Van Gerwen and Anderson March On at World Darts Championship

High-Profile Upsets Abound as Third Round Looms

The World Darts Championship has entered its second week, with several high-profile players advancing to the third round. Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson, both former champions, secured their spots in the next round with convincing victories. However, sixth seed Danny Noppert suffered a shocking second-round exit at the hands of Justin Hood in a sudden-death epic.

Van Gerwen Rallies to Victory

Michael van Gerwen, the former world No 1, showed a vast improvement in his second match, posting a 100.20 average in a 3-1 win over William O’Connor. Van Gerwen, who finished runner-up to Luke Littler last year, rallied from a slow start to take control of the match. He checked out 121 and 127 in back-to-back legs on his way to closing out victory.

Noppert Falls to Hood in Sudden-Death Thriller

In a stunning upset, sixth seed Danny Noppert was beaten by Justin Hood in a sudden-death leg. Hood, who came from behind to win the match, will face Ryan Meikle in the third round. Noppert, who has now exited the tournament for the third consecutive year, fired a 157 to extend the match and forced sudden death.

Anderson Survives Scare to Advance

Gary Anderson, the two-time world champion, recovered from a set down to claim a 3-1 victory over Connor Scutt. Anderson produced nine 180s and fired a 105.41 average during an impressive performance. He will face Jermaine Wattimena in the third round.

Other Notable Results

Josh Rock breezed through the final match before the Christmas break, thrashing Australia‘s Joe Comito in straight sets. Peter Wright, the two-time champion, was sent tumbling by Arno Merk in the final match of the afternoon session.

Source: Link