We’re getting towards the business end of the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship.

Day 11 saw Michael van Gerwen and Michael Smith take another step towards lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy on Wednesday. Now, there are just four third round ties to play.

Today, we’ll see:

• the European Championship winner
• a former World Champion
• the winner of four European Tour events this year

Plus, we get the fourth round underway.

Here’s what you’ve got to look forward to on day 12 of the PDC World Darts Championship.

180s expected in afternoon session

The first game of the day should be an absolute cracker, as Ross Smith locks horns with Dirk van Duijvenbode. Smith beat Darius Labanauskas 3-1 in round two, while Van Duijvenbode coming from behind to beat Karel Sedlacek 3-2.

Smudger is looking to follow up his European Championship success this year with a good run at Alexandra Palace. The Titan reached the semi final of that event himself, his best TV ranking performance of 2022.

The pair met at this stage of last year’s tournament. Smith went 3-0 up, but Van Duijvenbode fought back in an amazing game to get over the line 4-3. So will it be repeat for The Aubergenius? Or will Smudger seal revenge? Michael van Gerwen awaits in the last 16.

The second game sees Rob Cross play Mervyn King. Cross saw off Scott Williams 3-1, while King outlasted Danny Baggish 3-2.

Voltage made the final of the last TV event before this event in the Players Championship Finals, and has risen to number six in the world thanks to multiple Pro Tour wins and Euro Tour finals this year. He’s looking to win his second World Championship, having won his first in his debut year.

For King, it’s been a difficult year, not qualifying for the majority of the major tournaments. He did though make the quarter finals of this event last year, and he’s beaten Cross on the TV the last two times they’ve met. Who will win though and play Chris Dobey on Friday evening?

The final match of the afternoon session sees Dave Chisnall face Stephen Bunting. Both won 3-1 in their round two games, against Andrew Gilding and Leonard Gates respectively.

Chisnall lost in the final of The Masters to Joe Cullen this year, and won on the Pro Tour and Euro Tour. For both him and Bunting though, it’s been a largely difficult year in front of the cameras. Chizzy though has beaten The Bullet on each of the four occasions they’ve met in the last five years, including a whitewash at this year’s European Championship. Will that record continue, or will Bunting get over the line against his North West counterpart?

Price gets fourth round underway

The last 16 of the 2022/23 PDC World Darts Championship starts in tonight’s session, as Gerwyn Price plays Jose De Sousa in the second match.

Price looked accomplished in beating Raymond van Barneveld 4-0 on Tuesday, while De Sousa produced another sparkling comeback to defeat Ryan Searle yesterday. The pair met in a stunning World Matchplay quarter final earlier this year, with The Iceman beating The Special One 16-14 to regain the world number one spot. Will it be repeat, or will it be revenge?

The second round four tie could be a potential blockbuster, as Jonny Clayton takes on Josh Rock. Clayton comfortably beat Brendan Dolan in round three, while Rock battled past Nathan Aspinall 4-3 in an Ally Pally classic.

The sky seems to be the limit for Rocky, who continues to shine on debut. Now he takes on The Ferret, who he beat in the final Euro Tour of the season. Despite it not being the best season for titles for Clayton, he seems to be getting back to somewhere near his best now. Who will reach the quarter finals?

Before all that though, the third round comes to a close as Luke Humphries plays Vincent van der Voort. Humphries had to fight back from 2-1 down to win 3-2 against Florian Hempel, while Van der Voort came through Cameron Menzies 3-1.

World number five Humphries has won four Euro Tour events this year, and has made the semi final of both the Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals. For Van der Voort, his best this year on the TV was a fifth round run at the UK Open.

Can the Dutch Destroyer get into the last 16 for the second time in three years? Or will Cool Hand Luke reach round four for the fourth time in five years?

PDC World Darts Championship Day 12 Schedule of Play

Thursday 29 December

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)

3x Round Three
Dirk van Duijvenbode v Ross Smith
Rob Cross v Mervyn King
Dave Chisnall v Stephen Bunting

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

1x Round Three, 2x Round Four
Luke Humphries v Vincent van der Voort (R3)
Gerwyn Price v Jose de Sousa (R4)
Jonny Clayton v Josh Rock (R4)