Live Darts on Thursday | WDF World Championship Day Seven Preview and Order of Play

The third round action gets under way at the WDF World Championship at Lakeside on Thursday as a host of in-form stars aim to maintain their title challenge.

A tasty double-header at ‘the home of world darts’ sees reigning men’s champion Shane McGuirk step up his title defence with a clash against Finland’s Jonas Masalin.

McGuirk has extended his unbeaten run at Lakeside to eight matches following 3-1 wins over Petri Rasmus and Stefan Schröder with successive averages of 91.5.

The Irish ace is bidding to become the first player to retain the men’s WDF world title and now faces a tricky test from debutant regional table qualifier Masalin – who has impressed in wins over Ryan Hogarth and Corné Groeneveld so far.

The afternoon session also features a tie between veteran Matt Clark and Belgium’s Francois Schweyen.

Clark, 57, marked his return to Lakeside for the first time in 22 years with a 3-1 win over Japan’s Haruki Muramatsu, while last year’s semi-finalist Schweyen battled past Jeffrey Sparidaans in a sudden death leg earlier this week.

Fifth seed Rhian O’Sullivan, who has been installed as the bookmaker’s favourite for the women’s title, opens up against Czech thrower Jitka Cisarova, while 2023 runner-up Aileen De Graaf starts out against Eve Watson in the evening session.

Fourth seed James Beeton comes up against New Zealand’s Caleb Hope – arguably the surprise package of the tournament so far.

Hope has enjoyed a dream debut by dispatching Darren Johnson and Liam Maendl-Lawrance without dropping a set, while Beeton edged out Sweden’s Dennis Nilsson in a deciding set in Round Two.

Slovenia’s Benjamin Pratnemer looks to follow up a commanding straight sets win over Daniel Bauerdick when he takes on Belgium’s Sybren Gijbels – who has already seen off Kevin Luke and Marcus Maier this week.

The evening session sees 15-year-old sensation Mitchell Lawrie continue his quest for an historic debut world title when he meets Jeff Springer Jr.

Lawrie exploded onto the Lakeside stage by producing a 10-darter and a brace of 145 checkouts in a straight sets rout of Tomoya Maruyama earlier this week, before averaging 97 in thrashing second seed Jason Brandon on Wednesday.

Now installed as the bookmaker’s favourite for the title, Lawrie faces Springer – the last remaining American in the field who received a walkover in round two following the late withdrawal of Andy Davidson.

Lawrie is also involved in the boys’ competition in the afternoon – where he faces Hungary’s Ádám Sepsi in the quarter-finals.

The second boys’ quarter-final sees England’s fourth seed Kaya Baysal take on Germany’s Thees Kogelnik.

Jimmy van Schie, the number one seed in the men’s draw, resumes his campaign with a tie against German debutant Paul Krohne.

Van Schie averaged 88 in a routine straight sets win over Alex Williams, while former PDC Tour Card holder Krohne dispatched Czech qualifier Dalibor Šmolík 3-1.

New Zealand’s Ben Robb looks to build on a strong display in defeating 2022 champion Neil Duff when he faces Ireland’s Stephen Rosney – who is yet to drop a set en route to this stage following 3-0 routs of Jim McEwan and Thomas Junghans.

Meanwhile, Aussie ace Raymond Smith comes up against 19-year-old emerging star Jenson Walker.

Eleventh seed Smith averaged 90 in a convincing 3-0 win over Canada’s Clint Clarkson, while Walker followed up a 3-0 win over Jiří Brejcha with a hard-fought 3-1 success over veteran David Fatum.

The action gets under way from 12.30pm GMT, with men’s third round ties to be contested over the best of five sets and women’s second round ties to be contested over the best of three sets.

WDF World Championship 2025 Day Seven Schedule of Play

Thursday December 4

Third Round (unless stated)

Afternoon Session (12.30pm-5pm)
James Beeton v Caleb Hope
Matt Clark v Francois Schweyen
Boys’ Quarter-Final – Mitchell Lawrie (1) v Adam Sepsi
Benjamin Pratnemer v Sybren Gijbels
Women’s R2 – Rhian O’Sullivan (5) v Jitka Cisarova
Jonas Masalin v Shane McGuirk

Evening Session (6pm-11pm)
Jimmy van Schie v Paul Krohne
Boys’ Quarter-Final – Kaya Baysal (4) v Thees Kogelnik
Ben Robb v Stephen Rosney
Women’s R2 – Aileen de Graaf (8) v Eve Watson
Jenson Walker v Raymond Smith
Mitchell Lawrie v Jeff Springer Jr