Ricky Evans beat world No6 Nathan Aspinall 3-0 in a stunning performance to progress to the third round of the World Darts Championship.

Evans, 33, lost just two legs in the entire match and averaged 99.38 to beat one of the competition's big-hitters.

He sets up an encounter with Daryl Gurney in the next stage of the event at Alexandra Palace, which will resume on December 27.

Evans said: "Nathan is one of the best players in the world and I've literally done a job on him there.

"I'm the weirdest, most lovable idiot in the world and I've just beaten Nathan Aspinall.

"There’s a funny walk-on, there's a funny me, but there’s a good darts player there and eventually it'll come out."

Elsewhere, Stephen Bunting booked his place in the third round with a 3-0 win over Ryan Joyce.

Bunting impressively averaged 107.28 and hit five 180s on his way to victory.

Ryan Searle also won on Saturday evening while tournament debutant Berry van Peer extended his superb run by upsetting Josh Rock 3-1.

Six former world champions will return to the Palace after Christmas aiming to add to their tally of titles, including defending champion Michael Smith.

Raymond van Barneveld, Michael van Gerwen, Gary Anderson, Rob Cross and Gerwyn Price are all still alive in the event too.

World No3 Luke Humphries is expected to go close to lifting his first World Championship after winning three major titles in the last three months of 2023.

Luke Littler, 16, has also impressed and would face a mouth-watering fourth-round clash with Van Barneveld should both players win their first match back next week.