Peter Wright’s title defence ends with shock defeat by Kim Huybrechts at World Darts Championship

Peter Wright’s reign as PDC world champion got here to a sorry finish as Kim Huybrechts claimed the largest win of his profession at Alexandra Palace.

Wright wore a vibrant Christmas shirt on the oche, however that was the one factor that sparkled from the Scot as Huybrechts cruised to a 4-1 victory and a last-16 date with fellow Belgian Dimitri van den Bergh.

‘I beat the title Peter Wright, however the particular person Peter Wright wasn’t there,’ Huybrechts advised Sky Sports after the world quantity two had averaged simply 91.28 all through and was even beneath 80 within the third set.

 Reigning PDC world champion Peter Wright’s title defence got here to an finish in third spherical

‘That wasn’t Peter Wright. I’ve to be trustworthy about that.

‘Normally he is about 20 instances higher than this. I simply performed my sport, took my possibilities and received the win.

‘I did what I needed to do, however I’m not going to be smug or cocky. But I’m a contented man to undergo to the subsequent spherical.’

Wright took the primary set 3-0 and Huybrechts, who got here to London battling to remain on the earth’s high 32, gave the impression to be up towards it.

But he seized the initiative by profitable seven of the subsequent eight legs and a cool 67 checkout gave him a 3-1 benefit.

Kim Huybrechts celebrates the third spherical victory over Wright at Alexandra Palace

Wright tried to struggle again within the fifth set, however he missed double 18 to increase the match and Huybrechts stepped in to seal issues earlier than a shocked crowd.

Gerwyn Price vowed to win his second world crown after claiming a maiden TV victory over Raymond van Barneveld.

Five-time world king Van Barneveld’s stand up the rankings after twice retiring from the game had supplied the feel-good story at this 12 months’s match.

But the 55-year-old was whitewashed 4-0 as world no 1 Price confirmed there isn’t any room for sentiment on darts’ greatest stage.

‘I can say I beat Raymond on TV, proper? Come on,’ Price mentioned after avenging two defeats by Van Barneveld at final month’s Grand Slam of Darts and ending a run of six successive losses to the Dutchman.

Five-time champion Raymond van Barneveld embraces Gerwyn Price after his 4-0 defeat

‘In the Grand Slam I let Raymond off quite a few instances, however this time I used to be medical.

‘I’m joyful with that one. I’m the world primary and I’m right here to win. I’m not right here to make up the numbers.’

Price, the 2021 world champion, took first set 3-1 with a 100 per cent return on his doubles and received the second set by the identical scoreline.

Van Barneveld’s comeback hopes flickered with an excellent 125 checkout (25-50-50) however he missed a double eight shot for the third set and Price pounced.

The Welshman ultimately sewed up victory with a 128 end (54-54-20) and can meet Ryan Searle or Jose de Sousa within the final 16.

Germany’s Gabriel Clemens received six of the ultimate seven legs to beat Jim Williams in dramatic tie

Germany’s Gabriel Clemens received six of the ultimate seven legs to beat Jim Williams 4-3 in a see-saw thriller.

Welshman Williams had a match dart to win 4-2. But he couldn’t take out double six for a 126 checkout, and Clemens averaged 112 within the deciding set to ebook a date with both Danny Noppert or Alan Soutar.

Josh Rock knocked out tenth seed Nathan Aspinall 4-3 in an epic encounter.

The 21-year-old Rock has hinted that he may come of age at this match and he punished Aspinall for a raft of missed doubles.

After main 3-2, Rock held his nerve to take out 70 for victory within the closing leg.

Van den Bergh and Jonny Clayton had earlier eased by with respective 4-1 victories over Brendan Dolan and Krzysztof Ratajski.