Six of the biggest shocks in World Darts Championship history

Peter Wright suffered a shock defeat against Spain’s Toni Alcinas on Sunday night at the World Darts Championship and following that result, we’ve reflected on six of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.

Wright’s defeat against Alcinas was the first big shock at this year’s World Championship, as ‘Snakebite’ became the highest seed to lose his opening match at this event since 2006.

The Spaniard, ranked 55th in the world, teamed up with Carlos Rodriguez to defeat Phil Taylor and James Wade at the 2010 World Cup of Darts, but this ranks as his greatest individual triumph.

Following the Scot’s early departure, we’ve taken a look at six of the biggest shocks in the history of the World Darts Championship…

Peter Wright 1-4 Jamie Lewis (2018)

The Alcinas result wasn’t Wright’s first shock defeat at the World Championship, after Jamie Lewis produced the best performance of his career to dump out Snakebite in the second round of last year’s tournament.

The Scot had scooped 11 individual titles in a trophy-laden 2017, and was subsequently fancied by many to eclipse his run to the final in 2014 and seal a maiden World Championship title.

Nevertheless, Wright was dismantled by an irrepressible Lewis, who averaged 107.27, landed 13 maximums and converted three ton-plus finishes en route to victory.

The Welshman had only qualified for the tournament following a third-place play-off at the PDPA qualifier, but he enjoyed a scintillating run to the semi-finals, before becoming Phil Taylor’s final victim in professional darts.

John Part 0-3 Bill Davis (2009)

John Part became the first man to win a World Championship title at three different venues after his 2008 success against Kirk Shepherd at Alexandra Palace.

However, the Canadian also boasts the unwanted record of being the only defending champion to lose in the opening round in the tournament’s current format.

‘Darth Maple’ took on American Bill Davis in round one in 2009, with Davis appearing in just his second PDC World Championship.

However, the international qualifier caused one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history- whitewashing Part 3-0 on the opening night.

Phil Taylor 3-4 Michael Smith (2014)

Phil Taylor suffered his earliest exit in the history of the PDC World Championship when he was beaten 4-3 by Michael Smith back in 2014.

Taylor was bidding to win his 17th world title following his victory over Michael van Gerwen in 2013, but he was dumped out by 32nd seed Smith in an Ally Pally classic.

‘Bully Boy’ capitalised on errors from Taylor, producing 11 and 13-dart legs in the deciding set before taking out the bullseye to complete a 128 finish which secured a famous 4-3 victory.

The St Helens star was beaten by eventual finalist Peter Wright in the third round, but he was named PDC Young Player of the Year one month later, and he’s since gone on to win eight PDC titles.

Raymond van Barneveld 0-3 James Richardson (2012)

James Richardson caused one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history when he defeated five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld in straight sets back in 2012.

Richardson, making his Ally Pally bow, inflicted Van Barneveld’s first ever opening round defeat at the PDC World Championships, taking out two 145 checkouts and a 120 en route to victory.

Richardson – then ranked 85th in the world – produced a nerveless display of finishing to triumph, despite Van Barneveld posting a 91 average to Richardson’s 89.

‘Ruthless’ went on to lose to Kim Huybrechts in the second round, but he enjoyed his best ever World Championship run in 2018, losing to Jamie Lewis in the last 16.

Adrian Lewis 1-3 Kevin Munch (2018)

Kevin Munch sent two-time world champion Adrian Lewis crashing out in the opening round of last year’s World Championship.

Lewis had never previously lost in the first round in 12 years, but it was unlucky number 13 for ‘Jackpot’ as he succumbed to an inspired Munch.

The German crashed in eight maximums and converted finishes of 158, 118 and 124 to pull off an incredible 3-1 victory, having lost the opening set.

Munch, currently ranked 152nd in the world, went on to lose to Toni Alcinas in the second round, while this defeat saw Lewis fall outside the world’s top 20 and subsequently miss out on a Premier League spot.

Shepherd reaches the final (2008)

Kirk Shepherd pulled off a multitude of huge shocks en route to reaching the 2008 World Championship final.

The 21-year-old was making his Ally Pally debut as a PDPA qualifier, and he claimed the scalp of Terry Jenkins in round one, surviving seven match darts to prevail with a 79.09 average.

Shepherd survived more match darts against Mick McGowan and Peter Manley, while also defeating former UK Open finalist Barrie Bates in the quarter-finals.

Shepherd, a 1,000/1 outsider prior to the tournament, then stunned Phil Taylor’s conqueror Wayne Mardle to reach the final, where he was eventually beaten 7-2 as John Part claimed his third world title.

You can follow every dart from every session of the World Darts Championships on Sky Sports Darts, check out the full schedule here. You can also stay up to date with all the action behind the scenes by following us @SkySportsDarts and get all the latest news, previews and interviews by heading to www.skysports.com/darts

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