Stephen Bunting came from behind to beat Kai Gotthardt 3-1 and book his place in the third round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship.

Englishman Bunting, ranked eighth in the world, dropped the first set and almost went 2-0 down in the match before staging an impressive recovery.

Tournament debutant Gotthardt missed three darts at double eight to win the second set, allowing Bunting to take out double 10 to level the match before powering away to victory by winning the third and fourth sets without losing a leg.

Victory for “The Bullet” sets up a last 32 meeting with the winner of Dirk van Duijvenbode’s meeting with Madars Razma after Christmas.

Should Bunting progress further, he would face world number one and defending world champion Luke Humphries in the quarter-finals on New Year’s Day.

Elsewhere in Friday afternoon’s session, the Dutch duo of Alexander Merkx and Wessel Nijman advanced to the second round with wins over Stephen Burton and Cameron Carolissen respectively.

England’s Ian White was handed a walkover victory against Sandro Eric Sosing of the Philippines.

Sosing withdrew from the competition on medical grounds and was taken to hospital following chest pains.

Friday’s evening session includes three-time world champion Michael van Gerwen’s entrance into the tournament as he faces a second round tie with James Hurrell.

Follow live text coverage from all four of Friday evening’s matches via the BBC Sport website and app, starting at 18:45 GMT.

First round

Stephen Burton 0-3 Alexander Merkx

Wessel Nijman 3-2 Cameron Carolissen

Ian White w/o Sandro Eric Sosing (Sosing withdrew on medical grounds)

Second round

Stephen Bunting 3-1 Kai Gotthardt

First round

Mickey Mansell v Tomoya Goto

Florian Hempel v Jeffrey de Zwaan

William O’Connor v Dylan Slevin

Second round

Michael van Gerwen v James Hurrell