendan Dolan marches on
Steve Lennon will face off against Jonny Clayton in his Last 64 match before the world championships take a Christmas break.
Fermanagh’s Brendan Dolan goes into that break knowing he will take on 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price. Dolan defeated Mickey Mansell 3-2 while Price disposed of Conor Scutt 3-0.
Price is somewhat of a pantomime villain to the Alexandra Palace crowd, but Dolan said the Welshman has never looked to throw him off his game. “He’s fiery, but he’s only fiery when he’s throwing,” said Dolan. “He’s never tried to put me off”
Daryl Gurney, from Derry, takes on veteran Steve Beaton in his Last 64 match-up.
Read more:
- World Darts Championship: All the drama, updates, analysis and finishes
- “I can’t speak. I CAN’T SPEAK!” – MVG and Bully Boy produce the greatest leg in darts history
- “Not sure I will ever play in this event again” – Gerwyn Price and his headphones knocked out of World Championships
- Can you name the darts player from their photo?
- Sky Sports apologise to viewers following Gerwyn Price gesture
- “One of the most incredible things I’ve ever seen” – Michael van Gerwen booed then stunned in stunning dart sequence
- Michael van Gerwen cuts across Michael Smith in moment of supreme sportsmanship during darts championship
