Postpublished at 22:05 GMT 27 December 2024
Wattimena 2-3 Wright (0-2)
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
Jermaine Wattimena is playing his part in another beauty of a game, but Peter Wright has been outstanding.
RESULT: Defending champion Luke Humphries beat Nick Kenny 4-0
RESULT: Two-time champion Peter Wright wins 4-2 against Jermaine Wattimena
RESULT: Gerwyn Price beats Joe Cullen 4-3 in sudden-death leg to advance
Afternoon session saw Luke Woodhouse, Jonny Clayton & Stephen Bunting progress to last 16
Damon Heta hit nine-darter in defeat by Woodhouse - read more
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Sam Drury & Callum Matthews
Wattimena 2-3 Wright (0-2)
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
Jermaine Wattimena is playing his part in another beauty of a game, but Peter Wright has been outstanding.
Wattimena 2-3 Wright (0-2)
Fantastic from Peter Wright and he is just a leg away from the last 16!
Once again Jermaine Wattimena puts the pressure on but Snakebite is completely unfazed.
Treble 20, 18, double 16 for what could prove to be a massive 15-dart hold.
Wattimena 2-3 Wright (0-1)
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports
Every time that Jermaine Wattimena has clawed himself back to within touching distance, Peter Wright has found something.
Wattimena 2-3 Wright (0-1)
Peter Wright is the width of the wire away from taking out 156!
He gets another visit though after Jermaine Wattimena fails to hit with his one dart at tops.
Wright is then left with one at double four, hits and breaks.
Wattimena 2-3 Wright
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
Incredibly, we're back on throw.
Wattimena 2-3 Wright (3-0)
Relentless from Jermaine Wattimena.
He is pounding those trebles and is swiftly down to a finish.
After leaving himself 81, he works it to give himself one shot at tops and that's all he needs.
Can Peter Wright respond?
Wattimena 1-3 Wright (2-0)
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
Jermaine Wattimena has never given up. His body language has never suggested he's given up.
He's beginning to find his A-game.
Wattimena 1-3 Wright (2-0)
A chance to break straight back for Peter Wright but he misses tops, allowing Jermaine Wattimena to come back and hit it.
The Dutchman is suddenly a leg away from making it 3-2.
Wattimena 1-3 Wright (1-0)
Jermaine Wattimena begins the leg with a 180 but Peter Wright answers in kind.
The Scot has the darts but it is Wattimena who is first to a finish.
Wright is the first to et a dart a double, though, but after he misses double 10 and then double five, Wattimena is back to nail double 11 to break.
Image source, Getty ImagesHopefully none of our players tonight suffer from dartitis.
Our colleagues at BBC News have been talking to Kevin Painter, who was runner-up in an epic world title final to Phil 'The Power' Taylor 20 years ago,.
Nicknamed ' The Artist', he thrived under pressure throughout his career, playing in the most prestigious competitions and taking home more than £900,000 in prize money.
But earlier this year, he went to throw a dart and it physically would not leave his hand.
"You're in shock, I stood there for ages. I just couldn't get my arm up to let go of the dart," he said.
Kevin was suffering from dartitis, a mental condition where the brain stops a player from being able to release a dart.
Wattimena 1-3 Wright (0-3)
Image source, PA MediaBullseye for the set!
He coughed into his towel before heading to the oche and he's not looking too healthy but there is nothing wrong with Peter Wright's darts tonight.
Needing 87, he is left with one dart at the bull and finds it with aplomb.
Snakebite is a set away from the fourth round.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright (0-2)
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports
There is no let-off from Peter Wright.
It looks like if Jermaine Wattimena is going to turn this around he's going to need to do something spectacular.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright (0-2)
Peter Wright just keeps coming.
Jermaine Wattimena is there waiting again but Wright shows nerves of steel.
One dart at double four and it finds it. The Scot consolidates the break.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright (0-1)
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
That expression from Jermaine Wattimena was 'here we go again'.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright (0-1)
Peter Wright breaks to start the fourth set.
Snakebite misses tops for the 120 checkout but Jermaine Wattimena goes on to miss two darts at double 16.
He doesn't get another look as Wright recovers from misses on double 10 then double five to hit the latter with his final dart.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright
Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports
What a shot Jermaine Wattimena! It needed something special and he produces it.
We are, effectively, back on throw.
Wattimena 1-2 Wright (3-2)
Image source, Getty ImagesMagnificent from Jermaine Wattimena!
The Dutchman was on the brink of 3-0 after Peter Wright left himself tops for the set.
But Wattimena has other ideas. Needing 144, he goes treble 20, treble 20, double 12 in a flash.
Fantastic.
Wattimena 0-2 Wright (2-2)
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
Jermaine Wattimena is just starting to find his range on the doubles now, that is good for him.
Wattimena 0-2 Wright (2-2)
Jermaine Wattimena sends the set to a deciding leg.
Double 20 gives him a 16-dart hold. Peter Wright will have the darts with the chance to go 3-0 up.
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Sam: It’s ironic this darts championship falls at Christmas because this year’s championship is like a gift that keeps on giving & giving.