Andrew Gilding enters the third round in 2025 PDC World Darts Championshipstaking up the challenge Martin Lukeman 3-1 to survive and return to Alexandra Palace after Christmas.
When the former UK Open champion at Gilding faced this year’s losing Grand Slam Darts finalist at Lukeman, there was plenty of quality on display in that second round. But during a nervy opening match, the two were about as calm as the hair on their heads. After many failed doubles, Gilding finally got the opener and that seemed to calm down ‘Goldfinger’. The 21st seed raced to the first set in three straight legs.
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Lukeman came off the board early in the second set and then, after some poor finishing from Gilding in the second half, “Smash” was punished to double his lead in the second half. Moments later, Lukeman sealed the set with a dominant hold, leveling the contest in emphatic style.
It seemed that the momentum would continue to be on Lukeman’s side also in the third set, when the Grand Slam finalist increased the score to 2-0 in a five-minute rotation. The gold plating wasn’t done yet, however, and as he began to increase his effectiveness, “Goldfinger” broke Lukeman’s throw to keep the set alive, before holding on to force a decider. Lukeman had darts in the fifth game but was again unable to match Gilding in scoring and it was the former UK Open champion who won the match with a double 10 to lead 2-1 in sets.
In the first part of the fourth set, Gilding really wanted to put the hammer down and had a double eight after nine shots. Despite some poor doubles, he eventually pinned a double 1 to win the leg. Thanks in part to his fourth 180 of the match, Gilding then broke Lukeman’s throw in the next match and was just one leg away from the third round. In the next stage, Gilding had a dart, but Lukeman, falling low to the top, was penalized with a throw of 101 to stay alive. Another chance to win the match came for Gilding in the next match, but four more darts came and went and Lukeman stormed through with a decisive fourth set. With his scoring power still too much for Lukeman, Gilding received more darts in the fifth and this time he finally nailed the uppercut to seal the victory.
