Afternoon of Upsets at Ally Pally

The afternoon session of the 2025 PDC World Championship on December 29th marked the conclusion of the top half's third-round action. The tension was high as the tournament approached its final stages, highlighted by the dramatic exit of 15th seed Nathan Aspinall. "The Asp" fell in a grueling seven-set thriller against Dutchman Kevin Doets. Despite Aspinall leading multiple times, Doets showed incredible composure, winning the final two sets 3–0 to secure the biggest win of his career

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Another star of the afternoon was qualifier Justin Hood, who continued his fairy-tale run. Hood defeated Ryan Meikle 4–1 with a solid average of over 94. In the third match, fan-favorite Ricky Evans faced Charlie Manby. While Evans started with his signature rapid pace, Manby’s superior clinical finishing eventually earned him a 4–2 victory, ending Evans' World Championship dreams for another year.

Results and Averages:

• Justin Hood (94.12) 4–1 Ryan Meikle (88.54)

• Charlie Manby (92.35) 4–2 Ricky Evans (91.08)

• Kevin Doets (93.45) 4–3 Nathan Aspinall (95.12)

Justin Hood: "I’m just enjoying every moment. I knew I had the game to beat Ryan, and to reach the last 16 is a dream come true."

Kevin Doets: “It was a mental battle. Nathan is a great fighter, but I knew if I stuck with it, I would get my chance.”