World Darts Championship LIVE RESULTS: Aspinall in action, Sherrock fails to set up Littler clash – latest updates

Smith reflects on final nine-darter

Michael Smith says his unbelievable nine-darter against Michael van Gerwen last year had him smiling from ear to ear for 12 months.

He said: "It was unreal, especially when he missed the double 12.

"It was one of those moments. It was special. Seeing all the pints, the drink, going everywhere, everyone was soaked. I must have watched that 100,000 times, probably even more.

"Might have been 100,000 times that night at the hotel. At that moment I didn’t feel about it like I feel about it now. That was only the second set to make it 1-1, so it wasn’t a massive moment. It was massive for the fans but not for us as players.

"But when I went on to win the set and then the match, it felt weird. I got back to the room and got the goosebumps, but I never got them on stage, only when the match had finished.

"I was smiling from ear to ear, and did that virtually for a full year. I know there was nine-darters hit that year, but nobody is going hit one like that ever again!"

Peter Wright sends defiant message

The two-time world champion has struggled for form this season and finished last in the Premier League.

But he still believes he can beat the best and dismissed talk he should retire.

Wright said: “No. People say, ‘you should be retiring, you should be going to the old gits' thing’. I’m not ready for that yet. I’m ready to upset Luke Littler. I’m here to upset Luke Humphries.”

Sherrock sad to miss Big Fish

Fallon Sherrock's first round defeat means she will not get the chance to play in a dream tie against Luke Littler.

But the only thing on her mind was the fact she missed out on a Big Fish finish!

She said: "It just wasn't to be my night in the end.

"Congratulations to Ryan, I just wish that bullseye for the big fish would have gone in!

"I'll be back in 2025 and I'll be looking for more success on the PDC Women's Series, and to make the Grand Slam and World Championship again.

"Thanks as always for your support, it's been incredible."

Gates ready to face Aspinall

Leonard Gates is relishing his second round showdown against Nathan Aspinall at the Paddy Power World Darts Championship this evening.

Gates said: "I think I've improved greatly over the last few years.

"My performance against [Cameron] doesn't show what I've done back home in the States.

"I'm on a roll, everybody is telling me I'm on a roll, and I want to keep it that way. It's like a snowball rolling down a hill, it builds and builds and builds.

"I'm just going to focus and play my game, because I definitely know what Nathan can do, and if you lose focus, he will destroy you.

"Nathan has a lot of backing. He has a lot of fans, but the monster is coming!"

Price juggles darts with new business

Gerwyn Price is in the right PLAICE these days after getting rid of the distraction of his new fish and chip shop.

The Welshman, 39, has had a terrible year on the oche and been battered by opponents lower down the rankings.

Behind the scenes he has had issues setting up a new chippie in his hometown of Markham in South Wales.

Asked how the takeaway empire is going, Price — who used to own a cafe — said: “That’s probably why I was losing and playing rubbish — my mind was elsewhere.

“I’m glad now it’s up and running rather than me having to worry about it too much.

“The cafe was rubbish in the end and is being leased out as a dog-grooming salon, but Chippy 501 is doing well.

“It wasn’t just about opening it.

";I’ve got cameras in the shop and I was always checking them on my phone.

“Yeah, it can affect the oche. I’m eating fish and chips all the time. I set up a 10 per cent discount for myself.”

Sweeting's fan favourite 180

Here is the moment Sweeting hit a 180 to delight the crowd instead of giving himself a simpler finish.

Paddy Power pay tribute to star

Paddy Power have pledged to cover Rashad Sweeting's travel costs to and from the Bahamas after he hit a 180 last night.

Sweeting left himself a tricky D7 finish at a crucial point in his match against Jeffrey de Graaf after going for glory and bagging the 100th 180 of the 2024/25 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.

Egged on by the raucous crowd, the Bahamas-based player went for a maximum with his third dart when he could have given himself an easier checkout by going elsewhere on the board.

Winning the leg would have put him 2-0 up in sets and on the brink of a shock win at Alexandra Palace and through to Round Two, but it wasn’t to be as his more experienced opponent fought back for a 3-1 win.

Despite his tournament coming to an early end, Sweeting left having added £3000 to The Bigger 180 campaign after two other 180s in the match – along with making himself a HUGE fan favourite inside the arena for going for that not-so-savvy 180 - so as reward Paddy Power are going to fund his trip to and from Ally Pally.

Pitch for success

Leonard Gates is into the second round at Ally Pally but he revealed his first sporting love is baseball.

It was only 26 years ago that Gates was forging a career of his own in a completely different sport altogether.

Speaking exclusively to talkSPORT, Gates opened up on his journey in baseball, where his exploits at collegiate level caught the eye of a two-time World Series champion.

His best position, in his own words, was catcher.

But Gates also played as a first baseman and a relief pitcher.

Gates told talkSPORT: "Oh my god, I love the game.

"I still do some activities with baseball. Baseball is my first love.

"I played high school, played in college, got a scholarship to go to college.

