Well, what a Saturday it has been at Alexandra Palace.

Luke Littler kicked off his 2025 PDC World Darts Championship campaign with a 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle.

Wales' Nick Kenny pulled off a massive shock to beat five-time world champion Raymond van Barneveld and Australia's Damon Heta hit four 100+ finishes to beat Conor Scutt.

We will be back tomorrow evening to take you through another night of action with Gary Anderson headlining proceedings.

Read all about day seven at Alexandra Palace in Frank Keogh's report here

Image source, Kieran Cleeves/PDC

Image source, Getty Images

The final two days at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship before Christmas both consist of eight second round matches.

On tomorrow's schedule, Scotland's Gary Anderson is the headline act. He faces Dutchman Jeffrey de Graaf in the evening session.

Afternoon Session (12:30)

Ryan Searle v Matt Campbell

Dirk van Duijvenbode v Madars Razma

Joe Cullen v Wessel Nijman

Ritchie Edhouse v Ian White

Evening Session (19:00)

Martin Schindler v Callan Rydz

Ross Smith v Paolo Nebrida

Gary Anderson v Jeffrey de Graaf

Dimitri van den Bergh v Dylan Slevin

Image source, Getty Images

Afternoon Session

First round

Karel Sedlacek 0-3 Rhys Griffin

Richard Veenstra 0-3 Alexis Toylo

Second round

Brendan Dolan 3-0 Lok Yin Lee

Chris Dobey 3-1 Alexander Merkx

Evening Session

Second round

Danny Noppert 1-3 Ryan Joyce

Raymond van Barneveld 1-3 Nick Kenny

Luke Littler 3-1 Ryan Meikle

Damon Heta 3-1 Connor Scutt

Image source, PA Media

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, Getty Images

Luke Littler speaking to Sky Sports on the pressure he felt during his 3-1 win over Ryan Meikle: "[It's] probably the first and it's the biggest time it's hit me. The first night in the Premier League against Luke Humphries I was nervous, but the rest [of the year] was fine.

"Coming into it I was fine, but as soon as George Noble said game on, I couldn't throw them."

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!

Damon Heta speaking to Sky Sports after beating Connor Scutt 3-1: "I'm absolutely gutted. These people deserve a 60. Maybe because I'm Australian, that didn't help."

On the match and his missed nine-darter: "Everything felt like a relief, especially after losing that first set I thought I had it wrapped up. Things happened for me, play your game and I just really felt that should've went. I'm so disgusted.

"I never felt out of it because I felt I put pressure on, take chance. That's what I did for the whole game. I couldn't let him get comfortable and shine. I had to play my game and shine. I just had to play the crowd and keep them entertained."

Damon Heta, that is sensational!

He starts the leg, on his throw to win the match, with two perfect throws.

The first is his fifth 180 of the match. The second is a 177, leaving 144 for a nine-darter to win the match.

Both treble 20s land, but he misses double 12.

After that, Heta misses five more darts at the same double before landing it via a deflection off one of his markers.

An incredible end to a thrilling match.

Damon Heta scores 180 and then, a 100, setting up 121.

Heta goes 20, treble 17 and bull. What a finish!

His fourth 100+ finish of the match and he is one leg away from the third round.

A low-scoring start to the fourth set from both Damon Heta and Connor Scutt.

A 125 from The Heat buys him a 122 chance, where he leaves 60.

On 158, Scutt finds treble 20 and 19, but with a treble one in the middle.

Heta comes back to see off 60 in two darts.

Image source, Getty Images

Damon Heta does take a lead in this deciding leg, but a 180 from Connor Scutt puts him in the driving seat.

Scutt needs 124. He goes 20, treble 18 but lands the bull dart in the 25.

Scutt comes back for the 25 and misses both of his double eight chances.

Heta needs 76 to break throw and take the set. The treble 20 is flush, so is double eight.

2-1 to the Australian.

The momentum has swung in favour of Connor Scutt, who gets three darts at 96 to level the set.

The treble 20 goes, but he misses double 18 twice.

Scutt is invited back as Heta is without a treble on 125, but Scutt misses two darts on double four.

Heta rescues himself after a four on treble 16, but bends the double nine wire.

Scutt levels the set on his next visit on the fours.

Needing a hold of throw to stay in the set, Connor Scutt requires 106 and almost takes the lot on double 16.

Damon Heta comes back on 72, but busts with 80 after two darts before putting the third in his mouth.

Scutt takes the leg on double four. The set goes on.

On his throw, Damon Heta already has three finishes above 100 in this match.

His latest is a 110, which he seals on double 16 to go 2-0 up in the set.

The Heat is rolling on at the moment!

It's only getting better in this match!

Connor Scutt and Damon Heta exchange 180s in consecutive throws and Heta is down at 85 to break throw.

The Australian can only leave 36, but he will come back for it.

Heta goes high at the first dart at double 18 before pinning the second.

Many tipped this would be the match of the night and so far, it is living up to the billing.

Damon Heta hit two 100+ finishes in the last set and after two, both he and Connor Scutt are averaging in the high 90s.

Scutt has the darts for the start of the third.

Who knew half-and-half darts scarves were a thing?

These beauties were on sale before the 2024 final where Luke Humphries beat Luke Littler 7-4.

You know what to do with those thumbs...

Image source, Getty Images

Damon Heta starts leg three excellently!

He picks out 180 and then two treble 20s, but does not find the sixth, much to his annoyance.

Needing 116, Heta comes back and finishes the lot off on double 20 for the set.

There is a bit of confusion after the leg. Scutt hits a 180 and the crowd cheer. Midway through it, Heta walks off the stage and gestures that it is a break.

The Australian was right, not many inside Alexandra Palace seemed to realise though!

Connor Scutt controls the second leg of the set on his throw.

Scutt takes 127 down to 40, where he gets six darts for the leg.

Scutt misses doubles 20, 10 and five.

Heta comes back needing 120 and lands it! A Shanghai finish.

England's Scutt smiles, but that is a missed chance.

Better from Damon Heta, who fires in an early 180 on his throw. His first of the night.

Knowing he will get two visits at it, on 167 Heta lays up to give himself three darts at double 16.

He splits the 16s and eights, but takes out double four.