2024 World Matchplay: Gerwyn Price Knocked Out After 180 Spree From Ross Smith

In the first second-round fixture at the 2024 World Matchplay, Welsh number one Gerwyn Price faced off against former European champion Ross Smith. 

Both players entered the match in excellent form, having secured convincing 10-4 victories in their first-round encounters, Price against Daryl Gurney and Smith against fellow Northern Irishman Josh Rock.

Price capitalised on some early missed opportunities by Ross Smith to break his throw and claim the opening leg. 

Both players struggled to find their rhythm early on, with each barely edging over the line in the next two legs, resulting in a narrow 2-1 lead for Price. 

Smith then showcased his skill with an unconventional double-double 78 three-dart checkout to break back and level the score at 2-2. He followed this up with a brilliant 12-dart leg, finishing with an 81 checkout, to take a 3-2 lead heading into the first mini-session interval.

The match intensified in the next mini-session as Price started with a spectacular 114 three-dart checkout to hold and level the score.

What followed was a dramatic sequence of four consecutive breaks of throw, with both players trading blows and ending the session tied at 5-5.

Three more legs went the same way with more breaks of throw. It wasn’t until the 14^th leg when the next hold of throw would come as the Iceman took a narrow 8-6 lead, an extraordinary first hold of throw in eight legs. 

Smith would rally a barrage of legs to follow, amazingly winning the next three legs to claw back a 9-8 lead. At this point in the match, Smith had hit an astounding 11 180s to the Welshman’s two. 

Image credit: PDC