PDC World Darts Championship Saturday afternoon Round-Up | Ricardo Pietreczko survives Chisnall comeback as Van Duijvenbode suffers doubling disaster

The PDC World Darts Championship continued on Saturday evening with Dirk van Duijvenbode and Dave Chisnall heading home, while the cult hero Motomu Sakai is also out as the second round began.

James Hurrell secured his place in the third round of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship after overcoming Dirk van Duijvenbode in a dramatic five-set encounter at Alexandra Palace.

The Englishman impressed throughout the contest, landing ten 180s and producing several high-quality finishes before holding his nerve in the deciding set to claim a memorable victory.
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The opening set was scrappy as both players searched for rhythm. Van Duijvenbode struck first with a 17-darter, but Hurrell responded by holding throw in 21 darts. Another 17-darter from the Dutchman put him 2–1 ahead, and after Hurrell missed chances on the doubles, Van Duijvenbode took the set on double 16.

Hurrell, however, found an extra gear in the second set. He opened with a 16-darter to hold throw before breaking Van Duijvenbode in 12 darts. The set was capped off with a superb 11-darter, as Hurrell levelled the match at one set apiece.

The third set continued in Hurrell’s favour. He broke Van Duijvenbode twice and held his own leg with an 80 finish to claim the set 3–1 and move into a 2–1 lead.

Van Duijvenbode responded well in the fourth set, breaking immediately with a 95 checkout and racing into a 2–0 lead. Hurrell managed to pull a leg back, but a clinical 13-darter from the Dutchman forced a deciding set.

Hurrell made the crucial early breakthrough in the final set, breaking throw in 19 darts. He then produced one of the moments of the match with a stunning 132 checkout — two bullseyes followed by double 16 — to move to match point. Although he missed two darts at double 10, Hurrell regained control after further missed chances from Van Duijvenbode and eventually sealed the win on tops.

Ricardo Pietreczko edged out Dave Chisnall in a dramatic contest, surviving a remarkable comeback to book his place in the next round.

The German made a strong start, breaking Chisnall immediately with a 15-darter and holding his own throw in 16 to move 2–0 ahead. Chisnall held his next leg but failed to create a break opportunity, allowing Pietreczko to take the opening set 3–1.

Chisnall showed signs of improvement in the second set but struggled badly on the doubles. He missed seven darts in the second leg, allowing Pietreczko back to 1–1, and after further missed chances, the German claimed the set to move 2–0 ahead overall.

From the third set onwards, the match completely changed. Chisnall began finding the treble bed consistently, firing in maximums and dominating the scoring. He took the third set 3–1 and followed it up with a convincing 3–0 win in the fourth to level the match.

The deciding set was finely poised at 1–1 when Pietreczko stood on tops after 12 darts for a break. Chisnall responded brilliantly with a 113 checkout to hold throw. ‘Chizzy’ then had a match dart at 143, but missed, allowing Pietreczko to force a deciding leg on double eight. The German broke throw at the crucial moment and held his nerve to close out the match.

Andreas Harrysson brought Motomu Sakai’s World Championship run to an end with a straight-sets victory, overcoming the Japanese crowd favourite 3–0.

Sakai once again received a rousing reception at Alexandra Palace, but was unable to reproduce the level that had won him so many admirers earlier in the tournament.

Harrysson opened by holding throw, before Sakai briefly lifted the crowd with a 14-darter to level. The Swede responded with a brilliant 141 checkout to move ahead once more, before Sakai forced a deciding leg by taking out 67. After missed doubles from both players, Harrysson edged the leg on double four to claim the first set.

Sakai missed three darts at a double in the opening leg of set two, allowing Harrysson to break with a 19-darter. A 91 finish for a 14-darter then put the Swede 2–0 up. Although Sakai pulled one leg back, Harrysson closed out the set on double ten to move 2–0 ahead.

The third set went to a deciding leg once again after four holds of throw. This time Harrysson was clinical, taking out 72 in five visits to seal the match and end Sakai’s Alexandra Palace adventure.

Ryan Searle progressed with minimal fuss as he swept aside Brendan Dolan in straight sets, averaging just over 98 in a dominant performance.

Dolan struggled to find his rhythm from the outset, while Searle settled quickly. ‘Heavy Metal’ held his opening leg in 13 darts and broke Dolan with a 15-darter. Dolan briefly responded with a fine 109 checkout, but Searle wrapped up the first set with a 14-darter.

The pattern continued in the second set, with Searle breaking immediately once more and holding throw comfortably. Dolan missed three darts at a double in the third leg, allowing Searle to move into a 2–0 lead in sets.

Dolan managed to claim a leg in the third set, but Searle remained in complete control. After Dolan bust on 12, Searle closed out the match with a 17-darter to book his place in the next round.