Michael van Gerwen began his bid for a fourth Paddy Power World Darts Championship title with victory over Keane Barry, while James Wade was the first seed to exit the tournament at the hands of Matt Campbell on Tuesday at London’s Alexandra Palace.

Three-time World Champion Van Gerwen was the headline act on Day Five, and he dropped just two legs in a dominant display over Barry, with the Irish youngster left to rue 14 missed doubles.

Van Gerwen averaged 98.17, pinning 60% of his checkout attempts, including a roof-raising 167 to progress to the third round.

“I’m happy to win my first game, and I’m happy with how I focussed today,” said Van Gerwen.

“I’m pleased with my finishing but I could’ve done a lot more and I’m a little bit disappointed with my scoring.

“There’s a lot of pressure on me and all the top players not to lose your first game; you don’t want to let yourself down and you have to fight for every leg.

“I’m just happy to be coming back after Christmas and hopefully I can show what I can do.”

Four-time World Championship semi-finalist Wade became the first seeded player to fall as he went down 3-2 to Canadian Campbell.

Wade twice led in sets at 1-0 and 2-1, but a resilient Campbell took the fourth set 3-0 to force a decider.

The final set began with an 86 checkout from Campbell before Wade missed three double attempts and the Canadian took full advantage to go 2-0 up.

Wade broke straight back with a 13-darter, but after he failed to take out 56 in the following leg, Campbell pinned double 18 at the first time of asking to wrap up the biggest win of his career.

“For sure, this is the biggest win of my career so far, because of where it happened,” said Campbell.

“I’d never won on the Ally Pally stage in four attempts before this year so this tournament has been huge for me.

“I think winning my first game against Lourence [Ilagan] helped me win this game because it got the monkey off my back.

“Now I’m looking forward to enjoying Christmas and seeing how far I can go in this tournament.”

Steve Beaton got his 23rd PDC World Championship off to a winning start as he secured a 3-1 win over Dutch youngster Wessel Nijman.

The evergreen Beaton produced a strong display, raising the roof with a 123 checkout on his way to winning the opening set, before winning the set two decider with a 14-darter to double his lead.

Debutant Nijman’s response was immediate as he impressively reeled off three successive legs to win the third set and halve the deficit.

The second leg of set four saw both players leave a double after nine darts, and though Nijman won the leg to take a 2-0 lead, Beaton reeled off a trio of legs to book a second round meeting with Daryl Gurney.

“I think that was one of my best World Championship performances for a while,” Beaton reflected.

“It was a really tough game, Wessel came out firing and I thought ‘I’m in trouble here’, but thankfully I found some good shots at the right times.

“I think playing a tough game first sets me up nicely for my next game.

“I still get the same buzz after all these years, playing in front of that crowd is unbelievable with the support I get.”

Japan’s Tomoya Goto enjoyed a dream Ally Pally debut as he dispatched of former World Championship quarter-finalist Ian White 3-1.

Goto, a winner of two PDC Asian Tour titles in 2023, took little time in settling onto the sport’s biggest stage as he took the opening two sets.

White, who was also battling to keep his PDC Tour Card for 2024, rallied and took the third set, but was whitewashed by Goto in the fourth as the 27-year-old sealed his passage to round two where Ryan Searle awaits.

Jeffrey de Graaf picked up his first ever World Championship win, coming back from 2-0 down to defeat Ritchie Edhouse 3-2.

A keenly-contested encounter saw all of the first four sets go to last-leg deciders, as Edhouse missed a dart at tops to win 3-0.

De Graaf, representing Sweden for the first time in a World Championship, produced a magnificent fightback, winning another set decider in the fourth before finishing the stronger of the pair to seal his place in round two where he will take on Jose de Sousa.

Mike De Decker impressed in a 3-0 defeat of Dragutin Horvat as the Belgian progressed to the second round for a second consecutive year.

A strong display from De Decker saw him average 11 points more than his German counterpart as he breezed into round two, where he will meet Madars Razma.

Boris Krcmar also reached the second round stage for a second successive year with a 3-1 win over Keegan Brown.

