Nathan Aspinall and Josh Rock survived testing encounters to progress at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship, as round one came to a close on Friday.
Day Nine of darting action at Alexandra Palace saw the final eight matches of round one played across a bumper double session, as Aspinall began his campaign by winning a rocky affair against Lourence Ilagan.
The Stockport star initially trailed after Ilagan took the opening set, but battled back in trademark fashion to level the contest.
Aspinall, a former UK Open winner and World Matchplay champion, then won two set-deciding legs - including a match-winning 170 checkout - to cap a tough victory.
“I really felt the pressure - I was shaking the whole way through,” admitted Aspinall, who will face Leonard Gates in round two for the second successive year.
“I put myself under so much pressure tonight but I got the win, and that’s the most important thing.
“Full credit to Lourence there, he played a fantastic game and put me under pressure. Maybe I needed that challenge to realise why I’m doing this.
“My game is at the best place it’s ever been, I’ve never played better. I know I’ll beat Leonard - he’s a great player, but I won’t feel that nervous again.”
Rock opened his World Championship title bid with a 3-1 victory despite a spirited performance from debutant Gemma Hayter.
The Northern Irish World Cup winner took a 2-0 lead but conceded a set to Hayter, before closing out the fourth stanza in a set-deciding leg.
“It was a nerve-racking first set,” confessed Rock, who will play Australia's Joe Comito in round two.
“The first game is always the hardest game. I’m not happy with the performance - personally, I underestimated Gemma.
“When it comes to round two against Joe Comito, I will not perform like that, I assure you. I’m not here to make up the numbers, I’m here to win the trophy.”
Rock’s World Cup winning partner Daryl Gurney came out the victor in a thrilling 3-2 triumph against a valiant Beau Greaves - despite the Women's Series champion winning 11 legs her opponent's ten across the match.
Two-time Women’s World Matchplay champion Greaves hit a fantastic 128 on the bull followed by the tournament’s first ten-dart leg to level the game at one set apiece.
However, with the game poised at 2-2, Gurney took out a crucial 144 checkout in the final set to break, before holding throw to see out a hard-fought victory.
“I look at her as a great dart player - she is one of the best players on the planet," said Gurney, who will play Callan Rydz in round two.
“I’m very glad that the 144 went in. If that didn’t go, I would have been 2-1 down and throwing against the tide.
“Callan is one of the best dart players as the world. He is going to be really difficult, it will be a struggle.”
William O'Connor delivered one of the strongest performances of the World Championship so far, crashing in seven maximums and posting a tournament-high 102.36 average in his 3-0 demolition of Krzysztof Kciuk.
The Irishman took out a whopping 167 in the opening leg of the contest and restricted his opponent to just four attempts at double throughout the match to set up a tantalising round two clash with Michael van Gerwen.
Keane Barry made it a double success for Ireland as he swept past Australian debutant Tim Pusey in straight sets, averaging 93 and landing 53% of his chances at a double as he progressed.
Kevin Doets advanced to round two for the third consecutive year thanks to a 3-1 victory over Matthew Dennant, and he will now face Kenyan trailblazer David Munyua.
The Dutchman, who made the last 16 at Alexandra Palace 12 months ago, conceded the first set but rallied to win the next three stanzas and complete a comeback win.
Gates also made it three opening round wins out of three on the Alexandra Palace stage in his 3-2 victory over Mickey Mansell.
The American never trailed in sets across the game and maintained his composure in the deciding stanza to see out the match.
Ryan Meikle proved too strong for Jesus Salate, inflicting a crushing 3-0 defeat on the Argentinian debutant.
The Suffolk arrowsmith won six consecutive legs to take the opening two sets, hitting 53% of his doubles to set a round two tie with Jonny Tata.
Round two begins on Saturday with a whopping double session, as all round one winners prepare to return across four days of festive darting drama.
Saturday afternoon sees Dutch star Dirk van Duijvenbode take on James Hurrell, and Dave Chisnall locks horns with German number two Ricardo Pietreczko.
In the evening, former World Champion Michael Smith kicks off proceedings against Niels Zonneveld, and former Masters champion Stephen Bunting faces Nitin Kumar in a blockbuster tie.
The 2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship is being broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK, through the PDC's worldwide broadcast partners including DAZN and Viaplay, and on PDCTV (excluding UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria & Switzerland based subscribers)
2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship
Friday December 19
Afternoon Session
Round One x4
Kevin Doets 3-1 Matthew Dennant (2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Ryan Meikle 3-0 Jesus Salate (3-0, 3-0, 3-1)
Leonard Gates 3-2 Mickey Mansell (3-2, 0-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-0)
Josh Rock 3-1 Gemma Hayter (3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2)
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round One x4
William O’Connor 3-0 Krzysztof Kciuk (3-2, 3-0, 3-0)
Daryl Gurney 3-2 Beau Greaves (3-2, 1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-1)
Nathan Aspinall 3-1 Lourence Ilagan (2-3, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
Keane Barry 3-0 Tim Pusey (3-2, 3-0, 3-1)
Saturday December 20
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Two x4
Ryan Searle v Brendan Dolan
Andreas Harrysson v Motomu Sakai
Dirk van Duijvenbode v James Hurrell
Dave Chisnall v Ricardo Pietreczko
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Two x4
Michael Smith v Niels Zonneveld
Chris Dobey v Andrew Gilding
Stephen Bunting v Nitin Kumar
Jonny Clayton Bye (Dom Taylor suspended)
Best of Five Sets
NB: Jonny Clayton receives a Bye through to round three following the suspension of Dom Taylor.