PHIL TAYLOR is now just two wins away from claiming a 17th and final William Hill World Darts Championship after disposing of Gary Anderson in Friday's quarter-finals, where Michael van Gerwen won a thriller and Rob Cross and Jamie Lewis secured last-four spots.


On a dramatic quarter-finals day at Alexandra Palace, retiring star Taylor again captured the headlines as his bid to end his glittering career with one final triumph.


Taylor's consistency was key as he punished Anderson early on to go 4-1 up, which proved to be too much of a gap for the two-time World Champion to bridge despite a valiant effort from the Scot, who had appeared in the last three finals.


The legendary 57-year-old could be on a collision course with Van Gerwen in the decider after the defending champion emerged with a 5-4 win from a toe-to-toe clash with fellow Dutchman Raymond van Barneveld.


Taylor, the 16-time World Champion, can still finish his career in the best possible fashion as he averaged 102, hit 12 180s and more importantly took out some crucial finishes, including a 126 in seeing off Anderson in a repeat of the 2015 final.


All the damage was done early as Taylor managed to win six legs on the spin when compiling that 4-1 advantage and, although Anderson came firing back with consecutive sets, he fell just short.


"It was a struggle, my energy levels went towards the end, but I knew I just had to keep putting him under pressure," said Taylor, who now faces Jamie Lewis for a place in the final.


"I think the pressure's off me and on the other players, and that's what I thought with Gary. He's defending a World Championship money-wise, and it could drop him down the rankings so there's a lot more pressure.


"It's the greatest feeling in the world and I'm going to miss it after next week but I've been around for 30 years now.


"I'm absolutely fine and I'm loving it."


Lewis is next up for Taylor after the young Welshman became the first preliminary round winner to ever make the semi-finals with a 5-0 whitewash of Darren Webster.


Lewis only got a chance to make the event after Dimitri Van den Bergh became World Youth Champion to open up an extra space in the PDPA Qualifiers, but after winning a third-place play-off the youngster has turned that chance into a truly special run.


"I can't believe it," said Lewis, who will pocket at least £85,000 from the tournament. "I came into this hoping to have a good run but to make the semis is a dream come true.


"I still think there's room for improvement, but I know if I get into the right flow I can play as good as anybody.


"I thought it was going to be really close, but luckily I took out the right shots at the right time."


The meeting between Van Gerwen and Van Barneveld did not draw the record-breaking averages and huge scoring of their epic meeting 12 months ago, but was equally dramatic as the reigning champion was continually pegged back by his rival.


Van Gerwen averaged 103 to Van Barneveld's 98, but the drama was more significant than the stats as the world number one missed a dart to lead 4-1 before watching the five-time World Champion draw level at 3-3.


With 18 breaks of throw anything could happen at any time - Van Gerwen missed a dart for the match to allow Van Barneveld to level, before the more experienced man missed three key darts at double 16 in the final set as he fell to an agonising defeat.


"In the beginning I didn't feel too well, Raymond was playing well and I was struggling a little bit," said Van Gerwen.


"But I think everyone could only dream about a quarter-final like this as we both averaged quite a good standard and we both hit big finishes at the right time."


Shooting star Rob Cross' World Championship debut continues into the last four after the former electrician, who had risen to 20th in the world on his debut year as a professional, overcame Dimitri Van den Bergh in another nine-set epic.


Cross was in control at 4-1 ahead only to see World Youth Champion Van den Bergh come storming back to tie the game up at four-all with some sensational darts.


Cross, though, regained his composure to claim the deciding set and win through to the semi-finals, where he now faces Van Gerwen in a repeat of October's European Championship final.


"Honestly, the best player lost," said a magnanimous Cross. "I don't know what happened but I just felt lethargic and I went inside myself and it wasn't good enough.


"I just wasn't right, for whatever reason and Dimitri kept punishing me, fair play to him he was brilliant."


Van Gerwen is now the 8/15 tournament favourite with sponsors William Hill, with Taylor 3/1, Cross 8/1 and Lewis the 12/1 outsider after starting the event at 500/1 to claim the title.


William Hill World Darts Championship
Friday December 29
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session
Jamie Lewis 5-0 Darren Webster
Dimitri Van den Bergh 4-5 Rob Cross


Evening Session
Michael van Gerwen 5-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor 5-3 Gary Anderson


Saturday December 30 (7.30pm)
Semi-Finals
Jamie Lewis v Phil Taylor
Michael van Gerwen v Rob Cross
Best of 11 sets


Jamie Lewis 5-0 Darren Webster
(3-1, 3-0, 3-1, 3-1, 3-2)
JAMIE LEWIS continued his dream run at the William Hill World Darts Championship as his dominant 5-0 win over Darren Webster saw him become the first preliminary round winner to ever reach the semi-finals.


The young Welshman only got a chance to make the event after Dimitri Van den Bergh became World Youth Champion to open up an extra space in the PDPA Qualifier, where Lewis won the third-place play-off, but he's turned that chance into a truly special run.


Lewis has been hitting 180s for fun throughout the tournament and he again found the treble 20 with ease as he compiled 14 maximums to average 101 - ten points more than Webster.


The scoring power of Lewis, who also hit 16 scores of 140 or more, earned him a let-off for some missed doubles, while he did not need a checkout higher than 71 as Webster won just five legs.


The performance of Lewis would be welcomed by any of the sport's top stars, as he secured a semi-final place against either Phil Taylor or Gary Anderson.


A 13-darter delivered the opening set for the loss of just one leg, and Lewis stuck another in at the start of a 3-0 whitewash in the second as Webster struggled to get a chance.


Lewis hit four 180s in the third set, where Webster could again get just one leg on the board, and it was a similar story in the fourth as Lewis moved to the brink of a famous victory.


Despite hitting two 180s in the fifth set's opener, Lewis missed double 16 to allow Webster to take out 81 - the game's highest checkout - only for the Welshman to respond with a 12-darter.


Nerves started to show as Webster won two legs in a set for the first time to force a decider, but a miss at tops to extend the match allowed Lewis back in to seal his first televised semi-final in the sport's biggest event.


"I can't believe it," said Lewis, who will pocket at least £85,000 from the tournament. "I came into this hoping to have a good run but to make the semis is a dream come true.


"I still think there's room for improvement, but I know if I get into the right flow I can play as good as anybody.


"I thought it was going to be really close, but luckily I took out the right shots at the right time.


"I'm looking forward to the semi-finals. I've got nothing to lose now I'm in the semi-finals so whoever I play, if I can just go up there and play my own game."


Dimitri Van den Bergh 4-5 Rob Cross
(0-3, 2-3, 3-2, 2-3, 0-3, 3-0, 3-1, 3-1, 1-3)
ROB CROSS emerged from a titanic struggle with Dimitri Van den Bergh with a place in the William Hill World Darts Championship semi-finals after surviving an epic comeback with a 5-4 victory.


Such is the standard in darts these days that an Alexandra Palace debutant in his first year as a professional and the World Youth Champion served up as good a game as you'll see in the World Championship.


There was just a point between them in the averages, with Van den Bergh slightly better at 98.6, while he hit 13 maximums to 11 from Cross, but stats only tell half the story as this one was all about colossal swings in momentum.


Cross took control and was cruising at 4-1 up only for the 23-year-old Belgian to come roaring back, winning nine of 11 legs with eight 180s and a 134 checkout to level at 4-4.


Van den Bergh made it a ninth leg out of 12 played at the start of the deciding set, which incredibly put him ahead in the match for the very first time after over an hour-and-a-half of play.


Despite watching such a lead fall apart, Cross somehow rebounded with a 180 followed by 81 checkout to get back on terms, before taking out 89 in the next after Van den Bergh had missed three doubles.


Van den Bergh bagged a 180 in the fourth leg, but as nerves frayed the Belgian missed five doubles, while Cross missed two match darts before returning and eventually hitting double one for victory.


"Honestly, the best player lost," said Cross, who now plays Michael van Gerwen or Raymond van Barneveld. "This man hit me with everything - and what a lovely fella he is as well.


"He's brilliant, he's going to be special. I just wasn't right, for whatever reason and Dimitri kept punishing me - fair play to him, he was brilliant.


"I don't know what happened but I just felt lethargic and I went inside myself and it wasn't good enough. I'm happy to win, but it's got to get better tomorrow."


Van den Bergh earned as much credit in defeat as Cross did in victory, and with that sort of fighting spirit he will have a huge future in the sport.


"I went 4-1 down but I kept telling myself, and so did my father, keep your chin up, keep battling, it's not over until the fifth set is won," said Van den Bergh.


"So I just thought I'd enjoy it and keep battling but it wasn't to be this time. But I hope this guy can go all the way - I love Rob to bits.


"My ambition is to continue doing what I'm doing and climb up the rankings."


Cross insists that regardless of which Dutch superpower he is up against in the semi-finals, he has the game to challenge if he can play his best.


"It doesn't matter who I play," he added. "If I play my game the way I usually do, then I've got a chance."


Phil Taylor 5-3 Gary Anderson
(3-1, 2-3, 3-0, 3-2, 3-0, 1-3, 2-3, 3-2) 
THE William Hill World Darts Championship dream is still alive for Phil Taylor after he defeated Gary Anderson 5-3 in the quarter-final to maintain his pursuit of a perfect ending to his career.


The 16-time champion can still finish the sport's greatest-ever career in the best possible fashion as he proved just too good for two-time World Champion Anderson with a 102 average and 12 180s in the repeat of their 2015 final.


All the damage was done early as Taylor managed to move 4-1 in front thanks to six legs on the spin, and although Anderson came firing back the Scot found the lead insurmountable.


After handing Anderson the throw in typical fashion, Taylor also typically threw a 180 and secured a break in the opening leg as he went on to take the first set despite an 11-darter from Anderson.


The second set went the distance after Anderson blew a 2-0 lead, but he redeemed himself with a 101 finish in the decider, only to be blown away in the third by a Taylor clean sweep.


Anderson again blew a 2-0 lead in set four as Taylor embarked on a run of six straight legs that took him into what looked an unassailable 4-1 lead.


The Scot launched his comeback with a 115 outshot in a fifth set took in four legs, but some real drama emerged in the sixth as Taylor took out 126 for a break to give him the chance to throw for the match.


Taylor kicked off with a 180 but Anderson matched that before taking the leg and claiming the decider to extend the tie further by making it 4-3.


A 12-darter put Taylor on the brink at 2-1 in the eighth set, and he almost brought the house down when just missing tops for a 129 checkout before Anderson forced a deciding leg.


Again Taylor missed tops for the match, but Anderson could not finish and when Taylor returned he made no mistake to book his place in yet another semi-final.


"It was a struggle - my energy levels went towards the end, but I knew I just had to keep putting him under pressure," said Taylor, who now faces Jamie Lewis for a place in the final.


"It's the greatest feeling in the world and I'm going to miss it after next week but I've been around for 30 years now.


"I think the pressure's off me and on the other players, and that's what I thought with Gary. He's defending a World Championship money-wise, and it could drop him down the rankings so there's a lot more pressure.


"I haven't got that pressure on me now. I've got every admiration for Gary Anderson."

PHIL TAYLOR continued his pursuit of a 17th William Hill World Darts Championship with a 4-0 win over Keegan Brown to set up a huge quarter-final showdown with Gary Anderson at Alexandra Palace.
 
Legendary star Taylor rolled back the years at times during his 133rd World Championship match, especially with some big finishes at key moments as the occasion initially got the better of Brown.
 
Taylor is looking to end his career with what would be an incredible 17th World Championship title, and seeing an improvement in form against Brown has the 57-year-old - who has only lost 15 legs in the tournament so far - growing in confidence.
 
"I am starting to believe I can win," said Taylor. "It's weird. I said today that I think I can actually have a go at this; whether I can or not, I don't know, but I feel like I can.
 
"If my confidence is up and I can play properly then I think I can give them a game. I can win it.
 
"I'm going to go out with a big smile on my face, and if I start losing the crowd will get on my side and if I start winning the crowd will get on my side, so I'm going to enjoy the next game."
 
Two-time World Champion Anderson came through a tough battle with Steve West 4-2, with the Scot's missed match darts allowing his stubborn opponent to extending the match to a sixth set.
 
Anderson averaged 95 and at one stage looked to be struggling with a back injury before he eventually put West away to secure another mouth-watering contest on quarter-final day in a repeat of the classic 2015 final.
 
A day at Alexandra Palace usually comes with an upset and Thursday saw the turn of fifth seed Mensur Suljovic, who was on the wrong end of a 4-0 thumping by World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.
 
The Champions League winner was never in the contest as the 23-year-old Belgian took control from the start and showed a maturity beyond his years to make the last eight.
 
"Winning 4-0 against the number five in the world, a 23-year-old dreams of things like that," said Van den Bergh, who has no intention of resting on his previous goal of reaching the last eight.
 
"That was my goal, and it's fantastic that I've got to the quarter-finals, but I'm not finished yet.
 
"Even though I'm playing in the quarter-finals, I'm capable. I believe and I'm a dream maker so who knows, my dreams might be coming true this time."
 
Next up for Van den Bergh is new darting sensation Rob Cross, who was watching the tournament at home last year waiting to turn professional but is now amongst the title favourites on his Alexandra Palace debut.
 
Cross overcame a sticky patch to produce some more heavy scoring that proved too much for John Henderson as the Hastings man progressed 4-1 to move his focus on to Van den Bergh.
 
"He's another fantastic player and I won't be able to take anything for granted," said Cross. "But as long as I come out and do my bit and I'm myself with no switching off, it's all good."
 
Jamie Lewis continued his fairy-tale run as he's now gone from qualifier to quarter-finalist after a 4-1 win over James Richardson in what was his 11th match in the tournament all told.
 
Understandably, Lewis could not reach the stratospheric heights of Wednesday's performance against Peter Wright, but after a sticky start he produced some superb darts - including a 170 finish - to dominate Richardson.
 
"I'm so chuffed to get through that game," said Lewis, who now meets Darren Webster. "It was a bit of a tough one because we both probably didn't play as well as we could.
 
"I didn't really play like I did yesterday but I'm so happy to just get through it."
 
Webster lived up to his "Demolition Man" nickname as he did overcame Toni Alcinas with a convincing 4-0 victory to return to the quarter-finals after an 11-year absence.
 
"I'm really pleased with my performance," said diminutive Norwich thrower Webster. "I'm chuffed with that.
 
"I've got no taller but I'm rolling back the years, what I lack in height I make up for in heart and passion."
 
Friday's other quarter-final sees Dutch rivals Michael van Gerwen, the reigning World Champion, and five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld clash as the pair bid to win through to the last four.
 
William Hill World Darts Championship
Thursday December 28
Afternoon Session
Toni Alcinas 0-4 Darren Webster
Mensur Suljovic 0-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
John Henderson 1-4 Rob Cross
 
Evening Session
Jamie Lewis 4-1 James Richardson
Phil Taylor 4-0 Keegan Brown
Gary Anderson 4-2 Steve West
 
Quarter-Finals
Friday December 29
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Jamie Lewis v Darren Webster
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Rob Cross
 
Evening Session (7pm)
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
 
Draw Bracket Order
Michael van Gerwen v Raymond van Barneveld
Dimitri Van den Bergh v Rob Cross
Jamie Lewis v Darren Webster
Phil Taylor v Gary Anderson
 
Quarter-Finals - Best of nine sets
 
MATCH REPORTS
Toni Alcinas 0-4 Darren Webster
(1-3, 1-3, 2-3, 0-3)
DARREN WEBSTER returned to the William Hill World Darts Championship quarter-finals for the first time 11 years with a clinical 4-0 victory over Toni Alcinas.
 
Webster averaged 94.92, hit three 180s and took out 50 percent of his doubles as Alcinas was always struggling to keep pace, grabbing just four legs in a one-sided contest.
 
The Norwich thrower lived up to his "Demolition Man" nickname as he was ruthless when stepping in as Alcinas missed the few chances he was presented with, with Webster making the most of his extra experience on the big stage.
 
Webster kicked off with a 15-darter to get the match underway, and after Alcinas levelled it was the 2007 quarter-finalist who punched in a 148 checkout to go in front before clinching the set with a break of throw.
 
