Gurney the latest seed to fall as Lewis marches on
Fifth seed Daryl Gurney became the latest big name to be dumped out of the PDC World Darts Championship as Jamie Lewis evoked memories of 2017.
Lewis went all the way to the semi last year, despite being a qualifier, but has enjoyed limited success since.
Gurney has become one of the sport’s leading names and few thought the Northern Irishman would follow the likes of Peter Wright, Mensur Suljovic and Gerwyn Price in going home before Christmas.
But that was how it turned out in their third-round clash. Lewis let a 3-1 lead slip and found himself 2-0 down in the deciding set, but the Welshman dug deep to win in a tie-break.
Lewis edged the first set 3-2 before racing through set two 3-0, hitting an 11-darter in the first leg.
A 78 finish helped Gurney win the third set in five legs but, after the Northern Irishman missed four darts to level set four, Lewis landed double 16 to move within a set of victory.
Gurney then enjoyed a purple patch, which he kicked off with a 160 checkout, that saw him win eight of the next nine legs to put him 2-0 up in the deciding set.
Hoewver, he missed a dart at double 16 to win before Lewis embarked on a remarkable comeback.
Lewis used just 58 darts to win the four legs he needed to secure an incredible victory.
Earlier, another seed, the 25th-ranked Alan Norris was knocked out by Ryan Joyce, a man travelling a path similar to Lewis a year ago.
Joyce beat Simon Whitlock in the last round and came from 2-0 down to beat Norris 4-3.
Norris raced through the first set, winning three consecutive legs with an average of 115 and taking out 152 in a superb start to the contest.
Joyce took out 86 to win his first leg before 15, 16 and 19 dart legs saw Norris double his lead in sets.
Norris came from 2-0 behind to force a decider in set three but Joyce took out 68 to edge it.
An 87 checkout set Joyce on his way to winning the fourth set as he levelled up the match.
The fifth set also went all the way and Joyce moved in front when he landed tops after Norris had hit a 180 to leave double three.
Norris edged the sixth set to force a decider before Joyce won the final set to progress.
There was no such drama for Dave Chisnall, though, a 4-0 winner over Kim Huybrechts.
Chisnall bossed his third round meeting with the Belgian from start to finish.