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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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.
Wattimena 1-1 Wright (0-2)
Ooh Peter Wright!
A double tops away from an amazing 154 checkout.
Wattimena snatches the leg.
Wattimena 0-1 Wright (0-2)
This is magnificent from Wright.
50 per cent on the doubles, and he's shutting the door on Wattimena.
This was not in the script.
Wattimena 0-2 Wright (0-1)
Wattimena is averaging 103 in this set. He's not playing bad.
And it's his leg, surely? No, he leaves 8 after fluffing 41.
That said, Wright's miles out on 190 odd.
Wattimena then squirms again and leaves 2.
Wright misses double 16 for a set dart.
And it's not happening for Wattimena on the doubles, as he misses again. Wright nails the double 8 with his final dart!
Wattimena 0-2 Wright (0-1)
10 dart leg from Peter Wright!
That's an amazing leg from Snakebite, and the Wright of old.
Chest infection? What chest infection?
Wattimena 0-1 Wright (0-1)
Wright is on fire with a 180.
He then leaves the double tops for a 117 finish. Wattimena can't check out the 150.
Wright returns, but busts his score!
Wattimena has a lifeline, but squanders 50.
Wright returns and gets it!
Incidentally, Wattimena reportedly cut his finger (from his non-throwing arm) cutting the Christmas turkey. No joke.
Wattimena 1-3 Wright (0-1)
Wright might be coughing and spluttering, but he's taken the opening set.
He's letting his darts do the talking.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright
Snakebite takes the lead in this opening set.
This is encouraging. 53 checkout.
That'll do nicely. Break Machine Gun and he'll take the set.
Wattimena 1-1 Wright
Beautiful leg of darts from Wright.
Double tops seals a 12-darter.
Go on lad.
Wattimena 1-0 Wright
The odds are against Snakebite tonight. It doesn't help that he's got a chest infection too.
Wattimena breaks Wright early, misses the double 16, but lays down the marker on the double 8.
First blood, Machine Gun.
Price reaction
That was tough. I just wanted to get over the winning line... every single set he just kept coming back. He played some good darts at the right time.
"The crowd were well behind him, and I actually thought I was going to lose that game.
"I put myself in that position, I got myself out of it. I kept in it right till the end and thankfully got the win and I'm still in.
"I've got a lot more in the tank and I'll play a lot better than I played tonight. I done enough to win - and I'm just happy with that."
Price 6-5 Cullen (4-3)
Price wraps up a thriller.
Both players are exhausted. What an incredible match.
Cullen fought till the end.
Price 5-5 Cullen (3-3)
Price has two at double 10.
And then he can't end the classic with the double 5.
Cullen needs the Big Fish to go.
And you wouldn't believe it! What a hit from Cullen!!!
Price 5-4 Cullen (3-3)
Look at this! Just at the right time Cullen finds a 180 and leaves a 132 finish.
Price is not on a finish, so he won't go bull, bull, double 16. He sets up 72.
He finds the treble 20, but misses two at the double 6.
Price finds the double tops, and breaks Cullen.
Price 4-4 Cullen (3-3)
Cullen's power scoring has left him with double eight.
And he finds it straight away.
He's levelled it up again!
Price 4-3 Cullen (3-3)
Cullen's 64 leaves him with an 87 finish.
Price's 134 then leaves him a 50 checkout. Cullen fails.
Price persists with the tops and finally nails it!
Price 3-3 Cullen (3-3)
Cullen makes it interesting leaving 82.
Price needs tops for a 116 checkout. And he misses AGAIN!
That tops has tortured him!
And Cullen lives on!
Price 3-2 Cullen (3-3)
A timely 180 from Price is followed by a 137 score.
Price then leaves 79 with 105.
Cullen puts pressure on - scoring 130 plus and now has a 54 finish.
He returns to miss the double 18.
Price misses double tops, double 10, then double 5!
Cullen needs double 18, and ends up missing the double 6!
Price finally finds the double 2. He's throwing for the match.
Price 2-2 Cullen (3-3)
It's edgy.
But Price's 131 leaves him to tidy up a 70.
Cullen has to put him under pressure - and leaves 130.
Tops eludes Price yet again!
Cullen's then a double 5 away from winning the match! Nearly a ton plus finish from the Bradford boy. Unreal!
We're into sudden death.
Price 1-2 Cullen (3-3)
Cullen's 140 leaves him with 78 - and he scores 58 on his next visit.
He'll be back with Price out on 180 plus.
Cullen returns to win the leg!
Price 1-1 Cullen (3-3)
The effort from both players is brilliant. They are battling out there on the oche.
134 from Cullen leaves a 70 checkout - and a chance to break straight back.
Price is out on 119.
But Joe's a double 16 away from taking the leg. Price then can't take the bullseye for a 119 finish.
Cullen misses three darts at the double 8, the last one was well awkward.
Price misses the double 6 - that would have put him two up!
Cullen looking at th the green of double 4 - and he finds it!
Price 1-0 Cullen (3-3)
Price needs to dig himself out of a hole and finds a 180.
Cullen scores 162 to leave 146, and then on his next visit leaves 52.
Price finds double 10 to find a massive 140 checkout.
Price 1-3 Cullen (3-3)
A 164 visit from Cullen leaves 142.
But he can't level up the match on this visot, and leaves a 57 checkout instead.
Tops for Price has been a battle, and he's just too high again. He can't close the leg.
Cullen then finds double 10. An incredible leg from Joe! We're level!
Price 1-2 Cullen (3-2)
Price and Cullen both struggle to leave a finish. A load of treble-less visits.
Finally, Price nails a 91 to whittle his score down to 76.
Cullen leaves 50 after being on 144.
Price then misses two darts at double 8.
Break is on for Cullen - and the double 16 goes!
Price 1-1 Cullen (3-2)
Two sloppy darts from Joe and he's given Price the opportunity.
Nervy set, this.
Unbelievably, Price misses tops AGAIN!
Cullen was a bullseye away from a 122 checkout.
Price gets the double 5, he's found a double!