Day two at the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship saw Rob Cross and Gian van Veen move into round two, while Ross Smith became the biggest casualty of the event so far, losing to Andreas Harryson in a five set thriller.

The first Saturday of the tournament features another double session, with eight more round one games on the schedule.

Two former World Champions start their campaign to win the Sid Waddell Trophy once more, while a darting legend and former UK Open champion are also in action across the day.

Here’s what to look forward to on day three of the 2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Anderson and Humphries bid to add to their World Darts Championship wins

The last player to successfully defend the World Darts Championship is the headline attraction in Saturday’s afternoon session. Gary Anderson, who is the 14th seed via the PDC Order of Merit, takes on Adam Hunt, who qualified via the PDC Tour Card Holder Qualifier.

The Flying Scotsman is a legend of the game, and with his wins in 2015 and 2016, became the third player to go back to back. Anderson though has struggled this season, with just one TV quarter final appearance at the World Grand Prix, alongside one win on the Euro Tour and Pro Tour.

The Hunter has also struggled for form, not progressing beyond round four in any Pro Tour event. He also has never beaten Anderson in a PDC game, including their one meeting this year.

The star name on Saturday night is the only player to beat Luke Littler at Alexandra Palace. Luke Humphries, who won the title in 2024, takes on Ted Evetts in the third game of the session.

Cool Hand Luke comes into this event as the second seed. He won the Winmau World Masters in January, followed by the Premier League in May to complete the PDC Triple Crown. He’s also lost in three ranked finals on TV this season, two of them to The Nuke.

Super Ted was part of history at this event in 2020, as Fallon Sherrock beat him in round one to become the first woman to beat a man at the Worlds. He’s qualified for this event by finishing third on the Challenge Tour Order of Merit.

The pair have played against each other multiple times, mostly on the Development Tour, and Evetts leads the head to head 6-5. However, they’ve not faced off against each other in nearly three years, and Humphries has become a different force in that time. What will happen in their first meeting in front of TV cameras?

Two bright young stars look to shine

Two more promising youngsters are also in action on Saturday’s slate. In the afternoon, Cam Crabtree will make his World Darts Championship debut after qualifying via the Pro Tour Order of Merit, against Andrew Gilding, who booked his spot via the PDC Order of Merit.

Goldfinger’s greatest day in PDC darts came at the 2023 UK Open, where he defeated Michael van Gerwen for his first major TV title. He made the World Matchplay quarter final, a Euro Tour final and two Pro Tour semis this season but has never gone past round three at Alexandra Palace.

Shazam is a highly rated prospect. After winning his Tour Card at Q-School this year, he won five Development Tour titles to finish top of the Order of Merit. He also made a semi final on the Pro Tour this year, and two quarter finals, as well as reaching his first ever Grand Slam.

The two have only ever met twice, with both picking up one win. Crabtree won their only game in 2025, but will it have much baring on the result when the pair play for the first time on a TV stage?

In the afternoon session, 31st seed Wessel Nijman of Holland takes on the Czech Republic’s Karel Sedlacek, who qualified fifth in the Pro Tour Order of Merit.

After a very good 2024, Nijman, has had an excellent 2025 on the floor, reaching multiple semi finals on the Euro Tour and two Pro Tour titles. His TV form though has not matched his floor form, failing to make a quarter final in any event this year.

Evil Charlie won his Tour Card back this season and has reached multiple quarter finals on the Pro Tour as well as one last eight appearance on the Euro Tour. It’s the first time he’s reached the Worlds since 2023.

Both of their records are not the best in this event, but Sedlacek leads their head to head 4-2, including two of their three meetings in 2025.

Legend Lim begins evening session, three more ties on busy day

A darting icon begins the night session on Saturday, as 71 year old Paul Lim of Singapore, who qualified for his 15th PDC World Darts Championship via the Asia Tour Order of Merit, takes on Pro Tour Order of Merit qualifier Jeffrey de Graaf from Sweden.

Lim famously hit the first ever nine darter at a World Darts Championship back in 1990 and came agonisingly close to repeating the feat against Gary Anderson in 2018. He returns to Alexandra Palace for the first time since 2022 to take on de Graaf, who won his first PDC ranking title earlier this year on the Pro Tour, and made the last 16 at this event 12 months ago. This the first time the pair will ever play against each other.

Former World semi finalist Gabriel Clemens concludes the night session, as he faces talented American Alex Spellman. Clemens qualified via the Pro Tour Order of Merit, while Spellman won the CDC Continental Cup to secure his spot.

Since that last four appearance in 2023, The German Giant has struggled on the TV stage, reaching just one ranking semi final in three years. He’s also struggled for form on the floor in 2025, making just one last four appearance. The Jackal returns to Alexandra Palace for the second time in three years, as the pair also meet for the first ever time.

The afternoon session sees 25th seed Luke Woodhouse, who reached the fourth round last year, take on Croatia’s Boris Krcmar, who won the South-East Europe Qualifier in November.

Woody made his first European Tour final earlier this year, as well as a final on the Pro Tour in Wigan. Krcmar, the first Croatian player to hold a Tour Card, will be returning to the World Darts Championship for the fifth time in six years. He also has won both games the two have played against each other, including at the 2022 UK Open, so far their only TV meeting.

The day gets underway with Belgium’s Mario Vandenbogaerde taking on Wales’ David Davies. Super Mario finished ninth on the Pro Tour Order of Merit, while Davies won the UK and Ireland Associate Tour Card Holder Qualifer in November.

Vandenbogaerde lost his only game on the Alexandra Palace stage two years ago, but made the Players Championship Finals this season, as well as a Pro Tour final. Davies won a Challenge Tour event this season and won the Red Dragon Champion of Champions earlier in the year. This is the first time these two will meet in a match.

2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship Day Three Schedule of Play

Saturday 13 December

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)

Round One x4

Mario Vandenbogaerde v David Davies

Andrew Gilding v Cam Crabtree

Luke Woodhouse v Boris Krcmar

Gary Anderson v Adam Hunt

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

Round One x4

Jeffrey de Graaf v Paul Lim

Wessel Nijman v Karel Sedlacek

Luke Humphries v Ted Evetts

Gabriel Clemens v Alex Spellman