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Niels Zonneveld is doing very little wrong, and when Jonny Clayton chucks in a 40 visit the Dutchman has a big chance to break back.

He needs 66 - but is narrowly north of tops.

Can Clayton win the set with 118? No, he's just above the D20 too.

But are the nerves hitting Zonneveld now? Singles in the 20 and 10, before missing D5.

Clayton grasps the second chance, and is back in front in this match.

Jonny Clayton has raised his level here, and is first to a finish on the Zonneveld throw.

He checks out 76, and secures the break.

Clayton is averaging 99 and has a 50% checkout rate.

Jonny Clayton bangs in the 10th maximum of the match, to leave a 126 finish.

Zonneveld can't quite respond when Clayton sets up 25, and the Welshman is back in the lead.

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Niels Zonneveld has averaged 104.4 so far in this match.

If he stays at this level, it would be the third best match average so far in the tournament.

Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports

A very good set of darts from both players. Jonny averaged over 101.

Zonneveld needed that set and you can see as he strides off how much it has meant to him. Nothing to separate them after two sets.

A stung Jonny Clayton bangs in another 180 as he tries to claw his way back into this set.

Niels Zonneveld is first to a finish, but has to set up three at D16.

Clayton can't land 121, so it's three set darts for the Dutchman.

Single 16 with the first... double eight with the second!

All square.

Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports

Zonneveld has been wonderful on the outer ring and his match and set averages are magnificent.

Jonny Clayton is in for a match here.

World number 44 Niels Zonneveld is ranked 39 places lower than Jonny Clayton, but is more than matching the Welshman so far.

He needs 85 to checkout and gets to the bullseye - but misses.

Clayton strikes back and we are back on throw.

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As Jonny Clayton misses a 164 checkout, Zonneveld needs 81 to steal.

The Dutchman this time is well off his mark - however Clayton, on his return to the oche, misses twice at doubles!

And that allows Zonneveld to break. He will level the match if he holds throw here.

Niels Zonneveld is showing no nerves in the face of his high ranked opponent here.

A brilliant 120 checkout means all six legs have gone with the throw so far.

Niels Zonneveld averaged 106 in the first set and hit four 180s - and still lost it.

He has the opening throw in set two.

The seven 180s in that first set mean we are now up to 700 maximums in the tournament so far.

Image source, PA Media

While we haven't seen any nine-darters yet, we have seen plenty of 170 checkouts - the highest finish possible in darts.

Nicknamed the 'Big Fish', here are all the players who have nailed a 170 finish so far:

• Rob Cross
• Gabriel Clemens
• Brendan Dolan
• Dirk van Duijvenbode
• Krzysztof Ratajski
• Nathan Aspinall
• Joe Cullen
• James Wade
• Gian van Veen

Some huge scoring here, both men open leg five with 180s. That's six in this match already.

Clayton gets to a 55 finish, despite Zonneveld recording yet another maximum.

And the Ferret keeps his nerve.

Niels Zonneveld has three darts at tops to keep us on throw - and needs only one.

But if Jonny Clayton holds his throw, he wins set one.

Raining 180s now, as both men start leg three with maximums. Neither follow them up though, meaning we are still waiting for our first nine-dart leg at these championships.

Niels Zonneveld nails bull to give him three darts at tops if Jonny Clayton can't check out 116...

But the Welshman gives a roar as he hits double tops for a brilliant finish under pressure.

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Niels Zonneveld has beaten Jonny Clayton on tour before, and defeated 2023 world champion Michael Smith to reach this stage.

If he triumphs, fifth seed Clayton would be the highest ranked player to fall so far.

And though Clayton records the first maximum of the match, Zonneveld checks out with 70 to get a leg on the board.

Jonny Clayton's last match in this tournament was on 15 December.

No sign of ring rust from the fifth seed so far, as he sets up a 48 finish with Niels Zonneveld well back.

And Clayton cleans up on 16s.

Welcome back, Jonny Clayton. Can the man nicknamed Ferret progress with comfort here?

Or will Niels Zonneveld weasel his way into the last 16?

Clayton throws first. Game on!

Image source, Getty Images

Jonny Clayton entered the World Championship fifth in the PDC world rankings and will qualify automatically for next year's Premier League if he rises into the top four by the end of this tournament.

Only the world's top four are guaranteed spots in the four-month darting roadshow around the UK and the rest of Europe.

Clayton won the Premier League title in 2021.

You can read more about how players qualify and earn selection for the Premier League in an article by the BBC's Ask Me Anything team.