Record number of seeds tumble at 2025 PDC World Darts Championship with crisis for top names

The 2025 World Darts Championship is, for now, entirely in keeping with the trend that had already begun at past television tournaments. It is raining surprises in Alexandra Palace for the time being. Especially the last tournament days before Christmas quite a few established names flew out.

Of the top-32 seeded players, only 18 managed to survive Christmas. Looking at the rankings, Michael Smith was the biggest casualty of the second round. The world number two did lose to Kevin Doets this year. The two players also met in the second round at the previous world championships and then it was Smith who narrowly lost.

Sensationally, Gary Anderson may have been the biggest name to stumble over the first hurdle. After an excellent season, "The Flying Scotsman" was tipped as world champion, but Anderson went down 3-0 in sets against Jeffrey de Graaf. Besides Smith, Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall are the other players from the world's top-10 who lost their opening match. Cross and Chisnall lost to Scott Williams and Ricky Evans, respectively.

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For Danny Noppert the curtain fell against Ryan Joyce, while Dirk van Duijvenbode was eliminated by Madars Razma. Gian van Veen lost against Ricardo Pietreczko, and Raymond van Barneveld went down against Nick Kenny.

Mike de Decker could not live up to the high expectations either. The Belgian was floored in the second round by Luke Woodhouse. James Wade, Ross Smith, Martin Schindler, Gabriel Clemens and Ritchie Edhouse are the other players from the world's top-32 who are out at the World Darts Championship.

Never before have so many seeds been eliminated in their opening match at the World Darts Championship. The number of fourteen is a narrow improvement on the record from 2019, when thirteen seeds were eliminated before Christmas.

Eliminated top-32 players

Michael Smith (2)

Rob Cross (5)

Dave Chisnall (6)

Danny Noppert (13)

Gary Anderson (14)

James Wade (16)

Ross Smith (19)

Martin Schindler (23)

Mike De Decker (24)

Dirk van Duijvenbode (25)

Gabriel Clemens (27)

Gian van Veen (28)

Ritchie Edhouse (29)

Raymond van Barneveld (32)

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