PDC World Darts Championship 2026 Round-Up | Gerwyn Price slumped out by Plaisier as Luke Littler straight sets victor over David Davies

Wesley Plaisier may well have produced the biggest shock of the World Darts Championship so far. The Dutchman faced world number nine Gerwyn Price in the second round, with the Welshman installed as the overwhelming pre-match favourite.

However, Plaisier delivered a superb performance, was ruthlessly effective on the doubles and never once allowed Price an opportunity in his own legs. As a result, he sealed an emphatic 3–0 victory, sending one of the tournament favourites crashing out.

It was Plaisier who struck first in the opening leg, producing a stunning 130 checkout to hold throw in 15 darts. Price responded with a 13-darter to hold his own leg, but the Dutchman matched that effort to move 2–1 ahead. The Welshman then faltered on his own throw, allowing Plaisier to claim the set with a 19-darter and take a 1–0 lead.

Plaisier maintained that level into the second set, breaking Price immediately with a 13-darter before holding throw to move 2–0 clear. Price managed to hold his own leg to reduce the deficit to 2–1 and then had a dart at tops for a 117 finish to force a decider. He missed that opportunity, and Plaisier punished him by taking out double four for an 18-darter to move 2–0 up in sets, with a huge upset suddenly looming.
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The third set also began perfectly for Plaisier, who opened with a 14-darter to take the lead. Price responded with an excellent 11-darter to level, but the Dutchman remained rock-solid on throw and restored his advantage with a 13-darter to move to match point. Price once again held his own leg to force a deciding leg. In that decider, Plaisier missed two match darts, but Price failed to capitalise, missing two darts of his own to take the set. Plaisier’s third match dart found its mark, completing a sensational victory.

Luke Littler also progressed to the third round, despite failing to produce his best performance of the tournament. The world number one was fortunate at times that David Davies could not take his chances on the doubles, and that ultimately allowed Littler to secure a comfortable 3–0 win.

Davies showed no fear in the opening exchanges and came close to breaking immediately, but Littler survived after his opponent missed two doubles. However, the 18-year-old struggled to find his rhythm early on. Davies held his own leg with a 13-darter before breaking Littler in the same number of darts. The Welshman then missed five darts at double to take the set, allowing ‘The Nuke’ to break back and win the deciding leg to move 1–0 ahead.

Undeterred, Davies opened the second set with a 12-darter. Littler responded instantly with a superb 145 checkout to level. Davies then missed two darts at tops to go 2–1 up, and Littler punished him by breaking on double 12. A 13-darter followed as Littler moved 2–0 ahead in sets.

The third set followed a similar pattern. Davies matched Littler scoring-wise but again failed to capitalise at crucial moments. Littler took the opening leg with a 14-darter after Davies missed two more darts at a break. Davies levelled in 15 darts, but that proved to be his final leg. Littler held throw before breaking Davies in 17 darts to wrap up the match without too much trouble.

Littler may not have been at his fluent best, but he did enough to see off Davies with minimal fuss.

Martin Schindler left an excellent impression in his second-round clash with Keane Barry. Although every set went to a deciding leg, the German was dominant when it mattered most, recording a 3–0 victory.

Schindler started brilliantly, reaching double 18 after just 10 darts in the opening leg, but missed four chances and allowed Barry to hold in 16 darts. Schindler then held his own leg before breaking Barry with a 13-darter. The Irishman responded by breaking back to force a decider. Both players missed set darts, but Schindler eventually pinned double 10 to take a 1–0 lead.

Barry started the second set strongly, breaking Schindler and then holding throw to race into a 2–0 lead. Schindler refused to panic, responding with a 14-darter before producing an excellent 11-darter to break back and force another deciding leg. Barry stood on tops after 12 darts, but Schindler stole the leg with a brilliant 118 checkout to double his set advantage.

The third set was just as tight. Barry held in 15 darts before Schindler levelled. Both players then held throw once more, sending the match to a third consecutive decider. Barry had the throw but suffered a cruel bounce-out on 72, leaving himself without a dart at double. Schindler took full advantage, checking out 76 to complete a clean 3–0 victory.

Damon Heta also booked his place in the next round, although the Australian once again failed to convince on the big stage. Despite a scrappy performance, he eventually edged past Stefan Bellmont in a hard-fought 3–2 encounter.

The opening set was low in quality, with both players struggling for consistency. Bellmont struck first by breaking Heta in 17 darts. Heta broke back, but the Swiss player responded with another break in 14 darts and then closed out the set with a 21-darter.

Heta raised his level in the second set, firing in back-to-back 14-darters to move 2–0 ahead. After Bellmont reduced the deficit, Heta produced a superb 121 checkout for a 12-darter to level the match at 1–1.

The third set saw Heta slip again, allowing Bellmont to break in 18 darts before producing a 110 finish to go 2–0 up. Although Heta pulled one leg back, Bellmont sealed the set with a 14-darter.

Heta showed resilience in the fourth set. He broke Bellmont early, was immediately broken back, but then found another break to move 2–1 ahead. He held throw on double 10 to force a deciding set.

In the decider, Heta opened with a 12-darter, but Bellmont replied with a fine 112 checkout. The Australian then held throw to move to match point and broke Bellmont at the perfect moment with a 15-darter to finally secure the win.

Heta may not have been at his best, but he did enough to keep his tournament alive.