Jermaine Wattimena, Cameron Menzies and Kevin Doets were amongst the eight players to come through the 2025 Winmau World Masters Preliminary Rounds in Milton Keynes on Wednesday.
Wednesday's Preliminary Rounds saw 126 players competing for eight places in the main event, which will take place from Thursday January 30 to Sunday February 2 at Arena MK.
Wattimena was the highest-ranked player to progress in Milton Keynes, following up straight-set wins over Nathan Girvan and Niels Zonneveld with a comeback win against Nick Kenny.
The European Championship runner-up won four of the last five legs in 14, 15, 17 and 15 darts to book his place in the main draw, where he will take on Northern Ireland's number one Josh Rock.
Wattimena's fellow Dutchman Doets also won through Wednesday's Preliminary Rounds, overcoming Andy Boulton, Radek Szaganski and Dylan Slevin to set up a showdown against two-time World Champion Peter Wright.
Cameron Menzies landed a stunning 106 average in his straight shoot-out with World Youth Champion Gian van Veen, and the enigmatic Scot also saw off Berry van Peer and Ricky Evans to progress to a meeting with sixth seed Dave Chisnall on Friday.
William Borland claimed the scalps of Dirk van Duijvenbode, Alan Soutar and Mickey Mansell to confirm his big stage return, and his reward is an opening round clash with 2024 Masters champion Stephen Bunting on Thursday night.
Belgium’s Andy Baetens will play World Champion Luke Littler after posting a ton-topping average in his last 16 thumping of Darius Labanauskas, while William O’Connor dispatched Richard Veenstra in convincing style to book a tussle against fourth seed Rob Cross.
Florian Hempel will make his Winmau World Masters debut following his straight-sets success against his fellow countryman Gabriel Clemens, having averaged 110 in his last 64 victory over Mensur Suljovic.
Elsewhere, Bradley Brooks will lock horns with five-time Masters champion Michael van Gerwen on Friday night, after winning five straight matches to seal his place in the 32-player field.
Former World Youth Champion Brooks came through the round-robin phase with battling wins over James Hurrell and Michele Turetta before celebrating a trio of 2-0 victories against Ian White, Cam Crabtree and Krzysztof Ratajski.
Top seed Daryl Gurney was dumped out by his fellow countryman Slevin in the last 32, while Van Veen averaged 106 to account for Wessel Nijman in a compelling all-Dutch affair before succumbing to Menzies.
The 2025 Winmau World Masters will be played in a set format throughout, with each set being the best of three legs - beginning with the best of five sets in the first round, which takes place on Thursday and Friday night.
The top half of the draw will play their first round ties on Thursday January 30, with the bottom half of the draw playing on Friday January 31.
The eventual Winmau World Masters champion will take home a £100,000 prize, with £50,000 on offer to the runner-up.
Click here for match stats & results from the round-robin phase.
Click here for match stats & results from the knockout stages.
2025 Winmau World Masters Preliminary Rounds
Wednesday January 29, Arena MK, Milton Keynes
Last 16
Kevin Doets 2-0 Dylan Slevin (2-0, 2-0)
Bradley Brooks 2-0 Krzysztof Ratajski (2-1, 2-1)
Andy Baetens 2-0 Darius Labanauskas (2-1, 2-1)
Florian Hempel 2-0 Gabriel Clemens (2-1, 2-1)
William Borland 2-1 Mickey Mansell (1-2, 2-1, 2-1)
Jermaine Wattimena 2-1 Nick Kenny (1-2, 2-1, 2-0)
Cameron Menzies 2-0 Gian van Veen (2-1, 2-0)
William O'Connor 2-0 Richard Veenstra (2-0, 2-1)
Friday January 31 (1900 GMT)
First Round x8
James Wade v Mike De Decker
Dave Chisnall v Cameron Menzies
Jonny Clayton v Martin Schindler
Nathan Aspinall v Andrew Gilding
Chris Dobey v Ryan Searle
Luke Littler v Andy Baetens
Michael van Gerwen v Bradley Brooks
Gary Anderson v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Evening Session (1900 GMT)
Semi-Finals
Final