World Championship disappointment for Daryl Gurney

Daryl Gurney fell to defeat by Gerwyn Price. Lawrence Lustig/PDC

'Superchin' had twice came back from two set deficits to force a ninth and deciding set.

He had a chance to win the final leg after Price with the darts only scored a 100 with his first two visits to the oche, but Gurney couldn't punish him as his scoring also deserted him.

He did have a 108 check out to win the match but failed to put a dent in it and the Welshman hit tops to book a place in the semi-final against Stephen Bunting.

Gurney hit 15 maximums to Price’s nine and actually won more legs in the game 18 to 17 but it was the Iceman’s finishing that tilted it his way as he hit 17 at 46 attempts on the out ring while the Northern Irish thrower was successful with 18 out of 52 at double.

'Superchin' however will be pleased though that his performances at the Ally Palace has moved back into the top 10 in the world.

The first leg set the pattern of the match with Gurney missing D11 for a 124 checkout and Price took out tops.

The world No3 missed five darts at the double before wrapping up the set 3-1.

Price doubled his lead taking all three sets in the second leg.

Gurney found his scoring and doubling at the start of the third set breaking in the first leg and going on to win it 3-1.

And he levelled the match at 2-2 by taking the fourth set 3-1.

Momentum shifted again in the fifth set, Price was leading 2-1 and Gurney missed five darts at double to force a deciding leg and Price punished with a 143 checkout to edge back in front.

The sixth set did go to a deciding leg and Price took a massive 72 in the context of the match to restore his two-set lead and have the darts in the seventh set to close the game out.

However a dip in form from Price coupled by a resurgence from Gurney saw him take the set 3-0.

'Superchin' rattled off another straight three legs in the eight set to tie the match at 4-4.

Price had the darts in the last set and took out 107 to win the first leg.

Gurney responded with a 130 checkout and a 12-dart leg to square it up again.

A D10 checkout put Price within a leg of the match but Gurney came back with a D8 finish to force a last leg shootout.

Both players felt the nerves in the last leg Gurney couldn’t finish the 108 and Price pinged tops with his first dart to win the epic battle.