A 14-darter did the damage in the second set with a 72 finish grabbing another break, before Webster then took out 75 for the set to double his lead.
 
Alcinas raised his game in the third when hitting two 180s in an 11-dart opener before then going 2-0 up, only for Webster drag it back to 2-2 before a 180 in the deciding leg put him in total command.
 
That proved the breaking point for Alcinas, and Webster took the next three to make it six legs on the spin to power into the last eight for the first time since 2007.
 
"It doesn't matter who you play, you've got to go up there and play the board," said Webster. "I'm really pleased with my performance.
 
"I'm chuffed with that. I've got no taller but I'm rolling back the years, what I lack in height I make up for in heart and passion."
 
Webster faces Jamie Lewis or James Richardson in a wide open section of the draw, but insists that he is not looking at his next opponent.
 
"In the next round it's irrelevant who I'm playing; people are saying you're the only seed left but is that good or bad? All the seeds around me have dropped out, so I cant think about that.
 
"I've got one mission and that's to get up there on that board and do my job and that's what I'm trying to do.
 
"I'm just going to chill out and get ready for tomorrow for whoever - I don't care, bring them on!"
 
Mensur Suljovic 0-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
(1-3, 1-3, 2-3, 1-3)
DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH kept up the surprising nature of this year's William Hill World Darts Championship as he dominated fifth seed Mensur Suljovic 4-0 in their last 16 meeting.
 
The World Youth Champion showed nerves of steel as he powered into the quarter-finals at the Alexandra Palace with a 96.6 average and six 180s as he punished a below-par performance from the Austrian.
 
World number 43 Van den Bergh was a much more solid scorer throughout, and with Suljovic missing a few golden chances the young Belgian punished his rival almost every time.
 
Suljovic hit a 14-darter in the opening set but that was his only leg as Van den Bergh took out a 120 checkout along the way, which he followed with a 13-darter when dominating the second.
 
Suljovic made a better go of things in the critical third by going 2-1 ahead, but he missed crucial darts in the fourth and Van den Bergh showed confidence beyond his years to level and win the decider.
 
Nerves at being so close to victory did not seem to bother the 23-year-old as he hit two 180s in the opening leg of set four before taking out 115 to move to the brink, and he wasted little time in completing a fantastic victory.
 
"It's unbelievable," said Van den Bergh. "I know the qualities of Mensur and normally he's a player that checks out every finish that he gets a chance to, and this game was totally different.
 
"Every chance he got he missed them - three darts, two darts, one dart. But every shot I got I seemed to check out.
 
"Winning 4-0 against the number five in the world, a 23-year-old dreams of things like that."
 
After stating his goal was to reach the quarter-finals, Van den Bergh is now aiming even higher as he faces Rob Cross in the last eight.
 
"That was my goal, and it's fantastic that I've got to the quarter-finals, but I'm not finished yet," he added.
 
"Even though I'm playing in the quarter-finals, I'm capable, I believe and I'm a dream maker so who knows my dreams might be coming true this time.
 
"I'm enjoying every moment, winning this game feels weird on the one side but feels amazing on the other."
 
John Henderson 1-4 Rob Cross
(1-3, 2-3, 3-1, 1-3, 0-3)
ROB CROSS continued his strong William Hill World Darts Championship debut as he booked a place in the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over John Henderson.
 
The 27-year-old from Hastings may be in his first World Championship but he is playing like a tournament favourite and showed his resolve by coming through a sticky patch against the Scot.
 
Cross came flying out of the traps to lead 2-0 but then suffered a slump as Henderson's persistent quality checkouts saw him drag himself back into the contest.
 
Four-time ranking event winner Cross, who finished with a 99 average and seven 180s, regained his momentum in the fourth set and from there raced away to victory.
 
It was fast start by Cross as he averaged 111 in the opening set courtesy of legs of 11 and 14 darts, forcing Henderson to take out 83 just to get a leg on the board.
 
Henderson took out 109 and 101 in the second set but Cross showed what he is made of with a crucial 180 forcing his rival into a mistake which he capitalised on to seal the set.
 
Henderson was playing well though, and added further huge finishes to finally win a set with a 136 and 125 doing the damage as he took the third with a 3-1 scoreline.
 
Again, Henderson pushed Cross in the fourth set, but the 20th seed pulled out a 102 finish to nose 2-1 in front when the Scot looked favourite, and from there Cross took the set to move 3-1 up.
 
That proved to be the end of Henderson's challenge, as Cross stepped it up in the fifth set with three straight legs, finishing off in style with a ten-darter.
 
"John played very well and his hundred-plus finishing with every shot he got at a double was superb," said Cross.
 
"I actually lost concentration in that game, I felt I was lazy in the middle parts and could have done more but I'm happy to get through.
 
"In the last set I was focused and better but going forward you need to push in every set if you're going to win and I'm not quite doing that yet."
 
Cross now faces World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh in the last eight as he gets his head around making such good progress on his first visit to Alexandra Palace.
 
"It's weird, I've never played in front of fantastic people like this so it's a little bit different, but I'll deal with that and keep moving forward," added Cross, the former electrician who turned professional in January.
 
"Dimitri is another fantastic player and I won't be able to take anything for granted. But as long as I come out and do my bit and I'm myself with no switching off, it's all good."
 
Jamie Lewis 4-1 James Richardson
(2-3, 3-2, 3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
JAMIE LEWIS' fairy-tale run at the William Hill World Darts Championship continued as he booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over James Richardson.
 
The young Welshman has played 11 matches now in the tournament, having come through the PDPA Qualifier before seeing off Kenny Neyens, Jonny Clayton and Peter Wright, and added another win on Thursday.
 
Lewis did not reach the stratospheric heights of that performance against Wright, but after a sticky start did produce some super darts as he finished with a 96.95 average with five 180s and a maximum 170 checkout.
 
The 26-year-old started slowly as Richardson won the first set on his own throw, and after the pair traded breaks in the second Lewis this time emerged with the win in the decider.
 
Lewis started to find some of the form that knocked Wright with a 170 finish in set three, alongside his first 180s and a 99 outshot which featured two double tops.
 
Although Lewis wasn't sticking in 180s for fun as against Wright, his 140 scoring was continually leaving Richardson behind as he added 12 and ten-dart legs to clinch the fourth set.
 
Back-to-back checkouts of 66 put him ahead in the fifth set and a pair of 180s helped him to the finish line and a dream victory that put him into the last eight.
 
"I'm so chuffed to get through that game," said Lewis, who plays Darren Webster for a place in the semi-finals. "It was a bit of a tough one because we both probably didn't play as well as we could.
 
"I didn't really play like I did yesterday but I'm so happy to just get through it.
 
"I felt a little bit more comfortable as the game went on. I just didn't feel 100 percent but luckily I got there in the end and started playing the darts I know I can play near the end of the game."
 
Phil Taylor 4-0 Keegan Brown
(3-1, 3-0, 3-2, 3-2)
PHIL TAYLOR'S retirement party at the William Hill World Darts Championship was extended in style as he showed flashes of his old brilliance during a 4-0 win over Keegan Brown in their last 16 meeting.
 
Retiring legend Taylor grabbed an incredible 121st World Championship victory as he continued his search for a 17th title to bring the curtain down on his amazing career.
 
Significantly, Taylor looked settled on the stage and was averaging almost 110 for much of the contest before finishing on 101.28 for his 54th three-figured average in World Championship matches.
 
It was classic Taylor in the opening set as he hit two 180s, and 11-darter and outshots of 82 and 86 with some flawless doubling whilst only allowing Brown to grab one leg.
 
Taylor swept the second set, which included a sparkling 122 finish in what looked like a vintage performance.
 
After six legs in a row for Taylor, Brown finally found some form and managed to drag the third set back to two-all, only to miss a dart for the set as he allowed the 57-year-old to nail a killer 99 checkout which featured two double tops.
 
Taylor kicked off set four with a with a 92 checkout followed by a 100 combination, but Brown showed great tenacity to stick in there and take out 124 and 66 to force a decider.
 
In typical style, though, Taylor pulled out a 106 finish to complete the win and cruise into the last eight.
 
"I felt comfortable up there," said Taylor, who has only dropped 15 legs in the tournament so far. "The only thing I thought was to put Keegan under pressure as it was probably the biggest occasion of his life.
 
"He looked like he started to enjoy the pressure though so even at 3-0 up I was thinking that he could still come back.
 
"I think the pressure's off me now and I can enjoy it. I am starting to believe I can win.
 
"It's weird. I said today that I think I can actually have a go at this; whether I can or not, I don't know, but I feel like I can.
 
"If my confidence is up and I can play properly then I think I can give them a game."
 
Gary Anderson 4-2 Steve West
(3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-2)
GARY ANDERSON set up a huge William Hill World Darts Championship quarter-final showdown with Phil Taylor after battling past stubborn Steve West with a 4-2 victory in the last 16.
 
Two-time World Champion Anderson was matched dart-for-dart by West - who averaged three points less but hit the same number of 180s (seven), took out a 170 finish and won just one fewer legs.
 
Anderson was mostly in front, but just could not kill off the Essex man as West punished some late missed doubles to extend his hopes almost into a deciding seventh set.
 
Anderson claimed the first set thanks to a brilliant 104 checkout in the deciding fifth leg, but West's response was emphatic with three straight legs capped off by a 13-darter pulling him level in he second.
 
It was Anderson's turn to dominate in the third as he claimed a comfortable 3-1 set before an eventful fourth saw West hit three 180s and take out 170 but still lose the set after missing one dart to level.
 
Again the set went the distance in the fifth, with some real drama in the decider as both players missed two doubles before West returned to hit double five with his last dart to extend the match.
 
Anderson, despite the discomfort of a back problem, was the aggressor in the sixth set, but amazingly missed seven darts for the match in the fourth leg as he allowed West to stay alive at two-all.
 
A 180 gave Anderson the perfect start to the deciding leg, and he eventually closed out the win to set up a tasty last eight clash with great rival Taylor in a repeat of the classic 2015 final.

JAMIE LEWIS produced the performance of his career to knock out Peter Wright at the William Hill World Darts Championship on Wednesday, as Dutch rivals Michael van Gerwen and Raymond van Barneveld set up a mouth-watering quarter-final tie at Alexandra Palace.
 
Youngster Lewis had to come through the PDPA Qualifier just to make it to Alexandra Palace, but it was the Welshman who played like a top seed as he averaged an amazing 107 to beat number two seed Wright 4-1 in a dream display.
 
The 26-year-old hit an incredible 13 180s and tremendous outshots of 125, 123 and 121 helped him to an overall checkout ratio of 54 percent as he continued what could be a breakout performance.
 
Lewis averaged 120 for two sets as he hit a purple patch rarely seen on the big stage at the World Championship to leave Wright trailing, despite the 2014 finalist averaging 103 in reply.
 
"I still can't quite believe it to be honest," said Lewis, who plays James Richardson in Thursday's third round tie. "I expected to give him a good game, I didn't really expect to beat him.
 
"I've been playing well the last couple of weeks and I thought if I can keep playing like that then I'll give him a good game but to win - I'm obviously over the moon with it."
 
Richardson will also be playing in the last 16 for the first time after he overcame former quarter-finalist Alan Norris 4-1 in another solid showing.
 
Darren Webster continued his dominance over Simon Whitlock as he knocked the Australian out of the tournament for the third time in four years.
 
Webster beat Whitlock 4-0 last year and although Whitlock this time managed to get a set on the board, it was still a comprehensive 4-1 victory for the Demolition Man.
 
"I'm here to win this," said Webster. "I'm not here to make numbers up, whereas before I used to say I'm here to give them a game now I'm here to win it all.
 
"I think if I can win three more matches then I'll be the number one English dart player so that's two down, three to go!"
 
Webster will tackle Spaniard Toni Alcinas in the last 16 after he defeated young German Kevin Munch 4-1 for the biggest win of his career.
 
With the second round concluding at Alexandra Palace, the opening two third round ties saw a pair of victories for Dutch superstars, competing in front of a handful of players from their national football team's squad.
 
Raymond van Barneveld and Michael van Gerwen won their last 16 matches in contrasting styles as the 2007 champion eased beyond Vincent van der Voort 4-1 before the reigning champion was pushed all the way before beating Gerwyn Price 4-2.
 
Van der Voort had not dropped a set in the tournament before his match and started in style with a 156 checkout, but a set was all he could muster as Van Barneveld reeled off nine straight legs for victory.
 
"I didn't play my A-game and still averaged 101 so I'm pleased with that," said Van Barneveld. "A couple of times I gave away a few shots on doubles and he was there to punish me so I'm happy with the win of course.
 
"I was hitting tons but not too many 140s or 180s so I'm pleased with averaging 101. That's three matches and three 100 averages so I'm happy with that."
 
Van Gerwen, meanwhile, survived a huge scare against Price, with the Welshman coming from 2-0 down to level before missing four darts to go 3-2 in front as the the two-time World Champion capitalised.
 
Van Gerwen averaged just over 100, hit 12 180s and a maximum 170 checkout but only won the same amount of legs (13) as Price in what he deemed a below-par performance.
 
"I didn't play well today, simple," said Van Gerwen. "My game wasn't 100 percent and I made it tough for myself but all credit to him - he kept fighting he never gives up.
 
"I have to play better against Raymond. This was probably 85 percent of how I can play, I'm sure I can play better against Raymond."
 
Thursday's action sees the third round conclude with the remaining six matches split across two session at Alexandra Palace.
 
The afternoon session sees Alcinas face Webster before number five seed Mensur Suljovic takes on World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh and European Championship finalist Rob Cross plays John Henderson.
 
Lewis and Richardson open the evening session before 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor continues his final tournament before retirement as he takes on Keegan Brown, and two-time World Champion Gary Anderson plays Steve West.
 
William Hill World Darts Championship
Wednesday December 27
Afternoon Session
Second Round
Simon Whitlock 1-4 Darren Webster
Alan Norris 1-4 James Richardson
Kevin Munch 1-4 Toni Alcinas
 
Evening Session
Peter Wright 1-4 Jamie Lewis
Third Round
Vincent van der Voort 1-4 Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Gerwyn Price
 
Thursday December 28
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Toni Alcinas v Darren Webster
Mensur Suljovic v Dimitri Van den Bergh
John Henderson v Rob Cross
 
Evening Session (7pm)
Jamie Lewis v James Richardson
Phil Taylor v Keegan Brown
Gary Anderson v Steve West
 
Third Round - Best of seven sets
 
MATCH REPORTS
SECOND ROUND
Simon Whitlock 1-4 Darren Webster
(2-3, 1-3, 1-3, 3-0, 1-3)
DARREN WEBSTER continued his dominance over Simon Whitlock as he knocked the Australian out of the William Hill World Darts Championship for the third time in four years.
 
Webster beat Whitlock 4-0 last year and although Whitlock this time managed to get a set on the board, it was still a comprehensive victory for the Norwich thrower.
 
The bare stats don't quite tell the story of the match as Whitlock had a two-point higher average, hit two more 180s and had a higher checkout percentage than Webster, but the 2010 finalist was always playing catch-up.
 
Webster dominated the scoring by hitting 16 scores of 140+ compared to Whitlock's four, and that gave the Englishman a healthy advantage in most legs leading to him having 38 throws at double as opposed to Whitlock's 17.
 
On the occasions Whitlock got chances, he spurned them - such as in the second set after Webster took the opener on throw, Whitlock was broken in the third leg and then missed two doubles to go 2-0 down.
 
Whitlock missed crucial doubles to start and end the third set as Webster powered 3-0 in front, before the Australian star took the fourth set without reply to fire his challenge.
 
It was just delayed the inevitable though as Webster, with the throw, coasted to the fifth set to book his place in the last 16 after yet again claiming the scalp of Whitlock.
 
"I'm really pleased with myself it was the rematch and obviously he was after me," said Webster, who plays Toni Alcinas in the last 16.
 
"I've played 12 sets against the man and he's only won two and yet they keep making him the favourite - I love it!
 
