Gerwyn Price has progressed through to the PDC World Championship quarter-finals with a 4-1 victory over Jose de Sousa.
Despite the margin of his success, the top seed won just three more legs than his opponent, but he was stronger in the bigger moments of the contest.
With the Portuguese failing to convert leads in sets two and five, Price was able to earn a spot in the last eight with a 94.43 average.
Welsh compatriot Jonny Clayton had to work far harder against Josh Rock, the seventh seed coming back from 1-0 and 3-2 deficits to prevail by a 4-3 scoreline.
Twenty-one-year-old Rock averaged 109.98 to take the first set but as the game progressed, Clayton was far better on his doubles, his checkout ratio of 53.33% in comparison to Rock's 26.09% arguably proving to be the difference.
BUNTING WINS IN ANOTHER THRILLER!!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 29, 2022
Stephen Bunting finally breaks his losing run against Dave Chisnall as he wins a barnstormer at the World Champs!
What a performance from both, and Bunting takes it 4-2 averaging 102 in the process!#WCDarts | R3
📺 https://t.co/37DNuuK5Me pic.twitter.com/2YQkUb9TJs
Earlier in the day, the four remaining last-32 ties were played, the first two contests both classics in their own right as Dirk van Duijvenbode and Stephen Bunting beat Ross Smith and Dave Chisnall respectively.
Van Duijvenbode prevailed 4-3 in a record-breaking thriller which featured 31 180s, the Dutchman capitalising on missed match doubles from Smith before winning a sudden-death leg in the seventh set.
Meanwhile, Bunting and Chisnall averaged well into three figures throughout their epic clash, Bunting defying 11 maximums from his fellow North-West thrower to win 4-2 with a 102.24 average.
Luke Humphries further showcased his credential by holding his nerve to see off the spirited challenge of Vincent van der Voort.
Although the fifth seed was pegged back from 2-0 and 3-2 advantages, the Englishman averaged in excess of 112 to take the decider without reply.
In the other encounter, Rob Cross made relatively light work of Mervyn King, coasting into a 3-0 lead before eventually winning by a 4-1 scoreline with a 99.13 average.
Darren Plant
