Day 5 World Championship Review - The Iceman Roars on in London
2021 World Champion Gerwyn Price recovered from a set down to beat Luke Woodhouse 3-1 in the Second Round of the Cazoo 2023 World Darts Championship, going through to the Last 32 where he will face either Ryan Meikle or Raymond van Barneveld.
The World Number 1 showed exactly why he is in his position on the PDC Order of Merit, including a 150 checkout on double fifteen in the fourth and final set to delight the ever-lively Ally Pally crowd.
The Iceman returned to the world stage having lost at the Quarter Final stage in last year’s competition, falling to a last set defeat at the hands of Michael Smith.
The Red Dragon lifted the Sid Waddell trophy in an empty Alexandra Palace two years ago after beating Gary Anderson 7-3 in the Final and has taken a step in the right direction if he’s to get his hands on it again, with a full crowd watching on this time.
Jose de Sousa was the other player through to the Third Round on Day 5 in North London, recovering from 2-0 down to beat Simon Whitlock 3-2 in the afternoon session.
The Special One who is ranked Number 17 for the tournament could run into Price in the Last 16 but will have to beat either Ryan Searle or Adam Gawlas, if he is to make the Fourth Round.
David Cameron the reigning World Senior Masters champion survived six match darts, before proceeding to win eight out of the last nine legs and beat Ritchie Edhouse 3-2 in an entertaining tungsten tussle.
Exaclibur who beat Phil Taylor 6-3 to win at Lakeside, had the help of the infamous Ally Pally wasp, who was resting on the back of the Canadian’s shirt as he went on to cause the Mad House problems on the oche.
Cameron goes through to face reigning UK Open champion and 9th seed Danny Noppert in the Second Round, in what could be a very interesting tungsten tussle for the viewers at the venue and at home.
Lewy Williams sets up a Second-Round date with tournament favourite Michael van Gerwen after beating Niels Zonneveld 3-0 in the afternoon session. The young Welshman came agonizingly close to the first 9 dart leg of the tournament, missing double twelve in the very last leg in North London.
Elsewhere Leonard Gates will face Red Dragon star Jonny Clayton in Round 2 after he beat Geert Nentjes 3-1, whilst Danny van Trijp marked his Ally Pally debut in style after beating former World Champion Steve Beaton 3-0.
Day 6 sees Ryan Meikle return to the world stage after his 3-2 win over Lisa Ashton, with the Barber set to meet former five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld for the right to play the World Number 1 in Round 3. Jamie Hughes also kick starts his fourth consecutive World Championship campaign, as he faces Dutch international Jimmy Hendriks in the First Round.
By Harry Masterson
Cazoo 2023 World Championship: Day 5 Results
Round 1:
Andrew Gilding 3-2 Robert Owen
Danny Jansen 3-2 Paolo Nebrida
Lewy Williams 3-0 Niels Zonneveld
Leonard Gates 3-1 Geert Nentjes
David Cameron 3-2 Ritchie Edhouse
Danny van Trijp 3-0 Steve Beaton
Round 2:
Jose de Sousa (17) 3-2 Simon Whitlock
Gerwyn Price (1) 3-1 Luke Woodhouse