The PDC World Darts Championship erupted with drama and surprise on Saturday night at Alexandra Palace, as the tournament resumed after the Christmas break. The third round saw world number one Luke Littler advance with a dominant but fiery display, while fourth seed Stephen Bunting became the highest-profile casualty of the competition so far.
Littler's Aggressive March Forward
Reigning champion Luke Littler progressed to the next round with a commanding 4-0 victory over Austria's Mensur Suljovic. However, the win was notable for the top seed's visible anger and aggression on stage, a stark contrast to his serene early-round performances.
Despite the straight-sets win, Littler was frustrated by moments of imperfection, signalling a champion's mindset as the competition heats up. "I didn’t see the averages on the screen until after the second set," Littler revealed post-match. "After the first set I had a look and I was on a 109. It dropped a couple of points, but overall I’m happy with the performance. I always say, when the doubles are at 71 per cent, I’m happy with that."
His opponent, Suljovic – who had been accused of gamesmanship in his previous match – was left largely powerless, sarcastically cheering his own rare chances at a double.
Bunting's Championship Dream Ends in Shock Defeat
In the day's biggest upset, world number four Stephen Bunting was eliminated by James Hurrell in a tense 4-3 thriller. The Bullet, a semi-finalist last year, struggled for consistency and was visibly unwell on stage, unable to overcome the challenge posed by Hurrell.
Hurrell, whose dream run now includes wins over Stowe Buntz and Dirk van Duijvenbode, claimed Bunting's celebrations during the match motivated him. "I worked off it. He celebrated like he’d won the game," Hurrell said. "There was definitely something there when he won a leg. When he gave it big to his family and friends, I was quite happy with that."
Bunting's exit follows other surprise departures, including former champion Gerwyn Price, blowing the draw wide open.
Saturday's Other Key Results
The action-packed day at Ally Pally saw several other players book their places in the next round:
Krzysztof Ratajski ended the run of second-round giant-killer Wesley Plaisier, who had stunned Gerwyn Price. The Polish Eagle marches on.
Luke Woodhouse delivered a convincing 4-1 victory over Andrew Gilding, who couldn't translate his strong 2025 form into the new year.
Jonny Clayton continued his quest for a deep run, beating Niels Zonneveld. With the bracket opening up, the world number five has a clear opportunity to reach the semi-finals.
Andreas Harrysson maintained his fairytale debut, defeating Ricardo Pietreczko with another impressive performance.
As the tournament progresses, the path to the final is becoming clearer. With favourites like Littler showing their steel and top seeds like Bunting tumbling out, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion at the Alexandra Palace.
