Mickey Mansell has the darts in the deciding leg of this set, but it is Tomoyo Goto who takes control, not helped by a 66 visit from Mansell that included two treble ones.

Goto will get three darts at 85 to level the set, but a 165 from Mansell leaves 24 and puts the pressure on.

For the set, a 15 and a 20 set up a bull out, but Goto lands in 25.

Where Goto misses, Mansell hits. A flushed dart into double 12 keeps him in pole position.

Tomoya Goto has to win the next two legs to avoid going 2-0 down in this match.

On his throw, he gets three darts at 110, with Mickey Mansell on 146.

Goto takes influence from Mansell with a 100+ finish of his own, going 20, treble 18 and double 18 to take this set to a deciding leg.

Another brilliant checkout!

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Tomoya Goto is struggling here, but at least he got a warm welcome at Alexandra Palace during his walk-on.

Mickey Mansell gets himself down to a finish as he looks to regain his advantage in the second set, getting six darts at 156, with the possibility of more.

The first three score 48 to leave 108, which then gets taken out superbly.

18, treble 20, double 15. Brilliant finish.

Tomoya Goto shows what he is capable of. Out of nowhere, he starts the second leg with his first 180 of the night.

Mickey Mansell takes note, firing one back at Goto two visits later.

Both men struggle on high finishes, but Goto leaves three darts at double eight to level up, doing so with the second dart.

Mickey Mansell starts the leg with the darts and both he and Tomoya Goto get down to a finish simultaneously.

His 116 gets cut to 36, while Goto cannot take out 101.

Mansell pins double 18 on his return for to hold the leg.

Mickey Mansell has averaged almost 90 so far in this match.

While it is not the best average you will see at the Alexandra Palace over the next couple of weeks, it is enough to see him completely command this match.

Tomoya Goto's is down at 76.23, which will have to improve for the Japanese 28-year-old to stand any chance of a victory.

Goto has only had one dart at a double, which he took. Meanwhile, Mansell has converted three of his six double chances.

Mickey Mansell has the throw in the fourth leg of the first set and just has to hold to win it.

The Northern Irishman gets six darts at 131, but with his first three, only scores 26.

A single five and treble 20 set up double 20, but the final dart is far too high.

Tomoya Goto can only split 130 in half and Mansell returns to take the first set on tops.

Tomoya Goto is struggling to find the trebles and it is allowing Mickey Mansell to repeatedly get ahead of the Japan hopeful in scoring.

Mansell gets down to 76 and has the luxury of six darts to take it out.

Setting up a 40 out with his first three darts, Mansell breaks Goto's throw on double 10.

Mickey Mansell finds a succession of trebles to get down to 121 after his first nine darts, with Tomoya Goto a way back.

The Northern Irish veteran uses his experience, getting down to 40 knowing he will be back for at least three darts at it.

In one, he levels the match.

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The darts is big time these days with famous faces regularly heading down to Alexandra Palace - and today it was Ed Sheeran who was in the crowd watching Stephen Bunting this afternoon.

There was definitely a better standard of sing along in this session...

A slow scoring start to this match, Mickey Mansell nudges ahead in the scoring against the throw and gets down to a finish first.

Mansell's first finishing chance is a 117. Three treble-less darts leave 60.

Tomoya Goto has a 74 out, which he takes on his first dart at double 20 to hold the opening leg.

Mickey Mansell and Tomoya Goto both make their way to the stage and exchange pleasantries ahead of getting Friday night's first match under way.

The Alexandra Palace crowd are in great spirits as they get a well orchestrated rendition of "Don't Take Me Home" started. They are up for it, for sure.

Goto to throw first, game on!

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In the opening match of Friday's evening session, Northern Ireland's Mickey Mansell takes on Tomoya Goto of Japan.

Mansell, ranked 42nd, is one of the highest ranked players in the PDC's Order of Merit to have to play a first round match. The 51-year-old has made the second round in each of the previous two editions of the tournament.

Unranked Goto was a debutant 12 months ago and beat Ian White in the first round before being knocked out by Ryan Searle.

The winner of this match will face Welsh number seven seed Jonny Clayton in the second round on Monday.

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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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What do you know about teenage darts sensation Luke Littler?

Try our quiz here

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We want to hear your thoughts throughout the evening on tonight's matches and the tournament as a whole.

Who are you most looking forward to seeing? Who's your tip to win and why? Could an outsider cause a surprise?

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.

Darts-playing youngsters have doubled in numbers after the success of the sport's teenage sensation Luke Littler.

16-year-old Littler made it to the PDC World Championship final, which saw both online interest in the game soar and him crowned BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year 2024 on Tuesday night.

Social media influencers have also played their part and the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) in Wales claim darts has become one of the fastest growing sports with children.

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Teenager Luke Littler has certainly had a year to remember.

This time last year, the then 16-year-old was ranked 164th in the world and preparing for his first outing at a PDC World Darts Championship.

A year on, Littler is the bookmakers' favourite to win the title next month, having finished second in this competition at the start of this year.

Littler has risen 160 places in the PDC Order of Merit and since his last Alexandra Palace bow, has won the Premier League, World Series and Grand Slam titles.

Fans of his will have to wait to see his first match, however. He gets under way in the second round on Saturday evening, taking on fellow Englishman Ryan Meikle.

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For a full round-up of Friday afternoon's four matches, including Stephen Bunting's win, you can read Jonty Colman's report here.