World Darts Championship 2026: Chris Dobey beaten but Stephen Bunting wins

World number eight Chris Dobey suffered a shock exit in the second round of the PDC World Darts Championship, losing 3-1 to Andrew Gilding.

Gilding, 55, beat Dobey 3-1 at Alexandra Palace to complete the best tournament average of his career with 99.01.

Dobey was one of four seeded players to exit the second round on Saturday, along with Dave Chisnall, Michael Smith and Dirk van Duijvenbode.

Having lost the opening set, Gilding dropped only three more legs to set up a third-round meeting with either Luke Woodhouse or Max Hopp after Christmas.

Gilding told Sky Sports: “I’m feeling great. I felt really bad in training. That’s generally a good sign. You can only get better from there.”

“The first thing I wanted was a nine-darter and the second was a win, so I took the second one.”

Meanwhile, world number four Stephen Bunting achieved consecutive wins against Nitin Kumar, the first round victory by an Indian player in the tournament.

While Bunting impressed in the doubles with checks of 118, 107 and 132 for a success rate of 53% and an average of 94.11, Kumar won just two legs and averaged 75.18.

Bullet will next face England’s James Hurrell, who had previously beaten world number 29 Van Duijvenbode 3-2.

2023 world champion Smith, ranked 28th, lost 3-1 to Dutch Niels Zonneveld.

Despite averaging 98, Smith was unable to knock out Zonneveld, who took the last two sets and advanced to the third round for the first time, where he will face world number five Jonny Clayton.

Wales’ Clayton was due to face Dom Taylor in the second round on Saturday evening but was given a bye after his opponent was suspended following a failed drugs test.