England’s Callan Rydz averaged 107.06 to book his place in the second round of the 2025 PDC World Darts Championship before Gabriel Clemens was knocked out by Wales’ Robert Owen.
Rydz beat Croatian Romeo Grbavac 3-0, recording the tournament’s highest average first-round match average in its current 96-player format.
It was the tournament’s 26th highest match average overall and comfortably the best so far at the 2025 event.
The previous record was held by teenager Luke Littler, who scored 106.12 at this stage last year.
Rydz, from Bedlington in Northumberland, meets Germany’s Martin Schindler in the second round on Sunday evening.
The afternoon session at Alexandra Palace concluded with Germany’s 27th seed Clemens being beaten by Owen, who is ranked 50 places below him.
Owen recorded a 3-1 victory, his second in a matter of days, to reach the third round which begins on 27 December.
Hong Kong’s Lok Yin Lee came from a set down to beat Chris Landman 3-1 after winning nine straight legs.
Lee will face Northern Ireland’s Brendan Dolan in round two on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, 2024 Grand Slam of Darts runner-up Martin Lukeman came from a set down to beat Indian qualifier Nitin Kumar 3-1.
Lukeman meets 21st seed Andrew Gilding on Monday afternoon for a place in the last 32.
