By Stan Ashcroft
One of the best, and most bizarre days at the World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace was capped off with day eight’s evening session.
Ally Pally fan favourites (both old and new) lit up the palace as Three time World Champion – Michael Van Gerwen, Queen of the palace – Fallon Sherrock, and ‘The Japanese Stephen Bunting’ – Mitsuhiko Tatsunami took to the oche.
MATCH 1: Jermaine Wattimena v Dominik Gruellich
German debutant Dominik Gruellich narrowly qualified through the ProTour rankings. The 23-year-old picked up his first Tour Card in Q-School at the start of 2025. Dutchman, Jermaine Wattimena is a familiar face on the darts circuit. Nicknamed ‘The Machine Gun’ for his notably fast throws, means that whenever Wattimena is playing, it’s often entertaining.
Wattimena and Gruellich had a solid start to the game. Both players held their throws until the fourth leg as ‘machine gun’s’ 180 allowed him to overtake the German and take the set.
It became a game of breaking throws when Wattimena won the first two legs which were overshadowed by a 117 checkout from Gruellich. This kickstarted Gruellich’s recouperation into the game as he won three-back to back legs to level the scores.
The Ally Pally debutant then went onto also claim the third set, against the throw, after a tight contest in a 3-2 leg.
The pattern continued as Wattimena broke Gruellich in the second leg with some mighty scoring. Two treble visits, in three of his legs, put him well ahead of the German which allowed him to win the set in the subsequent leg.
After levelling the scoreboard, it was all to play for in the final set. However, only one player showed up as Wattimena stormed the fifth set 3-0, as both players seemed nervous on a couple of doubles.
Overall, a very even contest with both players finishing with similar averages and checkout percentages, but the Dutchman hit three more 180s than his opposition, and crossed the line to face Scott Williams on Tuesday.
Result: Jermaine Wattimena 3 v 2 Dominik Gruellich
MATCH 2: Dave Chisnall v Fallon Sherrock
The Queen of the Palace returned as Fallon Sherrock played Dave ‘Chizzy’ Chisnall in one of the most anticipated fixtures of round one.
Chizzy was a semi-finalist in this competition back in 2021, but has had a tough time this year with his form dropping. Ranked outside the top 32, for the first time in a longtime, Chizzy will hope to change that before the end of the year.
Fallon Sherrock needs no introduction as she made history as the first woman to win a match in the World Darts Championships in 2020, making it to the third round.
Sherrock opened the scoring with a score of 100, which was instantly replicated by Chisnall. Three attempts at the double saw her hold her throw, before Chizzy won the next leg with a 104 checkout.
Both players found it really difficult to hit the last double in the third, as Sherrock missed six attempts, before Chizzy finished on his sixth, to break throw. Chizzy claimed the final leg as Sherrock missed a visit to take the set to a decider.
Chizzy entered the stage after the break, looking refreshed and back to his best. He tidied up his doubles and finished where his opponent couldn’t. A remarkable 160 saw him whitewash the Ally Pally Queen in the second leg.
The final leg saw Sherrock with the first visit, throwing to stay in the game. Chizzy won the leg with a break of throw. However, this was met by Sherrock’s best leg of the game as she bounced back using only 14 darts, checking out on her first attempt.
She then held her throw and checked out on the fifth time of asking. Chisnall took the set to the final leg as Sherrock continued to miss her doubles. Chizzy won the match and dethroned the Queen of a return to the Palace.
Sherrock’s 13% checkout percentage, compared to Chizzy’s 47.7%, told the full story as Chizzy will play Ricardo Pietreczko in round two, Saturday afternoon.
Result: Dave Chisnall 3 v 0 Fallon Sherrock
MATCH 3: Michael van Gerwen v Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
Firstly, wow. It’s hard to put into words just how entertaining this game was! From the walk-ons, to the final dart, it contained so many memorable moments. Unofficially nicknamed ‘The Japanese Stephen Bunting’ debutant Mitsuhiko Tatsunami was always destined to be a fan favourite, and he didn’t disappoint!
Dancing along to KC and The Sunshine Band’s ‘that’s the way (I like it)’ ahh ha, ahh ha – Tatsunami entered the stage with a smile from ear-to-ear. He had a mountain to climb with three time World Champion, Michael Van Gerwen standing in his way.
