Jeffrey De Zwaan and Dave Chisnall produced arguably the best match of the tournament so far at the PDC World Championship, with the Dutchman advancing to the last 16 with a thrilling 4-3 win.
De Zwaan produced a three-dart average of 106.09, hit seven 180s and had 53 per cent on the doubles as he prevailed in a back and forth contest in which Chisnall himself averaged 101.75.
De Zwaan scored heavily throughout the match, with 31 throws of 140 or more, but Chisnall somehow clung to his coat-tails despite regular dips in his performance and a brilliant 161 checkout forced a deciding set.
WOW WHAT A FINISH!!!! With De Zwaan sat on 12 to go within a leg of the match, Chisnall produces an unbelievable 161 finish to turn this match on it's head! pic.twitter.com/2ffkDx617X — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 23, 2019
De Zwaan drew first blood with a break of throw as he took out 76. He doubled his lead to put himself on the verge of victory with a 10-dart leg and from there was able to finish the job.
Two-time world champion Gary Anderson fought back from the brink of elimination to overcome Ryan Searle in his third-round tie.
The Scot, who celebrated his 49th birthday on Sunday, was heading out when he trailed Searle 3-1 but the Englishman, ranked 52 in the world, fell apart late on and Anderson edged through.
ANDERSON COMPLETES THE COMEBACK! What a brilliant comeback from Gary Anderson who comes from 3-1 down to defeat Ryan Searle 4-3 in a deciding set! pic.twitter.com/H8n9ccFWZG — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 23, 2019
Peter Wright and Seigo Asada had to overcome a delay to their match as Monday night's final clash was put back after a power cut interrupted the action at the Alexandra Palace.
The London venue was plunged into darkness as fans waited for the third round encounter. When play resumed, Wright wrapped up the pre-Christmas schedule with a 4-2 success.
Wright made hard work of it, changing his darts in the middle of the match, en route to hitting eight 180s and a 94.5 average.
131 CHECKOUT! What a brilliant checkout that is as Peter Wright takes out 131 on D16 to break the throw in the opening leg of the fifth set! pic.twitter.com/YECnW4dbsl — PDC Darts (@OfficialPDC) December 23, 2019
In Monday's afternoon session, two-time world champion Adrian Lewis fought back from two sets down to beat Darren Webster 4-3.
Dimitri van den Bergh won 4-2 against Luke Woodhouse to move one win away from a second quarter-final appearance in three years, while Luke Humphries beat Nico Kurz 4-2 to ensure his stay in the competition extended beyond Christmas for the second successive year.
