Dolan has Price in his sights after sealing Ulster hat-trick
BRENDAN Dolan is confident he has the festive firepower to shoot down big gun Gerwyn Price after completing a stunning Northern Ireland hat-trick at the World Championship at Alexandra Palace.
Following opening victories for Daryl Gurney and Mickey Mansell, Dolan’s 3-1 triumph over Japan’s Edward Foulkes signalled the first time three Ulstermen have won at the £2.5m showpiece event.
And the Fermanagh arrow ace’s success sets up a mouthwatering clash with No.3 seed Price — one of the tournament favourites — for a place in the last-16, with the third round set to get under way on Sunday.
Dolan had vowed to get out of the traps quickly in what was his first match — a ranking of 30th propelled the 2019 quarter-finalist straight into the second round — and he did just that, wrapping up the first set to take control early on.
But Foulkes, who had decked Mike de Decker 3-0 in the first round, hit back straight away to make it 1-1.
The qualifier — his father Paul is a Welshman who joined the US Marines and was stationed in Okinawa, his mother Keiko is a famous Japanese singer — then fluffed his lines when he missed double top to make it 2-1, allowing Dolan in to regain the lead.
Set four was one-way traffic, the Belcoo man winning three quick legs, clinching the match, and that showdown against Price, with double top.
“Gerwyn Price has had a good year and I can see why a lot of people are tipping him for the title,” said Dolan. “He has done well in the big televised tournaments. But I don’t pay too much attention to who my opponent is — I know that if I can produce my best darts I can beat anyone.
“I watched Edward Foulkes in his first match, so I could see he was a good player, but for me it’s just about concentrating on my own game,” added the 47-yearold, who is known as ‘History Maker’ for hitting the first ever double-in nine darter on his way to the 2011 World Grand Prix final in Dublin in which he was edged out by the legendary Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor.
‘Clonoe Cyclone’ Mansell, who beat New Zealand’s Haupai Puha 3-0 in the first round, will today attempt to join Dolan and Gurney in the third round when he tackles No.32 seed ‘Rapid’ Ricky Evans, with the winner set to face the great Michael van Gerwen.
Gurney, the man affectionately known as ‘Superchin’, is up against Chris Dobey in round three following the Northern Ireland No.1’s 3-2 victory over Limerick’s Willie O’connor.
It was confirmed yesterday that the remainder of the tournament — the final is on January 3 — will take place behind closed doors due to the latest Covid restrictions in London.
Around 1,000 fans had been allowed into Ally Pally on last week’s opening day before new restrictions meant the move to no crowd. And although there had been hopes that some people may be allowed in for the latter stages, that has now been ruled out with London being put into Tier 4.
Two-time winner Adrian Lewis suffered a shock early exit following defeat by American Danny Baggish in the second round.
Lewis, who claimed back-toback world titles in 2011 and 2012, paid for a slow start, missing 15 darts at doubles during the opening two sets.
Although ‘ Jackpot’ started to find his range in the third set with finishes of 84 and 127, it was only delaying the inevitable as Baggish landed a 170 checkout before completing a 3-1 victory.
The American will next take on 2020 Premier League winner Glen Durrant.
“I’m so happy. That is a special win for me,” said Baggish, who dedicated the impressive performance to his brother Harrison, who had suffered a severe stroke at home in Florida.
“That was for my brother. I’m really emotional and that’s why I let it all out.
“It has been a difficult and emotional 24 hours, but I am doing him proud.”
Elsewhere, Simon Whitlock, the 2010 runner-up, saw off Lithuania’s Darius Labanauskas in five sets.
The Australian landed 10 maximums and an average of 101.21 in his 3-2 victory.
“Darius is a fantastic player. I knew I had to play my best darts to beat him,” Whitlock said.