South West darts talents Gary Anderson and Ryan Searle both clinched their places in the last 16 of the PDC World Championship with commanding performances on Sunday.
Two-time world champion Anderson, who resides in Burnham-on-Sea, Somerset, edged out Jermaine Wattimena 4-3 in a nail-biting encounter at Alexandra Palace. Anderson showcased remarkable composure in the deciding set, despite missing a double 12 for a perfect nine-dart finish. Wattimena, representing the Netherlands, saved four match darts and mounted a fightback from 3-1 down, even hitting an impressive 124 checkout on the bull to force a tie-break. Anderson, however, held firm to secure the victory, hitting 14 maximums and averaging 102.24 for the match after a previous round average of 105.41.
Meanwhile, Devon’s Ryan Searle powered through to the fourth round with a dominant 4-0 thrashing of Germany’s top player Martin Schindler. The Tiverton-born player displayed flawless form, winning nine legs consecutively and averaging 102.29. Notably, Searle has yet to drop a set in this year’s championship.
READ MORE: Escape to the Country Viewers Frustrated as Celebrity Special Replaced by Repeat Episode
READ MORE: Somerset Council Likely to Forego Appeal on 112-Home Development in Taunton
Another standout was former world champion Rob Cross, who defeated Australian Damon Heta 4-0 to set up a last-16 showdown with reigning champion Luke Littler. Cross only dropped two legs in the match, maintaining clinical finishing with a 46 percent checkout rate compared to Heta’s 31.6 percent. Despite not feeling at his best, Cross emphasized his focus on the crucial moments: “Sometimes it will be pretty, sometimes not. The big factor was I held myself together at the right times. I’m really glad to get through. I’ve not played my best, but I’ve been clinical in the important moments.”
Looking ahead to the clash with Littler, Cross added: “There’s no shackles, no worries. He’s fantastic—a lovely boy from a lovely family. The pressure isn’t on me. If I lose, it doesn’t matter. Hopefully, I can relax and bring my best.”
The South West’s strong representation continues to make waves as the tournament intensifies.