Luke Littler averaged nearly 110 in a dominant win over Josh Rock, while Dirk van Duijvenbode ended Gary Anderson's perfect quarter-final record.
Cameron Menzies withdrew through illness in a dramatic end to the second round, as Wade, Price and Van Veen also booked quarter-final spots.
Defending champion Luke Littler landed a nine-dart finish on a dramatic night in Blackpool that also saw Michael van Gerwen eliminated.
Remembering the birth of John 'Old Stoneface' Lowe, the first man to win a world title in three different decades and the last unified World Champion.
Cameron Menzies produced the shock of the first round by defeating world number two Luke Humphries, as Gerwyn Price survived a scare in Blackpool.
Gary Anderson posts a huge average to thrash Ryan Joyce, while Michael van Gerwen, Wessel Nijman and Gian van Veen also book second round spots.
Stephen Bunting survived a sudden-death thriller as Luke Littler and Nathan Aspinall posted huge averages on the first night of the World Matchplay.
The world's top 32 players head to the Winter Gardens for the prestigious World Matchplay, with Luke Littler defending his title.
On this day in 2021, the world of darts lost one of its most popular champions, Andy 'The Viking' Fordham, the 2004 Lakeside World Champion.
Nathan Aspinall has revealed he will miss further ProTour events due to personal issues, as preparations for the World Matchplay in Blackpool intensify.