Image source, Getty Images

Four players have already advanced during Friday afternoon's session inside Alexandra Palace.

The first two matches in the first round were won by Dutchmen, with Alexander Merkx and Wessel Nijman beating Stephen Burton and Cameron Carolissen respectively.

Ian White was handed a walkover victory by Sandro Eric Sosing, who withdrew from the competition on medical grounds.

The session concluded with Stephen Bunting's second round meeting with German Kai Gotthardt.

First round

Stephen Burton 0-3 Alexander Merkx

Wessel Nijman 3-2 Cameron Carolissen

Ian White w/o Sandro Eric Sosing

Second round

Stephen Bunting 3-1 Kai Gotthardt

Image source, Getty Images

Three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen is the headline act of the evening, taking on Englishman James Hurrell in the second round.

There are also three more first round fixtures, with Northern Ireland's Mickey Mansell among those in action.

First round

Mickey Mansell v Tomoya Goto - 19:15

Florian Hempel v Jeffrey de Zwaan - 20:15

William O'Connor v Dylan Slevin - 21:15

Second round

Michael van Gerwen v James Hurrell - 22:15

Image source, Taylor Lanning/PDC

Hello and welcome to Friday night's live text from the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship.

It is day six and after Michael Smith was beaten in his second round outing almost 24 hours ago, could we see another shock this evening involving a former world champion?

Michael van Gerwen is the star act of tonight's four games after Stephen Bunting headlined the afternoon session.

Let's get straight into what is to come tonight, as well as look back at what has already happened on day six!