Despite losing the opening set, Krcmar was the stronger player throughout and the Croat will now take on Dirk van Duijvenbode in round two.

German debutant Ricardo Pietreczko dropped just one leg in a 3-0 rout of Japan’s Mikuru Suzuki, ending female hopes in this year’s tournament.

The Paddy Power World Darts Championship continues on Wednesday, as two-time World Champion Peter Wright headlines a double session of first and second round action.

Former European Champion Ross Smith takes on Niels Zonneveld in the afternoon session, while Wright meets Welshman Jim Williams in the evening.

Click here for match stats & results.

2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship

Tuesday December 19

Afternoon Session

3x First Round, 1x Second Round

Tomoya Goto 3-1 Ian White (3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 3-0) (R1)

Jeffrey de Graaf 3-2 Ritchie Edhouse (2-3, 2-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-1) (R1)

Boris Krcmar 3-1 Keegan Brown (2-3, 3-0, 3-0, 3-2) (R1)

Matt Campbell 3-2 James Wade (1-3, 3-1, 1-3, 3-0, 3-1) (R2)

Evening Session

3x First Round, 1x Second Round

Steve Beaton 3-1 Wessel Nijman (3-1, 3-2, 0-3, 3-2) (R1)

Mike De Decker 3-0 Dragutin Horvat (3-1, 3-1, 3-2) (R1)

Ricardo Pietreczko 3-0 Mikuru Suzuki (3-0, 3-1, 3-0) (R1)

Michael van Gerwen 3-0 Keane Barry (3-1, 3-1, 3-0) (R2)

Wednesday December 20

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)

3x First Round, 1x Second Round

Radek Szaganski v Marko Kantele (R1)

Steve Lennon v Owen Bates (R1)

William O’Connor v Bhav Patel (R1)

Ross Smith v Niels Zonneveld (R2)

Evening Session (1900 GMT)

3x First Round, 1x Second Round

Ryan Joyce v Alex Spellman (R1)

Richard Veenstra v Ben Robb (R1)

Christian Kist v Luke Littler (R1)

Peter Wright v Jim Williams (R2)

SENSATIONAL FROM SLEVIN! 💥

Dylan Slevin produces a moment of magic to send the Ally Pally crowd wild!

The young Irishman produces a stunning 167 finish – the highest checkout of the tournament so far – to draw first blood in set two!

📺 https://t.co/f3RU9WTIoD#WCDarts | R1 pic.twitter.com/vI9VSPZsuj

— PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 17, 2023

The Magnificent Reward at Stake: The Paddy Power World Darts Championship Prize Fund

The Paddy Power World Darts Championship isn’t just about the electric atmosphere and nail-biting action on the oche; it’s also where dreams come true and fortunes change. This prestigious event boasts a staggering total prize fund of £2.5 million, making it one of the most lucrative and sought-after tournaments in the darting world.

The winner of this thrilling championship will walk away with a life-changing £500,000, a testament to their skill, precision, and nerve in the pressure-cooker environment of the Alexandra Palace. The runner-up secures a substantial £200,000, a testament to their exceptional journey throughout the tournament.

Even reaching the semi-finals guarantees players a six-figure sum of £100,000, showcasing the fierce competition and rewarding the outstanding performances witnessed on the grand stage. The quarter-finalists don’t leave empty-handed either, taking home a substantial £50,000 for their efforts in reaching that stage.

For those battling through to the fourth round, there’s a rewarding prize of £35,000, recognizing their dedication and skill in navigating the tough competition. Even players exiting at the third round are awarded a significant £25,000, a testament to their contribution to the intensity and drama of the championship.

Making it to the second round ensures a prize of £15,000, acknowledging the grit and talent displayed by these players. And for those starting the adrenaline-filled journey, the first-round participants earn a respectable £7,500, honoring their presence and efforts in this esteemed tournament.

The Paddy Power World Darts Championship isn’t just about the glory; it’s an opportunity for players to secure their place in darting history while earning substantial rewards. The staggering prize fund of £2.5 million signifies the magnitude of this event, where precision meets passion and determination meets destiny on the iconic Alexandra Palace stage.

