Former Champion Wright Joins The Ally Pally Party On Day Six

Two time world champion Peter Wright is the star attraction as the 2024 Paddy Power World Darts Championships head into day six at the Alexandra Palace in London.

Evening Session

Snakebite kicks off his campaign on Wednesday evening

Scotland’s Wright is looking for a third world title after his successes in 2020 against Michael van Gerwen and 2022, against Michael Smith. It’s been an up and down 2023 for Snakebite, the good of a European Championships win and Czech Darts Open title being outweighed by the bad of not getting past the quarter final stage of a major other than the aforementioned European Championships and a failure to even qualify for the recent Players Championship Finals.

However, with the personal issues Wright has suffered away from the oche this year seemingly improving, could we see a new and improved ‘Snakebite’ on the Ally Pally stage? A difficult second round tie against the more than capable Welshman Jim Williams should give us some answers.

‘Luke The Nuke’ makes his eagerly awaited tournament debut

Elsewhere, teenage sensation Luke Littler makes his Palace debut as he takes on Dutch former BDO world champion Christian Kist. The 16 year old from Warrington has been known about in darting circles for the last couple of years despite his tender age and a run to the fourth round of the UK Open and two Modus Super Series wins this year have seen that reputation grow. Add to that his performance in the World Youth final against Gian van Veen at Minehead in November and Littler is a name of everyone’s lips. A Thursday night clash with UK Open champion Andrew Gilding is the reward for the winner.

Dutchman Richard Veenstra will be another player making his debut at the championships, taking on Ben Robb of New Zealand. Veenstra is a former BDO/WDF world semi finalist and knocked out reigning world champion Michael Smith in the first round of the Players Championships Finals in November. Robb will be making his fourth appearance and is still searching for his first win. The winner takes on Kim Huybrechts on Saturday afternoon.

Opening the show on Thursday evening will be Ryan Joyce and American Alex Spellman. Joyce has gone as far as the quarter finals at the Palace and was unlucky to lose an epic first round tie with Scott Williams twelve months ago. His recent run to the semi finals at the Players Championships Finals would indicate he’s in good form but he may not things all his own way against Spellman who has put in some strong performances on the North American tour this year. A tie with Stephen Bunting on Saturday evening awaits.

Afternoon Session

Ross Smith eased into round two
Ross Smith gets his quest for glory underway on Wednesday afternoon.

2022 European Champion Ross Smith is the seeded player in action on Tuesday afternoon, getting his campaign underway with a match against Niels Zonneveld. Smith, who has reached the third round on his last two visits to the Palace before losing to Dirk van Duijvenbode on both occasions, has had a quiet year with his deepest run at a tournament being his semi final at the European Darts Grand Prix. Dutchman Zonneveld came through a mid-match wobble to beat Darren Webster in round one and could find it difficult against the reliable Smith.

Ireland’s former World Cup of Darts finalists duo of Steve Lennon and William O’Connor are both in action, as they face Owen Bates and Bhav Patel respectively.

Lennon takes on Bates, the youngster qualifying through the Challenge Tour just ahead of John Henderson and will be hoping it’s his darts people are talking rather than his amusing, former ‘Master’ nickname. The winner can look forward to a second round tie with Jonny Clayton.

O’Connor faces Indian qualifier Patel, who looks to need a big improvement on some of his Challenge Tour appearances to have a chance against the consistent O’Connor. Chris Dobey lies in wait for the winner of that one.

Radek Szaganski is a Players Championship winner on tour this year and will make his Ally Pally bow against Finnish veteran Mark Kantele. The winner faces former champion Raymond van Barneveld on Friday evening.

Tuesday’s Order of Play

Afternoon Session

Radek Szaganski v Marko Kantele (R1)

Steve Lennon v Owen Bates (R1)

William O’Connor v Bhav Patel (R1)

Ross Smith v Niels Zonneveld (R2)

Evening Session

Ryan Joyce v Alex Spellman (R1)

Richard Veenstra v Ben Robb (R1)

Christian Kist v Luke Littler (R1)

Peter Wright v Jim Williams (R2)