Patrik Kovacs had more chances in set #2, almost forcing a last-leg decider, but Rydz managed to win another set to push his lead in sets to 2-0.
We are nearing the end of the first round of the 2026 PDC Darts World Championship, but there are still some exciting players who have yet to play.
In the afternoon session, we will see 2025 WC quarterfinalist Callan Rydz begin his campaign, as he looks to replicate the incredible run he had last year.
In the third game of the afternoon, Ryan Joyce will take the stage, coming off a WC last year when he was arguably the player with the closest chance at beating Luke Littler.
Belgium's Mike De Decker will cap off the afternoon session, as he'll play David Munyua, Kenya's first-ever PDC WC qualifier.
Dark horse Jermaine Wattimena will play in the first game of the evening session.
Dave Chisnall will face Fallon Sherrock in the second game of the evening slate, as Sherrock will look to make more history at the Ally Pally.
Lastly, Michael van Gerwen will start his 2026 WC campaign in the third game of the evening, coming off a runner-up finish at last year's WC.
2025 PDC Darts World Championship schedule & scores
Here are the scores and schedule of play for the first round on Day 8.
MORE: 2026 PDC Darts World Championship: Draw, schedule, format and prize money
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Day 8 (afternoon session)
| Matchup | Date | Time (local) | Score |
| Callan Rydz vs. Patrik Kovacs | Thurs., Dec. 18 | 12:30 p.m. | |
| Thibault Tricole vs. Motomu Sakai | Thurs., Dec. 18 | 1:30 p.m. | |
| Ryan Joyce vs. Owen Bates | Thurs., Dec. 18 | 2:30 p.m. | |
| Mike De Decker vs. David Munyua | Thurs., Dec. 18 | 3:30 p.m. |
Day 8 (evening session)
| Matchup | Date | Time (local) | Score |
| Jermaine Wattimena vs. Dominik Gruellich | Thurs., Dec. 18 | 7:00 p.m. | |
| Dave Chisnall vs. Fallon Sherrock | Thurs., Dec. 18 | 8:00 p.m. | |
| Michael van Gerwen vs. Mitsuhiko Tatsunami | Thurs., Dec. 18 | 9:00 p.m. | |
| Krzysztof Ratajski vs. Alexis Toylo | Thurs., Dec. 18 | 10:00 p.m. |
Bracket
Here is the bracket for the second round.
*Updated as of the end of this day
Quarter #1
| Littler vs. Davies |
| Cullen vs. Suljovic |
| Heta vs. Bellmont |
| Cross vs. White |
| Dobey vs. Gilding |
| Woodhouse vs. Hopp |
| Price vs. Plaisier |
| Joyce/Bates vs. Ratajski/Toylo |
Quarter #2
| Bunting vs. Kumar |
| van Duijvenbode vs. Hurrell |
| Schindler vs. Barry/Pusey |
| Searle vs. Dolan |
| Clayton vs. Taylor |
| M. Smith vs. Zonneveld |
| Harrysson vs. Tricole/Sakai |
| Chisnall/Sherrock vs. Pietreczko |
Quarter #3
| Humphries vs. Lim |
| Nijman vs. Clemens |
| Aspinall/Ilagan vs. Mansell/Gates |
| De Decker/Munyua vs. Doets/Dennant |
| Wade vs. Evans |
| Manby vs. Sevada |
| van Veen vs. Soutar |
| Beveridge vs. Razma |
Quarter #4
| van Gerwen/Tatsunami vs. O'Connor/Kciuk |
| Wright vs. Merk |
| Anderson vs. Scutt |
| Wattimena/Grullich vs. Williams |
| Noppert vs. Hood |
| Tata vs. Meikle/Salate |
| Rock/Hayter vs. Comito |
| Gurney/Greaves vs. Rydz/Kovacs |
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