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SUNDAY BEST FOR PRICE IN BETVICTOR WORLD MATCHPLAY

GERWYN PRICE defied three ton-plus checkouts from Kim Huybrechts to win through to the second round of the BetVictor World Matchplay on Sunday afternoon with a 10-8 triumph in Blackpool.
The Welsh ace was a sensation on his World Matchplay debut in 2015 as he won through to the quarter-finals, and he enjoyed another high-quality Winter Gardens win as he overcame the Belgian.
The lead changed hands three times during a see-saw contest, with Price landing an 11-darter and a 145 checkout as he moved 4-3 up, only for Huybrechts to finish 124 and 153 to take a 6-4 lead. Price then hit back to lead 8-7, with a classy 126 finish from Huybrechts seeing him level only for missed doubles in the next two legs to allow the Welshman in to complete the win.

"I did well here last year and I was on a positive coming here, and thankfully I came through the game," said Price, who only turned professional in January 2014. "I'm the underdog in every single game so I'm just going to give it my all. I thought I started off pretty well and when I was behind I had to keep going and not let my head drop. It was up and down, but when it mattered I was in front. I'm just glad to get through it but I'll have to improve for the next game. Playing with these guys week-in, week-out and knowing that you can beat them gives you confidence and you need that in this game; everybody has the talent but you need that two percent upstairs, and when you've got that it's a much easier game."

Austria's Mensur Suljovic, like Price a quarter-finalist in Blackpool last year, was a 10-8 winner against Stephen Bunting as he moved through to a second round meeting with either Phil Taylor or Robbie Green on Wednesday.
Another fine game saw Bunting average over 102, but the St Helens ace only ever led after winning the opening leg, with Suljovic taking out 134 for a 4-2 lead, a key 96 checkout and hitting five 180s as he edged through.

"Stephen's a World Champion and I didn't know what to expect but I'm very happy," said Suljovic, who is set to break into the world's top 16 for the first time. "I'm focusing on my next game and nothing else at the moment."

Two-time World Matchplay finalist Terry Jenkins punished Justin Pipe for 32 missed doubles as he claimed a 10-7 win from their first round battle. Pipe opened the contest with a 160 checkout and also hit an 11-darter to lead 4-2 and a 12-dart leg as he moved 6-5 up, but Jenkins finished 66 and 90 to move himself into an 8-6 advantage before closing out the win.

"It was a battle but I got there in the end," said the 52-year-old. "As soon as Justin started hitting some things I started playing with him, and I suppose I followed his game instead of playing my own. I relied on him missing a few things and I came out the winner, but it was a very hard struggle. I can relax now and it will be easier for me in the next game. I've done well here before and I relish playing the best players."

Stoke's Ian White landed eight 180s in a fine display as he defeated World Matchplay debutant Daryl Gurney 10-2. After White roared into a 3-0 lead, Northern Ireland's Gurney claimed back-to-back legs as he reduced the arrears to 3-2 to ignite his challenge. Maximums in the next two legs helped White to restore his advantage before he punished missed doubles from Gurney in successive legs to open up a 7-2 lead, and a further three 180s in legs of 11, 12 and 14 darts saw the former quarter-finalist complete a strong performance.

"I was expecting a closer game but Daryl missed a lot of doubles and I took my chances," said White. "Maybe that showed my experience up there but I scored well and I know my game's there at the moment and I felt quite good. He gave me a few chances and it was a nice comfortable win and I've still not lost in the first round here."

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