Limerick's Willie O'Connor hit eight 180s but lost to raging hot favourite Gerwyn Price after a bizarre error in the final set.
O'Connor left himself with four in the fifth leg but for some reason took aim at double one instead of double two. He did not recover from the error as the in-form Price closed out the game, three sets to two.
A seemingly nervous O'Connor lost the first leg of the match against the head, but eventually found his stride in the first set with a flurry of 180s and could have stolen the opener before eventually succumbing 3-2.
He rebounded brilliantly and took the second set 3-1, with the fancied Welshman struggling to build the scores he has achieved in recent tournaments.
A 125 checkout in first leg of third set from O'Connor, before the pair traded legs on throw but O'Connor took the set as Price continued to struggle with his doubles - missing double nine on five occasions to allow the Limerick man to take a 2-1 lead.
O'Connor threw a 128 checkout to level the fourth set at 1-1 and 'The Magpie' eventually struck double four to level the set 2-2 and put serious pressure on the world number three in the deciding leg. Price showed his class to take the match to a fifth and deciding set.
O'Connor took the first leg with the throw, missed a 107 out by millimetres in the second, struck his double 12 at the first attempt to take the third. Price held his nerve as the fifth set turned into a battle.
Nerves showed as O'Connor failed to find a 56 finish, miscounted on 4 and allowed Price into take a leg against the head. 'The Iceman' hit double 18 at the first time of asking to end the Limerick man's tournament.
PRICE SURVIVES A SCARE!
— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 19, 2019
WOW. Crazy moments there as Willie O'Connor miscounts allowing Gerwyn Price to lead in the tie-break and from there a hold of throw sees the third seed secure his third round spot!
He defeats O'Connor 3-2! pic.twitter.com/lvmepegToG
