PDC World Darts Championship Preview - Day 2

Four down, just 67 matches to go at the PDC World Darts Championship 2018. Michael van Gerwen swept through a high class first round tie with Christian Kist. That was after Steve Beaton and James Wilson sealed their passage, and before Gerwyn Price cruised past Ted Evetts. So we know one second round tie - van Gerwen vs Wilson - with barely a dent made in the first round schedule.
Continuing the action tonight are a host of fine players, including 2017 sensation Rob Cross. He'll play the winner of the first preliminary game of the year, while Stephen Bunting and Dimitri van den Bergh meet in a very tasty-looking clash. Oh, and there's also the small matter of the 16-time champion of the world kicking off his final quest for the biggest title of them all. It's all set up to be a fascinating night of darts.

The night begins with the first of eight preliminary ties. The prelims are always worth watching. Not only do they show fans the talent developing around the world, but they give those talents the chance to entertain and get a chance to take on one of the top talents. A meeting with Rob Cross later in the night awaits Seigo Asada or Gordon Mathers. Asada has the major tournament experience, having played in a handful of BDO events. The Japanese star caused a surprise or two, as well, though he's best remembered for busting a 136 checkout at the Lakeside a couple of years ago.
Mathers is the reason Corey Cadby isn't at the Ally Pally; the Australian topped the DPA Pro Tour rankings ahead of a whole host of rivals, including the youngster. The Brisbane thrower would double his career earnings with victory over the Ninja. Asada showed a lot of class to breeze through the PDJ Japanese World Championship qualifier; the Osaka man will fancy himself as the favourite in this best of three sets clash.

There has been a lot of debate over which of the first round ties is the most mouth-watering. Stephen Bunting vs Dimitri van den Bergh has featured in every single conversation. After a serious dip in form and confidence, Bunting has been a changed man in the past few months. Despite that, he has little to show for it in the majors, bar winning his group impressively in the Grand Slam.
He takes on newly crowned World Youth champion Dimitri van den Bergh, whose scoring at times this year has been nothing short of sensational. Taking on the likes of Bunting is a different matter, however. Both have suffered from big stage nerves, and shared the devastation of being edged out in the final set of their first round games last year at the Ally Pally. There is no unlikely scoreline here, possibly excluding a 3-0 win either way. If you know who is going to win, please get in touch. Because I'm stumped.

There's now a genuine threat that, every time Phil Taylor takes to the stage, it could be the last time we see him do so. As well as damaging the amount of international exposure SNAP! gets, a significant era of darts will end when the Power bows out. The first man to have a shot at delivering the final blow is Chris Dobey, who has made it clear that he is relishing the opportunity. In his first round appearance at the biggest stage in world darts last year, the 2016 Grand Slam quarter-finalist wasn't overawed. Dobey defeated Justin Pipe, but couldn't find a way past Dave Chisnall. Beating Taylor is a tougher prospect than the pair of them put together.
Some are already mapping Taylor's route to the final - a tricky affair, featuring the likes of Wade, Anderson and Wright, and supposedly concluding in what would be a legendary battle with Michael van Gerwen. But Taylor can't afford to look ahead so soon. If he does, Dobey will strike, and the dream finale will be over before it has really started.

Are we even allowed to call Rob Cross a 'dark horse' any more? The former electrician's talent must be the worst-kept secret in darts, apart from the fact Wayne Mardle's surname isn't pronounced "Mar-dell". 27-year-old Cross' rise to the top has been meteoric, as he went from an outside shot at appearing at the World Championships to being the 20th seed. The seeding leaves him with a formidable-looking run of potential fixtures, but Cross will fear nobody.
The only nagging doubt is that Cross is yet to prove himself fully in majors. Reaching the European Championships final was a triumph, but an early exit in the Grand Prix is a blot on his record. That said, his first round tie with Seigo Asada or Gordon Mathers should not be too tricky. Voltage may or may not cause a few shocks this year - but if he's the fifth favourite with the bookies, how shocking is it anyway?