Paul Lim sets up Luke Humphries rematch at the World Darts Championship as Anderson survives scare

Paul Lim produced a vintage display to defeat Jeffrey De Graaf and set up a showdown with Luke Humphries on his World Darts Championship return.

Lim, 71, made history as the first player aged over 70 to win a match at the World Championship as he dumped out Sweden’s De Graaf 3-1 in the opening round at Alexandra Palace.

Lim, who made his first World Championship appearance back in 1982 and famously landed the only nine-darter at Lakeside in 1990, rolled back the years once again.

The Singapore icon capitalised on a missed set dart from De Graaf to lead 2-1 thanks to a crucial 71 finish, before wrapping up the match in the following set.

“What can I say? De Graaf is a great player – I just had the opportunity and I took it,” said Lim, a WDF World Championship finalist 12 months ago.

“That’s what keeps me going for all these years, moments like this. This is the biggest stage we have in the sport, it’s the Super Bowl of darts.

“I don’t know why the crowd were on my side, but I felt the appreciation within myself.”

Lim will now face second seed Humphries in a repeat of their clash five years ago after the 2024 World Champion overcame Ted Evetts 3-1.

Humphries fired in eight 180s and averaged 98.5 in a commanding win over Evetts – who resiliently took the third set on his Ally Pally return.

“That’s probably the best I’ve played in the opening round of the World Championship ever,” said Humphries.

“I got a little bit comfortable, but I managed to win the game. I’m not going to think that because I had one bad set that my performance wasn’t good enough – I’m going to take the positives.”

“Paul Lim and I get on well, but of course it’s business in the next game.

“If I’m scoring the way I did tonight it’s going to be a tough one for him – it’s a game that I relish, playing a legend.”

Gary Anderson was another former World Champion to secure his progression into round two, fending off a valiant performance from Adam Hunt to win 3-2 and record a 16th opening round win in his 17th appearance.

The Scotsman had trailed 2-1, but averaged 108 in the fourth set and crashed in six 180s over the game to secure a comeback victory.

“Thankfully, I got over the line,” said Anderson, who will face Connor Scutt or Simon Whitlock in round two.

“There’s a lot of better players now compared to a decade ago. There used be 20 good players, now it’s 128.

“I just want to keep going so I can get a shot on the new stage next year.”

Meanwhile, Wessel Nijman blitzed to a straight sets win over Czechia’s Karel Sedlacek, averaging 101 and converting 50 per cent of his double attempts.

The Dutchman, who finished second on the Players Championship rankings this year, landed a 136 checkout to clinch the first set, setting the tone for his ruthless whitewash.

Nijman will play Gabriel Clemens in round two, as the former semi-finalist also booked his place in round two with a straight-sets win over Alex Spellman.

Clemens produced a stunning 170 checkout in the second leg and restricted his opponent to just a solitary leg through the contest in the fastest of this year’s World Championship so far.

Luke Woodhouse advanced to the second round with a 3-1 triumph over Boris Krcmar, coming back from behind after the Croatian star took out 121 on the bullseye to snatch the first set.

Despite trailing, Woodhouse rallied, capitalising on missed darts from Krcmar to win the third set before finishing the job with a 15-dart break.

Meanwhile, David Davies fulfilled a dream debut at Alexandra Palace, securing a 3-0 win against Mario Vandenbogaerde to set up a round two clash with defending World Champion Luke Littler.

The Welshman – an NHS worker and part-time player who won on the Challenge Tour this year – coasted into a 2-0 lead before sealing the straight-sets win on his sixth match dart.

Former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding got the better of 2025 Development Tour winner Cam Crabtree, taking a 3-1 victory courtesy of a stronger performance on the outer-ring.

Crabtree had threatened a comeback by winning the fourth set to reduce the deficit to 2-1, but Gilding exhibited an experienced display to win the final set in straight legs.

World Darts Championship 2025/26 Day Three Results

Saturday December 13

First Round

Afternoon Session
Mario Vandenbogaerde 0-3 David Davies
Andrew Gilding 3-1 Cam Crabtree
Luke Woodhouse 3-1 Boris Krcmar
Gary Anderson 3-2 Adam Hunt

Evening Session
Jeffrey de Graaf 1-3 Paul Lim
Wessel Nijman 3-0 Karel Sedlacek
Luke Humphries 3-1 Ted Evetts
Gabriel Clemens 3-0 Alex Spellman