Like Dolan, Daryl Gurney is a two-time World Championship quarterfinalist, with his last last eight appearance coming in 2021.
However, since then, the 38-year-old has failed to make it past the fourth round as he has fallen in the rankings after consistently finishing in the top 10 for years before the Covid pandemic.
Gurney won the World Grand Prix in 2017 and the Players Championship finals the following year, defeating Van Gerwen. He will dream that he will rediscover this form during the holiday season.
“Superchin”, seeded 26th in this year’s championship, will face German Florian Hempel on Monday evening session.
If he wins that, there could be a potential All-Northern Ireland match against Mansell in the third round.
In fact, if the stars align, Gurney or Mansell could face Rock in the quarterfinals, but there’s a lot of darts to be played before that can happen.
