Gerwyn Price speaking to Sky Sports ahead of facing Keane Barry: "I've had two or three good weekends of exhibitions. Confidence is back where it should be. I'm feeling good."

On re-discovering his love for darts: "I've been doing it for the last 10/11 years now. You miss your friends and they move on. 2025 will be more darts than ever."

Monday's evening session will feature 2021 world champion Gerwyn Price, who faces Irishman Keane Barry.

Welshman Price has endured a frustrating spell heading into the tournament at Alexandra Palace following a testing 2024 so far.

But after competing in numerous exhibitions and spending additional time on the practice board of late, Price feels he has returned to peak form.

"I think I'm playing some of the best darts I've ever played," he told Ian Mitchelmore, of BBC Sport Wales.

• Price's journey from not wanting to play to hitting peak form

Image source, Getty Images

The final match of the day is in the second round between Gerwyn Price and Keane Barry.

Price, 10th in the PDC's order of merit, is a former world number one and the winner of this competition in 2021.

Price will look to book his place in the third round after Christmas, but to do so, he must get past impressive Irishman Keane Barry, who stunned on Sunday night in his 3-1 victory over Kim Huybrechts in round one.

The winner of this one will face Joe Cullen in the third round, should he also get through his opening match.

Hopefully 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.

• You can read more in this piece about dartitis

Image source, Getty Images

Leonard Gates speaking to Sky Sports after beating Cameron Menzies 3-1: "That was a great game. Cameron played great, I played the best game I could. The darts here are awesome. We have to use that energy and keep it going."

On his multiple high checkouts: "That's the magic you have to pull of to play against these gentlemen in the PDC. Merry Christmas, this is freaking awesome."

On whether he noticed Cameron Menzies' emotions: "I was definitely aware of it but at the same time, I want my opponent to play their best against me to see if I can play my best against them. I told him to use the energy of the crowd, keep coming and keep playing the best he can to grow the PDC."

On facing Nathan Aspinall in the second round: "I will have to do better than what I did tonight to see if I can do better against Nathan."

Cameron Menzies' emotions are getting the better of them, he holds back the tears midway through this leg. Scoring may well be the least of his concerns right now.

Leonard Gates just keeps things ticking over and against the throw, gives himself three darts at 122.

A 120 from Menzies could have been 180, were it not for a bounce out.

Gates has 122 to win the match. Treble 18, treble 18, double seven.

He's done it!

Gates is through. Menzies can't fight the tears. Another huge shock at Alexandra Palace.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

He's feeling the heat up there. Cameron Menzies is really hot and bothered.

Leonard Gates is left nine darts at 166, but with Cameron Menzies 130 points back, it is the American's match to win.

Gates sets up 82, but falls low on double 20, knowing he will get at least three more darts to win

A 140 for Cameron Menzies feels no more than a consolation, but it keeps him going as Gates misses three match darts.

Menzies rounds off 72 on double 20. He's still in this.

Leonard Gates is two legs away from a huge shock at Alexandra Palace.

Both men are in the 160s on bogey finishes, but with the darts, Cameron Menzies gets the chance to finish first.

On 104, Menzies sets up double 12, while Gates messes up on 120.

More missed doubles on 12 and six for Menzies sum up his night, but Gates is unable to finish up 65 on tops or double 10.

Menzies misses three darts at double three. Gates splits the twos, takes double four and moves within one leg of victory.

Is this the perfect comeback for Cameron Menzies?

Maybe not, with Leonard Gates firing in his fourth 180 of the night.

Missed doubles on 16 and eight give Menzies a chance, but an unsuccessful dart at bull to finish 121 keeps Gates in the leg.

Double two is the American's friend in the end.

To stand any chance of reaching round two from here, Cameron Menzies will have to play at more of a level he has been used to recently.

He takes control of the fourth set opener on his throw, but misses darts at doubles 16, eight and four for the leg.

The Scot gets another go at double four and takes it for a hold of throw.

Mark Webster
Former BDO world champion on Sky Sports

Cameron Menzies has got to get himself together here.

Leonard Gates is a fan favourite here. He was two years ago as well and he is playing like someone who has the whole of Alexandra Palace lifting him.

Meanwhile, Cameron Menzies' chance on 86 is almost spot on, but his bull shot is just outside the ring.

Gates gets one dart at double 16, which he misses.

An unplanned double nine from Menzies on 25 gives Gates another chance and the American happily accepts, finding double eight for the set.

What did we just say about low-scoring?

Cameron Menzies and Leonard Gates exchange 180s before Menzies finds two more trebles. Eight perfect darts between them.

The Scot has three darts at 61, but his one dart at double four is over the bed.

Gates only needs two to finish off 76. Cue the "USA, USA" chants.

Image source, PA Media

Both men start set three with averages at around the 86 mark.

Hardly the best scoring, but plenty of entertainment so far in this match.

A couple of two-treble visits for Cameron Menzies gives him hopes of breaking Leonard Gates' throw here, with the American struggling to find big scores of him own.

On 124, Gates again misses out, giving Menzies three darts at 51, which are not taken.

Golden Gates is strutting his stuff once more as he takes out 66 on double 18 to regain his lead.

This picture says it all.

Cameron Menzies has been a little bit all over the place.

But, but, he is level and there's all to play for.

Image source, PA Media

A question that divides opinion.

But we should note darts has been officially recognised as a sport by all of the sports councils in the United Kingdom.

Sport England recognised darts as a sporting activity in March 2005 and Sport Wales, Sport Northern Ireland and Sport Scotland followed suit.

Hit the thumbs if you agree, or disagree.

Image source, Getty Images

We have seen some brilliant legs to decide sets throughout today inside Alexandra Palace.

This one does not start that way, but a 180 from Leonard Gates spices things up a notch.

Cameron Menzies gets six darts at 170 to win the set. He uses all six, levelling the match up on double eight.

Brutal, brutal scoring from Cameron Menzies to give him the chance of a 12-dart break of throw, if he takes out 164.

He sets up 70 to pressure Leonard Gates, who struggles on 158.

Missed doubles at eight and four from Menzies allows Gates to go for 102.

The first two darts are perfect, but the last is nowhere near double 16, instead in single seven.

Three more darts are needed at double four for Menzies, but a fourth straight break of throw in this set levels it up.

Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports

Cameron Menzies looks over to Fallon Sherrock and the rest of his supporters and he looks a little lost at the moment.