World Darts Championship: Michael Smith reveals class to knock out Joe Cullen as Gabriel Clemens makes historical past with win over Alan Soutar

Michael Smith produced a excessive calibre win over Joe Cullen; Gabriel Clemens made historical past as the primary German participant to make the ultimate eight; Dimitri Van den Bergh cruised to victory; Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – reside on Sky Sports Darts

Michael Smith produced a dominant 4-1 victory over Joe Cullen to maintain his hopes alive and declare his spot within the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship. 

It was tipped as a excessive calibre conflict between these two Premier League stars and it did not disappoint, three maximums within the opening two legs setting the tone as they traded breaks of throw, Smith making Cullen pay for some inaccuracies on the doubles and taking the primary set on D8.

Cullen fought again within the second set with Smith flailing on the trebles to race to the clear sweep and produce issues degree, however Smith shortly regained the benefit. A record-equalling 125 common in set three, plus 10, 14 and 12-dart legs, gave Bullyboy a 2-1 lead and the momentum.

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Joe Cullen hits a incredible 153 checkout towards Michael Smith of their fourth-round conflict on the World Darts Championship

From there, Smith continued to take his throwing to new heights as he began set 4 with a 13-dart break of throw and while Cullen responded with a spectacular 153 checkout, the set unravelled as each began to search out issues on the doubles. After just a few tense moments, it was Smith who held his nerve to take the deciding leg on D4 to go 3-1 forward.

With the writing on the wall for the Rockstar, the St Helens darter had the throw for the match within the fifth set and made it depend underneath strain, practically producing the proper end after taking out two maximums earlier than simply lacking on the T19, nailing the D2 to seal his spot within the ultimate eight.

Smith: I needed to dig deep for the win

After the match, Smith admitted it was a troublesome contest to be concerned in, however that he “switched up his game” when it mattered essentially the most.

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Michael Smith mentioned ‘if I personal my very own throw I’ll win the match’ after digging deep to defeat Joe Cullen to achieve the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship

“All I kept telling myself, if I hold my own throw, I will win the match. 4-1 is a bad score. I have dug deep then. I tried to stay away from tops and 10s,” mentioned Smith.

“I was leaving eights, fours and 16. That game showed how much I can dig deep, and I can switch up my game.

“I used to be cussed and after I began taking part in, I can change one thing after I must. I need to hold taking part in nicely and hold doing what I’m doing. My 140s are bang on type. 140s win you video games.”

Next up for Smith, it will be either Luke Humphries or Stephen Bunting, who play in the last match of the evening session tonight.

Clemens makes history as he sinks Soutar

Gabriel Clemens wrote his name into the history books with his comprehensive victory over Alan Soutar

Gabriel Clemens took the step that no German darts player has done before by making it to the final eight of the World Darts Championship with a comprehensive 4-1 victory over Alan Soutar.

With Soutar taking his time to get into the tie, Clemens took advantage and, with the help of a 100 average and a brilliant 114 checkout to break the throw, took the first set in a clean sweep, pinning the D16 to wrap up the opener.

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Gabriel Clemens sinks a double 20 to beat Alan Soutar 4-1 and become the first German to reach a World Darts Championship quarter-final

Soutar fought back in the second set with a classy 104 out-shot, some inaccuracy from Clemens on the doubles gifting the Scotsman a key hold of throw and allowing him to take the set on tops to bring the game level.

However, the German Giant then took his game to another level, adding another maximum to his tally and pinning the bull to take the third set in three straight legs, breaking the throw in the fourth, with the help of another 180, to make it 3-1 in his favour.

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Gabriel Clemens takes out a huge 148 checkout against Alan Soutar in their fourth-round clash at the World Darts Championship

With the finish line in his sights, Clemens took out a sublime 148 checkout to break the throw and have the darts for the match, but the pressure got to him on the D18 with his first match darts, finally taking out tops to seal his quarter-final spot.

Van den Bergh comes out on top in all-Belgian battle

The final day of Alexandra Palace darts action in 2022 got under way with a landmark all-Belgian clash between Dimitri Van den Bergh and Kim Huybrechts, Van den Bergh sealing their quarter-final spot against Jonny Clayton with a dominant 4-0 victory.

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Dimitri Van den Bergh defeats fellow Belgian Kim Huybrechts 4-0 to progress to the quarter-finals of the World Darts Championship

Van den Bergh got off to a flying start against his World Cup of Darts team-mate, breaking the throw twice to take the first set in three straight legs, before holding off a Huybrechts fight back in the second with a ruthless tops finish on his way to a 2-0 lead.

The third set was a tenser affair as both began to struggle with their accuracy on the trebles, a break of throw plus a clinical D8 finish, proving the difference for Van den Bergh as he secured a third set.

With such a solid lead, Van den Bergh began to throw more freely once again, hitting six consecutive T19s in the opening leg of set four to take full control and wrapping it up on D2 to enter the quarter-finals stage for a third time.

See you in 2023….

There’s a break on New Year’s Eve however then the quarter-finals, semi-finals and ultimate happen from January 1-3.

Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – reside on Sky Sports Darts – all through to the ultimate on January 3.