"I think Simon was under more pressure than me as last two times I've played him I've won. I enjoyed it up there but there are still a lot of things for me to learn - I'm working on it.
 
"I think if I can win three more matches then I'll be the number one English dart player so that's two down, three to go!
 
"I'm here to win this, I'm not here to make numbers up. Whereas before I used to say I'm here to give them a game now I'm here to win it all."
 
Alan Norris 1-4 James Richardson
(1-3, 3-2, 2-3, 2-3, 2-3)
JAMES RICHARDSON reached the last 16 of the William Hill World Darts Championship for the first time in his career after a 4-1 victory over an inconsistent Alan Norris.
 
Both players mixed some great darts with some wayward finishing, resulting in both averaging 86 with similar checkout percentages, while Richardson hit seven 180s to five from Norris.
 
Richardson started off the brighter to take the opening set by hitting three of just six shots at a double, while Norris wasted eight double chances.
 
Former quarter-finalist Norris levelled by taking the second in the deciding fifth leg, and that was to be the theme as all the remaining sets went the distance.
 
The next two sets also followed identical patterns as Richardson produced his best stuff early on to go 2-0 in front before letting Norris back in to force deciding legs.
 
Norris was remarkably unlucky in the third set as two treble 20 darts fell out of the board to help Richardson take the decider, while a 104 outshot from Richardson saw him take the fourth set under his own steam.
 
Nerves frayed in the fifth set as Richardson and Norris both missed darts for the fourth leg before the Bo'ness man forced yet another deciding leg, but this time it was the qualifier who made no mistake.
 
"I've worked all year for that 4-1," said Richardson, who will take on Peter Wright or Jamie Lewis in the next round.
 
"That result is fantastic, especially in the second round of the World Championship - I've never got this far before so I'm over the moon."
 
Kevin Munch 1-4 Toni Alcinas
(2-3, 0-3, 3-2, 1-3, 1-3)
TONI ALCINAS grabbed the biggest win of his darting career as he beat Kevin Munch 4-1 to reach the last 16 of the William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
 
The 38-year-old Spaniard will now play Darren Webster for a place in the quarter-finals after dispatching young German star Munch in great style to follow up his win in round one over fellow countryman Cristo Reyes.
 
Munch hit the headlines by knocking out Adrian Lewis in round one, but Alcinas was on top from the start and he navigated a few nervy moments at the end of the match to see it through.
 
Alcinas sprung into action with an 11-dart leg in the opener to break the Munch throw, and a second 180 helped him to double his early advantage in the set.
 
The Spaniard then missed set darts as Munch brought it back to all square, but a 120 checkout in the decider deservedly gave Alcinas the set.
 
The standard was raised even higher in the second set as Alcinas took out 121 to start what would be a clean sweep for to double his advantage.
 
Alcinas hit a 12-darter in the third but showed some nerves for the first time as he missed seven doubles for an early break and Munch survived a deciding leg to get a set on the board.
 
Mallorca-based Alcinas recovered his composure to boss the fourth set and, although Munch took out 104 in the fifth set, Alcinas hit three 180s as he eventually sealed his place in the last 16.
 
"I'm really, really happy," said Alcinas. "This is my first time in the last 16 of the World Championship and I hope that tomorrow I can play the same.
 
"I'm enjoying this tournament and my finishing has been good. I didn't expect to get this far because my first game was against Cristo, who's a really good player.
 
"Today I played better. My doubles were really important - there are some players who are really good with the triples but the doubles win you games."
 
Alcinas - who owns a garage in Mallorca and gave himself time off to practice after defeating Cristo Reyes in the first round - had won back his PDC Tour Card in January, and
 
"At the start of the year I could never have dreamed of this," admitted Alcinas. "I've done well this year but there were 245 players, really good players, in the qualifier and it was not easy.
 
"I've played my best darts here. Now I'm practising more - after the game against Cristo I've been practising every day because I know that if I don't train, I don't win."
 
Peter Wright 1-4 Jamie Lewis
(3-2, 1-3, 2-3, 2-3, 2-3)
JAMIE LEWIS sprung another huge upset at the William Hill World Darts Championship as he knocked out number two seed Peter Wright 4-1 in the last game of the second round.
 
The 26-year-old Welshman had won through the PDPA Qualifier just to get to Alexandra Palace, but is now starting to deliver on his undoubted talent going by the darts he delivered the performance of his career on stage.
 
Wright played well himself, but Lewis averaged 107, hit an incredible 13 180s and landed checkouts of 125, 123 and 121 with an overall checkout ratio of 54 percent to stun the UK Open champion.
 
Wright picked up the opening set against the darts before hitting an 11-dart leg at the start of the second set in what seemed liked business as usual for the favourite.
 
However, Lewis embarked on a sparkling run as a trio of 12-darters, including 125 and 123 checkouts, saw him level the match as he averaged a frightening 119 for the set.
 
Lewis was hitting 180s for fun - ten in ten legs at one stage - and left Wright needing an 11-darter on a 121 outshot to break the throw in set three only for Lewis take the set's deciding leg to lead 2-1.
 
Yet another 11-darter followed for Lewis to start set four, but again Wright dug in to force a decider before the Welsh youngster again pulled out all the stops as he took out 121 with his rival left marooned on double eight.
 
The fifth set also went the distance and Wright was left cursing missing four set darts as Lewis roared back to take out 66 to claim a place in the last 16.
 
"I still can't quite believe it to be honest," said Lewis, who plays James Richardson on Thursday. "I expected to give him a good game, I didn't really expect to beat him.
 
"I've been playing well the last couple of weeks and I thought if I can keep playing like that then I'll give him a good game, but to win - I'm obviously over the moon with it.
 
"I've played better in practice and things like that but to play like that on the biggest stage in darts - I'm really chuffed.
 
"It's always been there, it's been myself not really believing in me. The last few weeks I've started to believe in myself a bit more and that's obviously working so hopefully I can keep it going."
 
THIRD ROUND
Vincent van der Voort 1-4 Raymond van Barneveld
(1-3, 3-2, 1-3, 0-3, 0-3)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD cruised into the quarter-finals of the William Hill World Darts Championship with a commanding 4-1 win over compatriot Vincent van der Voort.
 
Barney produced his third three-figure average in three wins at the tournament with 101.04 to go along with five 180s and checkouts of 161 and 112 in another fine performance.
 
The last 16 match threatened to be an exciting Dutch dust-up after Van der Voort had made it past Dave Chisnall and Steve Beaton without dropping a set, and he certainly started off well with a brilliant 156 checkout in the opener.
 
Van Barneveld rattled off the next three legs to take the lead, but Van der Voort hit two 90 finishes in set two to level the game.
 
Van der Voort pinched the first leg of the third set, but that was to be his last as Van Barneveld reeled off the next nine legs in a row, taking out finishes of 161, 112 and 96 along the way, to seal another impressive win.
 
"Vincent played awesome for the first two sets and I didn't play my A-game and still averaged 101, so I'm pleased with that," said Van Barneveld, who now takes on another Dutchman, reigning champion Michael van Gerwen.
 
"A couple of times I gave away a few shots on doubles and Vincent was there to punish me so I'm happy with the win of course.
 
"I was hitting tons but not too many 140s or 180s so I'm pleased with averaging 101, that's three matches and three 100 averages so I'm happy with that."
 
Michael van Gerwen 4-2 Gerwyn Price
(3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 0-3, 3-2, 3-1)
REIGNING William Hill World Darts Champion Michael van Gerwen was pushed all the way by Gerwyn Price before earning a 4-2 victory in another thrilling last 16 encounter at Alexandra Palace.
 
Welshman Price came from two sets down to level and could have gone 3-2 ahead but for missed doubles in set five allowing Van Gerwen to instead regain the lead before going on to victory.
 
Van Gerwen averaged just over 100, hit 12 180s and had a maximum 170 checkout, but only won the same amount of legs (13) as Price, who fought tooth and nail in every single set.
 
Van Gerwen started off in style with a 180 and an 82 finish to take the opening leg, but Price pushed him all the way to a decider in the set that the Dutchman edged.
 
A brace of 180s started off set two in even better fashion for Van Gerwen, who followed up with a 170 finish and another couple of 180s in the deciding to double his advantage.
 
Price hit back by taking the third set 3-1 and dominating a sparkling fourth to square an enthralling contest.
 
Legs of 13, 13 and 12 darts saw Price average 118 when taking the set 3-0 to make the match level and suddenly have Van Gerwen on the ropes.
 
Price looked on top in a crucial fifth set as he twice went ahead, but a missed tops helped Van Gerwen level before four further set darts missed the target in the decider and a relieved reigning champion took out 62 to wrestle back the lead.
 
The chance for the biggest upset of all was then gone, and Van Gerwen narrowed his focus in the final set to take it 3-1 to set up a huge showdown with Raymond van Barneveld.
 
"I didn't play well today," said Van Gerwen. "I had a 2-0 lead but from the beginning I wasn't feeling well, he had some chances even from the start and I wasn't playing my game.
 
"I don't know what was wrong, maybe my focus wasn't there. My game wasn't 100 percent but all credit to him - he kept fighting, he never gives up but I knew that before.
 
"That's what I like of his game, he never gives up, he plays his heart out and he shows his emotions.
 
"I made it tough for myself and I have to put that right for the next game. It's a big game for everyone when I play Raymond."
 
Price admitted that missing the chance to go 3-2 up was the turning point in the match, as his best World Championship run came to an end.
 
"I got it back to 2-2 and could have gone 3-2 up and that probably was the turning point," said Price. "Had I gone 3-2 up I felt confident I would have gone on to win the match.

"Fair play to Michael, he was probably the better player.. He's a champion, he dug in deep when the crowd was against him and he deserved to win in the end.
 
"I was happy to get through the first round and if I was to win this one I fancied going on to win the tournament - that's how I felt, this was my final tonight."

TAYLOR ENDS PIPE’S DREAMS AS CROSS SURVIVES SMITH THRILLER AT WILLIAM HILL WORLD DARTS CHAMPIONSHIP


PHIL TAYLOR continued his pursuit of a 17th William Hill World Darts Championship title with a commanding 4-0 victory over Justin Pipe, as Rob Cross won a thriller against Michael Smith on the final night of action before Christmas.


Taylor, 57, is playing in his 29th and final World Championship as he bids to end his career in style, and he certainly made no mistake against Pipe by winning 11 legs on the bounce to go through after seeing the Taunton man crucially miss two darts to win the opening set.


Taylor averaged 99, hit two 180s, took out 54 percent of his doubles and hit a ten-darter as he overcame a testing atmosphere inside Alexandra Palace to set up a last 16 meeting with Keegan Brown.


"I've had 30 years of experience and I've never played in a game like that in my career, it was very, very strange," said Taylor, referring to the reception Pipe received from the crowd following an incident in his first round win over Bernie Smith which has been referred to the Darts Regulation Authority.


"It was very difficult to concentrate, it was really hard, I just wanted to pinch that first set as I knew it'd be hard to concentrate for him with the crowd."


Taylor still insists he is happy to be walking away from darts after this tournament, but his competitive instincts mean he is desperate to go out on a high - and he'll spend one last Christmas preparing for a big push towards the title.


"Even though I'm really looking forward to finishing after this I still want to win it, but I'm not playing well enough to win it," Taylor added.


"I need to go home and get some rest in, it's all about rest for me now, getting my energy levels up to compete against these young lads like Michael and Gary. This is definitely the last time for me."


Former World Youth Champion Brown will get his dream tie against Taylor in the last 16 after he won a tough battle with Austrian Zoran Lerchbacher 4-2.


"I went a set up and thought about playing the winner of Phil Taylor or Justin Pipe, and I thought about that for the next four sets!" admitted the Isle of Wight thrower. "That's my fault and it wasn't my best performance.


"I'm very happy to get into the last 16 and words can't describe what it will be like to play Phil.


"I've read his autobiography about 20 million times over. As a kid all you saw was Phil Taylor, playing and winning."


Taylor's old sparring partner Raymond van Barneveld continued his fine form as he averaged 102.78 during his 4-1 win over Australia's Kyle Anderson to set up an all-Dutch showdown with Vincent van der Voort.


"The first two sets I was calm and I felt so comfortable up there," said Van Barneveld. "I'm really pleased, I'm really happy with my game."


Rising star Rob Cross proved he can handle the pressure of being amongst the tournament favourites in his debut this year as he won arguably the match of the tournament 4-3 against Michael Smith.


Smith averaged 103, hit 13 180s and won three more legs than Cross, who had 16 maximums and showcased the grit and determination he needed to go along with his obvious talent to show he is a real contender for the title.


"It was a good win for me but I will need to shape up because in certain sets there I wasn't brilliant throughout," said the Hastings ace.


"Going forward I need to be playing a more all-round game, and in every set I need to push. If I can do that then I've got every chance.


"Michael played fantastic darts and had two match darts, and I'm grateful that he missed. In the last set I gave it my all, and it was my day today."


Cross now faces John Henderson in the last 16, after the Scot took out well-fancied fourth seed and World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney with an impressive 4-2 victory.


"It was very nerve-wracking at the end I must admit," said Henderson. "I thought I let a lot of doubles slip early doors to take advantage but Daryl fought back.


"I'm so relieved to get the win as I was shaking! I was feeling the heat up there tonight so to get through that means everything to me."


Steve West is enjoying his best run in the tournament as he beat Jermaine Wattimena 4-1 to claim a huge last 16 tie against two-time winner Gary Anderson.


"I'm over the moon," said West. "It took me seven attempts to get through the first round and now I'm into the last 16."


The tournament now enjoys a three-day break for the Christmas period before resuming on Wednesday December 27.


The remaining second round ties see Simon Whitlock play Darren Webster, Alan Norris up against James Richardson, Kevin Munch playing Toni Alcinas and Peter Wright taking on Jamie Lewis.


The third round also begins on Wednesday, when reigning champion Michael van Gerwen plays Gerwyn Price and 2007 winner Van Barneveld meets Van der Voort.


William Hill World Darts Championship
Saturday December 23
Afternoon Session
Keegan Brown 4-2 Zoran Lerchbacher
Michael Smith 3-4 Rob Cross
Steve West 4-1 Jermaine Wattimena


Evening Session 
Daryl Gurney 2-4 John Henderson
Phil Taylor 4-0 Justin Pipe
Raymond van Barneveld 4-1 Kyle Anderson


Wednesday December 27
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Second Round
Simon Whitlock v Darren Webster
Alan Norris v James Richardson
Kevin Munch v Toni Alcinas


Evening Session (7pm)
Peter Wright v Jamie Lewis
Third Round
Vincent van der Voort v Raymond van Barneveld
Michael van Gerwen v Gerwyn Price


Thursday December 28
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Kevin Munch/Toni Alcinas v Simon Whitlock/Darren Webster
Mensur Suljovic v Dimitri Van den Bergh
John Henderson v Rob Cross


Evening Session (7pm)
Peter Wright/Jamie Lewis v Alan Norris/James Richardson
Phil Taylor v Keegan Brown
Gary Anderson v Steve West


Friday December 29
Quarter-Finals
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
2x Games


Evening Session (7pm)
2x Games


Saturday December 30 (7.30pm)
Semi-Finals


Monday January 1 (8pm)
Final


Keegan Brown 4-2 Zoran Lerchbacher
(3-1, 2-3, 3-2, 0-3, 3-2, 3-2)
KEEGAN BROWN booked his place in the last 16 of the William Hill World Darts Championship for the first time as he battled his way to a 4-2 win over Zoran Lerchbacher.


Brown put out James Wade in the first round, and although this display was not as spectacular as Sunday's triumph, the win over the Austrian was even more important.


A ding-dong battle saw neither man able to impose himself until the former World Youth Champion took two successive sets to break the deadlock and close out the win.


Brown took an edgy first set 3-1 before a run of 11 straight legs won on throw saw the pair exchange sets with a sprinkling of quality thrown in.


Lerchbacher hit a 180 then took out 80 to claim the second set in a decider, and the third was a carbon copy in Brown's favour as he hit a 180 and took out 82 in leg five.


Lerchbacher grabbed a break of throw on the way to a clean sweep in the fourth set to level the match up at 2-2.


