Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports

I've been really impressed with Ricardo Pietreczko so far. He's been really solid.

Image source, PA Media

Ricardo Pietreczko has the chance to level the set and takes it.

He gives himself three darts at double 16, but only needs two.

Maybe, Gian van Veen is a big 1990s Eastenders fan, despite not being born when Shaun Williamson made his debut on Albert Square.

He starts the second set by taking out a big 127 finish to hold his throw in 12 darts.

Image source, Kieran Cleeves/PDC

For any Eastenders fans out there, Shaun Williamson, better known as Barry Evans, has just orchestrated a rendition of "Sweet Caroline" out of the crowd before the second set starts.

Dressed to the nines, he's on top form.

Ricardo Pietreczko has won all three legs so far.

The difference between him and Gian van Veen has been on the finishing.

In terms of averages, Pietreczko is only 0.02 ahead of Van Veen at 86.71.

On the doubles, Pietreczko has landed three of his eight attempts. Van Veen has missed nine out of nine.

Image source, Getty Images

Ricardo Pietreczko has been helped out by Gian van Veen's finishing.

The Dutchman has already missed nine darts at a double in the first two legs.

The German gets six darts at least on 109, setting up double eight with the first three.

Van Veen loses the set 3-0 as Pietreczko takes the leg on double four.

Ricardo Pietreczko finds a second 180 in as many legs.

On 121, he goes bull first and lands it but cannot take the rest.

Gian van Veen can level, but his one dart at double 20 is too high.

Pietreczko breaks the throw on his return down at the 10s.

Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports

Image source, PA Media

One thing you must not do is give Ricardo Pietreczko a dart at double. That is a real strength of his for me.

Ricardo Pietreczko starts the match with a 180, a sign of what is to come?

Gian van Veen fires back and a 162 gives him six darts at a finish for a break of throw.

On 62, Van Veen misses two darts at a double, but he will come back for another visit.

The Dutchman then misses three darts at a double across the eights and fours, with Pietreczko missing one at double 20.

Down at the twos, Van Veen misses a trio and Pietreczko takes the leg.

Two of the younger players left in the competition meet here between Gian van Veen and Ricardo Pietreczko.

Nicknamed Pikachu, the German walks out to the Pokemon theme song.

Pietreczko to throw first, game on!

Image source, Getty Images

The night's action starts with a meeting between Dutchman Gian van Veen and Germany's Ricardo Pietreczko.

Van Veen, 22, won this year's PDC World Youth Championship and enters the World Championship as the number 28 seed.

There is little to separate Van Veen and Pietreczko. Nicknamed Pikachu, the 30-year-old is only six places behind Van Veen in the world rankings.

The winner of this match will face the winner of tonight's final match between Rob Cross and Scott Williams in the third round.

Image source, Getty Images

Not only was Luke Littler the most searched for athlete online in the UK this year, he was third in the list for all people. Catherine, Princess of Wales, topped the able, with Littler in third, ahead of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Google's most searched people in UK in 2024

1. Catherine, Princess of Wales (searched as Kate Middleton)
2. Donald Trump
3. Luke Littler
4. Sir Keir Starmer
5. Imane Khelif

Google's most searched for athletes in UK in 2024

1. Luke Littler
2. Lamine Yamal
3. Simone Biles
4. Jude Bellingham
5. Adam Peaty

Image source, Reuters

It is a good question - and one we don't actually know the answer to yet.

We know he'll face 54-year-old Ian White in the third round, but the exact schedule is yet to be confirmed.

Those games will be played across afternoon and evening sessions on 27 & 28 December.

The teenager was in scintillating form in his tournament opener on Saturday night, throwing a record 140.91 set average in his win over Ryan Meikle.

Image source, PA Media

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 Christian Kist on Wednesday was from 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!

Image source, Getty Images

This evening session is the final one before the tournament takes a break until 27 December for the Christmas fesitives.

How will we all fill our time!?!

Let us know what you have planned - even better if there's something darts related in there - and who is your fancy for the tournament based on what we've seen so far.

Have your say using #bbcdarts on X, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

Image source, PA Media

Jonny Clayton pulled off a sensational final-set comeback to beat Mickey Mansell in a sudden-death 3-2 win in the second round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship.

The Welsh number seven seed was a leg away from defeat twice to his Northern Irish opponent, but came from behind to win the final set 6-5 in a sudden-death leg.

Clayton lost the opening set of the match, as he looked to avoid becoming the 12th seed to be knocked out, but fought back to lead 2-1.

He was pegged back by 51-year-old Mansell, who then missed match darts on double tops in the deciding set.

The Welshman will face either Daryl Gurney or Florian Hempel in the third round after the three-day Christmas break.

"I was very emotional. I've got to be honest, that meant a lot," said Clayton after the win.

"I had chances before and Mickey definitely had chances before. It wasn't great to play in, not the best - I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

"There is a lot of weight off my shoulders after that. I know there is another gear or two in the bank, but I'll be honest that meant a lot to me, it is a tester and will try and make me believe again."

Read our afternoon report as Jonny Clayton progresses in sudden-death decider.

Second round

Gian van Veen v Ricardo Pietreczko - 19:15

Daryl Gurney v Florian Hempel - 20:15

Dave Chisnall v Ricky Evans - 21:15

Rob Cross v Scott Williams - 22:15

Second round

Krzysztof Ratajski 3-1 Alexis Toylo

Andrew Gilding 3-1 Martin Lukeman

Josh Rock 3-0 Rhys Griffin

Jonny Clayton 3-2 Mickey Mansell

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to Monday night's live text from day nine at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship.

Tonight, the final four matches from the second round take place and we should be in for another action-packed session from inside Alexandra Palace.

Former world champion Rob Cross is among the big names in action this evening. He takes on Scott Williams, who reached the semi-final 12 months ago.

Earlier today, four more players booked their place into the third round.

We will tell you all about those matches before looking ahead to tonight's action, the final night before the three-day Christmas break.