PDC World Darts Championship LIVE: Results, scores and updates from Alexandra Palace
Peter Wright is the latest seeded player to exit early after James Wade lost earlier in the week
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Your support makes all the difference.Two-time winner Peter Wright crashed out of the World Darts Championship in the second round after a 3-0 defeat to Jim Williams at Alexandra Palace.
Williams, a BDO runner-up in 2020, was also far from his best in a poor quality clash, admitting afterwards: “I was fighting myself all the way and it’s a little bit frustrating – but hopefully we’ll get there.”
16-year-old Luke Littler marked his World Championship debut with a blistering 3-0 win over experienced Dutchman Christian Kist.
Littler showed no nerves as he hit seven 180s and finished with an extraordinary average of 110 to mark himself out as a genuine contender for the crown.
Also in the Wednesday evening session, Richard Veenstra eased past Ben Robb 3-0 while Ryan Joyce was a 3-1 winner over Alex Spellman.
In the afternoon, 16th seed Ross Smith eased to a 3-1 victory over Niels Zonneveld before being stung by a wasp on stage.
Meanwhile Poland’s Cork-based Radek Szaganski overcame Finland’s Marko Kantele 3-2 with a final set 142 checkout helping him through to a second-round clash with five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld.
Owen Bates lost a two-set lead as Ireland’s Steve Lennon fought back to win 3-2. Lennon’s compatriot William O’Connor had a far more comfortable time with a 3-0 victory over Bhav Patel.
Relive the action below plus find the latest tips and offers right here:
Brendan Dolan 0(2) - 0(2) Mickey Mansell
Oh yes!
The first 180 of the match lands for Mansell who leaves himself with a 40 finish. Dolan’s reply is to send two darts into the treble 20 before the third bounces out of the board.
Mansell lands the double with his first attempt. The opening set is going down to the wire.
Brendan Dolan 0(2) - 0(1) Mickey Mansell
And again.
The Northern Irishman is starting to flex his muscles as he rattles off a second successive leg to get in front for the first time in the match.
Can Mansell respond?
Brendan Dolan 0(1) - 0(1) Mickey Mansell
Dolan responds immediately.
He checks out 32 with Mansell still having three figures on the board. This match is Dolan’s first of the tournament and he’s starting to settle into it.
Brendan Dolan 0(0) - 0(1) Mickey Mansell
Mickey Mansell strikes first!
A 15 dart leg was measured and composured as he took advantage of some poor scoring from Brendan Dolan. Mansell sets up a finish of 161 but he’s so far ahead he chooses to set up with a trip of 95.
Leaving two darts at double 18 to take the first leg he undershoots his first attempt before switching over and nailing double 9!
Brendan Dolan vs Mickey Mansell
Here come the players. Friday’s darts action is about to get underway...
What is the prize money?
As well as the Sid Waddell Trophy, there is £2.5m in prize money on offer for the World Darts Championship with the champion netting £500,000.
The runner-up earns a cool £200,000 while semi-finalists will pocket £100,000 each and those that reach the quarter-finals winning £50,000.
Fourth-round and third-round losers earn themselves £35,000 and £25,000 respectively while there is £15,000 on offer for the 32 players knocked out in the second round and the 32 first-round losers will take away £7,500.
Brendan Dolan vs Mickey Mansell
The action is just starting on Sky Sports Darts. Brendan Dolan faces a second round showdown against Mickey Mansell and the players will be heading onto the stage shortly to get the afternoon session underway.
How the darts took over Christmas and New Year
It’s 8pm on the opening night of the World Darts Championship and Michael van Gerwen is sinking a pint to raucous roars at Alexandra Palace. It’s not the Michael van Gerwen, admittedly, although from a distance there is the same pink bald head, the same iconic lime green shirt, and if you discount the slightly smaller, rather rounder frame it makes for a convincing double.
Van Gerwen, the three-time world champion and last year’s beaten finalist, didn’t play here until Tuesday but as the man wearing his costume finishes his beer and the room erupts to chants of “Oooooh, Michael van Gerwen!”, the party at Ally Pally is underway. It is utter carnage already.
Later, Michael Smith, the world No 1 and conqueror of Van Gerwen in last year’s final, will take to the stage at the front of the packed hall and begin his title defence. Smith is returning to Ally Pally for the first time since his victory over Van Gerwen, a match that changed his life and produced the greatest leg of darts the sport has ever seen.
Smith’s historic nine-darter in the World Championship final, which came just seconds after Van Gerwen had his own shot at immortality, became the leg that was heard around the world: Wayne Mardle’s iconic commentary – “I CAN’T SPAKE, I CAN’T SPAKE” – helped create the sport’s first genuinely global viral moment, racking up over 30m views on social media.
How the darts continues to produce magic after its greatest moment
After the greatest leg of darts in history between Michael Smith and Michael van Gerwen, the World Championship returns for more beers, more karaoke and more fancy dress at Ally Pally
Gerwyn Price almost withdrew from World Darts Championship over crowd fears
Gerwyn Price almost pulled out of the World Darts Championship over concerns that he would face a hostile reception from the Alexandra Palace crowd.
Price wore ‘ear defenders’ last year in an attempt to block out the jeers at Ally Pally and the Welshman admitted he expected to be booed on his return this month.
The 2021 world champion opened his campaign with a swift 3-0 victory over Conor Scutt on Monday night before thanking the “brilliant crowd” after deciding to play.
The Welshman told Sky Sports he was sat at home until Sunday night and “probably wasn’t going to play“ until changing his mind.
Gerwyn Price almost withdrew from World Darts Championship over crowd fears
The 2021 champion was sat at home thinking he wasn’t going to play before changing his mind at the last second
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