Brendan Dolan's William Hill World Darts Championship hopes were ended following a thrilling encounter with world number 3 Gerwyn Price at the Alexandra Palace tonight.

The Belcoo man pushed Price all the way as he took the game to a final leg but it was the Welsh man who progressed to the last 16 with a 72 check out in the decider.

The first set went with the throw although Dolan missed two darts at double 11 in the final leg of the set before Price hit double 12 to take an early advantage.

However, the Fermanagh man breezed through set two as he broke the Price throw with a 76 checkout on way to claiming the set 3-0.

Price controlled the next set as he took it 3-0 and after the opening four legs in set four went with the darts Price missed double seven for the set and Dolan cleaned up to level up matters again.

Price again had the upperhand in set five as he took it 3-0 to move one set away from victory but back came Dolan once more and he held his nerve to hit a brilliant 104 checkout to take the game to a deciding set.

Again there was little dividing the players in the final set with Dolan taking out 120 to send the contest into a deciding leg but wasn't to be though for world number 30 Dolan as Price, with the throw, was able to take out tops on a 72 finish to seal the win.