World quantity six Nathan Aspinall is out of the PDC World Darts Championship after a 3-0 defeat by Ricky Evans.
Evans misplaced simply two legs in the entire match and averaged 99.38 to eradicate the 2023 Matchplay champion.
“Nathan is without doubt one of the finest gamers on the planet, and I’ve actually finished a job on him there,” stated Evans, 33.
On an evening of surprises Josh Rock, the world quantity 23 from Northern Ireland, can be out after a 3-1 defeat by Dutch debutant Berry van Peer.
There was no such issues for 2014 BDO world champion Stephen Bunting, who cruised previous Ryan Joyce 3-0 with a press release efficiency that included 5 180s and a mean of 107.28.
“I’ve been so nervous, I used to be so emotional,” Bunting informed Sky Sports. “I’m so completely satisfied to play like that and present my potential.
“Ryan Joyce is an unimaginable participant on his day and I attempted my finest to offer him as little likelihood as I might. I’ll attempt to do the identical subsequent spherical.
“I can get pleasure from Christmas now, go residence, regroup and prepare for the following sport.”
Elsewhere, Daryl Gurney noticed off a spirited fightback from veteran Steve Beaton to win 3-1, whereas Welshman Jonny Clayton got here from behind to beat Ireland’s Steve Lennon by the identical scoreline.
Dutchman Richard Veenstra thrashed Belgium’s Kim Huybrechts 3-0, profitable all 9 legs with a mean of 99.46, to arrange a 3rd spherical assembly with world quantity two and three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen.
The event at London’s Alexandra Palace will now take a break for Christmas with the second spherical accomplished.
The third spherical begins on 27 December with the ultimate on 3 January.
