Luke Littler withstood a stirring fightback from Rob Cross to continue his bid for back-to-back Paddy Power World Darts Championship titles at Alexandra Palace on Monday.
Teenage talent Littler averaged almost 107 and crashed in a staggering seventeen 180s to triumph in a battle of the World Champions, as he and Ryan Searle became the first two players to reach the quarter-finals.
Reigning champion Littler took centre stage on Day 16, defying a late onslaught from 2017/18 World Champion Cross to maintain his title tilt.
Littler conceded his first set of the tournament as Cross levelled proceedings at one apiece, but the world number one produced an emphatic response, averaging 125 in set three to regain the lead.
Trailing 3-1, Cross landed a majestic 126 skin-saver on the bull to wrap up set five, before firing in legs of 13 and 12 darts to seize the initiative in set six.
However, Littler hit back with a sensational ten-dart break of throw – surviving a set dart along the way – which he backed up with a clinical 68 kill on tops to celebrate a 4-2 success.
"It was a brilliant game, and it was a test that I needed," insisted Littler, who is aiming to become the first player to retain the Sid Waddell Trophy since Gary Anderson a decade ago.
"I proved once again that when someone tests me, I can overcome them, but Rob definitely found his feet towards the end of that game.
"I've hit a 107 average followed by a 106, so I'm feeling confident, and now I'll be back on New Year's Day to play either Krzysztof (Ratajski) or Luke (Woodhouse)."
Following Littler’s win, Searle is the only player yet to drop a set in this year’s World Championship, after storming through to the last eight with a 4-0 demolition of James Hurrell.
The Somerset star averaged 102.29 to dispatch Martin Schindler in round three, and he was equally imperious against Hurrell, averaging almost 101 and pinning 12 of his 24 attempts at double to reach his first Ally Pally quarter-final.
“It didn’t quite happen for James tonight, and I’ve been in that position,” claimed Searle, who will play Jonny Clayton or Andreas Harrysson in the last eight.
“All you hope for as a dart player is to get on the stage and produce the darts you know you’re capable of.
“If I can play my game, then I can go all the way, and if you don’t believe that, there’s no point being here.”
Earlier in the day, round three drew to a close in the capital, as Josh Rock, Kevin Doets, Charlie Manby and Justin Hood completed the last 16 line-up.
Doets will take on world number two Luke Humphries for a place in the quarter-finals, after producing a stunning late burst to dump out Nathan Aspinall in a seven-set thriller.
Two-time semi-finalist Aspinall landed his second 170 checkout of the tournament to lead 3-2, only for Doets to follow up an 11-darter with 112 and 164 combinations to level at three apiece.
The Dutchman maintained his charge with successive 100 and 96 checkouts in the deciding set, before punishing three missed darts at double from Aspinall to seal the deal on double ten.
“I felt really, really comfortable and I kept my focus,” reflected Doets, who also reached the same stage of last year’s World Championship.
“When you are able to do that, you play your best darts.
“This [tournament] is the one you look forward to the whole year, and I feel like I can shut my mind off.
“All I can say is, if I play like I did in the last two sets, Luke is going to have a tough time!”
Elsewhere, debutant Manby celebrated a quick-fire 4-2 victory over Ricky Evans to set up a fascinating showdown against European Champion Gian van Veen.
The Huddersfield youngster struggled on the outer ring in the opening exchanges, before winning nine of the last 12 legs to continue his breakthrough run in the capital, after also defeating Cameron Menzies and Adam Sevada.
“I showed in the first game that I can fight back from being behind, and I thought I did well to fight back today,” reflected the 20-year-old.
“It’s crazy to be in the last 16. Everything’s dropping into place for me at the minute and I can’t complain.
“I’m good mates with Gian, I practiced with him last time we played. I think it will be a good pace and just a good game overall really.”
Rock and Hood will also lock horns for a place in the quarter-finals, following 4-1 victories over Callan Rydz and Ryan Meikle respectively.
Rock produced an eye-catching display to deny Rydz, averaging 99 and posting nine 180s to reach the last 16 for the second time in his career.
Hood, meanwhile, produced a hat-trick of ton-plus finishes to topple Meikle, defying back-to-back 146 and 147 checkouts from the Suffolk star in the fourth to cap off a polished performance.
The Paddy Power World Darts Championship continues with Day 17 on Tuesday, as round four draws to a close in the capital.
Humphries and Doets will go head-to-head in the evening’s finale, as darting icons Michael van Gerwen and Gary Anderson renew their rivalry.
Van Veen also continues his pursuit of the title against Manby, while fifth seed Jonny Clayton and Northern Irish star Rock headline Tuesday’s afternoon session on the last day of PDC action in 2025.
The 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).
Click here for match stats & results.
2025/26 Paddy Power World Darts Championship
Monday December 29
Afternoon Session
Round Three
Justin Hood 4-1 Ryan Meikle (3-2, 3-1, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2)
Charlie Manby 4-2 Ricky Evans (1-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1, 3-0)
Kevin Doets 4-3 Nathan Aspinall (1-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-0, 3-0)
Evening Session
Round Three x1
Josh Rock 4-1 Callan Rydz (1-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2)
Round Four x2
Ryan Searle 4-0 James Hurrell (3-2, 3-0, 3-1, 3-1)
Luke Littler 4-2 Rob Cross (3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 3-1, 2-3, 3-2)
Tuesday December 30
Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
Round Four x3
Luke Woodhouse v Krzysztof Ratajski
Jonny Clayton v Andreas Harrysson
Justin Hood v Josh Rock
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Round Four x3
Charlie Manby v Gian van Veen
Michael van Gerwen v Gary Anderson
Luke Humphries v Kevin Doets