Day five at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship saw a number of upsets, including 2023 World Champion and number two seed Michael Smith falling to Kevin Doets.

Now, the man who he beat in that incredible final, which featured the greatest leg of all time, returns to Alexandra Palace bidding for a fourth World Darts Championship crown.

Michael van Gerwen is the featured name in the night session, while world number eight and Masters champion Stephen Bunting is in round two action this afternoon. There’s also six more round one games, as the opening round draws towards it’s conclusion.

Here’s what to look forward to on day six of the 2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Van Gerwen gunning for fourth title, Bunting bids for glory

Mighty Mike takes on James Hurrell in the final game of the night session, after Hurrell beat Jim Long on Tuesday on his Paddy Power World Darts Championship debut.

It’s been a strange year for The Green Machine, who has yet to win a ranked TV title since the 2022 Players Championship Finals, and only won two titles on the floor. He did make the final of the World Matchplay in the summer though, losing out to Luke Humphries.

He’s also not won this tournament since 2019, despite making two finals since then. Now, he wants the Sid Waddell Trophy back in his possession. Can van Gerwen rediscover his best form, or will Hurrell cause a major upset and move into round three?

The other seed in action today is the winner of The Masters back in January. Stephen Bunting, a former semi finalist at Alexandra Palace, takes on Kai Gotthardt, who knocked out Alan Soutar in round one.

Bunting made the quarter finals of the UK Open back in March, but has not made it past the second round of a ranked TV tournament since. Gotthardt of course will come into this full of confidence, having won on his Ally Pally debut.

Can the German Super League winner cause an even bigger shock? Or will The Bullet move into round three for the third straight year?

Dark horse Nijman headlines round one afternoon games

One of the best players this season begins his quest for a first Paddy Power World Darts Championship this afternoon, as Wessel Nijman takes on South Africa’s Cameron Carollisen.

Nijman has been superb in 2024, topping the PDC Development Tour Order of Merit, and winning his first senior title on the floor to finish second of the 32 Pro Tour qualifiers this year. Carollisen won the African Darts Qualifier in a deciding leg to return to Ally Pally for the second time in his career.

Both players are making their second appearance at the tournament, and both are looking for their first win (Carollisen made round two in 2021, but that was due to Martijn Kleermaker having to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test). Who will get that first victory today, and set up a date with Joe Cullen on Sunday afternoon?

Also in action today is Ian White, as he takes on Sandro Eric Sosing of the Philippines. This will be White’s 13th appearance on the Ally Pally stage, while Sosing is making his second straight trip to the tournament after reaching the Asian Championship Final.

White needs a good tournament otherwise his tour card could be in huge danger next season, but often struggles on TV, having made the quarter finals here just once. Can Sosing use that pressure against The Diamond, or will White win? The winner faces Ritchie Edhouse on Sunday afternoon.

The first match of the day sees England’s Stephen Burton take on Alexander Merkx. This is the second time that Burton will play in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, while Holland’s Merkx qualified via the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

This will be the first time the pair meet in any game, so who will come through and face Chris Dobey tomorrow afternoon?

Evening session round one games feature all Ireland affair

The third match of the evening session sees an Irish derby, as William O’Connor takes on Dylan Slevin. This is the seventh appearance for O’Connor at the Worlds, while Slevin, who came through the PDC Tour Card Holder Qualifier, is playing in the event for the second straight year.

There have been two previous meetings between them, with each of them winning one. This is the first time they’ve met in set play, so who will come out on top? UK Open champion Dimitri Van den Bergh plays the winner Sunday night.

Northern Ireland is also represented tonight, as Grand Slam semi finalist Mickey Mansell takes on Japan’s Tomoya Goto. This is Mansell’s ninth trip to the Worlds, while Goto came through the Japan Tour Finals to make Alexandra Palace for the second time.

Mansell has made the second round for each of the last two years, while Goto made round two on debut 12 months ago. Which record will end, and who will face Jonny Clayton on Monday afternoon?

The other round one game today sees Florian Hempel take on Jeffrey De Zwaan. This is Hempel’s fourth straight appearance at the tournament, while De Zwaan came through the Tour Card Holder Qualifier to reach Alexandra Palace for the first time in four years.

Hempel has always reached round two in his previous bids for World Darts Championship glory, while De Zwaan knows he must win at least two games to have a chance of retaining his tour card. Who will triumph in the first ever meeting between the two? The winner gets a shot at Daryl Gurney in round two on Monday night.

2025 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Day Six Schedule of Play

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)

3x Round One, 1x Round Two

Stephen Burton v Alexander Merkx (R1)

Wessel Nijman v Cameron Carolissen (R1)

Ian White v Sandro Eric Sosing (R1)

Stephen Bunting v Kai Gotthardt (R2)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

3x Round One, 1x Round Two

Mickey Mansell v Tomoya Goto (R1)

Florian Hempel v Jeffrey De Zwaan (R1)

William O’Connor v Dylan Slevin (R1)

Michael van Gerwen v James Hurrell (R2)