PDC World Championship day 3 preview: What time does it start, what channel is it on and what's the order of play?

A look ahead to the third day of the 2016 PDC William Hill World Darts Championship

The 16-time world champion Phil Taylor (Getty Images)

Phil Taylor, the most successful darts player of all time, provides the main attraction on day three of the 2016 PDC William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.

The 55-year-old has won this competition a record total of 16 times and, despite a notable decline in recent years, will still expect to challenge in the latter stages this year.

Taylor, as the tournament’s third-seed, will face whoever emerges victorious from the evening’s preliminary round between Keita Ono and Alex Tagarao.

Simon Whitlock, who finished runner-up to ‘The Power’ in 2010, also features in the later session and could be tested by youngster Ricky Evans. Fellow seed Vincent van der Voort should, however, have little difficulty in overcoming Laurence Ryder.

The afternoon session features a relatively low-key card, opening with a preliminary round match between Kim Viljanen and Sven Groen. A first round meeting with Kevin Painter is the prize for the winner.

Meanwhile, veteran Steve Beaton takes on New Zealand entrant Koha Kokiri and Ian White is unlikely to have it all his own way against Dimitri Van den Bergh.

Order of play

Saturday December 19
Afternoon Session (1pm-5pm)
1x Preliminary Round, 3x First Round

Kim Viljanen v Sven Groen
Steve Beaton v Koha Kokiri
Ian White v Dimitri Van den Bergh
Kevin Painter v Viljanen/Groen

Evening Session (7pm-11pm)
1x Preliminary Round, 3x First Round

Keita Ono v Alex Tagarao
Simon Whitlock v Ricky Evans
Vincent van der Voort v Laurence Ryder
Phil Taylor v Ono/Tagarao

Where can I watch it?

Live on the Sky Sports Darts channel, which has replaced the Sky Sports F1 channel for tournament's duration.

Today’s action will also be simulcasted on Sky Sports 2.