A 180 on Tatsunami’s fifth visit, followed by a checkout earnt himself the first leg , as well as, his own chant from the Ally Pally crowd.
Tatsunami kept pace with ‘Mighty Mike’ as they both held their throws until the fourth leg, where MVG astonishingly failed to checkout 56 with six darts, which opened the door for his Japanese opponent for a 92 finish, to win the set. As you can imagine, Ally Pally went wild!
It was Van Gerwen’s throw going into the second set, but his doubles let him down. Seven missed darts at tops handed Tatsunami the opportunity, but both players kept missing.
However, to the delight of the spectators Tatsunami snuck in a double two and then went onto put in a 15 dart-leg to go two legs up. This was the turning point for MVG as he came back to win back-to-back legs with 14 darts and completed the set to level the scores.
Set three was more of the classic Van Gerwen which we expected to see from the start. Another 14-dart leg set him off for a break of throw in the first leg, as he held his own for the second, and fourth. Tatsunami continued to throw a few 140s but it was his worst set of the match, which came at a bad time.
Tatsunami picked up his game in the last set and was determined not to be beaten. The excitement continued with the goggled man breaking Van Gerwen’s throw once again in the opening leg, as the Dutchman saw three treble-less visits.
A 140 scored by the man from Japan, opened up the way to his second leg, where he was clinical with one dart at tops. Van Gerwen comfortably won the next leg, with the darts, before Tatsunami produced the ‘almost’ leg of his life. Two 100s, followed by a 140, set him up for a 161 finish.
Ally Pally were on their feet with a ‘WAY!’ following the treble 20… a ‘WAY!’ following the treble 17… just the bull was needed to level the scores and stay in the game. ‘ooooooo… booo’ as Tatsunami hit the outer-bull.
The darts were still in his favour with Van Gerwen on 177, but miss, after miss on the doubles by Tatsunami with two visits, gave Van Gerwen an excuse to close the game.
This inevitably caused boos to ring round Ally Pally as the fan’s new adopted favourite crashed out of the competition, leaving plenty of fond memories behind him.
Although Van Gerwen accumulated a total of 24 missed doubles across the match, the Dutchman still sits as the bookie’s fifth favourite to win the competition. The winner of Willie O’Connor or Krzysztof Kciuk faces him in round two.
Result: Michael van Gerwen 3 v 1 Mitsuhiko Tatsunami
MATCH 4: Krzysztof Ratajski v Alexis Toylo
‘The Polish Eagle’, Krzysztof Ratajski, landed on the Ally Pally stage to kick-off the final match of the night. The world number 37 played Filipino, Alexis Toylo, who is known for his very individualistic routine. Shadow throws before each visit, chalk on his leg, and steps up and down the oche, made Toylo an unusual watch.
Both players played at a relatively slow pace as Ratajski took the first set. Poland’s best ever player picked up two 180s, comfortably wrapped up the set 3-0, with an average in the mid-90s.
BIG FISH ALERT! In the second leg, as Toylo and Ratajski held their throws, the Polish Eagle swooped and caught a big fish in the third leg. His 170 finish was the best action of the game as Ratajski continued to win the set.
Only 14 darts were required for the Pole to claim the first leg of the third set. Toylo was able to hold his throw on one occasion however, Ratajski completed his dominant performance and broke the Filipino on the final leg. Ratajski will play Ryan Joyce in round two.
Result: Krzysztof Ratajski 3 v 0 Alexis Toylo
AS IT HAPPENS: 2025/26 PDC WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- World Darts Championships: Day 4 Afternoon – Dom Taylor and Joe Cullen steal the show
- World Darts Championship: Day 5 Afternoon – 20-year-old Charlie Manby takes Ally Pally by storm
- World Darts Championship: Day 5 Evening – van Duijvenbode and Jonny Clayton star at Ally Pally
- World Darts Championship: Day 6 Afternoon – Crazy tie-break match sees 19 missed darts
- World Darts Championship: Day 6 Evening – ‘Ice-Man’ Gerwyn Price looking back to his best
- World Darts Championship: Day 7 Evening -legend Raymond van Barneveld crashes out in Round 1