Every magical moment from the 2017 PDC World Darts Championship

We've picked out some magical checkouts and momentous moments from a record-breaking 2017 PDC World Darts Championship, which saw Michael van Gerwen crowed 'king of the oche'.

The Dutchman silenced his critics by ending a three-year wait to reclaim the PDC World Championship title at Alexandra Palace in Sunday's final and the world No 1 produced some marvellous arrows of his own.

But we start our magic moments theme all the way back on December 15 when Alexandra Palace opened its doors to darting paradise...

Opening day delight

The curtain raiser saw reigning World Darts Champion Gary Anderson record a comfortable opening-night victory over Mark 'Forsty The Throwman' Frost while there were also wins for Kevin Painter, Michael Smith and Jamie Lewis.

World Youth Champion Smith won a five-set thriller against 'Rapid' Ricky Evans, who threw a maximum in record-quick time.

Early marker

Peter 'Snakebite' Wright laid down a marker with a straight-sets victory against Jerry Hendriks, while 'The Adonis' Steve Beaton and debutant Jonny Clayton also triumphed.

Cristo & Dimitri go at it hammer & tongs

On a night when Michael van Gerwen set the standard by making light work of Scandinavian qualifier Kim Viljanen, there was much to enjoy with Spanish star Cristo Reyes edging past dancing sensation Dimitri Van den Bergh in a high-quality encounter.

Stephen Bunting was punished for missing seven match darts as Darren Webster sent him crashing out in a tie-break while Terry 'The Bull' Jenkins charged through along with Andrew Gilding and Benito van de Pas.

Diamond geezer

Phil Taylor's bid to be crowned as world champion for a 17th time began with a comfortable first-round victory over David Platt as Ian 'Diamond' White, Mark Webster, Chris Dobey, Alan 'Chuck' Norris and Daryl Gurney progressed.

The King of finishes

Adrian Lewis began his campaign with a routine victory, while Meryvn King and 'The Rockstar' Joe Cullen both came through exciting encounters.

Magical arrows from 'The Wizard'

Raymond van Barneveld and Simon Whitlock breezed through with straight sets victories as Brendan Dolan also won.

'The Machine' revs up

James Wade caught the eye while Robert Thornton and Mensur Suljovic also moved safely through with straight-sets victories.

Classy Klaasen

Dave Chisnall, Jelle Klaasen and Kim Huybrechts moved safely through while an impressive Max Hopp defeated Vincent van der Voort as the first-round action reached its conclusion.

Champs of the oche

Darren Webster produced a wonderful performance to shock Simon Whitlock while Gary Anderson and Adrian Lewis both continued their bids to win the title for a third time with comfortable wins.

Michael Smith, Benito van de Pas and Ian White also made it through to the last-16 on the final day of pre-Christmas action.

World-beaters

Michael van Gerwen won a thrilling battle with 'The Spartan' Cristo Reyes 4-2 with a 105.24 three-dart average against an inspired Spaniard, who averaged a superb 106.07 to enhance his growing reputation.

Phil Taylor brushed aside Kevin 'The Artist' Painter and Raymond van Barneveld dropped just two legs against Alan 'Chuck' Norris in a classy display on a night of champions.

Mark Webster, Daryl Gurney and Dave 'Chizzy' Chisnall all moved into the third round with wins in the afternoon session.

Clash of The Titans

Gary Anderson averaged 107.68 - the highest in this year's tournament so far - as he defeated an impressive Benito van de Pas to move into the quarter-finals, while Raymond van Barneveld edged past Adrian Lewis in battle of the former champions.

Colourful Scot Peter Wright produced an imperious display to defeat Welshman Jamie Lewis in straight sets.

James Wade and Kim Huybrechts had all enjoyed comfortable second round victories earlier in the day.

Jelle Klaasen set up a last 16 showdown with Dave Chisnall after beating Brendan Dolan, whose finishes of 142, 135 and 101 proved to be in vain.

Excellence of execution

Top seed Michael van Gerwen hit a brilliant 170 finish and averaged over 104 in a 4-1 victory against the tenacious Darren Webster while Phil Taylor averaged over 100 in a 4-2 success over Kim Huybrechts while Peter Wright beat Ian White 4-1.

James Wade produced an amazing comeback to defeat Michael Smith, winning seven straight legs to overturn a 3-1 deficit.

Dave Chisnall fended off the threat of 2016 semi-finalist Jelle Klaasen and Daryl Gurney became the first Northern Irish player to reach the quarter-finals by coming through a nail-biting encounter with two-time semi-finalist Mark Webster.

Life is a Tungsten rollercoaster

Gary Anderson moved a step closer to lifting the Sid Waddell Trophy for a third successive year after triumphing in a match of extraordinary quality against Dave Chisnall, which included 33 180s.

Scottish ace Peter Wright sealed a 5-3 success against James Wade, which he finished with a brilliant 134 checkout.

Michael van Gerwen fired in two 170 finishes in another dominant display as he saw off Daryl Gurney 5-1 to continue his winning streak.

Raymond van Barneveld defeated old rival Phil Taylor for the first time in the World Championship since his famous victory in the 2007 final.

High-flying arrows

Michael van Gerwen broke Phil Taylor's record World Championship average with a sensational 114.05, smashing the previous best of 111.21, which Taylor set in 2002, as he avenged last year's Alexandra Palace defeat to his Dutch rival Raymond van Barneveld 6-2.

Van Gerwen hit 15 of the match's 29 180s and also added a 124 finish while Barney took out clinical finishes of 107, 131 and 96 in the first set alone.

Defending champion Gary Anderson rattled in 15 180s en route to another final after defeated fellow Scot Peter Wright 6-3.

'The Flying Scotsman' also had finishes of 118, 121, 127 and 157 in the triumph.

Mightily magnificent Mike

Michael van Gerwen was crowned World Champion for the second time after outclassing Gary Anderson 7-3 in the final.

The pair shared a remarkable 42 180s - a record for maximums hit in any match - while world No 1 Van Gerwen hit five finishes of over 100 with an overall average of 106.96 in a mighty display of darts.

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