Gerwyn Price loses to Michael Smith in World Championship despite nine-darter

Michael Smith has recorded a thrilling 5-4 victory over Gerwyn Price in the PDC World Championship quarter-finals, despite the defending world champion hitting a nine-darter.

In yet another Alexandra Palace classic, Smith hit 16 180s and 51% of his doubles for one of the greatest televised wins of his career.

Earlier in the contest, Price landed a nine-dart leg in the fourth set before losing it 3-1, and the Welshman also missed two match darts at the end of the eighth.

Smith will now face James Wade in the last four, and Peter Wright has set up an all-Scottish clash with Gary Anderson after edging out Callan Rydz.

Rydz set the tone with a 152 checkout in the opening leg and deservedly established leads of 3-1 and 4-3, but Wright consistently kept his opponent under pressure during the closing stages.

While North-East thrower Rydz did superbly to make it 2-2 in the decider, Wright's experience shone through to move a step closer to a second world title.