PDC World Darts Championship quarter-finalists profiled as darts takes TV break

The quarter-finalists of this year’s PDC World Darts Championship have been confirmed.

After a day of drama at Alexandra Palace on Thursday - complete with comebacks, thrillers, and upsets - the draw for the last eight has been filled.

There will be no action on New Year’s Eve, but the quarter-finals of the tournament will get underway on New Year’s Day at 12.30pm (GMT).

Here’s everything you need to know as we approach the business end of the competition.

Who has made the quarter-finals?

The big story going into the last eight is the continued success of veteran Mervyn King. The 55-year-old fought back to beat Raymond Smith in a 4-3 thriller, and ended the contest with “tears in his eyes”, as he later told Sky Sports.

King will be joined by Scotland’s Peter Wright, who comfortably beat England’s Ryan Searle 4-1.

Elsewhere, James Wade swept aside Dutchman Martijn Kleermaker in a 4-0 rout, while Luke Humphries, who received a bye through the previous round after Dave Chisnall tested positive for Covid, beat Chris Dobey 4-3 to make his third quarter-final in four years.

World number 36 Callan Rydz also continued his fine form after seeing off Alan Soutar 4-1 in his last-16 tie, and fifth-seed Gary Anderson came through a close-fought contest with Gary Cross to eek out a 4-3 victory.

The final two players in the last eight are Gerwyn Price, who saw off Dirk van Duijvenbode, and Michael Smith, who beat Jonny Clayton.

Who will face who in the last eight?

The ties for the quarter-finals are as follows:

- Gerwyn Price vs Michael Smith

- James Wade vs Mervyn King

- Peter Wright vs Callan Rydz

- Luke Humphries vs Gary Anderson

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