Evening results: Andreas Harrysson 4-2 Ricardo Pietreczko, Stephen Bunting 3-4 James Hurrell, Luke Littler 4-0 Mensur Suljovic
Defending champion Littler puts in dominant display to reach fourth round
Fourth seed Bunting becomes highest-ranked player to exit this year's tournament
Afternoon results: Wesley Plaisier 3-4 Krzysztof Ratajski, Andrew Gilding 1-4 Luke Woodhouse, Jonny Clayton 4-3 Niels Zonneveld
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Clayton v Zonneveld
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
Jonny has had 11 days to prepare and get himself ready. It's a massive day for Jonny, the opening day of round three and he'll want to put a performance on.
Image source, PA MediaClayton v Zonneveld
Fifth seed Jonny Clayton has played just the one match so far in this tournament.
He was scheduled to play Dom Taylor in round two but Taylor was suspended after failing a drugs test, meaning Welshman Clayton got a bye through to round three.
Clayton's third-round opponent is Niels Zonneveld, who knocked out former champion Michael Smith in the previous round.
Good stuff from Woody. Not giving Gilding a sniff in sets three and four
Steve, Hereford
Result: Gilding 1-4 Woodhouse
Luke Woodhouse, speaking to Sky Sports after his 4-1 win over Andrew Gilding:
"The first two sets weren't the best sets in the world, so I went backstage and said 'come on, get yourself going here' and luckily I came back out and starting firing then. I'm really pleased.
"I put in a lot of hard graft, I travel everywhere, I go to every Pro Tour and Euro Tour [event] - maybe a 'cherry on the cake' win.
"[Getting into the top 16] is my goal. Everybody's goal is to be world number one and win the World Championship. The two Lukes [Littler and Humphries] are doing all that sort of stuff. I'm a bit of a slow burner but I believe I can be in the top 16 and this is a massive step for me."
Gilding 1-4 Woodhouse
32 trebleless visits in that match from Andrew Gilding explains why he couldn't make more of a fist of things.
In a tournament where we have regularly seen seeds fall, Luke Woodhouse never looked in real danger.
Woodhouse will face Krzysztof Ratajski in a few days' time.
Gilding 1-4 Woodhouse
Single 20, treble 20... double five!
After a slow start, Luke Woodhouse asserted his authority and both his scoring and finishing improved as the match progressed.
He is into the last 16 of the PDC World Championship for the second time in his career.
Image source, PA MediaGilding 1-3 Woodhouse (2-2)
Luke Woodhouse isn't showing much by way of nerves here.
He needs a 90 checkout to progress to round four...
Gilding 1-3 Woodhouse (2-2)
Andrew Gilding lands only his second 180 of the match to keep himself in the running, before planting a magnificent 127 checkout.
We've seen one man come from 3-1 down already today, surely we won't get another?
Luke Woodhouse just needs to hold throw...
Gilding 1-3 Woodhouse (1-2)
Andrew Gilding has finally stopped the rot, winning a leg to end seven in a row claimed by Luke Woodhouse.
Gilding has had as many 100-plus visits as Woodhouse in this match and a 152 checkout to his name, but is averaging around 10 points fewer than his opponent across the whole match.
If Woodhouse breaks Gilding here, it's game over.
Gilding 1-3 Woodhouse
Laura Turner
Ex-Women's World Championship quarter-finalist on Sky Sports
Image source, PA MediaIt's not easy when you're in a match and things aren't going your way. It's quite hard to turn it around.
We're seeing Andrew Gilding struggling to do that. He's going to have to try to find something very quickly because since the second set Luke Woodhouse has averaged 104 and 102 [in the next two sets].
Two players hit nine-darters during the 2025 PDC World Championship.
Dutchman Christian Kist was the first player to hit one, doing so in a first-round defeat by Madars Razma.
Australia's Damon Heta hit one in the third round, but like Kist it came in a defeat as he went out to Luke Woodhouse.
We have not seen one so far in the 2026 tournament though. Will anyone break the duck?
Gilding 1-3 Woodhouse (0-3)
Luke Woodhouse is barrelling towards the fourth round.
He has won the past six legs in succession, and in set four averaged 102 with three maximums and a 60% checkout rate.
Andrew Gilding gives a wry smile to his family and friends as he exits the stage for a break. Not much he can do here.
First two rounds only
Statistics from Sportradar, the PDC's official data partner
Image source, Getty ImagesGilding 1-2 Woodhouse (0-3)
A much better set from 25th seed Luke Woodhouse, to retake the lead in this match.
Woodhouse averaged 105 - the first three-figure set average from either man so far - while Andrew Gilding did not get a single dart at a double.
Image source, Getty ImagesGilding 1-1 Woodhouse
Laura Turner
Ex-Women's World Championship quarter-finalist on Sky Sports
This is an opportunity for Andrew Gilding, who's provisionally at 32 [in the world rankings]. To get into that top 32 is massive for players, so a win here would really propel him up the rankings.
Come on Woodhouse from his hometown!
Griff, Bewdley
Gilding 1-1 Woodhouse (3-1)
After the enthralling first match of this session, this one appears to be being played on half speed.
Luke Woodhouse should be well ahead, he has had darts at doubles in every single leg of this contest so far.
But he has hit just four of 25, a rate of 16 per cent. And that, in part, has allowed unseeded Andrew Gilding to draw level after the second set.
Image source, Getty ImagesStats correct to start of third round
Statistics from Sportradar, the PDC's official data partner
Laura Turner
Ex-Women's World Championship quarter-finalist on Sky Sports
It's always in the back of your mind [over Christmas] because you know you're coming back, but that's a good problem to have. It's worse if you've been knocked out prior to the Christmas break.
There were probably a few arrows thrown but also making the most of those few days off, relaxing, spending time with families - but it's the business end now and the games will start coming thick and fast.
Gilding 0-1 Woodhouse (1-3)
A slow start from Luke Woodhouse, who misses seven darts at doubles to win the opening leg of the match, allowing Andrew Gilding to pounce.
It shakes Woodhouse into action, and the 25th seed fights back with three straight legs to seal set one.
Gilding has never won a set at this stage of the World Championships, and his dry run continues for now.