As we look ahead to the latter stages post-Christmas, where do some of the favourites stand right now?

Luke Humphries last night eased his way past Paul Lim, to set up a third-round meeting with Gabriel Clemens...

Both men averaged in the 90s in that first set, and each had seven ton-plus visits.

But as so often, the doubles were key. Rock converted three of four, Comito only one in three.

Josh Rock is first to a finish against the throw, needing 138 to see off Comito - but his first dart into single 20 kyboshes that.

So Comito needs 125, but he's way off that.

Three at tops for Rock... the second is buried, and Rocky is on his way.

Good scoring by both men early on, in keeping with a very high quality evening session.

Rock needs a 152 finish to hold, with Comito lurking on 108.

Nothing doing for the Northern Irishman, what can the Australian do?

T19, single 19... wrong side of the wire at D16!

And Rock punishes his opponent for that miss.

Image source, PA Media

Joe Comito has an interesting technique - very straight armed, and given he is short of stature he is almost aiming up to reach T20.

It takes him to a 120 finish, and he cleans up nicely. That will settle any nerves.

John Part
Former PDC world champion on Sky Sports

A lot of us expect that Josh Rock can make it a clean sweep of ton-plus winners this evening, and mark this as the best pre-Christmas session at the 2026 World Championship.

Josh Rock may be the 11th seed, but he is bang in form - the bookies have him as fourth-favourite to win the whole thing.

He throws first in this match, and is first to a finish on 105.

But he misses at tops, leaving Joe Comito with a chance at 130 - but he's well shy of the bullseye.

Rock cleans up.

Our final match before Christmas, the last round two fixture, sees 11th-seed Josh Rock take on qualifier Joe Comito of Australia.

The winner plays Callan Rydz in the round of 32.

Laura Turner
Ex-Women's World Championship quarter-finalist on Sky Sports

Josh Rock is fourth-favourite for this title, he's had a fantastic year and he's a player we now expect big things from.

Going into this next match, I question how much Joe Comito can actually throw at him.

Josh did lack a bit of concentration at times [in his first-round win]. If he can focus, we might see the best of Josh, but I still think he will have more than enough.

The format is set play, unlike other tournaments which are a race to a number of legs. A set consists of the best of five legs or race to three. Only in matches where players are level on sets and legs in the deciding set do players need to win by two clear legs.

Tonight's matches are the last ones in this tournament to be first to three sets - after Christmas, in rounds three and four, it is first to four sets.

• First and second round: Best of five sets
• Third and fourth round: Best of seven sets
• Quarter-finals: Best of nine sets
• Semi-finals: Best of 11 sets
• Final: Best of 13 sets

There is a three-day Christmas break from 24 to 26 December.

After that point, there will be two sessions of play each day until the semi-final stage - except for another rest day on 31 December - but the matches in each session decrease in later rounds where there are fewer but longer matches.

Michael van Gerwen sees off a dogged display by Willie O'Connor, averaging 100.20 and landing six 180s to one.

He will play qualifier Arno Merk after Christmas.

Image source, PA Media

Single 20, then treble one! Not good from van Gerwen, but O'Connor isn't on a finish.

So, 70 for MvG - missed match dart at the double.

But when O'Connor lands in T5, this is MvG with three at D8...

The deal is sealed.

MvG rattles in 177, firmly on the attack now.

He needs 112 to win the match.

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

The positives for Willie are that he's playing like he was, he's playing better.

The problem he's got is Michael keeps chugging along at this ton average, and when you've got the darts, that's difficult to break.

Image source, PA Media

Now a 180, this is business-like MvG.

O'Connor is still going with him though, and after a trebleless visit from the Dutchman he gets himself onto an 80 finish.

Two doubles missed though! Can MvG take the 127...

YES! Finished off with bullseye, and we might just be in the endgame now.

Van Gerwen won't be too shaken by dropping that set, as long as he holds his throw for three legs here.

And a 121 finish off a 12-darter will suit him fine.

Can O'Connor steal this leg and the set? He needs 130 - and MvG chucks 40, he's not on a finish!

O'Connor leaves 70, but his darts are messy and another chance is given up.

But Van Gerwen doesn't punish him, leaving O'Connor needing tops - and he gets it!

O'Connor's average is back into the 90s, but that still won't be enough to beat Michael van Gerwen.

He does get to a finish first, 76, with MvG lurking on 101.

WOC needs tops again, and this time it is good.

Whatever problem William O'Connor had, with his eye or otherwise, seems to be sorted here. His throwing is back to the level seen in the first set.

Against the throw, he has a chance of a 116 finish - but goes short of tops.

Van Gerwen cleans up, pumping his fist after landing the bull.