Five matches that lit up the 2026 World Darts Championship before Christmas: spectacle, drama and unforgettable moments

The opening two rounds of the 2026 World Darts Championship instantly showed why this tournament holds such a special place on the global sporting calendar. While the big names usually enter later and the tension builds gradually, it was the early rounds this year that had the crowd on the edge of their seats. Five matches stood out: contests where everything that makes darts so compelling came together. Unexpected twists, mental battles, misses at crucial moments, and checkouts that blew the roof off Alexandra Palace – and thrilled millions watching at home.

From a nerve-shredding last-leg decider to shocking exits for established names, these five ties were not only dramatic but each told its own story. These are the five best matches from the first two rounds of the 2026 World Darts Championship.

The meeting between Alan Soutar and Teemu Harju looked on paper like a relatively straightforward affair, but it turned into one of the tournament’s most bizarre and intense duels. Soutar flew out of the blocks and took the first two sets convincingly by 3-0 and 3-0. His timing on the doubles was razor-sharp and Harju looked overwhelmed by the stage and the atmosphere.

What followed, however, was a complete turnaround. Harju showed impressive mental resilience and battled back by taking sets three and four with identical 3-2 scores. Suddenly doubt crept into Soutar’s game, and he visibly struggled with his own lead. The match shifted from one-way traffic into a psychological chess match.

The deciding fifth set was pure darts drama. Neither player gave an inch and every leg felt like a final in its own right. In the end, Soutar edged it 6-5 after a nerve-racking last-leg decider in which both men missed match darts (Soutar an incredible fifteen and Harju four). The crowd lived every dart and rewarded both players with a standing ovation. This was darts at its purest: tension, resilience, and emotion. Soutar ultimately lost a round later, 3-1, to Gian van Veen.

Dirk van Duijvenbode is known for his explosive game and emotional intensity, and against Andy Baetens it all came together. The Dutchman started strongly and took the first set 3-1, but then Baetens seized full control. With back-to-back 3-1 sets, the Belgian completely turned the match around.

What made this tie so compelling was the contrast between the two players. While Baetens stayed cool and efficient, Van Duijvenbode was visibly battling his emotions. Yet ‘The Titan’ managed to recharge. In set four he regained his composure and forced a deciding fifth set.

There, Van Duijvenbode showed why he is so popular with the crowd. With pure willpower and a couple of clutch checkouts, he closed out the match 3-1. It wasn’t perfect in terms of averages, but it was a duel defined by character, fighting spirit, and the ability to claw back from a difficult spot. That’s exactly what made it unforgettable. Van Duijvenbode, however, could not enjoy the win for long, as his tournament ended a round later after a 3-2 defeat to James Hurrell. Baetens, for his part, has lost his PDC Tour Card and will have to return to Q-School at the start of next year.

If one match embodied the unpredictability of the World Championship, it was the clash between Mike De Decker and David Munyua. De Decker started convincingly and looked in control after taking sets by 3-1 and 3-2. His scoring was solid and the doubles landed at the right moments.

But Munyua, the first Kenyan ever at the World Championship, refused to fold. The outsider battled back superbly, winning sets three and four with identical 3-2 scores, with De Decker missing three match darts in the fourth set. The tension was palpable with every dart. As De Decker’s nerves clearly took over, Munyua sensed his chance and grew visibly in confidence.

In the deciding set, everything fell into place for the underdog. With a 3-1 set win, Munyua completed one of the biggest shocks of the first round. The crowd relished the story: a player without big expectations who fought his way to a memorable victory with courage and determination. Munyua, nicknamed ‘Why Not’, eventually bowed out in the second round after a 3-0 defeat to Kevin Doets.

The second-round duel between James Wade and Ricky Evans was a clash of styles. Wade, the veteran with his controlled tempo and clinical finishing, up against Evans, renowned for his blistering pace and energetic presence. From the first dart it was clear this would be something special.

Evans took the first set 3-2, but Wade hit back with a convincing 3-1 in set two. What followed was a back-and-forth battle in which neither player could wrestle full control. Evans claimed set three, Wade responded with a dominant 3-0 in set four.

The decisive fifth set was everything darts fans hope to see. Heavy scoring, rapid legs, and a roaring crowd. In the end it was Evans who struck with a 6-4 and recorded one of the most impressive wins of his career. For Wade it meant an early exit, but his sportsmanlike reaction afterward underlined his class. After Christmas, Evans will face Charlie Manby in the third round.

For the Dutch audience, the second-round clash between Danny Noppert and Justin Hood was arguably the most emotional. Noppert started sluggishly and lost the first two sets 3-2 and 3-1. Hood played with freedom and made the most of the chances he got.

Yet Noppert did not give in. With back-to-back set wins (3-2 and 3-1) he leveled the match. The Frisian’s experience looked set to tip the balance, and aided by some fantastic checkouts he kept himself in it throughout. But in the deciding set Hood showed rock-solid mentality. In a pulsating final set he edged it 6-5.

It was a bitter pill for Noppert, but at the same time a fine example of how fine the margins are at the Worlds. One missed double can be the difference between advancing and going out. Hood will face Ryan Meikle in the third round.

The opening two rounds of the 2026 World Darts Championship proved that spectacle does not depend on big names alone. It was precisely the mix of established players, outsiders, and emotional storylines that produced unforgettable matches. These five duels together formed the perfect calling card for a tournament that promises much more to come.

If this is the level and tension of the early stages, darts fans can brace for a World Championship that will be remembered for a long time.