World Darts Championship: Seeds dominate to produce star-studded third round at Alexandra Palace | Darts News

Defending champion Peter Wright and Michael van Gerwen are each via to the third spherical, the place world No. 1 Gerwyn Worth faces Raymond van Barneveld; Watch each dart from Alexandra Palace stay on Sky Sports activities all through to the ultimate on January 3

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John Half likes that the highest seeds are nonetheless within the match because it means there are many tight video games to look ahead to.

The world’s greatest gamers have dominated the early levels of the World Darts Championship, with solely three seeds failing to succeed in the third spherical on the Alexandra Palace.

4-time semi-finalist James Wade is the highest-ranked participant to fall within the first fixtures of the match, the eighth seed struggling a shock 3-2 defeat to Wales’ Jim Williams on Thursday, with “The Machine” the one one of many world’s high 20 unable to progress.

Alan Soutar defeated twenty fourth seed Daryl Gurney in straight units, having beat Australian qualifier Mal Cuming within the first spherical, whereas Josh Rock is the opposite unseeded participant to make it via to spherical three after following his opening-round win over Jose Justicia by brushing apart Callan Rydz.

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Alan Soutar says he’s getting used to the large levels after he beat Daryl Gurney within the second spherical of the World Championship.

The last-32 may have 29 seeded gamers concerned, a document because the match expanded its area dimension in 2006, with two-time world champion John Half anticipating loads of pleasure when the occasion continues after Christmas.

“I feel in most years you’d discover not less than possibly one of many high 5 gone and much more different seeds gone, however they’ve hung in there and that is good for us!” Half informed Sky Sports activities.

“We will get higher matches for it and it is type of proof that the rating system is working effectively and the scores are legitimate, as we’re not having a ton of upsets.

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A take a look at the largest, greatest and funniest moments of the World Darts Championship thus far.

“It is all the time nice when we now have some younger expertise come up and into the ranks, however I hate when the seeding is decimated, and also you lose all these potential nice matches afterward within the match.

“We’re fairly safe this 12 months for that and it’ll be filled with tight video games now, as a result of they’re all nonetheless in.”

What’s subsequent?

The match resumes on Tuesday December 27 with a double-session of third-round motion, with two-time semi-finalist Nathan Aspinall up in opposition to World Youth champion Rock in a tasty afternoon session.

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Laura Turner discusses Josh Rock’s spectacular win over Callan Rydz however says Rock should elevate his recreation as he’s set to face Nathan Aspinall in a mouth-watering conflict in spherical three.

Reigning champion Peter Wright continues his title defence in opposition to Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts later that night, the place world No. 1 Gerwyn Worth faces five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld in a titanic tussle.

Worth was overwhelmed twice by Van Barneveld in the course of the Grand Slam of Darts final month, the place he was edged in a final-leg decider within the group stage earlier than dropping 16-13 within the quarter-finals, with two-time world champion Half anticipating the Welshman to face a troublesome take a look at as soon as once more.

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Gerwyn Worth and Raymond van Barneveld will face off on the primary day again at Ally Pally after the Christmas break.

“Worth desires to make issues proper so far as he sees it,” Half informed Sky Sports activities. “He has to repair it and you’ll’t simply maintain dropping to legendary figures of the previous or be displaced by them within the current!

“He might exit of the match due to this and that might be, at this stage, severely expensive to him within the rating. Worth must determine all that out and it’ll be thrilling.

“Van Barneveld is such a legend of the sport. The considered him having a run, as an instance just like the Grand Slam to the semis, and probably one other world title if he will get that shut, can be completely thrilling and we all know he is succesful.

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Raymond van Barneveld mirrored on his wonderful profession forward of his thirtieth World Darts Championship look

“He is a five-time world champion and could be very acquainted and comfy with the set format. If it wasn’t sufficient that he beat him within the match play type on the Grand Slam, then he’ll really feel additionally very at dwelling and with much more of a bonus as a result of he has confirmed he loves units.”

Who’s else is enjoying after Christmas?

Tuesday December 27
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
3x Third Spherical
Dimitri Van den Bergh vs Krzysztof Ratajski
Nathan Aspinall vs Josh Rock
Jonny Clayton vs Brendan Dolan

Night Session (7pm)
3x Third Spherical
Jim Williams vs Gabriel Clemens
Gerwyn Worth vs Raymond van Barneveld
Peter Wright vs Kim Huybrechts

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John Half displays on Peter Wright’s opening win in opposition to Mickey Mansell and his hopes of a World Darts Championship title defence

Wednesday December 28
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
3x Third Spherical
Ryan Searle vs Jose de Sousa
Danny Noppert vs Alan Soutar
Gary Anderson vs Chris Dobey

Night Session (7pm)
3x Third Spherical
Joe Cullen vs Damon Heta
Michael van Gerwen vs Mensur Suljovic
Michael Smith vs Martin Schindler

Thursday December 29
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
3x Third Spherical
Dirk van Duijvenbode vs Ross Smith
Rob Cross vs Mervyn King
Dave Chisnall vs Stephen Bunting

Night Session (7pm)
1x Third Spherical, 2x Fourth Spherical
Luke Humphries vs Vincent van der Voort

Watch the 2023 PDC World Darts Championship – stay on Sky Sports activities Darts – via to the ultimate on January 3. Protection continues on Tuesday December 27 from noon on Sky Sports activities Darts and Sky Sports activities Principal Occasion, forward of the night session from 7pm.