ROB BOWS OUT
Scots star left gutted as Gurney storms back to end his silverware dream
DEVASTATED Robert Thornton suffered another crushing 2016 blow as he crashed out of the William Hill World Championship in gut-wrenching fashion.
The Scottish star left the Alexandra Palace shellshocked and sore after being outgunned in the deciding set by Daryl Gurney.
Thornton looked poised for a place in the third round after he roared back from 2-0 down against the Northern Irishman to storm into a 3-2 lead.
However, with the match in his grasp the Ayrshire ace faltered and Gurney clinched a thrilling 4-3 victory.
After a painful return to the Premier League and a struggle in most big events this year, it was another bitter pill to swallow.
Thornton said: “I’m absolutely gutted. I got off to the worst possible start but felt I had weathered the storm. I got myself back into the match and felt it was a winning position. I had fought really hard to find my best game.
“But the match swung on one leg in the sixth set. I should have been two legs up in that set and just one leg away from winning.
“Somehow it all just unravelled after that. I can’t explain it but suddenly I’m out and it’s a really horrible feeling, especially after working so hard to get back ahead. I just can’t believe I’m out.
“Fair play to Daryl for hanging in there. He found some confidence towards the end but I can’t help feeling that I should have won it. “I also had a load of silly bounce outs, darts got stuck in another flight. Just one of those matches.
“This year has been a horrible one. I’ll be pleased to see the back of it.”
Gurney was thrilled with his comeback win after fearing the worst when Thornton staged his own revival.
He said: “For some strange reason Robert seemed to want to go 2-0 down before coming back and leading me by 3-2.
“I was just trying to tell myself not to panic when Robert came back.
“It was important to stay calm and try to play the way I had done in the first two sets.
“One of my biggest problems is getting too excited on stage.
“Your heart rate goes up and you start to get some shaking in the hand – God knows where the darts go. So I had to breathe and try not to give him free legs.
“Thankfully I pulled through.”
Gurney will meet Mark Webster tomorrow after the Welshman beat Mensur Suljovic 4-3.
Dave Chisnall stayed on course for a quarter-final with champion Gary Anderson as he beat Chris Dobey 4-2.