"When I got over to college, the scouts were like, 'This guy can hit, he has all the tools to play this and that.'"

Littler wants to meet idol

Luke Littler has revealed that the one celebrity he would like to meet is Manchester United icon Cristiano Ronaldo.

“There’s only one person who I would like to meet and that’s Cristiano Ronaldo,” Littler told 90min.

Next Luke Littler's line up

Darts-playing youngsters have doubled in numbers after the success of the sport's teenage sensation Luke Littler.

Littler made it to the PDC World Championship final as a 16-year-old, which saw both online interest in the game soar and him crowned BBC's Young Sports Personality of the Year 2024 on Tuesday night.

Social media influencers have also played their part and the Junior Darts Corporation (JDC) in Wales claim darts has become one of the fastest growing sports with children.

Smith only sees 'one threat'

Former world champion Michael Smith believes there is only one threat for him at the tournament - himself.

He told Ace Odds: "It depends on how my head is. The only threat I see for myself is how I play. I don't know, if you come away from the favorites, I think Chris Dobey will have a good run there. He could go very well. Obviously, you've got Mike De Decker playing well and Richie Edwards.

"But then you've got the likes of the old boys like [Gary] Anderson's playing well.

"Peter Wright could come back at any time. It's an open field, this tournament's massively open because you've got, I think, both Luke’s in the same half. Anyone can come back.

"I know my form's coming back, Gerwyn Price’s form will be coming back. It could be a dangerous one this year."

Today's darts

It's just the one session, an evening one from 7pm on Wednesday.

Here are the matches:

Jim Williams vs. Paolo Nebrida
Madars Razma vs. Christian Kist
Ricky Evans vs. Gordon Mathers
Nathan Aspinall (12) vs. Leonard Gates

Littler scoops Young SPOTY prize

Luke Littler has issued a classy statement after narrowly missing out on being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

"First SPOTY and taking home two trophies," wrote Littler. "Huge honour for me to win Young Sports Personality of the Year and finish second for Sports Personality.

"Support this year has been amazing and want to say thank you to everyone who voted and sent messages."

Round up of Tuesday's results

Sherrock report

Fallon Sherrock fell at the first hurdle in the World Darts Championship.

Read what SunSport's Rob Maul made of her performance below in his report.

Meikle to play Luke Littler next

After defeating Fallon Sherrock, Ryan Meikle will next play Luke Littler.

He said:

For me, it's an unbelievable prize, to play Luke Littler on this stage - the biggest stage of them all.

"No-one knows what is going to happen on Saturday, but to play him here, I'm really happy.

"I'm not going to say that I'm going to win, but I just can't wait to play him."

Sherrock reaction to defeat

It was a struggle but I gave it absolutely everything, I couldn’t have done any more.
“I kept digging in to stay in the game and I never gave up.
“I’m happy to win two sets but obviously gutted to lose.
“It hurts at the moment but there are positives I can take from this going forward.
“I really felt like the 170 was going to go – it felt like the Gabriel Clemens moment (at the 2021 Grand Slam of Darts)] all over again. But it wasn’t to be.
“I always love playing at Ally Pally and the crowd gave me great support tonight."

Wright thankful

Peter Wright thanked the crowd for getting him through his win over Wesley Plaisier.

He told Sky Sports: "It wasn't my battling qualities, it was this crowd that got me through. They wanted me to win - I thank you all.

"Wesley had his chances, but he missed them and I took them. He's going to be a dangerous player for next year.

"I played rubbish but I didn't want to let down all these guys getting behind me, didn't want to let my family down."

Match stats

Wright 3-2 Plaisier (3-1)

Good visit from Wright, 134.

Made up for his 50 odd in his first three throws.

Huge double 19 then gets him to a 82 checkout.

Plaisier's on 48, so this is nervy.

For the match, Wright needs double 6. YES! Snakebite wins!

Wright 2-2 Plaisier (2-1)

Great fightback from Wright.

But Plaisier scores a 130 plus to whittle his score down to 183.

Wright will have another go at 68. Finds the guide for the double 4, but then misses the opportunity to send it to a deciding leg in this set.

Plasier needs 43. Can he find the double 8? NO! He scores 35.

And we are going the distance.

Wright 1-2 Plaisier (2-1)

That's class from Snakebite.

A 127 finish, complete with a bullseye at the end.

That'll spark him into life, surely. He's broken the rot.

Wright 0-2 Plaisier (2-1)

A 180 from Wright, that's a good response.

But he needs 141 to go, it doesn't and 68 won't do.

Plaisier sinks 48, and he's on a roll.

Averages 89 for Wright and 95 for Plaisier at the moment.

Wright 0-1 Plaisier (2-1)

Wright's 180 puts pressure on Plaisier, leaving 4.

But Plaisier doesn't feel it and gets his 40 to get over the line.

Wright will be concerned. That's four legs on the spin Plaisier has won.

Wright 0-3 Plaisier (2-1)

That was a brilliant 136 checkout from Plaisier.

Really good set from the Dutchman, who takes it.

He's averaging 100 now too.