Saturday at Alexandra Palace delivered everything we love about World Championship darts. Drama, comebacks, near-perfection, and the kind of high-quality tungsten that has the crowd roaring from the first dart to the last. Six matches across two sessions, and not a dull moment among them.
Anderson’s Near-Perfect Night Ends in Seven-Set Thriller
Gary Anderson turned back the clock in spectacular fashion, but made life far harder for himself than it needed to be. The two-time world champion was absolutely magnificent for long stretches against Jermaine Wattimena, crashing in a tournament-high 14 maximums and averaging over 100 for the second consecutive match.
The headline moment came when Anderson left himself on 174 after nine darts—just 27 away from darting immortality. The nine-darter wasn’t to be, but it showcased the kind of form the Scot is capable of when everything clicks.
At 3-1 up, Anderson had three darts to wrap up the match. He missed them all. At 3-2, he had another. Missed again. Wattimena, showing tremendous heart, dragged it back to 3-3 and forced a deciding set. The Ally Pally crowd was on its feet, sensing one of the upsets of the tournament.
But Anderson has been here before. The decider went to a tie-break, and it was the Flying Scotsman who held his nerve, finally getting over the line after a match that had everything.
“I could have had that wrapped up at 4-1 quite easily, but he got the better of me,” Anderson admitted afterwards. “I’m delighted to get through. The nine-darter wasn’t to be, but there’s still time in this tournament.”
His reward? A mouth-watering round four clash with Michael van Gerwen. Two of the greatest players of their generation going head-to-head at Ally Pally. It doesn’t get much bigger than that.
Humphries Survives Clemens Scare
Defending champion Luke Humphries is through to round four, but not without a proper scare from Gabriel Clemens. The German, playing some of the best darts of his career, became the first player from his country to average over 100 at the World Championship.
Humphries raced into a 3-1 lead and looked to be cruising towards the last 16. But Clemens had other ideas. The German Giant found another gear, taking the fifth set and then the sixth to level the match at 3-3… wait, no. Humphries steadied the ship at 3-2 down in the sixth set, showing exactly the kind of mental fortitude that saw him lift the Sid Waddell Trophy twelve months ago.
“You have to stand up and ask what version of you will come out,” Humphries reflected. “That’s what you need to be World Champion. Gabriel played brilliantly—that average was incredible. But I found a way.”
Cool Hand Luke will face the winner of Nathan Aspinall vs Kevin Doets in round four. The Dutch number 40 has already caused problems for Aspinall in previous meetings, so the seeded man will need to be at his best.
MVG Makes Light Work of Merk
Michael van Gerwen showed exactly why he remains one of the most feared players in the sport with a clinical dispatch of Arno Merk. The three-time world champion was in ominous form, firing in nine maximums and converting a superb 50% of his double attempts.
Merk showed glimpses of quality—checkouts of 145, 120 and 67 demonstrated his finishing prowess—but there was simply no living with van Gerwen when the Green Machine got rolling. MVG won six of the final eight legs to close out a comfortable victory.
The real story, though, is what comes next. Van Gerwen vs Anderson in round four is a fixture that would grace any final, let alone a last-16 tie. These two have produced some of the greatest matches in modern darts history, and there’s no reason to think Monday won’t deliver another classic.
“I’m really looking forward to playing Gary,” van Gerwen said with a grin. “When you play him, there’s always room for fireworks. We both know what’s at stake, and we both want to win this tournament. It’s going to be special.”
Van Veen Continues Steady Progress
Tenth seed Gian van Veen made serene progress into round four with a comfortable victory over Madars Razma. The young Dutchman has been one of the most consistent performers of the tournament, and this was another polished display.
Razma took one set to avoid the whitewash, but van Veen was in control throughout. At just 24 years old, the Rotterdam man is part of a golden generation of Dutch talent that’s taking the PDC by storm. With three Dutchmen already through to the last 16, the Netherlands is having quite the tournament.
Van Veen will face the winner of Charlie Manby vs Ricky Evans—another fascinating contest between youth and experience.
Afternoon Session: Searle and Cross Deliver Masterclasses
The afternoon session belonged to two men in devastating form. Ryan Searle produced the performance of his World Championship career, whitewashing Martin Schindler with an average of 102.29—his best ever at Alexandra Palace.
Heavy Metal never gave Schindler a sniff. After a competitive opening two sets, Searle shifted through the gears, reeling off nine consecutive legs to seal a dominant victory. The German, who’d shown good form earlier in the tournament, simply had no answer to the barrage of heavy scoring and clinical finishing.
Searle will face James Hurrell in round four—a genuine opportunity to reach the quarter-finals for the first time.
Rob Cross was equally ruthless against Damon Heta. The 2018 world champion has found his form at precisely the right moment, and Heta—despite producing some quality of his own—was swept aside in straight sets.
Cross averaged in the mid-90s throughout and never looked troubled. The Australian threw well at times, but Voltage was simply too consistent, too clinical, and too experienced to be denied.
His reward is a blockbuster last-16 clash with Luke Littler. The 17-year-old sensation against the man who won this title in 2018. Cross has the experience and the game to trouble anyone, but Littler has been in sensational form. It promises to be one of the ties of the round.
Looking Ahead
The round four line-up is taking shape, and what a set of matches we have in store. Van Gerwen vs Anderson is the headline act—two legends of the sport going toe-to-toe at the Palace. Littler vs Cross pits the future against recent history. Humphries awaits the winner of Aspinall vs Doets.
This World Championship is delivering on every level. The quality has been exceptional, the drama relentless, and the best is surely yet to come. Strap in—it’s only getting better from here.