World Darts Championship 2026: Gian van Veen, Ricky Evans and Damon Heta progress as seed Ross Smith knocked out

Gian van Veen survived a scare towards Cristo Reyes to choose up a 3-1 win at Alexandra Palace, his first victory within the World Darts Championship on the third time of asking.

World No 7 Van Veen remarkably entered night time two on the Palace with no win on the large stage to his identify having misplaced to Man Lok Leung and Ricardo Pietreczko on his two earlier appearances, however this time he managed to battle to victory.

The Dutchman didn’t have to succeed in notably dizzy heights to wrap up the opening set, his 92.26 common sufficient to maintain Reyes at bay.

The second set was the place Van Veen actually got here into his personal and he confirmed his type of late with a staggering 107 common serving to him to canter 2-0 forward.

However, Reyes wouldn’t again down and located an excellent 167 checkout on the bullseye, plus two breaks of throw, to get a set on the board earlier than taking the fourth set all the way in which, Van Veen ultimately clinching his monumental win on D16.

“Finally across that line! The last few years have been a massive struggle here on this stage but today I felt right at home. Luckily it paid off,” Van Veen informed Sky Sports.

“Two years in the past once I was 2-0 up towards Man Lok Leung and he gained 3-2. When Cristo took the third set I went ‘oh no, do not return to 2-2 and get nervy’.

“Luckily, in the last set at 2-1 down I started playing well, so I’m very happy.”

Meanwhile, Ross Smith turned the primary seed to tumble at this yr’s World Championship as he squandered six match darts in a shock defeat to 50-year-old Swedish debutant Andreas Harrysson.

Smith, seeded twelfth, led 2-1 however did not take his likelihood within the fourth set after preventing off the Ally Pally wasp and was punished by Harrysson who gained 5 legs in a row on his solution to taking the match to a deciding set and successful the fifth set itself.

Evans and Heta present class and showmanship in first-round wins

Ricky Evans put in a strong show to choose up a 3-0 win over Lok Leung within the first spherical.

Lok Leung made his mark on Ally Pally again in 2024 when he beat Van Veen on his debut however couldn’t replicate such a feat on his return.

Evans delighted the gang along with his festive walk-on to Shakin’ Stevens’ ‘Merry Christmas Everyone’ after which excited them along with his darts, a sensational 134 checkout the spotlight within the first set as he romped right into a 1-0 lead.

Evans didn’t let his stage drop within the second set, however Lok Leung met him to show it into an actual battle, the Englishman ultimately surviving the scare and pinning tops to maneuver 2-0 forward.

Despite Lok Leung breaking the Evans throw to take the third set to a fifth deciding leg, Evans fired in his eleventh 140 on the way in which to leaving 84, nailing D12 for the match.

Damon Heta put in a complete show to assert a 3-1 victory over Steve Lennon.

‘The Heat’ lived as much as his nickname within the opening set as he took all three legs, touchdown silky 144 and 110 checkouts on the way in which to the 1-0 lead. Lennon then rallied because the pair shared breaks within the opening legs of the second set however the Aussie got here good with a 100 checkout to seal the deal, placing on a present for the Ally Pally trustworthy.

Heta’s medical ending show was dropped at a halt as Lennon battled again in a deciding leg to deliver the rating line to 2-1 however from there he got here out firing once more to take three legs on the bounce to wrap up the fourth set for victory.

Cross indicators off win with ‘The Big Fish’ as White, Searle make successful begins

Former world champion Rob Cross made a powerful begin his bid for a second world title after thrashing Norway’s Cor Dekker in straight units on Friday afternoon at Alexandra Palace.

The 2018 winner of the Sid Waddell Trophy solely dropped two legs throughout a one-sided contest towards Dekker, who struggled on the outer ring on his World Championship debut.

Cross breezed by way of the primary set in straight legs and took the second in a final-leg decider, then produced a showstopping end as he closed out victory by nailing the primary ‘Big Fish’ 170 checkout of this yr’s event.

“I was a little bit edgy today,” Cross informed Sky Sports. “I thought I was going to come out and be brand new but I wasn’t. I’m really proud of myself. Glad to get through and there’s a lot more in the tank. Lots of fire in the belly. I think I’ll be better in the next game – I’m back!”

‘Voltage’ will subsequent face Ian White, who squandered a two-set lead towards fellow veteran Mervyn King earlier than claiming a dramatic 3-2 victory, whereas Neils Zonneveld arrange a second-round assembly with former world champion Michael Smith after a 3-0 win over Haupai Puha.

The different match of the session noticed Ryan Searle thrash Chris Landman in straight units, with ‘Heavy Metal’ – the seventeenth seed – now going through Brendan Dolan or Tavis Dudeney within the subsequent spherical.

What’s subsequent?

Mario Vandenbogaerde faces David Davies within the opening match of Saturday’s afternoon session, stay from 12.30pm on Sky Sports Darts, with reigning world champion Luke Littler awaiting the winner.

Andrew Gilding performs Cam Crabtree, Luke Woodhouse takes on Boris Krcmar and Gary Anderson begins his bid for a 3rd world title towards Adam Hunt, earlier than Luke Humphries headlines the night session from 7pm.

Jeffrey de Graaf is up towards the legendary Paul Lim and Wessel Nijman performs Karel Sedlacek forward of Humphries’ opener with Ted Evetts, whereas the ultimate match sees former semi-finalist Gabriel Clemens face Alex Spellman.

Who will win the Paddy Power World Darts Championship? Watch each match solely stay till January 3 on Sky Sports’ devoted darts channel (Sky channel 407). Stream darts and extra high sport with NOW.