PDC World Darts Championship 2026 Round-Up | Clayton surges past debutant Lipscombe, Scutt survives Whitlock comeback and Van Duijvenbode dazzles

Jonny Clayton weathered the Baby Boy storm from Adam Lipscombe, Dirk van Duijvenbode dazzled with Max Hopp also enduring a swansong return to the Ally Pally stage all on Monday night at the PDC World Darts Championship while Connor Scutt survived a late comeback from Simon Whitlock.

Clayton was taking on Lipscombe who was chartered the shorter journey than some to the Alexandra Palace from Portsmouth for his debut in a limo. 'Baby Boy' who infamously missed droves of darts to beat Daryl Gurney last month in Minehead looked a bit like a rabbit in the headlights on his walk-on.

A player who perhaps was not expecting to be at Ally Pally or even on the tour, he didn't get into the final stage of Q-School in January and was only there due to a late withdrawal and he took his chance and got onto the tour after being a bit of a mainstay on the MODUS Super Series.

A bit of a fairytale, it wasn't Aaron Beeney esque though in execution as he reached a ProTour final losing to Gary Anderson and has been steady this season. Clayton though is seen as one of the form horses this period and will be looking for a Premier League spot too.
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He won through in the end 3-1 and despite not being at his best for the vast majority, a win is a win. 'The Ferret' survived multiple missed darts at double from Lipscombe in the early going who hit a 102 in the opening set but Clayton hit double 16 to seal it 1-0.

In the second set, Clayton missed the chance on double six but Lipscombe couldn't take out 105. He couldn't hit the other darts to win the leg either and Clayton finally made it 2-2. Clayton missed 64 for the set and Lipscombe returned for double four.

Clayton couldn't pin 102 and Lipscombe had one dart at double 20 but missed it allowing Clayton back to hold on double one. He won through before he hit a superb 145 checkout to begin set four and he broke and held before concluding it with a 100 checkout.

It was perhaps Dirk van Duijvenbode that impressed the most though as he came from 2-1 down against former WDF World Champion Andy Baetens who is now forced to return to Q-School.

Van Duijvenbode took out four ton plus checkouts including a 170 checkout and ended with a 98.54 average. Sublime from the Titan.

To start, Van Duijvenbode broke on double nine and Baetens responded with a 12-dart 100 checkout to make it 1-1.

'The Titan' hit an 81 checkout to go 2-1 up. He was throwing for the set. Van Duijvenbode pinned double 20 to seal the opening set albeit Baetens revived his fortunes. Baetens added to the break with a 90 checkout for 2-0. Baetens could only whittle his score down to 96 though with Van Duijvenbode sat on double 20 and Dirk held.

Baetens took the second with a 70 checkout to win through 3-1 and it was now 1-1. Van Duijvenbode broke to begin set three with a 95 using two double 19's. Baetens broke back and hit a 64 checkout to go 2-1 up in sets.

Baetens broke to begin set four but Van Duijvenbode broke back. Van Duijvenbode surged with a 170 checkout after a 106 and completed the win from there from the brink.

While Connor Scutt completed a 3-0 sets win over Simon Whitlock on the return of the Wizard to the Palace. It was the ever improving Sniper who got the result.

It was a 3-0 win as Scutt opened on double six. Whitlock missed 85 to break straight back but Scutt could not pin 110. 'The Wizard' was back to conjure up some magic in the form of double two. Scutt sealed the set with a 117 checkout. Scutt broke with a 67 checkout and was throwing for a two set lead. But Whitlock broke back.

In the decider though Scutt pinned a 56 checkout for a 2-0 lead. Whitlock hit an incredible 167 checkout to break throw. Scutt broke with an 89 checkout to go one away from the win. Scutt missed a match dart and Whitlock took the set.

Whitlock was one away from 2-2 in sets. He hit a 12-darter 80 checkout to hold with Scutt needing a hold to send it all the way in the set. Whitlock sealed the set hitting double four to seal it 3-2. It was going all the way from 2-0 down.

Double 10 for Whitlock opened the final set. Scutt hit 164 to leave 145 and he hit 56 to make it 1-1. Scutt returned with a 127 checkout to go one away. Whitlock missed darts to stay in it and Scutt finally got over the line before over time.

While Max Hopp five years on from his last Ally Pally appearance was superb to open the night as he saw off Martin Lukeman 3-1.

Hopp went two sets up. Lukeman snapped the rot with a 70 checkout to go 2-0 up. Hopp broke back though and pinned 75 to make it 2-2. Lukeman hit 100 to go 2-1 down in sets. Lukeman missed darts to hold off 74 and Hopp pinned double 16 to make it 2-0 and he was throwing for the win. Hopp finally got over the line. A great return.