BREAKING: Another seed in last-minute withdrawal from 2025 WDF World Championship, this time with no replacement called up

The 2025 WDF World Championship has been hit by a second withdrawal in the space of a few days at Lakeside, as 15th seed Andy Davidson pulled out of the tournament for health reasons on Tuesday morning.

The update was confirmed by the WDF shortly before the day’s play, coming just days after English hopeful David Pallett withdrew before his scheduled opening match — a situation in which German reserve Marcus Maier was drafted in as a replacement. This time, however, no player will be added to the bracket.

“For health reasons, 15th seed Andy Davidson has unfortunately had to withdraw from the 2025 WDF World Championships. In accordance with WDF rules, Davidson will not be replaced in the tournament bracket as the competition has already started. Instead, his scheduled opponent Jeff Springer Jr will receive a bye through to the Last 16.”

The development means Jeff Springer Jr moves straight into the Last 16, less than a day after producing one of the standout performances of the opening round. On Monday night he defeated Englishman Bradley Kirk 3–1, firing in two huge checkouts along the way.

Springer Jr survived five set darts in the opener before Kirk levelled the match, but a precise 148 finish restored the American’s lead. He then produced a showreel 160 to open the fourth set — a moment that broke the contest open — before closing out the win to book what should have been a meeting with 15th seed Andy Davidson.

Instead, Davidson’s withdrawal now sends Springer Jr directly into the Last 16 without throwing another dart.