Brown survived a couple of near misses from Lerchbacher to hold his throw in the fifth set, but he certainly won it in style, with a 13-darter putting him 3-2 up in the match.


Boosted by that finish, Brown stormed 2-0 up in the sixth only to seemingly stumble at the winning line as Lerchbacher levelled the set, before the Isle of Wight ace recovered to take out an excellent 108 for the match.


"I'm delighted," said Brown. "It was a battle and a half, but I went ahead and then started thinking about the prospect of playing Phil Taylor or Justin Pipe and then I found myself a two-two.


"I didn't want it to go to the last set, and the 108 was as sweet as a nut."


On the prospect of potentially playing 16-time World Champion Taylor in round two, Brown added: "Words can't describe it.


"I've read Phil's autobiography about 20 million times over as a kid all you saw was Phil Taylor, playing and winning. If Phil wins then he wins and I've got him, if not then I've got Justin Pipe - that's it."


Michael Smith 3-4 Rob Cross
(3-0, 2-3, 2-3, 3-0, 3-0, 2-3, 1-3)
ROB CROSS proved his William Hill World Darts Championship credentials in some style as he emerged with a thrilling 4-3 victory from an instant classic against Michael Smith.


Smith can count himself unlucky to be heading out of the tournament after averaging 103, hitting 13 maximums and winning 16 legs in a performance that would have won many a second rounder.


Cross actually won three fewer legs than Smith, taking the bare minimum of 12 needed for victory as he couldn't match Smith's hot streaks as he lost three sets 3-0.


However, Cross showed that he has the determination to match his obvious ability as he dug deep and hit the bulk of his 16 180s in the crucial closing stages to punish two missed match darts from the St Helens man.


Cross was the favourite for the match after winning four events on a sparkling year on the circuit, but if there were any doubts about him being able to go all the way on his World Championship debut they will have been silenced after such a performance.


Smith rattled off the opening set 3-0 in the blink of an eye and it took Cross five legs to get his name on the board - but he did it in style with a 164 helping power him to the set.


Smith was banging in the 180s as he went 2-0 up in the third set, but Cross dug in wonderfully and reeled off three on the spin in 13, 14 and 13 darts to move ahead.


The response from Smith was magical with six straight legs then putting him back in front - with the fifth set particularly impressive as Smith won it in just 36 total darts for a 125 set average.


Nobody would have blamed Cross for buckling under such a barrage of big scoring, but he came again to win a nervy sixth set in five legs after Smith had missed two darts for the match.


Any doubts about Cross' credentials were silenced in a spellbinding final set as he produced some scintillating darts, landing six 180s which included four in the last two legs as he powered to the winning line.


"It was weird, from my own performance I felt a bit up then a bit down," said Cross. "I didn't settle as well as I wanted to, but at the same time I went into that seventh set feeling good.


"A week ago I was having this conversation and saying every time anyone has match darts against me they go in, but this time it fell my way. I believe everybody needs a bit of luck here and there."


Cross says he was not entirely happy with his overall game and knows he'll need to improve to push the likes of Michael van Gerwen, but is not shying away from the fact that he can be a title contender if he can be more consistent.


"You just get to a standard now and you just keep playing like that," added the Hastings ace. "I will need to shape up because in certain sets there I wasn't brilliant throughout.


"Going forward I need to be playing a more all-round game, and in every set I need to push and if I can do that then I've got every chance."


Steve West 4-1 Jermaine Wattimena
(3-3, 3-1, 3-0, 0-3, 3-0)
STEVE WEST had not won a World Championship match of any description before this tournament, but has now bagged two victories after defeating Jermaine Wattimena 4-1 to move into the last 16 at Alexandra Palace.


Wattimena started off brightly and was in total command of the first set before missing six darts to claim the lead, and the Dutchman never fully recovered from that.


West needed just an 87.92 average and four 180s to see off his opponent, but now faces a hugely tougher task as he booked a third round tie with Gary Anderson after the Christmas break.


A strange opening set saw Wattimena coast into a 2-0 lead but then miss six darts to claim the set as West took three legs on the spin to move in front.


Wattimena looked to have instantly recovered as he took out 106 at the start of the second set, but West responded immediately with a 180 and a brilliant 160 checkout.


That gave the Essex man a huge boost and he ran away with the next six legs, with a 134 outshot the highlight, to take command at 3-0 up having won nine of the last ten legs.


Wattimena pulled a set back by taking the fourth without reply, but it was just a temporary reprieve as West won the last set with ease to set up his date with Anderson in the last 16.


"I'm over the moon," said West. "It took me seven attempts to get through the first round and now I'm into the last 16.


"Jermaine scored well but he didn't really take his chances, and I punished that. I wasn't great and I wasn't comfortable up there, but I'll take that.


"My first dart wasn't going in as I wanted and I don't know why, but I'll make sure it's better next time."


Daryl Gurney 2-4 John Henderson
(2-3, 2-3, 3-1, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3)
JOHN HENDERSON enjoyed arguably the biggest win of his career as he knocked fourth seed Daryl Gurney out of the William Hill World Darts Championship with a 4-2 second round success.


Henderson is the last man to beat Michael van Gerwen after downing the defending World Champion in the World Grand Prix in October - an event Gurney went on to win after putting out the Scot.


Henderson gained revenge for that loss in Dublin with an impressive victory in a match he always seemed to have the upper hand in, despite allowing Gurney back in with some wayward doubling.


Gurney had darts to win both the opening two sets but Henderson was scoring and finishing well and took the deciding leg in both for a 2-0 lead.


Missed doubles started to creep into Henderson's game as he wasted five in one leg to hand Gurney the third before the Northern Irish ace produced his best darts with an 11-darter on his way to set four.


Back at two-all, the Scot recovered and pressed ahead in the fifth set as Gurney suffered a bounce out on double 16, and from there it was all Henderson as he booked his place in the last 16.


"It was very nerve-wracking at the end I must admit," said Henderson, who faces in-form Rob Cross next. "I thought I let a lot of doubles slip early doors to take advantage but Daryl fought back.


"I'm so relieved to get the win as I was shaking! I was feeling the heat up there tonight so to get through that means everything to me.


"I thought I upped my game in the scoring sense but my finishing was dreadful tonight. Daryl must be distraught as I know he can play a hell of a lot better the way he's been playing lately.


"It's the first time I've ever made it after Christmas as well so I can go home and enjoy Christmas. I'm over the moon."


Phil Taylor 4-0 Justin Pipe
(3-2, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0)
PHIL TAYLOR continued his pursuit of a dream ending to his incredible career with a commanding 4-0 victory over Justin Pipe in their William Hill World Darts Championship second round tie.


The 16-time World Champion, who will retire following the tournament, came through a nervy first set to pull clear for the win.


Pipe defied the reception which he received from the crowd - following an incident in his first round win over Bernie Smith which has been referred to the Darts Regulation Authority - to lead in the first set, but crucially missed two darts to claim the opener.


Taylor stepped in and never looked back, winning the next 11 legs on the spin to stride away to victory, averaging 99 and hitting two 180s.


The 57-year-old also took out 54 percent of his doubles with checkouts of 68, 71, 96 and 119 seeing him pull well clear of Pipe, who landed just two of 16 attempts at a double.


Taylor also hit a ten-darter during a second set in which he averaged 115, and now goes on to meet Keegan Brown in the last 16 after the Christmas break.


"I've had 30 years of experience and I've never played in a game like that in my career, it was very, very strange," said Taylor.


"It was very difficult to concentrate, it was really hard. I just wanted to pinch that first set as I knew it'd be hard to concentrate for him with the crowd."


Taylor still insists he is happy to be walking away from darts after this tournament, but his competitive instincts mean he is desperate to go out on a high - and he'll spend one last Christmas preparing for a big push towards the title.


"Even though I'm really looking forward to finishing after this I still want to win it, but I'm not playing well enough to win it," Taylor added.


"I need to go home and get some rest in, it's all about rest for me now, getting my energy levels up to compete against these young lads like Michael and Gary. This is definitely the last time for me."


Raymond van Barneveld 4-1 Kyle Anderson
(3-0, 3-2, 0-3, 3-1, 3-0)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD'S impressive start to the William Hill World Darts Championship continued as he defeated Kyle Anderson 4-1 to set up a last 16 showdown with fellow Dutchman Vincent van der Voort at Alexandra Palace.


The five-time World Champion averaged 102.78 and hit seven 180s to follow up his first round defeat of Richard North with another strong performance.


Anderson showed flashes of his top form but it was only enough to get him a set on the board as Van Barneveld pulled clear in the later stages.


Van Barneveld started superbly with a sublime first set which contained just 37 darts in total as he hit four 180s and an 11-darter for a 121 set average.


Anderson hit back strongly in the second was denied by a 3-2 scoreline as the five-time World Champion doubled his lead, but there was no stopping the Australian in the next as he hit a 13-darter and took out a 114 outshot to claim hit back 3-0.


A fourth leg in a row for Anderson threatened a big comeback, but Van Barneveld found top gear again and quickly rattled off six legs on the spin to not only take the fourth set but walk the fifth to progress.


"In the first two sets I was calm and I felt so comfortable up there," said Van Barneveld. "I lost focus a bit, and Kyle was hitting 180s in the second set.


"I'm really pleased, I'm really happy with my game."


Van Barneveld is now looking forward to facing compatriot and good friend Van der Voort, who has not dropped a set yet in this year's event.


"Me and Vincent go back for many, many years we've teamed up for the national team - he's a very good friend," he added.


"But to be fair only one can go through, friends or no friends in the end we'll decide on the 27th who's the best on the day."

MICHAEL VAN GERWEN produced a William Hill World Darts Championship whitewash of James Wilson on Friday night as Paul Lim missed double 12 for a sensational nine-dart finish during his defeat to Gary Anderson.
 
Reigning champion Van Gerwen was in imperious form as he stormed past Wilson by winning 12 straight legs - only to be almost overshadowed by veteran star Lim.
 
Lim had landed the first World Championship nine-darter in the 1990 event, and almost 28 years on the Singapore ace came within a whisker of repeating the feat on the Alexandra Palace stage.
 
Anderson celebrated his 47th birthday with a 4-1 victory despite not finding his best form, but Lim got all the plaudits as he was one double 12 away from hitting a nine-darter.
 
To make matters worse, Lim actually lost that leg - as he did the first seven legs of the match before getting on the board with a brilliant ten-darter - but all talk afterwards was of the 63-year-old coming so close to making more history.
 
"Paul Lim is an absolute gentleman and still a classy, classy dart player," said Anderson. "If Paul had got the nine-darter it would have been the best Christmas present ever.
 
"For Paul to come from the BDO hitting the nine-darter to doing it on this stage would've been brilliant. I thought it was in and when he hit the trebles, I thought he's going to hit this.
 
"I could have stayed up there all night playing Paul Lim at darts. It was very hard for me tonight because I was playing one of my heroes - I was like a kid in a candy shop."
 
Lim, who had defeated Kai Fan Leung and Mark Webster to reach round two, added: "I tell you what I can't breathe. I'm going to have nightmares tonight I'll tell you that, but I've had a fantastic week."
 
Van Gerwen produced the display of the tournament so far as he sent out a message out that he is the man to beat yet again with his 4-0 whitewash of James Wilson.
 
The defending champion showed why he is again the tournament favourite with a relentless display that resulted in a whopping 108.65 average - the eighth highest in tournament history.
 
"I think I did everything right at the right moments, hitting 140 or a 180," said Van Gerwen. "It's all about not making mistakes and I've not been making them for some time now, hopefully I can play like that for the rest of the tournament.
 
"I'm going to have a happy Christmas now and prepare myself for the last 16 - I feel good."
 
Welshman Gerwyn Price has the unenviable task of taking on Van Gerwen next after he produced a fine display of his own to beat Ian White 4-1 to make the last 16 for the first time.
 
"I've been bombed out in the first round for the last three years and put myself under pressure for the first round but I got through that," said Price.
 
"I didn't play so well today but it was just about getting through the game and I did that."
 
Mensur Suljovic had to dig deep to see-off Robert Thornton 4-2, with the fifth seed having to come from behind twice and win the last three sets all by a deciding fifth leg.
 
World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh will play Suljovic in the last 16 after he came through his match with Jan Dekker with a 4-2 victory.
 
"I'll take that win," said Van den Bergh. "It's a fantastic win because I know me and him played against a seeded player in the first round so anything could happen.
 
"I need to keep calm but I've got to be honest it was harder than I thought it was, it was very hard."
 
Vincent van der Voort continued his red-hot start as he defeated Steve Beaton 4-0 to progress to the last 16 without dropping a set.
 
Former Lakeside Champion Beaton could manage just five legs in the match as Van der Voort recorded his best-ever average in the tournament of 101.17, coupled with seven 180s.
 
"It's a really good win - I put Steve under pressure from start to finish so I'm a happy man," said Van der Voort.
 
"I think I calmed down after two sets. I was at my best but it's hard to keep that level up, I knew I was in good shape but I just had to keep it going."
 
The second round continues on Saturday with a double session on the final day of action before the Christmas break.
 
Former World Youth Champions Keegan Brown and Michael Smith take on Austria's Zoran Lerchbacher and 20th seed Rob Cross respectively, while Steve West and Jermaine Wattimena also face off in the afternoon session.
 
World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney plays John Henderson to open up the evening session, before 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor meets Justin Pipe and five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld takes on Kyle Anderson.
 
William Hill World Darts Championship
Preliminary & First Rounds
Second Round
Friday December 22
Afternoon Session
Gerwyn Price 4-1 Ian White
Vincent van der Voort 4-0 Steve Beaton
Jan Dekker 2-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
 
Evening Session
Mensur Suljovic 4-2 Robert Thornton
Gary Anderson 4-1 Paul Lim
Michael van Gerwen 4-0 James Wilson
 
Saturday December 23
Afternoon Session (1pm)
Keegan Brown v Zoran Lerchbacher
Michael Smith v Rob Cross
Steve West v Jermaine Wattimena
 
Evening Session (7pm)
Daryl Gurney v John Henderson
Phil Taylor v Justin Pipe
Raymond van Barneveld v Kyle Anderson
 
Second Round - Best of seven sets
 
Gerwyn Price 4-1 Ian White
(3-2, 3-2, 1-3, 3-1, 3-1)
GERWYN PRICE reached the last 16 of the William Hill World Darts Championship for the first time with an authoritative 4-1 victory over Ian White on Friday afternoon.
 
The Welshman had never won past the first round at Alexandra Palace before this year, but was by far the more consistent player as he averaged 96.93 and hit seven 180s.
 
White showed flashes of form but missed doubles at crucial times, and Price was on hand on almost every occasion to capitalise and become the first man to make it into the last 16.
 
Price settled immediately with a 102 checkout ending a 15-darter, despite a bounce out causing him to throw just 23 points with his first visit of the tie.
 
Checkouts of 71 and 114 gave Price the set, and he doubled his lead despite White checking out 151 in the second set, with the Welshman again taking the crucial fifth leg.
 
Price hit six perfect darts during the third set, but lost that leg and then the set as White hit back, but it was only a temporary reprieve as the Welshman took the fourth 3-1 to regain his cushion.
 
The fifth went a similar way as White did manage a 13-darter, but Price took out 86 and 97 to deservedly take his place in the third round against either hot favourite Michael van Gerwen or James Wilson.
 
"I thought I started off pretty slowly and Ian came out of the blocks flying," said Price. "In the first set I just had to dig in, my aim was to win the first set and I did that.
 
"I played a little bit better in the second set, and put more pressure on him and I was comfortable after two sets.
 
"I thought my scoring was average, not as good as my last game, but my checking out was better so that helps.
 
"The maximums are good but it's the scores in between you've got to keep consistent. It's pointless hitting a 180 and then 41, you've got to back it up."
 
After failing to progress beyond round one previously, Price says the pressure is now off him, and joked about his preferred opponent with defending champion Van Gerwen possibly lying in wait.
 
"I've been bombed out in the first round for the last three years and put myself under pressure for the first round," added Price.
 
"But I got through that, I didn't play so well today but it was just getting through the game and I did that. 
 
