Gerwyn Price Shocked by Wesley Plaisier as Luke Littler Advances
In a stunning twist at the PDC World Darts Championship, former world champion Gerwyn Price has been knocked out in a straight 3-0 defeat by Dutchman Wesley Plaisier, while defending champion Luke Littler comfortably progressed to the third round. Price, who won the title in 2021 and had confidently predicted a second triumph, was unable to match Plaisier’s remarkable performance. Despite holding a higher three-dart average of 95.83, Price struggled on the doubles, hitting only two of eight attempts, whereas Plaisier converted 56% of his doubles, sealing one of the biggest victories of his career.
Plaisier, ranked 92nd in the world, described the win as his “biggest victory ever,” admitting that he could hardly believe what had just happened. The Dutch player, who has faced a challenging year including the loss of his grandmother and limited success on the European Tour, stunned the crowd at Alexandra Palace by dominating the match. Price, visibly humbled, offered a nod of respect and allowed Plaisier to celebrate the moment, signaling a rare admission that the other player had simply played from the top of his game.
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Meanwhile, 18-year-old Luke Littler advanced with a straight-set win over David Davies, an NHS area manager who had taken time off from his full-time job to compete at the championship. Littler, who had defeated Michael van Gerwen earlier this year to become the youngest world champion, continues to dominate the sport, extending his winning streak to 15 senior matches. He will face Mensur Suljovic in the next round, following Suljovic’s 3-1 victory over Joe Cullen, which was marred by controversy as Cullen accused his opponent of deliberate slow play. Suljovic denied any intent to provoke, insisting his pace was simply part of his game.
The exit of Price, along with other seeded players like Chris Dobey, has opened up the draw for Littler, who now avoids facing another top-16 player until at least the semi-finals. In other second-round action, Australian Damon Heta fought back to beat Swiss debutant Stefan Bellmont 3-2, while Krzysztof Ratajski, Martin Schindler, Rob Cross, and Luke Woodhouse all advanced to the third round, setting up a thrilling continuation of the tournament.
As the championship progresses, the drama at Alexandra Palace underscores just how unpredictable darts can be. While Price’s early exit was a shock, Plaisier’s breakthrough victory and Littler’s dominance highlight the mix of emerging talent and established stars that make this tournament such a spectacle. The excitement is building, and with the field now wide open, anything can happen on the road to crowning the next world champion.
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