Players Championship finalist Connor Scutt sets up Alexandra Palace date with Gerwyn Price

Scutt – a Players Championship runner-up in October – crashed in five 180s and pinned nine of his 14 attempts at a double to cap off an outstanding display.

“I’ve put so much into this, so to get over the line was really special,” reflected Scutt, who averaged 95 and fired in a stunning 138 checkout in the early exchanges.

“My practice game is starting to come out in competitive games which is great for myself.

“I know what Gezzy can do, but if I play my A-game, I believe I’ve got a decent chance. It’s about being comfortable, because if I get comfortable up there, I’ll be difficult to stop.”

Former UK Open semi-finalist Keane Barry will lock horns with three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen for a place in round three, after outlasting debutant Reynaldo Rivera.

Barry drew first blood with a 120 combination before doubling his lead in a scrappy second set, and although Rivera halved the deficit with a clean sweep in set three, the Irishman rallied to complete a 3-1 victory.

Jamie Hughes was unable to hold back the tears after winning through a gruelling contest against Canada’s David Cameron to register his first victory on the sport’s biggest stage.

The Tipton thrower had lost his four previous matches at the World Championship, but he broke his duck with a hard-fought 3-1 success to set up a tie against Krzysztof Ratajski.

Scott Williams also progressed by the same scoreline, fending off a late onslaught from PDC Asian Champion Haruki Muramatsu to set up a meeting against world number seven Danny Noppert.

Williams opened his account with a classy 120 checkout, and he rounded off proceedings in similarly emphatic style, taking out a 127 on the bull, with Muramatsu poised on a potential two-darter to force a deciding set.

Photo Credit: PDC