The business end of the World Darts Championship is upon us now with four compelling quarter-final contests coming up at Alexandra Palace later today. With Luke Humphries out of contention, the last eight standing know they have a great chance of seizing glory.
Gerwyn Price and Chris Dobey kick us off at Alexandra Palace with their match-up coming at 12:30pm before Michael van Gerwen continues his hunt for a fourth world title against Callan Rydz. Then all eyes will be on Luke Littler during the evening session as he takes on Nathan Aspinall for a place in the last-four. But before those matches, Peter Wright - who rolled back the years to beat Humphries at the last stage - will face Stephen Bunting.
Ahead of their showdown, the drama surrounding Price and Dobey is palpable. Price cannot believe his luck after Dobey squandered five darts to win their match, and just as Price looked done for, he made it 3-4! This tension-filled atmosphere is expected to translate to the match itself as both players are eager to capitalize on the slightest opportunity.
Statistically, the tournament has shown Luke Littler leading the way with the highest average score at 100.88 and the most 180s, totalling 36. Meanwhile, Peter Wright stands out with the highest checkout percentage at 52%. There’s undoubtedly no shortage of talent competing for darts’ ultimate glory.
Speaking about the camaraderie among competitors, Bunting shared, "I spoke to him (Humphries) this morning. He wished me luck and he said he would love to hand the crown over to me and give me his World Championship. So, it means a lot." His words reflect the friendship but also the fierce competition within these quarters.
Another intriguing match-up will be between Littler and Aspinall, both known for their impressive skills on the board. Littler will need to bring his A-game as he steps up against his close friend, who has previously called for more respect within the sport. Aspinall remarked, "To be honest with you, I never get any respect. I’m not going to go all Joe Cullen here [and storm out], but I always get written off. Nobody ever talks about me. I’m a two-time Major champion, I’m a fantastic darts player."
This adds additional pressure not only for Aspinall to prove himself but for Littler to maintain his momentum entering the match with high stakes.
With Dobey and Price, the past two years have been rather unkind to Dobey, as he was defeated 5-0 by Michael van Gerwen and then 5-4 by Rob Cross after leading 4-0 last year, indicating the psychological pressure he faces going up against Price. Dobey's remarkable comeback strategy is something to watch for.
Price, the 2020-2021 champion, is familiar with the crowd's mixed reactions, which only adds to the high stakes of today’s matches. His past experiences at Alexandra Palace play heavily on his performance, and bounce-back moments are key. With his previous struggles on doubles, he must convert those shots today.
The first encounter features Chris Dobey, seeded 15th against Gerwyn Price, ranked 10th. The nuance of Dobey's comeback victory style compared to Price's hard-earned success will be pivotal. The crowd is expected to offer waves of support, adding to both players’ psychological advantages—and potential disadvantages.
Tonight’s matches will begin at 7:00 pm with Bunting aiming to shake off early round nerves against Peter Wright. Fans are excited, and the historical ambiance of Alexandra Palace promises another memorable chapter of darts as the players look to etch their names onto the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy.
With the atmosphere set and excitement mounting, darts fans are gearing up for quite the display of skill, struggle, and sportsmanship, as the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship quarter-finals promise to deliver riveting drama at Ally Pally.