Live Darts on Thursday | World Darts Championship 2025/26 Day Eight Preview and Order of Play

A host of star names begin their 2025/26 World Darts Championship campaigns at Alexandra Palace on Thursday.

Four of the top 32 seeds have crashed out of the competition at the first hurdle so far, and a clutch of decorated darters will be out to avert a similar fate on Day Eight of the £1m showpiece.

The afternoon session includes an intriguing clash between 2024 World Grand Prix champion Mike De Decker and debutant qualifier David Munyua.

De Decker comes into the event as the 18th seed, having finished runner-up in this year’s Belgian Open, as well as reaching a brace of Players Championship semi-finals.

However, the Belgian has struggled to back up last year’s Grand Prix triumph on the major stages, suffering first round exits in four of his six televised ranking tournaments in 2025.

De Decker is bidding to improve on a miserable record at Ally Pally, having failed to progress beyond the second round in five previous attempts.

His opening test comes in the shape of African qualifier Munyua – who is making history as the first Kenyan player to compete in the PDC World Championship.

The opening match of the afternoon sees two-time quarter-finalist Callan Rydz take on Hungary’s Patrik Kovacs.

Rydz initially reached the Last Eight in 2021/22 before replicating that run 12 months ago with a number of ton-plus averages along the way.

The three-time Players Championship event winner has struggled for form this year, suffering first round exits in five of his six European Tour appearances, and will be determined to recapture his best form on the sport’s biggest stage.

Kovacs, twice a Lakeside qualifier, is making his debut at Ally Pally courtesy of winning the Hungarian Super League earlier this year.

Multiple major semi-finalist Ryan Joyce opens up with a tricky tie against debutant Owen Bates.

Joyce heads to Ally Pally with his highest seeding position (24) to date and is looking to replicate last year’s impressive display which saw him reach the Last 16 before eventually being narrowly denied by Luke Littler in a seventh set decider.

Joyce reached the final of this season’s European Darts Trophy as well as the semi-finals of the Austrian Open and was a quarter-finalist in October’s European Championship.

Bates, meanwhile, clinched one of the final ProTour qualification spots after competing in all 34 Players Championships this year and reaching the Last 16 on two occasions.

French trailblazer Thibault Tricole starts out with a showdown against Japanese newcomer Motomu Sakai.

Tricole has reached the second round in each of his two previous World Championship appearances, losing in straight sets to Rob Cross and Luke Humphries.

The 2022 WDF World Championship finalist has reached two ProTour quarter-finals this year and is flying the flag for his nation as the sole Frenchman in the field.

Sakai finished runner-up on the PDC Asian Tour to clinch a dream debut in the competition, having picked up four titles across the year.

Evening Session

Michael van Gerwen commences his latest quest for a fourth world title with a tie against Japanese debutant Mitsuhiko Tatsunami.

Van Gerwen first lifted the Sid Waddell Trophy in 2014 before reclaiming the crown in 2017 and 2019.

The Dutch icon has finished runner-up on a further four occasions, including last year when he was denied by Littler, making it seven final appearances in his last 13 appearances at Ally Pally.

The world number three has endured a difficult season on the major stages, with a semi-final run at the European Championship representing his best showing, but did claim the World Series Finals title on home soil in Amsterdam.

Van Gerwen has not lost in the first round at Ally Pally since 2011 and is overwhelming favourite to dispose of PDJ Steel Darts Japan Tour winner Tatsunami – twice a PDC Asian Tour event winner.

Multiple major finalist Dave Chisnall looks to avoid a potential scalp at the hands of history-maker Fallon Sherrock.

A former Lakeside finalist, Chisnall has been a mainstay at the PDC World Championship since 2011/12, notably reaching the semi-finals in 2020/21.

A winner of 26 PDC ranking titles, ‘Chizzy’ has endured undoubtedly his toughest year on the circuit to date, failing to qualify for the World Grand Prix and Grand Slam, whilst suffering first round exits in four of his five televised ranking tournaments.

The St Helens star has dropped to 21st in the Order of Merit and will be determined to avoid an early exit against an opponent with renowned pedigree on the sport’s biggest stage.

Sherrock made history in 2019/20 by becoming the first woman to beat a man at the PDC World Championship, defeating Ted Evetts and Mensur Suljovic before eventually losing out to Chris Dobey in the Last 32.

Sherrock was awarded an MBE for her services to darts in 2023 and has claimed a brace of Women’s Series titles this year to take her overall tally to 20.

Meanwhile, former European Championship finalist Jermaine Wattimena takes on German debutant Dominik Gruellich.

Wattimena has romped to two Players Championship titles this season, while also reaching the semi-finals of last month’s Players Championship Finals to head to Ally Pally as the 19th seed.

The rapid-fire Dutchman has been an ever-present at the World Championship since 2014/15 and has reached the third round on three occasions.

Gruellich, 23, enjoyed a sensational run to the final of Players Championship 14 in April, losing out to Jonny Clayton, and also finished eighth on the Development Tour Order of Merit after picking up two titles.

Polish number one Krzysztof Ratajski faces a tough battle against methodical Philippines thrower Alexis Toylo.

Ratajski reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship behind closed doors in 2020/21 and added his eighth Players Championship title back in May.

Semi-finalist at the German Darts Championship, Ratajski has reached the third round in each of his last three World Championship campaigns.

Toylo finished runner-up in the PDC Asian Championship to secure a return to Ally Pally, having beaten Richard Veenstra in straight sets in round one last year.

Toylo featured in last month’s Grand Slam of Darts and will be eyeing a dose of revenge after being knocked out of last year’s World Championship 3-1 by Ratajski in the Last 64.

The action gets under way from 12.30pm GMT, with first round ties to be contested over the best of five sets.

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World Darts Championship 2025/26 Day Eight Schedule

Thursday December 18

First Round

Afternoon Session (12.30pm-5pm)
Callan Rydz v Patrik Kovacs
Thibault Tricole v Motomu Sakai
Ryan Joyce v Owen Bates
Mike De Decker v David Munyua

Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Jermaine Wattimena v Dominik Gruellich
Dave Chisnall v Fallon Sherrock
Michael van Gerwen v Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
Krzysztof Ratajski v Alexis Toylo