"All the pressure was off me in this game as I'd never got through my first game here so, now I just hope Michael loses!"
 
Vincent van der Voort 4-0 Steve Beaton
(3-0, 3-1, 3-2, 3-2)
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT has still not dropped a set in this year's William Hill World Championship after romping to a 4-0 win over Steve Beaton in the second round.
 
The rapid-fire Dutchman banked his best-ever average in the tournament with 101.17, coupled with seven 180s, proving far too heavy for Beaton to handle.
 
Former Lakeside Champion Beaton could manage just five legs in the match as he struggled with his finishing, missing 12 darts at a double throughout the contest.
 
A 12-darter in the opening leg with a 129 checkout set the tone for Van der Voort, who has arrived at Alexandra Palace in phenomenal form after finally finding a solution to his career-threatening back problems.
 
The big scores and quality checkouts continued as he dropped just one leg in taking the first two sets, and even when Beaton started a leg with six perfect darts, Van der Voort hit back-to-back 180s himself and then stepped in for a 12-darter.
 
Beaton was more competitive in the final two sets when forcing each one to a decider, but each time Van der Voort upped his game to power through to the last 16 in some style.
 
"After the first match I thought I was in good shape but you need to continue - if the next match is 74 average it doesn't count for anything," said Van der Voort.
 
"It's a really good win - I put Steve under pressure from start to finish so I'm a happy man.
 
"I think I calmed down after two sets, I was at my best but it's hard to keep that level up. I knew I was in good shape but I just had to keep it going.
 
"On this stage it's probably the best I've ever played."
 
Jan Dekker 2-4 Dimitri Van den Bergh
(0-3, 3-1, 1-3, 1-3, 3-1, 0-3)
DIMITRI VAN DEN BERGH continued his great William Hill World Darts Championship run as he defeated Jan Dekker 4-2 to make the last 16 of the tournament.
 
World Youth Champion Van den Bergh enjoyed a landmark win over Stephen Bunting in the first round but as fluid as that was, this win over Dekker showed that the youngster can also grind out a victory.
 
Dekker actually averaged three points more than his opponent but the usually reliable double hitter encountered some trouble finding the outer ring on this occasion, while Van den Bergh flourished.
 
The Belgian also hit six 180s to Dekker's one and took out three-figure checkouts of 108 and 126 in a crucial third set.
 
Van den Bergh built on that lead by taking the fourth relatively easily, but he could not complete the win as Dekker pulled out a break of throw followed by a 74 finish to extend the match by claiming set five.
 
Van den Bergh had been the better player though, and ended the match how he started it by racing through the set 3-0 to book a last 16 date with Mensur Suljovic or Robert Thornton.
 
"This is fantastic," said the Belgian. "It's the first time ever in my career I've got this far so honestly it's amazing.
 
"I'll take that win. It's a fantastic win because anything could happen and I'm so happy that I'm the winner of that game.
 
"I need to keep calm but I've got to be honest; it was harder than I thought it was, it was very hard.
 
"I don't mind who I play next. It's my game, my focus, my rhythm every game and every round. All of a sudden my game up on the stage can be as good as it is on the floor."
 
Mensur Suljovic 4-2 Robert Thornton
(1-3, 3-0, 1-3, 3-2, 3-2, 3-2)
MENSUR SULJOVIC had to dig deep to see-off Robert Thornton 4-2 in their second round encounter at the William Hill World Darts Championship.
 
The fifth seed had to come from behind twice and won the last three sets all by a deciding fifth leg as he showed tremendous fighting qualities and pressure finishing power.
 
Thornton averaged three points more and had five 180s to Suljovic's one but these games are decided by fine margins and on the pressure finishes the Austrian just had the edge.
 
The Scot cleaned up the first set handily with tops doing the damage on all three finishes, including a 111 outshot as the highlight.
 
The response from Suljovic was emphatic with a 116 checkout for an early break and a 13-darter as he took set two by a 3-0 scoreline, only for Thornton to respond again to push ahead 2-1 in sets.
 
From then on the match really tightened up with each set going the distance - Suljovic struck firstly by hitting legs of 14 and 13 darts in consecutive legs to lead 2-1 in the fourth as he levelled.
 
Thornton missed three darts for the crucial fifth set, and repeated the mistake in the sixth - narrowly missing the bull on what would have been a defiant 121 finish.
 
Instead, Suljovic stepped up and took out the very same 121 on the middle double to move through to a last 16 tie with World Youth Champion Dimitri Van den Bergh.
 
"It's a perfect feeling," said Suljovic. "It was a very hard game.
 
"Robert played well, every time he missed he came back stronger - it was a hard game.
 
"I'm happy to go through. In the first round I was very nervous but in the second round I was feeling good so everything is OK. This crowd is brilliant here."
 
Gary Anderson v Paul Lim
(3-0, 3-0, 1-3, 3-0, 3-2)
GARY ANDERSON'S comfortable 4-1 second round win at the William Hill World Darts Championship over Paul Lim was almost overshadowed as the 63-year-old came within a whisker of hitting another nine-darter.
 
Anderson was not in his best form but still averaged almost 98 and hit four 180s, but Lim hit six maximums and came so close to adding to his historic first ever World Championship nine-darter back in 1990.
 
A dart falling just a hair's breadth inside the double 12 was all that stopped Lim from achieving a unique slice of history - 28 years after doing the same thing with his original nine-darter.
 
To make matters worse Lim actually lost that leg - as he did the first seven legs of the match - before getting on the board with a brilliant ten-darter as he pulled a set back by taking the third 3-1.
 
Two-time World Champion Anderson was always comfortable in front though, and took the fourth 3-0 before completing the victory to book a last 16 date with Steve West or Jermaine Wattimena.
 
Even Anderson - who was celebrating his 47th birthday - admitted after the match that Lim's performance deserved more credit than his own, admitting that he, like a capacity Alexandra Palace crowd, was willing in that nine-darter.
 
"Paul Lim is an absolute gentleman and still a classy, classy dart player," said Anderson. "If Paul had got the nine-darter it would have been the best Christmas present ever.
 
"For Paul to come from the BDO hitting the nine-darter to doing it on this stage would've been brilliant. I thought it was in and when he hit the trebles, I thought he's going to hit this.
 
"I could have stayed up there all night playing Paul Lim at darts. It was very hard for me tonight because I was playing one of my heroes - I was like a kid in a candy shop."
 
Lim - who defeated Kai Fan Leung and Mark Webster to reach round two - shows no signs of calling it a day and says he has a renewed desire to continue returning to the World Darts Championship.
 
"I can't breathe!" Lim said about his nine-darter. "I'm going to have nightmares tonight!
 
"Me and Gary were talking about a nine-darter in the players' room earlier on and I just wanted to do it because you can't do it all the time, it's a just a possibility of doing it.
 
"I'm enjoying myself a lot more and I'm honoured to have played Gary tonight, I just love this stage. I've had a fantastic week."
 
Michael van Gerwen 4-0 James Wilson
(3-0, 3-0, 3-0, 3-0)
MICHAEL VAN GERWEN looked in ominous form as he won every single leg to whitewash James Wilson 4-0 in their second round match at the William Hill World Darts Championship.
 
The defending champion showed why he is again the tournament favourite with a relentless display that resulted in a whopping 108.65 average - the eighth highest in tournament history.
 
Wilson did not play too badly with a 96 average, but that came as a result of him having just four darts at a double in the game.
 
Van Gerwen was unstoppable though, taking out shots of 164 and 142 along the way to winning all 12 legs played as he sent out a big message that he is again the man to beat.
 
"I started off really well," said Van Gerwen. "I had some fantastic finishing and some high scoring.
 
"James played really well at certain points as well but you've got to keep performing and you're not allowed to make any mistakes and I'm glad I didn't.
 
"At one point I saw my average was 111 and I wanted to keep it above 110, but the game at 3-0 was already won. What more can I ask of myself?
 
"I'm going to have a happy Christmas now and prepare myself for the last 16 - I feel good."
 
Van Gerwen says that although he was not totally aiming for the whitewash, he focuses on winning every single leg that he plays in regardless of the scoreline.
 
"You're here to win, here to win your leg, your game, your set, the tournament," he added. "The only thing that should be in your mind should be to win, it doesn't matter what you have to do for it.
 
"I think I did everything right at the right moments, hitting  140 or a 180 - it's all about not making mistakes and I've not been making them for some time now, hopefully I can play like that for the rest of the tournament."
 
ENDS

PETER WRIGHT overcame his recent illness as well as a spirited display from Brazilian Diogo Portela to get through the first round of the William Hill World Darts Championship.
 
Wright was briefly hospitalised with gallstones at the end of November and has spent much of the past three weeks recuperating at home in Suffolk, and although he has yet to return to full health averaged 98.59 in a 3-1 win.
 
Portela was making history as the first Brazilian to appear in the World Championship, and he did South American darts proud as he took a set and at times troubled the world number two.
 
With 125 places between them in the world rankings though, Wright eventually proved too strong for Portela as he booked a date with Jamie Lewis in the second round after the Christmas break.
 
"I suppose I was sweating up on the stage so I think I'm still not well to be honest," said Wright, who was full of praise for his opponent, after previously meeting Portela whilst filming the "180" game show in 2016.
 
"I played with this man on a TV show a little while back and he said to me afterwards that he was going to Q School, and look where he is now, he's playing the World Championship - how amazing is he."
 
An emotional Portela - who moved from Rio to London to pursue his darting dream - was delighted with his efforts as he reflected on his achievement.
 
"It was a dream come true," said Portela. "I didn't play my best. I was nervous at first then I relaxed a little bit in the second set but I went off the boil in the last set, couldn't find the range.
 
"This experience for me though just proves that I can mix it with the best. If I can get a set off the number two in the world I can do a lot on the tour.
 
"So it just keeps me motivated to come back here next year and next target is the Premier League!"
 
James Richardson returned to the World Championship stage to produce another upset as he made short work of 18th seed Kim Huybrechts in a one-sided 3-0 victory.
 
It was sweet revenge for Richardson, who was beaten 4-1 by Huybrechts in the 2012 event after knocking out Raymond van Barneveld on his debut - but reversed the roles with a dominant display against the Belgian.
 
"It's been five years since I've been on this stage," said Richardson. "It's been five years of hard graft to get back here and I've done it.
 
"I was very focused, I knew what I had to do. I'm here to win - Kim's brilliant but I had to beat him and I did it. It's 1-1 on the stage with Kim now."
 
Darren Webster was almost caught out by Devon Petersen but managed to avoid yet another shock in this year's tournament as he emerged with a 3-2 first round win against the South African.
 
"The first two legs I was cool as a cucumber, but the second two legs I was rough as a radish," said Webster.
 
"I've got a new thing where I'm just focusing on the next three darts, I don't care who I'm playing, I don't care who's in the tournament, all it's about is me controlling my darts.
 
"There's more to come this time, I'm feeling pretty good."
 
Toni Alcinas won the battle of Spain as the man from Mallorca defeat his World Cup team-mate, Tenerife's Cristo Reyes 3-1 to book a second round tie against German Kevin Munch.
 
The second round begins on Friday with a double session of action at Alexandra Palace, opening with Gerwyn Price up against Ian White, Vincent van der Voort taking on Steve Beaton and Jan Dekker facing Dimitri Van den Bergh in the afternoon session.
 
A big-name evening session sees Mensur Suljovic play Robert Thornton, Gary Anderson up against Paul Lim and Michael van Gerwen facing James Wilson.
 
William Hill World Darts Championship
Preliminary & First Rounds
Thursday December 21
Cristo Reyes 1-3 Toni Alcinas
Kim Huybrechts 0-3 James Richardson
Darren Webster 3-2 Devon Petersen
Peter Wright 3-1 Diogo Portela
 
Second Round
Friday December 22
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Gerwyn Price v Ian White
Vincent van der Voort v Steve Beaton
Jan Dekker v Dimitri Van den Bergh
 
Evening Session (7pm)
Mensur Suljovic v Robert Thornton
Gary Anderson v Paul Lim
Michael van Gerwen v James Wilson
 
Saturday December 23
Afternoon Session (1pm)
Keegan Brown v Zoran Lerchbacher
Michael Smith v Rob Cross
Steve West v Jermaine Wattimena
 
Evening Session (7pm)
Daryl Gurney v John Henderson
Phil Taylor v Justin Pipe
Raymond van Barneveld v Kyle Anderson
 
Wednesday December 27
Afternoon Session (12.30pm)
Simon Whitlock v Darren Webster
Alan Norris v James Richardson
Kevin Munch v Toni Alcinas
 
Evening Session (7pm)
Wright/Portela v Jamie Lewis
 
Second Round - Best of seven sets
 
Match Reports
Cristo Reyes 1-3 Toni Alcinas
(1-3, 1-3, 3-2, 2-3)
TONI ALCINAS won the all-Spanish first round tie with compatriot Cristo Reyes 3-1 to reach the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship for the first time.
 
The two great friends are World Cup team-mates and have battled against the rest of the world for the past three years, but this time had to face each other for a last 32 spot.
 
Mallorca came out on top against Tenerife, with Alcinas averaging only marginally more than Reyes and only hitting one maximum to his opponent's three, but more consistent scoring and better finishing won the day.
 
Reyes, the 26th seed, took the first leg in both of the first two sets, but lost the next three each time to fall 2-0 behind, with an 11-darter from Alcinas being the highlight.
 
Reyes took out 118 either side of some questionable finishing as he managed to claw a set back, with both men missing chances, and in the next he showed off some skills with two tops seeing off an 80 as the set went the distance.
 
Reyes had difficulty finding a treble in the decider though, and Alcinas had enough breathing space to take five darts to hit the winning double.
 
"I am happy with the win only 50 percent, the other 50 percent I'm unhappy because I've beaten my friend," said Alcinas, who takes on Kevin Munch in round two.
 
"Cristo's a really good friend and every weekend when I play the ProTour we stay together. I am happy but I'm also not happy."
 
Kim Huybrechts 0-3 James Richardson
(1-3, 1-3, 0-3)
JAMES RICHARDSON was a man on a mission as he made short work of 18th see Kim Huybrechts in a one-sided 3-0 upset at the William Hill World Darts Championship.
 
The Rushden ace returned to Alexandra Palace stage after a five-years absence, and came back with a bang as he avenged a 4-1 defeat which the Belgian inflicted in the 2012 tournament.
 
A 97.93 average and four 180s was enough to Richardson to be totally dominant in the match, dropping just two legs to an out-of-sorts Huybrechts.
 
After Richardson opened up with a 13-darter he never let his foot off the gas throughout the contest, hitting timely 180s and pressure checkouts in a complete performance, mirroring his debut win over Raymond van Barneveld six years ago.
 
"It feels absolutely brilliant," said Richardson. "It's been five years since I've been on this stage - it's been five years of hard graft to get back here and I've done it.
 
"Kim is a fantastic player. I was very focused, I knew what I had to do. I'm here to win, Kim's brilliant but I had to beat him and I did it - it's 1-1 on the stage with Kim now."
 
Darren Webster 3-2 Devon Petersen
(3-1, 3-1, 2-3, 0-3, 3-0)
DARREN WEBSTER was almost caught out by Devon Petersen but managed to avoid yet another shock in this William Hill World Darts Championship as he emerged with a 3-2 first round win.
 
The Norwich thrower was coasting along nicely at 2-0 in sets before he almost self-destructed as South African Petersen suddenly came alive to level by claiming back-to-back sets.
 
The remarkable Petersen comeback just ran out of steam in the fifth and deciding set though, with Webster able to gather himself to claim three straight legs to progress.
 
Consistent scoring and occasional big finishes, highlighted by a superb 160, were the cornerstones of 23rd seed Webster building a healthy lead.
 
Out of nowhere, Petersen hit form with two 140s in the first then two 180s in the second leg of the third set putting him right back in the contest.
 
Webster levelled it up but when he missed two match darts for a 3-0 win and allowed Petersen to reduce the deficit, you sensed another big comeback was on the cards.
 
Petersen then took the fourth set 3-0 to take another first round tie all the way, but a 180 at the start of the decider and a 66 finish settled Webster, and he ran away to victory as he set up a second round clash with Simon Whitlock.
 
