Top five shocks of the PDC World Darts Championship

To celebrate the PDC World Darts Championship, Vansdirect are taking a break from vans for sale for a minute to bring you some darts related content, here we look at the five biggest shocks we've ever seen at the tournament!

Here are the top five shocks of the PDC World Darts Championship!

5. Phil Taylor stunned by young Michael Smith

Michael Smith is now a household name in the PDC world, however in the 2014 World Championship he was a 23 year old making his way in the game when he knocked reigning champion Phil Taylor in the second round. Smith produced 11 and 13 dart legs in the deciding set against 16-time champion Taylor, before taking out a 128 finish on the bullseye to land a hugely famous 4-3 win.

4. Staggering comeback from Wynand Havenga sends home Peter Manley

South African rookie Wynand Havenga made a huge name for himself at the 2007 World Championship sending three time runner-up Peter Manley crashing out in the second round. Making the victory even more impressive was the fact that he found himself 3-0 down before winning four straight sets to send Manley home.

3. Jamie Lewis produces career best to hammer Peter Wright

Peter Wright went into the 2018 World Championship as one of the favourites for the title having won 11 titles in the calendar year, however Welshman Jamie Lewis had completely different ideas. After a disappointing year which only saw Lewis qualify for the tournament following a third-place play-off at the PDPA qualifier, he produced the best performance of his career in blowing away the second see, 4-1 in the second round of the tournament. It would prove to be an amazing tournament for Lewis who dropped just two sets on the way to the semi-finals where he would be Phil Taylor's final victim in professional darts.

2. James Richardson produces ruthless performance to send home Van Barneveld

Five time World Champion Raymond Van Barneveld was shocked by unknown bricklayer James Richardson at the 2012 World Championship. Ranked 85th in the world, Richardson produced an inspired display to romp to a convincing 3-0 victory to inflict a first ever opening round defeat for Raymond Van Barneveld.

1. Kirk Shepherd shocks the world to reach the final

Kirk Shepherd's fairytale run to the final of the 2008 World Championship still beggars belief even now. A 21 year old sheet metal worker from Ramsgate faced Terry Jenkins in the first round with very few giving him any sniff of progressing to the second. Jenkins missed seven match darts helping Shepherd to battle his way to a surprising 3-2 victory, he also survived more match darts in edging past Mick McGowan and Peter Manley and also defeated Barrie Bates to reach the semi-finals. He then stunned Phil Taylor's conqueror, Wayne Mardle to become the highest priced player to ever reach the final as a staggering 1000/1 pre-tournament. The curtain was brought down on an incredible tournament as John Part defeated him 7-2 in the final.

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