WATCH: Limerick's William O'Connor bows out of World Darts Championships

LIMERICK'S William O'Connor has bowed out of the William Hill Worlds Darts Championships at the Alexandra Palace in London this Monday.

Cappamore man O'Connor lost out 4-2 to world number nine Michael 'Bully Boy' Smith of England 4-2 in a hard fought third round contest.

Thirty five-year-old O'Connor won the opening set and had an opportunity to make it 2-0. However, ultimately the Limerick man lost the next three sets as 2019 runner-up Smith took control of the game.

World number 42 O'Connor battled back bravely to reduce the deficit to 3-2, before 31-year-old Smith edged the seventh set by three legs to two to advance to the last 16 of the tournament.

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Michael Smith defies a spirited display from William O'Connor to close out a 4-2 victory!

Four ton-plus finishes from the ninth seed

Sky Sports Darts
Live blog: https://t.co/rXGVnCZUxO
#️⃣ #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/UaSYFQTBt0

— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 27, 2021

The World Championships run through to January 3 at the 'Ally Pally' and boasts a total prizefund of stg£2.5 million. The 29th staging of the PDC World Championship features 96 players in all. The prestigious event, which is televised live on Sky Sports. The winner of the tournament will also also claim the Sid Waddell Trophy.

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97 average
Ten 180s
Four ton-plus finishes

Another impressive display from Michael Smith

Sky Sports Darts
Live blog: https://t.co/rXGVnCZUxO
#️⃣ #LoveTheDarts pic.twitter.com/jUCwhd8NOG

— Sky Sports Darts (@SkySportsDarts) December 27, 2021

Monday, December 27

Schedule of Play

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
3x Third Round
Ross Smith 3 Dirk van Duijvenbode 4
Michael Smith 4 William O'Connor 2
Florian Hempel v Raymond Smith

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
3x Third Round
James Wade v Vincent van der Voort
Gerwyn Price v Kim Huybrechts
Jonny Clayton v Gabriel Clemens

Tuesday, December 28

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
3x Third Round
Steve Lennon v Mervyn King
Ryan Searle v Danny Noppert
Joe Cullen v Martijn Kleermaker

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
3x Third Round
Rob Cross v Daryl Gurney
Peter Wright v Damon Heta
Michael van Gerwen v Chris Dobey

Wednesday, December 29

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
3x Third Round
Jose De Sousa v Alan Soutar
Dave Chisnall v Luke Humphries
Nathan Aspinall v Callan Rydz

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
1x Third Round
Gary Anderson v Ian White​
2x Fourth Round
Matches TBC

Thursday, December 30

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
3x Fourth Round
Matches TBC

Evening Session (1900 GMT)
3x Fourth Round
Matches TBC

Saturday, January 1

Afternoon Session (1230 GMT)
2x Quarter-Finals

Evening Session (1930 GMT)
2x Quarter-Finals

Sunday, January 2 (1930 GMT)
2x Semi-Finals

Monday, January 3 (2000 GMT)
Final