Live Darts on December 28th | World Darts Championship 2025/26 Day 15 Preview and Order of Play

The third round action continues at the World Darts Championship on Sunday with four former champions among a star-studded line-up at Alexandra Palace.

Fourth seed Stephen Bunting became the highest-profile casualty of the tournament so far as he crashed out on Saturday, meaning 18 seeds have now exit the event.

A number of big names will be out to avoid a similar fate, including two-time World Champion Gary Anderson – who faces a showdown with in-form Jermaine Wattimena in Sunday’s afternoon session.

Anderson atoned for last year’s shock opening round exit by battling back from 2-1 down to edge out his former protégé Adam Hunt, before recovering from dropping the first set to reel off three in a row for victory over Connor Scutt with a 105.4 average on December 23rd.

The Flying Scotsman, who defeated Phil Taylor in the 2015 final and landed a nine-darter a year later before overcoming Adrian Lewis in the final, is one of only six multiple PDC World Champions.

Having celebrated his 55th birthday on Monday, Anderson remains firmly among the sport’s elite but has enjoyed his best results away from the major stages this season, claiming both a European Tour and Players Championship title.

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 into this tournament as the 19th seed.

The rapid-fire Dutchman has been an ever-present at the World Championship since 2014/15 and is in to Round Three for the fourth time, having come from 2-1 down to dispatch Dominik Gruellich 3-2 in his opener before fending off a spirited fightback from Scott Williams to seal a 3-2 victory five days ago.

Seeds 16 and 17 go head-to-head as Australian number one Damon Heta takes on 2018 World Champion Rob Cross for the right to face defending champion Luke Littler in the Last 16.

Cross has endured a torrid season on the big stage by his standards, suffering first round exits in three of his last four televised ranking events coming into the World Championship.

However, he has swept aside Norway’s Cor Dekker and Stoke veteran Ian White for the combined loss of just one set so far and is vying to reach the Last 16 at Ally Pally for the sixth time in nine appearances.

Heta has also struggled for results on the major stages in 2025 but has halted a run of five consecutive first round exits in ranked majors by overcoming Ireland’s Steve Lennon and Switzerland’s Stefan Bellmont 3-1 and 3-2 respectively to reach this stage of the World Championship for the fifth consecutive year.

The opening match of the afternoon sees 13th seed Martin Schindler take on 20th seed Ryan Searle for the right to face James Hurrell in the Last 16.

Schindler is bidding to break new ground by reaching the Last 16 of the World Championship for the first time in seven attempts, having seen off Stephen Burton and Keane Barry for the combined loss of just one set with a tournament average of 97.5.

The three-time European Tour event winner now faces Searle in a repeat of last year’s Swiss Darts Trophy final which saw Searle squander seven darts for the title.

Searle will be eyeing a dose of revenge as he aims to make the Last 16 at Ally Pally for the fourth time since his debut in 2018/19.

Twice a Players Championship event winner this season, ‘Heavy Metal’ is yet to drop a set following commanding wins over Chris Landman and Brendan Dolan.

Evening Session

Second seed Luke Humphries steps up his quest to regain the Sid Waddell Trophy when he comes up against former semi-finalist Gabriel Clemens.

World Champion two years ago, Humphries is defending £500,000 in prize money against his Order of Merit tally and began in commanding fashion by defeating Ted Evetts 3-1 with a 98.5 average.

The reigning Premier League champion then powered past 71-year-old Paul Lim for the loss of just one leg and remains on a collision course for a dream final meeting with rival Littler.

Clemens has put a miserable season behind him by reaching Round Three at Ally Pally for the fifth time in six years thanks to dominant straight sets wins over Alex Spellman and 31st seed Wessel Nijman, but now faces a formidable task against an opponent who has reached the final in three of his last four televised ranking tournaments.

Three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen looks to avoid becoming the latest high-profile scalp of German debutant Arno Merk.

Third seed MVG is out to maintain his clinical record at Ally Pally which has seen him reach seven finals since 2013, including two of the last three.

The reigning World Series Finals champion survived an early scare from Japan’s Mitsuhiko Tatsunami to prevail 3-1, before averaging 100.2 in an impressive 3-1 win over William O’Connor.

Merk, meanwhile, has enjoyed a dream debut at Ally Pally after winning the German Super League, dumping out former major finalist Kim Huybrechts 3-1 on opening night before thrashing two-time World Champion Peter Wright in straight sets.

Gian van Veen looks to pick up from where he left off in Round Two when he comes up against Latvian ace Madars Razma.

Van Veen registered the highest average of the tournament so far (108.28) in a 3-1 win over Alan Soutar to back up a 98.3 average in his opening round win over Spain’s Cristo Reyes by the same scoreline.

The reigning European Champion is appearing at this stage of the World Championship for the first time and would climb above his Dutch compatriot Danny Noppert into the world number six spot with victory here.

Razma has reached Round Three for the third consecutive year at Ally Pally courtesy of 3-1 wins over debutants Jamai van den Herik and Darren Beveridge, but now faces a formidable task against one of this season’s stand-out performers.

The action gets under way from 12.30pm GMT, with third round ties to be contested over the best of seven sets and a tie break in operation if the score reaches 2-2 in the final set.

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World Darts Championship 2025/26 Day 15 Schedule

Sunday December 28

Third Round

Afternoon Session (12.30pm-4.30pm)
Martin Schindler v Ryan Searle
Damon Heta v Rob Cross
Gary Anderson v Jermaine Wattimena

Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
Gian van Veen v Madars Razma
Luke Humphries v Gabriel Clemens
Michael van Gerwen v Arno Merk