In a stunning upset at the PDC World Darts Championship, Dave Chisnall was sent crashing out in a dramatic second-round clash, despite peppering the board with an incredible 11 maximum 180 scores. The No 21 seed fell to a 3-2 defeat against Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko in a match that swung wildly at London's Alexandra Palace.
Pietreczko Punishes Chisnall's Double Trouble
The Englishman, a semi-finalist in 2021, paid a heavy price for inconsistent finishing on the doubles. Pietreczko capitalised on this weakness to seize the first two sets, building a commanding lead as Chisnall struggled to find his range on the outer ring.
Chisnall then launched an extraordinary fightback, levelling the match with a barrage of heavy scoring that showcased his undeniable talent. The comeback seemed complete when he moved 2-1 ahead in the decisive fifth set, thanks to a superb 113 finish.
Missed Match Dart Proves Costly
The drama reached its peak when Chisnall had a chance to seal victory. Needing a 143 checkout, he hit treble 20, treble 17, but then agonisingly missed double 16 for the match. That single missed opportunity proved the turning point.
Pietreczko, who did not register a single 180 in the entire contest, displayed remarkable resilience. The German player held his nerve, averaging 88.58 to Chisnall's 88.15, and rattled off three consecutive legs to snatch a famous victory and book his place in the next round.
Sakai's Run Ends as Other Seeds Advance
Elsewhere on day, the tournament said goodbye to another crowd favourite. Japan's Motomu Sakai, who had become a cult hero with his energetic walk-on and dancing, was defeated 3-0 by Sweden's Andreas Harrysson.
Harrysson, who had already knocked out 12th seed Ross Smith, admitted Sakai's entrance had concerned him. "I was a bit worried seeing his walk-on," the Swede said. "I think I managed it quite OK. He wasn't as he was in the first game on the stage."
In other results, Ryan Searle produced an impressive performance, averaging over 98 in a straight-sets win over Brendan Dolan. James Hurrell also caused an upset, defeating the No 29 seed Dirk van Duijvenbode 3-2 to set up a potential third-round meeting with Stephen Bunting.
The evening session at Ally Pally promised further drama as the PDC World Darts Championship continued its festive run.
