Thursday at the World Darts Championship
Thursday 28 December 2017 19:10, UK
By the end of Thursday we will know our quarter-final line-up at the 2018 World Championship, with Phil Taylor hoping to keep alive his hopes of a dream finish to his professional career.
Wednesday's return after the Christmas break confirmed the first of Thursday's quarter-finals with Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld winning through to an all-Dutch showdown in the last eight.
Six remaining third round matches take place on Thursday across two bumper sessions of terrific tungsten with 16-time champion of the world Taylor taking on former world youth champion Keegan Brown in the evening session before two-time winner Gary Anderson plays Steve West.
The Sky Sports team take us through Thursday's action.....
Afternoon Session
Live World Darts Championship
Toni Alcinas v Darren Webster
Wayne Mardle - It's a wide-open quarter but Darren definitely has the experience, he's been to the quarter-finals but that was back in 2007, so he has kind of failed ever since having been there once - that's how players think.
He will not be thinking he has overperformed, this is a game that he will think he is the favourite to win - and he is - whereas Alcinas will be thinking that he has done well and will see how it pans out.
Toni, we can't call him Antonio anymore, it actually sounds a lot better as Toni! He started well against Kevin Munch but didn't actually play too well. Munch was very poor and perhaps any other player would have got the better of Alcinas.
I think Webster is consistent and won't make as many mistakes as Munch did, so Alcinas will need to be better than he was and I don't know if he has that in him.
Mensur Suljovic v Dimitri Van den Bergh
John Part - It's a tough one to call as they are friends and Mensur, like all of us, doesn't really like playing friends. Sometimes it can impact on the match but I don't think it will here as a place in the last eight means a lot to both of them.
I think Dimitri will play very well and get a few sets but, as he often does, Mensur will grind out a win - he has to work towards his best in a match so he's not a clean sheet kind of guy, but he is steady and will build up to it so Dimitri will have chances.
But Mensur, as is becoming usual, tends to find a way.
John Henderson v Rob Cross
Rod Studd - Rob's second round against Michael Smith was one of the best matches we've ever seen at Alexandra Palace for its sheer sustained excellence and excitement until the final dart was thrown.
He was fortunate that Michael missed two match darts but he's not going to be the first man to survive missed match darts along the way. His performance in the final set when the heat was really on showed a real world-class performance from a guy with no experience on that stage.
Although I know how tough defeat was for Daryl Gurney after his year - he has been as consistent as anyone - I am pleased to see John through. He has been a bit of a journeyman but having beaten Van Gerwen and Van Barneveld at the Grand Prix and now Gurney he has beaten three of the best in the space of a few months.
John is taking his chance and he won't fear Rob but Rob will have a bit too much firepower in what I expect to be a high-scoring game and he is amongst the favourites [to win the tournament] - on his debut. He can definitely win it and that is some achievement.
Evening Session
Live World Darts Championship
Jamie Lewis v James Richardson
Wayne Mardle - You cannot knock either man. Jamie came through the prelim and was in trouble and has played really well, while Richardson you cannot fault either. Every time there has been a big leg he has more or less had it within six darts.
I think Jamie has a bit more composure and James is a very good player when it is going his way. Jamie had to fight against Peter Wright. Yes, it was a performance we have never seen from him but he did it when he had to do it against a world-class player.
Jamie is a better player, the rankings say that and James is not going to get better and better as he is the wrong side of 40. If it gets tight Jamie Lewis can plough on, he's been good for 10 years but he is now thinking 'this is the time'.
Richardson is a bit too inconsistent and I think he is overperforming. I don't think Jamie is and I cannot see Richardson winning the game.
Phil Taylor v Keegan Brown
Rod Harrington - I think we will see a different Phil Taylor as I think he is now ready to push on with the belief that he has got a chance of winning the whole thing.
The first match he looked quite emotional, the second, with the whole Justine Pipe stuff, that put him on the back foot but I expect him to go up there and play a really good game.
Keegan was brilliant in his first round match, but his second match, which I commentated on was extremely below par - he was trying to force things rather than just relaxing and if he does that against Phil he will get beat to nil.
Phil knows he has got to now push on now to find a 105/106 average and he knows what he has to do and when to do it - with set play it doesn't have to be every leg just three legs in each set and I expect Phil to do that.
Gary Anderson v Steve West
Stuart Pyke - I think Gary will win it 4-0 - we know Steve is capable of a shock, he showed that with a win over Phil Taylor at the Grand Prix a few years ago - but Gary comes alive on the Ally Pally stage.
If Steve gets a set he will be doing well, and he has a bit of a free card as this is the first time he has ever won any matches at the World Championship. He will be delighted to have got through to this stage.
Anderson can't afford to get complacent and West will be up there to give it a go but he can't touch Gary's scoring power and Gary will be too strong.
The 2018 World Championship from Alexandra Palace continues with a second session on Wednesday evening from 7pm on Sky Sports Darts and then a bumper double session on Thursday, coverage gets underway from 12.30pm and 7pm
Keep up to date with the news as the PDC celebrates 25 years on Sky Sports, right through to the final on New Year's Day. Get all the latest at www.skysports.com/darts and join in the conversation @SkySportsDarts - don't forget to use #LoveTheDarts
