0015: Well, we kicked off today's blog wondering if play would go on and on and it certainly did. However, it was worth the wait with Steve Beaton and James Wade producing arguably the match of the day. Wade was in awesome form at the start of the clash but Beaton showed great fighting qualities to fight back from 2-0 down to forced a deciding set. It was anybody's match at that stage but Wade, the third seed this year, survives to fight another day. The crowd certainly didn't seem to mind the hour. Most stayed until the bitter end. The Ally Pally bar coffers will testify to that.

2230: It's been a top-notch display from former champion John Part tonight. He was simply too good for Austrian Mensur Suljovic, winning 4-1 to reach round three. It wasn't as if the qualifier folded under the pressure of playing on the big stage; he just didn't have the answers to Part's level of play. The Canadian finished with a three-dart average of more than 100 - the first time that has occurred at this year's tournament - and looks primed for a serious bid at a third world title.

2130: Adrian Lewis has booked his place in the last 16. The so-called Phil Taylor protege has just completed a 4-2 victory over Vincent van der Voort in what had been billed as the match of the day. Lewis manged to hold the Dutchman off at arm's length throughout though and was never behind.

2020: Another schedule-buster has just finished - and it's the youngster, Kirk Shepherd, who has seen off Mick McGowan. He's just prevailed 5-3 in the final set, ending a match which lasted more than an hour and a half. McGowan will be kicking himself though. He missed four darts for the match and will head back to Ireland an unhappy man. Perhaps he grab a few kisses on the way out to ease the pain. Shepherd won't be able to believe his luck. He survived seven 'match darts' against Terry Jenkins in his previous match so is now on his 12th life of the tournament. Move over cats, meet the Shepherd.

1850: Darts loves its walk-ons - the music, the girls. It's right up there with boxing when it comes to posing. You can add to that the kissing, given the entrance of Mick McGowan and Kirk Shepherd a few minutes ago. McGowan was living up to his nickname of 'The Magnet' as he made his way to the stage, attracting plenty of kisses from the assembled throng - including one from a fellow male. But despite that effort, he couldn't match Shepherd. Perhaps it should be no surprise given Shepherd is just 21 and nicknamed 'Young Gun'. He was spreading the love on his way to the stage, grabbing plenty of pecks to his cheeks, lips and even blowing some of his kisses away for free. But as all you blokes out there will realise, kisses at the end of the night count more - who's going come out on top here and ensure they end the night a happy man?

1840: Oh well, what do we know? Painter has just demolished Mason 4-0 with an impressive display of darts. He was bullish in his post-match interview, too. Looking ahead to a potential last-16 meeting with defending champ Raymond van Barneveld, Painter said he was full of confidence and suggested "the way I'm playing, I could take him out."

1745: We could be in for a long night if today's opening match is anything to go by. Barrie Bates has just completed a 4-3 victory over brave Dutch qualifier Erwin Extercatte but the length of the match has put us 15 minutes off schedule already - and there's still five more second-round matches to come! Organisers planned for play to continue until midnight tonight, but it could be longer now. Sure, there could be some catching up if there's a quickfire 4-0 win or two, but that looks unlikely in this next match. Chris Mason and Kevin Painter have just come on to the stage for what looks like a a pick 'em affair.