The opening day of 2024 will host four quarter-final clashes in the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, as the eight remaining hopefuls dream of lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy in Wednesday’s final.
Three-time World Champion Michael van Gerwen has been rampant on his quest to achieve glory at Alexandra Palace for a record fourth time.
The Dutchman has not dropped a set in any of his three matches thus far. and boasts a tournament average of 99.94.
Only Chris Dobey’s 102.62 average across his trio of victories betters that of the ‘Green Machine’, with the Masters champion reigning supreme in that statistic.
Teenage sensation Luke Littler has delivered some blistering performances that has captivated darts fans around the world, dumping out Dutch pair Christian Kist and Raymond van Barneveld with averages in excess of 105.
The devastating displays were helped by an astonishing 29 maximums across four matches, as the unseeded debutant leads the 180 count across the tournament so far.
Conversely, Littler’s quarter-final opponent Brendan Dolan has only mustered eight maximum visits throughout his campaign so far.
The Northern Irishman has the slight edge over the World Youth Champion in the finishing stakes however, checking out at 43.30% across his three victories - compared to Littler's 42.99% success rate.
Pre-tournament favourite Luke Humphries currently sits bottom of the finishing stats, with an unenviable 35.83% on the outer ring.
His highest checkout of the tournament is 100 - the finish he hit to sink Joe Cullen in their sudden-death epic on Saturday evening.
However, Van Gerwen’s clinical masterclasses have outshined his rivals throughout this year's showpiece.
Last year’s runner-up is the only man left in the field who has hit over half of his doubling attempts, converting an incredible 54.10% of his darts at the outer ring.
The unseeded Scott Williams is next on that list having hit 45 doubles from 96 attempts for an overall conversion rate of 46.88%.
Incidentally, the two best finishers will lock horns for a spot in the semi-finals on New Year's Day.
Former World Champion Rob Cross battles the standout performer of the 2024 World Championship Chris Dobey in a rematch of their last 16 encounter in 2023, which saw the Geordie come out on top.
Though Dobey boasts the highest tournament average of the event, his finishing rate of 39.18% is a slight vulnerability which Cross will be hoping to exploit.
Cross’ all-round versatility has propelled him to the last eight of the World Championship for the first time since his win in 2018, converting 45.57% of his doubles with a very respectable 97.67 average.
Both players have been imperious on their opponents' throw throughout their respective campaigns, each breaking throw 50% of the time.
The final quarter-final tie tomorrow night sees three-time Premier TV title winner Humphries tussle with 2021 semi-finalist Dave Chisnall.
The pair have met in an unbelievable five finals this year, with the St Helens man celebrating victory in four of them.
Though neither man has been at their best at Alexandra Palace this year, only Chisnall has showed a consistent improvement in performances amongst his title challengers as the tournament has progressed.
His 4-2 victory over Daryl Gurney yesterday was his best display of the World Championship, posting a 98.98 average to secure his first quarter-final spot at Ally Pally for three years.
If the trend continues, number three seed Humphries could be in danger of exiting the tournament, having already survived two match darts against Cullen.
The Berkshire-born superstar did however produce his best display of this year’s flagship event last night, registering a 99.23 average to sink Cullen in a seven-set classic.
Though Humphries’ finishing has been poor by his exceptional standards at 35.83%, his PDC Pro Tour average is 7% higher, and a regression to the mean could seal a first World Championship semi-final spot for the 28-year-old.