2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Day Eleven Preview

The second round of the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship continues on Sunday with a compelling double session at Alexandra Palace, as eight more players try to book their place in the last 32. The afternoon schedule features four evenly balanced contests, while the evening session includes several headline names and two ofthe tournament favourites returning to the stage.

Yesterday saw a number of shock results, argubaly the biggest was number eight seed Chris Dobey crashing out at the hands of Andrew Gilding. Saturday also saw former World Champion Michael Smith and heavey favourites Dirk van Duijvenbode and Dave Chisnall sent home early from the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Day Eleven -Afternoon Session

Ryan Joyce vs Krzysztof Ratajski

Ryan Joyce arrives full of confidence after a ruthless opening round performance that underlined his reputation as one of the most efficient finishers on the circuit. The Englishman barely gave Owen Bates a look in and was particularly impressive on the doubles, converting chances with minimal fuss.

Krzysztof Ratajski also eased through his first test, producing a controlled and high-scoring display to move comfortably into round two. The Polish number one has historically performed well on the Ally Pally stage and tends to raise his level against seeded opposition.

Their head to head history slightly favours Ratajski, and he will take encouragement from previous wins over Joyce on the big stage. With both players showing strong early form, this looks like one of the tightest matches of the afternoon.

Joe Cullen vs Mensur Suljovic

Joe Cullen made a statement in round one with a dominant display that combined heavy scoring and sharp finishing. The former major winner looked relaxed and confident, an encouraging sign after an inconsistent year by his standards.

Mensur Suljovic is back in the second round for the first time in several seasons after grinding out a four-set win over Canadian David Cameron his opener. While not at his fluent best, the Austrian showed enough resilience to suggest he will not be an easy out.

This is a fascinating contrast in styles. Cullen will look to dictate the pace, while Suljovic thrives when matches become tactical. Improving his checkout percentage will be crucial if Suljovic is to trouble the Englishman.

Luke Woodhouse vs Max Hopp

Luke Woodhouse had to dig deep to progress from his opening match and will know that his performance level needs to lift if he wants to go further in the tournament. Scoring consistency was solid, but missed opportunities on the outer ring kept the contest closer than expected.

Max Hopp, by contrast, impressed on his return to the World Championship stage with a composed and confident victory. The German looked comfortable under the lights and scored freely at key moments.

Hopp also holds the advantage in their previous meetings, including a recent win on the European Tour. If he can reproduce his opening round standard, he will believe this is a genuine opportunity to reach the third round.

Rob Cross vs Ian White

The afternoon session concludes with an all-English encounter between two experienced campaigners. Rob Cross showed signs of renewed confidence in his first match, cruising through without ever looking troubled and producing a much more assured display than many expected.

Ian White survived a stern test to reach this stage, eventually regaining control after letting a commanding lead slip. While the result mattered most, his numbers will need to improve significantly against higher calibre opposition.

Cross leads the overall head to head and will be eager to protect valuable ranking points from a previous deep run. White has little to lose and could become dangerous if he settles early, but Cross enters as the clear favourite.

2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Day Eleven – Evening Session

Martin Schindler vs Keane Barry

The evening session opens with Martin Schindler aiming to build on his strong recent European Tour form. The German number one impressed in round one with heavy scoring power and a confident stage presence, even if his finishing occasionally faltered.

Keane Barry also progressed comfortably, showing maturity and composure beyond his years. The Irishman has spoken about patience and long-term development, and his opening win reflected that mindset.

Schindler’s scoring volume could be decisive, but Barry has the temperament to stay competitive if the German allows opportunities to slip.

Gerwyn Price vs Wesley Plaisier

Gerwyn Price returns to the Alexandra Palace stage amid renewed belief and a clear statement of intent. The former world champion looked sharp and focused in his opening match, dispatching his opponent with minimal drama. Price has made his intentions very clear, insisting to the media that he is winning the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Wesley Plaisier has already proven he belongs at this level, coming through a demanding first round encounter with confidence and authority. He will need to find another gear to trouble Price, particularly on the scoring phase.

If Price maintains his intensity and finishing standard, this could be one of the more one-sided matches of the evening. Any drop in concentration, however, may open the door for an ambitious challenger.

Luke Littler vs David Davies

All eyes will be on Luke Littler as the reigning champion continues his title defence. The world number one made an emphatic start to the tournament, combining relentless scoring with clinical finishing to send a message to the rest of the field.

David Davies earned his place with a composed straight-sets victory and deserves enormous credit for reaching this stage. Facing Littler on this stage, though, represents the toughest possible assignment for the Welshman who was one of the last names confirmed for the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship after coming through of of the last qalifying events.

Littler’s ability to settle quickly and dominate matches makes him a formidable opponent. Davies will need an exceptional performance to keep pace and make this competitive.

Damon Heta vs Stefan Bellmont

The night concludes with Damon Heta taking on one of the breakout stories of the championship. 2025 Challenge Tour Stefan Bellmont made history in the opening round with a landmark victory over five time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld.

Heta enters the competition as one of the most consistent performers on the Pro Tour, even if he has often underwhealmed on the televised stage this year. His methodical approach and reliability on key doubles make him a difficult opponent to upset.

Bellmont’s confidence will be sky high, but Heta’s experience and composure may prove decisive over a longer format.

Sunday World Darts Championship Fixtures

Afternoon Session

Ryan Joyce vs Krzysztof Ratajski

Joe Cullen vs Mensur Suljovic

Luke Woodhouse vs Max Hopp

Rob Cross vs Ian White

Evening Session

Martin Schindler vs Keane Barry

Gerwyn Price vs Wesley Plaisier

Luke Littler vs David Davies

Damon Heta vs Stefan Bellmont