Coverage of Alexandra Palace continues Monday night with Gerwyn Price and Gary Anderson back in action – join us from 6pm on Sky Sports Darts
By Paul Prenderville at Alexandra Palace
Last update: 12/28/20 4:26 PM
1:07
Vincent van der Voort beat Nathan Aspinall to reserve his place in the last 16 of the World Darts Championship
Vincent van der Voort beat Nathan Aspinall to reserve his place in the last 16 of the World Darts Championship
Dirk van Duijvenbode and Vincent van der Voort followed their Christmas dinner partner Michael van Gerwen into the last 16 of the PDC World Darts Championship on Monday afternoon.
With the Dutch trio unable to return to their native Netherlands during the festive three-day break, Van Gerwen hosted a barbecue before setting the tone with a dazzling display to beat Ricky Evans on Sunday night then that the tournament resumed.
The lesser-announced pair of Van der Voort and Van Duijvenbode followed suit as the third round continued, Van der Voort shocking world No.6s Nathan Aspinall and Van Duijvenbode ensuring his memorable year continues with a better tournament performance after a 4-0 victory over Adam Hunt.
Finally Christmas dinner with @ VvdV180 @Duivee @ ModusDarts180 😂😂🧆🥩🥓- – attention @GordonRamsay @ChefTomKerridge 😎 pic.twitter.com/aPUJ3iviFH
& mdash; Michael Van Gerwen (@ MvG180) December 25, 2020
Monday third round results
| Afternoon | Mervyn King 4-0 José de Sousa |
|---|---|
| Dirk van Duijvenbode 4-0 Adam Hunt | |
| Vincent van der Voort 4-2 Nathan Aspinall | |
| Evening | Gary Anderson v Mensur Suljovic |
| Gerwyn Price vs. Brendan Dolan | |
| Glen Durrant vs. Danny Baggish |
Van der Voort delays Aspinall’s return
Van der voort ended Aspinall’s stunning record in the world darts championship with a 4-2 win to send the world No.6 to race ahead of the last four for the first time.
2:25 Van der der Voort aims for first quarter-final of the World Championship since 2015
The Dutchman had taken a 2-0 lead on the back of a blazing start but was forced to reverse an Aspinall comeback before crossing the finish line and ending up with either Daryl Gurney or Chris Dobey .
Aspinall has only played at Alexandra Palace twice, reaching the last four in each of the past two years, but he faced him early as back-to-back 12-dart innings with finishes of 121 and 110 gave l advantage to the Dutch.
Van der Voort completed a sensational first set when he cleared 42 to leave Aspinall stunned and without a dart to a brace in a blistering 4min 30s barrage.
0:34 The doubling of Van der Voort proved crucial
A third finish in triple digits followed as Van der Voort won a sixth consecutive stage with a brilliant 113 finish.
Aspinall lost 2-0 in their second round match against Scott Waites and won the first set of the third set when Van der Voort missed four darts for the leg.
Asp are not the type to turn down an opportunity and two more stages followed as the UK Open champion cut the deficit in half to start his comeback.
Confidence returning, Aspinall pulled out the next two legs to see Van der Voort strike back with two of his own to win a decisive fourth set in a decisive Asp was keen to claim with a 13-dart strike.
However, the fight seemed to suck the life of the Englishman’s challenge as Van der Voort won six of the last eight legs to reach the last 16.
Van Duijvenbode inspired by past powers Hunt
A blistering finish saw display Dirk van Duijvenbode records a 4-0 victory over Adam Hunt to reach the last 16 for the first time.
Vincent van der Voort beat Nathan Aspinall to reserve his place in the last 16 of the World Darts Championship
Hunt beat the Dutchman in the 180 count, but Van Duijvenbode’s finishing and overall scoring power was enough to underline his status as a surprise title contender.
The tone was set in the opening trade when Hunt started off with a 145 finish but Van Duijvenbode, who won his tour card in January, himself won his first leg with a brilliant 170 checkout.
1:07 Vincent van der Voort beat Nathan Aspinall to reserve his place in the last 16 of the World Darts Championship
The Hunter was far from surpassed and had an average of 97, but Van Duijvenbode did not let go to 120 and 114 to win the second and third set.
Five years after his only World Championship appearance which resulted in a defeat in the first round, Van Duijvenbode enjoyed the season of his life as a stinger, combining his life as an eggplant farmer with a form that led him at the World Grand Prix. final in October.
He won the three rounds he needed to win the fourth set and claim an impressive victory that will take him to the edge of the world top 32 as well as a winnable contest in the fourth round with either Glen Durrant or Danny Baggish.
2:25 Van der der Voort aims for first quarter-final of the World Championship since 2015
Tuesday at the world championship
| Afternoon (12 p.m.) | James Wade vs. Stephen Bunting (R3) |
|---|---|
| Daryl Gurney vs. Chris Dobey (R3) | |
| Jason Lowe vs. Devon Petersen (R3) | |
| Evening (6 p.m.) | Dave Chisnall vs. Danny Noppert |
| Fourth round to be confirmed | |
| Fourth round to be confirmed |
Live World Darts Championship
December 29, 2020, 6:00 p.m.
Live of 
King walks as De Sousa’s dream fades
Mervyn King continued his resurgence with a spectacular performance to beat Grand Slam darts champion Jose De Sousa with a breathtaking 4-0 demolition that puts him in the last 16 for the first time since 2014.
In his 25th consecutive appearance at the World Championships, King – a two-time BDO Finals finalist – produced arguably his best performance on the Alexandra Palace stage to reach the fourth round.
0:34 The doubling of Van der Voort proved crucial
Having reached the Players Championship final last month, the last tournament before the World Championship, King had already issued a warning about his return to form.
The 54-year-old was beaten in a decisive final leg match by Michael van Gerwen on this occasion as he continues to chase after a first big PDC televised title.
However, with defending champion Peter Wright knocked out of his half of the draw, King will fear no one after averaging 104, hitting eight 180s and losing just four legs to The Special One.
De Sousa averaged 103 and racked up seven maximum himself, but had no response from King, who took a 2-0 lead in quick double time.
Dirk van Duijvenbode’s fairy tale year on the PDC continued
The Portuguese pitcher ended King’s six-leg burst as he took the third set in a decisive, but King’s elegant 15-dart leg brought him within a set of the last 16 – remarkably, he has only passed this milestone once in his 13th PDC World. Championship appearances, his semi-final in 2009.
There was time for De Sousa’s remarkable scoring error in the last set, aiming for the double top when he left the target, and this was to be his last notable action as King claimed the match and a date with Gerwyn Price or Brendan Dolan. .
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