"The first two legs I was cool as a cucumber, but the second two legs I was rough as a radish," said Webster.
 
"I've got a new thing where I'm just focusing on the next three darts, I don't care who I'm playing, I don't care who's in the tournament, all it's about is me controlling my darts.
 
"I think the problem there was I was too relaxed, when I went 2-0 up I should have given it a few big ones and celebrated a bit. There's more to come this time, I'm feeling pretty good."
 
Peter Wright 3-1 Diogo Portela
(3-1, 2-3, 3-1, 3-0)
PETER WRIGHT overcame his recent illness as well as a spirited display from Brazilian Diogo Portela to get through the first round of the William Hill World Darts Championship.
 
Wright was briefly hospitalised with gallstones at the end of November and has spent much of the past three weeks recuperating at home in Suffolk, and although he has yet to return to full health averaged 98.59 in a 3-1 win.
 
Portela was making history as the first Brazilian to appear in the World Championship, and he did South American darts proud as he took a set and at times troubled the world number two.
 
With 125 places between them in the world rankings though, Wright eventually proved too strong for Portela as he booked a date with Jamie Lewis in the second round after the Christmas break.
 
Portela kicked off the game with an 80 finish to win the leg against the darts, but Wright responded to quieten the Brazilian with three straight legs, including a 101 outshot.
 
Wright moved ahead in the second set but the South American Qualifier found some great form - hitting a 180 and 99 finish then a 52 checkout to take the set with just under a 100 average.
 
Portela had a 14-darter in the third set but Wright was too powerful and took it 3-1, and after that the Scot pulled away in the final set to make the second round.
 
"I suppose I was sweating up on the stage so I think I'm still not well to be honest," said Wright, who was full of praise for his opponent, after previously meeting Portela whilst filming the "180" game show in 2016.
 
"I played with this man on a TV show a little while back and he said to me afterwards that he was going to Q School, and look where he is now, he's playing the World Championship - how amazing is he."
 
An emotional Portela - who moved from Rio to London to pursue his darting dream - was delighted with his efforts as he reflected on his achievement.
 
"It was a dream come true," said Portela. "I didn't play my best. I was nervous at first then I relaxed a little bit in the second set but I went off the boil in the last set, couldn't find the range.
 
"This experience for me though just proves that I can mix it with the best. If I can get a set off the number two in the world I can do a lot on the tour.
 
"So it just keeps me motivated to come back here next year and next target is the Premier League!"

JUSTIN PIPE had to dig deep to avoid being another big-name casualty at the William Hill World Darts Championship as he overcame qualifier Bernie Smith 4-2 in a deciding set on Wednesday night.
 
International qualifiers Paul Lim and Kevin Munch have both followed up preliminary round wins by knocking out seeded stars in the first round, and New Zealand's Smith was aiming to follow that lead.
 
The plasterer from Christchurch had defeated China's Xiao Chen Zong in straight sets earlier in the night, and battled from two sets down to level against Pipe.
 
Smith then missed two match darts in the deciding set as Pipe forced a tie-break before rescuing his own chances in the tournament as three successive legs moved him into the last 32 against retiring legend Phil Taylor.
 
"I'm over the moon, honestly," said Pipe. "At two sets up I was cruising and thinking about playing Phil Taylor in his last ever World Championship - but that's no good, you can't think ahead, you have to focus.
 
"Playing Phil, I'm going to just relax and throw. I'm going to absolutely love playing him in his last ever World Championship.
 
"I can relax now playing against Phil, I was so tense tonight, all I wanted to do was win and that's what I've done.
 
"I didn't think I'd go 2-0 up and I just took my foot off the gas, but I won't be doing that on Saturday."
 
Number 13 seed Michael Smith had a similar struggle to Pipe as, despite hitting the most 180s in a match so far this year with ten, he watched a 2-0 lead against Irish newcomer Steve Lennon disappear.
 
Smith, however, took control of that final set after Lennon had battled back bravely, closing with a 14-darter as he marched into the second round to face Rob Cross.
 
"The first two sets I was struggling but I found myself 2-0 up," said Smith. "Then I started to kind of get going and it was two sets all.
 
"I didn't want to go to that shoot-out again, every year I've been going 2-2 in the last set so I wanted to win it quick.
 
"Fair play to Steve, he pushed me all the way. That second set when I checked the 150 I thought that would kill him but he came out even better so all credit to him.
 
"I'm happy with the 180s just not the game, I need to get more consistent for the next round.
 
"Its a longer format next, I struggled there and still got a 93 average, so when I'm playing well I'll average 100 easily."
 
Former finalist Simon Whitlock was far from his best as he struggled with illness, but managed to scrap his way to a 3-1 win over Martin Schindler in the first round at Alexandra Palace.
 
The tenth seed averaged 87.42 and hit five 180s but converted just 11 of his 39 attempts at double as he scratched around for form against the young German.
 
"I'm pleased and very relieved to get the win because I wasn't at my best," said Whitlock. "That was very ugly, I struggled a lot - I've been sick all week with the 'flu and I just felt tired, weak and hot out there.
 
"I've got some fire in the belly and that's what got me through in the end. I've seen a lot of good players go out and I did not want to be one of them.
 
"I'm ranked number ten in the world now I've had a great last 18 months winning five tournaments and playing really good darts. I've been working so hard trying to get back into the top ten and I've got there now.
 
"Ten's not good enough for me; I want to be back in the top five again - I know I'm good enough."
 
The first round concludes on Thursday with the remaining four matches, headlined by Peter Wright's tie with Brazilian debutant Diogo Portela, with the number two seed having overcome gallstones to line up at Alexandra Palace.
 
Spanish pair Cristo Reyes and Toni Alcinas face off, while Belgium's Kim Huybrechts takes on James Richardson and Darren Webster clashes with South Africa's Devon Petersen.
 
William Hill World Darts Championship
Preliminary & First Rounds
Wednesday December 20
Xiao Chen Zong 0-2 Bernie Smith (P)
Michael Smith 3-2 Steve Lennon
Simon Whitlock 3-1 Martin Schindler
Justin Pipe 3-2 Bernie Smith
 
Thursday December 21 (7pm)
Cristo Reyes v Toni Alcinas
Kim Huybrechts v James Richardson
Darren Webster v Devon Petersen
Peter Wright v Diogo Portela
 
Preliminary Round - Best of three sets
First Round - Best of five sets
 
Match Reports
Xiao Chen Zong 0-2 Bernie Smith
(0-3, 1-3)
NEW ZEALANDER Bernie Smith set up a first round clash with Justin Pipe thanks to a convincing 2-0 preliminary round win over Chinese teenager Ziao Chen Zong.
 
Smith kicked off with a 14-darter and went on to dominate the opening set, winning all three legs and averaging 96 despite missing six darts a double.
 
Big-stage debutant Zong finally got on the board in set two, but Smith responded by taking out 74 and a superb 146 to clinch the match.
 
"I felt really good," said Smith, who previously competed in the 2016 Auckland Darts Masters. "The crowd was awesome, I've been down here most night taking it all in trying to get used to it
 
"Hopefully I'll play well again later on, I'm not here to lose."
 
Michael Smith 3-2 Steve Lennon
(3-1, 3-1, 0-3, 2-3, 3-1)
MICHAEL SMITH survived a stubborn comeback from Steve Lennon to edge their first round encounter 3-2 at the William Hill World Darts Championship.
 
Smith is a 180 machine and hit ten maximums in the match - the most by anyone in a game so far in the event - but struggled for consistency throughout.
 
Lennon played well on his Alexandra Palace debut, averaging more two points more than Smith and hitting six 180s as he pounced on any Smith mistake, but was undone in the deciding set.
 
The 13th seed marched into a 2-0 lead on the back of five 180s and a tremendous 150 outshot.
 
Lennon was relatively steady throughout, and as Smith's radar slipped in the third set the young Irishman took full advantage with two 180s as he claimed the set without reply.
 
Smith was on the verge of the match at 2-0 up in the fourth before he hit another dip, and Lennon raised his game at the right time to take it three legs on the spin and force a decider.
 
The more experienced Smith came flying out in the fifth set, and with three more 180s and a closing 14-darter he marched into the second round to face Rob Cross.
 
"The first two sets I was struggling but I found myself 2-0 up," said Smith. "Then I started to kind of get going and it was two sets all.
 
"I didn't want to go to that shoot-out again, every year I've been going 2-2 in the last set so I wanted to win it quick.
 
"Fair play to Steve, he pushed me all the way. That second set when I checked the 150 I thought that would kill him but he came out even better so all credit to him.
 
"I'm happy with the 180s just not the game, I need to get more consistent for the next round.
 
"Its a longer format next, I struggled there and still got a 93 average, so when I'm playing well I'll average 100 easily."
 
Simon Whitlock 3-1 Martin Schindler
(3-1, 2-3, 3-2, 3-0)
SIMON WHITLOCK was far from his best but managed to scrap his way to a 3-1 win over Martin Schindler in the first round of the William Hill World Darts Championship at Alexandra Palace.
 
The tenth seed averaged 87.42 and hit five 180s but converted just 11 of his 39 attempts at double as he scratched around for form against the young German.
 
After an easy opening set for Whitlock, Schindler went ahead in the more competitive second before the Australian produced his best darts of the match with an 11-darter to level.
 
Schindler moved ahead but looked to have blown his chances when missing three darts for the set, but he got a second chance in the next and converted to level the match.
 
Despite some double trouble for both men at the start of set three, former finalist Whitlock pinched the set in a deciding leg to move himself 2-1 up in the game, after the German debutant missed one dart to lead.
 
Whitlock finally found some of his better form in clean up the match in the fourth set, and ironically after so many earlier missed doubles he took out a brilliant 127 on the bull to complete the win.
 
"I'm pleased and very relieved to get the win because I wasn't at my best," said Whitlock. "That was very ugly, I struggled a lot - I've been sick all week with the 'flu and I just felt tired, weak and hot out there.
 
"I've got some fire in the belly and that's what got me through in the end. I've seen a lot of good players go out and I did not want to be one of them.
 
"I'm ranked number ten in the world now I've had a great last 18 months winning five tournaments and playing really good darts. I've been working so hard trying to get back into the top ten and I've got there now.
 
"Ten's not good enough for me; I want to be back in the top five again - I know I'm good enough."
 
Justin Pipe v Bernie Smith
(3-0, 3-1, 1-3, 2-3, 4-2)
JUSTIN PIPE won a gruelling contest with qualifier Bernie Smith before going through 4-2 in the deciding set at the William Hill World Darts Championship.
 
The preliminary round winners have been doing brilliantly in the first round so far, and New Zealander Smith almost followed the lead of Paul Lim and Kevin Munch of the previous two nights as he came from two sets down to push Pipe all the way.
 
Smith actually had two darts for the match himself after coming back from the dead, but when he failed to convert Pipe levelled the fifth set at two-all before taking control of the tie-break.
 
The first two sets came relatively comfortably for Pipe, who was not scoring particularly well but was doing enough to keep Smith at arm's length as the Kiwi won just one leg.
 
Smith doubled his tally at the start of the third set and went on to take the set after hitting a 121 checkout, which he followed up by taking out 117 and 104 in the fourth to go 2-1 up.
 
Pipe missed a match dart as Smith took the game into a fifth set, before he then missed two match darts in leg four, being unable to land double top and ten.
 
After that let-off, Pipe took full advantage by hitting tops to force the extra legs and claiming the next two to sneak through to a meeting with retiring 16-time World Champion Phil Taylor on Saturday.
 
"I'm over the moon, honestly," said Pipe. "At two sets up I was cruising and thinking about playing Phil Taylor in his last ever World Championship - but that's no good, you can't think ahead, you have to focus.
 
"Playing Phil, I'm going to just relax and throw. I'm going to absolutely love playing him in his last ever World Championship.
 
"I can relax now playing against Phil, I was so tense tonight, all I wanted to do was win and that's what I've done.
 
"I didn't think I'd go 2-0 up and I just took my foot off the gas, but I won't be doing that on Saturday."

TWO-TIME winner Adrian Lewis suffered one of the biggest shocks in the history of the William Hill World Darts Championship as he was beaten in the first round by German qualifier Kevin Munch on Tuesday.
 
Seventh seed Lewis had never lost in the first round before in 12 years of playing in the event, but it was unlucky number 13 as he came up against an inspired Munch
 
The German left-hander had overcome Russia's Aleksandr Oreshkin in straight sets in the preliminary round, and took his game to a remarkable level against the Stoke superstar.
 
After 63-year-old Paul Lim's memorable win on Monday, Munch managed to go one better in knocking out one of the perennial tournament favourites thanks to an incredible burst of heavy scoring and big checkouts.
 
Munch found seven of his eight 180s in seven pulsating legs that took him from a set down to the brink of victory, adding finishes of 158, 118 and 124 for good measure.
 
The 27-year-old from Bochum recently gave up his job as a landscape gardener to try and make a career in darts, and after producing a performance that Lewis himself would have been proud of that now looks like a good decision.
 
"I can't believe it," said Munch, who previously qualified for the World Championship six years ago. "It feels so amazing. I will realise what I've done tomorrow. I was so confident in that moment and not scared of him.
 
"I didn't realise the fans were so loud but I do now! I will relax and practice for the second round now.
 
"It's the biggest win in my career. I'm very proud "
 
Trailing 2-1 in the second set after Lewis swept through the opener without reply, Munch embarked on his dizzying spell of darts with a pair of 15-darters before a 180 helped him take the set in a deciding leg.
 
The third set proved to be something special from the German as Munch hit four 180s in just three legs, adding finishes of 158 and 118 for good measure in a blistering assault that left a shell-shocked Lewis 2-1 down and on the ropes.
 
The 180s continued for Munch in the fourth, as did the finishes with a superb 124, before Lewis plugged away and pulled out two maximums to level the set up at 2-2.
 
Munch, though, would not be denied and he claimed the deciding leg on double eight to complete a momentous victory.
 
Five-time World Champion Raymond van Barneveld was never in danger of joining the growing list of seeds heading for the Alexandra Palace exit as he calmly overcame debutant Richard North 3-0.
 
Van Barneveld is now an expert at the tricky first round stage following six consecutive 3-0 victories in his opening matches, as he set up an intriguing second round clash with Kyle Anderson.
 
Playing in his 50th match in the event, Van Barneveld averaged 102 - the fourth best effort so far of the event - hit three 180s and 17 140+ scores, as well as landing nine out of 19 doubles.
 
"There are so many tournaments but this one is special to me, so maybe I keep all my energy for these two weeks," said Van Barneveld. "This means the world to me.
 
"I'm flying back to Holland tomorrow morning then I'll be focusing on Kyle Anderson for Saturday. He's an amazing player.
 
"He's so tough, he's a 180 man, good at doubles, good at high finishes so I'm really looking forward to that match."
 
Scotland's John Henderson enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 win over Finland's Marko Kantele to set-up a World Grand Prix rematch with Daryl Gurney, who took victory in their semi-final two months ago.
 
Henderson is the last man to have defeated Michael van Gerwen, also in October's World Grand Prix, and knows he will need to raise his game significantly to somewhere near his Dublin form for his second round clash.
 
"If you can't take confidence from beating Michael van Gerwen then you can't take confidence from anything," Henderson said. "I believe I'm still the last person to beat him so that's a nice mantle to have and the confidence is still there.
 
"I didn't play my best tonight but I hope I can find it on Saturday, I'll need it against Daryl."
 
The preliminary and first rounds continue on Wednesday at Alexandra Palace, including 2010 finalist Simon Whitlock opening his challenge against another German ace, debutant Martin Schindler.
 
Michael Smith takes on Irish newcomer Steve Lennon, while Justin Pipe will face the winner of the preliminary round tie between Chinese teenager Xiao Chen Zong and New Zealand's Bernie Smith.
 
