Danny Noppert has never won more than one match in a single PDC World Championship. Can the world number six finally shake off his hoodoo on the biggest stage?

As ever, the crowd is in boisterous mood at Ally Pally. There is one fan dressed as a giant inflatable donkey - I would hate to be sat behind them.

Justin Hood makes his walk on to Blink-182 - a Millennial classic - before Danny Noppert arrives on stage.

Image source, Getty Images

Let's turn to the first match of the night now.

Sixth seed Danny Noppert is overwhelming favourite against Justin Hood, who is 80 places below him in the world ranking.

But as these championships have shown, rankings can only be worth the paper they are written on...

Image source, Getty Images

Wayne Mardle
Former World Matchplay finalist on Sky Sports

Arno Merk won but the story is about Peter Wright unfortunately.

From a friend's point of view, it was an awful watch. Watching an absolute champion and a legend of our sport, someone who has helped our sport grow, play like that - I didn't enjoy it one bit.

He's a winner and I hope he's OK, because that's one of those that you'll have sleepless nights about. I just hope he doesn't make one of these kneejerk reactions, like we've seen from other players over the years, to say "I'm retiring" and then next week they're back.

Seeded players have not had the smoothest of times at the World Darts Championship so far, and today's afternoon session was no exception.

Daryl Gurney and Peter Wright are the latest men from the top 32 on the 2026 scrapheap, meaning half the seeds have been eliminated - and the second round is not even over yet.

Here are the seeded players who have exited:

• James Wade (7)
• Chris Dobey (8)
• Gerwyn Price (9)
• Ross Smith (12)
• Mike de Decker (18)
• Dave Chisnall (21)
• Daryl Gurney (22)
• Dimitri Van den Bergh (23)
• Ryan Joyce (24)
• Cameron Menzies (26)
• Ritchie Edhouse (27)
• Michael Smith (28)
• Dirk van Duijvenbode (29)
• Peter Wright (30)
• Wessel Nijman (31)
• Joe Cullen (32)

Image source, Getty Images

• Jonny Tata 2-3 Ryan Meikle
• Daryl Gurney (22) 2-3 Callan Rydz
• Jermaine Wattimena (19) 3-2 Scott Williams
• Peter Wright (30) 0-3 Arno Merk

Image source, PA Media

German debutant Arno Merk said he was left "stunned" by a straight-set win that knocked two-time former winner Peter Wright out of the PDC World Championship.

Wright, the champion at Alexandra Palace in 2020 and 2022, was well below par - winning just two legs in the whole of the second-round match and averaging below 80.

The Scot, 55, landed just two of his 15 darts at doubles and Merk, who ended with an average of 92.17 and hit nine of his 19 double attempts, took full advantage.

"I'm stunned, I can't believe it," Merk said on stage to Sky Sports after his win. "I just beat a legend and I'm so happy."

Merk could face another former world champion, Dutchman Michael van Gerwen, in round three.

Get in touch using the form entitled "Send us your darts views" on this page and some of your submissions will be used during this live text commentary.

• Danny Noppert (6) v Justin Hood
• Gary Anderson (14) v Connor Scutt
• Michael van Gerwen (3) v William O'Connor
• Josh Rock (11) v Joe Comito

Good evening, and welcome back to our live coverage of the 2026 PDC World Darts Championship.

It is the final session before Christmas, and we have a stuffed stocking of old favourites and new contenders.

Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Danny Noppert and Josh Rock are among the stars in action this evening as the second round concludes, with the third round firing up on Saturday.

Plenty of darts delight to accompany your mulled wine - settle in and enjoy.