2301: And the crowd weren't disappointed as Ray van Barneveld prevails in a Circus Tavern thriller!

There's no time for sweat-related thoughts or even to cast an eye on the ravenous Tavern throng, as Barney comes back from 3-0 down against world number one Colin Lloyd to go through 4-3 after sudden death.

It's all too much for our resident darts betting expert Reece Killworth, who lets his emotions run high enough to awake his sleeping baby - just as Barney gets back into it after Lloyd misses Bullseye for the match.

"I haven't been on a rollercoaster like this since the Nou Camp in '99," is a genuine claim.

And as more reaction to the heavyweight classic pours in, self-appointed darts correspondent Chris Hammer purrs:

"That was breathtaking, the best game of darts I've ever seen.

"My girlfriend has told me off for making too much noise over 'just a game of darts!"

2130: Chris 'Mace the Ace' Mason beats John 'Darth Maple' Part, and while the best nicknames (!) might've just finished, it's the big one next... Colin Lloyd v Ray van Barneveld and the sweaty throng in the Circus Tavern can hardly wait. Der der der der der der der der der der......

2000: A mighty comeback from Manley! 'One Dart' levels it at 3-3 after being 3-0 down - and that's a fantastic effort, especially considering the lack of eyebrows handicap.

But it's all in vain as the South African qualifier Havenga takes the last set to win it 4-3.

If the whole night's as good as this...

1900: It's getting hot at the Circus, and while qualifier Wynand Havenga is remaining positively cool under the lightbulbs, Peter '27 dart' Manley is most definitely not.

Darts has got to be the only sport where bushy eyebrows become a potent weapon - as they soak the sweat dripping from the forehead and prevent a potential game-busting bead from obscuring the view of the all important eye. Or eyes.

Unfortunately for Manley, he hasn't got any eyebrows, and the seventh seed is two sets down and two legs down in the third.

Grow some eyebrows Peter, grow some eyebrows.

1645: My colleague Chris Hammer will be crying into his beer as his old favourite Steve Beaton has crashed out.

'The Adonis' (a nickname one wag near me put down more to the amount of 20 stoners in darts than Beaton's 'beauty') looked relaxed as he made his way to the stage in a shirt slashed virtually (and ridiculously) to his navel.

But despite looking as cool as a cucumber throughout the former world champion was ousted by the sixth seed Terry Jenkins, one of the biggest sweaters in the game...proving that perspiration can lead to inspiration.

1500: Sweatwatch is back...and this time it's serious.

Adrian Lewis is through to the next round, but he and Wayne Jones have sweated buckets and the stage now resembles a swimming pool...and if the freezing fog that has blanketed the country finds its way into the Circus Tavern there's every chance tonight's matches could be off due to a frozen stage.

Continuing the weather theme Lewis ran hot early on, rattling in an 11-darter in the first leg, but as his cheeks got rosier and his heavily-greased hair began to seep, Jones came into the game and took it the distance...although he too looked far from at peak fitness entering the seventh set.

It's Lewis who is ultimately through, though, although it was no surprise to see him needing an ice-cold glass of water when he made it into the Sky studio after the match.

He says he'll be hitting the board for four hours a day now but judging by his damp brow, he'd do well to take a leaf out of Dennis Priestley's book and get a bit of fitness work done.

1335: There promises to be fireworks this evening with Lloyd v van Barneveld and Mason v Part but it's been an uninspiring start to the day.

Rico Vonck looked a live danger in his first-round match but despite winning through against Brian Cyr he's barely been at the races in the second round.

With two lithe darters we didn't even have Sweatwatch to keep us entertained and even the usually raucous crowd at the Circus Tavern weren't up for it.

Vonck hopes to get home to Holland for Christmas before returning to Purfleet for his next match so the decorator probably won't be painting the town red.

He definitely needs to work on his doubles, though, and I don't mean double gin, double vodka, double whisky...