Gerwyn Price got into a tense exchange with Daryl Gurney after his 10-7 victory in the first round of the World Matchplay in Blackpool.
They shook hands firmly after Price finished the match with a double 12, and Gurney appeared to express displeasure at his opponent's celebration on stage.
Gurney, trailing 6-2, was inspired to win the ninth match and celebrated by repeating Price's signature fist pump.
The Northern Irishman was one dart short of levelling the score at 8-8, but Price, a 2022 finalist, pulled himself together to pull ahead and claim victory.
Gurney's compatriot Josh Rock, with whom he won the World Cup of Darts last month, produced the best result with a 10-5 win over 14th seed Ross Smith.
Rock won the first five legs, leaving his opponent with no chance, and the 24-year-old finished the match with an average of 104, gaining revenge for a first-round loss to the same opponent last year.
Rock's next opponent is Michael van Gerwen, who did not produce his best game in a tough 10-6 win over veteran rival Raymond van Barneveld.
Three-time winner Van Gerwen took advantage of a series of missed opportunities from his opponent and admitted he was not particularly satisfied with his performance.
“I made it difficult for myself and when things get difficult the game gets difficult,” Van Gerwen told Sky Sports.
“With my current situation, I haven't played a lot of tournaments and that makes it more difficult. We all know I'm a winner, I hate losing and I think this is the start of something positive.”
In the first match of the third day of the tournament, sixth seed Chris Dobey won 10-5 against German Ricardo Pietreczko.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
