Madars Ramza averaged 90.65, but his doubles and ability to hold his throw made it a nightmare to play against.

He took out 11 of his 22 double attempts and did not drop a single leg on his throw.

Christian Kist averaged 94.9, hit a nine-darter and seven 180s, but it still was not enough.

Dirk van Duijvenbode awaits in the second round.

Madars Razma, in a set-deciding leg, gets it going with an 180.

A superb leg, which Razma controlled throughout, gives him the victory with an 100 checkout on double 20.

A sensational match. Razma withstood Christian Kist's nine-darter and excellent early showing without dropping a single leg!

He is in the second round. Hard luck for Kist, who on another night, would have won comfortably.

Image source, Getty Images

Christian Kist has to win the next two legs to stay in the tournament.

On his throw, an opening 180 gives him every chance and he is allowed nine darts at 167.

A 97 first visit leaves 70, which he takes in two darts on double 20.

A leg to decide the set. Here we go again!

Winning legs on your throw is all well and good for Christian Kist, but the position he is in means he has to break Madars Razma's throw.

A 140 gives him the best chance of doing so, but Razma, comfortably behind, applies some pressure with a two-treble visit of his own.

A century sets up 56, which Kist is allowed to attempt after Razma's 126 chance is ended by a single three.

Kist's 16 leaves double 20, but instead, he finds double five and misses double 15.

Razma just about clings on and on double eight, moves within one leg of the second round.

Christian Kist gets the first chance of a finish on 106, with Madars Razma waiting on 111 after a 130 set up that included two bulls.

A treble one and two single 19s from the Latvian allow Kist three darts at 48.

Very unconventional but effective from Kist. Double eight, double 16.

Level set.

The last thing Christian Kist needs right now is a bounce out, with the Dutchman showing a real deflation when retrieving his dart from the floor.

Razma is comfortably ahead in the first leg of the fourth set, getting six darts at a finish before Kist gets one.

The Latvian leaves himself double 10, with Kist teeing about double 12, if he gets the chance.

He doesn't.

Razma misses double 10, but hits double five and is now two legs away from the victory.

A hold of throw for Madars Razma will win him the set and move him within one set of the second round.

A real back and forth leg, Razma hits 25 for two darts at double 20, the first of which is perfect.

That is six out of eight legs won for the Latvian since Christian Kist's nine-darter.

Christian Kist knows that two holds of throw will win him this set, but a 162 from Madars Razma puts the Latvian in control of the leg.

Razma gets two visits with 140 remaining, leaving himself 75 after the first and 40 with the second, which Razma is then given the chance to finish.

A double 20 miss follows, but he takes double 10 to break Kist's throw.

Image source, PA Media

Christian Kist wasn't the only one celebrating, and pocketing £60,000 for that nine-darter.

Tournament sponsors Paddy Power will also give the same amount to Prostate Cancer UK, and one lucky spectator inside Alexandra Palace.

The punter looked suitably happy, albeit slightly non-plussed, as he learned of his good fortune.

It may not be a 180, but a 171 from Madars Razma continues a match of brilliant scoring so far.

Madars Razma is yet to lose a leg on his throw and a 123 continues his control in the leg, with at least three darts at 95.

The Latvian goes 25 and treble 20 to set up double five, which he goes high on, but gets another go at double five.

Razma misses double four on his next visit, but does take out double two to level the match.

A tight start to the third set, but Christian Kist, on his throw, finds his sixth maximum of the night to give him three darts at double 14.

Kist holds his throw with his second double attempt.

Out of a possible 10 legs, we've had nine of them and both men are averaging high scores.

Madars Razma is at 94.17, while Christian Kist is on 99.26.

Madars Razma's 177 gives him a chance of a break of throw.

How does Christian Kist respond? A 180, of course.

Kist gets down to a finish first on 125, with Razma waiting to go at 90.

A trebles-less visit opens the leg up for Razma, who wins the set on bull to level the match.

We're yet to set a break of throw in this match, with both men doing well to make the most of their throw.

Madars Razma sets up a double 20 finish and is given six darts to land it by Christian Kist.

Razma goes high with his first dart, but the second regains his lead in the set.

Christian Kist and Madars Razma exchange similar blows on Kist's throw, but a 174 gives the Dutchman three darts at double 12.

With the second, he levels this set.

Madars Razma misses three darts at double 20 to hold his throw and on his next visit, misses one at double 20, another at double 10, but takes his sixth double attempt.

A good leg for Razma to win, with Kist surely on cloud nine after that nine-darter.

Christian Kist averaged 112 in the first set, you can hardly say Madars Razma is playing badly!

A longer break between sets, we're back now and Madars Razma will start the next set.

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 Kist was by 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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Could we see the first nine-darter of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship?!

Christian Kist pins two 180s to set up a 141 finish!

Surely not?

Treble 20? Tick. Treble 19? Tick. Double 12? You bet!

That is sensational. The crowd love it, so does Kist!

What. A. Leg.

Make that four maximums from four legs, two apiece.

Latvia's Madars Razma backs up his second with an 135 to set up a 91 out, but Christian Kist's 140 shows he is chasing the Latvian's tail.

Razma takes out 91 superbly on double 10 to level the set.