Michael Van Gerwen Wins World Tungsten Darts Matchplay: What Did We Learn? Ⅲ

The Price is right in Blackpool

Former Welsh rugby player turned darts professional Gerwyn Price was the newcomer of the tournament following a rollercoaster ride to the quarter-finals.

The former Neath, Cross Keys, Newport Gwent Dragons and Glasgow Warriors front-rower produced one of the greatest upsets in recent years to topple two-time world champion Adrian Lewis 13-10.

Price, who only joined the paid ranks 18 months ago, had already beaten Michael Smith before upsetting a stony-faced Lewis. However, his Winter Gardens dream was soon ended by Scotland's Peter 'Snakebite' Wright in the last eight.

Price vowed to learn from his time in Blackpool, saying: "I was confident going into this game but I think my mind was drifting elsewhere and I wasn't 100 per cent like I was on Tuesday, but I’ll learn from this and hopefully push on now."

It has been a breath of fresh air seeing Price flexing his muscles while jumping across the Oche with great excitement. Tungsten darts fans will not want to wait too long to see another glimpse of the former rugby ace in tungsten action.

A tournament of shocks

Adrian Lewis was by far the biggest casualty in Blackpool, but there were a number of other high profile throwers who failed to live up to the hype at the Winter Gardens. Highly-talented Keegan Brown delivered a knock-out blow to Robert Thornton.

Scotsman Thornton equaled Eric Bristow's unwanted record of six consecutive first-round exits at the tour's second most prestigious event.

Five-time world champion and 21-time major title winner Raymond van Barneveld suffered a shock opening round exit at the hands of Andy Hamilton. Premier League semi-finalist Barney was out of sorts with his usual flowing darts failing to make any kind if impression.

No triple crown for Anderson

Then of course there was Gary Anderson. The Scot was chasing an historic Triple Crown but his dreams came crashing down to earth against opponent Mensur Suljovic all because he was simply "bored".

The reigning World and Premier League champion saw his hopes dashed following a grueling battle which culminated after midnight. Methodical Austrian Suljovic used his unorthodox style to wear down the usually fluent Anderson who admitted afterwards that he lacked any rhythm.

"I think I spent more time actually standing behind him than what I did playing darts, it's not my kind of game," said 'The Flying Scotsman'. "Games like that bore the life out of me. You throw your darts and get out of the road, it's a quick game."

Anderson, who turns his focus towards next month's World Series tour of Australia and New Zealand, added: "I'll probably get to New Zealand quicker than what that game lasted, that's the way it felt."

As for professional game of darts, we recommend tungsten darts, tungsten is an extremely dense metal. It is also very durable, so a high-density tungsten dart resists wear and the knurling will last much longer.

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