Dave Chisnall achieved a 131 finish when he actually needed a 139 finish (Image: SKY SPORTS)
Dave Chisnall suffered an embarrassing miscount before crashing out of the on Monday night – celebrating a leg he thought he’d won before being informed he’d left eight still on the board.
Chizzy became the 13th seed to crash out of the tournament in round two at Alexandra Palace with a 3-2 defeat to Ricky Evans.
The sixth seed lost a sudden death leg in the decisive fifth set – but not before a brain fade on the oche.
Chisnall pulled off a 131 finish with a triple 19, triple 14 and double 16 before pointing his finger to the sky in celebration.
But he was then informed once getting to the board that he’d miscounted. He actually needed D20 and not D16, so had not won the leg as he’d thought.
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Sky Sports commentator Glen Durrant reacted: “Can we get any more drama than this? A miscount at the most important time!
“Chisnall doesn’t know what day it is. What a match this is and it deserves to go the distance!”
Evans needed 130 and could only set up double 20, allowing Chisnall, a World Championship runner-up in 2010, to win the leg after all on a double eight.
But he lost the sudden death leg with world No.45 Evans cashing out a D20 at the first attempt to conclude a classic contest.
Sky Sports’ Dan Dawson reflected afterwards: “A ridiculous miscount from Chizzy. That’s a blinding 131 finish – shame it’s not what he wanted!”
Meanwhile, a triumphant Evans couldn’t believe the support he received from the Ally Pally crowd.
Dave Chisnall celebrated thinking that he’d won the leg on a 131 checkout (Image: SKY SPORTS)
Dave Chisnall was informed of his error after he stepped up to retrieve his darts (Image: SKY SPORTS)
He told Sky Sports in an amusing post-match interview: “I played a world class player, I actually played well for once – normally it’s poo, normally it’s boring.”Look at this, I’m a weird Kettering lad, I don’t understand it, why are they cheering me on? I wished I’d have beat Chizzy 3-0 because my ticker would have been a bit better.”What am I doing the other 11 months of the year? I don’t get this treatment in my household, I don’t understand it! They kept getting louder and louder, what are they cheering me for?”Thank you for that everyone, you’ve made a fat lad very happy.” He concluded by addressing the crowd directly by saying: “Merry Christmas you weirdos!”
CHIZZY, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!!! ????????????He thinks he has levelled as he pins a stunning 131 checkout, but he needed 139!!He survives Evans’ return, and pins D1 with the last dart in hand to force the sudden death leg. WOW! ??????
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC)
Chisnall became a record-equalling 13th of 31 seeds to have played and been knocked out before Christmas at the 2025 World Championship.
Rob Cross was the 32nd and final seed to play, facing Scott Williams in the final match on Monday night before darts enjoys a three-night break for Christmas.
Chizzy is not the highest seed to have crashed out, however, with second seed and 2023 world champion Michael Smith going down 3-2 to Kevin Doets in London last week.
Every seeded World Darts Championship player knocked out in round two
Michael Smith (2)
Dave Chisnall (6)
Danny Noppert (13)
Gary Anderson (14)
James Wade (16)
Ross Smith (19)
Martin Schindler (23)
Mike De Decker (24)
Dirk van Duijvenbode (25)
Gabriel Clemens (27)
Gian van Veen (28)
Ritchie Edhouse (29)
Raymond van Barneveld (32)