Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall amongst massive names to fall at Alexandra Palace

Former champion Rob Cross and Dave Chisnall withdrew from the PDC World Championship as different seeds had been scattered at Alexandra Palace.

Fifth-seeded Cross, the 2018 champion, misplaced 3-1 to Scott Williams whereas Ricky Evans survived a match towards him to upset sixth-seeded Chisnall in an epic second-round conflict determined by sudden demise .

Evans took to the oche in his personal customized festive shirt to the sounds of Shakin’ Stevens’ hit Merry Christmas Everybody – and the Kettering ace as soon as once more saved his greatest for the most important event of the yr.

After beating world quantity six Nathan Aspinall at Ally Pally 12 months in the past, Evans held his nerve to win 3-2 after each gamers missed match darts to arrange a 3rd spherical with Welshman Robert Owen.

“I performed towards a world-class darts participant and it’s good to say I received a match and performed effectively. Usually it is poop,” Evans advised Sky Sports activities. “What do I do the opposite 11 months of the yr?

Nearly unable to simply accept his standing as a crowd favourite, Evans stated: “I do not get that therapy in my home.” Why are they cheering me on – “Ricky Evans, Ricky Evans” – I don’t perceive.

“I saved telling them to close up. I am making an attempt to win a match right here, however they had been getting stronger and stronger. However thanks very a lot, you made a giant man very blissful.

Chisnall received the primary set in model and seemed on the right track to take care of his document of not dropping a match within the first spherical of the world championship since 2018.

However Chisnall missed the double 5 for the second set and Evans pounced to construct a 2-1 lead. Chisnall equalized however was fortunate as Evans narrowly missed the goal to win the ultimate set 4-2.

It was Evans who needed to maintain his breath after Chisnall’s break and accomplished a double high for the match.

However Chisnall could not take his probability and Evans, throwing first within the decider, held on to ship the gang wild.

Cross received the primary set towards fellow Englishman Williams – Ally Pally’s shock semi-finalist 12 months in the past – however ‘Voltage’ was wanting energy afterwards.

Williams performed the following three units as a grueling night session ended lower than 20 minutes earlier than midnight.

Jonny Clayton received a sudden-death stage within the deciding set to overhaul Mickey Mansell and guide his place within the third spherical.

Mansell, who impressed throughout his run to the semi-finals of the Grand Slam of Darts, had received the primary set towards Darts as Clayton needed to pay for missed doubles.

The Welshman, nevertheless, stormed again to string collectively six straight matches – together with a 100 check-out with a top-to-top end – and led 2-1 earlier than Mansell leveled issues at 2-2.

Mansell then reeled off successive monster finishes of 136 and 154 to seemingly go away seventh-seeded Clayton getting ready to a shock early exit.

However The Ferret pressured a winner-take-all stage – which Clayton, with the benefit of throwing first, in the end concluded with a double 5 after a sapping encounter that lasted greater than an hour.

Clayton will subsequent meet Daryl Gurney after the Northern Irishman got here from behind to beat Florian Hempel 3-2 in an exciting affair.

Gurney, the No. 26 seed, tied the match with a check-out of 156 and recovered from a 2-1 drift after Hempel claimed a whitewash within the third set.

Hempel’s German compatriot Ricardo Pietreczko produced a medical efficiency – hitting 56 per cent of his doubles – to beat twenty eighth seed Gian van Veen 3-1.

PDC Asian Tour chief Alexis Toylo misplaced 3-1 to Krzysztof Ratajski and 18th seed Josh Rock earned a 3-0 win over Welsh debutant Rhys Griffin.

Former UK Open champion Andrew Gilding fired six maximums as he beat Grand Slam of Darts finalist Martin Lukeman 3-1 to succeed in the third spherical for the primary time.