GERWYN PRICE made the third round of the World Darts Championship for the first time with an authoritative 4-1 victory over Ian White on Friday afternoon.

The 32-year-old from Markham had never made it beyond the first round at Alexandra Palace before but was by far the more consistent player as he averaged 96.93 and his seven 180s.

White showed flashes of form but missed crucial darts at crucial times and Price was there on almost every occasion to storm through as the first man to make it into the last 16.

Price settled immediately with a 102 checkout ending a 15-darter despite a bounce out causing him to throw just 23 points with his first visit.

Checkouts of 71 and 114 gave Price the set, and he doubled his lead despite White checking out 151 in the next set, and again Price ran away with the crucial fifth leg.

Price hit six perfect darts during the next set, but somehow lost that leg and then the set as White pulled one back, but it was only a temporary reprieve as Price was back on song to go 3-1 up.

The fifth went a similar way as White did manage a 13-darter but Price took out 86 and 97 to deservedly take his place in the next around against either hot favourite Michael van Gerwen or James Wilson.

“I thought I started off pretty slowly and Ian came out of the blocks flying,” said Price. “So first set I just had to dig in, my aim was to win the first set after I won the Bull and I did that.

“I played a little bit better in the second set, and put more pressure on him and I was comfortable after two sets.

“I thought my scoring was average, not as good as my last game but my checking out was better so that helps.

“The maximums are good but it’s the scores in between you’ve got to keep being consistent all the way through, it’s pointless hitting a 180 and then 41, you’ve got to back it up.”

After failing to progress beyond round one previously, Price says the pressure is now off him, and joked about his preferred opponent with defending champion Van Gerwen possibly lying in wait.

“I’ve been bombed out in the first round for the last three years and put myself under pressure for the first round,” added Price.

“But I got through that, I didn’t play so well but it was just getting through the game and I did that.

“All the pressure was off me in this game as I’d never got through my first game here so, now I just hope MVG loses!”