PDC World Darts Championship 2019 schedule - Thursday December 20, evening session

Wednesday night got a bit bad-tempered. So Thursday night at the PDC World Championship needs something a bit more Gentle.

The loveable Mensur Suljovic headlines what should be a more sedate state of affairs in the Thursday evening session. The second round of the PDC World Championship is progressing quickly. Much like Rowby-John Rodriguez's in the first round, in fact. The Austrian youngster was excellent and deserved the win against a strong opponent. He now meets Cristo Reyes, whose World Championship form is bizarre. There was win over Wes Newton, and the atrocious defeat to the same man the next year. Reyes achieved the highest average ever by a losing player two years ago - a feat since topped by Raymond van Barneveld and Jeffrey de Zwaan. Then last year, he averaged 85 and was roundly thrashed by compatriot Antonio Alcinas. Who knows which Reyes we'll see this year? In the second tie of the evening, Mervyn King steps up to compete in his 23rd World Championship - this takes his PDC tally up to 12, on top of his 11 Lakeside appearances. He reached the final twice in the BDO event but, bar a run to the 2009 semi-finals, has never really done the business at the Ally Pally. Jan Dekker, who against Lisa Ashton, will feel that Mervyn King's there for the taking. In a portion of the draw now lacking Peter Wright and Joe Cullen, the Dutchman is in with a real chance of doing something special this year.

Old and new

If Adrian Lewis' career was a Hollywood movie, this would be the part where he bounces back from his lowest ebb in a triumphant montage of past-glory-evoking magic. It doesn't work like that, however; Lewis needs to beat Ted Evetts and Darius Labanauskas for the pleasure of a quarter-final against Michael van Gerwen. Evetts, with a first World Championship win under his belt, shouldn't be underestimated. Lewis knows that he has the game to beat anyone, but if that game isn't there, he's vulnerable. Evetts will want to follow on from Kevin Munch's incredible shock win last year.
Mensur Suljovic is possibly the only person around who doesn't think that Mensur Suljovic is a potential world champion. Perhaps he self-criticises more for show than anything. But the world number seven has to believe that he can beat anyone. First in the Gentle's sights is Ryan Searle, who kept his cool to take every set against Stephen Burton. Suljovic won't be quite as generous as the Suffolk man however. Searle needs to find a new level, or he'll be heading home.
Click here for more information about the PDC World Darts Championship, including schedules and the prize fund breakdown.

Evening session schedule

19:10 Cristo Reyes vs Rowby-John Rodriguez (R2) 20:10 Mervyn King vs Jan Dekker (R2) 21:10 Adrian Lewis vs Ted Evetts (R2) 22:10 Mensur Suljovic vs Ryan Searle (R2)