Here’s a list of players by country for the 2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship:

**Netherlands:**
– Kevin Doets
– Jermaine Wattimena
– Niels Zonneveld
– Dirk van Duijvenbode
– Danny Noppert
– Wessel Nijman
– Michael van Gerwen
– Jeffrey de Graaf
– Thibault Tricole
– Ricardo Pietreczko
– Mario Vandenbogaerde
– Martijn Kleermaker
– Vincent van der Voort
– Mike van Duivenbode

**England:**
– Michael Smith
– Simon Whitlock
– Gary Anderson
– Dave Chisnall
– Jamie Hughes
– James Wade
– Steve Beaton
– Ian White
– Keegan Brown
– Peter Wright
– Luke Humphries
– Joe Cullen
– Nathan Aspinall
– Ricky Evans
– Scott Waites
– Chris Dobey
– Ryan Searle
– Stephen Bunting
– Ryan Joyce
– Callan Rydz
– Mickey Mansell
– Ted Evetts
– Andrew Gilding
– Mark McGeeney
– Ross Smith
– Scott Mitchell
– Jason Lowe
– Aaron Beeney
– Derek Coulson

**Scotland:**
– Gary Anderson
– John Henderson
– Robert Thornton
– Jim McEwan
– Chris Dobey

**Wales:**
– Gerwyn Price
– Jonny Clayton
– Nick Kenny
– Jamie Lewis
– Martin Lukeman

**Belgium:**
– Dimitri Van den Bergh
– Kim Huybrechts
– Mike De Decker
– Geert De Vos

**Germany:**
– Max Hopp
– Gabriel Clemens
– Nico Kurz
– Martin Schindler
– Florian Hempel
– Kevin Knopf

**Australia:**
– Damon Heta
– Simon Whitlock
– Kyle Anderson
– Corey Cadby
– Adam Gawlas

**Northern Ireland:**
– Daryl Gurney
– Brendan Dolan
– Mickey Mansell

**Republic of Ireland:**
– Willie O’Connor
– Keane Barry
– Steve Lennon

**Austria:**
– Mensur Suljovic
– Rowby-John Rodriguez

**Canada:**
– Jeff Smith
– Matt Campbell

**Spain:**
– Cristo Reyes
– Jose Justicia

**South Africa:**
– Devon Petersen
– Cameron Carolissen

**Poland:**
– Krzysztof Ratajski
– Krzysztof Kciuk

**Finland:**
– Marko Kantele

**Brazil:**
– Diogo Portela

**Czech Republic:**
– Karel Sedlacek

**Japan:**
– Seigo Asada

**Hungary:**
– Patrik Kovacs

**New Zealand:**
– Haupai Puha

**Gibraltar:**
– Craig Galliano

**Lithuania:**
– Darius Labanauskas

**Russia:**
– Boris Koltsov

**Philippines:**
– Lourence Ilagan

**Denmark:**
– Per Laursen

The prestigious 2023/24 Paddy Power World Darts Championship kicks off at London’s Alexandra Palace, promising an adrenaline-packed start as reigning champion Michael Smith defends his title.

This thrilling event, running from December 15th to January 3rd, will witness 96 players from 27 countries competing for the coveted Sid Waddell Trophy and a staggering £2.5 million prize pool.

Smith, the top seed, made headlines globally with his remarkable victory last January, including an awe-inspiring nine-darter. His return to the Alexandra Palace this Friday promises an electrifying match against Dutch debutant Kevin Doets or Grand Slam of Darts quarter-finalist Stowe Buntz.

Featuring a mix of seasoned veterans and exciting newcomers, this championship is poised to deliver high-stakes drama. Former runner-up Simon Whitlock, two-time World Champion Gary Anderson, and the iconic Fallon Sherrock are among the names set to grace the stage in what promises to be an unforgettable competition.

The event will unfold over several action-packed days, culminating in the grand final on January 3rd. With a dazzling display of skill and determination, the world’s top players are gearing up for what could be a historic championship filled with unforgettable moments.