The PDC World Championship at Alexandra Palace saw significant upsets as former champion Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall were both eliminated. Cross, a fifth seed and the 2018 champion, suffered a 3-1 defeat against Scott Williams, while Ricky Evans pulled off a dramatic victory over sixth seed Chisnall in a sudden-death leg.
Evans, who defeated world No. 6 Nathan Aspinall at the same venue last year, showcased his nerve in a thrilling second-round clash. Both players missed match darts before Evans emerged victorious with a 3-2 win, setting up a third-round meeting with Robert Owen. Reflecting on his win, Evans expressed disbelief at the crowd’s support, humorously commenting on the stark contrast to his everyday life and thanking the fans for their encouragement.
Chisnall initially appeared poised to continue his strong first-round record, having not lost at this stage since 2018. He claimed the first set in style but faltered when attempting to close out the second set, missing double five and allowing Evans to take a 2-1 lead. Though Chisnall leveled the match, the deciding moments proved dramatic. Evans narrowly missed the bullseye to secure the final set at 4-2, and Chisnall had a chance to seal the victory with a double top. However, Chisnall’s missed opportunity allowed Evans, who had the advantage of throwing first in the sudden-death leg, to clinch the match.
The night concluded with Cross’s loss to Williams. Cross took the first set but struggled as Williams claimed the next three, ending the match just before midnight. Williams demonstrated resilience and composure to overcome the fifth seed in a demanding encounter.
Elsewhere, Jonny Clayton advanced to the third round after a nail-biting sudden-death leg against Mickey Mansell. Despite losing the opening set due to missed doubles, Clayton rallied with six consecutive legs, including a standout 100 checkout with a tops-tops finish. Mansell, known for his impressive run to the Grand Slam of Darts semi-finals, landed successive finishes of 136 and 154, threatening a significant upset. However, Clayton forced a deciding leg and ultimately secured the win with a double five, setting up a clash with Daryl Gurney in the next round.
Gurney, the 26th seed, overcame Florian Hempel in another gripping match. Hempel took a 2-1 lead after a dominant third set, but Gurney leveled the contest with a 156 checkout and edged the final set to win 3-2. Meanwhile, Hempel’s fellow German, Ricardo Pietreczko, delivered a clinical performance, hitting 56% of his doubles to defeat Gian van Veen 3-1.
Other notable results included Alexis Toylo’s 3-1 loss to Krzysztof Ratajski and an impressive display by Josh Rock, who cruised to a 3-0 victory over Rhys Griffin in the Welshman’s debut. Andrew Gilding also advanced to the third round for the first time, throwing six maximums in a 3-1 win over Martin Lukeman, the Grand Slam of Darts runner-up.
These results highlighted the unpredictability of the tournament, with several top seeds exiting early and underdogs seizing their moments on the big stage. The intensity and drama of the matches underscored the high stakes and immense pressure of competing at Alexandra Palace, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the championship.
