World Darts Championship LIVE RESULTS: Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen look to progress to last 16 – latest updates
WORLD Darts Championship action has returned after a short Christmas break - and there are several blockbuster matches on show at Ally Pally today!
Michael van Gerwen goes head-to-head with Brendan Dolan before teenage sensation Luke Littler meets Ian White in the main event of the night.
Last night, defending champion Luke Humphries thrashed Welshman Nick Kenny 4-0 to set up a last-16 clash with Peter Wright.
- Start time: From 12:45pm GMT
- Live stream: NOW TV / Sky Sports app
- TV channel: Sky Sports Darts
- Explainer: What is the prize money?
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Humphries 2-1 Kenny (2-0)
Cool Hand Luke looks scores 125, then 130 plus.
Kenny needs 144 to go, or the world No1 will throw for 52 checkout. It doesn't, and Humphries makes him pay.
Humphries with the break of throw, and he's threatening to take a three set lead here.
Humphries 1-1 Kenny (2-0)
Big Fish won't go for Kenny, who scores 58.
Humphries, hunting down 76, is sunk with a double tops.
Comfortable from Luke.
Humphries 0-1 Kenny (2-0)
Kenny leaves a good set up - 36 after scoring 140.
And he returns to get it on his next visit.
13-dart set for the Welshman.
Humphries 3-1 Kenny (2-0)
A 140 score puts Humphries on a 161 finish.
He looks like he's in a hurry. He returns to throw 105, to leave 56.
Kenny puts some pressure on leaving 86.
But Humphries doesn't feel it. He takes the second set.
Humphries 2-1 Kenny (1-0)
Humphries sinks another 180, and he's beginning to settle in.
Cool Hand Luke is a double 12 away from a 84 checkout. But Kenny can't finish, so he'll get another look at it.
He returns to sink the double 6.
Humphries 1-1 Kenny (1-0)
Three straight tons for Humphries puts him in a good position.
Then he sets up a 31 finish with a 170 score.
And it's as easy as that. He's level.
Humphries 0-1 Kenny (1-0)
The break is on for Kenny.
However, he misses the bullseye for a 80 plus checkout.
Humphries can only watch on as Kenny returns to sink the double 8 and take the leg.
Humphries 3-2 Kenny (1-0)
Humphries, still not on a finish, and Kenny has six darts in hand.
And the Welshman leaves a two dart combo - treble 20, double 8.
But he opts for a different route, missing the double 18 at the death.
Humphries claims the opening set with a 60 plus checkout.
Humphries 2-2 Kenny
Another 180 from Humphries, and he's in a commanding position.
But Kenny makes him think with a 140 reply.
Humphries first to a finish on 128, as Kenny leaves 167.
But he can only muster 48 - and needs treble 20 and double 10.
He needs a third dart with the double 5 to level up the set.
Humphries 1-2 Kenny
So far so good for Kenny.
He's not getting overawed, and has a poke at 134. But he tees up tops.
And he finds it straight away.
Humphries 1-1 Kenny
Luke, once again, leaves himself a 32 checkout.
He misses the double 16, hitting the 16, before finding the double 8.
Kenny needs to hold his throw if he wants to snatch a set.
Humphries 0-1 Kenny
Cool Hand Luke gets the first maximum of the match in the first leg.
He then tees up double 16, with Kenny leaving 105.
Humphries can't nail a 13,14, or 15 dart throw - scoring nothing.
Then Kenny snatches it with a 105 checkout!
Wattimena 1-3 Wright (2-4)
Double 4 and Wright sinks a 68 checkout!
He's still in the World Darts Championship and that was one of his best performances at Ally Pally for yonks.
Snakebite hit 10 180s in that match, Incredible.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright (2-3)
Wattimena gets a leg back.
But it's Wright to throw for the match.
Snakebite's to lose, now.
Wattimena 0-2 Wright (2-3)
Double 16, and Wright's recorded another ton plus finish.
Wright is on the brink.
Wattimena must win three legs on the spin.
Wattimena 0-1 Wright (2-3)
Double 18 won't go for Wright for a 156 checkout!
But then Wattimena misses double tops, and Wright has a lifeline.
Snakebite gets there with a double 4.
Wattimena 3-0 Wright (2-3)
Machine Gun takes the set.
A 100 set average there, and he has the darts in this set.
Wright needs a response.
Wattimena 2-0 Wright (1-3)
Wright with a 180 leaves 167.
He won't get it, but leaves 68 for his next visit.
Wattimena can't take 106.
But then Wright misses double tops.
Wattimena secures tops for a 59 checkout.
Wattimena 1-0 Wright (1-3)
Consecutive 180s from both players.
Wattimena finds a solution, making a mess, before finding the double 11.
Uncomfortable, but he got there.
Wattimena 0-3 Wright (1-3)
Wright gets a look at 147, leaves 87.
Wattimena's on a finish with 116, it has to go, but he leaves 56.
Wright gets the bullseye with his final dart! He's a set away from the next round.
Wattimena 0-2 Wright (1-2)
Wright nails ANOTHER leg.
70 plus checkout, and he was under pressure with Wattimena leaving 54.
This is majestic from Snakebite.
Wattimena 0-1 Wright (1-2)
Wright was tops away for a ton plus finish.
Wattimena needs 44, but scores just 12.
Double 10 for Wright misses, but after leaving a marker for the double 5 he nails it with his final dart.
Wattimena 3-2 Wright (1-2)
Wattimena's catching Wright up in maximums.
Five to six.
Wright's on the Big Fish, but he leaves three at tops.
Wattimena finds 144! What a checkout.
Wattimena 2-2 Wright (0-2)
100 leaves Wright on a finish - 150, a tough ask.
Wattimena puts pressure on, leaving double tops.
Wright doesn't get it, and Wattimena has no problem at all.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright (0-2)
There's a lull in this leg.
Low scores all round.
However, Wright needs double 16 - and he finds it.
Snakebite is not giving Machine Gun an inch.