PDC World Darts Championship 2026 Round-Up | Luke Humphries sweeps legend Paul Lim as Gian van Veen produces tournament best 108 average

Luke Humphries ended the run of darting legend Paul LIm, Gian van Veen produced the standout display of the tournament so far and Nathan Aspinall saw off another fan favourite Leonard Gates.

Humphries cruised to a straight sets win over 71-year-old Paul Lim without losing a single leg to progress to the post Christmas darts aka the Last 32 at the PDC World Darts Championship. This match had great significance given that Lim saw off Humphries five years ago and 'Cool Hand Luke' went on to lose a shed load of weight and became the all conquering darting force we know today.

Humphries opened with a break hitting a 44 checkout for a 12-darter. He held with Lim missing 112 for 1-1 and he completed the set. He missed 161 on the bull but returned to hit double eight for the opening set.

Humphries continued to make a statement hitting an 81 checkout on double 12. He followed up on double 18 to go 2-0 up. He concluded the set on double 16 with Lim sat on double 20.
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Humphries sealed the win from there with Lim claiming his only leg. He hit double five breaking for 1-0. He held on double 16. Lim finally got a leg on the board but only after Humphries missed 74 to break and Humphries hit a 79 checkout on double 11 to seal the win.

First up on Monday night was the incredible Van Veen as he took down an equally brilliant Alan Soutar who lost 3-1 despite a pretty superb performance himself. The reigning European Champion reeled off six legs on the spin after dropping the first set to seal victory over Soutar with a 108.3 average, seven 180's and a 170 checkout.

Van Veen was in early trouble though as despite his later brilliance, it took him a little while to get going in the tie as he missed seven darts at double and the Scottish fireman took the lead with a 124 checkout to his name.

Albeit Soutar despite going 1-0 up missed a vital chance to go 2-0 up which proved to be the catalyst for his untimely demise in the competition as he missed a set dart at double 16 and Van Veen clinically finished 72 in two darts to draw level and tie it up at 1-1.

From there, it was pretty rampant as Van Veen did not lose a single leg from there as he went beast mode. He broke for 2-0 with double eight before taking out 170 incredibly for the set. He then returned in a set where Soutar had the throw and hit a 12-darter to start and break. He held on double 18 before he took out 56 for another 11-darter. Truly sensational.

Then it was onto Nathan Aspinall who took down Leonard Gates in a straight sets 3-0 win for 'The Asp'. 'Soulger' spoke about getting in Aspinall's head in the practice room prior to the tie after his earlier win but in the battle of the popular walk-ons, it was the 15th seed who shut out the charge of the American.

The writing was very much on the wall early as Aspinall took the opening set despite missing nine darts at doubles and did so winning it 3-1. The former World Matchplay champion strengthened his grip wrapping up the second set amid costly missed doubles from Gates and saw him surge ahead again.

Gates hit an 11-dart 81 checkout to draw level at 1-1 in what was the final set but Aspinall hit 70 and followed it up with a 42 checkout after Gates had missed darts to send it to a decider and sealed the win from there. Like Humphries and Van Veen he returns after Christmas.

Finally Charlie Manby took down Adam Sevada as 'Champagne' impressed again and he will get a superb opportunity to potentially reach the Last 16 also as he faces off against Ricky Evans and not James Wade.

Manby was superb right from the get go sweeping the opening set 3-0 on double 20, followed by a hold on double six and finally he broke with a 74 checkout. Manby followed up the second without losing a leg once more hitting a 100 checkout before taking out double 20 for 2-0. Finally he hit 95 for 3-0 on double eight. Sevada finally sealed a leg but Manby broke for 2-1 and then held to seal the win from there as his superb debut continues.