What a nerve start to the Darts World Cup!
Defending champion Gerwyn Price (36) has to fight Ritchie Edhouse in the second round. But the ex-rugby player refueled and won 3: 1 in the end. The biggest opponent for the World Cup favorite? The full hut in the “Ally Pally”!
Everything is just waiting for the last game on Wednesday evening: How is the reigning world champion performing?
At 11:13 p.m. Price enters the biggest stage in darts, for the first time after his World Cup triumph in front of a ghost backdrop in January. It is well known that Price polarizes with his nature. But during his walk-on, the Welshman gets a very rough reception from the fans!
Brutal boos! Price tries to smile, but then demonstratively sticks his finger in his ear. During the game the fans chant “England, England, England!” The next spike against the Welshman.
“I can’t control what other people are doing. It is like it is. I want to deal with it as well as I can, ”he said in an interview with SPORT BILD.
Is he impressed with the frustration reception? Yes. There is a mega false start against Edhouse. 0: 1 in sets! The outsider from England can hardly believe it himself and keeps waves of disapproval. Price leaves six (!) Darts on doubles.
Then Price yells into the game! He challenges the audience when he takes the lead 2-1 in the second set. He makes his famous cheer. Is he there now? After the sentence has been balanced, it even demonstratively builds up in front of the audience.
The redemption: Gerwyn Price sets up in front of the audiencePhoto: Getty Images
Every time you try to do a double, the audience boos. And it celebrates when Price goes wrong. The price problem: Edhouse also plays really well, is now at around 100 points in the average (three-point average).
But then Price shows why everyone has him on the bill at the World Cup. In the decision leg of the third movement he shows nerve strength. 130 points remainder. He hits the triple 20, the simple 20 and then goes on the bullseye. Inside! Then he flexes his biceps in front of the fans. Now he is there.
In the fourth set, Price can no longer take the thing and moves into the third round with the 3-1 win.
★★★
The other games on Wednesday:
At 8:28 p.m. the time had come. A whole year waiting for the most beautiful darts moment of the year: “Onehundredanddeighty”, it echoes through the for the first time Ally Pally. The Darts World Cup 2022 is open, the around 3000 party fans in the hall are freaking out.
Ironically, Peter Hudson (37), who just one day earlier insisted on short notice as a replacement for China champion Lihao Wen (visa problem) World Cup participants field slipped, throws in the match against Ritchie Edhouse (2: 3) the first maximum of the World Cup in 2022. Edhouse can later play against Price.
Speed darter Ricky Evans (throws mega-fast) in the second match of the evening overrun Nitin Kumar from India, wins 3-0 and is sovereign in the second round against Daryl Gurney on Thursday.
Party atmosphere in the “Ally Pally”: In the Alexandra Palace, full capacity is allowed despite CoronaPhoto: Getty Images
In the third game of the evening, ex-world champions fought for themselves Adrian Lewis (36) a real cracker of the World Cup! He pocketed his third match dart against Matt Campbell and will now play in the second round on Thursday against Gary Anderson (50). The duel has been a World Cup final twice in the past.
The early world champion Lewis wants to play his way back to the top of the world at the World Cup. Currently it has slipped to 34th place in the world rankings …
The results of the evening:
Ritchie Edhouse – Peter Hudson 3: 2
Ricky Evans – Nitin Kumar 3-0
Adrian Lewis – Matt Campbell 3-1
Gerwyn Price – Ritchie Edhouse 3-1
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