Whitewash for the World Champion on the opening night of the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship

An Edgy Opener

The opening night of the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship was kicked off by Frenchman Thibault Tricole and Joe Comito, the Australian making his World Championship debut.

The ‘Water Boy’ had won just one leg on a PDC stage prior to this match at the 2024 Australian Darts Masters, but he was the player who won the first leg of this years championship, pinning double tops.

As expected, it was a nervy first set between the pair, but it was Tricole who fell over the line to take a one set lead punishing Comito’s squandered doubles chances.

The second set was more competitive with it going to a fifth and deciding leg but a classy 118 checkout from Thibault Tricole shut the door on Joe Comito, the World Number 76 now in the driving seat to win his opening game at the Paddy Power World Championship for the second consecutive year.

Despite the 2-0 lead, it was Thibault Tricole who looked hot and flustered up on the Ally Pally stage. Both players were averaging around the 80 mark going into set three but a much improving Joe Comito denied Tricole from winning in straight sets. The best leg of the match coming from the Aussie in this set, a brilliant 13 darter.

A mess of a fifth leg in set four miss both players miss big numbers to set up a double but the French Number One prevailed over the debutant. A gruelling test for Tricole on opening night with the small matter of the reigning World Champion Luke Humphries to come later on in the evening.

Next up was high flying speedster Jermaine Wattimena and he was taking on another debutant in Stefan Bellmont, the first ever Swiss player to play at the PDC World Championship.

Wow Factor From Wattimena

The Dutchman coming into this years showpiece in fabulous form with a Grand Slam Quarter-Final and a European Championship Final on his resume in the last few months.

In the blink of an eye it was the ‘Machine Gun’ who flew into a two set lead, leaving ‘Belly/ gasping for air. However, Stefan Bellmont wasn’t performing badly on stage, averaging in the low 90s.

Lots of people have tipped Jermaine Wattimena for big things this tournament and a 3-0 win with a 98.5 average definitely makes him a contender for big things, it’s the former 2x World Championship Semi Finalist James Wade in waiting.

Dynamite Darts From Barry

The last time Keane Barry played on the opening night of a World Championship he was stunned by South African qualifier Grant Sampson, he was looking to avenge that feat but it was a tough opener for him against the well established Kim Huybrechts.

The young Irish star has struggled on the Pro Tour this year but he hit two magnificent ton plus finishes to ignite the opening set, however, it was the former World Cup Finalist who took the first set and celebrated in typical Huybrechts fashion, with a roar.

Both players excelled in the scoring in the second set, the pair hitting six 180s between them in just the five legs. The finishing wasn’t too bad either with Keane Barry nailing yet another ton plus checkout, this time a 108, to nick the deciding leg and square it up at 1-1.

The scoring rampage continued from both but it was the Irishman who was starting to edge the tie, taking a 2-1 lead in sets in magnificent fashion before ousting the Belgian in the next set to set up a clash with Gerwyn Price. A memorable Round One thriller with a whopping 17 180s between them.

The Title Defence Is Up And Running

In usual World Darts Championship fashion, it’s the reigning World Champion who plays last on Night One. Luke Humphries was looking to extend his unbeaten streak on the Ally Pally stage, the last reigning champ to lose in their opening game was John Part in 2009.

His opponent Thibault Tricole was victorious in the opening match but continued his nervous demeanour, with numerous opportunities in every leg being thrown away. Humphries somehow managed to take a 1-0 lead winning three straight legs averaging just 83.

The first massive checkout of the 2025 World Championship was pinned by Cool Hand in set two, a stunning 160 checkout to break the throw of Tricole to make it five consecutive legs without reply.

The World Number One can put his feet up for Christmas now and look forward to his Round Three tie after winning nine straight legs against the ‘French Touch’ despite not being at his best.

2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Day 1 Results

15th December

Round One

Thibault Tricole 3-1 Joe Comito

Jermaine Wattimena 3-0 Stefan Bellmont

Kim Huybrechts 1-3 Keane Barry

Round Two

Luke Humphries 3-0 Thibault Tricole

Day 2 Fixtures

16th December

Afternoon Session

Wesley Plaisier vs Ryusei Azemoto

Luke Woodhouse vs Lourence Ilagen

Alan Soutar vs Kai Gotthardt

James Wade vs Jermaine Wattimena

Evening Session

Niels Zonneveld vs Robert Owen

Connor Scutt vs Ben Robb

Cameron Menzies vs Leonard Gates

Gerwyn Price vs Keane Barry