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ST HELENS darter Dave Chisnall exited the World Championships after Jeffrey de Zwaan produced the highest-quality performance so far to to win a gripping contest at London's Alexandra Palace on Monday.

Rising Dutch star De Zwaan averaged 106.09, the highest recorded at this year's event, and hit 53% of his double attempts to reach the last 16 in his third World Championship.

As the pre-Christmas action concluded with six third round ties, De Zwaan's sparkling display laid down a marker ahead of the three-day break in play.

"It felt amazing to play like that and to beat a great player in Dave Chisnall," said De Zwaan.

"I wasn't actually playing that well in practice but the confidence was there on stage and that's what you must have to beat a player like Dave.

"I know if I play like that all the time I can be World Champion, but I don't want to think about that yet.

"Darts is all in the moment so you can't expect to average 106 in every game so we'll see what happens."

A match which featured 17 180s saw the opening four sets shared before De Zwaan fired in back-to-back 12-dart legs in the fifth to go 3-2 up.

The pair continued to trade blows as two-time World Championship quarter-finalist Chisnall replied in kind with two 12-dart legs on his way to levelling it back up at 3-3 in sets.

De Zwaan put his foot on the gas in the deciding leg, not allowing Chisnall a dart at double with legs of 14, 10 and 15 darts sealing one of his finest victories.