William Hill World Darts Championship
Preliminary & First Rounds
Tuesday December 19
Aleksandr Oreshkin 0-2 Kevin Munch (P)
John Henderson 3-0 Marko Kantele
Raymond van Barneveld 3-0 Richard North
Adrian Lewis 1-3 Kevin Munch
 
Wednesday December 20 (7pm)
Xiao Chen Zong v Bernie Smith (P)
Michael Smith v Steve Lennon
Simon Whitlock v Martin Schindler
Justin Pipe v Xiao Chen Zong/Bernie Smith
 
Preliminary Round - Best of three sets
First Round - Best of five sets
 
Match Reports
Aleksandr Oreshkin v Kevin Munch (P)
(0-3, 1-3)
KEVIN MUNCH secured the big tie against Adrian Lewis after winning his preliminary round clash with Aleksndr Oreshkin 2-0.
 
The German thrower averaged 84 and hit two 180s and left the Russian trailing in his wake for much of the match, as Oreshkin only managed to get one leg to his name.
 
Munch started off with a 180 in a first leg that turned out to be a fine 13-darter, and after taking the second he wrapped up the third with a 108 checkout for a 102 set average.
 
The man from Bochum could not maintain that standard in the second despite kicking off with 120 finish, but was so in control he could miss six match darts before hitting the seventh to go through.
 
"It was a hard game for me, the preliminary round is so hard, so I'm happy," said Munch. "Now I'll relax and chill and wait for the next game.
 
"I love playing normally quick players - it's hard for me to play against slow players when I usually play fast."
 
John Henderson v Marko Kantele
(3-2, 3-0, 3-1)
JOHN HENDERSON avoided a repeat of last year's first round exit at the William Hill World Darts Championship as he ran out a comprehensive 3-0 winer over Finland's Marko Kantele.
 
The Scot did not quite find the form that saw him beat Michael van Gerwen at the World Grand Prix in October, but he still had enough in hand to cruise through to a last 32 tie with Daryl Gurney.
 
A scrappy start saw neither man able to get into their stride as Henderson edged the first two legs, but the standard lifted as the pair both hit 180s as Kantele took out a 14-darter and a 62 outshot to level.
 
Henderson, though, saved the best piece of quality for last though as he took out 160 for the set - and he regained that quality in a whitewash of a second set highlighted by a 72 checkout followed by a 12-darter punctuated by a 121 finish.
 
"This win was probably my biggest of 2017, even more so than beating Michael," said Henderson.
 
"This World Championship means everything to us players and I'm relieved because losing to Andrew Gilding last year was a big blow and it stuck with me for a long time. This win is a massive weight off my shoulders.
 
"I feel as though I played OK. I know Marko from back in the BDO days and I know he can play a lot better than that. I don’t think either of us got to play our A-game but a win is a win, especially on this stage."
 
Daryl Gurney defeated Henderson in the semi-finals on the way to winning the World Grand Prix title, and the two will now meet again in the second round at Alexandra Palace.
 
"I don't look at it as revenge on any players as I'm a nice guy, but I'd obviously love to get one over on Daryl," added Henderson. "He's nice guy and playing well so I'm looking forward to Saturday, it'll be a great game like the World Grand Prix and the best man will win.
 
"If you can't take confidence from beating Michael van Gerwen then you can't take confidence from anything, I believe I'm still the last person to beat him so that's a nice mantle to have and the confidence is still there.
 
"I didn't play my best tonight but I hope I can find it on Saturday, I'll need it against Daryl."
 
Raymond van Barneveld v Richard North
(3-0, 3-1, 3-2)
RAYMOND VAN BARNEVELD swept into the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship with a convincing 3-0 victory over debutant Richard North.
 
The five-time World Champion faced a tricky test on paper, with North having topped the list of ProTour Order of Merit qualifiers in his first full year on the circuit, but the Dutchman put on a darting clinic with a near-faultless display.
 
Van Barneveld made it a sixth consecutive 3-0 win in the first round of the tournament as he averaged 102 - the fourth best effort so far of the event - hit three 180s and 17 140+ scores and landed nine out of 19 doubles.
 
Debutant North hit a 180 in the opening leg, but that was as good as it got as he saw the 2007 champion take out 64 and 81 checkouts on his way to the set.
 
North got on the board in the second set, but van Barneveld showed his class with a timely 180 and a 76 outshot to nudge ahead, and then edged a leg where North hit two 180s.
 
Those two body blows seemed too much for North, who managed to take the third set the distance after his opponent missed two match darts, but the Dutchman was untroubled as he pulled out a 13-darter to progress.
 
"I never saw Richard play until a year ago," said Van Barneveld. "Everyone in Holland said I'd got a good draw but I said hold on, he's just not seeded.
 
"He's a great player, I saw him at the World Grand Prix and I really thought he's a dangerous player - he missed a couple of doubles and let me in during the second set but I was playing good darts there."
 
Van Barneveld, who faces Australian Kyle Anderson in the next round, admits that he finds something extra when he arrives at Alexandra Palace for this event.
 
"There are so many tournaments but this one is special to me, so maybe I keep all my energy for these two weeks," he added. "This means the world to me.
 
"I'm flying back to Holland tomorrow morning then I'll be focusing on Kyle Anderson for Saturday. He's an amazing player.
 
"He's so tough, he's a 180 man, good at doubles, good at high finishes so I'm really looking forward to that match."
 
Adrian Lewis 1-3 Kevin Munch
(3-1, 2-3, 0-3, 2-3)
ADRIAN LEWIS lost in the first round of the William Hill World Darts Championship for the first time as Kevin Munch produced the biggest upset of the tournament so far, and one of the greatest in the event's history.
 
Following the excitement of Paul Lim's dramatic win over Mark Webster on Monday, Munch became another qualifier from the preliminary round to progress to the last 32 at Alexandra Palace.
 
Two-time winner Lewis has never previously suffered a first round upset before in 12 World Championships, and after going a set up and 2-0 ahead in the second it looked like just another day at the office.
 
However, Munch found a level of darts more fitting of Lewis at his very best as he launched and assault of 180 hitting and three-figured outshots - throwing eight maximums in all and seven in as many mesmerising legs.
 
It was business as usual in the opening set as Lewis hit finishes of 72 and 121 to take the lead with a 3-1 scoreline, and when he took out 84 and 80 to lead 2-0 in the second it looked like a comfortable night for the Stoke ace.
 
Munch clawed back a leg before embarking on his dizzying spell of darts with a pair of 15-darters before a 180 helped him take the set in a deciding leg.
 
The third set proved to be something really special from the German as Munch hit four 180s in just three legs, adding finishes of 158 and 118 for good measure in a blistering assault that left a shell-shocked Lewis 2-1 down and on the ropes.
 
The 180s continued in the next, as did the finishes with a superb 124 checkout, but Lewis plugged away and pulled out two maximums to level the set up at 2-2.
 
Munch, though, would not be denied and he claimed the decider on double eight to complete momentous victory.
 
"I can't believe it," said Munch, who previously qualified for the World Championship six years ago. "It feels so amazing. I will realise what I've done tomorrow. I was so confident in that moment and not scared of him.
 
"I didn't realise the fans were so loud but I do now! I will relax and practice for the second round now.
 
"It's the biggest win in my career. I'm very proud "

PAUL LIM caused a huge sensation at the William Hill World Darts Championship as the legendary 63-year-old defeated former Lakeside Champion Mark Webster in an epic first round clash on Monday night.
 
Lim is a huge name in darts thanks to his nine-dart heroics way back at the 1990 World Championship, but he rolled back the years to win a new generation of fans at Alexandra Palace with a thrilling 3-2 success over the Welshman.
 
The veteran had earlier beaten Kai Fan Leung 2-0 in the preliminary round, but few gave him a chance of returning and being able to live with a former World Champion on the big stage.
 
Lim made his first World Championship appearance way back in 1982 - before both Leung and Webster were born - but will not have played better as he hit six 180s and averaged 95.98 in a scintillating performance that had the Ally Pally crowd jumping.
 
It was always a tight affair, but the longer it went on the stronger Lim seemed to get, and Webster had to dig deep and take out some real pressure doubles to save himself in the fourth set and extend the match.
 
The first four sets all went the distance, with Lim missing a dart for the match in the fourth, but far from fading the veteran upped his performance in the deciding set, which he won 3-0 to set up a second round tie with Gary Anderson on Friday.
 
"It's been an unbelievable night," said Lim. "I could feel that the crowd were for me and it's so great to feel that.
 
"I know the PDC World Championship is the cream of all darts tournaments and to be part of it really is an honour. To play well with the crowd like that is a different story, I think the way the crowd were really played a part in me winning.
 
"I had to dig deep. It's tough though, I'm running out of stamina!"
 
Northern Ireland's Daryl Gurney showed that he can be a real challenger for the £400,000 title with an impressive showing during his 3-1 win over Ronny Huybrechts.
 
The World Grand Prix Champion and fourth seed for the tournament dispatched the experienced Belgian expertly as he finished with an average of 100, landing seven 180s and a maximum 170 checkout along the way.
 
Gurney's start was almost perfection as he hit back-to-back 180s and only missed on the treble 19 of a possible nine-darter - instead having to settle for a ten-dart leg to get underway, and his level hardly dipped from there.
 
"I played really well the first two sets and then I was probably trying too hard in the third set to try and close it out 3-0," said Gurney.
 
"The way I played in the first two sets, taking my chances out, that's the way I have been playing but I haven't taken it up on the stage and that's what I need to do if I'm to continue in this competition."
 
Mensur Suljovic was a straight sets winner over Kevin Painter in their first round contest, with the Austrian fifth seed looking like a different player after his Champions League of Darts success in September.
 
"I'm happy I'm here," said Suljovic. "This is brilliant playing on that stage with this crowd it's amazing."
 
Tuesday's action sees former World Champions Raymond van Barneveld and Adrian Lewis in action, with the Dutchman meeting debutant Richard North and the two-time winner up against either Russia's Aleksandr Oreshkin or Germany's Kevin Munch.
 
The night's other tie sees Scottish ace John Henderson - a World Grand Prix semi-finalist in October - taking on Finland's Marko Kantele.
 
William Hill World Darts Championship
Preliminary & First Rounds
Monday December 18
Kai Fan Leung 0-2 Paul Lim (P)
Mensur Suljovic 3-0 Kevin Painter
Daryl Gurney 3-1 Ronny Huybrechts
Mark Webster 2-3 Paul Lim
 
Tuesday December 19 (7pm)
Aleksandr Oreshkin v Kevin Munch (P)
John Henderson v Marko Kantele
Raymond van Barneveld v Richard North
Adrian Lewis v Aleksandr Oreshkin/Kevin Munch
 
Preliminary Round - Best of three sets
First Round - Best of five sets
 
Kai Fan Leung v Paul Lim
(1-3, 2-3)
DARTS legend Paul Lim showed his quality and passion for the sport with a 2-0 preliminary round win over Hong Kong's Kai Fan Leung to open Monday's play at Alexandra Palace.
 
The 63-year-old Lim played in his first World Championship way back in 1982, a year before his opponent was born, and it was the legendary veteran who came out on top.
 
Lim hit four 180s and, apart from two legs, finished well on the doubles as he booked a first round tie later in the evening against Mark Webster.
 
After Lim hit a 177 in the opening leg he missed six darts at double to hand the initiative to Leung, but responded with finishes of 78 and 118 as he hit tops for three successive legs to clinch the set.
 
Leung again took the opening leg in set two, but again Lim again struck back with three legs on the spin to win the match - surviving a big blip in the fourth leg when wasting six match darts.
 
Mensur Suljovic 3-0 Kevin Painter
(3-0, 3-1, 3-1)
MENSUR SULJOVIC was always in control as he enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 victory over Kevin Painter in their first round contest at the William Hill World Darts Championship.
 
Suljovic has risen up to fifth in the world over the past 18 months alongside claiming his maiden TV title at the Champions League of Darts in September, and was in confident mod against Painter.
 
Suljovic took the first set without allowing the 2004 World Championship finalist a single shot at a double, with Painter getting off the mark in the second only to see the Austrian double his advantage.
 
Suljovic was in control during set three, and despite missing three match darts and allowing Painter to get his second leg of the match, the fifth seed completed a straightforward victory.
 
"It's a good feeling, it's brilliant," said Suljovic, who faces Robert Thornton in round two.
 
"I'm happy I'm here, this is brilliant playing on that stage with this crowd - it's amazing. The next round is the next round, I'll think about that tomorrow."
 
Daryl Gurney v Ronny Huybrechts
(3-2, 3-0, 1-3, 3-1)
DARYL GURNEY showed he can be a real challenger for the William Hill World Darts Championship title with an impressive showing during his 3-1 win over Ronny Huybrechts.
 
The Belgian stalwart represented an awkward first round tie for World Grand Prix winner Gurney, who has flown up the PDC rankings to enter the tournament as the fourth seed.
 
One of the best first sets of the tournament so far saw both men average 110 but Gurney managed to maintain his level for much of the contest, finishing with an average of 100 which included seven 180s and a maximum 170 checkout.
 
Gurney's start was almost perfection as he hit back-to-back 180s and only missed on the treble 19 of a possible nine-darter - instead having to settle for a ten-dart leg to get underway.
 
Huybrechts answered with equally impressive legs of 13 and 11 darts to go in front, but then crucially missed one dart for the set and that allowed Gurney to level before hitting a 12-darter in the decider.
 
Gurney's onslaught was too hot for Huybrechts to handle in the second set as he raced to three straight legs, but the Belgian dug in and grabbed a deserved set in the third.
 
Gurney came back with a bang in the fourth set though as he took out a maximum 170 finish to break the Huybrechts throw - with the Belgian waiting on 32 - and also his stubborn resistance in a huge blow which helped seal the win.
 
"I played really well the first two sets and then I was probably trying too hard in the third set to try and close it out 3-0," said Gurney.
 
"For some strange reason I missed three darts at tops to go 2-1 up and he won that set. In the next set I was lucky I got a 170 to break his throw and I was OK after that."
 
Gurney reached the quarter-finals last year and after such a good season on the circuit he knows he has the form to mount a serious challenge for the Sid Waddell Trophy.
 
"The first two sets were really good for both me and him so I need to produce that all the time in every game," added Gurney.
 
"The way I played in the first two sets, taking my chances out, that's the way I have been playing but I haven't taken it up on the stage and that's what I need to do if I'm to continue in this competition."
 
Mark Webster 2-3 Paul Lim
(3-2, 2-3, 2-3, 3-2, 0-3)
PAUL LIM caused a huge sensation at the William Hill World Darts Championship as the legendary 63-year-old defeated former Lakeside Champion Mark Webster in an epic first round clash on Monday night.
 
Lim is a huge name in darts thanks to his nine-dart heroics way back at the 1990 World Championship, but he rolled back the years to win a new generation of fans at Alexandra Palace with a thrilling 3-2 success over the Welshman.
 
The veteran had earlier beaten Kai Fan Leung 2-0 in the preliminary round, but few gave him a chance of returning and being able to live with a former World Champion on the big stage.
 
Lim made his first World Championship appearance way back in 1982 - before both Leung and Webster were born - but will not have played better as he hit six 180s and averaged 95.98 in a scintillating performance that had the Ally Pally crowd jumping.
 
The first four sets all went the distance, with Lim missing a dart at double 15 for the match in the fourth, only to see Webster land a third-dart double to stay in the hunt before taking the decider to square an enthralling match.
 
Amazingly, it was Lim who raised his game in the deciding set, leaving Webster in his wake as he hit finishes of 89, 114 and a closing 80 to secure an historic triumph.
 
"It's been an unbelievable night," said Lim. "I could feel that the crowd were for me and it's so great to feel that.
 
"I know the PDC World Championship is the cream of all darts tournaments and to be part of it really is an honour. To play well with the crowd like that is a different story, I think the way the crowd were really played a part in me winning.
 
"I had to dig deep. It's tough though, I'm running out of stamina!"

SEEDS tumbled on a day of upsets at the William Hill World Darts Championship on Sunday as Keegan Brown shocked James Wade, Vincent van der Voort dumped out Dave Chisnall and Jamie Lewis ousted Jonny Clayton at Alexandra Palace.


Former World Youth Champion Brown produced his biggest result of the year to confirm his return to form by overcoming number 11 seed Wade in five sets.


