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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Plaisier 3-2 Ratajski (2-3)
Image source, PA MediaWesley Plaisier is first to a finish, 142. He doesn't get it, but sets up three at tops for the match.
Krzysztof Ratajski needs 117 though - AND NAILS IT!
Brilliant pressure darts, his third 100-plus checkout for the match and it comes as he knew that if he missed, his opponent probably wins.
On we go.
Plaisier 3-1 Ratajski (2-2)
Krzysztof Ratajski is not done yet - he pulls out a finish of 152, the biggest out of the match.
However a major error follows from the Pole, as Ratajski misses three at tops for the set.
It allows Wesley Plaisier to pull the set back to 2-2. If he breaks Krzysztof Ratajski here, the Dutchman wins the match.
Only in matches where players are level on sets and legs in the deciding set do players need to win by two clear legs.
Plaisier 3-1 Ratajski
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
What an incredible ending to the fourth set.
Krzysztof is going to have to be special from now, because Wesley is playing superbly.
Plaisier 3-1 Ratajski
Image source, PA MediaThe fourth set of this match is the first to go to a decider, with the first four legs won on throw.
Wesley Plaisier sets up brilliantly, with a visit of 159 to leave him with three darts at double eight.
And though Ratajski applies pressure with a maximum, the Dutchman needs only one arrow - and is a single set away from the last 16.
Plaisier 2-1 Ratajski
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
Belief starts to grow [when you win legs] and I think Wesley senses the moment, he's smelling the opportunity.
He knows that this is his chance.
Plaisier 2-1 Ratajski
Wesley Plaisier's run at this year's World Championship has earned him £35,000, which even if he loses today will lift him almost 20 places in the PDC world rankings when they are next updated.
He has a card for the main tour already guaranteed for next year and because he won't be defending any prize money in 2026, he should climb a few more places over the next 12 months.
Especially if he can keep playing like this...
Image source, Getty ImagesPlaisier 2-1 Ratajski
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
Both players averaged 102 in that set, the best set of the match so far. We felt this game was going to be tight and it's proving to be.
Someone had better tell Krzysztof there's not another break...
A smile from the Pole as he returns to the stage, having walked a few steps away thinking there was a break at the end of the third set - but the players don't head off again until the end of the fourth.
Plaisier 2-1 Ratajski
This is a proper ding-dong and the crowd are being thoroughly entertained.
In the second leg of the third set, both men throw 180s with their first visits - indeed, Wesley Plaisier threw five perfect darts from the start, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Neither man was able to record the first nine-darter of these championships, but certainly both are looking to make the most of this huge opportunity.
Plaisier won the leg, and takes the set 3-1 to re-establish his lead in this match.
Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport
World number 86 Justin Hood beat sixth seed Danny Noppert in an Alexandra Palace classic as three more seeds exited the PDC World Championship on the final day of competition before the Christmas break.
Hood won a sudden-death leg of a high-quality match to progress to the last 32, having missed a dart at the bull to win in straight sets.
Both players averaged more than 102 and hit more than 40% of their attempts at doubles.
Also beaten on Tuesday were two-time former champion Peter Wright, who lost in straight sets to German debutant Arno Merk, and Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney, who came out on the wrong side of a deciding set with England's Callan Rydz.
Josh Rock was a dominant winner against Australia's Joe Comito, while Scotland's two-time champion Gary Anderson put in a vintage display in a 3-1 win against England's Connor Scutt, registering a 105.41 average on the day after his 55th birthday.
Number three seed Michael van Gerwen also impressed as he beat William O'Connor to reach round three.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe top-ranked players have not had the smoothest of times at the World Darts Championship so far - more than half have gone out, meaning just 15 of the remaining 32 players are seeded.
Sixth seed Danny Noppert is the highest ranked player out so far, while only three matches in round three are all seeded affairs.
Here are the seeded players who have exited:
Plaisier 1-1 Ratajski
What a response from the Pole!
Having lost 3-0 against the head in the first set, Krzysztof Ratajski returns the favour with two breaks of throw against Wesley Plaisier.
After averaging 86 in the first set, Ratajski averaged more than 100 in the follow-up.
We have a match on our hands.
Plaisier 1-0 Ratajski
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
What an excellent opening set. Two breaks of throw for Wesley Plaisier.
Krzysztof Ratajski has the experience and he'll need to bounce back in the second set.
Image source, Getty ImagesPlaisier 1-0 Ratajski
Of all the sections of the draw, the one featuring these players looks the most open.
The winner of this match - between world number 37 Krzysztof Ratajski and 92nd-ranked Wesley Plaisier - will face the victor of the next game between another unseeded player, Andrew Gilding, and 25th seed Luke Woodhouse.
One of those men will definitely reach the quarter-finals of the World Championship.
Plaisier 1-0 Ratajski
Image source, Getty ImagesA really impressive opening set from the big Dutchman Wesley Plaisier, who twice wins legs against the throw to win the opening set against Krzysztof Ratajski.
Ratajski is 55 places higher in the world rankings than Plaisier, but looks rattled early doors as he struggles on the doubles.
Plaisier meanwhile is showing his stunning 3-0 win over 2021 champion Gerwyn Price was no fluke.
We've just had a three-day Christmas break from 24 to 26 December. From now, there will be two sessions of play each day - except for another rest day on 31 December.
The last day of two sessions is Thursday, 1 January 2026. After that, both semi-finals will be played on Friday, 2 January in an evening session.
The final takes place on Saturday, 3 January in the evening.
128 players started the 2026 World Championship and now we have reached the third round in which only 32 players remain.
The matches get longer from now on, with third-round matches played over the best of seven sets.
Plaisier v Ratajski
Image source, PA MediaOur first match today is between two men who, quite probably, did not expect to be returning to Ally Pally after Christmas.
Wesley Plaisier and Krzysztof Ratajski both beat seeded players in round two to make it through to the last 32.
Plaisier caused one of the shocks of the tournament so far, beating former champion Gerwyn Price in straight sets.
Ratajski knocked out England's Ryan Joyce, the 24th seed.
Glen Durrant
Former Premier League champion on Sky Sports
The winners of these third-round games, you're in the last 16 and then you dare to dream.
Fantastic tournament. Increasing it to 128 players has greatly added to the enjoyment
Bill, Bellshill