It is Michael van Gerwen's turn for a first leg on his throw of the night.

A 134 set up, met with a nod of approval by himself, gives him three darts at 78.

MVG only gets one dart at double 20, but that's all he needs.

1-1.

James Hurrell fires a 140 and 100 in back-to-back visits to leave 164 for the first leg.

He lands the first treble 20 and another with his last dart, teeing up double 12.

Hurrell does get three darts at it, but only needs one, right after Michael van Gerwen's first 180 of the night.

For the first time at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championships, we are greeted with the crowd's rendition of "Ooooh, Michael van Gerwen", which the Dutchman is very grateful for.

Even James Hurrell joins in, conducting the crowd while doing so.

Hurrell to throw first, game on!

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The final match of Friday's eight ties comes in the second round between three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen and England's James Hurrell.

Van Gerwen is the only player, other than Phil Taylor, to win the World Championship three or more times. A year ago, he reached the quarter-finals before losing to Scott Williams.

Hurrell, 40, sits 89th in the PDC Order of Merit, 86 places behind Van Gerwen and reached round two after a victory over Canada's Jim Long on Tuesday.

The winner will face either Brendan Dolan or Lok Yin Lee in the third round after Christmas.

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Darts is one of the few sports that can measure perfection; snooker has the 147 maximum break, golf has the hole-in-one, darts has the nine-dart finish.

The fewest number of darts required to finish a standard leg of 501 points is nine.

There are several ways to complete a nine-dart finish, the most common being two visits of 180 followed by a 141 checkout.

The most recent nine-darter at the PDC World Championship before Christian Kist on Wednesday was from Michael Smith in his 2023 final win over Michael van Gerwen.

There is a method of completing a nine-darter with three identical visits of 167 - treble 20, treble 19, bull - although that is usually saved for the exhibition circuit rather than in tournament play!

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Once the big dog in the darting yard, Michael van Gerwen has been overshadowed by Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.

The Dutchman is a three-time world champion, but can he get the better of the two Lukes and win for a fourth time at Alexandra Palace?

Thumbs up for yes, thumbs down for no.

And also have your say using #bbcdarts on X, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply). Please leave your name on text messages.

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The match feels like it is getting away from William O'Connor.

On his throw, a hold would take this to a deciding set, but Dylan Slevin has at least three darts at 80 before he can finish.

20, 20 and one more 20 sees Slevin miss out, but O'Connor, back on 164, does not land the big out.

Down to the double 10s, Slevin misses two but picks out double five for the win!

A second round meeting with Dimitri Van den Bergh awaits.

Dylan Slevin starts the leg with a 180 and with his second visit, hawkeyes one dart into the stem of another for the second time in this match.

Another 180 leaves him needing 61 and William O'Connor is around 250 points back.

Two darts lead to a missed third at double 20, but he will be back for three more, despite a 180 from O'Connor.

Slevin misses doubles 20, 10 and five, but will come back, with O'Connor unable to see off 138.

The first dart back at double five takes the set to a decider.

William O'Connor has won five of the last six legs. One more takes us to a deciding set.

To do so, he is left 170. The first treble 20 hits, the second does not.

Slevin has three darts at double 10 for the leg, landing the second for a break of throw.

On his throw, Dylan Slevin has 167 left and leaves 24, which he gets three darts at.

All three attempts at double 12 go over, but as William O'Connor falters on 150, Slevin is invited back.

The first is low, the second is wide of double six and so is the third. Six missed doubles.

O'Connor, going for double eight, finds double 16 next door with the first dart.

Slevin misses two more at doubles six and three. Nine missed doubles from him.

O'Connor takes it. A long leg.

William O'Connor will be buoyed in this set, starting it with the throw to level the match.

The pressure is getting to both men, who exchange low-scoring throws.

A ton from O'Connor leaves 87, which he cannot get near.

He comes back for 52, finding it in two via double 16.

The standard is warming up in this leg from both men and William O'Connor gets three darts at 70 for the set on his throw.

Single 18, single 20, double 16!

O'Connor has a set back.

A brilliant start to leg three of the set for Dylan Slevin, taking out 180 to put William O'Connor under serious pressure.

O'Connor does fire back to set up 52, but Slevin has a chance at 121, which he misses on bull.

O'Connor breaks Slevin's throw on double 16. A third straight break.

Cue the huge roar from the Irishman!

Dylan Slevin has the chance to avenge that last leg with 121 left to break throw.

His bull attempt to take it out just lands in 25, but he comes back to level the set on double eight.

Dylan Slevin starts the third set with the darts, knowing a hold this set will put him into the second round.

Given six darts at 167, Slevin only scores 99.

William O'Connor has 82 for a break of throw. He pins bull and then misses two at double 16.

Slevin is furious, only scoring 28 and O'Connor is gifted a return, needing all three darts to break throw on double eight.

First round - Best of five sets

Second round - Best of five sets

Third round - Best of seven sets

Fourth round - Best of seven sets

Quarter-finals - Best of nine sets

Semi-finals - Best of 11 sets

Final - Best of 13 sets

Tie-breaks

First-round matches will not have a tie-break; if the fifth set reaches 2-2 in legs, then the fifth leg will be sudden death.

From the second round onwards, there will be a tie-break in all matches where a deciding set must be won by two clear legs. If the score in the final set reaches 5-5 then a sudden-death leg will be played. There would be no throw for the bull in any sudden-death legs.

• World Championship schedule, results, draw, forrmat

Dylan Slevin, on his throw, fires a big 180 to move him a 68 checkout away from the second set.

Treble 20 lands and on his second attempt, so does double four.

He leads 2-0 and is closing in on victory!

William O'Connor has to win three legs in a row to avoid a set whitewash.

On his throw, he gets down to a 145 out. Treble 20 is a good start, but he just strays into treble seven.

Dylan Slevin can't take 147, so O'Connor returns for 76.

The Magpie sets up double 20 after two darts, but goes over the bar. He comes back and after two more, has the leg.

A couple of leg defeats in a row will not be doing William O'Connor any good.

Dylan Slevin almost doubles his set lead on 120. Treble 20, double 20 and a miss on double ten.

Slevin comes back to smash his first dart inside double five.

William O'Connor has the chance for a big finish, but falls short on double 17 at a 154 shot.

He is punished by Dylan Slevin, who leads the second set after pinning double eight.