Brown like he meant business from the start as he continually moved ahead of Wade before clinching a thrilling 3-2 victory.


It was a ruthlessly clinical opening from Brown as he averaged over 107 when taking all three legs in a total of 42 darts and including a 124 finish as he took the first set.


The chips were down for Wade later in the match and he came out fighting by dominating the fourth set to force a decider, but it was all Brown in that fifth set as he powered away to a famous victory.


"It feels good, words are very hard to describe it at the moment," said a delighted Brown. "James is my hero, along with Phil Taylor, so it's just brilliant.


"I've played well in the last six months to get to this stage and I just thought take your time, don't rush, don't throw hot potatoes, just relax. And I got the job done."


Zoran Lerchbacher is next up for Brown, who could be asking for even more time off from his work as a laboratory technician on the Isle of Wight with the draw now so open.


He added: "I'm going back to work on Tuesday to ask for the rest of the week off as holiday, and then I'll practice; just practice, that's all I've got to do."


Eighth seed Chisnall followed Wade out of the tournament in the evening session's next match as Vincent van der Voort played one of his best matches on the big stage


A year ago Van der Voort had considered his future in the sport due to a long-standing back injury, but reaped the rewards of his physiotherapy programme in a straight sets victory.


The speedy Dutchman hit six 180s and seven 140s to outdo the usually heavy-scoring Chisnall, with Van der Voort also finishing sharply as he took nine of 16 double chances.


Van der Voort, who celebrates his 43rd birthday on Monday, admitted that he had been talked out of quitting the sport by his family after losing in the first round a year ago.


"At one point I thought I better just give up," he added. "I've been practising and doing everything I can, sometimes four or five hours a day doing rehab, being dedicated just to play well.


"I was ready to give up but my wife said give it one more go because in two or three years you'll regret it. I said I'd give it two years, try my hardest and if it's not there pack in, but right now I think I'll stay a little bit longer."


Sunday's afternoon session saw another seeded player exit the event, as Jonny Clayton failed to reproduce the form which saw him finish the Players Championship Finals as runner-up last month in his loss to Jamie Lewis.


Lewis - who came through the PDPA Qualifiers to snatch an Ally Pally spot - started his day off with a preliminary round success over young Belgian Kenny Neyens, before returning later on to win his all-Welsh with Clayton.


"I've been in the PDC now for five years and I've still not really shown what I know I can do," admitted Lewis. "It is about time I do it so hopefully this week might be the chance.


"I've not had a great year on the tour. I thought I'd blown it and I had one chance left at Milton Keynes in the qualifiers so I thought I'd go and give it my best because I know I can play as good as anybody."


Ian White avoided an upset as the 17th seed saw off New Zealand number one Cody Harris with a 3-1 victory.


Harris had earlier come through a preliminary round game with American Willard Bruguier and shared the opening two sets with White before the number 17 seed pulled away for victory.


Kyle Anderson warned his rivals that he is targeting the quarter-finals at least after he earned a gritty 3-1 success over Yorkshire debutant Peter Jacques, with the Australian insisting he's solved his double troubles.


"I don't like to come across as cocky but I've seen the bracket and I've got the confidence in myself to get to at least the quarters to be honest," said the Auckland Darts Masters winner.


Alan Norris beat Kim Viljanen 3-0 in a match that was tougher than the scoreline suggests, but Norris always had the upper hand despite a spot of trouble on his favourite double top, which he solved in the final set.


"Kim's a quality player," said Norris. "I think he's won seven out of the ten Scandinavian tournaments this year, but I'm getting more and more experience.


"I'm up there on ProTour events, I'm up there on the stage nearly every month, with these guys it's still once a year or twice a year."


Monday's play sees number five seed Mensur Suljovic take on 2004 World Championship finalist Kevin Painter, while World Grand Prix champion Daryl Gurney plays Ronny Huybrechts and Mark Webster takes on either Hong Kong's Kai Fan Leung or Singapore's Paul Lim.


William Hill World Darts Championship
Preliminary & First Rounds
Sunday December 17
Afternoon Session
Kenny Neyens 1-2 Jamie Lewis (P)
Alan Norris 3-0 Kim Viljanen
Kyle Anderson 3-1 Peter Jacques
Jonny Clayton 0-3 Jamie Lewis


Evening Session
Willard Bruguier 1-2 Cody Harris (P)
James Wade 2-3 Keegan Brown
Dave Chisnall 0-3 Vincent van der Voort
Ian White 3-1 Cody Harris


Monday December 18 (7pm)
Kai Fan Leung v Paul Lim (P)
Mensur Suljovic v Kevin Painter
Daryl Gurney v Ronny Huybrechts
Mark Webster v Kai Fan Leung/Paul Lim


Preliminary Round - Best of three sets
First Round - Best of five sets


Match Reports
Afternoon Session
Kenny Neyens 1-2 Jamie Lewis
(2-3, 3-2, 0-3)
JAMIE LEWIS survived a a flying start from Kenny Neyens to win their preliminary round match 2-1 and sett up an all-Welsh clash with Jonny Clayton later on Sunday afternoon.


Belgian debutant Neyens came bursting out of the traps with a 180 on his first throw, and he added a second maximum in a 14-dart opening leg.


He added the second leg as well before Lewis woke up and hit a 'snooker maximum' 147 checkout which kick-started his challenge and prompted a three-leg burst that gave him the set from seemingly nowhere.


A 13-darter made it four on the spin for Lewis but as he charged towards the finish line young Belgian Neyens kept himself in the tournament with gutsy 62 and 74 checkouts to claim the second set in a decider.


Lewis had missed a match dart in the second set, but made no mistake in the next as he took all three legs of the third and finished with a wonderful ten-darter to book his place in the first round.


Alan Norris v Kim Viljanen
(3-0, 3-2, 3-1)
ALAN NORRIS enjoyed a largely comfortable William Hill World Darts Championship first round victory as he beat Kim Viljanen 3-0 at Alexandra Palace.


Former Lakeside Championship finalist Norris had to work harder at times than the whitewash suggests, especially in a tough second set as Finland's Viljanen finally found some form.


Norris raced through the opening set with ease but Viljanen found form in a major way with two great legs, including a 12-darter, putting him 2-0 up.


Norris responded to level and Viljanen then missed five darts for the set allowing Norris to pinch it, and that represented Viljanen's last chance as Norris cleaned up the third set with a flourish.


"Kim's a quality player," said Norris. "I think he's won seven out of the ten Scandinavian (events) this year, but I'm getting more and more experience.


"I'm up there on ProTour events, I'm up there on the stage nearly every month, with these guys it's still once a year or twice a year.


"I know Kim well, he's a great player but he didn't perform to what he can. At 2-0 down in the second set I wasn't at the races but he gifted me one to get me back in the match.


"That was a big turning point because he's got the set in the bag, he had darts to win it 3-0 but I got it back on track so I'm very happy."


Kyle Anderson 3-1 Peter Jacques
(3-1, 3-2, 2-3, 3-0)
AUSTRALIAN Kyle Anderson secured his spot in the second round of the William Hill World Darts Championship with a gritty 3-1 win over Yorkshire's Peter Jacques.


The Auckland Darts Masters winner made his superior finishing count as Jacques had two more shots at double and one more 180 than Anderson, but could not find that consistency on his Alexandra Palace debut.


Anderson made his tournament experience count and that, along with his 53 percent checkout ratio booked him a second round date with either Raymond van Barneveld or Richard North.


Jacques took the opening leg with a 75 outshot but Anderson replied to rattle off the next three legs, including a 109 finish, to take the first set.


Huddersfield's Jacques looked a new man in the second set as he sprinted 2-0 in front but could not take advantage as Anderson hit a 70 checkout followed by a 14-dart leg to double his lead.


Anderson again had to come from behind in the third, hitting a 12-darter when he needed it most to level it up at 2-2, but this time it was Jacques who bagged the decider to get a set on the board.


It was a mere temporary reprieve though for Jacques, who hit 180s in consecutive legs only to lose those legs to Anderson in 17 darts each, before the Australian polished off the match with a second 60 finish of the set.


"As you do you look down the line of your bracket and I have," said Anderson. "I don't like to come across as cocky but I've seen the bracket and I've got the confidence in myself to get to at least the quarters to be honest."


An improvement on hitting the doubles has given Anderson a new-found confidence that he can make a big impact on the event this year.


"I've always know my capabilities and my power scoring, my trouble has always been doubles," he added.


"It's nothing else but the doubles, if you look at all my games I'm scoring brilliantly but I miss doubles and it brings my average down, and if you don't hit doubles you don't win.


"People look at me and think if I don't hit my doubles then they'll be OK, but now I'm starting to hit my doubles and they're starting to think differently and that brings pressure on them."


Jonny Clayton 0-3 Jamie Lewis
(1-3, 1-3, 2-3)
JAMIE LEWIS completed a super Sunday at the William Hill World Darts Championship as he secured a second win of the day with an impressive 3-0 victory over Jonny Clayton in the first round.


Lewis has been talked up as a potential star in recent years, and after a disappointing 2017 will enjoy his Christmas dinner in Cardigan with an eye on his second round tie following a productive day at Alexandra Palace.


Lewis' preliminary round defeat of Kenny Neyens set up an all-Welsh clash with his good friend Clayton, who was well fancied after a runner-up performance at the Players Championship Finals but could just not getting going in this event.


Clayton tried to lay down a marker in the opening leg with his first 180, but Lewis responded with a maximum of his own on the very next throw - and he was the one to build on that by taking out a superb 126 for a 12-darter.


That earlier preliminary round win may have warmed Lewis up nicely, as he then closed out the first set with a brilliant 11-darter after Clayton had to take out 104 just to get off the mark.


Lewis could not keep up his 101 average in the second set, but the result was the same as he doubled his lead despite handing a leg to Clayton with three missed double 16s, as he returned to hit that same double in the next leg to move two sets up.


Clayton managed to bag two legs in the third set, but Lewis always looked the stronger as he hit 180s in all three legs he won - highlighted with a 130 finish and a closing 11-darter to clinch the match.


"I'm over the moon," said Lewis, who will face either Peter Wright or Diogo Portela on December 27. "It's been a tough day, playing the preliminary round and then playing a good friend of mine in Jonny - it's something I was hoping to come here and do.


"I've not had a great year on the tour, I thought I'd blown it and I had one chance left at Milton Keynes in the qualifiers so I thought I'd go and give it my best because I know I can play as good as anybody.


"I'm getting more used to the stage now, I'm getting a bit more confident in myself and my ability.


"I've been in the PDC now for five years and I've still not really shown what I know I can do, so it is about time I do it. Hopefully this week might be the chance."


Evening Session
Willard Bruguier 1-2 Cody Harris (P)
(2-3, 3-2, 0-3)
CODY HARRIS fought off a stern challenge from Willard Bruguier to earn a place in the first round as he kicked off the Sunday evening session at the William Hill World Darts Championship.


It was nip-and-tuck between the two, but the New Zealander finished strongly against the North American Champion to earn a tie with Ian White.


There was only a whisker between the two averages with Harris just slightly over 84, and their checkout percentages were almost identical, but the DPNZ Qualifier's three 180s provided an extra scoring boost that Bruguier couldn't match.


The two swapped breaks of throw in the first set before a nervy ending saw Harris miss a host of chances before finally nailing his double to clinch the opener.


Bruguier responded and emerged with a 3-2 win in the second set with Harris tightening up on his finishes, but the Kiwi regained his composure in the decider to claim all three legs and move into the first round on his Alexandra Palace debut.


James Wade 2-3 Keegan Brown
(0-3, 3-2, 2-3, 3-1, 1-3)
KEEGAN BROWN produced the biggest upset so far of the 2017/2018 William Hill World Darts Championship as he put out 11th seed James Wade in a five-set thriller at Alexandra Palace.


Former World Youth Champion Brown looked like he meant business from the start as he moved ahead of the left-hander, and Wade was continually playing from behind.


It was a ruthlessly clinical opening from Brown, as he averaged over 107 when taking all three legs in a total of 42 darts and including a 124 finish to claim the first set.


The second was tighter, with both men taking out pressure finishes until Brown produced the first minor slip and Wade stepped up to take out 72 in the decider to level the match.


Wade applied more pressure in the opening of the third set, but Brown responded well by taking out 102 for a 12-darter to level up the set, and despite the three-time semi-finalist replying with a 90 checkout on the bull it was Brown who kept his nerve to edge the decider.


The chips were down for Wade and he came out fighting by dominating the fourth set to force a decider, but it was all Brown in that fifth set as he powered away to a famous victory.


"It feels good, words are very hard to describe it at the moment," said a delighted Brown. "James is my hero, along with Phil Taylor, so it's just brilliant.


"I've played well in the last six months to get to this stage and I just thought take your time, don't rush, don't throw hot potatoes, just relax. And I got the job done.


"I just had to relax and enjoy the moment in front of this brilliant crowd."


Zoran Lerchbacher is next up for Brown, who could be asking for even more time off from his work as a laboratory technician on the Isle of Wight with the draw now so open.


He added: "I'm going back to work on Tuesday to ask for the rest of the week off as holiday, and then I'll practice; just practice, that's all I've got to do."


Dave Chisnall 0-3 Vincent van der Voort
(2-3, 2-3, 0-3)
VINCENT VAN DER VOORT produced one of his finest William Hill World Darts Championship performances as he ousted eighth seed Dave Chisnall with a brilliant straight sets victory in their first round encounter.


The speedy Dutchman hit six 180s and seven 140s to outdo the usually heavy-scoring Chisnall, and Van der Voort was also finishing sharply as he took nine of 16 double chances.


Van der Voort has struggled with his well-publicised back problems, but he has rarely played any better on the Alexandra Palace stage and he came within a couple of darts of posting his first winning 100 average at the tournament.


It was the usual Van der Voort rapid-fire from the start, but Chisnall is no slouch himself and he pushed his rival all the way in the first two sets only to come unstuck in the fifth leg of both.


Chisnall only got six shots at a double in the 13 legs played in the match, and Van der Voort capitalised in the third set by claiming all three legs - including a crowd-pleasing 130 outshot - on the way to a commanding win which sets up a tie with Steve Beaton.


Van der Voort, who celebrates his 43rd birthday on Monday, had considered quitting the sport after a first round exit 12 months ago, but admitted that his hard work to recover from his back problem was paying off.


"At one point I thought I better just give up," he added. "I've been practising and doing everything I can, sometimes four or five hours a day doing rehab, being dedicated just to play well.


"I was ready to give up but my wife said give it one more go because in two or three years you'll regret it. She got in my brain a bit. We opened up a darts shop in Holland and she said to go and practice there.


"I said I'd give it two years, try my hardest and if it's not there pack in, but right now I think I'll stay a little bit longer.


"I've done a lot of really, really hard work getting my back sorted. I did everything I could to come back and my wish was to come back here to this stage and play well again."


Ian White 3-1 Cody Harris
(3-1, 1-3, 3-1, 3-0)
IAN WHITE avoided a potential upset at the William Hill World Darts Championship as he overcame New Zealand's Cody Harris 3-1 in the first round.


The 17th seed averaged 96.89, hit four 180s and took out ten of his 18 shots at double, but had a job on to shake off the dogged Harris, who had come through the preliminary round earlier in the night.


White threatened a nine-darter in the second leg with a 180 and 177 start, but settled for a 12-darter on the way to a comfortable first set.


New Zealand number one Harris came into the match in the second set, as he claimed three straight legs to level the tie against a bewildered White, who was 11 points ahead in the averages but level in sets.


Harris then made it four legs in a row to start the third set, but two 180s helped White claim three straight legs himself to regain the advantage.


The stubborn resistance of Harris was broken in set four, and White reeled off the final three legs as he booked a second round clash with Gerwyn Price.


"I knew Cody can play but it was a long day for him - he'd played in the preliminary round earlier and maybe that took its toll in the end," said White.


"I'd seen a few seeded players go out earlier in the night and I've not necessarily had the luck this year.


"My form's been there but I've not had the results, and I was hoping that my luck might change and that's starting to happen. I wanted to get through tonight and I can get myself ready for what should be a good game on Friday."