The atmosphere at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship is at fever pitch as the third round wrapped up with several nail-biting matches at Alexandra Palace.
Twentieth seed Ryan Searle was eliminated after losing a thrilling encounter to Ryan Joyce, who won 4-3. Searle fought back impressively after trailing two sets down, maintaining his composure with an average of 100.97 throughout the match. Despite his efforts, Joyce showcased his skill, producing a sensational 113 checkout to take the lead and eventually clinch victory. He will now face either the fourth seed Luke Littler or Ian White, who are set to compete later on Saturday evening.
Meanwhile, Nathan Aspinall, the 12th seed, made headlines with his convincing 4-0 triumph over 21st seed Andrew Gilding. This victory marks Aspinall's first time advancing to the last 16 for five years, and he attributed his success to his sharpness on the doubles. The 33-year-old from Stockport displayed remarkable focus, hitting six of seven outer doubles during the match. Gilding, on the other hand, struggled to capitalize on his opportunities, missing key darts at double which allowed Aspinall to gain the upper hand.
Aspinall reflected on his performance by saying, "I’m glad I could finish. Normally I'm really bad at finishing, that's normally why I lose...It wasn't my best performance. I finished fantastic again, but we've got to get the scoring going with finishing, I'll be tough to beat.” He will face Ricardo Pietreczko, who progressed after delivering an impressive 4-1 win over Scott Williams, the semi-finalist from last year.
The afternoon session also saw Ricardo Pietreczko delivering one of the standout performances as he dominated Williams. Pietreczko started strong, going two sets up before responding expertly to Williams’ sole set win, finishing the match with an impressive 121 checkout. Commenting on the German's fan support, Pietreczko said, "There are so many fans with tickets from Germany here and it makes for a great atmosphere. I was very close to beating Luke Humphries last year but I am in the Last 16 now and I look forward to meeting him again."
Joyce's path to victory was particularly thrilling, as he consistently matched Searle lead for lead, allowing for dramatic shifts. The contest went back and forth, and Joyce's ability to maintain focus during the key legs proved decisive. The match proved to be one of the highlights of the day, showcasing the intense competitiveness of this year’s championship.
The evening session on Saturday continued the excitement with matches headlined by stars such as Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen, set to draw substantial fanfare as they take to the stage.
The PDC World Darts Championship has been defined by moments of individual brilliance, and the already high stakes are only set to soar higher as players showcase their pitches. With Aspinall’s rise back to form and Joyce's resilience on display, the tournament is shaping up to be one for the history books.
The championship runs through January 3, with all matches broadcast live on Sky Sports. Fans can expect even more fantastic darts action over the coming weeks as the competition toughens.
