Darts fans convinced Gerwyn Price pulled off '1000 IQ' move vs Joe Cullen just before winning World Championship thriller

Gerwyn Price defeated Joe Cullen in a World Darts Championship classic at Alexandra Palace - and fans have spotted a clever move that occurred throughout the match.

The Welshman is through to the last 16 after beating Cullen 4-3, having been 3-0 up earlier in the contest.

The last set went to a sudden death leg as both players continued to break each others' throws.

Price's doubling was a major issue for the 2021 world champion throughout the contest, and he missed D20 to win legs on a number of occasions.

During the match, fans noticed that he constantly set himself up on the double tops despite the misses, backing himself to find the target.

While other players might have changed their strategy and focused on another double - which may have cost Price given his overall checkout percentage - the Iceman's decision ultimately paid off.

He hit D20 to go 5-4 up in the final set before then checking out on tops again to secure the sudden death leg and a place in round four.

One fan wrote: "The b*****s on Gerwyn Price to stick at tops."

Another said: "Price is persistent on that tops!"

And a third added: "Price's obsession with D20 is ridiculous."

Speaking to Sky Sports Darts' Abigail Davies after the match, Price said: "That was tough... I just wanted to get over the winning line. I thought I was going to lose that game.

"He played some good darts at the right times, and I missed doubles to win the match. Honestly, I'm looking around thinking, 'Wow, how am I in this position?' But I got myself in that position, I got out of it and I'm still in.

"I kept breaking him in the last set and just couldn't hold my throw. I wanted it too much, I was trying too hard - I felt like that throughout the game.

"I've got a lot more in the tank. I can play a lot better, so can Joe - no disrespect to him. But I didn't play brilliant, and I did enough to win so I'm happy with that."

The Welshman joins Luke Woodhouse, Jonny Clayton and Stephen Bunting in the last 16, with the likes of Luke Humphries, Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen in action later this week.

More to follow...