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Defending champion Gerwyn Price is through to the last 16 at the PDC World Darts Championship after a dramatic 4-3 win over Kim Huybrechts at Alexandra Palace.

The two had words with each other at 3-2 in the decider and the referee had to step in to calm both players down.

“That was tough and the crowd was tough,” said world number one Price.

“We had a little bit of a niggle but that’s what the game is about.”

Price took the opening set 3-0 but Huybrechts, 36, broke his rival’s throw twice to win the second set.

The third set went to a deciding leg and Huybrechts broke Price’s throw to win. Price won the next six legs, taking out 130 to win the fourth set and 120 to win the fifth.

Huybrechts came back to win the sixth and take the game to a deciding set and sudden-death leg.

Price will face 17th seed Dutchman Dirk van Duijvenbode in the last 16.

“It was tense, it was a good game, nip and tuck and it went right to the wire,” Price added. “Thankfully I had the throw otherwise it probably could have gone the other way.”

The first match of the evening was cancelled as 29th seed Dutchman Vincent van der Voort was forced to withdraw from the competition after testing positive for Covid-19.

Van der Voort was due to play England’s James Wade who now receives a bye to the last 16.

In the afternoon session, Van Duijevenbode came back from 3-0 to beat England’s Ross Smith 4-3 as he became the first player to book his place in the fourth round.

England’s Michael Smith beat Ireland’s William O’Connor 4-2 and Australia’s Raymond Smith stunned Germany’s Florian Hempel 4-1 to make the last 16 for the first time in his career.

Welshman Jonny Clayton is also through to the last 16 for the first time in his career as he beat Germany’s Gabriel Clemens 4-0.

It was a dominant performance by Clayton who had a 102 match average and now faces Smith in the next round.

“I got out the blocks really fast and I had to as I knew what game I’d get as Gabriel is fantastic,” said Clayton.

“I’ve got to pass Michael Smith and that game’s going to massive. The way Michael is playing it’s going to be a belter.”