On December 29, 2021 Gerwyn Price pleaded for the corona-related cancellation of the world championship.
On January 3, 2022, the defending champion could be the big winner again at the largest darts tournament in the world and once again conquer 500,000 pounds (about 596,000 euros). In the midst of the corona chaos with five positive cases and three game cancellations, the quarter-finals are due from the New Year. The remaining eight players can be divided into three categories.
The hunted
The Welsh Price is number one in the world. And could expand his lead massively if he became the first professional to defend his title since Gary Anderson in 2016. The former rugby professional shone in the 4-1 win over Dirk van Duijvenbode. Price is the top favorite, but has a damn difficult quarter-finals ahead of him. Before the turn of the year, opponent Michael Smith from England defeated the Welshman Jonny Clayton, who had won four important major tournaments in 2021. Price versus Smith, this could be something of an early final.
The world class chasers
In addition to the former World Cup finalist Smith, this undoubtedly also includes Peter Wright. The extravagant Scot with the colorful costumes is number two in the world and has shown great class against Damon Heta (4: 2) and Ryan Searle (4: 1). “Snakebite” Wright was world champion in 2020 and won the dress rehearsal at the Players Championship Finals a few weeks ago. Wright entered the Alexandra Palace in London several times at this World Cup in a Christmas outfit.
Behind Price, Smith and Wright, the Englishman James Wade and the Scottish ex-champion Anderson are among the wider favorites. So far, Wade has made it through the tournament without much effort and has also benefited from the corona-related abandonment of the Dutchman Vincent van der Voort. Anderson already had to defeat the former champions Adrian Lewis and Rob Cross (both England) and is heading for another finals, which he had also succeeded in the previous year.
The outsider
The Englishmen, which have been ailing in recent years, are back – and have brought three real outsiders into the round of the last eight. Callan Rydz is unset, but has won 14 out of 15 sets at the World Cup so far. In the duel with ex-champion Wright, he can be trusted. Luke Humphries and Mervyn King, who are seeded in 19th and 21st place, are also rather unexpectedly in this group. Humphries plays Anderson, King takes on Wade.
dpa
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Status: December 31, 2021, 10:37 am