Dan Dawson
Commentator on Sky Sports

It is very different from 12 months ago for the 12th seed already.

Since that 106 out, Leonard Gates has lost a little bit of fluency and Nathan Aspinall takes a clear lead against the throw.

Aspinall gets the first chance to finish on 114. Treble 20 and single 14 leave double 20, which The Asp pins superbly.

A 1-0 set lead for the world number 12, who has had a tough few months on and off the oche.

Nathan Aspinall is throwing some solid darts, putting him a finish away from the first set.

On 101, he misses trebles with all three darts, bringing Leonard Gates back in on 106.

A single 20 leaves treble 18 and double 16 for the American, who nails both for a break of throw.

Solid darts from Nathan Aspinall, finding two treble 19s to set up an 84 finish.

Singles at 20 and 14 leave bull, which he takes to double his early advantage.

A good start to the match for Leonard Gates, who took three big checkouts in the first set 48 hours ago.

He gets a go at 76, but goes low on double 20.

Nathan Aspinall's first attempt is on 110, but he goes wide on double 16.

Gates misses three further doubles inviting Aspinall back in, who takes double 16 for the opening leg.

Two excellent entrances from Nathan Aspinall and Leonard Gates, the latter coming with plenty of dance moves, of course.

The American was very much Golden Gates after his win over Cameron Menzies on Monday night, but he will have to bridge a much bigger gap this evening against Nathan Aspinall, currently ranked 12th in the world.

After a crowd rendition of "Mr Brightside", orchestrated by Aspinall, it is The Asp to throw first.

Game on!

Image source, Getty Images

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

Nathan Aspinall has suffered with the condition that no darts player wants to experience.

Known as the 'yips' or 'jitters' in other sports, players can be affected by a psychological issue which makes throwing darts a real problem.

"I was in such a dark place, I wondered if my career was over," said Aspinall in Sky's Game of Throws documentary.

World number 12 Aspinall. 33, first started having problems during a Premier League match in 2023 when he blew a 4-0 lead against Peter Wright.

He has since used a sports psychologist and can use techniques which help him overcome the condition.

Image source, Getty Images

Two-time PDC major title winner Nathan Aspinall is in action next, rounding off Wednesday's fixtures in what should be an entertaining affair.

Aspinall is a two-time World Championship semi-finalist. However, at each of his last four runs at this tournament, he has failed to get past the third round.

American Leonard Gates has already caused one big upset this week, dancing his way through his 3-1 victory over Scotland's Cameron Menzies on Monday night.

The winner will reach the third round, which begins on 27 December. Andrew Gilding will face the winner, should he get through his second round match against Martin Lukeman or Nitin Kumar.

Gordon Mathers has to win the leg to stay in the World Championship.

His 140 is good, but Ricky Evans' latest 180 is better.

Left with 121 to take the match to a decider, a single three is unwelcomed by Mathers

Evans needs 109 for the match. Treble 20, single 17, double 16. Boom!

A huge checkout to win what has been another brilliant match.

Evans will face Dave Chisnall in the second round.

Ricky Evans is a break of throw away from facing Dave Chisnall in the second round.

He gets to a finishing chance first. A poor visit is a boost for Gordon Mathers, who cannot take 158.

Needing 96 for the match, Evans sets up double 20, with no guarantee of a return.

Mathers pulls a leg back with a 62 checkout on double 16.

A thrilling leg, with both Gordon Mathers and Ricky Evans finding a 180 each.

After Evans', he cheers enormously in what looks like a bid to gee himself and the crowd up.

"GG" Mathers has 129 left. Treble 19 and double 18 are perfect, but the second double 18 was too much.

Evans pins double five to move a leg away from the second round.

Ricky Evans is showing frustration at himself, knowing he has led by a set twice already in this match.

Meanwhile Gordon Mathers is going about his business calmly.

Mathers has three darts at 40, but misses doubles 20, 10 and five.

Evans is on 65. He finds 14 and 11. At double 20, Evans picks it out for a break of throw.

One lucky darts fan picked up £60,000 after Christian Kist's perfect leg as part of an offer from sponsors for every nine-darter.

Kris, a railway worker from Sutton in South London, was the happy recipient.

"I'm speechless to be honest. I didn't expect it to happen to me," he told the PDC.

"I'm a massive darts fan. The tickets were a birthday present from my grandad."

Image source, PDC

A fourth 180 of the match for Ricky Evans is equally matched by Gordon Mathers, who also takes his fourth of the night.

Mathers is left a Shanghai 120 finish for the match, but he misses out.

Evans is back on 80, but he puts his final dart at double 20 low.

On the same double, Mathers lands his first attempt to level the match.

If Ricky Evans holds the next two legs on his throw, he will be in the second round facing Dave Chisnall.

Looking to stop him is Gordon Mathers, who takes out 92 for a break of throw and the leg.

To level the fourth set, Gordon Mathers has 170, but misses the first two required trebles.

A 145 from Ricky Evans tees up 65, which he is allowed to attempt after Mathers goes low on double 20.

Evans emulates that, taking it to a double 10 shootout, which Mathers wins.

Even when Ricky Evans is not playing his best darts, the speed of which he throws at is simply remarkable, not speed wins you any tournaments.

On Evans' throw, Gordon Mathers gets three darts to win the leg, but misses bull on an 88 shot.

What Mathers cannot do, Evans can. He takes out 87 on the bull for the leg.

That's more like it from Ricky Evans!

A 180 gives him six darts at 69 and after the first three, he is left with double 10 for the set.

Evans takes it first time for the third set.

Both Gordon Mathers and Ricky Evans are left on big finishes in the third leg of the set, 150 and 170 respectively. Neither man get near their respective targets.

Back on 90, Mathers goes wide of bull after two single 20s.

Evans is frustrated, not going remotely close at 111, but missed doubles at eight and four bring "Rapid" back into it.

Evans takes 68 in two darts on double four to break Mathers' throw.