Paolo Nebrida kicks off day 4 at the 2025 World Darts Championship with an upset, defeating Jim Williams in dramatic deciding leg

Day 4 at the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship is underway and Paolo Nebrida has become the first winner of the evening at the Alexandra Palace, defeating Jim Williams 3-2.

Last year, Jim Williams caused a sensation at the Ally Pally, sending two-time world champion Peter Wright packing, although the former Lakeside finalist has failed to really kick on in 2024. Despite Nebrida starting strongly and breaking the Welshman's throw in the opening leg, Williams bounced back well to take the next two and put himself in a good position to take the opening set. Nebrida held throw in leg 4, forcing a decider, where Williams had the darts. After 'The Quiff' spurned five set darts though, Nebrida punished to get himself a set to the good.

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Quickly putting the disappointment of those missed set darts behind him, Williams came out for set 2 firing. Hitting a maximum in the opening leg, he broke throw to move one up. The Welshman then held confidently in leg 2 to double his advantage in the second set. Although Nebrida avoided the set whitewash, Williams levelled the match up on double 9 in leg 4.

Just as Williams looked set to take control of the contest though, his level fell away at the start of set 3 as Nebrida quickly moved 2-0 up. Williams though, sparked back into life in third leg, holding throw in style with a 158 checkout. A comeback in the set wasn't to be though as Nebrida held throw solidly in leg 4 to restore his advantage in the contest, moving 2-1 up in sets.

Both players had chances in the opener of set 4. Eventually though, Williams took it on double 8 to get the break of throw. A hold of throw followed as did another break of throw in leg for the Welshman, sending the tie to a fifth and deciding set.

Continuing the positive momentum this time, Williams, who'd upped his average to around 95, comfortably held in the opener of the deciding set in 17 darts. Nebrida wasn't done yet though, levelling up the set with a brilliant 121 on double 14. As the run of holds continued, Williams moved one away from the win on double 12. Thanks to his 6th 180 in the next leg, Williams got himself a first shot at a finish in leg 4. At the worst possible time though, double trouble returned to his throw, missing five match darts and allowing Nebrida to force a the first deciding leg of this year's World Championship. It was still advantage Williams, with the Welshman throwing first, but Nebrida got the first dart at double and made no mistake, sealing victory.

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